Dean of Academic Life
2011-12 Academic Awards
The Prestigious Awards Initiative seeks to assist undergraduates and recent graduates engage in a process of reflection upon their education, inside and outside the classroom, their values, and their life goals in order to enhance success in applying for opportunities that will enable them to realize their goals (e.g. nationally prestigious awards such as NFSs or Fulbrights, graduate or professional study).
Opportunities include significant student research and presentation, study abroad, and meaningful volunteer and service-learning work. The process acknowledges the different levels of readiness of students, first year through postgraduate. The process includes many opportunities to work with faculty awards advisors and the Dean, including an intensive mock application and interview program for a $1,000 internal scholarship the Junior year. In twelve years, over 120 awards have been received by Muhlenberg students and recent graduates.
The 2011-12 academic year has produced the largest-ever number (20 recipients or honorable mentions so far) and the first Truman recipient since 1999. That student, Jake Glass ’13, received a Truman, a Udall and a David Brower Youth Award in competition with students from institutions including Stanford, Grinnell, Lafayette, Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania. Whether students receive an award or not, the process has helped all students get to know themselves better and present themselves better in future competitions.
Close work with faculty who teach, advise, and inspire these students is central to their success. Some students are also engaged in meaningful service and extra curriculum. I deeply appreciate the extraordinary efforts of dedicated faculty in this enterprise. The program would not succeed without faculty who work closely with students as their classroom instructors, independent study research advisors, and award advisors.
Current Students
Nationally and Internationally Prestigious Awards
David Brower Youth Award - This program, honoring environmental advocate David Brower and housed in the Earth Island Institute, awards a $3,000 cash prize, a professionally produced short film about the student's work, and a trip to an environmental conference in the San Francisco Bay area.
Jacob Glass ' 13. Recipient. An RJ Fellow, Jake is majoring in Environmental Science and International Studies. Jake was also a Truman and a Udall recipient (see below).
J. William Fulbright - The Fulbright is the flagship international exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government and is designed to increase understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. There are teaching (ETA) Fulbrights and study Fulbrights. The award subsidizes one year’s teaching or study abroad. Chris Herrick, Political Science, is the advisor to the Fulbright.
Melissa Bressler '12. Recipient, ETA, Thailand. A Dana Scholar, Melissa is majoring in English and minoring in Business Administration
Amanda Gavin '12. Finalist, ETA, Vietnam. A Dana Scholar, Amanda is majoring in Biology
Jennifer Melis '12. Recipient, ETA, Turkey. Jennifer is an International Studies major and a Sustainability Studies minor.
Benjamin A. Gilman - The program awards a $5,000 scholarship for study abroad. Donna Kish-Goodling and Susan Norling, Global Education, are the advisors to the Gilman.
Sydney Yonak '13. Recipient. Sydney is an International Studies major, minoring in both Music and Russian Studies. She was also awarded a $3,000 Critical Language Supplement. Sydney is studying in Russia during Spring 2012.
Barry M. Goldwater – The program awards up to $7,500 annually for a maximum of two year to students with a demonstrated commitment to a career in science or math, excluding medical school. Joe Keane, Chemistry, is the advisor to the Goldwater.
Nathan Crossette '13. Honorable Mention. A Dana Scholar, Nate is majoring in Physics and Mathematics.
Jaclyn Durkin '13. Honorable Mention. A Dana Scholar, Jaclyn is majoring in Neuroscience and minoring in Mathematics. She is the recipient of a Muhlenberg Dean’s Summer Research Grant for Summer 2012.
Amanda Meier '13. Recipient. A Muhlenberg Scholar, Amanda is majoring in Biology and Environmental Science. She was a Goldwater Honorable Mention in 2011. Amanda was awarded a Muhlenberg Dean’s Summer Research Grant in 2011.
U. S. Navy Health Professions Scholarship Program - The HPSP pays for tuition, fees, expenses, books, equipment and a monthly stipend for up to four years of school.
