2020 Winners

Freshman Category: Kate Brull, Life Sciences & Mathematics (Pre-Medicine), Salina, KS. 
“The Moral Dilemma to Antibiotic Overprescription.”
PHILO 130: Introduction to Moral Philosophy
Course Instructor: Amelia Hicks, Assistant Professor, Department of Philosophy

For completion of this project, Kate took a creative and artistic way to present her ethical discussion on the over-prescription of antibiotics.  She created a bullet journal (BuJo) to describe the three main moral concepts as she saw them: restrict current use out of consideration for future generations; the physician's main moral duty towards the future of public health and the current patient demands; responsibility of patients to refute antibiotic treatment. Kate included philosophical concepts to better understand the topic.

Group Category: Taya Josenberger, Kansas City, MO; Cole Griffin, Olathe, KS; and Rebekah Castle, Hoxie, KS; all Juniors in Social Work.
“The Effects of Childhood Separation: A Study on Mental Health.”
SOCWK 330:  Social Work Research Methods & Analysis
Course instructor: Jung Sim Jun, Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work

The group proposed a study that could be completed measuring the impact of child separation at the US/Mexico border.  They suggested using a mixed-method trauma questionnaire as well as in-person interviews. The goal of the research is to study the trauma responses of migrant children who were separated at the border. They hypothesized that the findings could be use to hold lawmakers accountable for their actions and contribute to the discussion of immigration on a global level.

Non-Freshman Category: Clayton Jarrard, Olathe, KS, Senior in Anthropology. 
“Conviction as Divine Influence or Human Manipulation: LGBTQ+ Christians and a Harmful Habitus.”
ANTH 602: Anthropological Theory
Course Instructor: Trevor Durbin, Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work   

Using research conducted with LGBTQ+ Christians, this essay offers an examination of religious conviction as a social process.  There is underlying tension through this piece of whether conviction is of divine or human origin.  The paper questions the purpose for many of the afflictions LGBTQ+ Christians face. It also illuminates the elaborate, pervasive process involved in LGBTQ+ Christians developing a habitus within Christian social fields that inflicts harm.  The essay also won Clayton the 2020 Ibn Battuta Award presented by the Anthropology Program.

Honorable Mentions

Jackson Berland, Freshman in Theatre, Lawrence, KS, “The Waiting Room.” Berland completed the project with David MacKay, Assistant Professor of Theatre and Shannon Skelton, Instructor of Theatre.

Jennifer Hughes, Junior, Grainfield, KS; Jaedn Cooper, Junior, Junction City, KS; and Samantha Rios, senior, Hutchinson, KS; all in Social Work; “Children Victims of Parental Substance Abuse and Future Incarceration.” Their project was completed for SOCWK 330:  Social Work Research Methods & Analysis for Jung Sim Jun, Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work.

Ethan Copple, senior in Industrial Engineering and Anthropology, Elkhorn, NE. “The Intersection of Big Data and Anthropology.” This project was completed for ENGL 415: Written Communication for Engineers for Theresa Merrick, Instructor, Department of English.