Bowling Green, Kentucky – Western Kentucky University students Christina Costa from Bowling Green, Kentucky, and Dominique Dillard from Louisville, Kentucky, were each given an undergraduate research award at a recognition ceremony in Helm Library on Thursday, April 26. WKU Libraries and WKU University Experience faculty teamed up last year to begin offering the awards in an effort to recognize the important role of good undergraduate research in college academic success.
“It’s important for students to recognize the role research plays in their college experience and we try to do that as a part of the University Experience course,” said Sara McCaslin, University Experience Coordinator.
Dillard, a first-year student from the University Experience class at South Campus, was recognized for the best career essay. Costa, a second-year student from the University Experience class on the main campus, received an award for the best annotated bibliography.
According to Costa, who is currently undecided on her major, the experience was a positive one. “I greatly enjoyed researching for the annotated bibliography. It gives me a new avenue to explore for my future,” says Costa.
“Students and teachers in entry level courses need encouragement to keep going for the long stretch,” said Carol Watwood, WKU librarian and selection committee chair. “It is a great privilege to work with young people in higher education and watch them succeed.”
Dillard’s University Experience instructor was Kim Cunningham at South Campus and Costa’s was Paula Trafton on the main campus. Both students received a $100 cash award along with a plaque honoring their achievements. The winning documents, along with past recipients, are posted in TopSCHOLAR–WKU’s research and creative activity database–at http://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ueul_award/. For more information, contact Carol Watwood, chair of the Research Award Committee, at 270-745-6977.
For details, contact Jennifer Wilson by telephone at 745.6977 or email at jennifer.wilson1@wku.edu