Prizes and Awards

High standards of academic achievement and personal conduct are acknowledged at Roanoke College in a series of annual awards and prizes.

Karen Adkisson Award A book award given annually to a first-year student for high achievement in the introductory biology course sequence.

Alpha Kappa Delta Award An annual award to the outstanding graduation senior who exemplifies the ideals of Alpha Kappa Delta, the International Sociology Honor Society.

Alpha Kappa Psi Key and Certificate This professional business fraternity awards the key and certificate to the graduating senior with the highest grade point average.

Alpha Lambda Delta Award An award presented to the Alpha Lambda Delta member who is a graduating senior with the highest scholastic average.

Alpha Psi Omega Award An award presented for outstanding service and contribution to theatre arts at Roanoke College.

American Chemical Society Student Affiliate Award One year membership in the ACS student affiliates is provided by the Chemistry department for students showing outstanding promise in the field of chemistry.

American Institute of Chemists Student Award A certificate and one-year membership for the American Institute of Chemists is awarded to a senior in recognition of potential advancement in the chemical professions.

Karl W. Beck Memorial Prize A prize in money made possible by gifts of friends in memory of the late Karl W. Beck, who was a professor and chair of the psychology department. It is given for excellence in psychology.

C. Randolph Benson Sociology Award A prize awarded annually to a senior sociology major who has demonstrated academic excellence and leadership in the field of sociology.

Dr. C.W. Bondurant Student Affiliate Award An annual award, in honor of Dr. Charles W. Bondurant, given by the students of the American Chemical Society Student Affiliate chapter to a Chemistry or Biochemistry major who has excelled both in the study of Chemistry and involvement with the Roanoke College community.

Dr. Charles W. Bondurant Summer Scholars A stipend provided by Dr. C.H. Fisher and others to allow undergraduate chemistry majors to perform research during the Summer under the supervision of a staff member. Recipients are selected by the chemistry department faculty.

John T. Bowman Memorial Award A prize in money made possible by the income from a gift by Mrs. John T. Bowman of Salem, Virginia, awarded to a senior for outstanding work in the field of religion.

Annie Terrill Bushnell Prize A prize in money awarded annually by the estate of Mrs. William A. Anderson, Jr., in memory of her mother, Annie Terrill Bushnell, to the woman student who has shown the highest qualities of leadership and loyalty to the College and to her fellow students.

The Reverend Dr. John E. Bushnell Prize A prize in money awarded annually by the estate of Mrs. William A. Anderson, Jr., in memory of her father, The Reverend Dr. John E. Bushnell, to the male student who has shown the highest qualities of leadership and loyalty to the College and to his fellow students.

Gertrude B. Camper Outstanding Prospective Teacher Award Student teaching evaluations and recommendations, in conjunction with overall and education grade point averages, will be the primary selection criteria. Recommendations related to other field experiences, including the EDUC 338 internship and the EDUC 340 tutoring practicum will also be considered. A student must hold a minimum 3.0 grade point average, both overall and in education, in order to be considered for this award. Recipient’s name will be engraved on a plaque to be displayed in the Education department, and the recipient will receive a cash award.

Julia McBriety Chalfant Memorial Award An award made possible by the income from gifts of family and friends in memory of the late Julia McBriety Chalfant ’63 for excellence in mathematics.

Chemical Rubber Company Freshman Chemistry Award A book prize, awarded annually by the chemistry department and the Chemical Rubber Company of Cleveland, Ohio, to the student who has shown the greatest achievement in general chemistry.

Criminal Justice Prize A prize awarded annually to that graduating senior majoring in criminal justice who has demonstrated academic excellence and outstanding potential for continued scholarly growth.

Delta Kappa Gamma Society International Award Outstanding woman scholar in education.

Richard deOlazarra Award This award was established to honor Richard deOlazarra who taught Marketing for 30 years. The prize will be awarded annually to an outstanding and deserving rising senior in the marketing concentration.

Julius D. Dreher Endowed Scholarship Award Dr. J. D. Dreher, President of Roanoke College from 1878 to 1903, provided a bequest to “endow a prize scholarship in English language and literature to be awarded annually in the junior class under regulations to be established by the English department.” This scholarship is applicable toward tuition during the senior year at Roanoke College. Only English majors of junior standing are eligible for the award.

John Todd Faw Memorial Award An annual monetary award granted to that Roanoke College student who best exemplifies the spirit of J. Todd Faw, a Roanoke College sophomore at the time of his death in 1982.The recipient should demonstrate an active concern for the Roanoke College community; possess the personal qualities of concern for others, intellectual curiosity, and initiative; and have the commitment and potential to improve society.

Financial Executives International Award An award given by Financial Executives International to students who are recognized as outstanding students in finance and accounting. The recipients are selected by the Business Administration and Economics Department faculty.

Fine Arts Prizes Visual Arts, Theatre, Music Prizes in money awarded annually to increase interest and reward excellence in the department of fine arts, given to those students whose work in the department is most outstanding for the year.

