Research Prizes

The duPont-Ball Library competition for the library’s Evans C. Johnson Research Prize and the R. Neil Scott Research Prize is now open for 2021.

To apply:

  1. Fill out the online entry form.
  2. Upload a copy of your paper in Word or pdf format.
  3. Deadline for submissions: MARCH 19, 2021

Read all of the prize winning papers here.

Both Research Prizes are open to all students who as a first-year student completed a research paper during the last calendar year (spring, summer, or fall semesters 2020).

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 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 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.