Student paper competition – win $$ and influence policy!

by roanokecollege on September 23, 2013

Are you working on or planning a project that deals in some manner with American public policy in the last 75 years? It’s not too early to start thinking about the Fowler Paper Competition 2014!  The generosity of Mr. Fowler has made possible an annual research paper competition at Roanoke College to recognize outstanding student papers dealing with recent U.S public policy.  

The papers can be written from any disciplinary perspective (e.g., history, sociology, political science, econ, etc.). The prizes for excellent, distinguished, and superior papers are substantial: $2000, $1500, and $1,000 in cash (or double in graduate school scholarship).

To enter this year’s competition, submit a topic proposal by April 1, 2014 and the completed paper by the reading day of Spring 2014, to Ms. Pinckney ([email protected]).  Your topic proposal must include your paper’s (tentative) title, a paragraph description of the project, an outline of your paper (2 pages maximum) and the names of your honors committee members and/or paper supervisor. 

Dr. Andreea Mihalache-O'Keef

Dr. Andreea Mihalache-O’Keef

For more information and examples of past winning papers, visit https://roanoke.edu/A-Z_Index/Henry_H_Fowler/Student_PapersScholarships.htm.  If you have questions, contact Prof. Mihalache-O’Keef ([email protected]).

 If you are considering entering the competition, talk to your advisor or professor early on (one or two years early is NOT too early!) and ask for their suggestions on strengthening your paper.  In recent years, the most successful papers have been those developed as Independent Study projects, with close faculty monitoring, and those written in seminars or advanced courses, but revised with faculty input over the course of a subsequent semester. 

 We look forward to your entries!  Good luck!

Award-Winning Papers

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

For information about this program, please contact:
Dr. Andreea Mihalache-O’Keef, Department of Public Affairs
(540) 375-5297
West Hall 202

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