The following prizes and awards at Lycoming College might be of special interest to students in the Archaeology Program, the Religion Department, or the pre-Ministerial program (TPAC):

The Faculty Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement in Religion and Archaeology
presented to a graduating senior demonstrating outstanding academic performance
and achieving the highest departmental grade point average in Archaeology and Religion (with a $100 cash prize attached)

Awarded jointly in 2000 to Marcus Myers in Archaeology and Joshua Pratt in Religion.
Awarded in 2002 to Holly Lehnig in Archaeology.
Awarded in 2003 to Shannon Wilson in Archaeology.
Awarded in 2004 to Edward Hunter in Religion.
Awarded jointly in 2005 to Laura Taylor in Archaeology and Katherine John in Religion.
Awarded jointly in 2006 to Stephanie Wanek in Archaeology and Margaret Bortner in Religion.
Awarded jointly in 2007 to Lindsay Vosburg in Archaeology and Kent Hayden in Religion.

The Eduardo Guerra Prize in Biblical Languages awarded to a student demonstrating excellent academic performance and achieving the highest overall score in 1st year Biblical Greek or Hebrew (with a $50 book prize attached)

Awarded in 2000 to Marcus Myers for Greek.
Awarded in 2001 to Holly Lehnig for Hebrew.
Awarded in 2002 to Laura Taylor for Greek.
Awarded in 2003 to Michele Burns for Hebrew.
Awarded in 2004 to Katherine Kressler and Kent Hayden for Greek.
Awarded in 2005 to Peter Via for Hebrew.
Awarded in 2006 to Kelly Szpara for Greek.
Awarded in 2007 to Marcella Barbosa for Hebrew.

The McDowell Scholarship given to the senior ministerial student who excels in scholarship, deportment, and promise of usefulness, and who declares an intention to make ministry his or her life work Awarded in 2002 to Dwaine Krebs.

Awarded jointly in 2003 to Steve Sharp and Emily Mingle.
Awarded jointly in 2004 to Ann Runnels and Edward Hunter.
Awarded in 2005 to Cynthia Betz.
Awarded in 2007 to Kent Hayden and Sarah Hughes.

Also available but not recently utilized are -

The M.B. Rich Prizes to be given to two students who at a public contest excel in reading the scriptures; and to two students who excel in writing and delivering an original oration

We are currently looking into organizing a contest!

Another opportunity for students with a special interest in ethics (like what about the ethics of digging up 4,000-yr-old graves?) is the Elie Wiesel Prize in Ethics - an annual essay contest for college juniors and seniors sponsored by the Elie Wiesel Foundation.


Honor Societies

The National Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi presents a wonderful opportunity to be recognized for high achievement and involved nationally with some impressive programs, including travel scholarships for study abroad (which can also include a summer archaeological dig).

In 2006, Lycoming College founded a chapter of Theta Alpha Kappa, a National Honor Society for Religion.

Double Majors in the History Department should consider joining the Phi Alpha Theta Honor Society
(Lycoming Chapter Zeta Zeta).

Scholarships

Study Abroad Travel Scholarships - For those looking for longer-term Study Abroad opportunities, the Study Abroad Program at Lycoming College offers $500 travel scholarships to help with travel expenses. The Honors Society of Phi Kappa Phi also offers travel scholarships for study abroad (see link above).

We are currently working on creating a Dig Scholarship Fund for Archaeology majors.

It is also possible to apply for outside scholarships through other organizations that regularly sponsor travel, research and digs in Israel and elsewhere such as -
* the Biblical Archaeology Society (BAR Dig Scholarships)
* the American Schools of Oriental Research
* the Endowment for Biblical Research
* the Albright Institute (currently geared towards longer-term, advanced study)
* the Dorot Foundation (Dorot Travel Grants)
* the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi (grants for internships and study abroad)
* the National Science Foundation
and others.

In 2001, Colin Casler was the recipient of a National Science Foundation dig scholarship to dig at the Athienou Archaeological Field School in Cyprus. Congratulations!

In 2002, Jennifer Hochman was the recipient of a National Science Foundation sponsored Summer Fellowship in Bio-Cultural Anthropology at Notre Dame (see below). Congratulations!

In 2004, Lee Zelewicz was the recipient of a National Science Foundation sponsored Summer Internship at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C. Congratulations!

In 2007 Sabrina Slaughter was the recipient of a National Science Foundation sponsored Summer Internship in Hawaii Congratulations!

INTERNSHIPS

Students will have opportunity to gain hands-on work experience by participating in internship programs, either with a local archaeologist (through the Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology, or as listed above), with a local historical museum (such as the Lycoming County Historical Museum in Williamsport), or with other major historical museums, art museums having more extensive Classical or Ancient Near Eastern collections, or museums of natural history or anthropology.

In 2004, Jessica Kaiser did a summer internship at the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology in Philadelphia, teaching and giving tours for a summer camp for teens; Lee Zelewicz did a summer internship at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History (Research Training Program) in Washington, D.C.; Jessie Martin did a summer internship at a museum of natural history on Long Island; Ashley Becker worked for the Blair County Historical Society; and Sean Reese taught a short class in Archaeology for the Lycoming College for Kids and Teens. Congratulations!

In 2002, Archaeology / Art History double major Shannon Wilson did a summer Art Museum Internship at the Carnegie Museum in Pittsburgh.

Find out more! For more info on possible internships click HERE for some great ideas, and visit the Career Development Center.