ECONOMICS DEPARTMENT HONORS AND PRIZES

HONORS

Graduation with Honors
Econ and MECO majors must complete an original piece of research in order to be eligible to graduate with honors in their major.  See http://www.wesleyan.edu/econ/newhonors.htt, http://www.wesleyan.edu/econ/newmecohonor.htt and http://www.wesleyan.edu/registrar/honors.ctt for details regarding the evaluation process.  The department awards High Honors, Honors, or no honors.  Students who have written a High Honors thesis and who have exceptional grades and broad course selection may also be nominated by the department to be considered for University Honors by the Faculty Honors Committee.

 Phi Beta Kappa
This is a national honor society for the liberal arts (see http://www.wesleyan.edu/studenthandbook/academicstanding.ctt#Phi and http://www.pbk.org/).The department nominates Econ and MECO senior majors based on an evaluation of their GPA in economics courses, their overall GPA, their fulfillment of Gen Ed expectations, and their performance in the department’s core courses (Econ 300, 301, 302).

Omicron Delta Epsilon
This is an international honor society for economics (see http://www.wesleyan.edu/wsa/ode/ and http://www.cba.ua.edu/~ode/).The ODE faculty advisor screens students based on economics GPA (B+ or better) who have had at least 4 economics courses, at least three of which must be at the 200-level or higher, and the current student leadership invites them to join.  Students need not be majors in economics or MECO to be eligible, and may achieve eligibility as early as their sophomore year.

PRIZES

Hallowell Prize
Burton C. Hallowell ’36 was a long-valued member of the Wesleyan economics department.  He became Executive Vice President of Wesleyan and left to become President of Tufts University in 1967. This prize is to honor an outstanding senior in the Social Sciences.  Nominations from all departments in the PAC and CSS; chosen by the PAC governing board.  Established in 1967 by gifts from friends; first awarded in 1968.

While this prize is not an Economics Department prize, it supercedes award of the Wilde prize (see below) and is considered to be the most prestigious prize in the social sciences.

Wilde Prize
In honor of Mr. Frazar B. Wilde, Chairman Emeritus of the Connecticut General Life Insurance Company (died 1985), who throughout his professional career was keenly interested in not only the highest standards of responsible professionalism in business, but also in excellence in higher education.  To be awarded yearly to a junior or senior for excellence in economics.  Established in 1963 by Mr. Wilde.

This prize is considered to be the top prize in Economics.  However, in years where the top economics student receives the Hallowell, the Wilde prize goes to the next economics student; they both generally receive White prizes as well.

White Prize
Horace White, Jr., Wesleyan ’33, was an able and very promising economist who was lost in the North Atlantic during World War II.  His father, Horace White, Wesleyan ’09, endowed the Horace White Fellowships and Prizes, which are awarded each year to the students who excel in economics for advanced undergraduate study in economics.  Established in 1942 and increased in 1943 by friends in his memory.

Current practice is to give the award to the top seniors and juniors, but to give a larger financial award to the seniors and to be more selective regarding junior recipients.

Plukas Prize
John Plukas, Wesleyan ‘66, was an economics major and a recipient of a White Fellowship, and was President of Wainwright Capital at the time he set up his gift.  Established in 1986 by John Plukas.  Awarded for the first time in 1987.

This prize is given to graduating economics seniors.  It is to be applied toward summer expenses, during which period the student will work under the supervision of a faculty advisor to convert an Honor’s Essay or Term Research Paper into a publishable article.  The expectation is that the article, ordinarily coauthored with the faculty member, will be submitted to an academic journal for publication and will note that support has been provided by the Plukas Prize Fund at Wesleyan.  The recipient will be chosen by the Department Faculty in Economics.  If there is no suitable candidate in a given year, the award will not be made.

Current practice is to give the prize in three installments:  A nominal amount at time of award; a larger amount a month later after receipt of a paper prospectus; the remainder in the fall after receipt of a completed paper (ready for submission to a journal).

Plukas Teaching Apprentice Award
John Plukas, Wesleyan ‘66, was an economics major and a recipient of a White Fellowship.  Given to endow a teaching apprentice program in the Economics Department.  Established in 1986 by John Plukas.  Awarded for the first time in 1987.

Current practice is to have economics faculty nominate course assistants and teaching apprentices from the current academic year whom they have supervised and deem to have provided excellent service.

(last revised 8/06)