Current Whitman College students, faculty members, and student/faculty teams are eligible to apply for this annual prize given for projects designed to address issues facing queer communities through a variety of creative and scholarly mediums. Preference is given to student proposals.

Recipients of the award will receive up to $1,000 for projects or research that could include:

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

Proposals detailing the project should include the following:

• A specific description of the nature and scope of the project identifying the main issues it will cover
• A brief rationale indicating why the project is important
• A project time line illustrating your ability to complete the project by the end of the academic year
• A statement specifying the faculty adviser for student projects or team members for groups projects
• A description as to what form your public presentation will take
• successful proposals have typically been 2-3 pages in length

Your proposal must be submitted to the Dean of Students Office in the fall semester (for 2009 the due date is Friday, November 20). Watch for advertising on campus. The deadline for proposals is usually in early to mid November. The successful recipient will complete the project and make a public presentation to the College community before the end of the spring semester.

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. Recipient of the Truman Scholarship and the US Senate Leadership Award, he worked as an intern with US 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 had a psychotherapy practice before becoming a full-time researcher and writer. He is 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 alum, he established the endowment for this annual award prior to his death and attended the first presentation in 1996.

Award Winners:

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 (co-winners) 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 (co-winners) 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 (co-winners) LeRud, N. (English) "This Beauteous Forme": The Spirituality of Donne's Holy Sonnets and Gay Reader Response and S.P. (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 (co-winners) 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 E.S. (Classics) Greek SeXXX: Why do We Care How the Greeks Had Sex?

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

1997-1998 K.D. (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

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