Scholarships and Awards

The Department is proud of our students who have worked for and been awarded Philosophy Scholarships over the years.  Currently there are two Philosophy scholarships.  Scholarships are presented at the annual College of Arts and Sciences Honors Banquet.

The James S. Churchill Philosophy Scholarship

This essay contest is named after James Spencer Churchill (1920–1989), the first chair of the IPFW Department of Philosophy, and is awarded every year in his honor.  Churchill was born in Brockton, MA, and grew up in Portland, ME.  He earned an MA from Harvard U in 1950, his PhD from Indiana University Bloomington in 1959, and studied with Martin Heidegger in Freiburg, Germany.  He was appointed to IPFW in 1961, built the Department and developed its program in Philosophy, and served, until 1973, as the first chair of Philosophy.  His area of research was recent European Philosophy, in particular Existentialism and Phenomenology.  His dedication to the pursuit of truth and to teaching extended far beyond his study or the classroom. 

Students who meet the following criteria are eligible and encouraged to submit an essay for consideration of this award. 

• a declared Philosophy major (either as first or second major) with at least 9 hours of completed coursework in philosophy;
• recipients of the Student of the Academy Scholarship are ineligible for the Churchill Essay Scholarship during the same academic year

The winning essay is chosen by the Philosophy faculty.  In the event of a tie, participation in Philosophy department activities may also be factored into the decision.  You may seek advice from Philosophy faculty members as you write your essay.

Churchill Scholarship Recipients:

The Student of the Academy Scholarship

The Student of the Academy Scholarship was established in September 2007 to benefit full-time students pursing a major in philosophy at IPFW. (Formerly the Jean and Bill Bruening Philosophy Scholarship.)

Students who meet the following criteria are eligible and encouraged to submit a letter of interest as their application for this award:

• are a declared Philosophy major (either as first or second major) with at least 60 credit hours that count toward graduation and 12 credit hours of completed coursework in philosophy, and
• have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5;
• recipients of the Student of the Academy Scholarship are ineligible for the Churchill Essay Scholarship during the same academic year

The scholarship recipient is chosen by the Philosophy faculty based on applications from qualified students who have submitted a letter of interest.  Final selection will be based on cumulative GPA and participation in philosophy department activities.

Bruening Scholarship Recipients:

Angelique M. Green Philosophy Senior Excellence Award

The Angelique M. Green Senior Excellence Award was established in 2000 to be awarded to a senior Philosophy major who combines academic and personal interests in Philosophy. The recipient was selected by vote of the department faculty based on: academic excellence, involvement in IPFW activities beyond the department, and demonstrated non-academic interest in Philosophy. The Angelique M. Green Senior Excellence Award is named for a former IPFW Philosophy student and department research assistant whose spirit and enthusiasm for Philosophy was both academic and personal, informing all aspects of her life.

Green Excellence Award Recipient:

 2000
 Philip Johnson II