II. Scholarships, Honors, and Awards

Albion College Academic Scholarships

Albion College awards scholarships to students with outstanding academic records. The College complies with all state, federal, and National Collegiate Athletic Association guidelines in making these awards.

The following are offered to incoming first-year students (unless otherwise stated) without regard to financial need and are renewable as long as grade point average requirements are met. The scholarship amounts and the renewal requirements are available from the Financial Aid Office.

For more information about need-based financial aid, contact the Financial Aid Office, ext. 0440. See also the Financial Aid section in the chapter on Campus Services and Resources in the Student Handbook.

Distinguished Albion Scholars

Distinguished Albion Scholars are selected from among Trustee Scholarship recipients (see below) and have demonstrated outstanding academic achievements, skills, special talents, and abilities that define a superior Albion freshman. Additionally, these students will serve as leaders and mentors for others in class, in co-curricular activities, and within the greater Albion community.

While most Distinguished Albion Scholars will reflect the highest academic achievement among all Albion freshmen, awardees may possess a unique talent, special gift, or skill, or have made an exceptional contribution to their community that reflects the overall mission of Albion College. In some cases, a student’s exceptional contribution outside of standard academic measures may take precedence.

Trustee Scholarships

Albion awards Trustee Scholarships to students who earn a minimum ACT score of 29 (SAT = 1300) and a minimum GPA of 3.8 (on a 4.0 scale). Students must demonstrate leadership and/or service activities in their admission application. National Merit Scholarship finalists who indicate Albion College as their first choice on the NMSC application form by April 1 are given exceptional consideration. Students considered for Trustee Scholarships must apply and be accepted by January 15 and are strongly encouraged to visit Albion and interview with faculty and admissions staff.

Presidential Scholarships

Presidential Scholarships are awarded to students who earn a minimum ACT score of 27 (SAT = 1220) and a minimum GPA of 3.7 (on a 4.0 scale). Students must demonstrate substantial involvement in both academic and extracurricular activities in their admission application. All students considered for Presidential Scholarships must apply and be accepted by January 15 and are strongly encouraged to visit Albion and interview with faculty and admissions staff.

Webster Scholarships

Albion awards Webster Scholarships to students who earn a minimum ACT score of 25 (SAT = 1140) or a minimum GPA of 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale). Students are strongly encouraged to visit Albion and interview with faculty and admissions staff.

Briton Awards

Eligibility for the Briton Award is determined by an index score that uses equal values from the student’s GPA and standardized test scores. Generally the award is available to students with a 3.2 high school GPA (on a 4.0 scale) and an ACT score of 22 or an SAT score of 1020. Students are strongly encouraged to visit Albion and interview with faculty and admissions staff.

Institute for the Study of the Environment Scholarships

Ford Institute Scholarships

Gerstacker Institute Scholarships

Liberal Arts Institute for Pre-Medical and Health Care Studies Scholarships

Fritz Shurmur Education Institute Scholarships

The Institutes offer a limited number of scholarships to first-year and upperclass students based on academic record and contributions to the program. The Gerstacker Institute also awards the Carl A. Gerstacker Scholarship to its top first-year applicant. Contact the respective program director for application and renewal guidelines.

Music Scholarships

The Music Department awards renewable scholarships to qualified incoming first-year students without regard to academic major. Students qualify for these awards by demonstrating their musical ability through an audition and by participating in performing groups. In addition, the Westbrook Scholarship is awarded each year to a first-year student intending to major in music. This scholarship is renewable for four years, and is based upon talent as determined by an audition. Contact the Music Department chair for specific renewal guidelines.

Theatre and Visual Arts Scholarships

Theatre Scholarships and Visual Arts Scholarships are awarded to incoming first-year students based upon talent as determined by the respective department. These scholarships are awarded without regard to academic major and are renewable as long as the recipient continues to participate in the arts area as specified by that department. For further information, contact the respective department chair.

Endowed Scholarships

Albion College has a variety of endowed scholarships created through private gifts and awarded under guidelines established by the donors and the College. For further information, contact the Financial Aid Office, ext. 0440.

