UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Every year, Penn State University Libraries partners with the Schreyer Honors College (SHC) to help students access and utilize information for research, study and enrichment through the research process. The Robert F. Guentter Jr. Outstanding Undergraduate Thesis Award is one way the University Libraries connects students to information and skills that can extend well beyond graduation.
Each spring, the award is given to the student with the thesis most grounded in quality research, as determined by a jury of librarians and other Penn State faculty. Any Penn State student who must complete a thesis as part of their graduation requirements is eligible, with a cash prize of $1,250, $750 and $500 for first prize, and first- and second- runners-up, respectively. At the award ceremony, each of three finalists are required to present a public oral presentation, during which time the jury makes its final decision for the annual winning thesis.
The goal of the award program is to offer undergraduate students guidance during the research process of locating, evaluating and utilizing appropriate information resources in the writing of their theses. In doing so, the Libraries — and its librarians — becomes a partner in each student’s academic journey, potentially giving students a bump in grade point averages (GPA) and academic performance, according to current research by the Association of College & Research Libraries.
“It’s easy to believe that every bit of knowledge and information in the world will show up in the first 20-30 hits of a Google search. It won’t — but even if it did, a lot of the results would be behind paywalls,” said Jeff Knapp, Larry & Ellen Foster Librarian for Communications and chair of the Outstanding Thesis Awards. “Libraries exist entirely to remove the barriers to accessing the knowledge and information researchers need to do their work. Even if you think you know all you need to know about information sources in your field, schedule a conversation with your librarians. I guarantee you’ll discover information you didn’t even know existed.”
The 2025 award ceremony was attended by Knapp and members of the eight-person jury (some via Zoom); Patrick Mather, dean of Schreyer Honors College; Faye A. Chadwell, dean of University Libraries and Scholarly Communications; and family and friends of the previously selected trio of finalists. After listening to their presentations, the jury awarded Aimee Thompson first prize for her thesis, titled, “A Comprehensive Study of Cult Stands in the Iron Age Levant: Context, Function and Symbolism”; RIchard L. Lu, first runner-up for his thesis, “PRINT SCRN: Tracing the History of the Graphical User Interface; and Sarah Scott, second runner-up for her thesis, “The Impact of Prenatal and Postpartum Vitamin D Supplementation on Cholecalciferol Concentrations in Breast Milk.”
“My hope is that each of the thesis writers … got to discover the world they were exploring more and more as they got to the completion of the thesis,” Mather said during his remarks. “And done really well, you get to know yourself and also what you love about the material you’re interacting with. And that can become fuel for the energy required to continue as a scholar — wherever you go after Penn State.
“The thesis is the manifestation of courageous discovery, one of the Schreyer Honors College values,” said Mather. “It’s an avenue through which students can take risks as they bring new knowledge into the world — knowledge that is not always easily accepted. It’s also an integral part of the journey of self-discovery. Generally, college is a key moment for self-discovery, but the journey is accentuated during the creative process of a thesis. The Guentter Award is one way we can recognize and honors the process of discovery.”
Scott, who placed third and graduated in December with a degree in biology and both a minor and honors in nutritional sciences, said, “Winning this award and presenting my thesis work has built my confidence as a scientist. The skills that I have learned through this process will benefit me greatly as a rising medical student this summer and a physician in the future. Having the opportunity to compete in the Guentter Award has inspired me to continue sharing my research with others and engaging in conversations about the importance of nutrition.
“The University Libraries grants students access to countless online databases for research,” added, Scott, who will begin medical school at Duquesne University College of Medicine in July. “These databases played a vital role for me in my literature review process, and I would recommend all students spend time exploring the Libraries’ website and familiarizing themselves with all of the incredible resources available.”
For undergraduate students in the early stages of writing thesis papers, or any academic research, this is solid advice supported by Knapp, who said that one of the first steps students should consider is to contact the librarians for their subject area.
“We can help identify locations or databases in which to search, as well as figure out optimal search terminology,” he added. “We can also refer them to colleagues who are specialists in subject areas and research methodologies.”
Because much of undergraduate education is helping students understand existing knowledge of a particular field of study, said Knapp, it differs from research, which seeks to create new knowledge. This is one reason that research assistance is crucial — it helps students reach out to librarians, who can help students learn the techniques they need to better access resources.
“Students who have done original research can better seek answers from existing knowledge because they better understand how it is created. They also better understand the limitations and weaknesses of existing knowledge,” Knapp said.
One technique that helps students become better researchers is simply reading — meaning that students should have a regular regimen for staying on top of developments in their chosen fields, said Knapp. He cited the importance of developing the habit of reading a newspaper or other news source each day, or reviewing the table of contents for major scholarly journals to stay abreast of current research projects, or reading new books in the Libraries’ collections for a deeper dive and overview of unfamiliar topics.
“Given the plethora of information available online, it is essential for students to be able to identify and evaluate quality academic sources," said Dawn Amsberry, undergraduate research and instruction librarian and coordinator for the Libraries Undergraduate Research Award: Excellence in Information Literacy program. "The Libraries plays a key role in the undergraduate research process by providing access to curated academic information as well as expert librarians and staff who help guide students to the best resources for their projects."
This award is given out at most Penn State campuses in the spring semester during undergraduate research exhibitions, in recognition of outstanding student work through research exhibitions and symposia across the commonwealth.
“Students who learn successful research techniques are able to identify high-quality academic information and incorporate that information into their own research to become part of the scholarly conversation around their subject,” Amsberry said. She also noted that research award programs encourage students to utilize other resources available to them at or in partnership with the Libraries,such as library guides, Undergraduate Research Readiness Workshops and semi-annual Open House events.
Knapp had a message for any student embarking on a research project: “Librarians are always happy to meet with students to help them at any stage of the process. Even if you think you know all you need to know about information sources in your field, schedule a conversation with your librarians. I guarantee you’ll discover information you didn’t even know existed.”
Additional details about University Libraries resources for undergraduate research assistance include:
- Penn State University Libraries Open House, a self-guided interactive tour offered at the start of each semester for new and returning students offering an introduction to the Libraries’ spaces and resources;
- Undergraduate Research Readiness Workshop series offered throughout the academic year and co-sponsored by Undergraduate Research and Fellowships Mentoring;
- Library Guides offer broad advice on research strategies based on subject, specific courses, general research and How-to Guides; and
- Subject area librarians offer expertise in research, information access and library resources related to their specific fields.
Visit the Libraries’ Robert F. Guentter Jr. Outstanding Undergraduate Thesis Award webpage for more information about the award and submission process, or visit the University Libraries Undergraduate Research Award: Excellence in Information Literacy webpage or local campus Penn State librarian.