Awards

Anthropology students posing with their awards

Rebecca Jeanne Andrew Memorial Awards

Rebecca Jeanne Andrew was a Miami student who died tragically on 18 November 1995 in a skiing accident in France, while she was studying at Miami’s Luxembourg campus. She was a junior majoring in anthropology, with a professed interest in making her career in primatology. In Rebecca's memory, her family and friends have established a fund through the Miami University Foundation. Nominations for the Rebecca Jeanne Andrew Memorial Awards are received from faculty, and the awards from the fund are made annually, on or about her birthday (14 April).

Anthropology Department Student Awards

The Department of Anthropology offers seven competitive awards recognizing the achievements of our undergraduate majors and minors.

Kathy Erbaugh Senior Service Award, funded by the Carol E. Kist Fund, recognizes a senior who has demonstrated outstanding service to the Dept. of Anthropology as an anthropology student. Faculty or Senior Staff nominations should include a letter of recommendation identifying at least three ways in which the student has demonstrated outstanding service to the department and its students over multiple semesters.

Carl Jantzen Award: Best Paper or Creative Work in Cultural Anthropology is funded by the Carol E. Kist Fund and is named in honor of Carl Jantzen, a cultural anthropologist who taught at Miami for over 30 years. This prize recognizes a distinguished paper or creative work that uses cultural anthropology theory and/or method to examine a case study or explore a comparative topic in contemporary and/or historical perspective.

Award for the Best Paper or Creative Work in Linguistic Anthropology is funded by A. Robert and Nancy Tolley. This prize recognizes a distinguished paper or creative work that uses a linguistic anthropology approach to analyze empirical data and present original findings.

Award for the Best Paper in Physical or Biological Anthropology is funded by the Carol E. Kist Fund. This prize recognizes a distinguished paper that examines the biological and behavioral adaptations, variability, and evolution of human beings and non-human primate relatives.

Ronald and Judith Spielbauer Award: Best Paper or Creative Work in Archaeology and Material Culture is funded by A. Robert and Nancy Tolley and was founded by anthropology students to honor Ronald and Judith Spielbauer, who taught for the Dept. of Anthropology at Miami University for nearly 40 years. The prize recognizes a distinguished paper that analyzes past or present human societies through material culture remains.

Carol Kist Award: Best Paper or Creative Work Expressing a Holistic Approach in Anthropology is funded by the Carol E. Kist Fund. The Dept. of Anthropology fosters a four-field understanding of human variation. This prize recognizes a distinguished paper that uses theoretical and/or methodological approaches from at least two sub-disciplines.

Award for the Best Visual Work in Anthropology is funded by the Dept. of Anthropology and recognizes a distinguished work of visual representation (e.g., photo essay, digital collage, artistic creation). Submissions should be accompanied by a ~150-word exposition of the visual work. Award winners will have their work displayed in the Upham 180 lab corridor.

The Awards committee uses a blinded review system for all submissions. Submissions are judged on originality (independent, novel, distinct approach), organization, clarity, theoretical sophistication, creativity (when applicable) and use of empirical data to support arguments for submission for "Best Paper" awards. Stand-alone posters do not qualify as eligible submissions. Papers or creative work must have been produced between April 2022 - April 2023 and meet the following guidelines:

  • Submitted directly by the student by e-mail to Erica Keener keenere@miamioh.edu.
  • Be anonymous (i.e., no direct evidence of the author's identity, the professor, or the course).
  • Show evidence of IRB approval (if applicable).
  • Include a separate page with: author's name, email, award category, and paper/project title.
    The cover page title must match the title on the submission. (Note: submissions may be
    considered in multiple award categories, but individuals are eligible for only one award per
    year.)
  • Follow style guidelines for the AAA, APA, or SAA.
  • Submit no later than 12:00 pm on Friday, April 28th.

Each award includes a prize of $200. Awardees will be notified via email by May 4th and
recognized on the Department of Anthropology web site. The winners will be asked to write a short
description of their research/paper/visual presentation for the Department of Anthropology
website and preferably send their own photo. If you have any questions, please contact Erica Keener, Department of Anthropology Administrative Assistant, at keenere@miamioh.edu.

The Awards Ceremony will be held in early May. More details coming soon.