English students can receive several awards, including:
Sister Mary Ellen O'Hanlon Essay Prize
Gill-Davlin Award
Outstanding Senior Award
Sister Mary Ellen O'Hanlon Essay Prize
In honor of the late Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and to recognize his enduring legacy for social justice and diversity, Dominican University’s Rosary College of Arts and Sciences announces the Sister Mary Ellen O’Hanlon Essay Prize in Social Justice and Diversity, to be awarded each spring during Dominican’s Honors Convocation.
Sr. Mary Ellen O’Hanlon (1882-1961) was a pioneer in working for racial equality in the mid-twentieth century. She used her expertise as a scientist to counter prevailing notions of the time about the supposed “genetic inferiority of the negro.” While a professor at Rosary College—now Dominican University—she worked on social justice and diversity initiatives with various individuals and social action groups in Chicago, including Dr. Percy and Anna Julian of Oak Park. She was especially concerned that higher education institutions not promote misinformation, biases, and distorted views of other races and called for a review of textbooks and other teaching materials.
The winner will receive $500 and will be acknowledged at the annual Honors
Convocation. In addition, the winner will be invited to present his or her paper to the Dominican
University community. The winner may also be invited to present his or her paper at a suitable
academic conference, to be determined in consultation with the judges and the applicant’s faculty
mentor.
The Sr. Mary Ellen O'Hanlon Essay Prize in Social Justice and Diversity is sponsored by the
English Department. O'Hanlon co-sponsors include the Committee on Diversity, Dominican
University’s Office of Student Affairs, and Dominican University’s English Honor Society, Alpha
Beta Pi, a chapter of Sigma Tau Delta.
Sr. Mary
Ellen O'Hanlon Essay Description
Entry Form
Sr.
Mary Ellen O'Hanlon Mentor Guidelines
O'Hanlon - Current Winners
- 2011-2012: 1st - Willa Skeehan's "Cuernavaca: A Journey to Social Justice"
- 2011-2012: Honorable Mention - Teren Patla's "Disability and Diversity"
O'Hanlon - Previous Winners
- 2011-2012: 1st - Timothy Lazicki: "Overcoming Our Brains: A Pathway to Social Justice"
- 2010-2011: 2nd - Megan Graves: "The Cry of the Poor: The Importance of Service for Promoting Social Jusice"
- 2010-2011: 3rd - Catherine Gemkow: "OyamO's Play I Am a Man and the Struggle for Equality"
- 2009-2010: 1st - Tyrone (Taylor) Brooks: "Young, Trans, and Jaded: The Importance of Support"
- 2009-2010: 2nd - Gabrielle Pryce: "In Search of Me: A Global Perspective on Race and Identity"
- 2009-2010: 3rd - Jamie Zwiijack: "A Personal Journey of Dominican's Lived Experience"
- 2008-2009: Megan Piekosz: “One Nation Under Allah: America’s Call to Educate Society about Islam"
- 2007-2008: James Tierney: “Cultivating Vigilance: Overdue Self-Inquiries on Social Justice and Diversity”
- 2006-2007: No Winner
- 2005-2006: Christine Barry: “The School of the Americas and the Struggle for Justice”
Gill-Davlin Award
The Gill-Davlin Award was established by Mr. and Mrs. James Davlin to honor Sister Mary Clemente Davlin and the deceased Sister Cyrille Gill, a former professor of English here. It is awarded to an English major early in his or her career—a major who exhibits passion for and promise in the field.- 2011: Thomas Puhr
- 2010: Haley Leboulanger
- 2009: Stephen Litewski
- 2008: Mackenzie Brooks
- 2007: James Tierney
Outstanding Senior Award
- 2011: Erin Cameron
- 2010: Mike Hernandez
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River Forest, IL 60305
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