UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State University Libraries and the Schreyer Honors College will recognize the 14th annual finalists and the afternoon’s juried winner of the Robert F. Guentter Jr. Outstanding Undergraduate Thesis Award on May 8, immediately following the three finalists’ 3 p.m. presentations.
The annual public event, hosted by Faye A. Chadwell, dean of University Libraries and Scholarly Communications and Patrick Mather, dean of the Schreyer Honors College, will be held in Pattee Library and Paterno Library’s Foster Auditorium and online. Remote attendees may register in advance to view the presentations via Zoom.
Awards are given annually to three finalists with outstanding Penn State undergraduate theses that are grounded in quality research, as determined by a jury of librarians and other Penn State faculty. The Robert F. Guentter Jr. Grand Prize winner is awarded $1,250, first runner-up is awarded $750, and second runner-up is awarded $500.
The finalists are:
- Richard L. Lu, Schreyer Scholar and Paterno Fellow; bachelor of arts degree in English, minor in entrepreneurship and innovation, College of the Liberal Arts, spring 2025 graduate; thesis titled, “PRINT SCRN: Tracing the History of the Graphical User Interface”
- Sarah Scott, Schreyer Scholar, bachelor of science degree in biology, minor in nutritional sciences, Eberly College of Science, fall 2024 graduate; thesis titled, “The Impact of Prenatal and Postpartum Vitamin D Supplementation on Cholecalciferol Concentrations in Breast Milk”
- Aimee Thompson, Schreyer Scholar and Paterno Fellow, bachelor of science degree in anthropological science and bachelor of arts degrees in classics and ancient Mediterranean studies and in French and francophone studies, minors in Greek and Latin, College of the Liberal Arts, spring 2025 graduate; thesis titled, “A Comparative Study of Cult Stands in the Iron Age Levant: Context, Function and Symbolism"
The University Libraries initiated this award to emphasize the importance of utilizing quality research methods and employing a thorough understanding of the legal and ethical issues related to the use of information — both key components of academic excellence. For Schreyer Scholars, Paterno Fellows and others for which a thesis is the capstone of their undergraduate experience, this competition recognizes the discerning inquiry and diligent research undertaken by the scholars in preparation for graduation.
The University Libraries provides full texts of most Schreyer Honors College electronic theses through the University Libraries catalog.
The submissions process for the Robert F. Guentter Jr. Outstanding Undergraduate Thesis Award begins in January of each year. Penn State students who have graduated in summer of the previous year or fall or spring of the current academic year are eligible to participate. The finalists’ theses and presentations are judged by a panel of Penn State faculty including several librarians. Details about the award are available on the University Libraries website.
For more information, contact Gretchen Little at 814-863-5854 or grl5147@psu.edu.