Woman in scarlet and grey regalia presenting award to student

Academic Recognition Awards

The following awards, scholarships, and prizes are presented annually at the Academic Recognition Program for faculty, staff, and students attending the The Ohio State University at Marion.

List of Award Winners

C. Eugene Maynard Academic Excellence Award

- The C. Eugene Maynard Academic Excellence Award is presented each year to the outstanding senior student who has completed a significant portion of her/his studies at Ohio State Marion and has attained a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.50. This award is funded by Ohio State alumni and the Ohio State Marion Honors Program.


2025: Dallas Lauran White

John T. Mount Academic Excellence Award

- The John Mount Academic Excellence Award is presented to the outstanding senior who began his/her studies at Ohio State Marion and completed those studies at the Columbus campus. This award is funded by the Ohio State Marion Honors Program. The award is determined by a faculty honors committee and is based on an application from the candidates, faculty recommendations, grade point averages, and student research.

2025: Elena Kay Boger

Undergraduate Academic Excellence Award

The Undergraduate Excellence Awards are presented to freshmen, sophomore, junior, and senior students recognized as outstanding by virtue of combined achievements in scholarship, leadership, and service to The Ohio State University at Marion. These awards are made possible through contributions to the Howard Honors Fund and the Babich Honors Fund.

WM. Kay Davis Honors Scholarship Award

The Wm. K. Davis Honors Scholarship recognizes members of the Ohio State Marion Undergraduate Honors Program with opportunities to significantly enhance the quality of their education through undergraduate research. This award is presented to students developing their individual potential to the fullest by engaging in challenging coursework, seeking out academic programs that have breadth and depth, and interacting with professors and students in intellectual contexts.

Ohio State Marion Teaching Excellence Awards

This award honors two faculty members – one regular faculty member and one associated faculty member – for excellence in teaching. Chosen by the faculty, the recipient of this award is not announced until the awards program.

Griffin Society Teaching Award

This award from the Griffin Society, an honors and social organization that encourages academic excellence and success through participation in honors program classes and activities in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, recognizes superior undergraduate teaching by a senior lecturer, lecturer, instructor or teaching associate at Ohio State Marion.

Babich Writing Award

The Babich Writing Award is sponsored by the Honors Program and is given in honor of the late Robert and Marilyn Babich, in whose names the funding was given to establish the Babich Honors Fund. Separate awards are given for the best paper written by a freshman or sophomore and by a junior or senior.

Howard Honors Book Awards

The Howard Honors Book Award is presented to outstanding students who have participated in regular honors program courses. These awards recognize the lifelong contributions to academic excellence at The Ohio State University Marion by Mr. Ralph Howard and Mrs. Joanne Howard Hoffman. These awards are funded by contributions to the Howard Honors Fund.

Senior Honors Thesis Recognition Award

The Senior Honors Thesis Recognition Award provides undergraduates with rewards and opportunities for pursuing undergraduate research.

Oliver E. Hamilton History Award

The Oliver E. Hamilton History Award is presented to a junior or senior History major with the highest grade point average. This award was made possible by a gift from Oliver Hamilton.

Oliver E. Hamilton Writing in History Awards

Two Oliver E. Hamilton Writing Awards are presented: one to a student in a lower division history course; the other to a student in an upper division history course. This award was made possible by a gift from Oliver Hamilton.

S.D. Lishan Literary Award

The Creative Writing Award is presented to outstanding students who have participated in the Creative Writing Awards Competition. Students are recognized for their creative writing achievements in fiction, non–fiction, and poetry and chosen by judges who are published writers outside of the Ohio State Marion community.

Digital Media Composition Award

The Ohio State Marion Marion Digital Media Composition Award is given annually to the single best instance of student–produced digital composition from Marion campus. Examples of eligible submissions include, but aren’t necessary limited to: short videos; Flash animation; web sites; blogs; visual compositions (Photoshop collages, poster designs, infographics, etc.); audio compositions (audio essays, public service announce, spoof commercials, etc.); and digital literacy biographies or narratives.

WM. Kay Davis Engineering Award

The Wm. Kay Davis Engineering Award annually recognizes up to three students who are pursuing an engineering degree, beginning their college career at Ohio State Marion. Award recipients must be admitted to the Ohio State College of Engineering, having completed all required prerequisites. They will be selected by Ohio State Marion engineering faculty based on a combination of criteria: grade point average; exceptional character; and promise in the field of engineering.

Marion Campus Chemistry Award

The Marion Campus Chemistry Award is presented to the outstanding student in the three–quarter freshman chemistry sequence for science, medicine, and engineering majors.

