General College Honors
Dean’s List
St. Mary’s Scholars
Honors for Graduating Seniors
Latin Honors:
Any graduating senior who has completed a minimum of 64 credit hours at St. Mary’s College (at least 56 of which were letter-graded) is eligible for Latin honors based on the following cumulative grade-point average: 3.900-4.000 summa cum laude; 3.700-3.899 magna cum laude; 3.500-3.699 cum laude.
Class Valedictorian:
The class valedictorian shall be the graduating student in good standing at the College who has completed at least 96 credit hours at St. Mary’s College of Maryland and has the highest cumulative grade-point average. Any student who has received a grade of F shall not be eligible.
To be considered, students must apply to graduate no later than March 1. In the event that two or more students share the highest cumulative grade-point average, all students who qualify for this honor will be listed in the program as valedictorians. The role of commencement day speaker, however, will be chosen by lots from among those identified as valedictorians.
Honor Societies
Each society has its own nominating process and criteria for selection.
Phi Beta Kappa
Founded in 1776,Phi Beta Kappais the most distinguished honor society in the liberal arts and sciences: It honors excellence in academic achievement, as well as breadth of intellectual study and good character. The St. Mary’s College of Maryland chapter, Zeta of Maryland, was approved by the Phi Beta Kappa Society Council in 1997 and installed in 1998, joining more than 250 other colleges and universities in the country. Zeta chapter elected its first students, or members in course, in the spring of 1998.
Students may be considered for election as juniors if their cumulative GPA is at least 3.9, but most students who are elected are seniors. All graduating seniors with a 3.75 cumulative GPA may be considered. However, because of bylaws limiting the number of students who can be elected, less than 10% of each graduating class is likely to be initiated.
Alpha Kappa Delta
Beta Beta Beta
Chi Omega Lambda
Nu Rho Psi
Omicron Delta Epsilon
Omicron Delta Kappa
Phi Alpha Theta
Pi Sigma Alpha
Psi Chi
Sigma Pi Sigma
Sigma Tau Delta
Awards for Students
Awards for students are chosen by faculty and staff, the Office of Student Activities, and the Student Government Association are described below. The St. Mary’s College Foundation also provides financial support for many awards. Most of these awards are presented at the annual Awards Convocation.
Awards
Academic Athlete Award, established in 1975 to recognize both the male and female junior (or senior) varsity athletes with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.50 or better who have earned at least 32 credit hours at St. Mary’s College and who have played an important role on one or more varsity teams.Asian Studies Award, established in 2005 by the Asian Studies faculty to recognize exceptional contributions to the cross-disciplinary study area of Asian studies.
Biology Service Award to recognize academic achievement and service to the biology program.
Book Prizes: French Embassy Book Award for outstanding achievement; German Embassy Book Award for outstanding achievement; departmental book awards in Chinese and Spanish for outstanding achievement; Department of International Languages and Cultures Book Award for outstanding achievement by a student studying two or more languages.
Club Leader of the Year: Unsung Hero Award given to a student who has worked unselfishly for the betterment of the campus community.
Club of the Year Award given to the club/organization that has demonstrated excellence in carrying out the mission of its charter.
Department Award in anthropology.
Department Award for distinguished achievement and excellence in biochemistry.
Department Award in economics.
Department Award for excellence in biology.
Department Award for excellence in chemistry and biochemistry.
Department Award for excellence in mathematics and computer science.
Department Award for excellence in physics.
Department Award in political science.
Department Award in public policy.
Department Award in sociology.
Department Merit Award, given occasionally to a graduating senior to recognize superior academic work and a strong commitment to pursue a career in a specific professional field. Margaret Eagle Dixon Award in Literature, given by Adele Dixon Tomey ’39JC, in memory of her mother, a 1904 St. Mary’s graduate.
Michael S. Glaser Writing Award, given annually to a gifted and dedicated writer who has worked to hone his or her craft during his or her time at St. Mary’s, and shows exceptional promise for future achievement.
