Katheryne B. Willock Library Research Award

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 participating in the University of Arizona Student Showcase who have made extensive use of the services and resources at the University of Arizona Libraries.

We award up to six prizes—$1,000 each.

How do I apply and what are the deadlines?

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

Registration opens on to be announced

  1. Register for the Student Showcase. Make sure you create a VoiceThread account.

  2. Write an essay about how you used our library resources and services for your research.

  3. Submit your Willock essay to LBRY-Development@email.arizona.edu. Please include your:

  • Name
  • Major
  • Student ID

  • Undergraduate or Graduate status

What are the essay requirements?

  • Your Willock Award essay must relate to the research project submitted to the Student Showcase. 
  • 300-500 words.
  • Use the Essay Rubric to get information about what to include and how your essay will be evaluated. If your essay is among the top-scoring essays, you’ll advance to the poster presentation round!
  • Submit your essay to LBRY-Development@email.arizona.edu.

What's next?

  • You will be notified if you did or did not make it to the Student Showcase poster round. 
  • If you’re a finalist, you’ll be asked to create a short VoiceThread video that responds to the items in the Poster Rubric. 
  • The judges will view the VoiceThread videos and determine the Willock Award winners.
  • Willock Award winners will be announced at the Student Showcase virtual event.

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 Alex Franz-Harder.

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.