Washington College's Andrea Clarke Receives Gerda Blumenthal Phi Beta Kappa Award

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Andrea Clarke

CHESTERTOWN, MD (04/25/2012)(readMedia)-- This year, Washington College sophomores Andrea Clarke and Nicolas Campisi received the Gerda Blumenthal Phi Beta Kappa Award. Made possible by former dean of the College Robert Kirkwood, the Award is extended annually to a rising sophomore or junior to support scholarly projects in the Humanities. Because no award was given last year, the 2012-2013 financial allotment allowed for two students to receive the Award. Clarke and Campisi were each awarded $1200 for the completion of a proposed project in the Humanities.

To apply for the award, each student was required to submit a detailed project proposal. Additionally, applicants had to possess a GPA of 3.5 or better and be in good standing with the Honor Board. The Award, ranging between $800-$1200, is available to students of any field, provided that their project is related to the Humanities.

This summer, recipient Andrea Clarke, who is majoring in English and Drama, plans to run an all-girls drama camp in Mora, Cameroon. She will be teaching the basic principles of drama to local middle and high school students. Through the program, she hopes to encourage creative thought and promote a sense of empowerment within the participants.

Recipient Nicolas Campisi has planned to write an essay explaining "how South America emerged as a civilization only through violent displays of barbarism." He will be traveling to the UMass Amherst Library to read personal letters written by German painter Johann Moritz Rugendas. Ultimately, he wishes to publish his essay in a major research journal.

Once their work has been completed, Clarke and Campisi will present their projects to the members of Phi Beta Kappa. As intended by Kirkwood, such 'pursuits of intellectual excellence' as Clarke's and Campisi's honor the memory of former WC Modern Languages professor Gerda Blumenthal. Blumenthal, a renowned teacher and scholar, was a former member of Phi Beta Kappa and recipient of the first Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching.

For more information about Washington College Phi Beta Kappa and the Gerda Blumenthal Award, please visit http://academics.washcoll.edu/phibetakappa.php.