Award Descriptions

Phi Beta Kappa is the nation's oldest and most prestigious academic honor society. Students who have excelled in the study of liberal arts are elected each year by a faculty committee of local chapter members. Election criteria include a record of high achievement in liberal arts courses and majors, competency in math and foreign language, and demonstration of a love of learning as evidenced by the depth and breadth of a student's college career. The Gustavus chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the Eta chapter of Minnesota, was approved in 1982 and formally chartered in April 1983.

The Fulbright U.S. Student Fellowship Program is the largest U.S. exchange program offering opportunities for students and young professionals to undertake international graduate study, advanced research, university teaching, and primary and secondary school teaching worldwide. The program aims to increase mutual understanding between people from the U.S. and other countries. The program currently awards approximately 1,900 grants annually in all fields of study, and operates in more than 140 countries worldwide. 

The Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Program was authorized by the U.S. Congress in 1986 to honor Senator Barry Goldwater, who served his country for 56 years as a soldier and statesman, including 30 years in the U.S. Senate. The scholarship program aims to alleviate a critical current and future shortage of highly qualified scientists, mathematicians, and engineers and to provide a continuing source of highly qualified individuals to those fields of academic study and research. The Goldwater Scholarship, the premier undergraduate award for students pursuing careers in the fields of mathematics, the natural sciences, and engineering, is designated for students entering their junior or senior year in college, and covers the cost of tuition, fees, books, and room and board up to a maximum of $7,500 per year.

 Thanks to generous gifts from Dr. Thomas D. Rossing, which established The Rossing Fund for Physics Education Endowment, the Congregational and Synodical Mission unit of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) offers scholarships of up to $10,000 for outstanding sophomore or junior physics students at ELCA-related colleges or universities. 

Inaugurated in 2014, this scholarship consists of a $4,000 travel stipend for a study experience in Sweden. Eligible nominees must be outstanding, full-time undergraduate students with humanities majors and demonstrated interest in Sweden or a field that is especially prominent in Sweden. Recipients will be selected from a list of candidates nominated by the presidents of the six “Swedish Heritage” institutions.

This scholarship, formerly titled the Glenn T. Seaborg Nobel Travel Award, has been granted annually since 1979 to an outstanding math or science student attending one of the six remaining Swedish-founded colleges. Nominees are named from each college and a single recipient is selected each year to attend the Nobel Prize ceremonies in Stockholm, Sweden, in December and participate in seminars, receptions, and other science activities held in conjunction with the ceremonies.

Swedish Council of America (SCA) Language Award

Inaugurated in 2014, this scholarship consists of a $2,000 travel stipend for a language study experience in Sweden. Eligible nominees must be outstanding, full-time undergraduate students with demonstrated interest in Sweden, plans to study Swedish language in Sweden, or studying in a field that is especially prominent in Sweden. Recipients will be selected from a list of candidates nominated by the presidents of the six “Swedish Heritage” institutions.

The Paterson Award is presented to the outstanding psychology major in Minnesota as determined by a research paper competition at the Minnesota Undergraduate Psychology Conference. Annually, each of the state’s colleges and universities nominates one outstanding major for the competition, and this year the Gustavus nominee earned the honor.

The Boren Scholarship, an initiative of the National Security Education Program, provides funding for U.S. undergraduates to study less commonly taught languages in regions critical to U.S. interests. Boren Scholars represent a vital pool of highly motivated individuals who wish to work in the federal national security arena. In exchange for funding, Boren Scholars commit to working in the federal government for at least one year after graduation.

The Udall Foundation is dedicated to educating a new generation of Americans to preserve and protect their national heritage through studies in the environment and Native American health and tribal public policy. The program provides a $7,000 scholarship and a weeklong networking conference with previous Udall scholars. 

George T. and Emma Torrison Scholarship

The Torrison Scholarship provides grants for men and women who intend to pursue careers in medicine and have been accepted into a medical school. The scholarship provides up to three years of education for graduating seniors with membership in the ELCA who are pursuing careers in medicine. The College’s nomination is required. The donors had a particular concern to encourage persons whose careers would lead them toward working to alleviate currently incurable diseases.

Minnesota Campus Compact Presidents' Award for Civic Engagement

This award is given to an individual student or a student organization that models a deep commitment to civic responsibility and leadership evidenced by initiative, innovative, and collaborative approaches to addressing public issues, effective community building, and integration of civic engagement into the college experience.

Truman Scholarship

The Truman Scholarship provides up to $30,000 in merit-based funding to students dedicated to public service leadership to pursue a graduate degree. The Foundation also provides assistance with career counseling, internship placement, graduate school admissions, and professional development. 

Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, and administered by the Institute of International Education (IIE), the Gilman program was established in 2000 and first awarded for the following academic year. Around 130 awards announced annually provide up to $5,000 each for undergraduate students to pursue overseas study.

Critical Language Scholarship

Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) institutes provide seven to ten weeks of fully-funded group-based intensive language instruction and structured cultural enrichment experiences in countries where “critical” languages are spoken. These languages include Arabic, Azerbaijani, Bangla, Chinese, Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Persian, Punjabi, Russian, Swahili, Turkish, and Urdu. 

Project Go Language Scholarship

Project Global Officer (GO) is a Department of Defense initiative aimed at improving the language skills, regional expertise, and intercultural communication skills of future military officers. The Scholarship funds critical language education, study abroad, and intercultural dialogue for Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) students. Project GO programs focus on the languages and countries of the Middle east, Asia, Central Asia, Africa, and South America.

Think Swiss Research Award

ThinkSwiss is a scholarship program funded by the Embassy of Switzerland in Washington, D.C. The aim of the program is to promote and fund research opportunities in Switzerland for American students, and to foster exchange between universities and research institutions. Applicants identify a Swiss research laboratory and write a research proposal in collaboration with that lab.

Public Policy and International Affairs- Junior Summer Institute

Each year, PPIA seeks out high-potential undergraduate students from universities across the country to participate in an intensive seven-week Junior Summer Institute (JSI) before their senior year. During their program, fellows are equipped with the knowledge and skills they will need to succeed in graduate school, and ultimately in influential roles serving the public good.

Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies Congressional Fellowship

The Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies is a national non-partisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting Asian Pacific American participation and representation at all levels of the political process, from community service to elected office.

DAAD-Rise Scholarship

The German Academic Exchange Service’s (DAAD) RISE (Research Internships in Science and Engineering) program offers undergraduate students the opportunity to complete a summer research internship at one of Germany’s top universities and research institutions. The program’s mission is to “promote student exchange to Germany in the fields of natural science, engineering, and life sciences, and to motivate undergraduate students to learn more about Germany’s research landscape and study opportunities.”

Toshizo Watanabe Scholarship

The Toshizo Watanabe Scholarship provides financial assistance to undergraduates/graduate students for a semester or year-long study abroad program in either the United States or Japan. A generous endowment gift of $10 million from Mr. Toshizo (Tom) Watanabe to the U.S.-Japan Council makes it possible to award scholarships to students for whom study abroad would not be possible without financial support. The scholarship will support up to the full cost of attendance to the study abroad program of the applicant’s choice.

Jay and Rose Phillips Scholarship

Awarded through the Minnesota Private College Fund, the scholarship is designed to support and encourage students who have the potential for community leadership and wish to dedicate a portion of their personal or professional lives to improving our society. Students from all Minnesota Private College Council schools are eligible to submit applications to campus committees, with one student per school forwarded to the Phillips Scholarship Committee. Six winners are then selected annually. This service project scholarship provides $5,000 of scholarship assistance to each winner for each of the junior and senior years as well as a $4,000 stipend to assist with the costs of completing a summer community service project.

National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program

The National Science Foundation “seeks to ensure the vitality of the human resource base of science, mathematics, and engineering in the United States and to reinforce its diversity” by awarding graduate fellowships for research-based PhD programs.

Schwarzman Scholarship

Schwarman Scholars are chosen for this highly selective program to live in Beijing for a year of study and cultural immersion and be enrolled in a one-year master’s degree in global affairs at Beijing’s Tsinghua University.

Scoville Peace Fellowship

The Herbert Scoville Jr. Peace Fellowship was established in 1987 to recruit and train the next generation of policy and advocacy leaders on a range of international peace and security issues in order to inspire creative new approaches to the pervasive challenges to peace and security. Scoville Fellows work full time in Washington D.C. at a participating public-interest organization of their choice.

Alpha, Alpha, Alpha Honor Society 

Tri-Alpha is a national honor society for first-generation college students that was founded in 2018. The Gustavus chapter of Epsilon Xi was chartered in 2022. Students are invited to join based on a minimum overall GPA and if neither the student’s parents, step-parents, nor legal guardians has completed a bachelor’s degree.

The Guild of St. Ansgar, which is named for the first Christian missionary to the Scandinavians (and in honor of St. Ansgar’s Academy, the name by which the College was known in the first decade following its founding), is an honorary society for seniors at the College. It was established in the spring of 1952 in response to a desire to recognize the overall achievements—scholarship, leadership, and participation in extracurricular activities—of graduating seniors. 

