Prize and Award Descriptions


Achievement Award from the Society for Analytical Chemists of Pittsburgh. This award is made to a junior or senior for excellent performance in the study of chemistry. The student is selected by the chemistry department faculty.

AIChE Professional Promise Award. The Professional Promise Award is an annual award presented by the Pittsburgh chapter of The American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) to senior chemical engineers from participating colleges or universities. Each recipient must have an excellent academic record and also have internship or research experience that will support a successful career after graduation.

Barbara A. Henderson Memorial Award. This monetary gift is given to the major in history who has attained the highest average, above 3.4, in history courses in his or her four years.

Biblical Theology Prize. The Biblical Theology Prize is awarded to the student with the best research paper or highest overall score in Bible 350, 351, or 352.

Biomedical Engineering Award. This award is presented by the Department of Engineering to the senior considered to be the most outstanding student in biomedical engineering based on grade point average, character, and leadership.

Byron I. Bitar Memorial Annual Cash Prize for Best Philosophy Paper. This prize is awarded by the Philosophy Program to encourage scholarly excellence in philosophy among Geneva College students.

Charles “Chuck” Wilson Memorial Prize. This award is offered by the Athletic Director to a graduating senior student-athlete from Beaver County.

Charles N. O’Data Leadership Prize. This cash award is given to a graduating senior in recognition of his or her example as a servant-leader in academics, student life, and Christian ministry. This prize is in honor of Mr. O’Data’s longstanding commitment and faithful service to the vision and mission of Geneva College.

Charles Spurgeon “Spud” McCracken 1918 Award. This award is presented to a graduating senior football student-athlete who most exemplifies the high standards of character, scholarship, leadership, and community service for which Spud was committed.

Civil Engineering Award. This award is presented by the Department of Engineering to the most outstanding student in civil engineering based on grade point average, character, and leadership.

Communication Disorders Prize. Given by the Hockenberger family, this cash prize is awarded to a senior Communication Disorders major who has demonstrated outstanding academic achievement and commitment to the profession of Speech-Language Pathology or Audiology who will enroll in a graduate Communication Disorders program in the upcoming academic year.

Computer Engineering Award. This award is presented by the Department of Engineering to the most outstanding student in computer engineering based on grade point average, character, and leadership.

Computer Science and Cybersecurity Scholastic Excellence Award. This award is presented by the faculty of the Department of Computer Science and Cybersecurity to students in departmental majors based on grade point average, character, and leadership.

Department of Computer Science and Cybersecurity Outstanding Student Award. This is the top award given by the faculty of the Department of Computer Science and Cybersecurity to a graduating senior for outstanding academic performance, superior personal character, and laudable demonstration of Christian faith.

Dr. David M. Carson Award. The Dr. David M. Carson Award is given in honor of Dr. David Carson, who served Geneva College as professor of political science from 1946 to 1992. The award recognizes Dr. Carson’s years of faithful teaching, his role in the establishment of the political science major, and his commitment to excellence, particularly in the area of bringing God’s Word to bear on political questions. The award is given at the discretion of the political science department to one or more outstanding political science majors to help defray the cost of the junior and/or senior year.

Dr. Harry Farra Communication Prize. This cash prize is awarded in honor of Dr. Harry Farra, former Chair of the Communication Department, to a senior Communication major who has demonstrated strong character in attaining outstanding academic achievement.

Dr. J. Randall Nutter Memorial Award. Presented in honor of Dr. J. Randall Nutter to the graduate student who demonstrates the qualities that, as the founder of the MBA program, Dr. Nutter modeled and expected of his students- academic superiority, commitment to the reformed faith, and obedience to our gracious Savior.

Dr. L. Thomas Keim Memorial Award. This award is given in memory of Dr. L. Thomas Keim to a graduating senior in the business department who has demonstrated integrity, honesty, and character in the commitment to a Christian lifestyle.

Dr. Lawrence M. and Kathryn I. Douglas Scholarship Award. This scholarship is awarded to a junior education major who exhibits superiority in character, scholarship, leadership, potential as a competent teacher, and who through student activities has made worthwhile contribution to the college and the Department of Education.

Dr. Philip L. Coon Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship was initiated by Mr. and Mrs. Harry F. Reid to a student majoring in chemistry and about to enter his or her senior year who is noted for academic record and overall worthiness.

Dr. Roy M. Adams Chemistry Prize. This award, provided from an endowed fund established by Dr. Allen R. Siedle, is given to a third or fourth-year student who has demonstrated excellence and achievement in undergraduate research in chemistry. Dr. Siedle wishes to honor Dr. Adams for his contributions to education, the teaching of chemistry, chemical research, and to encourage research at Geneva College.

