Research Prize

Helena College > Library Home > Research Prize

The Helena College Library Research Prize was created to reward students who take the time to develop a thoughtful, methodical, and scholarly approach to the research needed for their papers and projects, and to encourage students to develop the information literacy skills needed for lifelong research.

This prize is meant to recognize overall student achievement in all steps of the research process.

A first prize and second prize will be awarded each spring and fall semester for the previous semester’s work. Summer submissions will be included with fall and awarded in spring.

Winners will be notified the first week of the following spring or fall semester and the Library Research Party will be held the second week of the semester. Winners will be honored guests at this event and prizes will be awarded at this time.

Requirements and Guidelines

  • It is expected that primarily library print collection or electronic databases will be used and that all cited sources will be credible.
  • The competition is limited to enrolled Helena College students.
  • Submissions may include class papers, videos, speeches, web pages or other projects with a research component.
  • Entries must have been created for a Helena College class in the current semester, must include a copy of the assignment, and must have received a grade of “A-“ or better.
  • A citation page (works cited, references, or bibliography) of all sources used must be included with all submissions.
  • Minor changes to the graded research assignment are permitted before submission.
  • All submission forms must be made from the student's Helena College email address according to the submission process below.
  • Only one project per semester can be considered. If you have already submitted, but would like to change your submission, contact library@helenacollege.edu before the deadline.
  • Only one prize will be given per paper or project.
  • Incomplete or late submissions will not be considered. (See deadlines below)
  • Winning submissions may be posted on the Library's website, social media pages, or other promotional materials.

Selection Committee

 Helena College librarians will judge the submissions along with other Helena College staff.

Submission Process

  • Submit by email to library@helenacollege.edu .
  • The submission, in .doc, .docx, .pdf, .rtf or .ppt format, must include:
    • As attachments:
      • a copy of the assignment instructions and/or rubric
      • the completed research assignment
    • In the body of the email:
      • your name and phone number
      • class and instructor name
  • To submit projects or other supplemental material required by your instructor for the assignment, Ask a Librarian.
  • The deadlines for submission are:
  • Spring 2024: Friday, May 10, 2024, prizes awarded Fall 2024
  • Summer 2024: Monday August 5 2024, prizes awarded with Spring in Fall 2024
  • Fall 2024: Monday December 23 2024, prizes awarded Spring 2025
  • Spring 2025: Monday May 12 2025, prizes awarded Fall 2025
  • Summer 2025: Monday August 4 2025, prizes awarded with Spring in Fall 2025

 

Congratulations to the winners of the Library Research Prize!

Spring 2024 Winners

1st Prize - Jacob Hatzenbuehler, WRIT 101 (Henderson), Exploring the Power of Modern Gaming
2nd Prize - Jodie Spagnolo, WRIT 101 (Henderson), Repairing Drug Policies in America
3rd Prize - Maedyn Bogy, PSYX 290 (Munn), Young People's Perspective of Suicide Prevention: A Thematic Qualitative Study

Fall 2023 Winners

1st Prize - John Dunwell, BIOB 160 (Henry), Nanotechnology in Living Systems
2nd Prize - Daniel Katzbeck, WRIT 101 (Reeves), The Art of Meditation
3rd Prize - Grace Day, WRIT 101 (Henderson), Hunting Wolves? Why Trapping is Intolerable

Spring 2023 Winners

1st Prize - Charles Buck, WRIT 101 (Henderson), Mental Health in Montana and Marijuana
2nd Prize - Racene Kent, WRIT 101 (Reeves), Book Banning Negatively Affects Us and Should Be Stopped
3rd Prize - Lois Steinbeck, LIT 213 (Henderson), Montana Treasure: Language in its Literature

Fall 2022 Winners

1st Prize - Jadyn Peterson, BIOB 275 (Henry), The Role of Gene Therapy in Psychiatry 
2nd Prize - Mary Hohn, WRIT 101 (Henderson), Fighting the Obesity Crisis
3rd Prize - Amber Baker, WRIT 101 (Abraham-Shea), Fruiting Bodies of Evidence

Spring 2022 Winners

1st Prize - Cyrus Cannon, WRIT 101 (Lewis), The Biggest Issue in America Today
2nd Prize - Jasmine Hruska, ENST 230 (Henry), Removal of Dams for Salmon Survival 

Fall 2021 Winners

1st Prize - Karlie Graham, BIOB 290 (Sawatzki),  Antibiotic Resistance in Staphylococcus Aureus and the Effects of Methylation and Epigenetic Inheritance Within Bacterial DNA
2nd Prize - Corey Wagner, ENSC 105 (Henry),  Alternative Energy Electric Vehicles
3rd Prize - Hailey Stone, WRIT 101, (Henderson), Abortion Stigma

Spring 2021 Winners

1st Prize - David Poelman, LIT 234, (Lewis), From Sisyphus to Samsa
2nd Prize - Jadyn Peterson, WRIT 101 (Henderson), The Importance of Music in Difficult Times
3rd Prize - Austin Stewart, WRIT 201, (Lewis), Men Suffer More

Fall 2020 Winners

1st Place - Corey Wagner, WRIT 101 (Henderson), Technology: Deepfakes
2nd Place – Amanda Bakkestuen, NRSG 234 (Rapaport), Cultural Care of Ashkenazi Jews

Spring 2020 Winners

1st Place - CotyLynn Dunwell, BIOB 170 (Henry), Brucellosis in the Greater Yellowstone Area
2nd Place - Ann Nagel, WRIT 101 (Henderson), Virtual Victory

Fall 2019 Winners

1st Place - Mishwa Bhavsar, WRIT 101 (Henderson), Downsides of Virtual Communication Sites
2nd Place - Gabby Clark, WRIT 101 (Lewis), English-Only Movement
3rd Place - Ann Olson, LEG 121 (Micu), Statewide Analysis of Advance Directives Utilization

Spring 2019 Winners

1st Place - Zach Antonick, BIOH 211 (Bergner), Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's Disease)    Watch Zach's presentation
2nd Place - Caitlin L. Jenner, PSYX 120 (Munn), Human Altruism Towards Diverse Individuals

Fall 2018 Winners

1st Place - Lauren Kuntz, NRSG 220 (Gibson), Havasupai Tribe, Genetic Research, Informed Consent, and Cultural Sensitivity 
2nd Place - Lynette Davis, WRIT 101 (Reeves),  The Effects of Positivity on Health 
3rd Place - Jennifer Tarner, BIOB 272 (Henry),   Influenza Virus

Spring 2018 Winners

1st Place - Addyson Knox, BIOM 250/251 (Sawatzki),  Transformation of the methicillin resistance gene (mecA) from methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) into Escherichia coli
2 nd Place – Katie Manion, BIOH 221 (Bergner), Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA): An Autoimmune Disease 
3 rd Place – Regan Clancy, WRIT 201 (Lewis),   Cultural Myths of Gender

Fall 2017 Winners