SUSAN J. HANNA MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

Awarded for the first time in 1995-96, the Hanna Scholarship honors the memory of Dr. Susan J. Hanna--professor of English, member of the Department of English, Linguistics, and Speech (now Communcation) for twenty-six years, and chair of the department from 1988 to 1994. Established by Dr. Hanna's colleagues and many admirers, the scholarship is awarded annually to a rising senior majoring in English. The scholarship rewards academic excellence in the disciplines of English, Linguistics, and Communication.

To be eligible for consideration applicants must meet the following criteria: (1) a minimum of 90 completed credit hours, (2) at least 15 credits in the major, (3) a cumulative grade-point average of 3.5 in the major, and (4) an overall grade-point average of 3.25. No application is necessary as the award is made by G.P.A. The amount of the award will vary annually.

A native of Cleveland, Dr. Hanna graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Ohio State University in 1955. After working for seven years for the American College Public Relations Association in Washington D.C., she entered the graduate program in English at the University of Michigan, receiving a master's degree in 1963 and a Ph.D. in 1970. She came to Mary Washington College as an assistant professor of English in 1968.

Over a period of twenty-six years Dr. Hanna taught numerous courses for the department, including not only her specialty, Victorian literature, but also classes in comedy, prose style, and the poetic revolution of the early 20th century. She also taught in the MALS program and served as Assistant Dean of Advising (1972-75). She was in her sixth year as chair of the Department of English, Linguistics, and Speech when she died in April, 1994. The Hanna Scholarship honors Dr. Hanna's commitment to teaching, her dedication to sound scholarship, and her joyful enthusiasm for literature and life, all so generously shared with students and faculty of Mary Washington College.