Book Store Academic Excellence Award

Application deadline: March 13, 2009

Purpose: Supported by a generous grant from the University Book Store, this award recognizes undergraduate students who have completed an outstanding independent project, such as a senior thesis, at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Projects in all academic fields are eligible.

Award: Recipients receive $1,000. Up to twenty awards are given annually.

Eligible projects include:

  • Research papers in all fields (sciences, engineering, social sciences and humanities)
  • Creative arts, such as writing, media arts, visual or performing arts
  • A self-contained section of a larger project (with a statement explaining full project and sections yet to be completed.)
  • Students must be enrolled in an undergraduate degree program during the current academic year. (December graduates may apply.)

Selection criteria

  • Originality and creativity of thought
  • Clarity of project purpose
  • Organization and presentation of project
  • Evidence that the student carried out the project independently

Please note: A student may submit only one application for consideration per year, and previous recipients may not apply for a second award. In cases of jointly authored or produced submissions, each person’s contribution must be clearly stated. If the applicant was part of a research team, the applicant’s role and contributions to the project must be delineated. Published papers submitted as an appendix to the application must identify the applicant’s contribution, and state the extent of independent work.

Application: Please submit four copies (one original and three photocopies) of the following:

  1. The official application cover sheet After submitting electronically please print-out the coversheet, sign and date it. Submit four copies (one original and three photocopies) along with your project proposal.
  2. Abstract (concise description) of the project (200–300 words)
  3. Independent project
    1. Research Paper with bibliography: Length restrictions: 10–20 pages, double-spaced, one inch margins, 12-point font.
      OR
    2. Creative writing project: Length restrictions: poetry, 10 poems or a maximum of 20 pages; prose, a maximum of 40 pages, double-spaced, one-inch margins, 12-point font.
      OR
    3. Creative arts project: Please include a descriptive narrative of the project including a statement of objectives, along with a visual of the project (disk with jpegs, photos, videotape), or score and audio representation (cassette tape, cd). Please do not submit actual project (sculpture, painting, etc…).
  4. Letter of Recommendation from the faculty/staff who sponsored or supervised the independent project. The letter should provide an evaluation of the applicant’s project (originality, creativity, significance, organization and presentation); if the recommender is writing in support of more than one applicant, it is helpful to provide a ranking of the projects. Letters may be submitted along with the application in a sealed, signed envelope, or sent directly to the Undergraduate Academic Awards Office, 271 Bascom Hall, by the due date.

Submit application to: Book Store Awards Committee, Undergraduate Academic Awards Office, 271 Bascom Hall

Contact person: Julie Stubbs, 265-2428, awards@provost.wisc.edu