Each year, the physics faculty meets to review the records of its students to consider them for Departmental honors. While the Department does not have inflexible standards for awarding Departmental Honors, a 3.5 grade average for courses taken in the Department is a typical guideline. Grades, however, are not the only factor; if your average is closer to 3.0 than 3.5, but you've done an exceptional job on an independent study project, or shown your interest or talent in some other way, you are a good candidate for honors. On the other hand, if your Departmental average exceeds 3.5, but you have not otherwise distinguished yourself, you may not receive Departmental honors.

There is no limit to the number of students who can receive Departmental honors in a given year; in some years as many as six persons have received honors, while none has been awarded in other years.

In addition to honors, the Department offers three prizes to its majors. Endowment for two of these prizes was provided by alumni of Gettysburg College in tribute to George ("Bowley") R. Miller. Dr. Miller, a professor of physics at Gettysburg College for many years until his death in 1952, provided direction and leadership for the Department for nearly thirty years and was much loved by all who knew him. The junior prize was donated by Mr. Ralph Eno, vice president of Hammatsu Corporation, whose daughter Sarah Eno '84, is one of Gettysburg College's most outstanding physics graduates.

The prizes are:

The Miller First Year Student Prize - Awarded to a first year student whose performance in Physics 111-112 is judged by physics faculty to be the most outstanding. 

The Julius Eno Junior Prize - Awarded to the physics student selected to be the most outstanding major at the end of her/his junior year.

The Miller Senior Prize - Awarded to a senior physics major whose sustained
performance over four years is judged by the physics faculty to be most outstanding.

 

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