United Methodist Scholarships

The John Wesley Scholarship Program assists academically competent United Methodist high school seniors who have been active in their local churches and have been admitted to Albion College. Under this program, the College matches grants from local churches. Application and renewal information is available from the Financial Aid Office, ext. 0440.

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Academic Achievement Awards

The Edmund and Kathleen Jenkins Award

The Jenkins Award recognizes outstanding student research by a member or members of the fourth-year class. Recipients are selected by the Honors Institute Committee and are recognized at the annual Honors Convocation. For further information, contact the Honors Institute director.

Departmental Scholarships, Awards and Prizes

Recipients of the following are selected under guidelines established by the donors and the College. For further information, contact the department.

Robert B. Notestein Award for Outstanding Scholarship in Anthropology/Sociology

Arthur and Eva Janson Scholarship for Sustained Performance in Art and Art History

Geoffrey S. Morris, ’66, Endowed Scholarship in Visual Arts

Evelyn B. Taup Scholarship in the Visual Arts

Milton J. Taup Scholarship in the Visual Arts

Evelyn B. and Milton J. Taup Scholarship in the Visual Arts

Outstanding Senior Art Major Award

Outstanding Senior Art History Major Award

A. Merton Chickering Prize for Research in Biology by a Junior or Senior

Lyman S.V. Judson Award for the Outstanding Senior Biology Major

Marilyn Young Vitek Merit Scholarships in Biology

Dr. Stefan H. Kobiljak Pre-Medical Scholarship (Pre-Medical/Pre-Dental Advisory Committee)

The Lepard Family Pre-Medical Scholarship

Barbara Putnam Smith Award in Natural Resources (Biology)

Ewell A. Stowell and Barbara J. Stowell Scholarship in Environmental Biology

Steven D. Reed Award for Excellence in Student Laboratory Teaching in Biology

Excelda Manufacturing Scholarship in Chemistry

Marvin F. Grostic Endowed Scholarship in Chemistry

David L. Randall Award for the Outstanding Senior Chemistry Major

Richard K. Vitek Chemistry Scholarship

William C. and Joyce G. Ferguson Award in Mathematics and Professional Management (Economics and Management)

Wall Street Journal Student Achievement Award (Economics and Management)

E. Maynard Aris Award for Outstanding Scholarship in Economics

Maurice L. Branch Award (Economics)

The E. Scott Cracraft Scholarship (Economics and Management)

The Ernst and Young Scholarship (Economics and Management)

Walter A. Terpenning Award in Economics

Robert B. Hetler/PricewaterhouseCoopers Accounting Scholarship

Steven M. Gilbert Memorial Scholarship (Education)

George R. Reed Endowed Prize in Education

Lucile M. Robinson Endowed Memorial Scholarship (Education)

Peter J. Schmidt Memorial Endowed Scholarship (Education)

Sally Ann MacArthur Heaton Prize for Overall Excellence in the English Major

Sally Ann MacArthur Heaton Scholarship in Literature

John E. Hart Award for Excellence in Literary Study (English)

John Wayne Stringer Award (English)

Senior Writing Prize (English)

Robert H. Gildart Writing Prizes (English)

Roxanna Sayre Scholarship for Environmental Journalism (English)

Cathy L. Young Award in French

J Harlen Bretz Award for the Outstanding Senior Geology Major

W.A. Tarr Award for Scholarship and Leadership in Geology

Faculty Award for Leadership in Geology

Jay Olson Memorial Essay in German

David Morris-Eldridge Pierce Sophomore Scholarship in History

Julian S. Rammelkamp Award in American History

Julian S. Rammelkamp Junior Scholarship in History

Phillip H. and Shirley Kennedy Battershall Scholarship

Donald Stone Memorial Scholarship in History

E.R. Sleight Award in Mathematics

James R. Lancaster, Sr., Award (Mathematics)

Louis R. Bragg and Mary Huemiller Bragg, ’69, Endowed Scholarship in Mathematics

Ronald C. Fryxell Award in Computer Science

Louis U. Rowland Award for the Outstanding Senior Music Major

Theodore Presser Scholarship for the Outstanding Junior Music Major

David L. Strickler Choir Scholarship (Music)

