Student Library Research Awards
Student Library Research Awards
The Wellesley College Library recognizes excellence in undergraduate student research through the annual Student Library Research Awards. Awards are given to students who take the time to develop a thoughtful, methodical, and scholarly approach to the research needed for their papers and projects, and demonstrate an exceptional application of information literacy and fluency principles.
Since the inception of the Student Library Research Awards in 2009, the Libraries, through the continuing generosity of the Friends of the Library, have awarded over 80 students prizes for their research in humanities, social science, and science disciplines, in a variety of formats and languages.
Applications for the 2025 Awards will open on December 9, 2024!
Awards Categories
- Up to two $500 awards for a paper or project of any length from a 100- or 200-level Wellesley College course
- Up to two $500 awards for a paper or project in any course from a First Year student
- Up to two $1000 awards for a paper or project of any length from a 300-level Wellesley College course, excluding 350s, 360s, and 370s
- Up to two $1000 awards for a paper or project of any length from a Wellesley College individual or independent study (250s or 350s)
Evaluation Criteria
Successful projects will:
- Make extensive, creative use of diverse library resources and collections in any format.
- Demonstrate effective application of information literacy and fluency principles.
- Determining information needs
- Evaluating and analyzing information
- Managing, organizing, and synthesizing information
- Applying information in the context of the research project
- Making responsible use of information by providing appropriate and accurate citations and credits
- Show evidence of significant personal knowledge in the methods of research and inquiry.
Evaluation Committee
Submissions will be evaluated by a panel consisting of two faculty members, two librarians, and two members of the Friends of the Library Steering Committee.
2023 Award Recipients
See past recipients from all years
- Aryn Rivers ’25 has won a First Year Award for their WRIT 144 paper, “Save Our Children: Florida’s LGBTQ Panic from the 1950s to Today.” Supporting Faculty: Jeaninne Johnson [full text in Wellesley College Digital Repository]
- Tayae Rogers ’25 has won a First Year Award for her WRIT 134 paper, “Driving Families Forward: The Role of Demographic Changes and Coalition-Building in Winning Driver’s Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants in Massachusetts in 2022.” Supporting Faculty: Erin Battat [full text in Wellesley College Digital Repository]
- Ilinca Drondoe ’26 has won a 100/200-level award for her MATH 123 paper, “Reforming the United Nations Security Council: A Quantitative and Political Analysis.” Supporting Faculty: Ismar Volić [full text in Wellesley College Digital Repository]
- Maya Mau ’25 has won a 100/200-level award for their ANTH 214 paper, “’Physique as Destiny’: The Significance of The Eugenics Movement to Wellesley’s Posture Program Throughout the Twentieth Century.” Supporting Faculty: Adam Van Arsdale [full text in Wellesley College Digital Repository]
- Caroline Francois ’23 has won a 300-level award for her HIST 376 paper, “’Conqueror of Yellow Fever’: Cooperation and Colonialism in the War Against Yellow Fever, 1878-1901.” Supporting Faculty: Alejandra Osorio [full text in Wellesley College Digital Repository]
- Sophie Shobeiri ’25 has won a 300-level award for her LAT 302 paper, “In Pursuit of Tabula Rasa: An Experimental Archaeology Approach to the Ancient Wax Tablet.” Supporting Faculty: Ray Starr [full text in Wellesley College Digital Repository]
- Jessica Maciuch ’22 has won an Independent Study award for her PHIL 350 paper, “The Epistemic Injustice of the Cognitive Behavioral Model of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.” Supporting Faculty: Alison McIntyre [full text in Wellesley College Digital Repository]
- Jules Spector ’22 has won an Independent Study award for their ARTH 250 project, “Jewish Architecture & Iconography.” Supporting Faculty: Kimberly Cassibry [full text in Wellesley College Digital Repository]
- Jade Doerksen ’26 has won an Honorable Mention for her HIST 254 paper, “Prejudice v. Progress: Sentiments towards Japanese and Japanese-American People at Wellesley College during World War II.” Supporting Faculty: Brenna Greer [full text in Wellesley College Digital Repository]
- Rachel Moberg ’22 has won an Honorable Mention for her ES 325 paper, “An Analysis of the Effectiveness of The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL 73/78).” Supporting Faculty: Beth DeSombre [full text in Wellesley College Digital Repository]
