Newcomb-Tulane College takes pride in celebrating the achievements of its students, and the Dean’s List is a time-honored tradition that marks a special milestone along the path to graduation. This honor, which recognizes superior academic achievement, is especially meaningful given the strength of our overall student body.
All Latin honors at Tulane are awarded on the basis of GPA alone. Students achieving a GPA in the top 30% of the class will receive Latin honors according to the following:
The standards each year will be set based on the GPA of the previous graduating class. (August graduates will be recognized according to the standards set in the previous academic year; December graduates will be recognized according to the standards of the academic year in progress.)
For students graduating in December 2022 and May 2023, the GPA standards will be:
Students who complete Honors Theses will graduate with departmental honors in the major or majors in which they write the thesis, in addition to any Latin honors earned on the basis of GPA.
Each May, Newcomb-Tulane College recognizes students who, by achieving academic excellence, embody the highest goals of the institution. Prizes are awarded by the appropriate departmental and college committees and are presented at a special Senior Awards Ceremony held during commencement weekend.
The college’s top academic honor, the William Wallace Peery Medal for Academic Excellence, is bestowed on the Peery Society member who best exemplifies Dr. Peery’s educational philosophy, which stresses breadth and depth of learning and encourages students to work at the level of their greatest capacity. The Peery Medalist also receives a check for $1000. Students selected for this honor receive their awards at the annual Senior Awards Ceremony, held in May on the day before Commencement.
The Evelyn and William Burkenroad Award- Established in 1997, this award recognizes excellence in academics, and is presented to the graduate of the Bachelor of Science in Management program with the highest cumulative GPA.
The Dean’s Service Award- Established in 1991, this award recognizes graduating students who have, in the opinion of the administrative staff and the dean, added dimension to the school through outstanding contributions of time and effort.
The Evelyn and William Burkenroad Award- Established in 1982, the Evelyn and William Burkenroad Award recognizes the graduating student in the Bachelor of Science in Management program who has an outstanding record of scholarship and personal integrity, and whose activities have contributed to the professional, social, and/or academic quality of the business program. The recipient is chosen by the senior class.
The Tulane Association of Business Alumni Award- Established to recognize an outstanding graduate of the BSM program, this award is presented each year to the graduating senior who exhibits, in the opinion of the school’s administration, outstanding intellectual ability, leadership, self-motivation, and responsibility to peers, the school, and the community.
Alpha Rho Chi Medal
American Institute of Architects Henry Adams Certificate- Similar to the AIA Henry Adams Medal, this certificate was established to honor the second highest ranking student within each School of Architecture nationwide. With many talented students and what sometimes is a mere hundredth of a point separating these GPAs, it is necessary to recognize these accomplishments.
American Institute of Architects Henry Adams Medal- This medal is awarded annually to the top-ranking student from each accredited Architecture program. This award was established in 1914 to recognize academic excellence throughout the course of one’s architecture education.
John William Lawrence Memorial Medal- The John William Lawrence Medal is an honor chosen by the School of Architecture faculty to recognize excellence in design. While highest cumulative Studio GPA was a baseline consideration for this honor, more important was evidence of a clear drive in the work that moves beyond grades.
Africana Studies
Felipe Smith Jr. Award for Excellence in Africana Studies
The Department of Anthropology
The Arden R. King Award for Excellence in Anthropology
The Elizabeth S. Watts Award for Excellence in Physical Anthropology
The Robert Wauchope Award for Excellence in Anthropology
The Victoria Reifler Bricker Award for Excellence in Linguistics
The Newcomb Department of Art
The Alberta “Rusty” Collier Award for Outstanding Studio Art Major in 2-Dimensional Work
The Alberta “Rusty” Collier Award for Outstanding Studio Art Major in 3-Dimensional Work
Outstanding Art History Major Award
The Sandra “Sandy” Chism Memorial Award in Painting
Class of 1914 Prize in Art
The Department of Classical Studies
The Ernest Henry Riedel Classical Studies Prize
The George H. Terriberry Classical Prize
The Judah Touro Medal- The Judah Touro Medal (est. 1856) is awarded for excellence in Greek, Biblical Hebrew, Latin, or ancient history.
The Department of Communication
The Ashton Phelps Sr. Memorial Award
The Glendy Burke Medal in Communication
The Department of Economics
The J. Ernest Tanner Award for Excellence in Economics- The J. Ernest Tanner Award for Excellence in Economics is given to the student with the highest GPA among all graduating Economics majors.
The Mathematical Economics Award- The Mathematical Economics Award is given to the student with the highest GPA among all graduating Economics majors who also had a significant concentration in Mathematics.
The Newcomb College Award in Economics- The Newcomb College Award in Economics is given to the outstanding female Economics major.
The Paul Tulane College Award in Economics- The Paul Tulane College Award in Economics is given to outstanding male Economics majors.
The Research Award in Economics- The Research Award in Economics is given to the student who produced an exemplary honors thesis.
