Academic Awards

The Paul R. Bishop Memorial Award The Paul R. Bishop Memorial Award in Choral and Vocal Music will go to a student who exhibits exemplary work in the choral and vocal areas of the Scripps College Music Department and the Joint Music Program.
The Crombie Allen Award Presented for the best creative written work: essay, short story, poetry, or play. It was established in 1929 by Mr. Crombie Allen, a former editor of the Ontario Daily Report.
The Annual Alumnae Award Given by the Alumnae Association to one or more seniors “in recognition of outstanding contributions to the life of the College.”
The Alumnae Athletic Award Established in honor of Mollie Clyde Wilson ’32, an outstanding tennis player at Scripps. The award is given each year to a student who has excelled in intercollegiate sports.
The Ament Scholars Award Established by alumnae of the classes of 1931 through 1947 in memory of William Sheffield Ament, professor of English and a member of the original faculty of Scripps College. The award is given each year to a junior who has demonstrated outstanding scholarship in the humanities. The award is not a cash prize, but is credited toward the student’s tuition.
The Anthropology Senior Thesis Award Recognizes the senior thesis in anthropology that best engages all aspects of the ethnographic process, from conception to fieldwork to analysis and final written presentation.
The Asian American Studies Senior Thesis Award Awarded to recognize excellent work in the field of Asian American studies.
The Noëlle and Veronique Boucquey Outstanding Scholar-Athlete Award Established in 2006 by Thierry Boucquey, professor of French at the College, in honor of his daughters. The scholarship annually recognizes a senior student athlete who has distinguished herself during her four years of athletic eligibility by an outstanding performance or other extraordinary achievement or distinction in one of CMS’ competitive sports, while concurrently earning a minimum cumulative GPA of A- (11.00 or 3.66). The student is selected by the Joint Athletics (CMS) coaching staff.
The Dart/Merritt Award Established in the spring of 1983 by Claremont McKenna, Pitzer, and Scripps Colleges, the three colleges that sponsor the W.M. Keck Science Department in recognition of the service of Professor Emeritus Jack Merritt and the late Professor Emeritus Leonard Dart to the W.M. Keck Science Department. A cash prize is given annually to the outstanding junior or senior student in engineering or physics.
The English Honors Thesis Award Awarded for the senior English honors thesis that best meets the criteria of an important, well-sustained, and cogently developed argument; of thoughtful, discriminating use of secondary sources; of thoroughness of research; and of excellence in writing. The student is selected by the English faculty.
The English Senior Thesis Award Given to the senior whose English thesis best meets the criteria of an important, well-sustained, and cogently developed argument; of thoughtful, discriminating use of secondary sources; of thoroughness of research; and of excellence in writing. The student is selected by the English faculty.
The Esterly Awards Established in 1949 in memory of Virginia Judy Esterly by gifts from students, colleagues, and friends of Mrs. Esterly and of the College. The awards are granted to students who present worthwhile educational projects to be conducted during the summer for which they do not have readily available funds.
The Margaret Siler Faust Psychology Senior Thesis Award Named in honor of Margaret Siler Faust, professor emerita of psychology who retired from Scripps College after more than 30 years of teaching and research in psychological science, and given to the senior whose thesis best exemplifies the use of careful, empirical research to address important psychological questions about human behavior and experience.
The Fine Arts Foundation Award for Senior Projects Given annually by the Fine Arts Foundation of Scripps College for the outstanding senior studio art project. The project, required of all senior studio art majors, is a large work of art or a body of works done in a medium chosen by the students. The works are displayed in Ruth Chandler Williamson Gallery in the spring of each academic year.
The Ruth George Poetry Prize A cash award for an outstanding poem or group of poems. This award was established in 1951 in recognition of Professor George’s devoted and inspired teaching of writing and the appreciation of poetry. The prize is awarded only for work of special merit and is not necessarily given each year.
