Undergraduate and graduate prize winners received $1,000 and recognition for their exemplary scholarship and effective research strategies.
Fairfield University undergraduate student Max Limric ’25 and graduate students Alexa Greco, Emily Sgritta, and Alexandra Giuffra were recognized for their outstanding scholarship and research with a Library Research Prize of $1000. The annual award was presented to the winners at a reception hosted in the DiMenna-Nyselius Library.
An English and Spanish double major in the John Charles Meditz College of Arts and Sciences, Limric won the undergraduate prize for his essay “Linguistic Justice: The Evolution of Translation Theory in a 19th- and 20th-Century Translation of Cabeza De Vaca’s Exploration Narrative,” in which he analyzed contemporary translations of Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca’s La Relación through the lens of translation theory.
Greco, Sgritta, and Giuffra won the graduate prize for their collaborative essay, “The Impact of Types of Parental Involvement on the Treatment of Anxiety Symptoms in Children Eight to 12 Years Old.” For their project, the three master’s degree students in the School of Education and Human Development conducted a literature review that identified gaps and inconsistencies in how scholars define “parental involvement” within their field.
Research projects are eligible for the Library Research Prize when completed for credit courses during the current academic year. According to the selection criteria, winning projects must demonstrate effective use of the library’s collections and services as well as personal learning in the methods of research.
Samantha Gulachenski ’25, an international studies and politics double major, received $500 for honorable mention in the undergraduate category for her essay “Breaking Barriers from the Top: The Role of Government Initiative in Rwanda’s Gender Equality Transformation.”
Gulachenski credited a library instruction session with helping her hone the research strategy for her project. “Fairfield has taught me that the strongest research is built on reputable, peer-reviewed scholarship,” she said.
