Graduation

Student Awards

NYU Steinhardt salutes outstanding undergraduates and graduate students who have distinguished themselves through scholarship, leadership and service. Those honors and awards include:

 

Arch AwardIn 1933, the then named Student Council of the School of Education established the Arch Award to recognize "outstanding service in undergraduate student activities." Today the Arch Award still carries the spirit of the original award and is presented to bothe an undergraduate and a graduate student in recognition of the unique and beneficial quality of their cumulative records of service to classmtes, the faculty, and the administration of NYU Steinhardt. Click to download the Arch Award application form and the Arch Award Faculty Recommendation. The Washington Square Arch, designed by Stanford White, was dedicated tin 1895 as an expression of the City Beautiful movement, which sought to create structures and public spaces in America whose beauty and stature would rival those of the European capitals. In the words of President John Sexton, the Arch is "the core of the neighborhood for us, this Square, and most magnificently the Arch, which is part of our University symbol."

John W. Withers Memorial Awards Innovation and change marked the 18 years John Withers served as the 4th Dean of the School Education (1921-1939). The School of Pedagogy became the School of Culture, Education, and Human Development in May 1921, and with that change of name followed a reorganization that produced significant innovactions in the study of education. The undergraduate division was added in 1922. The faculty increased from 14 in 1921 to 151 in 1938. Dean Withers expanded his staff in 1926 to include two assistant deans to handle instruction and financial affairs. And he supervised the construction of the 12 story Education Buidling, which opened in 1930, then carefully guided the School through the Depression. The School's enrollment grew from 325 to 8,000 students during Dean Withers' tenure as Dean.

The John W. Withers Memorial Award is presented to one undergraduate and on graduate student in recognition of their outstanding acholastic attainment, and for upholding the highest ideals of service, loyalty and devotion to the School and their graduating class.

 

E. George Payne Memorial Prize was first awarded in 1943 "for the best essay on the promotion of mutual understanding among the various denominations of the University." Now the E. George Payne Memorial Award, the Award is presented to the graduating graduate student in recognition of outstanding leadership and superior scholarship, and for representing those humanitarian principles as defined by E. George Payne.

Enoch George Payne was the 5th Dean of the School of Culture, Education, and Human Development (1939-1945). He was one of our countru's preeminent liberal thinkers, whose greatest cause was the recognition and cultivation of minority cultures within our society. He devoted himself to the inclusion of Jewish and Negro culture in American Education particularly at colleges and universitoes. Dean Payne, a Professor of Educaional Socialogy, was an early subscriber to the sociology theory of "cultural pluralism and wrote extensively about it. He served on the boards of the NAACP and of the National Council on Naturalization and Citizenship.

The Ida Bodman Service Award was first awarded in 1949. It is presented to those graduating undergraduates in recognition of their superlative and extraordinary service, exhibiting the highest standard of leadership in School activities. The Bodman Award honors Ida Bodman's commitment and service to her alma mater. A recipient of a Master of Letters in Education in 1904, she went on to develop a Women's Advisory Committee in the School of Pedagogy in 1911 continuing her philanthropic work and assistance to NYU. The Women's Advisory Committee was originally established in 1890 "to prepare for the University Council 's consideration plans and recommendations for the advancement of the University's work for women."

The Samuel Eshborn Service Award was first awarded in 1950. This award is presented to graduating graduate students in recognition of superlative and extraordinary service, exhibiting the value of strong leadership in school activities in NYU Steinhardt.

The Pi Lambda Theta Rho Leadership Award is presented to a graduating undergraduate and a graduating graduate student to acknowledge and celebrate excellence in academic achievement and leadership.

The Eddie L. Jones Memorial Award- Dr. Eddie L. Jones sought in a variety of ways to improve the NYU academic and social environment for students. He wanted each of his students to find within themselves that special light that he understood to be there, their talents, their purposes. Dr. Jones was an active member of the original counseling staff of the Higher Education Opportunity Program since the Program's inception on NYU's campus in 1968, and during his 25 years at NYU, he also served in a variety of leadership positions including President of the Association of Black Faculty, Administrators & Staff. He was honored with the New York State Department of Education's Trailblazer Award for his extraordinary contribution to the formation, development and success of HEOP at NYU. The Eddie L. Jones Memorial Award was first presented in 1995 in memory of Dr.Joens, to recognize academic excellence and consistency of academic progress among graduating seniors in the Higher Education Opportunity Program at NYU.

The Outstanding Dissertation Award was first awarded in 2005. Granted to a maximum of four students annually by the Office of Student Services, The Outstanding Dissertation Awards are based on the recommendation of the Doctoral Affairs Committee and each award includes a $1,000 prize. Nominations are accepted from the candidate's dissertation committee chairperson and must be endorsed by the entire final oral examination commission.

The 2009 award is for students whose degrees are conferred in September 2008, January 2009, or May 2009. The nomination form and supporting materials must be submitted to Nancy Hall in the Office of Graduate Studies no later than April 7, 2009.

Banner Bearers and Class Representatives

  • Class Representatives, who symbolically receive the degree during the NYU Commencement on behalf of the
    • Baccalaureate Class
    • Masters Class
    • Doctoral Class
  • Banner Bearers, each of whom will carry the School's banner for the
    • Baccalaureate Ceremony.
    • Valedictory Celebration.
    • Doctoral Convocation.
    • NYU Commencement Exercises.
  • Alumnae Club, Inc., awarded scholarships to outstanding women students of the various schools of the University.