The Guild of St. Lucia was established in 1957 and named for a saint revered by the Swedish people, celebrating the College’s Swedish heritage. It honors women who have achieved academic success, displayed leadership qualities, and provided service to the College. Fifteen juniors are elected in the spring of each year, with outgoing seniors initiating new members in service projects.

Established in 1991 and annually supported by the Hon. Paul Magnuson ’59, chief judge of the U.S. Federal District Court in St. Paul and former trustee of the College, to recognize the significant contributions that individual students and student groups make to campus life. Each year, outstanding students and student organizations are nominated by fellow students, faculty, administrators, or staff for recognition and a selection committee assembled by the dean of students reviews nominations and determines honorees in three categories: individual student leaders, campus organizations, and student-initiated events.

Recognizes a student who overcame extraordinary adversity on the path to graduation.

Established in 1999 by Tim Flatt ’91 and Tracie Kurth ’94 and awarded to a junior or senior who has demonstrated leadership in raising campus awareness of gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender rights and concerns.

Established in 2000 by Ann Schwalm Schwanke ’69 and her husband, Dr. Arlyn Schwanke, with gratitude for the example of her parents, Mark and Helen Schwalm, and for the encouragement of Gustavus mentors Milton Brostrom ’49, professor emeritus of mathematics and computer science, and his wife, Elaine, retired director of public affairs. The award recognized a current Gustavus sophomore, junior, or senior who in his or her voluntary and community service for the benefit of those outside the Gustavus campus, “models an understanding of vocation and leadership embodied in creative, innovative, and extraordinary efforts or new initiatives that respond to the needs of society.”

Endowed by a gift from Jane and H. Bradford Thompson and presented annually, beginning in 1983–84, to the junior student or students (as determined by credits) with the highest cumulative GPA following the previous spring semester. It is named for the distinguished English professor (taught 1947–1983).

Endowed by a gift from Jane and H. Bradford Thompson and presented annually, beginning in 1983–84, to the senior student or students (as determined by credits) with the highest cumulative GPA following the previous spring semester. It is named for the distinguished academic dean and mathematics professor who also served as acting president of the College (1968–69).

Endowed awards established in 2007 as the Gordon Mansergh Scholarship with gifts from Mansergh, a 1984 psychology graduate who was the founding director of the Wellness Center at Boston University and since 1995 has worked with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), most recently as senior behavioral scientist in the Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention. Renamed the Mansergh Award in 2011, the awards facilitate credited experiences of junior or senior Gustavus students involved in internships in U.S. federal agencies that address public health issues. The provost’s office shall oversee the selection of each year’s Mansergh Award recipients, with input from appropriate academic departments and faculty.

Sigma Xi research grants are awarded annually to students submitting proposals for independent study in the natural or behavioral sciences. Funds come in part from a request by Dr. O.W. Holcomb, former chief of staff at Bethesda Lutheran Medical Center in St. Paul. Additional funds are provided by the Sigma Xi-Albert G. Swanson Fund, which was established as the seed for an undergraduate research fund in 1971 by Martha M. Swanson to honor her husband, the longtime mathematics professor and academic dean at the College (taught 1947-1969)

Art and Art History

Dean's Art Award

Award given to a rising junior art major to purchase supplies and materials for the senior art seminar. The recipient is chosen by the art and art history department faculty on the basis of [their] promise as an artist.

Art and Art History

President's Art Award

Biology

Rubert Anderson Research Award

Established by the Department of Biology in 1985 to honor the late biochemist Rubert S. Anderson for his philanthropy to the department, it recognizes outstanding academic achievement in biology.

Biology

J.A. Edquist Award

Named after an early professor of biology and botany at Gustavus (1889–1930), the award recognizes outstanding academic achievement in biology.

Biology

Charles L. Hamrum Award

Established in 1982 by a group of graduates who had entered the field of entomology, this award is given annually in honor of the late biology professor, a member of the Class of 1947 (taught 1949–1988), for his contributions to and influence on their careers. The group also set up a scholarship endowment fund in Hamrum’s name. The award was first presented in 1984 and recognizes the achievements of an upperclass student majoring in biology.

Biology

Outstanding Service Award 

Presented annually to recognize a student or students for outstanding service to the biology department.