The Department of English
The Class of 1903 Shakespeare Prize for Best Shakespearean Essay by a Woman
The Dale Edmonds Prize for Best Short Story Written by an Undergraduate
The Donald Pizer Award in American Literature
The Pierce Butler Prize for Excellence in English
The Senior Achievement Prize in Creative Writing
The Senior Service Award in Creative Writing
The Studio in the Woods Fellowship in Creative Writing
The Department of French and Italian
The Alcée Fortier Memorial Prize
The French Government Book Prize- The French Government Prize honors students who have demonstrated extraordinary commitment to the study of French and exceptional proficiency in the language.
The Italian Government Prize for Excellence in Italian
The Jonathan Lorino Memorial Prize
The Louis Bush Medal
The Charles Oscar Maas Prize in French and Italian- The Maas prize recognizes exceptional essays written in French.
The Program in Gender and Sexuality Studies
The Award for the Outstanding Senior in Gender and Sexuality Studies
The Department of German and Slavic Studies
The Ann Royal Arthur Memorial Award- This award honors a student of German “who is distinguished not only by their achievements, but also by dedication and sense of duty.”
The John T. Krumpelmann Award- This award honors the female German major with the highest scholastic record.
The Russian Book Prize for Achievement in the Russian Language
The Russian Award
The Sally Reed Atkins Award- The Sally Reed Atkins Award was endowed in order to support “female graduate or undergraduate students of German Literature” and assist with travel expenses for their studies in Germany.
The Department of History
Chi Omega Prize- The Chi Omega Prize is given to the female History major with the highest GPA in the department and who has exhibited excellence in the study of History.
The Montgomery History Award- The Montgomery Award is given to the male History major with the highest GPA in the department and who has exhibited excellence in the study of History.
Prize for Excellence in Latin American, Middle Eastern, African, or Asian History- Awarded annually for the best undergraduate paper in Latin American, Middle Eastern, African, or Asian history.
The Sidney Beyer Prize for Excellence in American History- Awarded annually for the best undergraduate paper in U.S. History.
The Department of Jewish Studies
The Dr. Bernard Kaufman Essay Contest Award
The Dr. Lawrence J. Kanter and Julie Kanter Award
The Ephraim Lisitzky Memorial Award
The Department of Medieval and Early Modern Studies
The Medieval and Early Modern Studies Prize
The Murphy Institute- Political Economy
The Charles H. Murphy Prize in Political Economy
The Murphy Institute Public Service Award
The Newcomb Department of Music
The Sarah I. Nadler Memorial Award in Music
Payson Center for International Development
The Eamon Kelly Prize- The Eamon Kelly Prize is given to the undergraduate student in International Development who, in the judgement of the faculty, best reflects the values of leadership and academic rigor in development that Dr. Kelly's life work exemplifies. Dr. Kelly is a former President of Tulane and co-founder of the International Development Studies program.
The Director’s Prize for Best Paper- The Director's prize is awarded to the student who, in the judgement of the faculty, demonstrates the greatest potential to make a significant contribution to international development work.
The International Development Undergraduate Prize- The International Development Undergraduate Prize is for the graduating undergraduate student who has distinguished themself by a commitment to international development work.
The Department of Philosophy
The Anne Butler Hess Award
The Department of Political Science
The Charles E. Dunbar Jr. Fellowship in Political Science
The Class of 1935 – Ned Putzell Memorial Prize
The Mary B. Scott Memorial Prize
The Pi Sigma Alpha Award
The S. Walter Stern 1905 Memorial Medal
The Shirley Wiel Greengus Memorial Award for Achievement in Political Science
The Department of Sociology
The Outstanding Student in Sociology Award
The Phi Mu Award in Sociology
The Department of Spanish and Portuguese
The Hispano-American Studies Prize
The Iberian Studies Prize
The Luso-Brazilian Studies Prize
The Newcomb Department of Theatre and Dance
The Dorothy Young Memorial Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Rol
The Janice Torre Perky Memorial Award for Excellence in Original or Creative Writing
The Elizabeth B. Delery Award for Outstanding Achievement in Dance
The Jill Karp Prize in Dance Performance
The Minnette L. Starts Award for Excellence in Dance
Garic K Barranger Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
The Outstanding Undergraduate Public Health Student Leadership Award
The Outstanding Undergraduate Public Health Student Scholastic Award
The Outstanding Undergraduate Public Health Student Service and Volunteerism Award-Every year the Dean gives an award for the highest GPA among our graduating class.
The Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine Alumni Association Student Recognition Award- This award is for a student who is excels in academics as well as leadership and service.
The BMES Scholarship Award for an Outstanding Senior
The Joyous & William C. Van Buskirk Scholarship in Biomedical Engineering
The James A. Cronvich Award
The Nissim Nathan Cohen Memorial Award
The Kenneth H. Kuhn Sr. Memorial Award BME Design Competition
The Department of Cell and Molecular Biology
The Cell and Molecular Biology Prize
The Gerald S. Gussack ’75 M.D. Award
The Liz Earley Prize in Cell and Molecular Biology
The Professor Erik G. Ellgaard Award for Excellence in Cell and Molecular Biology
The Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
The American Institute of Chemical Engineers Senior Scholarship Award- Awarded to the senior with the highest grade point average.
