BSC College Catalog
Birmingham-Southern College Catalog

ACADEMIC HONORS


Dean's List of Distinguished Students

The Dean's List of Distinguished Students is compiled by the Provost's Office at the end of both the fall and spring terms. It consists of the names of those students who have maintained a grade point average of 3.50 or higher on work attempted during the term. To qualify for the Dean's List, a student must take at least four full units and receive a letter grade for each of the courses in which he or she has enrolled. No student is eligible for the Dean's List in any term during which he or she has received an incomplete grade.

Honors at Graduation

The final, cumulative grade point average is calculated to three decimal places and rounded to the nearest hundredth. Students who during their academic careers establish a grade point average of 3.50 are graduated cum laude; those who establish a grade point average of 3.75 are graduated magna cum laude; and those with a grade point average of 3.90 are graduated summa cum laude.

Prizes and Awards

The following prizes are awarded at the close of each academic year for outstanding scholarship and achievement.
    The Acton Award was established by a bequest from the late Mr. Sam P. Acton as a memorial for Mr. Peter Lafayette Acton and Mrs. Laura Davis Acton. This award is given to a student or students who are deemed to have reached a level of excellence in the field of mathematics.

    The Alabama Society of Certified Public Accountants presents the Accounting Awards each year to three seniors who have shown outstanding ability in the field of accounting.

    The Alpha Lambda Delta Scholarship Award is awarded each year to an outstanding junior member of Alpha Lambda Delta.

    The American Bible Society Award, a Greek-English New Testament, is given annually by the American Bible Society to the senior student who has done the most outstanding work in Biblical studies.

    The American Institute of Chemists Award is awarded to the outstanding senior chemistry major each year.

    The American Marketing Association (Birmingham Chapter), in continuing its efforts to recognize academic marketing achievements of college students, presents an annual award to an outstanding student in the field of marketing, who is chosen on the basis of grades and contributions to the field.

    The Analytical Division of American Chemical Society gives a subscription to the journal Analytical Chemistry to an outstanding junior who displays interest and aptitude for a career in analytical chemistry.

    The Birmingham-Southern College Arts Council Award for Academic and Creative Excellence in Theatre Arts is given to an outstanding senior theatre arts major. The student must have maintained a cumulative grade point average of 3.30 and must have contributed substantially to all areas of production.

    The Bill Battle Award, given in memory of Coach Bill Battle, is presented to an outstanding senior who best exemplifies good scholarship, good citizenship, and a concern for physical fitness -- personal traits of long time Birmingham-Southern College coach and athletic director Bill Battle.

    The Beta Beta Beta Award is given to the senior biology major who is a member of Beta Beta Beta honorary biology fraternity, who has maintained an outstanding academic record, and who has made unusual contributions to the program in biology.

    The Bible Lands Travel Award is provided annually by Mrs. Wynness T. Saenger for a student preparing for service to others in the ministry of the United Methodist Church. It is to be applied toward a tour of the Bible Lands.

    The Senior Biology Award goes to the senior biology major who has the highest overall grade point average for his or her college career.

    The Rutherford Ray Black Teacher Education Award was established in 1975 by the education faculty and former students in recognition of Professor Rutherford Ray Black's service to teacher education. It is awarded to the most outstanding senior in the teacher education program.

    The Chemical Rubber Company Award is given to a first-year chemistry student for outstanding achievement.

    The Cigna Scholars Program offers two $2,500 scholarships annually to minority students who demonstrate leadership in extracurricular activities, including community service. Recipients must major in the liberal arts or business, must maintain a 3.00 or better grade point average, and must possess excellent written and oral communication skills.

    The College Theatre Award for Theatrical Excellence is presented for excellence in production in the areas of performance and technical theatre.

    The Dyson-Wagnon Award is given to a student in the Master's in Public and Private Management program who graduates with the highest grade point average.

    The English Award for Achievement in Literary Study honors the senior English major whose study of literature shows unusual industry, achievement, and depth of understanding.

    The Financial Executives Institute Award is given to a major in business administration who has an interest in a career in financial management and who has an excellent academic record both in the major and overall.

    The John Marshall Gersting Economics and Business Administration Prize is awarded each year by the division faculty to the graduating senior with the highest grade point average.

    The Robert Hewlin Jackson Achievement Award of $500 is given each year to that student in the graduating class who has made a distinguished record in his or her junior and senior years and who has also shown the greatest improvement in academic achievement over the record of his or her first two years. This award is given in memory of Robert Hewlin Jackson, who in 1862 was graduated from Southern University (a parent institution of Birmingham-Southern College).

    The Robert Hewlin Jackson Award for Meritorious Scholarship is given each year to that student whose overall academic record in college places him or her at the top of the graduating class. This award is given in memory of Robert Hewlin Jackson, who in 1862 was graduated from Southern University (a parent institution of Birmingham-Southern College).

