The William & Mary Libraries Undergraduate Library Research Awards recognize the creative and original library research completed by William & Mary undergraduate students. Each year we ask the four winners about their research and how the tools and resources at W&M Libraries supported their projects.
Junior/Senior Category:
First Place: Sihan Shen '25
- What was your research about?
“My research paper focuses on how the Cherokee Nation navigated Indian removal during the Andrew Jackson administration, with particular attention to Elias Boudinot, a Cherokee leader and editor-in-chief of the Cherokee Phoenix, the first Native American newspaper. Initially, Boudinot strongly opposed Indian removal, but around 1830, he changed his position and began advocating for it, believing it was the only way to ensure the survival of his people. This shift generated significant backlash, eventually leading to his assassination by fellow Cherokees who viewed him as a traitor. Using his editorials in the Cherokee Phoenix as my primary point of investigation, I examined the motivations behind Boudinot’s change in stance and how his writings reflected the Cherokee Nation’s broader dilemma—whether to resist or submit to U.S. territorial expansion.” - How did the library staff and resources help you?
“I benefited most from my appointment with the history research librarian, Dr. Rick Mikulski, who provided invaluable support by introducing me to the database WorldCat and teaching me effective search strategies, including the use of Boolean operators and synonym pairings to refine my results. Beyond technical guidance, Dr. Mikulski also helped me brainstorm possible directions and research scopes, which was essential in narrowing my focus. I began with a broad interest in the Trail of Tears, but with his help, I was able to hone in on Cherokee Phoenix as my primary source and build my analysis around it.” - What does receiving this award mean to you?
“Receiving this award gives me motivation to continue my intellectual pursuits. I genuinely enjoyed the research process because I was deeply interested in understanding Elias Boudinot’s motivations regarding Indian Removal. At the same time, there were many moments when I felt stuck or overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information I had to process and synthesize. While I already felt proud of the work I accomplished, receiving this award makes the long hours and difficult choices feel even more worthwhile. It affirms my ability to conduct meaningful research and to take advantage of the resources available to me.”
Second Place: Enya Xiang ’25
- What was your research about?
“I wrote my paper about the first democratic experiment in interwar Austria. Following WWI, Austria became an independent country, and I investigated how the League of Nations tried to save a country that was in financial and political crisis. While many people know about the 1938 Anschluss, I found it fascinating that many Austrian citizens hoped to become a part of Germany through legal and democratic processes.” - How did the library staff and resources help you?
“Swem has an amazing variety of resources, and I certainly couldn’t have done my research without its access to diplomatic documents and Austrian newspapers. I was also able to set appointments with library staff, who were incredibly friendly and eager to help me.” - What does receiving this award mean to you?
“I am very grateful to have received this award! When I began learning German in my freshman year, I would have never imagined that I would be reading and deciphering old Austrian newspapers three years later. Research truly is a group effect, and thank you so much to Dr. Michael Butler for guiding me along the way!”
Freshman/Sophomore Category:
First Place: Saoirse O’Hair ’28
- What was your research about?
“My research was focused on the portrayal of childless women in popular media, specifically the tropes of the "cat lady" and "witch."” - How did the library staff and resources help you?
“I met with a research librarian who was incredibly helpful in narrowing down my research topic and guiding my use of library resources, such as databases and PRIMO. She actually inspired my decision to look at media tropes in particular.” - What does receiving this award mean to you?
“Research always seemed incredibly intimidating to me, and it never quite felt like something I could truly participate in. Receiving this award, however, has not only given me confidence in my abilities as a scholar, but it has also allowed me to see that research is something I can do--and enjoy!”
Second Place: Mia Tzafolias ’28
- What was your research about?
“My research was on the impact of the Ottoman Empire on tensions between the Serbs and other ethnic groups in the Former Yugoslavia. My paper explored how the Ottoman Empire’s policies and impact on surrounding empires might have had an influence on the tensions between ethnic groups in the Former Yugoslavia, specifically Serbs in relation to the other Yugoslav ethnic groups.” - How did the library staff and resources help you?
“The library staff and resources were indispensable tools in my research process. The library website’s Primo tool helped me narrow my topic and obtain credible sources for my paper, such as books and peer-reviewed journals. Additionally, I booked an appointment with a librarian, Dr. Mikulski, who greatly assisted me in finding data to further support my research findings.” - What does receiving this award mean to you?
“This award acknowledges the worth of the library as an invaluable resource in the research process. One of the main purposes of college is to learn how to conduct good research in a thorough and unbiased manner; this award proves how integral of a role the library can play in this process. It is a reminder to me and my fellow classmates that we are not alone but rather have so many resources to assist us when conducting research. Because of this award, I am encouraged to continue utilizing the library’s resources in an effort to further develop my research skills and contribute to meaningful scholarship.”
Find their research projects on ScholarWorks and read more in our news story.