What is it?
Named in honor of Sidney Anders Rand, sixth president of St. Olaf College and United States Ambassador to Norway, and supported by the generous gift of Mary Rand Taylor and Ronald Taylor, the Rand Scholar Award is designed to foster and support undergraduate research in the life and culture of Norway. The award, in the amount of $5000, is offered each year to the Saint Olaf student who presents the best proposal for a 300-level independent research course focusing on some aspect of Norwegian life.
Who is eligible, and what is involved?
Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors majoring in the natural sciences and mathematics, the social sciences, the humanities and languages, and the fine arts are encouraged to apply and propose topics reflecting their disciplinary interests. The Rand Scholar will be expected to carry out the proposed course of study during Summer or Fall Semester 2024 and to make a public presentation of findings in May, 2025.
While many former Rand Scholars have traveled to Norway to conduct their research, it is not a requirement of the award.
How can I apply?
Your proposal should include a narrative of about 1500 words describing the research envisioned, a statement of questions or hypotheses to be explored, a bibliography identifying key primary and secondary resources, an intended timeline for conducting the research, and an identification of the format of the completed project. Additionally, it must include a completed application for an independent research course, the template for which is available through the registrar’s office.
Two St. Olaf faculty recommendations are required. Once your proposal is submitted, these two individuals will be prompted to complete a recommendation form. The first must be from the individual who has agreed to supervise the proposed course. The second letter of recommendation should be from another member of the St. Olaf faculty of your choice.
Past proposals and final projects of the previous Rand Scholars are archived and available for you to use as a guide. Email the Norwegian Department AAA, Kelly Roehl, roehl1@stolaf.edu, for access to these files.
What is the deadline for application, and how do I submit it?
Applications are due April 4th, 2024 and may be submitted electronically to rand-scholar-award@stolaf.edu. The applications will be reviewed by the Rand Scholar Committee, Professor of Norwegian, Kari Dorer serving as Chair.