Biology

Rubert Anderson Award in Systematics

Established by the Department of Biology in 2008 to engage students in collections-based systematics work in one of the department’s permanent resource collections of plants or animals. Named in honor of the late Rubert S. Anderson, a biochemist affiliated with Princeton University, the Marine Biological Institute at Woods Hole, and the University of South Dakota, for his donations to the Gustavus biology program, this award annually recognizes student contributions to systematics work.

Biology

Beta Beta Beta National Biology Honors Society

Founded at Oklahoma City University in 1922 and chartered as a national honor society in 1925; the Gustavus chapter, Iota Rho, was established April 15, 1977.

Chemistry

American Chemical Society Division of Analytical Chemistry Award

The ACS’s Division of Analytical Chemistry sponsors annual awards to undergraduate students enrolled in programs emphasizing analytical chemistry who have completed at least one full year of study. The faculty determines other criteria and selects one outstanding student, who receives a complimentary one-year division membership.

 Chemistry

American Chemical Society Division of Organic Chemistry Undergraduate Award 

The ACS’s Division of Organic Chemistry sponsors annual awards to undergraduate students enrolled in programs emphasizing organic chemistry who have completed at least one full year of study. The faculty determines other criteria and selects one outstanding student, who receives a complimentary one-year division membership.

Chemistry

American Chemical Society Division of Physical Chemistry Undergraduate Award

The ACS’s Division of Physical Chemistry sponsors annual awards to undergraduate students demonstrating excellence in physical chemistry and related fields based on research, coursework, and/or dedication to the field. The faculty determines other criteria and selects one outstanding student each year.

 Chemistry

American Chemical Society Division of Polymer Chemistry Award

Presented by the faculty to recognize outstanding achievement by a chemistry major during the first two semesters of organic chemistry.

Chemistry

American Chemical Society Division of Inorganic Chemistry Undergraduate Award

The ACS’s Division in Inorganic Chemistry sponsors annual awards to undergraduate students enrolled in chemistry, environmental engineering, or other programs emphasizing inorganic chemistry who have completed at least one full year of study. The faculty determines other criteria and selects one outstanding student, who receives a complimentary one-year division membership.

Chemistry

American Chemical Society Division of Environmental Chemistry Undergraduate Award

The ACS’s Division of Environmental Chemistry sponsors annual awards to undergraduate students enrolled in programs emphasizing environmental chemistry who have completed at least one full year of study. The faculty determines other criteria and selects one outstanding student, who receives a complimentary one-year division membership.

 Chemistry

American Institute of Chemists Award

Presented by the faculty to an outstanding chemistry major who plans to pursue graduate study in the field.

Chemistry

Analytical Chemistry Award

Sponsored by the American Chemical Society and awarded to an outstanding student pursuing interests in analytical chemistry.

Chemistry

Frances Engelmann Knock Scholarship

 Chemistry

Freshman Chemistry Award

Presented to the top first-year chemistry student or students at the completion of the general chemistry course.

Chemistry

Hypercube Award 

Sponsored by Hypercube, Inc., a computatative chemistry software company located in Gainesville, Fla., and first awarded in 2000. It is presented annually to the outstanding student in physical chemistry as selected by the department faculty.

Classics

The Society of Classical Studies (SCS) Award

The American Philological Association, now known as the Society for Classical Studies (SCS), has invited member colleges and universities to recognize an outstanding student in classics annually since 2009 and has presented outstanding achievement awards to the students so designated by the department faculty.

 Classics

Eta Sigma Phi National Classics Honor Society, Epsilon Xi Chapter (inducted 2018)

Founded at the University of Chicago in 1914 and chartered as a national honor society in 1924; a local chapter, Epsilon Xi, was established in 1981.

Classics

The Flory-Freiert Fellowship

The Flory-Freiert Fellowship Fund was established in 2010 with the support of friends of Gustavus classics and named in honor of Marleen and Stewart Flory and Patricia and William Friert, the four distinguished classicists who built the classics department and gave it more than 120 years of combined service. The Fellowship offers students the opportunity to pursue their interests in classics by funding a project of their own design through an award of up to $2,000. The awarding of Fellowship funds began in 2013 and will initially occur in alternate years, switching to an annual basis when additional funds become available. Recipients need not be classics majors; however, the proposed project should demonstrate a substantial connection to the field of classics broadly defined.

Classics

Kehm Smith Award

The award includes the cost of tuition for a Gustavus classics major to participate in the Santa Susana Excavation Project in Redondo, Portugal, during the coming summer. It was made possible through the generosity of Gustavus alumna and classics major Emily Kehm Smith ‘06 and her husband, Austin.

