Nominations
for top students sought from faculty
By Lori
Wright, Media Relations
Without
scholarships from UNH and elsewhere, student Anne Marie Olsen
would have had to drop out of school after her
sophomore year at the university.
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Awards
Selected by
the Student Awards Committee
CLASS
OF 1899 PRIZE
(Scholarship)
"To that senior who has developed the highest ideals of good citizenship
during
his or her course of study."
DEAN WILLIAMSON AWARD
"To that senior who has been outstanding and well-rounded in extracurricular
activities, scholarship, athletics, and loyalty to the University." (Requires
a minimum 3.2 G.P.A.) ERSKINE
MASON AWARD
(Scholarship)
" To that senior who is distinguished for most consistent progress and achievement." FREDERICK
SMYTH BOOK AWARD
(Scholarship)
" To the most meritorious student(s) for the purchase of books." GOVERNOR
WESLEY POWELL SCHOLARSHIP
(Scholarship)
"
To that undergraduate student who has an expressed interest in public service
as demonstrated through his/her course of study and extra-curricular activities,
both on and off campus." (Student must have demonstrated financial
need for current year.) HELEN
DUNCAN JONES AWARD
(Scholarship)
"
To the sophomore woman showing the greatest promise of outstanding achievement
in American citizenship, leadership, and scholarship." (Student
should be earning all or part of her way through school.) JERE A. CHASE SERVICE AWARD
" To honor the graduating senior who has displayed outstanding student service
to the University." HOOD ACHIEVEMENT PRIZE
" To that senior man who shows the greatest promise through character, scholarship,
leadership, and usefulness to humanity." UNIVERSITY WOMEN'S AWARD
" To that senior woman who shows the greatest promise through character,
scholarship, leadership and usefulness to humanity."
Awards Determined by
Other UNH Committees
ALUMNI MERITORIOUS SERVICE ASSOCIATION AWARD PRIZE
(Scholarship)
To recognize that junior student who excels in academics and in extra-curricular
activities.
KIDDER FUND STUDENT AWARD
(Scholarship)
To recognize the student who, through their scholarship, leadership, or outstanding
efforts, fosters greater understanding and tolerance concerning sexual orientation
on the UNH campus.
MOVERS AND SHAKERS AWARD
This award is given to up to 100 students on campus and is based upon academic
achievement, service to the community, and participation in co-curricular
activities during the 2002-2003 academic year. Students must have a 2.5 GPA
in order to be eligible for this award. Since a student can be recognized
as a Mover and Shaker just once during his/her UNH career, please go to www.unh.edu/awards/movers.html for previous winners.
PARENTS ASSOCIATION AWARD
(Scholarship)
To recognize sophomore and/or junior level students "who have shown an
understanding and appreciation of the value of a university education, and
who have accepted the responsibility to share their education to better the
community in which they live." (requires a minimum 2.8 G.P.A. Students
show desire to contribute financially to their education through part-time
or summer employment.)
UNH WOMEN'S COMMISSION AWARD
" To a student or student group who has made an outstanding contribution
to promoting equity, advancing the status of women, and serving as a role model
for women
on campus. (Award recipients and nominees will be honored at the Women's Commission's
Awards Celebration in April 2002).
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“I live off of scholarships. I take a lot of loans,
but my education is based on scholarships. It’s really been what’s
kept me in school,” said the 29-year-old student who
is in her first year of the master’s program in social
work.
A nontraditional student who has worked at the honors level
while raising three children as a single parent, Olsen is one
of many students who each year benefit financially and personally
from scholarships awarded by the university. Last year, she
was awarded the Governor Wesley Powell Scholarship, a $1,500
prize.
Not only do UNH scholarships help Olsen pay for her education,
they increase her chances of receiving national awards. “If
they can see you’ve already been given an award from
people who do know you intimately, they’re more apt to
give you an award even though they don’t know you intimately,” she
said.
This year, UNH faculty and staff on the Durham and Manchester
campuses have the chance to recognize outstanding students
by nominating them for scholarships and awards. Nominees are
recognized for their academic studies, citizenship, and service
to UNH and the larger community. To nominate a student, visit
www.unh.edu/awards/. The deadline to nominate is March 1.
Like Olsen, most UNH students rely on some form of financial
aid, whether it’s scholarship and grant money, loans
or work-study aid, to pay for their education. In the 2002-2003
academic year, more than 10,600 undergraduate and graduate
students received some form of financial aid.
Of that number,
more than 6,600 were awarded scholarships or grants.
"It was a big help. I wasn’t expecting it, but I
received it at the end of my senior year when money was the
tightest.
It also feels good to be recognized. It was nice to know that
I’d built enough of a relationship with my professors
to nominate me for that,” Olsen said.
According to Gavin Henning, a research associate with Student
Life, nominations highlight great things students are doing
and remind people that UNH students do remarkable things. In
addition, the nomination itself is an award to many students,
who are notified that they were nominated and given a copy
of the nomination letter.
“ These nominations alone give students a sense of
pride and value because they realize that someone that they
respect has
noticed them and their work, and is proud enough in them to
take valuable time to write the nomination letter,” Henning
said.
Martha Byam, an instructor in social work, nominated Olsen
for her scholarship.
“ We nominate those students who we believe have gone the extra
mile in their education — who applied their new knowledge
in an ethically sound way to improve the quality of life for
others and to further stretch their own learning. Relationships
with such students are generally immensely satisfying, challenging
and inspiring,” Byam said.
Steve Pappajohn, program advisor for Greek Affairs, has nominated
several students. He weighs several factors when deciding who
to nominate, including whether the student has held positions
of leadership, the success of special projects they have led,
their GPA and their overall dedication to their cause (council,
chapter, student senate, etc.).
“ Many times, these are students who are so outstanding,
outgoing and genuine that they make our jobs as educators easier.
They
have the “get it” factor. You don’t have
to hold their hands through projects, events and their pursuit
of excellence in the classroom. They are the main variable
present when you consider whether or not you enjoy the job
you do. Nominating them for recognition of all they do is the
least someone in our community should do,” he said.
According to Pappajohn, the awards help build resumes and
self-esteem, helping the most modest student understand the
impact they
make on their peers, faculty and staff at the university. “Many
will say, ‘Well awards are just awards.’ I say
that an award of such a nature reminds our students that their
efforts and achievements are not going un-noticed, and that
is important in the development of future leaders,” he
said.
The complete list of awards and online nomination forms are available
atwww.unh.edu/awards/.
For more information on the nominating process, contact Gavin
Henning at 2-3611 or gavin.henning@unh.edu.
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