Lawrence D. and Mary A. Fisher Scholarship The income from a gift provided by Dr. and Mrs. Charles Fisher is used to assist an outstanding student majoring in Chemistry or Biochemistry.

Fortnightly Club Award An annual monetary award to a rising junior who has achieved excellence in academics and is active in community service and College-related activities.

Patricia M. Gathercole Literature Award This monetary award is given to the student (or students), majoring or minoring in a Foreign Language, who has done exceptionally well in the study of French, German, or Spanish literature.

Sam Robert Good Award An award established by gifts from Mr. and Mrs. James Cheston and the theatre program to honor Professor Good for his contributions to theatre arts at Roanoke College. It is a prize in money awarded each year to a student who has demonstrated both theatrical and academic excellence at Roanoke College.

Health and Human Performance Award A one-year membership in the American Alliance of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance and a cash award presented by the Department of Health and Human Performance to an upper-class physical education major who has excelled in work performed during the past year.

Pendleton Hogan Mary Queen of Scots Award The income from a gift by Pendleton Hogan ’29, aids Roanoke College students who research the Mary Queen of Scots era.

James Lewis Howe Award Awards provided by the Blue Ridge Chapter of the American Chemical Society and named in honor of James L. Howe, a former member, presented to outstanding chemistry majors.

International Relations Award An award presented to the graduating senior majoring in international relations who has excelled in his/her field and who has attained at least a 3.0 cumulative grade point average.

The Brian Keith Award The Brian Keith Award is awarded annually as a prize for the history student who has shown leadership and service within the Roanoke College student Historical Society.

Daniel Poe Klein Scholarship This scholarship award was established by gifts from his parents, brothers David and Thomas, and friends in memory of Daniel Poe Klein, a member of Pi Kappa Phi. It is presented annually to the male rising senior who has demonstrated outstanding talent in the field of education and who has shown exemplary moral leadership in the College community.

Dr. Philip C. Lee, Jr. Endowed Scholarship An award made annually to a Lee Scholar, who is a Roanoke College Biology major, to support research during the Summer under the supervision of a Biology department faculty member. This endowment was established by family, friends and colleagues in memory of Dr. Philip C. Lee, Jr., a longtime Biology department faculty member.

Gary Wesley Leonard Memorial Award in Biology An award made possible through anonymous gifts of friends and the Beta Beta Beta national honorary biology society in honor of Gary Wesley Leonard, a biology major at the College at the time of his death. Presented annually, the recipient is chosen by the staff of the biology department from the members of the junior or senior class on the basis of general academic excellence, major work of high proficiency in the field of biology, and good student citizenship. The name of the winner is inscribed on a perpetual plaque.

Evans W. Lindsey Memorial Prize A prize in money provided annually through a gift by the late Mr. J.W. Burress, bestowed on that student who, on an advanced level, has done outstanding work in the field of modern foreign languages and served as an inspiration to fellow students.

Jesse Lee and Mary Elizabeth Lucado Award A monetary prize given by Joseph A. Lucado, through an endowment, to the outstanding Senior in teacher education. The recipient’s name will be engraved on the permanent plaque.

Mathematical Association of America Membership Award One-year memberships in the Mathematical Association of America given by the MCSP Department to recognize outstanding achievement in mathematics.

William G. McGowan Scholar A full tuition award for the senior year presented to an outstanding student pursuing a major in Business Administration or Economics or Computer Information Systems. The William G. McGowan Charitable Fund, Inc. makes this award possible as a way to increase the awareness of the contributions made by William G. McGowan founder and Chairman of MCI Communications Corporation, to the fields of business, telecommunications and entrepreneurship. As part of a competitive process, Business Administration and Economics faculty select a recipient from among juniors who have excellent academic records and who have demonstrated outstanding qualities of character and leadership.

The Merck Award Provided by Merck and Company, Inc., it is a Merck Index to an outstanding graduate in Chemistry or Biochemistry.

The Anna Morgan Award for Excellence in Communications An award to a senior who excels in communications and who has demonstrated a commitment to the field.

The Andrew Murphy Award for Fiction An annual prize in “Bucks”, for the best short fiction written by an undergraduate at Roanoke College. The anonymous donor requests that the award be determined by at least three members of the English department faculty. The prize-winning selection will be published in the college’s student literary magazine, with appropriate respects to Professor Andrew Murphy.

Organic Chemistry Award A certificate of accomplishment and the interactive computer course “Introduction to Polymer Chemistry,” given by the Division of Polymer Chemistry of the American Chemical Society, is presented to the outstanding student in the two-semester organic chemistry course.

Outstanding Achievement in Computer Science A gift given by the MCSP Department to recognize outstanding achievement in computer science.

Outstanding Junior Psychology Major A gift given to the junior student or students deemed by the Faculty as having demonstrated outstanding academic achievement and potential for continued success in Psychology.