The Martha Wehmeier Hammer ’66 Scholarship Established in 1996 to honor Ms. Hammer upon the completion of her term of office as president of the Board of Trustees and in recognition of her service to Scripps College. The award is given to an outstanding sophomore at the end of the third semester of the Core Curriculum in Interdisciplinary Humanities. The recipient receives the scholarship for her junior year.
The Frederick Hard Award Named in honor of the late distinguished Shakespearean scholar who served as president of the College from 1944 through 1964. The award is presented to a student at Scripps College for outstanding contributions to our knowledge and appreciation of the Elizabethan Age.
The Hispanic Studies Senior Thesis Award Oresented by the Hispanic studies faculty for the best senior thesis in Hispanic studies and its related disciplines.
The History Senior Thesis Award Presented by the history faculty for the best senior thesis in history and related disciplines.
The Mary W. Johnson and J. Stanley Johnson Student Research Awards Established in 1995. The awards support student summer research projects; students work under the guidance of Scripps faculty members and present their results to the college community at programs of the Humanities Institute.
The Sara Ladwig Prize in Italian Studies Established to honor the memory of Sara Ladwig, who taught Italian for many years at Mt. San Antonio College. It is awarded to a Scripps Italian or Italian studies major in her junior year. It may also be awarded to an outstanding sophomore, and on certain occasions, it could be awarded to a senior for an outstanding thesis. The prize is intended for students to travel to Italy during the summer, or a year/semester abroad program, during which time she will research a project/investigate an issue or topic that will form the basis of her senior thesis.
The Lind Family Prize in Mathematics in Honor of Mary Barron and Professor Louis Barron Designated in loving memory by their nephew, Matthew M. Lind, parent of Katy Lind ’06. The prize is awarded to an outstanding senior who is a math major. In addition, there is also a tuition-offsetting scholarship to be awarded to an undergraduate who has shown particular promise in math.
The Lois Langland Psychology Award Named after Lois Langland, emerita professor of psychology, who retired from Scripps College after 20 years of teaching. The award is provided by matching funds from college friends and students and is given to student(s) in psychology who propose to carry out empirical research on attributes and functioning of women in their various capacities as individuals and as members of society. Any student majoring or minoring in psychology is eligible.
The Latin American Studies Senior Thesis Award Presented by the Latin American studies faculty for the best senior thesis in Latin American studies.
The Barbara McClintock Science Award Named for America’s first woman Nobel Laureate, this award was established in 1991 in honor of Daniel Greenberg and Susan Steinhauser. This prize is awarded for the best senior thesis written by a graduating Scripps senior in the sciences.
The Lucile Morrison Dance Award Established in 1947 by the late trustee Mrs. Lucile Morrison, this award is designed to provide students with an opportunity to broaden their horizons and to encourage their interest in dance as a vital educational experience. It is given to a sophomore or junior to enable her to study at summer school with outstanding professionals.
The Padelford French Award Established in memory of Louise Restieaux Hawkes Padelford, assistant professor of French from 1929 to 1931 and trustee emerita. The book award is given to an outstanding Scripps College senior who has distinguished herself in French studies. The student is selected by the French faculty.
The Robert B. Palmer Classics Award Established in memory of the late Robert B. Palmer, trustee professor of classical studies at Scripps from 1949 to 1977, this is awarded to students who have displayed distinguished scholarship and promise in their studies of the classics.
The Gladys Pattison Music Award Established in 1973 by her friends in memory of the widow of Lee Pattison, professor of music from 1941  to 1962. It is given each year to the most deserving student in the field of music for the purpose of enriching her music library.
The Marguerite Pearson Award in Drama Established in 1974 by Mrs. Lillian Grey to commemorate the life-long interest in drama of her sister, Marguerite Pearson. It is a cash award presented annually to a student or students who have demonstrated talent in one or more fields of dramatic art.
The Politics and International Relations Senior Thesis Award Given for the best senior thesis written by a graduating Scripps senior in politics and international relations.
The Rudolph Polk Memorial Award Established in 1957 by friends and colleagues of the late Rudolph Polk, this is available to a student in instrumental music (violin, viola, cello, or piano). The award is made, after an audition, on the basis of technical competence, musicianship, and general musical background. Students from any of The Claremont Colleges are eligible for the cash award.
