Katheryne B. Willock Library Research Award

\Graphic for the Katheryne B. Willock Library Research Award with a purple background and white text. Logo with the prize money amount, $1,000.

Win $1,000 for telling us how you used the library for your research!

The annual Katheryne B. Willock Library Research Award recognizes University of Arizona undergraduate and graduate students who have made extensive use of the services and resources at the University of Arizona Libraries.

We award up to eight prizes, each worth $1,000 (four to undergraduates and four to graduate students).

How do I apply and what are the deadlines?

Applications will open on February 3, 2025. 

University of Arizona undergrads and graduate students may apply as individuals or teams – one application per each team or individual per year. 

What are the requirements?

You must be currently enrolled at the University of Arizona and have made significant use of University Libraries’ resources or services to create new knowledge. To apply, please submit a 1-2 page document addressing the award selection criteria, resource strategy, and process, along with a copy of the project created using the Libraries’ services and resources.

Projects may include, but are not limited to, articles, course research papers, data visualizations, digital humanities projects, audiovisual productions, recordings, and physical objects. Submissions may reference library resources such as online, physical, and archival collections, consultations with librarians or specialists, and CATalyst Studios services.

In your submission, be sure to:

  • Describe the library resources or services used and their impact on your project.
  • Explain how you selected the most appropriate resources/services.
  • Discuss any roadblocks encountered and your approach to navigating them.
  • Reflect on your research and knowledge creation process, including what you learned and how it will influence your future studies or work.

What happens if I'm a winner?

  • Willock Award winners will get instructions on how to receive their award check.
  • The award may affect your financial aid, so consult your financial aid advisor.

As the author of the essay, you retain copyright. It is your responsibility to get permission from copyright holders for images, media, or extended quotes you may incorporate. Cite your sources. Images taken from copyrighted or licensed resources cannot be published beyond the UA community without permission.

For Willock Award questions, contact Tiffany Calderon.

2021 winners

Congratulations to the 2021 Willock Award winners!

Graduate students

  • Michelle Bailey, Aerospace Engineering 
  • Chen Chen, Chinese Linguistics
  • David Haddad, Medicine
  • Violeta Martinez, Chemical Engineering
  • Srujitha Marupuru, Pharmaceutical Sciences

Undergraduate students

  • Fiona Nguyen, Psychology 

See winning essays and posters from previous years.

About Katheryne Willock

The late Katheryne (Kate) Willock generously endowed this award. Kate received her undergraduate degree from Arizona State University and taught a course in biology at the University of Arizona. She spent several years as Assistant Territorial Archaeologist in the US Virgin Islands and conducted archaeological fieldwork in the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Vieques, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands, Antigua, and the southwestern United States. Kate was an ardent supporter of the University Libraries and was vocal in championing the value the library brings to campus.