Classics

J.A. Youngquist Award in Classics

Homini summe omnium doctrinarum studioso. Awarded to the senior student in the department with the top academic record. It was established in 1984 by Professor Emeritus Rufus Logan (taught 1939–1974) and his wife, Marion Youngquist Logan, a 1924 graduate, to honor the memory of her father, Professor J.A. Youngquist, a member of Gustavus’s first graduating class in 1890 and a longtime professor of classics (taught 1892–1942).

Classics

Professor J.A. and Hilda Youngquist Adeline Andreen and Ruth Youngquist Memorial Scholarship

Endowed scholarship established in 1948 in memory of the late classics professor (taught 1892–1942) and his wife by their three daughters: Ruth Youngquist, attended 1914– 1916; Adeline Andreen, Class of 1917; and Marion Logan, Class of 1924. Augmented in 1984 by Rufus and Marion Youngquist Logan and awarded to an outstanding major in classics, as nominated by the faculty.

Classics

Marleen B. Flory Award

Classics

Nelson and Nelson Scholarship

 Communications Studies

John E. Braun Award for Outstanding Achievement in Communication Studies

Named for Professor Emeritus John Braun (taught 1971–2001) and awarded to a junior or senior communication studies major who demonstrates outstanding service and/or exceptional dedication to the study of the major; recipients are chosen by vote of department faculty.

 Communications Studies

William G. Robertz Award for Outstanding Scholarship in Communication Studies

Named for Professor Emeritus William Robertz ’51 (taught 1957–1995) and awarded to a graduating senior communication studies major who demonstrates academic excellence in the major and outstanding potential for success in graduate school; recipients are selected by the department faculty.

Communications Studies

Lambda Pi Eta National Honor Society in Communication Studies

Established in 1985 at the University of Arkansas, Lambda Pi Eta became part of the National Communication Association (NCA) in 1988 and the NCA’s official national undergraduate honor society in 1995. The Gustavus chapter, Psi, is a charter member.

Economics and Management

Logan Scholarship in Economics and Management

Economics and Management

Mairs and Power Award for Investment Study

Economics and Management

Minnesota Society of CPAs

Economics and Management

Minnesota Society of CPAs - Southern Chapter

Economics and Management

Terry & Lois Skone Investment Scholarship

Economics and Management

Ellery and Eileen Peterson Accounting/ Mathematics Scholarship

Economics and Management

Lorraine and Edward Skone Scholarship

Economics and Management

Torrey Scholarship

Students studying in the economics and management department with preference given to students concentrating in accounting and/or finance with further preference given to students from rural Minnesota, then to students from Minneapolis/St. Paul, and finally to students from North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Iowa in order of preference.

Education

Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society in Education 

Organized as the Illinois Education Club in 1911 to recognize excellence in education, the society elects those to membership who exhibit the ideals of scholarship, high personal standards, and promise in teaching professions. The Gustavus chapter, Phi Mu, was chartered in 1995.

English

Gerhard T. Alexis English Prize 

Named in honor of the distinguished professor (taught 1947-1983) and awarded annually, beginning in 1984, for excellence in English studies

 English

Sigma Tau Delta National English Honor Society, Pi Rho Chapter

Founded as the English Club at Dakota Wesleyan in Mitchell, S.D., in 1922 and chartered as a national honor society in 1924; the Gustavus chapter, Pi Rho, was established in 1982.

 English

Lawrence S. Owen Prize in Creative Writing

(Non-Fiction, Fiction, and Poetry subcategories)

Named in honor of the distinguished professor (taught 1963–1996) and awarded annually, beginning in 1998, for excellence in creative writing. 

English

Florence Amamoto Prize in Academic Excellence

The Florence Amamoto Prize for Academic Excellence honors outstanding student academic writing in the English major. The award is named for Professor Florence Amamoto to celebrate her contributions to the English Department and Gustavus Adolphus College.

English

Ann Brady Scholars

The Ann Brady Scholars honors a former faculty member in the English Department, who was a trailblazer and tireless advocate for her students in general, particularly women scholars. This award recognizes student excellence as an integral part of Dr. Brady’s continuing legacy at Gustavus Adolphus College.

Environmental Studies

Established in 1998 to honor Professor Emeritus Robert Moline (taught 1961–1998), the founder and longtime director of the Environmental Studies Program at Gustavus. Awarded annually for excellence in environmental studies and for awareness of and commitment to environmental issues.

First Term Seminar

The First Term Seminar Excellence in Writing Award

The First Term Seminar Excellence in Writing Award recognizes excellence in written communication by a first-year student in a First Term Seminar (FTS) course. Professors of each FTS section may nominate one paper for the award, and winning papers are selected in a blind review by a panel of faculty and senior students.