Eleanor Leighty Library Prize. This cash award is given by Mr. Albert J. Miller in memory of Mrs. Eleanor J. Leighty, librarian of Geneva College from 1930 to 1966, to the graduating senior whose outstanding work as a student assistant has enhanced the goals and objectives of the library program.

Electrical Engineering Award. This award is presented by the Department of Engineering to the most outstanding student in electrical engineering based on grade point average, character, and leadership.

Environmental Engineering Award. This award is presented by the Department of Engineering to the most outstanding student in environmental engineering based on grade point average, character, and leadership.

Excellence in Business Award. This award is given by the faculty of the Department of Business, Accounting, and Sport Management to graduating seniors for excellent academic performance, personal character and demonstration of Christian faith.

Geneva College Writing Award. This award is given to the person who has done excellent writing in a variety of genres.

George Tannehill Outstanding Senior Business Award. This is the top award given by the faculty of the Department of Business, Accounting, and Sport Management to a graduating senior for outstanding academic performance, superior personal character and laudable demonstration of Christian faith.

Geri D. Bass Award. This prize is awarded to a graduating senior who has shown academic excellence, involvement in college activities, and service to the local or home community. It is given in honor of Mrs. Bass, associate professor emerita of English.

Good Citizenship Award. A cash award, certificate, and medal are given by the General Anthony Wayne Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution to the student in the senior class chosen for patriotic, historical, and educational contributions to the community.

Hartman Chemistry Prize. This prize is given in memory of Teresa and G. Kenneth Hartman, by their son, to the most deserving senior chemistry major who plans to enter graduate study.

Hebrew Prize. The Hebrew Prize honors the student who has achieved the highest grades in at least two semesters of Biblical Hebrew.

Helen Wallace Bruce Memorial Music Scholarship. This scholarship is awarded to a junior majoring or interested in music with preference given to piano or voice specialties. It is given in memory of Helen Wallace Bruce by the family and friends of her late husband, Dr. Harold Bruce, to show their appreciation of the role she played in making music an enjoyable part of the college, the community, her neighborhood, and her church.

Howard Mattsson-Bozé Prize for Sociology. This prize is awarded annually in honor of Professor Emeritus Howard Mattsson-Bozé to the graduating senior sociology major who has best embodied a commitment to excellence in scholarship and compassionate care for others in the spirit of Christ.

Social Service Scholastic Excellence Award. This award is presented to the graduating social service major who has demonstrated academic excellence and a strong commitment to high ideals in the field of social services.

Iva E. Patterson Music Award. This scholarship is presented for outstanding achievement in the field of music and is available to students in their junior and senior years. The scholarship is interest from a trust fund established by the late Paul H. Gilmore. Selection of the recipient is made by the faculty of the music department.

Jack Pinkerton Engineering Design Award. This award is presented by the Department of Engineering to the student achieving the most outstanding performance on the capstone design project exhibited by innovation, discovery, research, initiative, leadership, teamwork, persistence, hard work, and outstanding results.

Jessica Vojnovich DeMarco Commencement Prize. This award is presented to the most deserving graduating senior who is a member of Geneva College’s softball team and demonstrates exceptional leadership, character, and discipline. The prize was established in Jessica’s memory and acknowledges her contribution as an accomplished softball player, her dedication to academic excellence, and her love of family and friends. Jessica, #24, was a 2006 graduate of Geneva with degrees in Chemical Engineering and Chemistry.

John Cruzan Senior Paper Prize. This prize, in memory of former biology department chair, John Cruzan, is awarded to the graduating biology major with the best senior paper examining a topic in biology from a biblical perspective.

John Mandeville Business and Commerce Award. This award is presented to the graduate in the department who best demonstrate their understanding of business and commerce with the application of reformed Christian principles including the value of the individual and honesty.

Jonathan Antonishen “Anto” Commencement Award.  This award, presented in memory of Jonathan Antonishen, is presented to the senior football player who shows compassion and kindness, strong leadership qualities, a striving for personal achievement, dedication to the well-being of others, and demonstration of team loyalty and work ethic both on and off the field.

Kathleen Riethmuller McIntyre Scholarship Fund. This scholarship is awarded to a junior elementary education major who has achieved academic excellence. Mrs. McIntyre, a 1973 graduate of Geneva College, says to the recipient: “I hope that this scholarship, your training at Geneva College, and your own special gifts and talents will lead you to grow as a teacher and a leader who continually strives for ‘Excellence in Education’”.

Larry and Margaret Blinn Memorial Award. This award of the income on a trust fund given in memory of Larry and Margaret Blinn by her brother, Dr. Ray McQueen, class of 1931, is presented to the graduating senior who has done the best work in the field of American history.

Leotta C. Hawthorne Reading Award. This award is given annually by the members of the Geneva College Department of Education to an elementary education major who has had outstanding achievement in reading and who has made a major contribution to the college reading program in the Department of Education.

