Current Whitman College students and student/staff or 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. Up to two recipients are chosen each year.

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

      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.

      Contribute to the David Nord Endowment

      This annual award is funded by the David Nord Endowment. Support the David Nord Endowment by following the link and entering "David Nord Award" for the gift designation.

      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:

      2017-2018

      Boken, C. (History and Art History) Perspectives: Binaries in Disruption and

      Zheng, A. (Gender Studies) Embodied Viscera

      2016-2017

      None Awarded

      2015-2016

      McCulloch, T. (Gender Studies & Film and Media Studies) Until Death Do Us Part: What Is Lost When Love Wins? and

      Ruff, M. (Rhetoric Studies & Politics): Rude Noises: Homocore, Unsettling the Symbolic, and Enjoying Abjection

      2014-2015

      Name Withheld (English) A Production and Adaptation of Jean Genet's The Maids and

      Griffis, E. (Gender Studies) Somatechnic: Queer Disidentifications of Pleasure

      2013-2014

      Roberson, B. (Religion) Sexuality at Whitman, the Untold Story: The Evolution of GLBTQ Discourse at Whitman College and

      Mulloy, S. (Politics) United States v. Windsor: Rethinking Victory, Normalcy, and Assimilation

      2012-2013

      Pereira Azuaje, M. (Anthropology) I Love You, Man: Friendship and Brotherhood Across Sexual Orientation and

      Boesch, D. (Politics) Framing a Collective Gay Legal Identity: The Lasting Impact of Lawrence v. Texas

      2011-2012

      Aguilar, A. (Spanish) Between Life and Death: Eroticism, Suicide and Dissidence in the Writings of Arenas and Piñera and

      Creal, R. (Art History and Visual Culture) Queer Street Art and the Legacy of 1980s AIDS Activism

      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.

      2009-2010

      None Awarded

      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

      Rainbow Graduation is held every year in May to celebrate the school year, student accomplishments, and specifically graduating LGBTQIA+ students. All LGBTQIA+ seniors are welcome to sign-up to receive rainbow tassels.  Additionally, each year a student award is given out - details about the award will be published in March.

      For more information, contact the Intercultural Center at 509-527-5596.