Forensics

Outstanding Forensics Achievement Award

Presented for outstanding achievement in intercollegiate debate or individual speech competition. All students who participate in competitive forensics activities at the College are eligible for this annual award, regardless of major.

Forensics

Pi Kappa Delta National Honors Society in Forensics

Founded in 1913, Pi Kappa Delta is the nation’s oldest and largest forensics honorary association. It recognizes excellence in intercollegiate speech and debate training. The Gustavus chapter (Minnesota Gamma) was inaugurated by Debate Coach J. Stanley Gray in 1916.

Geography

Minneota GIS/LIS Outstanding Student Representative

Geography

Aaron Insley Award for Excellence in Cartography and Geographic Information Science

The Aaron Insley prize honors the groundbreaking work of former geography student Aaron Insley ’08, who was the first Gustavus GIS student to create animated maps for his final project. During Aaron’s senior year at Gustavus in November 2007, he was involved in a car accident and suffered a head injury from which he is still recovering.

 Geography

National Council for Geographic Education Award

 Geography

Gamma Theta Upsilon International Geographical Honor Society

Founded in 1928 at Illinois State University and chartered as a national honor society in 1931; the Gustavus chapter, Lambda Iota, was established in 2003.

Geology

Geology with Honors

These awardees design and complete an independent geology research project, write a senior thesis, and present their findings at an on-campus symposium. The honor is for achieving excellence in geological reasoning, and communicating science to a variety of audiences.

Health and Exercise Science

Gary Reinholtz Outstanding Athletic Training Student Award

Honoring Gustavus’s first athletic training coordinator and certified athletic trainer (taught 1976–2004), who created the College’s first classes in athletic training in 1977 and was also instrumental in developing an AT major in 1986 and gaining national accreditation; since 2011 this award has been selected by faculty and staff annually to recognize the most exceptional student in the program.

Health and Exercise Science

Iota Tau Alpha National Athletic Training Education Honor Society

History

DeNault Essay Prize for Outstanding Essays in History

Presented for the first time in 1991, this prize was established in 1989 by John and Jean DeNault, friends of the College, to recognize the teaching ability of history professor Thomas A. Emmert (taught 1973–2011) by annually awarding prizes for the finest undergraduate paper or papers in the field of history.

Intercollegiate Athletics

Presented annually since 1970 to the senior male athlete with the highest scholastic grade point average, the award is a continuation of the Myrum Key, which had been awarded from 1947 until 1969, and also carries on the tradition of the Schleuder Medal (awarded 1924–1951) and later the Langsjoen Medal (1952–1969). Professor emeritus, longtime coach, and athletics director Lloyd Hollingsworth (taught 1942–1982) assumed sponsorship of the award in 1970, and it is awarded now in his memory.

 Intercollegiate Athletics

Sponberg Memorial Basketball Trophy

 Intercollegiate Athletics

Evelyn Sponberg Young Award

Named in honor of the late Evelyn Sponberg Young, 1933 graduate, athlete, and longtime dining service director, and presented annually since 1977 to the senior woman athlete who has maintained the highest scholastic grade point average and has received at least four varsity awards.

Library

Patricia Lindell Research Paper Award

The Patricia Lindell Research Prize/Paper is awarded by the library faculty for a Gustavus academic course paper that demonstrates excellent use of source material.

Mathematics, Computer Science, and Statistics

John Borneman Prize Par Excellence in Mathematics Scholarship

Named in memory of the 1955 graduate by his family and presented annually to an outstanding student in physics and/or mathematics and computer science, as nominated by the faculties of both departments.

Mathematics, Computer Science, and Statistics

Corey Ervin Prize for Outstanding Contribution to the Department

Established in 1999 through a memorial gift to the MCS and IT departments of the College from Ann and David Hovda, mother and stepfather of Corey Ervin, a mathematics major whose degree was awarded posthumously in 1999 after he was killed in an automobile accident in November 1998. The award, first presented in 2000, goes to a department major judged by the faculty to have provided outstanding leadership and service in the department during their college career.

Mathematics, Computer Science, and Statistics

Lester Lundberg Prize in Mathematics

Modern Languages, Literatures, and Cultures

Dobro Slovo National Slavic Honor Society

Dobro Slovo was originally founded as a local Slavic honorary society on the campus of the University of California, Berkeley, in 1926. In 1963, with the help and encouragement of the American Association of Teachers of Slavic and East European Languages, Dobro Slovo became the National Slavic Honor Society. The Gustavus chapter was chartered in 2005.

