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Written by SIUC MCMA Wednesday, 31 March 2004 09:15

News - Student News and Awards

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Twenty Southern Illinois University Carbondale students will receive a total of $28,559 in research awards, the largest sum ever granted in the University's annual Undergraduate Research/Creative Activity Awards competition.

SIUC officials announced the names of the winners March 29 during the University's annual Undergraduate Research Forum, an event that showcases students' scholarly and creative work.

In addition, for the first time since the program started six years ago, all winners who apply for undergraduate assistantships -- positions that will carry a salary for the work they do on their projects -- will receive them.

"It's pretty exciting," said Associate Vice Chancellor for Research Prudence M. Rice, who oversees SIUC's Office of Research and Development Administration. ORDA and the University provost's office underwrite the awards program.

"We've been able to combine two programs that encourage student learning activities into a wonderful package for some of our best students. It's a win-win situation."

Promoting excellence in undergraduate academics is among the goals of Southern@150, the blueprint for the development of the University by the time it celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2019.

Award winners, who will conduct studies of everything from the presidential State of the Union address to the effects of American ginseng root on prostate cancer cell growth, hail from all parts of Illinois, four other states and a foreign country. Their grants will pay for materials and services related to their yearlong projects. Here are brief cameos of the students (by hometown), their faculty mentors and their work.

MICHIGAN

St. Joseph

• Joshua A. Buursma, a junior in cinema and photography mentored by Assistant Professor Michael D. Covell, will produce a 10- to 15-minute, 16 mm film from his original screenplay, "A Family Evening" dealing with a young boy's coming of age, death and dying, and inter-generational relationships. His grant totals $1,500.