Research Project Awards for Undergrads
The Center for Research on Vermont announces two undergraduate awards for research projects on Vermont topics:
The George B. Bryan Award
For excellence in a project on a Vermont topic completed for a one-semester course. Recommended length: 15-25 pages; offered annually in memory of UVM Professor of Theatre and former Center Director George B. Bryan (1939-1996).
The Andrew E. Nuquist Award
For outstanding research on a Vermont topic, usually awarded to a culminating study.
Recommended length: No limit; offered annually since 1982 in memory of UVM Political Science Professor Andrew E. Nuquist (1905-1975).
The Center for Research on Vermont annually selects undergraduate student projects to receive awards in two categories: The Bryan Award, for one-semester course projects, and the Nuquist Award, which is usually presented to a culminating study. The awards include cash prizes donated by the Center and are intended to promote excellence in student research on Vermont topics. The award-winning projects, as well as other finalists, will become a permanent part of the University of Vermont's Special Collections Department at Bailey/Howe Library where they will be available for the use of researchers. If appropriate, projects may also be presented for possible publication to the Center's editorial board.
Projects demonstrating superior treatment of a Vermont theme are judged by the Center's Award Committees. Special emphasis is placed on creativity, analysis, and quality of presentation in both the Bryan and Nuquist competitions; evidence of comprehensive and systematic research is also considered in the Nuquist Award category. Although the majority of projects submitted are in the form of papers, other project formats are encouraged.
All college and university undergraduate students are eligible for the competition.
Each project must be nominated by the supervising faculty member, as discussed below.
There is no limit to the number of projects which an institution or department may submit, but submissions should be limited to one per faculty sponsor per year.
The Committee neither gives preference to, nor discriminates against, projects by more than one author, or, in the case of the Nuquist Award, projects which have taken more than one year to complete, or projects which have been supported in whole or in part by grants or other third-party funding. Projects which result from internships with governmental agencies or other nonacademic groups are also eligible for the Nuquist Award.
Projects must have been completed within the calendar year beginning January 1, 2007, and ending December 31, 2007, to be eligible for the 2008 competitions.
DEADLINE: Monday, March 3, 2008
What to Submit for Both Competitions
1. Coversheet--Each project should include a sheet giving information about the student(s), including name(s), institution(s), mailing address(es) and telephone number(s), major(s) and year(s) in college. It should also include the name and telephone number of the faculty sponsor. If the project received outside funding, this should be indicated, as well.
2. Recommendation letter(s)--Each project must include a letter of recommendation from the nominating faculty member, stating why the project merits the award. Faculty sponsors are encouraged to be as specific as possible in outlining how the project compares to the work of others, what unique contributions it makes, evidence of unusual initiative, etc. If projects submitted in the Nuquist Award category are of multiyear duration or resulted from work done for a nonacademic agency, such as might occur on internships, that information should be clearly stated and a letter of recommendation from the agency supervisor should also be included.
3. Project abstract(s)--Three copies of an abstract of the project, not to exceed one typewritten, double-spaced page, should be submitted with the project. If papers or projects are of a very technical nature, or, for example, utilize specialized terminology unique to a particular discipline, they should also be accompanied by a second abstract in non-technical language suitable for assessment by reviewers outside of the discipline.
4. The project itself--If the project is a paper, three typewritten, double-spaced copies must be submitted. If the project is other than a paper, it should constitute a self-contained unit and should be accompanied by suggested viewing procedures. Footnotes and bibliography should follow an accepted format, e.g., _The Chicago Manual of Style_. The Center may keep all materials until after the award ceremony in May 2008, so students should be sure to keep copies for themselves.
Submit all projects to:
Kristin Peterson-Ishaq, Coordinator
Center for Research on Vermont
Nolin House, 589 Main Street
University of Vermont
Burlington, VT 05401-3439
802-656-8363
Email
DEADLINE: Monday, March 3, 2008
Note: The Award Committees would appreciate if students planning to enter the competition would submit letters of intent to the Center by Friday, February 1, 2008.
Information about the awards, including abstracts of previous recipients, is also available on the Center's Website.