O. Ruth McQuown Scholarship Awards
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Florida announces the following O. Ruth McQuown Scholarship Awards for the academic year 2012-2013. The amount of the awards given each year varies depending on the amount released to the committee. The awards range in size from $300 to $10,000. The purpose of the scholarship is to honor outstanding female students.
The McQuown awards will be made on a competitive basis to women in the fields of Humanities (e.g., Classics, English, History, Philosophy, Religion, and Languages), Social Sciences (e.g., Anthropology, Geography, Political Science, Psychology, and Sociology), Individual Interdisciplinary Studies (that include social sciences or humanities; IDS neurobiological science students can not be considered by the committee), and Women’s Studies. For more information on the scholarship, please read the O. Ruth McQuown Scholarship Description (PDF format).
All applications, including two letters of recommendation, must be submitted together by the deadline. The most important criterion is academic achievement and promise. In addition, the committee may consider contributions or likely contributions to the student’s university, local, or larger community. The contact information for the O. Ruth McQuown Scholarships is:
Associate Dean for Behavioral & Social Sciences
Millagros Peña
2014 Turlington Hall
352.392.2230
mpena@ufl.edu
Undergraduate Awards
For undergraduates, up to five awards of varying amounts will be available. In recent years, awards have ranged from $500 to $3,000. The deadline for applications is FEBRUARY 23rd.
Graduate Awards for Current Students
A substantial monetary award will be made to a graduate student who has completed at least one semester of graduate work in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (see appropriate Departments above). Preference will be given to more advanced students. Additional awards of varying amounts to supplement assistantships will also be given. Deadline for submission to my office is FEBRUARY 23rd.
About Dr. McQuown
To those who had the privilege of knowing Dr. O. Ruth McQuown, she is remembered as follows:
- An outstanding student of Political Science both at the University of Kentucky from which she received her bachelor’s degree with honors in 1942 and at the University of Florida from which she received her doctorate in 1961.
- An active professional colleague who taught convincingly, did research on urban politics administration, published, and often served as a consultant on government policies.
- One of the first women to become a dean at the University of Florida.
- A female faculty member who asked the question, “Why can’t women belong to Blue Key?” and then proceeded to work on the answer; in 1978 she was awarded the Florida Blue key Distinguished Faculty Award.
- An administrator with a rare combination of competence and humanity.
- A human being with a marvelous infectious laugh.
- A Gainesville resident whose involvement in all aspects of local government where equal opportunity and fairness were issues was recognized by the Gainesville City Commissioners proclaiming special recognition to Dr. O. Ruth McQuown on August 6, 1984.
- A special person who was always there for her many friends and associates whenever they needed her.
In memory of this friend and colleague (1920-1984), the O. Ruth McQuown Scholarship Award has been established to aid women scholars who best exemplify her values, achievements, and commitment to social issues (including gender, race and class).
These scholarships are made possible through the private donations of numerous friends of O. Ruth McQuown, the estate of O. Ruth McQuown and of her sister, Johanna Watts, and matching funds from the State of Florida.
Each awardee’s name will be inscribed on a plaque that will be displayed in Center for Women’s Studies and Gender Research in Ustler Hall.
