• Home
• About Us
• Undergraduate Program
• Placement Exam
• Course Descriptions
• Concentration Requirements Worksheets
• Study Abroad Credit
• Honors Program
• Departmental Prizes
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Graduate Program
• About the Program
• Requirements for PhD
• Preliminary Exam Reading List
• Gradute Courses
• Recent Graduate Job Placement
• Graduate Student Bios
• Department Resources
• Rochambeau House
• Machado House
• People
• Faculty
• Staff
• Office Hours
• Teaching Associates
• Graduate Student Bios
• Librarian
• Lecture
• Links
• Catalan Studies
• Courses
• Resources

• Library Resources
• Transatlantic Project
• Brown in Spain

Departmental Prizes

THE GABRIELA MISTRAL/LOPE DE VEGA PRIZES

Established in 1962 by an anonymous gift, these prizes, for men and women respectively, are awarded to members of the freshman class who show excellence in secondary school preparatory work in Spanish. The examination presupposes a minimum of two years' study in a secondary school or its equivalent. It is not open to native speakers or people who have spent extensive time abroad (more than one month.) Students take an exam which consists of a short textual analysis, a general essay question regarding Hispanic cultures, a listening component, and a short identification section covering a wide variety of items from Hispanic cultures. The Prize Committee reviews the exams, selects the winners and sends out announcements to all participants. Finally, letters are sent to the principals of the secondary schools attended by the first-place winners. Announcement of this prize goes out in the fall around October.

THE WILLIAM F. FICHTER PRIZE

The W. Fichter prize is awarded to an outstanding senior student or students in Hispanic Studies. Students do not apply for this award. Announcement of this prize goes out in the Spring.

THE GEOFFREY W. RIBBANS PRIZE

The Geoffrey W. Ribbans Prize is awarded to an outstanding honors thesis. All honors theses are eligible for the prize. Students do not apply for this award.

ARON DAVID AND RUTH KOSSOFF PRIZES FOR LEADERSHIP IN LANGUAGE TEACHING (Graduate Students only)

The Aron David and Ruth Kossoff prize is given to one or two senior graduate students who present a strong record of service to the department as well as leadership in teaching. The selection of the graduate students for the prize is based on the following criteria:

• They must present a strong record of service in the language teaching program (supervision, work with Sheridan Center, etc.)
• Candidates must be from the group on their 4th year of graduate study that has not been previously considered for the A.D. and R. Kossoff prize.
• They must have consistently outstanding teaching evaluations made by language faculty.
• They must present a record of enthusiastic student evaluations from three semesters.

Note: The variety of courses taught in the department is not a factor in the Kossoff Prize selection.

Members of the Prizes and Awards Committee select the potential winners and submit their recommendation to the Hispanic Studies Faculty who votes for the winners in a department meeting. Announcement of this prize goes out in the spring.