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

The Commencement Laurel Crown

Italian Majors are encouraged to do a capstone project during their senior year. The capstone project may be any significant contribution of the student’s Italian talents or interests beyond the classroom. Examples of previous capstone projects include (but are not limited to): homeschooling/tutoring Italian language and culture to young children, conducting conversation hours with elderly Italian-speakers at retirement homes, revising and submitting course papers for national prizes or publication, writing Italian subtitles for student films in the Film Studies program, and creating a website of Italian resources for PSU students. Capstone projects are proposed by the student with adviser approval. Projects requiring significant time commitments may qualify for IT 496 credit (please see an Italian adviser for more information). Successful completion of the capstone project earns the student a laurel crown, the ancient Roman symbol of achievement with distinction, which is awarded at the SIP department awards ceremony in April and may be worn by the student at commencement ceremonies with the cap and gown.

The Josephine J. and David C. Rhea Endowment for Excellence in Italian Studies

Awarded annually in the spring, this honor and monetary prize recognizes exceptional students at all levels of Italian. Although nominations are solicited in the spring from all Italian instructors, students from both fall and spring semesters are eligible. Usually approximately ten students are recognized each year in April at the departmental awards ceremony.

Gamma Kappa Alpha

The National Italian Honor Society. Students must meet specific requirements and apply for this honor. Information is distributed every spring semester, and applications are screened by the Italian advisers. Successful inductees participate in a ceremony and buffet dinner hosted by the Italian faculty.

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.