Background and Criteria
Dr. Robert L. Jannen (BSChE 1950), chair emeritus of the TSU Board of Trustees, and his wife Dolores have endowed the Jannen Renaissance Scholar Awards to promote breadth of education in order “to better equip students for the future.”

The two student awards go to the graduating seniors (one from the Allen School of Engineering and Technology or the Ketner School of Business and the other from the School of Arts & Sciences or the Franks School of Education) who can best demonstrate a breadth of interest and accomplishment consistent with Renaissance ideals. One teaching award goes to a faculty member who encourages the pursuit of these ideals.

Castiglione’s The Book of the Courtier specifies the ideal qualities of the Renaissance courtier. Riding, fencing and wrestling were needed for times of war, but the social skills and graces were also required: the art of debating serious issues (hence the need for learning, reading widely and rhetorical skills), the art of making oneself amusing in the company of others through witty conversation, playing a musical instrument, writing love poetry and courtesy—all done with sprezzatura, a sort of grace under fire or nonchalance. The term “Renaissance man” arose to describe the human being who has made efforts to activate his, or today her, potential in a variety of ways.

The Engineering & Business Student Award
This was the original Jannen award, first offered in 1992. Dr. Jannen particularly wanted to stress the need for breadth of outlook and knowledge to engineering and business students. He had been both. After taking his degree from Tri-State, he went on to earn a Master of Business Administration degree, with honors, from UCLA.

What are some of the activities which might demonstrate that an engineering or business student has these Renaissance attitudes towards life and education? Having put together a broad-based curriculum is one possibility. Significant contributions in non-technical classes would be another indication, as would proficiency in a variety of performance skills: theater, art, music, recitations, debate, creative writing, athletics, fine woodworking, and a host of others. A special interest in any of the fine arts would also be an indication. This list is not meant to be exhaustive but simply to suggest some of the possibilities.

A generous stipend and a citation go to each of the winners.

The Arts & Science and Education Student Award
Dr. and Mrs. Jannen recently doubled the endowment and recommended this second student award. Noting that students in the School of Arts & Sciences are supposed to have a broader-based curriculum to begin with, and therefore greater breadth, Dr. Jannen suggested that it might be appropriate to look for some technical expertise in this award, although a science major might most fairly be judged by criteria established under the original award above.

The keys to both awards, we must remember, are breadth of interest and accomplishment beyond one’s scholastic major. For non-technical majors, a technical mastery will be strongly considered but demonstrable, surpassing talent in any of a number of areas will be carefully looked at. (See previous award for some of those possibilities.)

The Teaching Award
Dr. Jannen also wanted to encourage those who promote Renaissance values. The Jannen Renaissance Scholar Teaching Award goes to a faculty member who exhibits a breadth of interest and accomplishment consistent with Renaissance ideals and who encourages students and other faculty to aspire to such breadth.

Deadlines and Procedures
Nominations for the three awards may come from students or faculty. Self nominations are acceptable. If nominated you will be asked, at a minimum, for a letter supporting your case plus a resume. However, the Humanities Institute, who administer the awards, will be most impressed with cases put forth which are demonstrable.

Nominations may be turned into:

• Dr. Dennis Petrie, Taylor Hall
• Prof. Jeanine Samuelson, Taylor Hall
• Dr. Thomas Tierney, Taylor Hall
• Dr. Robert Whelchel, Fawick Hall