Victoria Mikelonis Undergraduate Memorial Fund
Victoria Mikelonis Undergraduate Memorial Fund in Scientific & Technical Communication offers a $350 award every year to a technical writing & communication major whose academic pursuits reflect a commitment to scientific and technical communication, rhetorical studies, and/or intercultural communication. The award is presented in recognition of Professor Mikelonis’s leadership, commitment, and her tremendous contributions to the University of Minnesota with the hope that the student will continue to build on Professor Mikelonis’s work.
Professor Victoria Mikelonis is fondly remembered by her colleagues, students, friends, and family for her profound commitment to scientific and technical communication and rhetorical studies. She was a faculty member in the former Department of Rhetoric from 1980 until her death in 2007.
Vickie served in many roles over the years, but always with an eye toward challenging and encouraging her students. Her work is defined by her keen interest in the role of rhetoric in drawing people together across cultures and national boundaries.
Vickie’s deep dedication to her students was most evident in her years as director of the department’s scientific & technical communication undergraduate program (now known as the technical writing & communication undergraduate program) and her leadership in the Society for Technical Communication (STC) student chapter.
Value
One $350 award.
Funds will be awarded in the spring semester. If the recipient of the award currently receives financial aid through the University of Minnesota, the award will be applied toward the student’s financial aid.
Eligibility
- Must be a technical writing & communication major with at least one semester of coursework remaining.
- Must have taken at least 9 credits of WRIT courses with a GPA of 3.0 or higher in those classes (transfer courses do not count).
- Must be registered full time during the following spring semester at the University of Minnesota.
Application
All submissions collected by the application deadline, will be considered for both the Coakley Ames Award and the Mikelonis Award.
To apply for the award, submit the following:
- An academic writing sample from a previous class (minimum of five pages).
- A one-page statement explaining your interest in the TWC major, how you hope to improve your writing through advanced study in TWC, and your goals as a major.
- An unofficial copy of your transcript.
When evaluating these writing samples and statements, in addition to the writing quality, the award committee looks for the following:
- Document design and organization
- Audience awareness
- Ability to engage complex ideas and cite sources when appropriate
- Clearly articulated interest in and understanding of the TWC major
All submissions collected by November 30, 2023, will be considered for both the Mikelonis award and the Coakley Ames award.
To apply for this award, submit the following materials:
- An academic writing sample from a previous class (minimum of five pages).
- A one-page statement of interest in the major explaining how you hope to improve your writing through advanced study in TWC.
- An unofficial copy of your transcript.
Apply Here
Contact writ@umn.edu with any questions about the award.
Past recipients:
- 2024: Autumn Viker
- 2023: Diego Juarez
- 2022: Katherine Sharp
- 2021: Livie Hanousek
- 2020: Emily Raper
- 2019: Bailey Arman
- 2018: Megan Kratzke
- 2017: Megan Kratzke
- 2016: John Orzechowski
- 2015: Matewos Gebrehiwet
- 2014: Matewos Gebrehiwet
- 2013: Christi Mastley
- 2011: Kristin O'Connor