Helen Sue Koether Memorial Music Scholarship

The Jack F. Padgett Award in Philosophy

Susan J. Liioi Memorial Scholarship in Ethics (Philosophy)

Charlotte Duff Outstanding Junior Woman Physical Education Major Award

Jo Dunn-Elkin Isaac Outstanding Senior Physical Education Major Award

Charlotte Duff Outstanding Student Athletic Training Award

Outstanding Dance Student (Physical Education)

E.T.S. Walton Award for the Outstanding Senior Physics Major

H.E. Pettersen Award for the Outstanding Sophomore Physics Major

Dorothy and David Kammer Scholarship in Physics

Alumni/Faculty Endowed Physics Scholarship

Norma J. Taber Scholarship for Women in Pre-Engineering

Harold Schumacher Physics Scholarship

Royal G. Hall Political Science Prize

Pi Sigma Alpha Outstanding Senior Political Science Major

Joseph Heston Award for the Outstanding Senior Psychology Major

David K. and Patricia B. Hogberg Award for Research Excellence in Psychology

Kirsten D. Metalonis, ’99, Memorial Scholarship (Psychology)

Kirsten D. Metalonis Summer Research Fellowship (Psychology)

John and Williemay Cheek Award for the Outstanding Religious Studies Student

Rev. Dr. J. Clyde and Grace Collins DeVinney Award (Religious Studies)

Jean Keller Memorial Essay in Spanish

Speech Communication Prize

William C. Henning Scholarship in Speech Communication

Beulah G. Champ Award in Drama

Helen H. Manning Theatre Award

President Gerald R. Ford Leadership Award (Gerald R. Ford Institute for Public Policy and Service)

Michael A. Dively Leadership Award

Michael P. Noonan Award for Leadership in Public Life

Outstanding Public Policy Major

Peggy Couch Memorial Prize in Gender Studies

Peggy Couch Memorial Prize in Women’s Studies

The Norma Littlejohn Harger Scholarship

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Leadership and Service Awards

Albion College recognizes outstanding student leadership and service to the campus community through the programs listed below. See also Mortar Board and Omicron Delta Kappa later in this chapter.

President Bernard T. Lomas Project 250 Award

The Project 250 Award encourages students to contribute to the meaningful betterment of themselves and their campus community, both inside and outside of the classroom. Award recipients are selected: (a) without regard to financial need; (b) based on the applicant’s broad range of activities and how they contribute to the applicant’s personal goals in higher education; and (c) based on the applicant’s leadership contributions measured by the quality of the applicant’s involvement with activities and organizations that contribute to the betterment of the College.

The awards are offered to first-, second- and third-year students for use during the next academic year. A selection committee appointed by the president determines who will receive the award. Recipients are recognized at the College’s annual Honors Convocation.

Applications are available during the spring semester from the Office of Campus Programs and Organizations, ext. 0433.

H. Morley Fraser Student Leadership Award

The Fraser Student Leadership Award recognizes and encourages students who have distinguished themselves and their College by a commitment to excellence, values, and service. Primary emphasis in granting the Fraser Awards will be placed on demonstrated excellence in the classroom, leadership in campus life, participation in College activities, and service to others. Students must also have a cumulative grade point average of 3.5. The values to be honored in granting the awards are without regard to any particular religion or creed, but are generally accepted as representative of exemplary conduct. The service to be recognized includes service to fellow students, Albion College, the greater Albion community, and the applicant’s religious and home community.

The awards will be made each academic year to second-year students selected by a committee appointed by the president. Recipients are recognized at the College’s annual Honors Convocation.

Applications are available from the Office of Campus Programs and Organizations, ext. 0433.

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Honors

The College’s annual Honors Convocation provides an opportunity to recognize outstanding student achievement, including membership in some of the groups below.

For further information on the Albion College Honors Institute and on graduation honors, refer to the Academic Catalog.

Albion College Fellow

Albion College Fellows have attained a 3.7 grade point average for three successive semesters on campus. They also must take at least three units in graded courses and successfully complete four units each semester. Participation in an approved off-campus program does not prevent students from qualifying at the end of the semester after they return. Albion College Fellows are identified by the Registrar’s Office.

