Temple's General Education program has announced new awards recognizing superior scholarly or creative work produced by Temple undergraduate students as part of a GenEd course.

The new Undergraduate Student Awards for Academic Excellence in the General Education Program will be awarded for the first time around Commencement 2012. The first-place winner will receive $750, the second-place winner will receive $500 and the third-place winner will receive $250. The first winners will be announced around Commencement 2012.

"This is the first prize that focuses specifically on work that Temple students produce in GenEd courses," said Istvan L. Varkonyi, director of GenEd. "We're trying to both help students hone their skills and reward those who fulfill the spirit of GenEd."

Varkonyi stressed that awards aren't just for the best scholarly papers. Faculty members will nominate students — either individuals or small groups — who have produced notable research projects, creative works, artistic endeavors or term papers in any of the breadth or foundation areas of the GenEd curriculum.

To qualify for an award, nominees must be freshmen, sophomores or juniors enrolled at Temple at the time of nomination. A completed cover sheet from the supporting faculty member must accompany submitted work. The nomination process may be initiated by a student or faculty member. Faculty members may nominate up to five students. The deadline for all submissions for 2011-12 awards is April 27, 2012.

The criteria used for evaluating submissions include (but are not limited to) the work's demonstration of the learning goals of a particular GenEd area and its reflection of the academic or intellectual spirit of the GenEd program. Recipients will be chosen by the GenEd Awards Selection Subcommittee, composed of members of the GenEd Executive Committee and area coordinators as well as GenEd administration.

For more information, visit the GenEd web site or contact Varkonyi at samsa@temple.edu.