Undergraduate Awards - Spanish

Certificate of Excellence

This award is given to graduating students in the major that demonstrate the highest ranking grade point average in Spanish.

Erik D. Steindl Spanish Scholarship Fund 
This award is given to a full-time undergraduate Spanish major with a superior academic record.  Preference is given to 3rd or 4th year students who have participated in community service and/or served in the armed forces.  The finalists for this Scholarship are required to write an essay in Spanish of no more than 500 words on their accomplishments and career goals, they should also include any community or military service if applicable.  The Department Undergraduate Committee reviews all essays and selects the winner.  This Scholarship fund honors Erik D. Steindl, a Spanish major who died of cancer in February 1998.

John W. White Scholarship for Excellence in Spanish

The purpose of this scholarship shall be to honor and recognize excellence and proficiency in Spanish by undergraduate students.  Three awards shall be given to undergraduate students (majors or minors) who are in at least their 5th semester, and who have demonstrated outstanding achievement in Spanish.

Undergraduate Awards - Italian

Josephine Rhea Prize
Consideration for this award shall be given to full-time undergraduate students enrolled in Italian courses who have exhibited exemplary academic achievement in Italian Studies and whose ethnic, cultural and/or national background contribute to the diversity of the student body.

Undergraduate Awards - Spanish & Italian

Irving L. Foster Memorial Award 

This award is given to a full-time undergraduate with a superior academic record.  This award is rotated between three majors:  Spanish, Italian and French and consists in a scholarship of approximately $150.00. 

SIP Department Student Marshal

Each spring, one student is selected from among our majors to represent The Department of Spanish, Italian and Portuguese as Department Student Marshal at graduation ceremonies.  Finalists for this honor are graduating seniors with a GPA of 3.5 or higher.  Finalists wishing to be considered for Student Marshal are required to write an essay of no more than 500 words in Spanish describing his/her accomplishments and career goals.  Members of our Department Undergraduate Committee review all essays and select the winner.  Students names a Faculty member from the department to serve as the Faculty Marshal.  The Student Marshal then becomes a finalist for the College Student Marshal.

Graduate Awards

Jesus Diaz Award

This award is given in memory of Jesus Vicente Diaz Ruiz to a graduate student in The Department of Spanish, Italian and Portuguese for exemplary achievement in the areas of service, teaching, and academics. The award is given in spring semester of each year. Criteria for selection includes participation in such departmental activities as lectures, committee/editorial service, and involvement in colloquia, as well as cumulative GPA and SRTE scores.

SIP Department Sparks Fellow Award (Fall and Spring)
This award is given to a graduate student each semester. It excuses the student from teaching responsibilities. Exceptional SRTE results and a 3.5 or higher GPA are determining factors to be considered for this award.