The Jerry B. Marion Memorial Award

Jerry B. Marion was an outstanding physicist who joined the Department of Physics and Astronomy in 1957. He was instrumental in the early development of our research programs involving the Van de Graff generator. This work resulted in many valuable publications and provided training for a large number of graduate students.

Over the years Professor Marion continued research efforts in experimental nuclear physics while slowly increasing his involvement in undergraduate teaching. This involvement became so great that he eventually devoted most of his efforts to the writing of textbooks and the teaching of undergraduates. His exceptional popularity with students was equally founded on his extraordinary ability for disseminating knowledge and his patient and ingratiating personality.

Upon his death in 1981 the Marion family established the Jerry B. Marion Memorial Fund. In part, this fund wishes to honor the graduating senior majoring in Physics who most embodies those qualities Professor Marion valued in a colleague. The award wishes to cite the senior who not only has an outstanding academic record but who has also indicated a great concern for the profession of teaching and promise of becoming a fine teacher. In this way, the student will be honored for perpetuating the scholar-teacher ideals cherished by Professor Marion.