Awards

English

The John Redman Freshman Writing Award

Awarded for a piece of writing completed as a regular course assignment by a PSU freshman student. One award is given for $100 each year at the end of spring term.

The Tom and Phyllis Burnam Award

Recognizes the best work of fiction written by a current PSU undergraduate student. First prize is $300, second prize is $200. This award is given at the end of spring term.

The Frank Andrew Clarke and Helen Clarke Memorial Award

Awarded to an undergraduate for a work of excellence submitted as a regular course assignment. First prize is $200, second prize is $100. This award is given at the end of spring term.

The Nina Mae Kellogg Award

Carries with it a substantial cash prize for outstanding sophomore and senior students. Invitations to compete for the award are issued after an initial examination of grade point averages. The senior award is limited to English majors; the sophomore is open to all majors who demonstrate proficiency in writing. For the senior award, first prize is $600, second prize is $400. The sophomore awards are $300 for first prize, $100 for second prize. These awards are given at the end of spring term.

The Academy of American Poets Award

Presented for the best poem or group of poems submitted by a student. Winning poems may be selected for publication by the Academy.

The Philip Ford Graduate Award

Honors the best piece of original scholarship or criticism written for graduate credit in an English course. One prize each is awarded in cultural studies and literature, each is $500. This award is given at the end of spring term.

The Tom Doulis Graduate Fiction Writing Awards

Awarded for a work of fiction by a student enrolled in a fiction writing class at the graduate level. First prize is $400, second prize is $200. This award is given at the end of spring term.

The Wilma Morrison Award

Presented by the University Publications Board for outstanding writing in The Vanguard student newspaper. There is a $50 prize for each winner. This award is given at the end of spring term.

Haystack Writing Awards

Given to an outstanding student writer nominated by creative writing faculty, the amount is $750. This award is given at the end of spring term.

The Shelley Reece Award in Poetry

Given to a graduate student of English who is interested in pursuing a career in the field of writing. The $1000 prize recipient will have completed a minimum of one year of coursework at PSU and will be selected for their achievements, interest and talent in the field of poetry writing, as well as demonstrated financial need. Applicants should submit a portfolio containing a representative sample of their work in the genre of poetry along with a personal statement indicating their goals as a writer and their financial need. The successful applicant will demonstrate both excellence in writing and need for support. Applicants should be able to demonstrate how receiving the award would be an important contribution to their ability to continue pursuing their writing goals. This award is given at the end of spring term.

The Tom Bates Award in Nonfiction Writing

Given to a student enrolled in the M.A. in Writing program whose work shows excellence in creative nonfiction or literary journalism. The $1000 prize is awarded on the combined basis of submitted work and overall performance in the writing program.
Applicants should submit the following:

1. A piece of creative nonfiction or literary journalism totaling no more than 8,000 words. "Creative nonfiction" will be defined in accordance with the Associated Writing Programs Award Series criteria as "factual and literary writing that has the narrative, dramatic, meditative, and lyrical elements of novels, plays, poetry, and memoirs." Literary journalism is journalism with some or all of those elements.
2. A resume and an essay providing an overview of your work so far in the M.A. Writing program and your plans for future work, totaling no more than 1,000 words.

Manuscripts must be submitted on 8 1/2 by 11 inch paper, printed with a letter quality printer. They should be double-spaced, with 1-inch margins on all sides. Your name, postal and e-mail addresses, and phone number should be on the first page of both the submitted piece of work and the essay; subsequent pages of each should be numbered and headed with your last name. No e-mail submissions will be accepted. This award is given at the end of spring term.

Marilyn Folkestad Scholarship

The award is given to undergraduate or graduate women who are returning to school and wish to pursue a career in Creative writing. Two $1,000 prizes are awarded. Candidates are required to demonstrate academic promise and creative writing talent by submitting:

1. A copy of transcript;
2. A short story, three poems, or an excerpt for a novel;
3. A two to three page letter explaining what an education means to you and why you want to complete your degree now;
4. Three letters of recommendation

The award is given at the end of spring term.

