The Awona W. Harrington Award for Service is open to SDSU Astronomy Upper Division Undergraduate and Graduate Students in good academic standing. Upper Division Undergraduate Students must have a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.00, and have completed at least one semester of courses at SDSU. Graduate Students must have a minumum GPA of 3.00, and have completed at least one semester of graduate courses at SDSU.
The Awona W. Harrington Award for Service is competitive in nature and primarily based upon service although professional promise and financial need may also be considered. Applicants must write an essay of no more than 750 words about their interests in astronomy, their career plans, and the extent of their service activities on behalf of the SDSU Astronomy Department and its Mount Laguna Observatory (MLO). (Graduate Students may also use the same essay for the Reginald F. Buller Award for Service). Volunteer activities are viewed most favorably. Such activities include significant participation in: Project ASTRO with public schools, Inner-Space/Outer Space open house for the SDSU College of Sciences, Future Aztec Day to recruit new students for SDSU, Science Olympiad to publicize SDSU to area high school students, unpaid hosting of other on-campus or MLO events, training and support of visiting astronomers, and miscellaneous volunteer services. Activities for pay, such as the MLO Public Viewing or School-Group Programs or on-campus Planetarium shows, although important and may be listed, do not fully embody the concept of service.
The Awona W. Harrington Fund was established in August, 1984, by friends of Awona, following her tragic death as the victim of a drunk driver. Her professional life was devoted to developing and enlarging San Diego State University Library's excellent research collection in science and technology. Following her retirement as Science Librarian in 1980, Awona became a special volunteer, friend, and associate of the Astronomy Department and Mount Laguna Observatory. She established the position of Observatory Secretary, involving herself extensively, and with great energy and devotion, in Observatory administration and public relations. Awona was instrumental informing the Friends of Mount Laguna Observatory. It was Awona who first initiated Occasional Notes from Mount Laguna Observatory, which is now continued as the MLOA Newsletter.
Awona was a friendly, outgoing person, yet also quiet and self-effacing - a person of great warmth, generosity, and humor. She was a friend and confidant to our students and an esteemed colleague to the staff.