Departmental Prizes and Awards
The Herington Prize in Greek & Latin
The Herington Greek and Latin Poetry Prizes, named in honor of C. John Herington, are awarded for the best oral performance of assigned passages of Greek and Latin poetry. There are two prizes of $250 each, one in Greek and one in Latin. The competition, open to all undergraduates taking Greek or Latin at UNC, takes place every year in the fall. Participants are advised not to attempt reciting the passage from memory, but those who choose to do so should have a copy of the text to consult during the performance. Previous winners are ineligible to compete again in the same language, but may compete in the other language; they are also are encouraged to attend and take part in the general poetry reading that follows the competition. Students who wish to compete should sign up in advance with the Student Services Manager and obtain the passages of Greek and/or Latin. For current and previous prize winners, see the Prize Winners Past and Present page.
The B.L. Ullman Prize in Latin
The Ullman Prize is funded by an endowment established in 1963 by B. L. Ullman, Professor of Latin from 1944 to 1959 and department chair, for the purpose of encouraging students in their study of Latin. The prize is awarded to a UNC undergraduate student enrolled in fourth semester Latin (LATN 204 or 205) who shows the best ability to translate at sight selected passages of Latin in a competitive written examination. It brings an award of $500. The exam will be held in February, date TBA. Students intending to take this exam should sign up in advance with the Student Services Manager and bring blue books and pens or pencils to the exam. For current and previous prize winners, see the Prize Winners Past and Present page.
The Albert Suskin Prize in Latin
The Suskin Prize is in memory of Albert I. Suskin, first a student in the Department and then, starting in 1936, a faculty member, and lastly Chair from 1960 until his death in 1965. The prize, established in 1966 by his friends and colleagues, is offered to the undergraduate student who shows the best ability to understand Latin poetry and to translate selected passages at sight. It brings an award of $1,000, presented at the Chancellor’s Award Ceremony in April. Students compete for the prize by taking an exam, normally administered in February, consisting of translations and a short essay. Students intending to take the exam should sign up in advance with the Student Services Manager and bring blue books and pens or pencils to the exam itself. For current and previous prize winners, see the Prize Winners Past and Present page.
The Eben Alexander Prize in Greek
This award was established in 1887 by the family of Dr. Eben Alexander, Professor of Greek in the Department from 1886 to 1909. A prize of $500 is presented annually to the undergraduate student who, in the opinion of the faculty of the Department of Classics, presents the best rendering into English of selected passages of Greek not previously read. The award is presented at the Chancellor’s Award Ceremony in April. The prize exam is normally administered in February. Students intending to take the exam should sign up in advance with the Student Services Manager and bring blue books and pens or pencils to the exam itself. For current and previous prize winners, see the Prize Winners Past and Present page.
The Nims Scholarship
The Department of Classics nominates candidates for this need-based scholarship to the Student Aid Office. Established in 1979 by F. Boyden Nims in honor of his parents, Eunice and Luther Nims, the amount of this substantial award varies, but may pay tuition, room, board, and fees, and may be used by undergraduate students in the Department of Classics (majors and minors), with preference given to juniors and seniors for either in-residence study or study abroad. The amounts of the awards vary according to need; however, due to limited resources, they are normally capped at $4,000 for summer programs and at $6,000 for programs that run during the academic year. Exceptions may be made, resources permitting, in cases of unusual need. Priority is given to those students who have not previously received a Nims Scholarship.
The Snow Award for Student Travel and Research
Awards from the James M. and Virginia Kay G. Snow Endowment Fund are awarded competitively to undergraduate students of the Department of Classics (majors and minors) to support travel for the purpose of presenting a paper at a conference or professional meeting and to help subsidize the expense of research projects. Three awards of up to $500 each are available each year.
The Stacia Byers Wells Fund for Student Travel and Research
Grants from the Stacia Byers Wells Fund are awarded competitively to undergraduate students of the Department of Classics (majors and minors) to support travel and research in the following areas: travel to participate in excavations or archaeological field projects, travel to professional meetings in the U.S.A. or abroad, and faculty-student collaborative research, including work as research assistants. The amount of the award varies, depending on the availability of the funds.
Application Procedures
Since the application for all three awards is the same, students may submit a single application for more than one award, indicating the awards for which they wish to be considered. They are urged to supplement these awards by applying for funding elsewhere; see further the following sections on University and regional/national awards. Application letters for these departmental awards should include the student’s 1) full name, 2) PID number, 3) major/minor with area, 4) year/rank, and 5) any previous departmental awards they have received (Nims, Herington, etc.), along with the year received. It should also include a statement of their past experience and education; a description of the program, conference, or meeting they wish to attend or, as applicable, an overview of their research project; a brief statement of how the project relates to their educational or academic goals; a statement of financial need and a list of other funding sources to which they’re applying; and a detailed budget (list of estimated expenses). Applications should be sent by email, either in the body of the message or as attached Word or PDF file, to the Director of Undergraduate Studies. In addition, applicants should arrange to have two academic letters of recommendation (at least one from a professor within the Department of Classics, who can speak to your proposed travel and your abilities to conduct the work) sent by email directly to the DUS. The application deadline is February 14. In usual circumstances, it is also possible for awards to be made at other times on an ad-hoc basis; please consult the DUS. Please note that proof of acceptance to a program or dig is not required when applying for the awards, but is required before receiving any awarded funds.
The Herington Scholarship
The Herington scholarship, named in honor of C. John Herington is awarded annually to the best undergraduate student of Greek. The Herington Scholarship currently carries an award of $750. The purpose of the Herington Scholarship is to recognize achievement and to encourage undergraduates to continue their study of classics at UNC or abroad in the following year. Students do not apply, but are nominated by faculty members and selected in the spring semester by a departmental faculty committee. All first-year, sophomore, and junior UNC Classics majors and minors are eligible. For current and previous prize winners, see see the Prize Winners Past and Present page.
The Epps Prize in Greek Studies
This award was established in 1983 through a bequest of Preston H. Epps, a faculty member in the Department starting in 1915 and Professor of Greek from 1943 until his retirement in 1961. Two Epps prizes are awarded annually, one to a graduate student and one to an undergraduate, to those students whom, as the late Professor Epps stipulated in his will, the faculty of the Department of Classics judge to show “the greatest interest and promise in coming to understand the Greek language, literature, history, and outlook.” The graduate prize carries an award of $3,500, the undergraduate prize an award of $2,500. Students do not apply, but are nominated by faculty members and selected in the spring semester by a departmental faculty committee. All junior and senior Classics majors and minors and graduate students of Greek at UNC are eligible. For current and previous prize winners, see the Prize Winners Past and Present page.