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 12 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 Mikelonis award and the Coakley Ames award.

To apply for the award, submit the following:

• A one-page statement explaining your interests and goals as a TWC major and how you hope to advance your writing and communication skills in the TWC program.
• An academic writing sample from a previous class (minimum of five pages).
• 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
   

Submit your application

Contact writ@umn.edu with any questions about the award.

Past recipients:

• 2025: Kayla Hickok
• 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