The Henry T. Mudd Prize

The Henry T. Mudd Prize was created to honor the memory of Henry T. Mudd, son of Harvey and Mildred Mudd and one of the founders of Harvey Mudd College.

Henry Mudd had a deep interest and confidence in the people of this College: the faculty, staff and students. He served the College in many ways, through the dedication of his financial resources, his time and his leadership. Winners of the Henry T. Mudd Prize exemplify the generosity and spirit that he devoted to Harvey Mudd College. While other awards honor deserving students, the Henry T. Mudd Prize was established to honor the outstanding service contributions of faculty and staff of the College.

That service may manifest itself in superior teaching, leadership in curriculum development or research supervision, particularly effective administrative efforts or outcomes or other extraordinary activities that have significantly benefited the College.

The prize is $6,000, with one-half paid directly to the winner and the other half given to the benefit of the College, per the wishes of the recipient.

All faculty and staff are eligible to receive the Henry T. Mudd Prize except for the individuals occupying the positions of president, dean of the faculty or chair of the faculty during the time that they serve in those positions. Past recipients become eligible to receive the prize again after an interval of three years.

The selection committee consists of the president, the dean of faculty, the chair of the faculty, the alumni trustee representative from the Alumni Association Board of Governors, the president of ASHMC and the immediate past recipient of the Henry T. Mudd prize.

The award is made at commencement and thus provides an opportunity during that ceremony for a brief reflection on the history of the College and the importance of its founders and benefactors. Recipients of the award must be nominated to be considered. Nominations will remain active and considered by the committee for four years.

Previous Recipients Include

  • 2024 Zach Dodds
  • 2024 Wendy Menefee-Libey
  • 2023 Miguel Ruvalcaba
  • 2022 Lisa Sullivan
  • 2021 Mark Ashley
  • 2020 Thyra Briggs
  • 2019 Tom Donnelly
  • 2018 Jon Jacobsen
  • 2017 Arthur Benjamin
  • 2016 Peter Osgood
  • 2015 Ran Libeskind-Hadas
  • 2014 Liz Baughman
  • 2013 William Daub
  • 2012 Jeff Groves
  • 2011 Mike Erlinger
  • 2010 Andrew Dorantes
  • 2009 John Townsend
  • 2008 Theresa Potter
  • 2007 Robert Cave
  • 2006 Jeanne Noda
  • 2005 Dick Olson ’62
  • 2004 Sheldon Wettack
  • 2003 Kerry Karukstis
  • 2002 Deren Finks
  • 2001 Tad Beckman
  • 2000 Jerry Van Hecke ’61
  • 1999 Betty Lumpkin
  • 1998 Bob Borelli
  • 1997 Tom Helliwell
  • 1996 Sam Tanenbaum
  • 1995 Bill Purves
  • 1994 Ray Miller
  • 1993 Courtney Coleman
  • 1992 Joe Platt