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Winesett Library Research Awards

The Winesett Awards are open!

The Winesett Awards for Library Research recognize creative and original library research completed by Radford University students. Prizes are awarded every Spring to the students whose submissions illustrate exemplary use of resources through Radford University Libraries, as well as the development of information literacy skills. Winners and finalists will be announced during the awards ceremony and their works will be preserved in the Archives of the Winesett Scholars.

Projects completed by Radford University students as part of a course assignment, in which library materials, services, or support were used, from Spring 2025 through Fall 2025 are eligible, as well as draft projects underway in the Spring 2026 semester.

Important dates:

  • Applications will be due by Monday, March 30, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.
  • Awards Luncheon and Ceremony: Friday, April 17, 2026, from Noon-1:30 p.m.

Applications must include:

  1. A draft or final version of your research project, in Word, PowerPoint, or PDF format. The project must include a bibliography of sources used in its creation.
  2. A 400-600 word essay describing the following related to your research project:
    1. Research strategies
    2. Use of any library services and/or resources
    3. Evidence of personal learning and development of information literacy skills
  3. A statement of support completed by your class instructor. This is a separate form your instructor must fill out in order for your application to be considered complete.

Please do not submit any other materials, such as portfolios or sources. The essay is given the greatest weight in the judging process, see full criteria below.

Selection Criteria

A panel composed of librarians/library staff, teaching faculty from different colleges, and (if available) a student assistant will judge entries based on how well they demonstrate the following:

  • Originality, depth, breadth, or sophistication in the use of library collections
  • Exceptional ability to select, evaluate, and synthesize library resources and successfully use them in the creation of a project or paper
  • Evidence of personal learning and development of information literacy skills

The essay describing your research techniques and learning process will be given the most weight in the judging process.

We encourage you to review the full rubric that the judging panel will use to evaluate submissions.

For more information, please refer to our Frequently Asked Questions page or contact co-chairs:

Eligibility

Applicants must:

  1. Be a student enrolled in a degree program in any discipline at Radford University.
  2. Have started or completed a research paper or project for a Radford University credit course offered in the current semester or previous calendar year.
  3. Agree to the exhibition of their paper/projects online and in McConnell Library (including archives).

Papers or projects may be in print format, based on the web, or in an audio-visual format.

To Apply

  1. Fill out the student application form yourself and upload all of your materials (essay and draft or final version of your research project or paper, including a bibliography, in Word, PowerPoint, or PDF format).
  2. Share the instructor statement of support form with your class instructor and ask them to submit it by the deadline.
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