About

In 2016-2017, an anonymous donor created a gift fund with explicit instructions to give an award of $20,000 to one outstanding graduating PhD student from one of the following departments: Anthropology, Communication, History, Linguistics, Literature, Philosophy, and Sociology. We have been fortunate that this award has continued to be sponsored by the same donor each year since then. We are thrilled to let you know that the donor has again gifted $20,000 so we could can recognize another outstanding student this year. The donor requested that the prize be awarded "during that student’s final faculty meeting." The award must be a surprise, ; that is, the student must have no idea in advance that they are going to receive this gift. The award may be used "at the discretion of the recipient for education or personal expenses." The student is to be nominated by the faculty in the student’s department and selected by GEPA, and the award is to be administered by the Dean of the GEPA. The fellowship recipient will be asked to write a thank you letter to the donor. 

Eligibility

• We ask for nominations for this award "on the basis of academic merit and demonstrated perseverance to overcome personal hardship – financial or otherwise."

• In order to be nominated, a student must have completed the dissertation defense during the 20222023-2023 2024 academic year (that is, students who have already defended during the 20222023-2023 2024 academic year or who will have defended by June 16th14th, 20232024, are eligible).

• For purposes of this award, we have chosen to interpret the phrase "during that student’s final faculty meeting" as referring to (a) the dissertation defense if it is a relatively private event; (b) the student’s final meeting with the faculty advisor before the student moves on to the next stage in their career; or (c) a special meeting convened for this express purpose (without, of course, the student’s knowledge of this purpose) after the student has successfully defended the dissertation.
• We recognize that the The presentation of this year’s award might have to year's award may be done virtually due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemicor in person.

Deadlines

The deadline is May 1stApril 29, 2023 2024 by 11:59 PM (PST).