Linda Bailey Education Award. This award is given in memory of Mrs. Linda Bailey, friend of many and secretary for the education department from 1986-2001, to a senior education major who excels as a student-teacher and models an attitude of servanthood.

Louis J. Krepps Music Prize. This award is given in memory of Mr. Louis J. Krepps, professor of instrumental music and director of the marching band at Geneva College from 1948 to 1973, to a student who has been outstanding in instrumental music.

Mabel Davison Weagly Award. The interest on a trust fund is to be given to the student who showed the greatest progress in the music department in the second semester of the academic year.

Mechanical Engineering Award. This award is presented by the Department of Engineering to the most outstanding student in mechanical engineering based on grade point average, character, and leadership.

Metheny Medical Prize. This award is given to the graduating pre-med student with the highest academic average. The prize is given in memory of C. Brainerd Metheny and David B. Metheny by Mr. & Mrs. Richard T. Metheny.

Outstanding Senior Psychology Student Award This award, sponsored by the Christian Association for Psychological Studies (CAPS), is presented to a senior student who meets three criteria: 1) must demonstrate exceptional interest in and pursuit of excellence in academic studies; 2) must demonstrate extension of self in service to others beyond the classroom; 3) must evidence Christian commitment and personal growth in their approach to professional interests and life in general.

P.I.C.P.A. Accounting Prize. A certificate and medal are presented by the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants to a senior majoring in accounting, having a high grade average, with character and leadership taken into consideration.

Paul E. Smith Senior English Prize. This prize is awarded by the Department of English for the best work in senior english.

Paul H. Gilmore Humanities Award. This award, provided by a trust fund established by the late Paul H. Gilmore, is given to the student who has done the most outstanding work in the humanities program. Selection of the recipient is made by the faculty of the humanities program.

Professor A. C. Edgecombe Award. This award is presented to engineering students who possess academic ability, leadership, and character.

Professor Bruce E. Miller Memorial Mathematics Award. This award is given in memory of Professor Bruce. E. Miller, who taught mathematics at Geneva College from 1966 until his retirement in 1994. This award is given to a senior majoring in mathematics based on grade point average and research accomplishments.

Robert Park Excellence Prize. This award represents a portion of the income from an endowed fund established by The Alabaster Box, Inc. in memory of Dr. Robert Park. This portion of income is divided equally among the valedictorians.

Senior Biology Prize. This prize, the “Your Life as Your Mission” Legacy, is given by Dr. Katherine Trueblood ’06 in honor of an outstanding biology senior who is continuing their science education in either a biological master’s or PhD program. This student has demonstrated a profound commitment to living out an integrative worldview where their career as a scientist is their mission to affect global spiritual and social change. This award is a one-year membership in the AAAS and subscription to Science Magazine.

Senior Speech Prize. This cash prize is awarded each year by the Estate of Dr. W. Clair and Melba Brown Merriman to the senior speech major who has demonstrated outstanding academic achievement.

Student-Athlete Award. This cash award is presented annually by the Estate of Dr. W. Clair and Melba Brown Merriman to the graduating senior athlete with the highest academic average.

Sylvester Amon Engineering Award. This scholarship is given to the most outstanding junior engineering student from Beaver County based on grade point average, character, leadership, and community service, by the Beaver County Chapter, Pennsylvania Society of Professional Engineers.

The Dr. David Essig Biology Award. This award, presented in honor of Professor Emeritus David Essig, PhD, is given to the graduating biology major with the highest career GPA.

The Excellence in Criminal Justice Sciences Award. The Excellence in Criminal Justice Sciences Award is given to the senior who has demonstrated both outstanding scholarship and service to the community. This senior has evidenced the character, leadership skills, and commitment to Biblical principles that will enhance the field of criminal justice.

Valedictorian’s Prize. This prize is the interest on a trust fund given by Dr. S. C. Milligan of Pittsburgh in memory of his father, the Rev. J.S.T. Milligan, D.D. Rev. Milligan was a member of the first graduating class in 1852.

Virginia Davis Napoli Award. This award is presented to a graduating senior female student-athlete who most exemplifies the high standards of character, scholarship, and leadership for which Virginia was committed.

Walkinshaw Music Prize. This prize is given in memory of the late Mr. & Mrs. William J. Walkinshaw for superior achievements in vocal performance, string performance, or in music history and theory.

William Columbus Award. This prize is provided by a trust fund established by the late Mr. William Columbus and is given to the student maintaining the best grade average in the study of Greek.

William M. Ewing Mathematics Award. The William M. Ewing Mathematics Education Award, donated by his students, is given to the senior majoring in mathematics education with the highest credit point average overall. Mr. Ewing was a mathematics professor at Geneva and retired in 1992.