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Bonnie W. Oldham Library Research Prize

Bonnie W. Oldham Library Research Prize

The Bonnie W. Oldham Library Research Prize is designed to attract outstanding research projects from courses taught in departments across The University of Scranton campus. It recognizes excellence in research projects that show evidence of significant knowledge in the methods of research and the information gathering process, and use of library resources, tools, and services.

Starting in 2025-2026, there will be one submission deadline for the Bonnie W. Oldham Library Research Prize for all projects completed that academic year.

The deadline for projects completed in Summer 2025, Fall 2025, Intersession 2026, and Spring 2026 is Monday, May 11, 2026. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the deadline has passed.

Eligibility

Any University of Scranton student(s) at any class level in any discipline who has completed a research project in any format for a credit course at The University of Scranton during the Summer 2025, Fall 2025, Intersession 2026, or Spring 2026 semester is eligible to participate in the 2025-2026 competition.

Only one project per course may be submitted by each student.

Three prizes will be awarded to an individual student or group of students whose projects fall in the following three categories: Undergraduate Foundational (100-level courses), Undergraduate Upper-level (200- to 400-level courses), and Graduate.

Application

Special Note: The use of AI writing generators to complete any of the Bonnie W. Oldham Library Research Prize application components is prohibited.

A complete application package consists of the following components: 
 

Application Form

  • The student application form, with all of the required uploaded components, must be submitted by the submission deadline for the application package to be considered; see Dates for more information about the submission deadline. 

Description of Research

  • A 500-700 word description of the research strategies you used, your use of library tools and resources, your personal learning, and connections you’ve made to the Ignatian characteristics applied to research.
  • PDF file format preferred.
  • Group projects should only submit one description of research for the application.
  • See our tips to help you describe your research and the judging rubric for further guidance in how to write an accomplished description of research.  

Research Project 

  • A draft of the research project.
  • PDF file format preferred.
  • Examples of research project formats accepted include written projects (i.e., papers), posters, presentation slides, and websites (applicants submitting a website project can upload a file that contains the website URL); however, any project format that has a research component will be eligible for consideration.
  • Up to three files may be submitted for your research project. 

Bibliography 

  • A separate file containing a list of sources used in the research project.
  • PDF file format preferred.
  • Use the bibliography format and conventions appropriate to the discipline.
  • Visit our Citation Help resources for more guidance.  

Faculty Support Form

  • A statement of faculty support from the instructor who assigned the research project, submitted through the faculty support form.
  • It is the applicant’s responsibility to share this form with the course instructor who assigned the project.
  • Students waive their right to read the statement of faculty support for their project.
  • For the faculty support form submission to be considered in the judging process, it needs to be received before the judging takes place; see Dates for more information about when the judging will take place.

Dates

Starting in 2025-2026, there will be one submission deadline for the Bonnie W. Oldham Library Research Prize for all projects completed that academic year.

Submission Deadline:

  • 2025-2026 Bonnie W. Oldham Library Research Prize Submission Deadline: Monday, May 11, 2026
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the deadline has passed.  
 
Judging and Awards Ceremony:  
  • Applications Blinded for Review: Tuesday, May 12, 2026
  • Judging: Wednesday-Friday, May 13-15, 2026
  • Winner Notification: Monday, May 18, 2026
  • Awards Ceremony and Reception: Friday, May 22, 2026 at 1:00 pm
The Awards Ceremony and Reception will take place in the Charles Kratz Scranton Heritage Room on the 5th floor of the Weinberg Memorial Library.

Selection Criteria

A judging panel composed of University of Scranton faculty and staff will judge entries on the evidence provided in the application package. Judges will be invited from the faculty in each of the University's three colleges, the Library faculty, the Library Advisory Committee, and both the Center for Teaching Excellence and the Office of Student Support & Success.

Submissions will be evaluated based on how well they provide evidence of the following criteria:

  • Demonstrates use of library resources, including collections, services, and/or spaces.
  • Demonstrates through use of sources appropriate levels, types, and breadth of scholarship for research need.
  • Demonstrates personal learning and understanding of the research process.
  • Demonstrates an Ignatian dimension to research through topic, methodology, findings, and/or reflection on the research process that represents one or more Ignatian characteristics applied to research.

View the full judging rubric to better tailor your application to the selection criteria. You can also read our tips to help you describe your research.

Expectations for achievement will be commensurate with the applicant's class year, the course level of the project (e.g., 100-level, 200- to 400-level, or Graduate level), and the requirements of the discipline.

In the event the judging panel determines that none of the applications submitted for the research prize are meritorious, then no prize will be awarded.

Special Note: The use of AI writing generators to complete any of the Bonnie W. Oldham Library Research Prize application components is prohibited.

Award

Three prizes of $500.00 each will be awarded to the winning individual student or group of students in the following categories: Undergraduate Foundational (100-level courses), Undergraduate Upper-level (200- to 400-level courses), and Graduate. 

  • If a winning project is submitted by a group, the award will be split equally among group members. 
  • Monetary awards are subject to taxes.
  • Winning projects and essays may be publicly displayed in the Weinberg Memorial Library and will be preserved in the University of Scranton Archives, with default access open to the public.
  • Photographs of honorees will be taken at the Awards Ceremony and Reception and published in Library promotional materials.
  • Honorees who are unable to attend the Awards Ceremony will receive their award by arrangement with the Library Research Prize Planning Committee and the Office of the Dean of the Library; see Dates for more information about when the Awards Ceremony will take place.

Previous Winners

Planning Committee

The Bonnie W. Oldham Library Research Prize is coordinated annually by the Library Research Prize Planning Committee.

2025-2026 Library Research Prize Planning Committee:

Donna Witek, Chair
Kate Cummings
Colleen Farry
Ian O’Hara
Sheli Pratt-McHugh

About Bonnie

Professor Emerita Bonnie Oldham came to the University in 2004 as one of the evening reference librarians in the position of Coordinator of Distance Learning Services and transitioned to a daytime schedule in 2009 when she became Information Literacy Coordinator. In that capacity, her main responsibility was to oversee the Information Literacy Program in support of the learning needs of students as well as the teaching and research needs of faculty and staff. Bonnie was instrumental in the creation of the Library Research Prize, established in 2011. This prize recognizes excellence in research projects that show evidence of significant knowledge in the methods of research and the information gathering process, and use of library resources, tools, and services. The award was named in honor of Bonnie at her retirement in May 2017. Upon her untimely death in September 2017, Bonnie established an endowment fund for the research prize so that it will exist in perpetuity. Bonnie earned an A.B. in History from Chestnut Hill College, an M.L.S. from Kutztown University, and an M.S. in Organizational Management from Misericordia University.

Acknowledgment

The Weinberg Memorial Library thanks the DiMenna-Nyselius Library at Fairfield University for their guidance in the initial development of our Library Research Prize for undergraduate students.

Questions?

Contact the Library Research Prize Planning Committee at libraryresearchprize@scranton.edu.

© 2025 University of Scranton

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