Honors and Awards

These awards are presented at Commencement or at Honors and Awards Convocation:

Donald C. Agnew Award for Distinguished Service: This award is presented annually by members of the Oglethorpe Student Association and is chosen by that body to honor the person who, in their opinion, has given distinguished service to the University. Dr. Agnew served as President of Oglethorpe University from 1957 to 1964.

Alpha Chi Award: This is an annual award made to the member of the sophomore class who best exemplifies the ideals of Alpha Chi in scholarship, leadership, character, and service.

Alpha Phi Omega Service Award: This award is presented by Alpha Phi Omega fraternity to the student, faculty, or staff member who best exemplifies the organization's three-fold purposes of leadership, friendship, and service.

Alpha Psi Omega Rookie Award: This award is presented annually to the outstanding new member of The Playmakers.

Art Awards of Merit: These are presented to students who have displayed excellence in photography, sculpture, painting and drawing.

Leo Bilancio Award: This award, created in memory of Professor Leo Bilancio, a member of the Oglethorpe history faculty from 1958 to 1989, was established by the Oglethorpe Student Association and is presented to a graduating senior who has been an outstanding student of history.

Mary Whiton Calkins and Margaret Floy Washburn Awards: Outstanding seniors majoring in psychology are honored with these awards.

The Chanda Creasy Music Prize (University Singers of the Year): Given annually to one male and one female member who, in the opinion of the conductor, has made invaluable contributions to the organization and whose musical achievements and commitment has been of the highest order. The award is a cash prize, a personal plaque, plus their names listed on a master plaque in the University Singers rehearsal room.

Deans' Award for Outstanding Achievement: This award is presented annually to a campus club, organization, or society which, in the opinion of the Vice President for Student Affairs and the Provost and Senior Vice President, has contributed most to University life.

Financial Executives Institute Award: This award is presented annually by the Atlanta Chapter of The Financial Executives Institute to students who have demonstrated leadership, superior academic performance, and potential for success in business administration.

Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants Certificate of Academic Excellence: This award is presented annually to the accounting major who has the highest overall grade-point average.

Intramural Sports Awards: These awards are presented to the leading teams and individual athletes in men's and women's intramural competition.

Juried Art Show Awards: These awards are presented to the artists who submit the best drawings, sculpture, photographs and paintings to the annual student art show.

Sidney Lanier Prize: This award is given yearly to the student, or students, submitting excellent poetry to campus publications.

LeConte Award: The most outstanding student graduating with a major in one of the natural sciences or mathematics, as determined by the faculty in the Division of Natural Sciences, is recognized with this award.

Leader in Action Award: The Leader in Action Award is presented to the student who best exemplifies the ideals of the Rich Foundation Urban Leadership Program.

Charles M. MacConnell Award: This award honors a former member of the faculty and is presented by the sophomore class to the senior who, in the judgment of the class, has participated in many phases of campus life without having received full recognition.

Metropolitan Atlanta Phi Beta Kappa Alumni Association Award: This award is given to the outstanding graduating senior in the Honors Program.

The James Edward Oglethorpe Awards: Commonly called the "Oglethorpe Cups," these are presented annually to the man and woman in the graduating class who, in the opinion of the faculty, have excelled in both scholarship and service.

Oglethorpe Poet Laureate: This award was first instituted by Mrs. Idalee Vonk, wife of former President Paul Vonk, and is an honor that is bestowed upon a freshman, sophomore, or junior who presents the best written work to The Tower for competition.

Omicron Delta Kappa Emerging Leader Award: This award is made by Omicron Delta Kappa to the student in the freshman class who most fully exemplifies the ideals of this organization.

Order of Omega Outstanding Sophomore Award: This award is presented by the Order of Omega, a national Greek honor society, to the sophomore who best exemplifies the principles of Greek life.

Outstanding Male and Female Varsity Athletes of the Year Award: These awards are made annually to the outstanding male and female students participating in varsity sports.

Outstanding Improvement in French Studies: This award honors the student who demonstrates excellence and dedication in French studies.

Outstanding Mathematics/Computer Science Senior Award: This award recognizes the most exceptional senior majoring in either mathematics or mathematics and computer science.

Outstanding Politics Senior Award: This award is given annually to the graduating senior who, in the judgment of the faculty, does the most sophisticated work in upper-level classes within the discipline.

Outstanding Sociology Senior Award: The outstanding senior majoring in sociology is honored with this award.

Pattillo Leadership Award: The President of the University presents this prize to a graduating student who has excelled in leadership accomplishments. The award is named for the 13th President of Oglethorpe University, Manning M. Pattillo Jr.

Phi Beta Kappa Faculty Group Award: This award is presented by the faculty and staff members of Phi Beta Kappa to the graduating student who, in their judgment, has demonstrated outstanding scholarly qualities.

Phi Eta Sigma Freshman Scholarship Award: This award is presented annually to the full-time freshman student with the highest grade-point average by Phi Eta Sigma, a national scholastic honor society for freshmen.

Publications Awards: Notable contributors to The Tower, The Stormy Petrel and The Yamacraw are recognized with these awards.

Resident Assistant of the Year: This award is presented annually to an exemplary student who organizes outstanding educational and social programs for dormitory residents and builds a sense of community in the residence halls.

Anne Rivers Siddons Award: This award is given each year to the graduating senior majoring in English who is judged to have written the best piece of short fiction.

The Warren Valine Music Prize (University Singers Most Valuable Member): Given annually to the student who is considered by the members of the Singers to be their most valuable member, the award is a cash prize, a personal plaque, plus the winner's name listed on a master plaque in the University Singers rehearsal room.

Evening Degree Program Award: This award is presented to the evening degree program student in the graduating class who has the highest grade-point average on work completed at Oglethorpe.

David Wills Presidential Fellowship: This award allows an evening degree student to conduct an innovative project, equivalent to 10 hours of work per week, during his/her senior year. The fellowship recipient receives tuition remission for 12 credit hours.

University Singers Awards: These awards are presented annually to students who have exhibited excellence in the performance of choral music.

Charles Longstreet Weltner Award: Sponsored by the Stormy Petrel Bar Association in honor of Chief Justice Charles L. Weltner, class of 1948, this award is presented annually to a student who demonstrates analytical and persuasive skills and an appreciation for the elements of civic leadership, as determined through a competitive essay and interview process.

Sally Hull Weltner Award for Scholarship: This award is presented to the student in the graduating class who has the highest grade-point average on work completed at Oglethorpe among the students graduating with academic honors.

Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities: This honor is given in recognition of the merit and accomplishments of students who are formally recommended by a committee of students, faculty, and administrators, and who meet the requirements of the publication Who's Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities.