The Father Edward F. Jenkins, O.S.A. Scholarship Award is presented annually to an upper-class Astronomy & Astrophysics major who has demonstrated outstanding academic achievement. The award is named for the founder of the Department of Astrophysics & Planetary Science, the Augustinian friar Fr. Edward Felix Jenkins, O.S.A. (1906-1991).
Fr. Jenkins was ordained a priest of the Order of Saint Augustine in June 1931. He became an instructor in chemistry at Villanova University in 1935, while completing his doctoral work in chemistry. He received his doctorate in 1939. Following a lifelong passion for astronomy, Fr. Jenkins learned the art of lens grinding and telescope construction from close friend Edwin F. Bailey of the Franklin Institute of Philadelphia. The two constructed a telescope which was mounted in a make-shift observatory (a converted grain silo!) on top of Tolentine Hall. Due to Fr. Jenkins’ influence, the new Mendel Science Center, completed in 1961, was equipped with both a planetarium and an observatory and the University instituted a degree program in astronomy. Fr. Jenkins served as chairman of the Department until 1974, and continued as an active member of the Department until shortly before his death.
The current cash value of the Jenkins Scholarship Award is approximately $12,000. Contributions to the Jenkins fund are still being accepted. For additional information, please contact the Departmental Office at 610-519-4820.
Recipients of the Jenkins Scholarship Award:
1986 Joseph P. McMullen
1987 Edwin A. Bergin, Jr.; Matthew L. Fritz
1988 Edwin A. Bergin, Jr.; Matthew L. Fritz
1989 Keith A. Scollick
1990 Keith A. Scollick
1991 Keith A. Scollick; Keith A. Miller
1992 Keith A. Miller; Daniel M. Griffith; Marc C. Sugars
1993 James J. Marshall; Brian P. Abbott
1994 James J. Marshall; Brian P. Abbott; Nicholas D. Morgan; Quyen T. Nguyen
1995 James J. Marshall; Nicholas D. Morgan
1996 Nicholas D. Morgan
1997 Rahul Mittal; Paul DiTuro
1998 Paul DiTuro; Colleen K. Henry; Joseph DePasquale
1999 Colleen K. Henry; John J. Bochanski, Jr.
2000 John J. Bochanski, Jr.; Jeremy Sepinsky; Jeffrey C. Tracy
2001 John J. Bochanski, Jr.; Jolleen K. Miller; Kelly J. Kolb
2002 Jolleen K. Miller
2003 Jolleen K. Miller; Kelly J. Kolb
2004 Ryan A. Hamilton
2005 Nicholas P. Hollon; Robert T. Zellem
2006 Nicholas P. Hollon; Robert T. Zellem
2007 Robert T. Zellem; Ian M. Bozant
2008 Heather A. Stewart; Ronald-Louis Ballouz
2009 Janine A. Myszka; Kyle E. Conroy; Nicole M. Zimmerman
2010 Jared W. Coughlin
2011 Allyn J. Durbin; Janine A. Myszka
2012 Allyn J. Durbin
2013 Cole C. Johnston
2014 Anna C. Marion
2015 Griffin B. Werner
2016 Valerie E. Bernstein; Marcus P. Katynski
2017 Elizabeth Johnson; Liam Jones
2018 Joseph M. Michail
2019 Tyler Kline