Prizes

Distinction

Distinction may be awarded to students who have earned grades of A or A– in three–quarters of the credits in the major subject or program, with a grade of A or A– on the senior departmental examination, senior essay, or senior project. All courses taken for the major* are included in these calculations for Distinction in the Major. Grades of F as well as marks of CR in courses taken on a Credit/D/Fail basis are included as non–A grades.

Prizes

Senior essays written by majors, when nominated by a member of the faculty, will be considered for the following prizes:

For the best senior essay in…

International Relations	James Gordon Bennett Prize
Political Philosophy	Philo S. Bennett Prize
Comparative Government or Politics	Charles W. Clark Prize
American Political System	Frank M. Patterson Prize
Support of the principles of the American Constitution and its first ten amendments	Percival N. Clement Prize

In addition, the following prizes are awarded:

Daniel Tyler Prize
For a sophomore exhibiting academic excellence and promise who plans to be a Political Science Major.

Katherine K. Walker Prize*
Awarded to a student in Yale College or the Graduate School judged to have promoted, by deed, or creditable writing, on patriotic values. Awarded in conjunction with the History Department.

Prize Winning Senior Essays 2008-09

Caroline Savello: Frank Miner Patterson Prize for the best senior essay on the American political system
Jeffrey Geels: Charles Washburn Clark Prize for the best senior essay on Comparative Politics
Katherine Zimmerman: James Gordon Bennett Prize for the best senior essay on International Relations
Erin Miller: Percival Wood Clement Prize for the best senior essay on the U.S. Constitution and its first ten amendments