Dan and Mildred Mitchell Education Endowed Scholarship

First established in 2017, the Dan and Mildred Mitchell Education Endowed Schloarship Fund provides awards for education majors attending The Ohio State University at Marion. Recipients must be of sophomore rank or above and show particular promise as future teachers. Awarded during the student teaching semester, this scholarship helps cover education program expenses during the student teaching semester. The amount of the award varies depending upon funds and the number of scholarships awarded. The recipients are selected by the Education faculty and staff through the generosity of Ohio State alumni Dr. Heidi R. Ries and Mr. Michael J. Ries.

Psychology Research Awards

These two awards celebrate research in the field of psychology. One award recognizes a student research project conducted in a faculty-mentored setting and the other to a student research project conducted in a psychology course. All students enrolled in psychology courses or conducting faculty-mentored research are eligible for this award.

The Hannah Russell Community impact Award

The Hannah Russell Community Impact Award recognizes one student who is engaged in community outreach. Psychology majors and minors involved in community service in a volunteer, internship, or service-learning capacity are eligible.

Biological Sciences Award

The Ohio State Marion Biological Sciences Award annually recognizes one outstanding Junior or Senior Biology major currently enrolled at the Marion campus. The award recipient must demonstrate strong academic credentials attaining at least a 3.5 grade point average, evidence of out-of-class learning and research experience in biology or other related fields, and evidence of outreach and community engagement in biology or related fields. The recipient is chosen by the Marion Campus biological sciences faculty.

The Andy Vick STEM Award for Biology and Chemistry Research

The Andy Vick STEM Award for Biology and Chemistry Research recognizes student excellence in research, as well as scholarship and service to The Ohio State University at Marion campus and community. Each year, one student is granted this award. The recipient must be a full-time Marion campus student and have a 3.0 minimum grade point average. Eligible students have completed two semesters or more of research with a Biology or Chemistry faculty member or completed one semester of research and are committed to a second semester. Students also are required to present their research at the annual research symposium.

The Charles River Laboratory Award for Biology and Chemistry Research

The Charles River Laboratory Award for Biology and Chemistry Research recognizes student excellence in research, as well as scholarship and service to The Ohio State University at Marion campus and community. One student is granted this annual award sponsored by Charles River Laboratories in Ashland, Ohio. Recipients are full-time Marion students and have a 3.0 minimum grade point average. Eligible students have completed at least two semesters of research with a Biology or Chemistry faculty member or completed one semester of research and are committed to a second semester. Students also are required to present their research at the annual research symposium.

World Languages Awards

The foreign language faculty of The Ohio State University at Marion created the World Languages Award in order to recognize students who have demonstrated exceptional ability in foreign language instruction at Ohio State Marion.

Ohio State Marion Earth Sciences Award

The Ohio State Marion Earth Science Award recognizes one student who has completed the following courses during the current academic year and who has shown exceptional aptitude and work ethic: Earth Sciences 1100: Planet Earth; Earth Sciences 1105: Geology of the National Parks; and either Earth Sciences 1121: The Dynamic Earth or Earth Sciences 1122: Earth Through Time. Candidates may be enrolled in any academic program at The Ohio State University at Marion. The recipient of this award is selected by Ohio State Marion Earth Sciences faculty.

Franklin Fine Arts Award

The Franklin Fine Arts Award is presented to an undergraduate student excelling in creativity.

Ralph Howard Service Award

The Ralph Howard Service Award is presented annually by the Ohio State Marion Board of Trustees to an individual member of the community, or an organization, that has contributed to the development of the academic program and has made a significant impact on the quality of education at The Ohio State University at Marion. This award recognizes the lifelong contributions to academic excellence at Ohio State Marion by Mr. Ralph Howard and Mrs. Joanne Howard Hoffman. Each of the recipients – past, present, and future – has been recognized for their outstanding and unique contribution towards the ongoing success and growth of The Ohio State University at Marion and its students and plays a special role in the rich history of this campus.

Student Environmental Citizenship Award

The Student Environmental Citizenship Award was created by The Ohio State University at Marion’s Prairie Advisory Committee to recognize Marion students who demonstrate a commitment to environmentally–related causes. Faculty, staff, and students are asked to nominate students for the inaugural year of this award.

Student Club Leadership Award

The Student Club Leadership Award recognizes students on the Marion campus who have gone above and beyond as leaders involved with student clubs. This award considers how the student has engaged the campus community with clubs, impactful campus projects, and how clubs have improved the lives of Marion campus students.