Scholarship Recognizes Outstanding Undergraduate Research

Two students have been recognized with scholarship awards for exceptional undergraduate research projects, earning top honors for the depth, rigor, and originality of their work.

First place, a $1,000 scholarship, was awarded to Lucy Banion for her senior thesis, “’Saving Muslim Women:’ How Language Justifies Intervention Through USAID Family Planning Programs in Pakistan Between 1965–1979 and 2001–2018.” Ms. Banion impressed the selection committee with a detailed and compelling research statement, as well as her persistence in working with a challenging but critically important source base. Her project drew extensively on an online archive of historical USAID documents that became available after the agency was dismantled, demonstrating both methodological skill and a strong commitment to uncovering complex historical narratives.

Second place, a $500 scholarship, was awarded to Ava S. O’Bryan for her honors research project in music education, “Literature Review: Chamber Music in K–12 Music Education.” Ms. O’Bryan’s work stood out for its deep engagement with the subject and her ability to bring a wide range of theoretical and empirical sources into thoughtful and critical conversation across time. The committee noted the sophistication of her analysis and the clarity with which she synthesized scholarship from multiple perspectives.

Together, these projects reflect the high level of undergraduate research excellence and the meaningful contributions students are making across disciplines.