Joseph Wall Scholar’s Award

Each year, Beta of Iowa — Grinnell’s chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the national honor society — bestows the Joseph Wall Scholar’s Award to one or more Grinnell students to reward outstanding scholarly work completed by the end of the semester preceding the competition.

Award winners are announced at the annual Phi Beta Kappa Convocation in April. Winners receive a cash award, their names are added to a plaque permanently displayed in Burling Library, and their entries are archived in Digital Grinnell.

The award, established in 1981, is named in honor of Joseph Wall, a former member of the Grinnell Department of History.

2024 Call for Submissions

Deadline for Entries: 5 p.m. March 1, 2024

Eligibility: Students in their second year or above who have completed significant scholarly or creative work by the end of the semester preceding the competition. “Scholarly work” is interpreted broadly to include any scholarly or creative endeavor that results in a tangible product.

Acceptable Submissions: We welcome student submissions (one per student) in the following areas:

  • research papers
  • essays
  • creative writing*
  • artwork*
  • musical compositions*
  • any project completed in connection with a course, a MAP, or an independent in any discipline or concentration within the three divisions of the College

* Creative writing, art, or musical composition must be accompanied by a text that discusses the submissions’ significance and relation to other work in the field.

Jointly authored research or jointly created works are acceptable.

The work may be done on or off campus, provided that it is completed while the contestant is a Grinnell College student and by the end of the semester preceding the competition (i.e. fall semester of the prior calendar year).

Submission Process: Fill out the online Submission Form for the Scholar’s Award.

At the bottom of this form, you will upload your scholarly or creative work. You will be asked to provide the name of the project’s faculty advisor.

If you have questions or encounter problems with the form, please email Dinah Zebot and Liz Rodrigues, Phi Beta Kappa Beta of Iowa Chapter co-presidents. 

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