Outstanding Sophomore Health and Human Performance Major Award This award recognizes a sophomore Health and Human Performance major who shows promise in the field of health and physical education through involvement in professional activities and service. To be eligible for the award students must have completed 13 course units, be in the process of completing four courses in the major, and show a high degree of achievement in their academic work. The minimum GPA requirement will be 2.75. The recipient receives a one-year membership in the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance and will be honored by having his/her name inscribed on the departmental (Outstanding Sophomore Health and Human Performance) plaque.

Outstanding Students in Business Administration, Computer Information Systems, Economics, Accounting, Business Leadership, Finance, Global Business, Health Care Administration, Human Resource Management and Marketing

Awards are presented annually to seniors in Business Administration, Economics, and Computer Information Systems who have excelled in their fields. Also, awards are presented annually to seniors who have excelled in the concentrations of Accounting, Business Leadership, Finance, Global Business, Health Care Administration, Human Resources Management, and Marketing.

Outstanding Student in French Book prizes awarded annually by the French government to the best and most promising students of French.

Outstanding Student in German Book prizes awarded annually by the German Embassy to students of the German language who have excelled in their work during the past year.

Outstanding Student in Spanish Book prizes awarded annually by the foreign language department to the best and most promising students of Spanish.

Mamie S. Patterson Travel Award An award given to students based on their academic achievement in the study of a foreign language and their contribution to the promotion of foreign language study. Awarded for use in conjunction with a May travel course.

George G. Peery Achievement Award An award given annually, the Peery Achievement Award was established in 1986 in honor of Dr. George Peery, former chairman of the Biology Department. The recipient, a junior or senior member of the Tri-Beta Society, is chosen by the membership of Tri-Beta and the faculty of the Biology Department on the basis of both academic achievement and, in particular, outstanding service to the Tri-Beta Society and the Biology Department. The name of the winner is inscribed on a perpetual plaque.

Phi Lambda Upsilon A national honor society for outstanding students of Chemistry and Biochemistry.

Psi Chi Achievement Award A gift given to the Psi Chi member who has best exemplified excellence in scholarship, leadership, and service. The recipient is chosen b student and faculty members of Psi Chi, the honorary society in Psychology.

Physics Society Award A prize in money awarded to the outstanding freshman in physics.

Dr. Harry E. Poindexter Award A prize in money given to a senior history major who has demonstrated academic excellence and leadership in the field of history.

The R. Dan Richardson Award The department of History established this award to honor Dan Richardson and his 30 years of dedicated service to the College. The award is presented to a senior who has demonstrated excellence and promise for growth in modern European history.

Roy H. Ritter Southern History Prize A monetary prize awarded annually in memory of Roy H. Ritter ’26 to a junior or senior who has demonstrated academic excellence and outstanding achievement in the study of the history of the South. Mr. Ritter was a partner in the engineering firm of Whitman, Requardt and Associates and one of America’s outstanding civil engineers.

Jeanne and Ray Robinson Endowed Prize An annual monetary award given to an outstanding journalism student as chosen by the English faculty. This Award was established by a generous gift from Jeanne and Ray Robinson.

The Will Selzer Political Science Award A prize in money awarded annually to that graduating senior majoring in political science who has demonstrated academic excellence and outstanding potential for continued scholarly growth.

The Dr. William A. Sandridge Leadership Award An award given annually in honor of Dr. William A. Sandridge and made possible by the faculty of the Business Administration and Economics Department. The recipient is selected by the Business Administration and Economics faculty from among those graduating seniors who have demonstrated outstanding leadership qualities both within the department and in the campus community.

Estudio Sampere Award This award is offered by the Sampere Institute in connection with an Intensive Learning program of study in Spain.

Frank E. Snow Memorial Award A monetary award given to student (s) majoring in a Foreign Language.

Undergraduate Award in Analytical Chemistry A six month subscription to the journal, Analytical Chemistry, presented to the student showing the most potential for the field.

Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants Award of Achievement An award presented annually to the outstanding student in Accounting. The recipient is selected by the Accounting faculty.

Wall Street Journal Award Presented annually to an outstanding graduating transfer student (20 units or less earned at Roanoke College) in Economics, Computer Information Systems, or Business Administration. The recipient receives a year’s subscription to the “Wall Street Journal”, the “Wall Street Journal” Medal, and will be honored by having his or her name inscribed on the “Wall Street Journal” Plaque.

The Mary Cooper Williams Memorial Award An award, established by Dr. L. Grady Cooper ’22, and his wife, Miriam Greever Cooper, is presented annually to an outstanding student majoring in religion and philosophy with a preference given to Lutheran students who are studying for the ministry or service in the church.

Charles C. Wise Poetry Award A prize in money, made possible by an anonymous donor, is awarded for an original poem judged outstanding by the members of the English department.

Matthew M. Wise Scholarship Prize This scholarship prize was established in honor of Dr. Matthew M. Wise for his 30 years of dedicated service as a faculty member in Roanoke College’s English department. It is used to support the senior English major who is most outstanding academically.

The Reverend Dr. Paul L. Yount Prize A prize in money given annually, in memory of the Reverend Dr. Paul L. Yount ’10, is given annually to the pre-ministerial student who has shown the highest qualities of leadership.