Departmental Prizes

The Mavrinac Prize is given annually to honor the best original research project submitted by a student.  Endowed by the generosity of the Mavrinac family, the prize commemorates the life and career of Professor Albert A. Mavrinac, Dana Professor of Government emeritus.  Professor Mavrinac taught at Colby from 1958 until 1992 and was the first Chair of the Government Department.

Established in 1966 by Professor Albert A. Mavrinac, the Dubord Prize is given annually “in recognition of outstanding work in political science” to the senior with the highest academic standing in the Government Department.  Supported by the law firm of Marden, Dubord, Bernier, and Stevens, the award is presented in memory of the Honorable F. Harold Dubord, a member of the Class of 1914 and Justice of the Supreme Court of Maine.

The Laurie Peterson Memorial Award in Government is awarded annually to a Junior Government major who, “through academic achievement and evidence of leadership and character, has made an outstanding contribution to the Department.” Laurie Peterson died in 1972 during her junior year at Colby, and in 1973 her family established this memorial award in her name.

Awarded annually, the Benjamin Ling Fellowship was established by the parents and friends of Ben Ling ’98  in his memory to support a Colby government major who undertakes an internship or a significant research project.  Ben was a government major who graduated summa cum laude and was pursuing a career working on agricultural and ranching issues in Washington at the time of his death in 2001.