We are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2017 Paterno Fellows Best Thesis Awards. Each Best Thesis first place awardee will each receive a $500 prize, and will be recognized at the Paterno Fellows Graduation Ceremony at noon on May 6.  Nominations were supported by letters of recommendation from the thesis adviser and honors adviser.  A faculty panel made selections based on the originality of the project, the rigor of the research, and the clarity of presentation.

Susan Nahvi, ’17 International Politics, and French and Francophone Studies, won the Paterno Fellows Social Sciences Honors Thesis Award for “The World’s Women: Country Performance on the Gender Millennium Development Goals.” Susan’s thesis adviser is Douglas Lemke, Associate Professor of Political Science, and her honors adviser is Michael Berkman, Professor of Political Science.

Mary Siobhan Brier, ’17 English and Theatre, won the Paterno Fellows Humanities Honors Thesis Award for “The Superlatives–A Play.” Siobhan’s thesis adviser is Jessica O’Hara, Senior Lecturer in Communication Arts and Sciences, and her honors adviser is Marcy North, Associate Professor of English.

John Miller, ’17 English, won Honorable Mention for his thesis in the Humanities, “James Lawson’s Speech at Shaw University: Deconstructing Conflicting Ideologies to Help Establish the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee.” John’s thesis adviser is Jack Selzer, Paterno Family Liberal Arts Professor of Literature, and his honors adviser is Xiaoye You, Associate Professor of English and Asian Studies. John will also be recognized at the May 6 ceremony.

Congratulations!