The Regius Award
Each academic discipline has emphases, purposes and approaches unique to that discipline. This is also true of the broad area called the Social Sciences.
The Regius Award has been established to honor Social Sciences alumni who have demonstrated outstanding qualities in both professional accomplishment and who have also shown interest in, and support for, the purposes and values of the Social Sciences.
American college have frequently made use of symbols from medieval Europe — the historical period when universities formally developed, especially as encouraged by the scholars of the Church. Evidence of this influence from the Middle Ages is everywhere present — from academic gowns to the liberal arts curriculum prized by the medieval scholars.
Many years ago scholars and faculty of the Social Sciences established an award to be given annually to university Social Science graduates who had brought honor to their university and to the Social Science disciplines. It was evident that the medieval ruler Alfred the Great symbolized many of the goals of the Social Sciences. He was noted for his good public administration. He improved the codes of law in his day. He encouraged historical scholarship and education. He strengthened the social and cultural institutions of his society. He translated into English the “World History” of Orosius in order to provide his citizens with understanding of other cultures and parts of the world.
As a well-known professor of English history has written, “Alfred had a high ideal of kingship, seeing it as a divine Christian trust for the benefit of the people.”
The Social Science award, therefore, was named the Regius Award (the King’s Award), recalling the good work of the medieval social scientist, King Alfred the Great.
The symbol of the Regius Award is that of the medieval royal knight leader, hand-crafted of slate in Wales. It serves as a reminder of the lofty purposes of the Social sciences — kingly honor and service.