The department is fortunate to enjoy the support of a number of loyal and generous alumni. The Linen summer grants for study abroad and several other programmatic activities in the department are supported by an endowment established by family and friends in memory of James A. Linen III, Class of 1934, Trustee of the College from 1948 to 1953 and from 1963 to 1982. The Joseph G. Tompkins, Jr. ’62 Fund supports departmental activities relating to Japan.
Linen Fellowships for Summer Study in Asia
The Linen Fund also allows the department to offer a certain number of fellowships to assist Williams College undergraduates in traveling to South, Southeast, and East Asia during the summer for educational purposes. Proposals may include (but are not limited to) conducting research for an honor’s thesis; pursuing other kinds of independent research under the direction of a member of the Williams College faculty; or participating in an intensive language training program in Asia at the advanced or intermediate level.
In consultation with sponsoring faculty members, students develop individual study proposals, which are evaluated by the department in the spring. Several awards are given each year, in amounts that vary depending on the specific study proposal and available resources. Students who are interested in applying for the Linen Summer Fellowships should enroll in the GLOW course Asia-Related Funding Opportunities.
Tompkins Award
The Tompkins Award is given to at most one Japanese language student a year, to recognize outstanding work in the third-year Japanese class or above. All advanced Japanese language students are automatically considered, with the final decision made by the Japanese language faculty in consultation with the chair. The prize consists of round trip transportation to Japan plus up to $1,500 to cover expenses for attending an approved seminar or conference, or to conduct an approved independent study project. The study plan can be developed in consultation with faculty after the award is made.
Linen Prizes
The department awards four Linen Prizes to graduating seniors. Each of the four prizes consists of a monetary award plus an appropriately inscribed book. Winners of these prizes are announced at the graduation ceremony.
The Linen Thesis Prize in the Department of Asian Languages, Literatures, and Cultures is awarded to a department major who writes an outstanding honors thesis.
The Linen Prize in the Department of Asian Languages, Literatures, and Cultures is awarded to a graduating senior who achieves distinction and shows outstanding promise in East Asian languages and cultures. This prize is restricted to majors in the Department of Asian Languages, Literatures, and Cultures.
The Linen Prize in Chinese is awarded to a graduating senior who achieves distinction and shows outstanding promise in Chinese. This prize is open to any senior, whether a major in the Department of Asian Languages, Literatures, and Cultures or not, who has taken Chinese language courses at some point during her or his undergraduate career at Williams.
The Linen Prize in Japanese is awarded to a graduating senior who achieves distinction and shows outstanding promise in Japanese. This prize is open to any senior, whether a major in the Department of Asian Languages, Literatures, and Cultures or not, who has taken Japanese language courses during her or his undergraduate career at Williams.
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