Foreign Languages & Literatures

Baden-Wurttemberg Scholarship Award

Each year, the state of Baden-Wurttemberg offers a student (graduate or undergraduate) at the Deutsche Sommershule am Pazifik a full scholarship to study in Germany. The award covers all tuition costs and most fees, and it includes a monthly living stipend equivalent to the amount received by German students (about 500 Euro for 10 months). The award does not include transportation costs. The scholarship is for the 2006-07 academic year, so the student would have twelve months to prepare for the year abroad. For the application you should compose a 3-5 page essay (in either German or English) that includes a short academic biography, your experience with the German language to this point, your present and future academic plans and finally a plan of study for the 2006-07 year in Germany. Applications are due on Monday, July 25, 2005 at 5:00pm in the office of Director of the Deutsche Sommerschule am Pazifik.

Geography

Geography Student Awards

Undergraduate geography majors and geography graduate students with at least 16 credits in geography completed at PSU by the time the award is given. Students need not be enrolled full time to be eligible; the faculty makes nominations. Award amount varies, they are given at the end of winter term.

Geography Graduate Student Awards

Open to graduate students in geography at PSU. Graduate committee reviews material in applicant's graduate application file. Amount varies up to $2500.

History

GPA Award

Annual award for a History major (graduate or undergraduate) based on scholastic achievement. The award is not renewable, but students may receive this award more than once. One each is awarded to an undergraduate and graduate student, each is $100. Awards are presented at the end of spring term.

Undergraduate/Graduate Seminar Paper

Annual award for best paper written for a History seminar course (graduate or undergraduate). The award is not renewable, but students may receive more than once. One each is awarded to an undergraduate and graduate student, each is $100. Awards are presented at the end of spring term.

Frederic Tudor Business History Paper Prizes (aka Robinson Prizes)

Annual award for best papers addressing topics in business history written for a History course (graduate or undergraduate). The award is not renewable, but students may receive more than once. The number of awards varies according to applicant pool, usually one graduate and two undergraduate, with amounts usually $400 for graduate level, $300 for undergraduate. Awards are presented at the end of spring term.

English History Prize

Annual award for student of English History based on scholastic achievement and merit. The award is not renewable, but students may receive more than once. Both undergraduates and graduates are eligible, one $100 award is given in at the end of spring term.

Outstanding Service to the Department

Annual award for an History major (graduate or undergraduate) based on scholastic achievement and merit. The award is not renewable, but students may receive more than once. One each is awarded to an undergraduate and graduate student, each is $100. Awards are presented at the end of spring term.

Mathematics and Statistics

F.S. Cater Endowed Prize in Mathematics and Statistics

One prize each of $1000 is awarded to an MA/MS in Mathematics student and to an MS in Statistics student at the end of the spring term.

Sciences

SIGMA XI Columbia Willamette Chapter: Outstanding Scientific Research Award

Purpose: To promote and reward outstanding research at Portland State University and other academic institutions and businesses in Washington, Multnomah, Clackamas, and Yamhill Counties.

Eligibility: Science & engineering faculty of Portland State University and other academic institutions and businesses in the Portland area. 

1. After receiving an award, an award recipient is not eligible for three years (i.e. two years must pass between receiving the award and being eligible for another).
2. Up to 7 awards will be given each year to each of the following groups
   • Behavioral Sciences/Social Sciences: psychology, sociology, anthropology, geography
   • Biological Sciences: biology, zoology, botany, medical sciences, environmental sciences
   • Physical Sciences: physics, chemistry, astronomy
   • Earth Sciences: geology, geography, archeology, environmental sciences
   • Mathematical Sciences: math, statistics, math education
   • Engineering: engineering, computer science,
   • Research on a Shoestring: Any of the above sciences where funding is difficult; extensive publishing has occurred

Selection Process:

1. Each related department at Portland State University and departments at other academic institutions and businesses in the Portland area will be invited to submit two nominations. A nomination will include a vita of the faculty member and an accompanying cover letter of nomination. Sigma Xi members of the Portland area can also nominate scientists from the private sector.
2. Nominations need to be received by February 28, 2006. They can be mailed to Scott Burns, Dept. of Geology, Portland State University, P.O. Box 751, Portland, Oregon or emailed as a package to burnss@pdx.edu.
3. Criteria for selection: success in funded research, refereed publications, patents, and presentations of the scientific results to scientific societies.
4. Selection of each of the awards will be made by the Board of Directors of the Columbia Willamette Chapter of Sigma Xi at their March board meeting.
5. Winners do not need to be members of Sigma Xi, but they may be eligible for membership

Questions/Clarifications: Please contact Scott Burns, President of the Columbia-Willamette Chapter of Sigma Xi. His email is: burnss@pdx.edu or telephone: 503-725-3389