The Edith Potter German Award Honors the memory of this professor of German who retired in 1990 after 23 years of teaching at Scripps College. The award is given annually to one of more students majoring in German or German studies, whose superior performance, independent thinking, and commitment to their studies make not only a valuable contribution to the College, but will also enable them to make intelligent and innovative use of their major following their graduation from Scripps.
Merle A. and Edith G. Potter Award Established in recognition of Edith Potter’s 23 years of dedicated service to Scripps College and her tireless efforts to carry on the legacy of her late husband to build bridges of understanding between Germans and Americans. In 1997, the President of the Federal Republic of Germany recognized Professor Potter for her many efforts by awarding her the Federal Order of Merit.
The Joan Robinson Prize in Economics Established in memory of this highly acclaimed female economist. The prize is given by the economics faculty for superior accomplishment in the senior thesis, judged on analytical and creative merit.
The Marie McSpadden Sands Merit Awards in Writing Established in 1995 by the sons of this member of the Class of ’34. The awards recognize excellence in writing among first-year students.
The Slocum Awards are given each year to the seniors who have assembled the best personal libraries during their four years at Scripps College.
The Isabel Fothergill Smith Scholarship Named in honor of the first dean of the College, recognizes the scholastic excellence of a Scripps junior or senior with financial need, whose major field of interest is mathematics or the physical sciences and who also demonstrates a commitment to the humanities. The recipient should have at least a B+ average during the year prior to her selection as recipient of the scholarship award. Should no students fit these criteria, the scholarship may then be awarded to students majoring in economics, or as a last choice, biology.
The Sybil Smith Memorial Latin Prize A cash prize award normally given annually to an outstanding Scripps College senior classics major who is preparing for a professional career in the classics.
The Lucia Suffel Crafts Award Established in 1973 in memory of Lucia Suffel, a member of the Class of ’60, by her family and friends. This award is given annually to a student whose work is focused particularly in ceramics and/or fabrics. The selection is made by the art faculty.
The Sallie Suzanne Tiernan Memorial Award Established by trustee Victoria Seaver Dean, daughter of Sallie Suzanne Tiernan and president of the Seaver Institute, as an award for a student planning to attend law school.
The Martha Weheimer Hammer Scholarship Established in 1997 to honor Martha Wehmeier Hammer for her services as chair of the Board of Trustees, this award goes to an outstanding sophomore at the conclusion of the third semester of the Core Curriculum in Interdisciplinary Humanities. The recipient will receive the scholarship for her junior year at Scripps and will be asked to discuss her experience in the Core program to incoming students during orientation.
The Edward A. White Award in American Studies Established in 1976 and given annually to a senior who has done outstanding work in the study of the United States and its history, culture, or politics.
The Gabrielle Jungels-Winkler Scholarship Funded by the Jungels-Winkler Charitable Foundation in London to support a Scripps student who is admitted to the MA program in Art History at the Courtauld Institute of Art at the University of London, which is one of the best graduate programs in the world. The scholarship covers tuition fees and a living stipend.
Gender and Women’s Studies Award Recognizes the accomplishments of a graduating senior majoring in women’s studies. This is an interdisciplinary field in which consideration is given to questions related to women: the relationship between gender and society historically and cross-culturally, the quality and significance of the changes now occurring in the roles of men and women, and women themselves.
The Kathleen Wicker Religious Studies Senior Thesis Award Established in 2003 by Professor Kathleen O’Brien Wicker and religious studies students to recognize the senior thesis that best deals critically and insightfully with a topic in the area of religion.
The Rosalyn S. Yalow Science Award Named for the 1977 Nobel Laureate, was established in honor of Daniel Greenberg and Susan Steinhauser in 1991. The prize goes to a graduating Scripps science major with the highest GPA.
The Writing Program Senior Thesis Award Given to a students in recognition of the eloquence and scholarly merit of a senior thesis by a self-designed writing major.