Halle O'Neal Among Doctoral Honorees for University of Kansas Argersinger Prize

2012 May 8

The University of Kansas will honor two doctoral graduates with the 2012 Marnie and Bill Argersinger Prize for outstanding doctoral dissertations and recognize five finalists at the annual Doctoral Hooding Ceremony at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, May 12, in the Lied Center.

Halle O'Neal, of Athens, Ga., is an Argersinger winner. O'Neal, graduating with a doctorate in art history, wrote "Written Stupa, Painted Sutra: The Relationships of Text and Image and the Construction of Meaning in the Japanese Jeweled-Stupa Mandalas."

All of the dissertations nominated were defended with honors, the highest mark given to a dissertation defense. "In a typical academic year, less than 10 percent of all the dissertations defended at KU earn honors," said Thomas Heilke, dean of Graduate Studies. "KU grants over 250 research doctoral degrees a year. Additionally each department can only nominate one graduating doctoral candidate per year. Earning honors and being nominated for this award means that you have achieved a significant accomplishment at KU."

The Argersinger Prize was established through KU Endowment in 1992 and is named in honor of William J. Argersinger and his wife. He was KU's first vice chancellor for research and graduate studies and dean of the graduate school.

KU Endowment is the independent, nonprofit organization serving as the official fundraising and fund-management foundation for KU. Founded in 1891, KU Endowment was the first foundation of its kind at a U.S. public university.