220.1 Donaldson-Watkins and Bradshaw-Feaster Medals for General Excellence

220.1 Donaldson-Watkins and Bradshaw-Feaster Medals for General Excellence

A. Background

The Donaldson-Watkins Medal for General Excellence was given by the late Mrs. Elizabeth Wilson Donaldson and the late Mrs. Maude Wakefield Watkins, members of the class of 1889. The Bradshaw-Feaster Medal for General Excellence was endowed by the late Dr. S. E. Bradshaw in continuation of the medal provided by the late W. L. Feaster of the class of 1913.

B. Policy

The Donaldson-Watkins Medal for General Excellence is awarded by the faculty to a senior woman on the following bases: scholarship, general culture, participation in college activities, and high moral character. The Bradshaw-Feaster Medal for General Excellence is awarded by the faculty to a senior man on the following bases: scholarship, general culture, participation in college activities, and high moral character.

C. Guidelines

1. The Faculty Scholarship and Awards Committee will prepare a slate of three finalists to present to the faculty at its last meeting of the spring semester.

2. The process by which the slate of finalists will be prepared is as follows:

a. Students who are on track to earn a grade point average commensurate with magna cum laude or summa cum laude honors by the conclusion of the fall semester of the senior year will be automatically considered by the Faculty Scholarship and Awards Committee.

b. The committee will accept nominations from faculty members for students who have not met the magna cum laude minimum grade point average but who are on track to earn cum laude honors. The committee chair will remind faculty of this provision at the conclusion of each fall semester.

c. The committee will solicit information from eligible students, including activities, honors, and special achievements. Students will also provide the names of at least two faculty references.

d. Students who do not provide the requested information will not be considered as semifinalists for the medals.

e. The committee will examine the information provided by the students, consider it in the light of the criteria, and select up to twelve semifinalists for each medal. The names of the selected semifinalists will be presented to the faculty, at the latest, by the penultimate faculty meeting of the spring semester.

f. The committee will request written recommendations from the faculty references for each of the candidates still under consideration.

g. The committee will select three finalists for each medal.

h. The committee will send to the faculty ten days before the last faculty meeting of the spring semester the students' names together with a list of the most significant activities, honors, and achievements of each and a brief statement about each composed from the information gathered.

3. At the last faculty meeting of the spring semester, the faculty will vote on these candidates. The winners will be determined by a simple majority vote.

4. The winner of each medal will be announced at the spring commencement.

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