    The William James Psychology Award is presented annually by the psychology faculty to the outstanding senior in psychology.

    The Kappa Mu Epsilon Award in Mathematics is awarded each year to a senior member of Kappa Mu Epsilon who has either a major in mathematics or an individualized major involving mathematics. The recipient is selected on the basis of scholarly attainment in mathematics and service to Kappa Mu Epsilon.

    The Liberty National Life Insurance Company Scholarship Award, worth $1,400, is given for academic achievement and excellence in the actuarial field by the Liberty National Life Insurance Company.

    The John Franklin Locke Prize in Mathematical Analysis, given annually in memory of Dr. John Franklin Locke, former chair of the Mathematics Department, is awarded to a sophomore mathematics major who has demonstrated unusual interest and outstanding accomplishments throughout the three elementary calculus courses.

    The Raymond J. MacMahon Award is given to a senior art major who has demonstrated superior accomplishment both in studio art and in overall academic achievement.

    The Richebourg G. McWilliams English Award honors the senior English major whose literary study has shown unusual personal engagement, industry, and intellectual growth.

    The Eoline Wallace Moore Award is a scholarship fund presented by the Omicron alumnae Chapter of Kappa Delta Epsilon in honor of its founder who was Professor of Education and Dean of Women at Birmingham- Southern for many years. The award offers annually two grants of $150 each to a student in the discipline of education or to a graduate member.

    The National Alpha Lambda Delta Award is a book presented to the graduating member of Alpha Lambda Delta, a national honor society for first- year students, who has maintained the highest grade point average.

    The J. Stephen Noser Interfraternity Scholarship Award is given to the fraternity that has maintained the highest academic average during the calendar year.

    The Panhellenic Pledge Scholarship Cup is awarded annually by Alpha Chi Omega to the sorority pledge group making the highest average during its pledge term.

    The Panhellenic Scholarship Award recognizes the sorority with the highest active grade point average for the fall term.

    The Pearce, Bevill, Leland, Leesburg, and Moore Accounting Scholarship of $1,000 is awarded by the firm to an accounting major who shows potential for a successful career in public accounting.

    The Phi Alpha Theta Award of $100 is given annually to the graduating senior, regardless of major, who has demonstrated excellence in the study of history at Birmingham-Southern College.

    The Phi Eta Sigma Award goes to the senior member of Phi Eta Sigma who has maintained the highest grade point average during a four-year college career.

    The Phi Eta Sigma Scholarship Award is a plaque given to the fraternity pledge class with the highest grade point average for the year.

    The Sigma Alpha Epsilon Alabama Iota--T. Bradley Fulkerson Award is given each year to the rising senior who has distinguished himself or herself through leadership in all areas of campus life in his or her first three academic years. This award is in honor of T. Bradley Fulkerson, Jr., '58, '62, who was himself the epitome of the criteria considered in the selection of the recipient of this award.

    The Henry T. Shanks Prize of $100 is awarded annually to a senior student majoring in the humanities or the social sciences. This prize is donated by Dorah Sterne and honors the memory and traits of character of the late Henry T. Shanks, Dean of the College and Professor of History.

    The William Vance Public Speaking Awards, a $500 first-place prize and a $200 second-place prize, are given by Mr. William Vance, a graduate of the College, to encourage public speaking at Birmingham-Southern. Finalists deliver prepared speeches and participate in an extemporaneous speaking contest.

    The Wall Street Journal Student Achievement Award is given to the senior majoring in economics, business administration, or accounting who, in the opinion of the discipline faculty, has the traits needed for a successful career in the business world.

    The Dorothy Ward Scholar is selected each year by the faculty of modern foreign languages from among the students majoring or minoring in French, German, or Spanish. The award honors the memory and traits of character of the late Dr. Dorothy Cox Ward, Professor of German.

    The Warren, Averett, Kimbrough, and Marino Accounting Scholarship of $1,000 is awarded by the firm to an accounting major chosen on the basis of need, grade point average, and interest in and potential for success in public accounting.

    The Thomas J. Watson Fellowship Program selected Birmingham-Southern College as a sheltering institution in 1987. The Foundation provides each recipient a grant of $22,000 ($31,500 for a recipient with a spouse or dependent child) to devise and engage in a focused and disciplined Wanderjahr -- a year abroad after graduation to explore thoroughly a particular interest, to test aspirations and abilities, to view American society in greater perspective, and to develop a more informed sense of international concern. Candidates propose projects that investigate an area of demonstrated concern and personal commitment not to include formal study at a foreign university. The College nominates graduating seniors who exemplify integrity, intelligence, leadership, creative potential, and scholarly excellence.


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