The Honorable Theodore McKee '69 EOP Scholarship Honoring Professor John Gwaltney

Established by Theodore McKee ’69, a United States Circuit Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. John Gwaltney was a professor in the Department of Anthropology at SUNY Cortland in addition to being a writer and anthropologist. He received his Ph.D. in anthropology from Columbia University, where he also won the Ansley Dissertation Award. During his lifetime he published three books; one of them was a “Drylongso: A Self Portrait of Black America”, a book for which he continues to be well known. Despite being blind from birth, professor Gwaltney conducted research and maintained the highest level of scholarship during his career. His former colleagues describe him as a committed scholar and teacher, or as the famous anthropologist Margaret Mead once called him “a most remarkable man” [who] manages his life and work with extraordinary skill and bravery." Professor Gwaltney was an activist as well as a social historian.. Award will be split evenly between the fall and spring semesters. Funding is based on availability.

Selection Criteria

• awarded to a matriculated continuing undergraduate level student in good academic standing at SUNY Cortland
• Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) participant
• has demonstrated exceptional leadership on the SUNY Cortland campus
• enrolled full-time (at least 12 credit hours each fall and spring semester)
• student must have at least one full academic year remaining at the start of the fall semester of award year
• has demonstrated financial need

Renewal Information

• This scholarship is a one-time award and is non-renewable

Scholarship funding is determined by the Cortland College Foundation. Scholarship amounts and availability are subject to change.