Meredith Colwell '12. Recipient. A Dana Scholar, Meredith is majoring in biochemistry. She will attend the University of Maryland School of Dental Medicine on a Navy scholarship. Lori Provost, health Professions, is the advisor to the HPSP.
National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) - The program awards a $7,500 grant for graduate study to students in the last year of athletic competition who have excelled academically and athletically.
Gerald 'Michael' Baer '12. Recipient. A Muhlenberg Scholar, Michael majored in Biochemistry and minored in History.
Harry S. Truman - The Truman is a $30,000 scholarship for graduate study in preparation for a career in public service. Students are chosen because of outstanding leadership potential. Michele Moser Deegan, Political Science, is the advisor to the Truman.
Jacob Glass '13. Recipient. Jake was one of 50 recipients – one per state - this year. He is the second-ever Truman at the College. He was also a Udall and a Brower Youth Award recipient.
Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall - The Udall awards up to $5,000 to students who demonstrate potential for significant contributions in a career related to improving or preserving the environment. Chris Borick, Political Science, is the advisor to the Udall.
Jacob Glass '13. Recipient. Jake was also a Truman and a Brower Youth Award recipient (see above).
Amanda Meier '13. Honorable Mention. Amanda was also a Goldwater recipient (see above).
Regional Scholarships
St. Andrew’s Society - The regional award carries a $20,000 stipend for one year’s study in Scotland. Donna Kish-Goodling and Susan Norling, Global Education, are the advisors to the St. Andrew’s.
Hannah Oros '14. Recipient. A Muhlenberg Scholar, Hannah is a Media & Communication major and a Self-Designed major in Global Health. She will study in Glasgow next year.
Recent Graduates
J. William Fulbright - The Fulbright is the flagship international exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government and is designed to increase understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. There are teaching (ETA) Fulbrights and study Fulbrights. The award subsidizes one year’s teaching or study abroad. Chris Herrick, Political Science, is the advisor to the Fulbright.
Thomas Bertorelli '10. Recipient, ETA, Poland. Thomas graduated with a Neuroscience and Music double major. He was a Fulbright Alternate in 2010. Thomas received a Muhlenberg Dean’s Summer Research Grant in 2009. He is attending the University of Chicago.
U. S. Navy Health Professions Scholarship Program - The HPSP pays for tuition, fees, expenses, books, equipment and a monthly stipend for up to four years of school.
Kyle Keinath '10. Recipient. Kyle graduated with a major in Chemistry. He will attend Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine on a Navy scholarship.
National Science Foundation – The NSF awards $30,000 per year, plus $10,500 cost-of-education allowance to students embarking on graduate study in the sciences. Bruce Wightman, Biology, is the advisor to the NSF.
Christopher Alvaro '10. Honorable Mention. A DANA Scholar, Chris graduated with a Biochemistry major. He was a NSF Honorable Mention in 2011. Chris is attending the University of California – Berkeley.
Christine Marie Gleave '11. Honorable Mention. Christine graduated with a Chemistry major and a Mathematics minor. She is attending Cornell University.
Jake Tompkins Herb '11. Recipient. Jake graduated with a Chemistry major. He was a Goldwater Recipient in 2010 and a Goldwater Honorable Mention in 2009. Jake is attending Princeton University.
Elia Wright '10. Honorable Mention. Elia graduated with a Biochemistry major. She is attending the University of Michigan.
Other Selected Awards (Summer)
Stephen Moore '13. Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs – Princeton University’s Junior Summer Institute Fellowship. Stephen is a Self-Designed major in International Health Studies. The fellowship carries a $1,500 stipend and covers all expenses. He will attend the PPIA Junior Summer Institute at Princeton, Summer 2012. Stephen is studying in Brazil Spring 2012 and won a Brazil Initiation Scholarship of $1,500.
Leah Kirby '13. Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst (DAAD) Research Internship in Science and Engineering (RISE) (Alternate). Leah is a double major in Natural Science and Spanish. This program offers summer internships in Germany for undergraduate students in the sciences. Rich Niesenbaum is the advisor to the DAAD.