David Nord Award

What is the David Nord Award?

Current Whitman College students, faculty members, and student/faculty teams are eligible to apply for this annual prize given for projects designed to address critical issues facing queer communities through a variety of creative and scholarly mediums. Preference is given to student proposals (download full brochure here: Nord Award Brochure 2011-2012).

Recipients of the award will receive up to $2,500 for a creative project or scholarly research such as:

  • Creating an art exhibit
  • Producing a video documentary
  • Conducting quantitative or qualitative research projects
  • Developing a collection of poems
  • Writing a one-act play
  • Focusing a senior thesis on queer issues
  • Others, as appropriate

Proposals detailing the project should include:

  • A brief description of the nature and scope of the project identifying the main issues or themes to be covered
  • A brief rationale indicating why the project is important
  • A project time line (starting with proposal due date and ending with public presentation) illustrating your ability to complete the project by the end of the academic year
  • Name of applicant(s) and faculty adviser for student projects

E-mail your proposal to the Dean of Students Office by Friday, October 21, 2011.  Successful proposals have typically been 2-3 pages in length.  The award recipient will complete the project and make a public presentation to the campus community before the end of the spring semester 2012.

About David Nord '83

David Nord graduated from Whitman College in 1983 with honors in political science. An active member of Phi Delta Theta, he was elected president of ASWC. A recipient of the Truman Scholarship and the U.S. Senate Leadership Award, he worked as an intern with U.S. Senator Henry M. Jackson and served as a delegate to the 1996 Democratic Party Convention. David earned his master's degree in psychology from Antioch University and established a psychotherapy practice before becoming a full-time researcher and writer. He is the author of "Multiple Aids-Related Loss: A Handbook for Understanding and Surviving a Perpetual Fall." In November 1999, David died of AIDS.  A generous and thoughtful alumnus, he established an endowment for this annual award prior to his death and attended the first presentation in 1996.

Award Winners:

2010-2011  Crenshaw, R. (English) Queer Musings: The Art of Zestful Border Crossing. and Mina, L. (Gender Studies) Virtual Invisibility: Visual Representations of "Diversity" and "Queerness" on LGBTQ Political Organization Websites.

2008-2009  Thurman, D. (Gender Studies)  Queer Women's Community at Whitman.  Where the Hell is it?

2007-2008  Healey, S. (Sociology) Out and Proud? A Rural Community's Approach to GLBTQ Youth.

2006-2007  Martz, K. (German Studies & Gender Studies) Man Love, Spiritual Trannies, Androgynous Ambisexuals and Frat Boys: 150 Years of Gay Activism. and Spiering, C. (undeclared) Homosexuality: Who's At Risk?

2005-2006  Erickson, K. (Religion) What We Do Is Secret: Do-It-Yourself Sounds from the Queer Underground. and Espinoza, M. (Gender Studies) The Gender Fetish: Towards a Theory of Gender and Sexuality.

2004-2005  Johns, M. (Psychology) That's Not Ladylike! Effects of Femininity and Exposure on Homophobia in Women.

2003-2004  LeRud, N. (English) "This Beauteous Forme": The Spirituality of Donne's Holy Sonnets and Gay Reader Response and Paulsen, S. (Art) On Campus Dyke

2002-2003  Heinz, A. (History) Romantic Friendships and Girl Guides: Changing Conceptions of Female Friendships from 1890 to 1930

2001-2002  Maize, J. (Theatre) In One Room: Queer Conversations and Roberts, C. (Theatre) Female Impersonation: Homosexuality in China and England

2000-2001  Whittaker, K. (Politics) Gloria Anzaldua's Art of Living

1999-2000  Schumock, E. (Classics) Greek SeXXX: Why do We Care How the Greeks Had Sex?

1998-1999  Huddleston, A. (Politics) How the Gay Rights Lobby and the Christian Right Have Influenced Each Other Politically in the Past Decade

1997-1998  Dixon, K. (Politics and English) The Nature and Consequences of the Trials of Oscar Wilde

1996-1997  Peterson, K. (Politics) Courting the Queers: Colorado's Amendment Two and the Romers v. Evans Decision

 

This annual award is funded by the David Nord Endowment. If you would like to support this award follow the link below and designate your gift to the David Nord Endowment.

 

Contribute to the David Nord Endowment