UIS announces the winner of 2011-12 academic year Outstanding Master's Thesis Award

The University of Illinois Springfield Research Board has awarded English master’s student Sarah Collins with the UIS Outstanding Master’s Thesis Award for the 2011-2012 academic year. Collins’s thesis is entitled “The Face of Disability: Humanizing Effects of Autographics on the Physically and Mentally Impaired”.

Five graduate programs nominated finalists for the award. Each of the submitted thesis/projects have, thus, already received departmental recognition for excellence and will be publicly honored at a reception on January 28, 2013.

“The Research Board was impressed by the interesting range of topics and methodologies among this year’s nominees. Members found it challenging to select a single recipient of the award,” said Cecilia Stiles Cornell, faculty associate in the Provost’s Office.

UIS Outstanding Master’s Theses/Projects: Academic Year 2011-2012 

The following students received their departments’ Outstanding Thesis or Project Award for 2011-12 and were nominated for the UIS Outstanding Master’s Thesis/Project competition:

Educational Leadership 
Jeremy Larson
“Teacher Collaboration in Rural School Districts through Online Social Networking” 
Committee Chair: Dr. Daniel Matthews

English (Outstanding Master’s Thesis Award) 
Sarah Collins
“The Face of Disability: Humanizing Effects of Autographics on the Physically and Mentally Impaired” 
Committee Chair: Dr. Lan Dong

Environmental Studies 
Gregory R. Fretueg
“Latrine Site Selection and Diet Composition of River Otters (Lontra canadensis) in a Restored Illinois Floodplain” 
Committee Chair: Dr. Dennis Ruez

History 
E. Claire Jerry
“Tracing the Trumans: An American Story’: An Exhibit at the Harry S. Truman Library and Museum” 
Committee Chair: Dr. William Siles

Human Services 
Mary K. McGuire
“Identifying Needs and Barriers for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Older Adults”
Committee Chair: Dr. Donna Weinstein