Graduate Awards
A variety of graduate awards are presented during the annual Awards Convocation to recognize outstanding achievement. While some awards are degree-specific, others are open to eligible graduates throughout the College. Many of the awards require that you meet one or more criteria to be considered, and awardees are drawn from a pool of eligible individuals. Three awards allow for nominations. Here is a complete listing of all awards with descriptions.
All Graduates
Student Support Award
This award is presented to a person (or persons) whose assistance and encouragement played a significant role in helping a graduate earn an Excelsior College degree.
Deadline: April 12, 2019
Robert E. Kinsinger Memorial Award
This self-nominated award recognizes the leadership and vision of founding trustee Dr. Robert E. Kinsinger. As the first chair of the College’s Board of Overseers, Dr. Kinsinger built upon his earlier relationship with the College as a vice president of the W. K. Kellogg Foundation. While at the Foundation, Dr. Kinsinger encouraged and supported the development of the Regents College nursing degree programs, an interest that he carried forward into his work as an overseer and later as a trustee. The award is presented to a student who demonstrated outstanding academic achievement and who is involved with the nonprofit sector as either an employee or volunteer.
Deadline: April 29, 2019
Business
Jean M. Smith Award
This award recognizes the leadership and vision of Founding Trustee Jean M. Smith. Ms. Smith’s career in banking has been characterized by a deep commitment to institutions that are devoted to improving society. Her passion for social justice shaped her work with the college, first as an overseer and later as a trustee, as she worked to support students. The award is presented to a student who demonstrated outstanding academic and professional achievement in the world of business.
Health Sciences
Michael J. Cooley Memorial Award
The Michael J. Cooley Memorial Award is presented to a health science student in memory and recognition of the contributions of Michael J. Cooley, a beloved and dedicated adjunct health sciences faculty member. The recipient of the award earned a health science degree and embodies exemplary academic achievement and exceptional perseverance. This graduate accepts the challenges that befall an adult learner and embraces the opportunity to grow academically, professionally, and personally within the health sciences discipline.
Liberal Arts
Robert P. Mahoney Award
In recognition of Dr. Mahoney’s outstanding contributions to liberal arts education at this College and his devotion to serving his community, this award is presented to a liberal arts graduate who completed a degree in the face of significant challenges and demonstrated a dedication to community and volunteer service.
Deadline: April 29, 2019
Joshua L. Smith Award
This award recognizes the leadership and vision of founding trustee Joshua L. Smith. During his three years as chair of the Excelsior College Board of Trustees, he encouraged the College to expand graduate degree programs. Smith, a retired professor and director of the Program in Higher Education and Center for Urban Community College Leadership, New York University, School of Education, dedicated his career to education. Thus, this award is presented to a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies graduate who demonstrated outstanding achievement and has a career focused on education.
Nursing
Ruth V. Matheney Memorial Award
The Ruth V. Matheney Memorial Award is presented in memory and recognition of the distinguished contributions of Ruth V. Matheney to nursing education, her nationally acclaimed leadership toward progressive, patient-centered practices in the classroom and at the bedside, and her wise and willing counsel to the Excelsior College nursing programs. The recipient of this award has completed an undergraduate degree at Excelsior College and has demonstrated outstanding academic achievement and excellence on the nursing theory examinations or nursing courses and the nursing capstone requirement.
Mildred L. Montag Memorial Award
The Mildred L. Montag Memorial Award is given in recognition of Dr. Montag’s national leadership in nursing and nursing education and her distinguished contribution to the development of the nursing programs offered by Excelsior College. The graduate selected to receive this award has completed the Excelsior College Master of Science program in nursing and has demonstrated outstanding academic achievement and excellence in all of the nursing courses, including the capstone course.
Public Service
Dwayn Hanford Award
This award is presented in recognition of Excelsior College alumnus Dwayn Hanford. As current president of the Excelsior College Alumni Association, a past C. Wayne Williams Award recipient, and adjunct instructor for public service, Mr. Hanford is a strong advocate and ally to the school and the mission to educate 21st century public sector leaders and citizens. The recipient of the Dwayn Hanford Award has completed a public service degree with academic excellence and significant community involvement.
Technology
Marvin Curling Memorial Award
This award is given in memory and recognition of the vision and contribution of Marvin Curling to the development of collaboration between industry and education through the integration of corporate-sponsored training and college-level learning. A New York Power Authority (NYPA) training superintendent, Mr. Curling motivated employees at NYPA to persist in educational advancement. He helped establish degrees in technology at Excelsior (then Regents) College. In honor of the superior model of collaboration which he helped established, the New York Power Authority contributed the endowment to maintain this annual award which is presented to a graduate who achieved outstanding academic achievement while pursuing a degree in a nuclear technology program.
Dr. Robert L. Long Award for Academic Excellence in Nuclear Engineering Technology
The Dr. Robert L. Long award of Academic Excellence in Nuclear Engineering Technology (aka, the Bob Long Award) was created in recognition of Dr. Long’s service and contribution to Excelsior College. He was regarded as an expert in nuclear education and a proponent of the link between treating and education and the safe operation of nuclear facilities. Students selected for this award must work in the Nuclear Power industry, be a member of the America Nuclear Society, and are nominated by faculty in the Nuclear Engineering Program.
Military
Catherine Craig-Erhardt Memorial Award
This award is given in memory of Catherine Craig-Erhardt, a member of the College staff beginning in 1980. From 1984 until her untimely death in 1986, she served as the College’s liaison to the military. The award recognizes and commemorates her commitment to helping military servicemembers attain their educational goals and is presented for service to others, commitment to education, and for academic, professional, and personal achievement. Read more about this award.
Arthur Gregg Award
This award recognizes the leadership and vision of founding trustee Lt. General Arthur J. Gregg [U.S. Army (Ret)]. General Gregg chaired the College’s Board of Overseers and guided the transition to independence as a private institution, becoming the first chair of the Board of Trustees. With a distinguished career in the U.S. Army, General Gregg has contributed greatly to the College’s service to the U.S. military. The award is presented to a student who is on active duty in the U.S. Military and who demonstrates outstanding academic and career or professional achievement. Read more about this award.
