The purpose of the Sam Burgess Undergraduate Research Award is to reward excellence in undergraduate research. Given to the student who shows evidence of personal growth and exceptional utilization of library resources, the Burgess Award is an esteemed accolade. Retired librarian Jo Burgess wanted to honor the memory of her son Sam, who was lost tragically too soon. Sam loved to read and explore. This award rewards such curiosity.
Previous Winners:
2023 – Lilly Dowty's essay “'To Procure a Miscarriage': Abortion in Southern Indiana, 1960-1973" AND Christina Yang's "The Undesirables: The Causes of Selective Federal and State Surveillance on Asian Women and Their Reproductive Decisions in the 19th and 21st Century"
2022 – Joelle Jackson's essay "Cultural Heritage Management and International Law: Restitution of the Benin Bronzes"
2021 – Sarah Kurpius’ essay “La plaza del diamante y el abuso de relaciones personales y políticas / The Time of the Doves and the Abuse of Personal and Political Relationships” AND McKaylyn Lynch’s essay “The Controversy of Conservative Feminism: How a Conservative Ideology Hinders Republican Women’s Electability and What This Means for Women’s Issues"
2020 – Ben Parnin’s essay “Society through Whist and Gaming In 18th Century Britain”
2019 – Grace Semler’s research project “More than ‘The Roses of No Man’s Land:’ The Personal and Professional Experiences of Canadian and British Nurses in World War I
2018 – Kyra Triebold’s essay “Theroux’s Mothballs: The importance of Translator’s Archives”
2017 – Sophia Muston’s essay “Paths to Empowerment Among Latina Students and Teachers in Lawrence Township”
2016 – Taylor Schumacher’s essay “The (Mis)construction of Youth Homelessness: Historical, Social, and Political Dilemmas.”
2015 – Sophia Huang’s essay “The Paradox of Progress: Cherokee Acculturation and Removal in the 19th Century”
2014 – Brittany Doyle’s essay “Sustainability of Assisted Voluntary Return”
2013 – Thomas Ladendorf’s essay “’Excellent Vertues’ and Virtuosic Speculations: Medical and Historical Knowledge about Coffee in England, 1650-1730”
2011-2012 – Catherine Howland’s essay “Olympe de Gouges: More than a Proto-Feminist”
2010 – Samantha Benson’s essay “Trouser Roles in Mozart’s Clemenza di Tito and Le Nozze di Figaro: Implications for Gender Constructions in Eighteenth Century Europe”
2009 – 1st Place: Jessica Reddick’s essay “Sexperts and Sexpertise: The Demands of the Cold War Era Professionals in the Bedroom”
2009 – 2nd Place: Erin Chapman’s essay “The Dreadful Chasm”: American Recognition and Response to the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1916 and the Holocaust
2008 – Elana Kelber’s essay “What Sells?: An Examination of Gender in Magazine Print Advertising in the 1950s”
2007 – Emily Bloom-Carlin’s essay “Cultural Production and the Conducător: An Examination of Ceausescu’s Neo-Romanticism” AND Michelle Greco’s essay “Analysis of Holocaust References in Political Rhetoric”
2006 – Jeremy Watt’s essay “The Incongruous Bull: In Supremo Apostolatus”
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