Research Prizes

The duPont-Ball Library competition for the library’s Evans C. Johnson Research Prize and the R. Neil Scott Research Prize is closed for 2024

To apply:

1.    Fill out the online entry form.

2.    Upload a copy of your paper in Word format.

3.    Deadline for submissions: Friday, March 15 at 4 pm.

Previous prize-winning papers are listed below.

Both Research Prizes are open to all students who as a first-year college student completed a research paper during the last calendar year (spring, summer, or fall semesters 2023).

The contest is sponsored by the duPont-Ball Library to encourage the thorough, effective, creative, and ethical uses of research resources. $200 in prizes may be awarded for each prize.


The Evans C. Johnson Research Prize may be awarded each spring to a student who  as a first-year college student during the previous calendar year completed a research paper that shows thorough, effective, creative, and ethical uses of the library and research resources.

The monetary award is given by an anonymous donor in memory of Dr. Evans C. Johnson, Stetson University Professor of History 1953-1997. Dr. Johnson required students to illustrate effective use of research resources in papers for his courses, and this award is designed to reward such scholarship. In addition to the monetary award, the winner will receive an engraved plaque.


The R. Neil Scott Research Prize may be awarded each spring to a student who as a first-year college student during the previous calendar year completed a research paper that shows thorough, effective, creative, and ethical uses of the library and research resources. The R. Neil Scott Prize will give preference to papers dealing with the general themes of business or economics.

The monetary award is given in memory of Stetson alumnus and former Stetson librarian, R. Neil Scott, MBA,’82. In addition to the monetary award, the winner will receive an engraved plaque.


The winner(s) will be notified in April. Winners will be asked to submit copies of their papers in WORD format for the library’s website.

For more information, please see the document below. Contact Laura Kirkland (822-4027, [email protected]), Chair, duPont-Ball Library Research Prizes Committee, with any questions.

List of Past Winners & Their Papers

2023

Evans C. Johnson Prize Winner:

Reagan Shivers:

Keepers of Domesticity: The Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association and the Historic House Museum in the Political Sphere

R. Neil Scott Prize Winner:

Mia Martinez:

Water is a Human Right

Research Prize Honorable Mention:

Justine Gouldsbrough:

Fast Fashion and Sustainability- The Effects of Low Price

2022

Evans C. Johnson Prize Winner:

Audrey Berlie:

Scotland_ The Sick Man of Europe

R. Neil Scott Prize Winner:

Skyler Gipson:

The Environmental Impacts of the Carbon Dioxide Problem on Coral Reefs

Research Prize Honorable Mentions:

Allyson McLendon:

Gender Discrimination in Sports

Martine Petion:

Coral reefs vs extinction

2021

Evans C. Johnson Prize Winner:

Mira Monroe:

The Environmental & Health Effects of the US’ Nuclear-Arsenal-Network

R. Neil Scott Prize Winner:

Emma Weis:

The Environmental Impacts of the Pulp and Paper Industry

Research Prize Honorable Mention:

Jose Lois:

Monopolizing Insulin: The Exploitative Practice of Medicine

2020

Evans C. Johnson Prize Winner:

Maria Gaglio:

Accuracies and Inaccuracies: Analysis of the Portrayal of Schizophrenia in the Major Motion Picture A Beautiful Mind

R. Neil Scott Prize Winner:

Austin Hill:

A Shift Away from Turfgrass Dominated Landscapes Will Improve Bee Health

2019

Evans C. Johnson Prize Winner:

Emma Knowles:

Martin E.P. Seligman: The implication of Learned Helplessness and Explanatory Styles on Personality

R. Neil Scott Prize Winner:

Julia Finver:

Health Consequences of Unjust Treatment of Black Males in the United States

Research Prize Honorable Mentions:

Nelson Quezada Herrera:

Immigration Bipartisanship: Explaining the Senate Vote on the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013

Samuel Craig:

One Case at a Time: The Warren Court’s Advancing of Civil Rights, and Expansion of Federal & Judicial Powers

