Scholarships and Awards

The Department of Rhetoric and Communication Studies recognizes select outstanding students each year during the spring semester. The department maintains a record of past award recipients, many of whom enjoy successful careers in various fields.

  • Academic Excellence Award. Presented to a senior who has accumulated a grade point average of 3.6 or higher and is regarded by the unit as exemplifying intellectual curiosity, creativity, and rigorous analysis.
  • Leadership Award. Presented to a student who demonstrates outstanding leadership within the discipline, the university, and/or the community.

Elizabeth Rae Hodkinson Scholarship
Given in memory of Elizabeth Rae Hodkinson to students of high academic standing who have contributed to RHCS and demonstrate service to the University and local Richmond community. Students applying for the scholarship must be rising junior or senior RHCS majors with a GPA above 3.0 and must demonstrate financial need, as determined by the University’s Office of Financial Aid. The call for applicants goes out in February or March, and the amount of the award and number of recipients varies yearly. Criteria considered in the final selection of the awardee(s) are:

  • Grade point average
  • Ability or potential to contribute to the work of the Department of RHCS
  • Interest in engaging in service to the University and/or Richmond community

Lambda Pi Eta and Honor Cords
Members of the RHCS honor society, Lambda Pi Eta and students graduating with Departmental Honors (having spent two semesters completing Honors Thesis Writing projects) are approved to wear honor cords at graduation. Lambda Pi Eta cords are gold and Departmental Honors cords are silver.

Honors in Undergraduate Research
Students who have written research papers as coursework, independent studies or in collaboration with RHCS professors are recognized with certificates each year. Some students also may have presented their research at the RHCS Student Colloquy, the School of Arts & Sciences’ Student Symposium or at an undergraduate conference of the RHCS professional organizations, such as the DePauw and Southern States annual conferences.

Leadership Award
By vote of the RHCS faculty, one major in the department receives this award each year. The student chosen will have demonstrated outstanding leadership both within the RHCS discipline and in the broader University community.