Information for Current Students
Awards for Honors Students
Winston Family Honors Best Student Paper Awards
The Winston Family Honors Best Student Paper Awards was established in honor of Professor John Portz, the founding director of the general honors program at UMD. In 2013, Roger, Karen and Emily Winston generously donated funds to support and expand the scope of this award for honors students. There are now three principal categories for these awards: (1) Best University Honors Seminar Essay, (2) Best University Honors Seminar Research Paper, and (3) Best Departmental Honors Thesis. These prestigious awards are coordinated by the faculty and staff of University Honors for the Honors College. View the 2017 winners.
Portz Outstanding Honors Student Award
The Portz Outstanding Honors Student award was established in 1978 in honor of the first director of the general honors program, Professor John Portz. The award consists of a certificate and a prize of $150. It is awarded annually to students who combine exceptional academic achievement with outstanding service or accomplishments outside the classroom. The award is presented at the fall Honors College citation ceremony to one student in each of the seven Honors College living-learning programs.
Thorne Study Abroad Scholarship
Donations to the Thorne Study Abroad Scholarship provides financial assistance to Honors College students who study abroad for the first time in the winter or spring term. The Honors College works with Global UMD to identify worthy recipients. This scholarship was established by former honors director Professor Barbara L. Thorne's colleagues and students in honor of her extraordinary service to Honors. Learn more about the Thorne Scholarship.
Honors Alumni and Parent Scholarships
Thanks to an endowment created by the benevolent and inspirational John and Edythe Portz, outstanding Honors College seniors are selected to receive a scholarship that enables them to continue their education. The Alumni and Parent Scholarships allow deserving students to focus on their studies and complete their undergraduate programs without interruption. Alumni who have contributed to the Honors College scholarship fund have increased the number of high-impact need-based scholarships awarded to academically talented, hard-working honors students.
The Gordon Prize in Managing Cybersecurity Resources
The Gordon Prize is open to all students in good standing in the Honors College. It is an endowed award established with the generous donation of Dr. Lawrence A. Gordon. The award seeks creative and innovative essays that approaches the topic, “Managing Cybersecurity Resources,” from a variety of perspectives. The winning essay receives a total award of $1,000.
University of Oxford Exeter Summer Programme Scholarship
The six-week Summer Programme at Exeter College, Oxford is a unique opportunity to experience the collegiate, discussion-based, research-enriched life of an undergraduate at the oldest university in the English-speaking world. The 6-week residential programme features 12 thematically arranged, research-enriched courses in Literature & Art/Cinema, History & Anthropology/Sociology/Culture, International Relations & Economics, Law & Philosophy, Science & Maths, and Engineering & Medicine. Scholarship recipients will receive a £1,000 tuition fee scholarship. The deadline to apply is February 24. Learn more about the Exeter Summer Programme.