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). Proposal should be submitted electronically to Dr. Andreea Mihalache-O'Keef (mihalache@roanoke.edu).

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 (pinckney@roanoke.edu), 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:

• 2012, Travis Andrews, Renewable Portfolio Standards: Good Goals, Bad Economic Policies?
• 2012, Cristian Chis, Capitalism on the Rise: Effects of POlitics and Policy on U.S. Foreign Direct Investment in Central and Eastern Europe
• 2012, Cristian Chis, A 'Special' Alliance: The Evolution of European Foreign Policy and its Impact on the Transatlantic Alliance (1945-2005)
• 2012, Meghan Brinkley, Photo Identification Laws: A Failed Attempt to Address the Myth of Voter Fraud While Stripping Citizens of the Right to Vote
• 2011, Anne Whitesell, Online Mobilization and Maintenance: A Study of Women's Interest Groups
• 2011, Anne Whitesell, The Influence of Interest Groups on Federal Education Policy
• 2010, Emily Huston, The Election Law Glass Floor?
• 2010, Laura Jennings, Feminist Theory and Maternity Leave
• 2010, Sarah Nuernberger, The Acronym Invasion: Development Work in Northern Uganda
• 2010, Sarah Seufer, An Analysis of Female Political Candidates
• 2009, Emily Huston, The Help America Vote Act of 2002: Well Intentioned Reforms, or Misguided Mandates?
• 2009, Samantha Sterba, Are Stimulus Checks an Effective Fiscal Policy Tool?
• 2008, Laura Hamilton, Flexibility versus Flexicurity: A Comparative Study of the American and Danish Welfare States in the International Economy
• 2007, Aaron Cook, Affirmative Action in Higher Education
• 2006, Laura Riddlebarger, Dynamics of Influence: Who Sets U.S-Cuba Policy?
• 2006, Tomasz Jemczura, The Essence and Reality of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act
• 2006, Ashlyn Myers,Social Factors Contributing to the Growth of Alternative Medicine in the United States
• 2005, Jenna Zamesnik, Detroit’s Italians and the Public School Amendments of 1920 and 1924
• 2005, Andrea Blackwelder, Managing Diversity: The Business Imperative
• 2005, Justin Watkins, State and Local Development Incentives: To the Winner Goes the Spoils?
• 2004, MacKenzie Bub, Canada: The Prescription for Lower Drug Prices
• 2004, Jennifer Erickson, An Examination of Judicial Activism and Restraint on the Rehnquist Court
• 2004, Jennifer Erickson, Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996
• 2003, John Michael Hull, Guarding Against Uncertainty: Energy Research and Development Policy in the U.S.
• 2003, Daniel Presgrave, The Economic Impact of Virginia’s Explore Park
• 2002, Christine Lambros, The Juvenile Drug Court Program in the United States
• 2002, Amber Teitt, Political Trust and Promise Keeping in the United States 1977-2000
• 2002, Amber Teitt, Public Policy in the United States: Chemical and Biological Warfare
• 1998, Susan L. Wallace, Toward Construction of a Theoretical Model: Explicating the Disproportionate Identification of African American Students in Special Education
• 1998, Joshua Nathaniel, The Thin Ice on Which We Walk: The Relationship Between the Human Population, Killer Microbes and Public Policy

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