2018

Evans C. Johnson Prize Winner:

Sarah-Kate Rines:
The Issues of Mountaintop Removal Coal Mining in Appalachia

R. Neil Scott Prize Winner:

Annabelle Hause:
Instability in Nigeria’s Government

2017

Evans C. Johnson Prize Winner:

Patrick Sheridan:
Spiritual Landscape of Anglesey

2016

Evans C. Johnson Prize Winner:

Sylwia Jurkowski
What is the Evidence for Christianity’s Impact on Constantine The Great’s Architectural Program

R. Neil Scott Prize Winner:

Makayla Mitchell:
Fracking: An Ingenious Solution or a Dirty Fuel in a Green Facade?

Research Prize Honorable Mention:

Mary C. Smith-Feinberg:
Are We Humans or Are We Monsters?

2015

Evans C. Johnson Prize Winner:

Amanda Larson:
Andy Warhol: Beyond the Surface

R. Neil Scott Prize Winner:

Melanie Garcia:
The Fine Art of Advertising

Research Prize Honorable Mentions:

Minh Thu Ma (Alice):
Humans for Sale: A Cycle of Extortion, Abuse, and Profiteering

Alexander Krest:
The Delicate Relationship Between Southeast Florida’s Inland, Intracoastal, and Atlantic Ocean Littoral Zone, Native Waters

2014

Evans C. Johnson Prize Winner:

Carly Batts:
Beeware

R. Neil Scott Prize Winner:

Emily Niederman:
The Possibility of Satellite Projects: Deepening Scientific Understanding of Global Climate Change and Other Matters


2013

Evans C. Johnson Prize Winner:

Abigail Bush:
Foreign Language as a Graduation Requirement for Stetson University.

R. Neil Scott Prize Winner:

Jill Crotty:
Andy Warhol: The Businessman and the Artist.


2012

Evans C. Johnson Prize Winner:

Jennifer Curtis:
Difference of Faith: Why Conservatively Religious Students Can Thrive in a Liberal Arts University.

R. Neil Scott Prize Winner:

Tabea Wanninger: Implications of Pig Factory Farming: A Concise Study of How Pig Factory Farms Impact Animals, Humans, and the Environment.

Research Prize Honorable Mentions:

Kelsey Hoblick: An Education for His Future: Unraveling Ross Allen’s Experience at Stetson University.

Dillon Moore: Street Art: Experiment in Dialogue.


2011

2011 Evans C. Johnson Prize Winner:

Chelsea Whalley:
Sexual Violence and Self-Destruction: The Shameful History of European Colonization and its Effects on the Native American Population.

R. Neil Scott Prize Winner:

Jennifer Curtis:
The Negative Effects of Sugar and Nonnutritive Sweeteners: Can We Have Our Cake and Eat It Too?


2010

Evans C. Johnson Prize Winner:

Tara M. Formisano:
Evolving Feminism: Angela Carter and ‘Glam Rock’ Feminism.

R. Neil Scott Prize Winner:

Kathryn M. Gower:
Stem-Cell Research: Start the Funding.


2009

Evans C. Johnson Prize Winner:

Christy Fitzpatrick:
Human Cloning: Beneath the Surface.

R. Neil Scott Prize Winner:

Ashley E. Rutherford:
Patient Privacy.


2008

Evans C. Johnson Prize Winner:

Jeanne Humphrey:
Loss of the Traditional Inuit Way of Life: Is Global Warming to Blame?


2007

2007 Evans C. Johnson Prize Winner:

Jessica Pauszek:
The Impact of America’s Store.


2006

2006 Evans C. Johnson Prize Winners:

Ian Conrad:The Transition into the Romantic Era of Music: a Brief Overview of Works by Schubert and Beethoven.

Ben Millar: Aspects of the Maine Lobstering Industry.


2005

2005 Evans C. Johnson Prize Winners:

Zachary Chalifour: The Stetson University 21 Meal Plan Requirement.

Ashley Morris: The New Age of Food.