Modern Languages, Literatures, and Cultures

Pi Delta Phi National Honor Society in French

Pi Delta Phi was founded as a departmental honor society at the University of California, Berkeley, in 1906. After nearly 20 years as a local chapter, the society declared itself the National French Honor Society and chartered the Beta Chapter at the University of Southern California in 1925. The Gustavus chapter, Iota Upsilon, was established in 1986.

Modern Languages, Literatures, and Cultures

Sigma Delta Pi National Honor Society in Spanish

Established in 1919 as La Sociedad Nacional Honoraria Hispánica at the University of California, Berkeley; the Gustavus chapter, Nu Upsilon, was chartered in 1979.

Music

Pi Kappa Lambda National Honor Society in Music

Music

Music for Peace Composition Prize

Music

Seniors Honor Recital Winners

Neuroscience

Nu Rho Psi Honor Society of Neuroscience

Founded in 2006 by the Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience. The Gustavus chapter was established in 2015.

Nursing

Faye M. Hershey Prize in Nursing

Established in 1992 by mathematics professor Barbara Knight Kaiser to honor the memory of her grandmother, Faye M. Hershey, a dedicated volunteer worker in nursing throughout her lifetime. This is an annual award made just prior to the senior year of a Gustavus Adolphus College student who shows promise as a prospective nurse and whose activities include volunteer work.

Nursing

Senior Nursing Award for Academic Excellence

Awarded to the senior nursing student who has achieved the highest academic record; the award was established in 1985 and first presented in 1986.

Nursing

Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing

Founded in 1922 at the Indiana University Training School for Nurses in Indianapolis; a local chapter, Chi-at-large, was established in 1990.

Peace Studies

Ruth Youngdahl Nelson Peace Education Award

This scholarship honors the memory of Ruth Youngdahl Nelson, distinguished Gustavus alumna (Class of 1924) and peace activist. It is intended for students who propose to become actively involved in peacemaking in some experiential way.

Peace Studies

Peace Studies Award- Independent Study Peace Awards

Recipients either conduct independent projects which focus on peace and justice issues or enroll in off-campus formal courses of study concerned integrally with issues of peace and justice.

Peace Studies

Off-Campus/ Independent Study Peace Studies Awards

These scholarships are awarded to students who enroll off-campus in formal courses of study concerned integrally with issues of peace and justice or who pursue independent study projects that focus on peace and justice issues. The Peace Education Committee encourages students to propose projects that require the student to travel to and live in other cultures. Study projects may be carried out as independent studies or while working for a peace-related organization.

Physics

John Borneman Prize Par Excellence in Mathematics Scholarship

Named in memory of the 1955 graduate by his family and presented annually to an outstanding student in physics and/or mathematics and computer science, as nominated by the faculties of both departments.

Physics

Julian A. Crawford Memorial Physics Award

Named in memory of the former chair of the physics department (1967–1969) and awarded to the student with “the greatest potential for contributing to physics and society.”

Physics

Harold Q. Fuller and Richard M. Fuller Physics Achievement Award

Established in 1997 by Emeritus Professor Richard Fuller (taught 1968–1999) and his wife, Judith, to honor his late father, a physics professor and dean at the University of Missouri, for his lifetime commitment to the teaching of young people, and also to mark his own 30+ year career at Gustavus. The awards are designated to encourage first-year physics students.

Physics

Milward T. Rodine Memorial Physics Award 

Named for the longtime professor of physics (taught 1933–1969) and awarded to a junior major on the basis of interests and scholarly achievements.

 Physics

Sigma Pi Sigma National Physics Honor Society

Founded in 1921 at Davidson College in North Carolina and chartered as a national honor society in 1925; the Gustavus chapter was established in 2004.

Physics

John Chindvall Scholarship

This endowed scholarship was established in memory of 1970 Gustavus graduate John Chindvall by his parents and friends. It is awarded annually to encourage physics students who demonstrate character and scholastic promise.

Physics

Gerald and Julia Swanson Scholarship

Awarded annually to a physics student of high promise. This scholarship was established to honor the work of the physics department faculty who provided Gerald Swanson with a background that prepared him for graduate study in physics and for a career with the Bendix Corporation.

 Political Science

Pi Sigma Alpha National Honor Society in Political Science

Founded in 1920 at the University of Texas, the national political science honor society now has more than 425 chapters nationwide; the Gustavus chapter, Pi Gamma, was established in 1986.

