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Senior Thesis Award
Witherspoon Medal
Awards



The James Madison Program confers two honors: the John Witherspoon Medal for Distinguished Statesmanship and the Stephen Whelan '68 Senior Thesis Prize for Excellence in Constitutional law and Political Thought.

The John Witherspoon Medal for Distinguished Statesmanship is given from time to time to persons who have contributed outstanding public service to the nation. Distinguished service in the executive, legislative, or judicial branch of government qualifies an individual to receive the Medal. The Medal is awarded on a non-partisan basis - in line with Princeton University's practices regarding honorary degrees and other forms of recognition and achievement. Ordinarily, the Medal is presented at a major event of the James Madison Program. Former Secretary George P. Shultz, Princeton University class of '42, received the Medal in 2002.

The Stephen Whelan '68 Senior Thesis Prize for Excellence in Constitutional Law and Political Thought is an endowed university prize awarded by the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions. It is awarded to a senior whose thesis in the area of constitutional law or political thought is judged to be of superlative quality. The amount of the prize is $1,000. Nominations are accepted from senior thesis advisors or departmental representatives from all disciplines. Materials will be treated confidentially and the winner will be announced on Class Day. The prize will be noted on the recipient's transcript and announced at Commencement. The James Madison Program reserves the right not to award the prize where no senior meets the criteria stipulated for the award. To nominate a candidate, senior thesis advisors and departmental representatives should submit a copy of the thesis and copies of the readers' reports no later than May 5, 2008. Nominations should be sent to:

Professor Robert P. George, Director
James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions
83 Prospect Avenue, Bobst Hall
Princeton University
Princeton, NJ 08540


RECIPIENTS OF THE STEPHEN WHELAN '68
SENIOR THESIS PRIZE

2007

2006

2005



2004


2003
2002


2001
Evan Graboyes, "No Middle Ground: Why Potentiality Cannot Justify the Intermediate Moral Status of Embryos"
Christine L. Malvasi
, "On the Incorporation of the Establishment Clause," and Michael F. Murray, "Rights at the End of Life"
Elisheva Ruth Coleman, "Call It Peace or Call It Treason: The Milligan Case and the Meaning of Loyalty in the Civil War," and
Theodore Brendan Lacey, "The Supreme Court's Fluctuating Reaction to National Prohibition in 4th Amendment Decisions from 1920-1933"

Christopher Cost, "The Last Line of Defense Against Government: A Study of the Origins and History of the Second Amendment and the American Right to Arm"
Patrick Miller, "Principle, Instinct, Self-Interest in American Patriotism"
Mark Davis, "Goodness and Justice: A Critique of Neutrality in Rawlsian Liberalism"
Stephen Hagen Yuhan, "Confronting the Confrontation Clause: The Constitutionality of Hearsay Declarations Against Penal Interests”