Student Papers/Scholarships

The generosity of Mr. Fowler has made possible an annual research paper competition to recognize outstanding student papers dealing with recent U.S public policy.

"Public policy" is defined as a plan or course of action designed to influence the content, quality or extent of governmental activities—or private sector activities, profit or nonprofit—of significant public interest. The policy may be local, state, U.S. national or international in its impact. It may deal with the history of such a policy, the administration of the policy, or itself be a policy proposal.

Paper Specifications

The deadline to submit a proposal for a paper is April 1 each year. This proposal should be an abstract (250 words maximum) and an outline (2 pages maximum). Two clean, unbound typed copies (one without your name) plus an electronic copy of the finished paper must be completed and delivered by Spring Reading Day, preceding final exams for the semester. Papers should be 5,000-15,000 words in length and follow a recognized documentation format. Papers should be submitted to Judi Pinckney, West 204.

Prizes

The following prizes may be awarded:

• “Excellent Papers” will be awarded $2,000, or a $4,000 graduate scholarship.
• “Distinguished Papers” will be awarded $1,500, or a $3,000 graduate scholarship.
• “Superior Papers” will be awarded $1,000, or a $2,000 graduate scholarship.

Winners may wait three years to use their prizes. Papers are evaluated by a multidisciplinary panel whose members have no previous involvement with the papers submitted for judging. The panel’s judgment on awards is final.

Award-Winning Papers

Award-winning papers are available in the Fowler Archives Room of the Fintel Library. Recent winning titles include:

• Susan L. Wallace, Toward Construction of a Theoretical Model: Explicating the Disproportionate Identification of African American Students in Special Education
• Joshua Nathaniel, The Thin Ice on Which We Walk: The Relationship Between the Human Population, Killer Microbes and Public Policy
• MacKenzie Bub, Canada: The Prescription for Lower Drug Prices
• Jennifer Erickson, Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996
• Jennifer Erickson, An Examination of Judicial Activism and Restraint on the Rehnquist Court
• John Michael Hull, Guarding Against Uncertainty: Energy Research and Development Policy in the U.S.
• Daniel Presgrave, The Economic Impact of Virginia’s Explore Park
• Amber Teitt, Political Trust and Promise Keeping in the United States 1977-2000
• Amber Teitt, Public Policy in the United States: Chemical and Biological Warfare
• Christine Lambros, The Juvenile Drug Court Program in the United States
• Jenna Zamesnik, Detroit’s Italians and the Public School Amendments of 1920 and 1924
• Andrea Blackwelder, Managing Diversity: The Business Imperative
• Justin Watkins, State and Local Development Incentives: To the Winner Goes the Spoils?
• Tomasz Jemczura, The Essence and Reality of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act
• Ashlyn Myers,Social Factors Contributing to the Growth of Alternative Medicine in the United States
• Laura Riddlebarger, Dynamics of Influence: Who Sets U.S-Cuba Policy?
• Aaron Cook, Affirmative Action in Higher Education
• Laura Hamilton, Flexibility versus Flexicurity: A Comparative Study of the American and Danish Welfare States in the International Economy
• Samantha Sterba, Are Stimulus Checks an Effective Fiscal Policy Tool?

For information about this program, please contact:
Dr. Heath Brown, Department of Public Affairs
(540) 375-4905
West Hall 202