Political Science

Political Science Writing Award 

Honoring the students whose papers written for political science classes are judged by department faculty to be exemplary in their written expression, imaginative ideas, and depth of research. This award continues a department tradition initiated in 1987.

Political Science

Ronald S. and Rolf S. Christenson Scholarship

Awarded to a junior political science major judged exemplary in the excellence, depth, and imagination of their academic performance in political science and who has a demonstrated interest in public service.

Psychological Science

Psi Chi National Honor Society in Psychology

Founded in 1929 at the Ninth International Congress of Psychology held at Yale University; a Gustavus chapter was established in 1988.

Religion

George Hall Prize for Scholarship in Religion

Named for the longtime religion professor (taught 1938–1956) and awarded annually in May, beginning in 1980, to a senior majoring or minoring in religion who exhibits excellence in research, writing, and class participation. (The student listed above is the previous year’s recipient, as the award for the current year is announced after Honors Day.)

Religion

Theta Alpha Kappa Religion Honor Society

Religion

Theta Alpha Kappa Undergraduate Achievement Award

Religion

Apologetics Award

Hasselquist Scandinavian Scholars Award

Awarded to students who wish to study abroad anywhere in Scandinavia, with preference given to Scandinavian Studies majors and minors, with at least one award reserved for a student who wishes to study at Uppsala University in Sweden (per the donor’s preferences).

Sociology and Anthropology

Lambda Alpha National Collegiate Honors Society for Anthropology

Founded in 1968 at Wichita State University; the Gustavus chapter, Alpha of Minnesota, was chartered in 2004.

Sociology and Anthropology

Floyd M. Martinson Award

Endowment established by the late research professor Floyd Martinson (taught 1945–1982) and his wife, Beatrice, in 1986 to fund an annual award beginning in the 1986–87 school year. The award is designed to recognize an outstanding student as selected by the department faculty.

Sociology and Anthropology

Alpha Kappa Delta International Honor Society in Sociology

National society founded in 1920 at the University of Southern California; the Gustavus chapter, Kappa of Minnesota, was reactivated in 2002.

Theatre and Dance

Oustanding Student in Design, Technology, or Production

Awarded annually to the junior or senior who has demonstrated exceptional leadership, sustained commitment, and artistic excellence as a performance designer, technician, or stage manager. Recipients are chosen by the faculty of the Department of Theatre and Dance.

Theatre and Dance

Distinguished Dance Student Award

Awarded annually to a student participating in the dance program who has made the greatest contribution to dance as a leader and artist while demonstrating excellence and distinction in their work. Each recipient’s name will appear on the Distinguished Dance Student plaque displayed in the Anderson Theatre lobby.

Theatre and Dance

Elco Corporation Award

Presented annually to a student who has made the greatest contribution to excellence in the Department of Theatre and Dance. Recipients’ names are recorded on a plaque displayed in the Anderson Theatre lobby. 

Theatre and Dance

Arthur Lundgren Theatre Prize

Presented annually to a student who has made the greatest contribution to excellence in the Department of Theatre and Dance. Recipients’ names are recorded on a plaque displayed in the Anderson Theatre lobby

Theatre and Dance

Outstanding Leadership in Theatre/Dance for Social Justice

Awarded to a junior or senior who has demonstrated exceptional leadership, sustained commitment, and creative spirit in the pursuit of social change through performance. In recognition of Professor Amy Seham’s profound commitment to this work, this award will be renamed the The Amy Seham Award for Outstanding Leadership in Social Justice Theatre/Dance upon her retirement. Recipients are chosen by faculty in the Department of Theatre and Dance.

Theatre and Dance

Outstanding Student in Performance Design

Award began in 2014 to recognize an upperclass student who has demonstrated outstanding creativity, commitment, and collaboration in set design and other technical aspects of theatre and dance. Recipients are chosen by the faculty of the Department of Theatre and Dance.

Endowment established in 1980 by members of the Class of 1980 in honor of the 11th president of the College (served 1975–1980) and his wife. The scholarship is designated for a senior student to be selected by the Office of the Dean of Students in the spring prior to their senior year on the basis of “academic achievement, service and leadership to the Gustavus Adolphus community, and participation in its livelihood.”

Endowed scholarships originally established in 1999 with gifts from the Maedls and awarded annually (1999–2005) to two outstanding students—one in the sciences or mathematics and one in the humanities or fine arts. A revised agreement taking effect in 2008–09 established awards for the top Presidential Scholarship recipients from each area, as determined by GPA, for use in the students’ senior year.