The Robert H. Goldsmith Award for Excellence in Chemistry, named in honor of Robert H. Goldsmith, professor emeritus in chemistry, to recognize distinguished academic achievement and excellence in chemistry.
Human Services Award, established in 1993 to recognize a junior or senior psychology or human studies major who demonstrates outstanding potential as a practitioner in human services.
Human Studies Major Award, established in 2003 to recognize a student majoring in human studies who has demonstrated a superior understanding of the themes and methods of human studies as evidenced by the quality of the student’s work in courses in the major and in any experiences such as field studies or internships.
William James Prize, established in 1986 to recognize a superior understanding and expression of philosophical discourse.
The Mattie M. Key Award in mathematics, provided by a bequest from Mattie M. Key.
The Mendel Award in Biology for Outstanding Achievement in the Second year, established in 2003 to recognize a student who has demonstrated academic excellence and achievement in genetics and also ecology and evolution.
Aurine Boyden Morsell Endowment, established in memory of “Reenie” Morsell, a former College trustee, member of the Foundation board of directors, and donor of the Boyden Art Gallery.
Neuroscience Award, given to a graduating senior with a minor (or student-designed major) in the neurosciences, who demonstrates superior depth of understanding, critical thinking, and research and communication skills in the field of neuroscience, and participation over and above what is expected in the College’s neurosciences program.
Psychology Major Award, established in 2003 to recognize a psychology major who demonstrates superior understanding of the themes and methods of the discipline.
David Beers Quinn Award in history, in honor of a distinguished former faculty member.
Religious Studies Award, established in 1993 to recognize a student who demonstrates a superior understanding of the themes and methods of religious studies.
Joseph B. Ross, Jr. Award for achievement in art history and art studio (named in memory of a former St. Mary’s College art professor).
St. Mary’s County Health Department Scholarship Fund, established in 2006 by the St. Mary’s County Health Department to support juniors or seniors pursuing a career in a health-related field.
Senior Award in Computer Science
Senior Award in Mathematics
Student Government Association Award for Student Service.
Margaret Floy Washburn Award, established in 1990 to recognize a junior or senior psychology major exemplifying superior understanding of research and experimentation in psychology.
Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Award for Scholarship and Social Responsibility, established in 2006 by the Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies faculty to recognize students who have demonstrated excellence in both scholarly works and socially responsible pursuits.
Wilhelm Wundt Award, established in 2003 to recognize a student’s excellence in quantitative and methodological course work in psychology.
AWARDS FOR FACULTY
The Aldom-Plansoen Distinguished Professorship
The Hilda C. Landers Endowed Chair in the Liberal Arts
The Steven Muller Distinguished Professorship in the Arts
The Steven Muller Distinguished Professorship in the Sciences
The George B. and Willma Reeves Endowed Chair in the Liberal Arts
The Andy Kozak Faculty Contribution to Student Life Award
The G. Thomas and Martha Myers Yeager Endowed Chair in the Liberal Arts
Dodge Awards for Faculty
Seven Awards Provided by Gifts from Professor Emeritus Norton T. Dodge and Professor Donald R. Stabile.
The Homer L. Dodge Award for Outstanding Service
The Homer L Dodge Award for Excellence in Teaching
The Homer L. Dodge Awards (2) for Excellence in Teaching by Junior Faculty are named in memory of the donor’s father to recognize service to the College and outstanding teaching
The Norton T. Dodge Award for Scholarly and Creative Achievement
The Norton T. Dodge Awards (2) for Scholarly and Creative Achievement by Junior Faculty are named in honor of Norton T. Dodge to recognize professional activity of the faculty.
The seven awards are given over a three-year cycle. Recipients are selected by a special committee headed by the Dean of Faculty.
Two additional faculty awards and one staff award are made possible through campus organizations:
Faculty-Student Life Award, by the Leadership Development Committee, to a faculty member for significant contribution to student life
Student Government Association Award for Faculty Service
Student Government Association Award for Administrator or Staff Service.