Alpha Lambda Delta

Alpha Lambda Delta, a national scholastic honorary, was established at Albion in 1940 to honor women and men who have received a 3.5 grade point average at the end of their first semester of enrollment or have a cumulative 3.5 GPA at the end of their first year based on at least three units of graded courses per semester. It also offers to fourth-year Alpha Lambda Delta members with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or above the opportunity to apply for a $3,000 fellowship for graduate studies. For more information, contact Drew Dunham, ext. 0341.

Phi Beta Kappa

The Albion College chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the first to be chartered at a private liberal arts college in Michigan, was founded in 1940. The active members of the Beta of Michigan chapter of Phi Beta Kappa may elect up to 10 percent of the fourth-year class as members-in-course. In order to be considered for election, the following requirements must be met:

1. The student must be a senior in the top 10 percent of the graduating class.

2. Three-fourths of the courses taken must be in liberal studies, as opposed to internships, practica, and other pre-vocational course work.

3. At least 15 units must be taken in departments other than the department of the principal major. Work taken in off-campus programs, which parallels the type of work offered in an on-campus department, will be treated as work in that department.

4. Either 15 units while holding third- or fourth-year status, or a minimum of 22 1/2 units, must be taken for credit at Albion College. In either case, the units taken at Albion College may include one or two semesters of study in faculty-approved off-campus programs.

5. A minimum of 75 percent of the student’s liberal arts courses at Albion College, including those taken in faculty-approved off-campus programs, must be taken for a grade.

The fulfillment of these minimum requirements does not guarantee election to Phi Beta Kappa. For more information, contact Martin Ludington, secretary, ext. 0263.

Dean’s Honor List

Those on-campus, full-time students whose grade point average is 3.5 or above at the completion of a semester are named to the Dean’s List issued at the close of each semester. To qualify, students must take at least three units in graded courses and successfully complete four units. Dean’s List students are notified of this honor each semester by the vice president for academic affairs. For more information, contact the Registrar’s Office, ext. 0216.

Departmental Honoraries

Many academic departments of the College sponsor honoraries in recognition of high scholarship. Minimum requirements for membership in these honoraries usually include: a departmental grade point average of 3.0; an all-College GPA of 2.5; a major in the respective department; and second-year standing, although first-year students in their second semester may be eligible in very unusual cases. Individual honoraries may have requirements higher than these minimums. Albion College honoraries are listed below.

Beta Beta Beta (Biology)
Omicron Delta Epsilon (Economics)
Joseph J. Irwin Society (English)
Sigma Gamma Epsilon (Geology)
Phi Alpha Theta (History)
Kappa Mu Epsilon (Mathematics)
Pi Kappa Lambda (Music)
Sigma Pi Sigma (Physics)
Pi Sigma Alpha (Political Science)
Pi Sigma Sigma (Public Policy)
Psi Chi (Psychology)

For more information, contact the respective department or program.

Mortar Board

Mortar Board is a national honor society whose members are chosen on the basis of outstanding scholarship, leadership, and service to the College and the community. Members are invited to apply in the spring of their third year and participate in several service-oriented projects during their fourth year. The Chevron Chapter of Mortar Board was founded at Albion in 1941. For more information, contact the Office of Campus Programs and Organizations, ext. 0433.

Omicron Delta Kappa

Omicron Delta Kappa, national leadership honor society, came to the Albion campus in 1942. It elects third- and fourth-year students who exemplify leadership in academics, social and religious affairs, campus government, athletics, journalism, music, drama, and the fine arts. For more information, contact the Office of Campus Programs and Organizations, ext. 0433.

Commencement Cords

Graduating seniors are invited to acknowledge their participation in national academic and leadership honor societies by wearing one of the following for each society: (1) a cord; (2) a pin worn on the graduation robe; or (3) a medallion on a ribbon worn around the neck. Preference is for a cord or a pin, unless only a medallion on a ribbon is available. Current practice of wearing the Phi Beta Kappa cord, a cord for graduating with honors, and the Kente stoles and stoles representing the cultural heritage of our students will continue to be honored.

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