The American Institute of Chemists Student Award- Chosen by the faculty, this is awarded to an outstanding senior for having demonstrated leadership ability, character, high scholastic standing and potential for advancement in the chosen profession.
The Francis M. Taylor Award- Chosen by the faculty, this is awarded to a senior for outstanding citizenship based upon professional attitudes and accomplishments, ability to interact with colleagues and faculty and positive contributions to departmental and university programs.
The Department of Chemistry
The American Chemical Society Outstanding Senior Award- Award for his outstanding undergraduate research in chemistry.
The American Institute of Chemists Award-For high academic achievement in a Chemistry major.
The Merck Index Award-This award is given in recognition of scholastic achievement, leadership, character and research ability.
The William L. Alworth Prizefor Biological Chemistry- This award is given annually to an outstanding graduating Biological Chemistry major.
The Department of Computer Science
The Award for Outstanding Service to Department of Computer Science
The Award for Academic Excellence in Computer Science
The Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences
The Harold E. Vokes Award- outstanding academic record and contributions to undergraduate research.
The Reinhard A. Steinmayer Award
The Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
The Fred R. Cagle Memorial Prize
The Gerald E. Gunning Memorial Award
The Zoology Prize
The Department of Mathematics
The Glendy Burke Medal in Mathematics
The Kappa Kappa Gamma Prize in Mathematics
The Terry C. Lawson Prize in Mathematics
The Department of Neuroscience
The Neuroscience Faculty Award
The Department of Physics and Engineering Physics
The Elsie Field Dupré Memorial Prizein Physics
Joseph J. Kyame Physics Award
The Department of Psychology
The Aaron Hartman Award in Psychology
The Anne M. McPherson Award in Psychology
The Arnold Gerall Prize for Neuroscience
The Barbara E. Moely Award for Psychology in the Public Interest
The Rosa Cahn Hartman Award in Psychology
The Faculty Memorial Award in Psychology
The distinction of senior honors scholar is bestowed upon the one student (or, occasionally, students) each department or program considers to be their very best, taking into account the quality of the student’s senior thesis, the student’s performance in courses, and the student’s other contributions to the field.
Fulbright U.S. Student Program
Critical Language Scholarship
Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program
Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Program
The Leaders in Service Award- This award recognizes those students who have committed their Tulane University career to improving the community around them. Whether through service-learning courses, internships, student leadership, or volunteerism, these students have shown dedication to the city of New Orleans and beyond.
The Jim Runsdorf Excellence in Public Service Student Award
The Newcomb-Tulane College Student Athlete Award- This award is given to graduating seniors who best combine success as an athlete with success in the classroom.
The Dean recognizes the following graduating seniors who have shown exemplary leadership, scholarship, honor, service, and commitment to the college and the campus community.
The Isoline Rodd Kendall and John Smith Kendall Award- This award is given annually to a student who excels in both academic and extracurricular accomplishments. This award alternates yearly between male and female recipients.
The Edward Ambrose Bechtel Medal for Cocurricular Achievement- This medal is awarded to the senior man in the liberal arts and sciences who has made the most significant contributions to the extracurricular life of the college.
The William Wallace Peery Society- The William Wallace Peery Society was established in 1964 by Mrs. Peery in memory of her husband, the late Dr. Peery, professor of English, and dean of the College of Arts and Sciences from 1955 to 1964. Once restricted to senior men in the College of Arts and Sciences, later renamed Tulane College, the Peery Society is now selected from the ranks of all Newcomb-Tulane College undergraduates. Membership is awarded to those students who have earned among the highest cumulative grade point averages over the course of their undergraduate careers, and who have distinguished themselves academically through an honors thesis or equivalent accomplishment.
The William Wallace Peery Society- The William Wallace Peery Society was established in 1964 by Mrs. Peery in memory of her husband, the late Dr. Peery, professor of English, and dean of the College of Arts and Sciences from 1955 to 1964. Once restricted to senior men in the College of Arts and Sciences, later renamed Tulane College, the Peery Society is now selected from the ranks of all Newcomb-Tulane College undergraduates. Membership is awarded to those students who have earned among the highest cumulative grade point averages over the course of their undergraduate careers, and who have distinguished themselves academically through an honors thesis or equivalent accomplishment.
The William Wallace Peery Medal for Academic Excellence- This award is bestowed each year upon the member of the William Wallace Peery Society who has achieved the most distinguished academic record. The recipient is chosen by a special committee, which considers each candidate’s grades and course selections, as well as recommendations submitted by faculty members. The Peery Medal is ultimately awarded to the student who best exemplifies Dr. Peery’s educational philosophy, which stresses breadth and depth of learning and encourages students to work at the level of their greatest capacity.
