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ANNOUNCING THE 2005 SYMPOSIUM AWARDS!

At this third annual event, 24 undergraduate students from the University of Pittsburgh-Oakland, University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Mercyhurst College, Thiel College, Baldwin-Wallace College, West Virginia University and Washington & Jefferson College presented their research papers on Europe or Russia in this competition for cash prizes. The students were placed onto one of six panels according to the topic of their paper. Two faculty members and one graduate student judged each panel; a First Prize was awarded to one student from each panel, based on both the students’ papers (submitted prior to the event) and presentations. In addition, the judges chose one overall best paper and presentation for the Grand Prize.

Prizes were awarded at the closing ceremony of the Symposium, held in the Lower Lounge of the William Pitt Union. The recipient of the Grand Prize received $500 and the First Prize awardees received $300 each. All participants and judges received a customized coffee mug commemorating the event.

PANEL 1, European Literature and Society

First Prize was awarded to:

• Michael J. Sechler, "Old Words, New Pages: Milton, Bracton, and the ‘Century of Revolution’”

Judges:

Professor Marah Gubar, Department of English, University of Pittsburgh (chair)

Dr. Lois Williams, Lecturer, Department of English, University of Pittsburgh

Lauren Skrabala, MA in English Lit/Film Studies, University of Pittsburgh; ESC staff (programming and activities)

PANEL 2, Post-Communist Trends

First Prize was awarded to:

• Benjamin Keller, “Polish Foreign Policy in the 21st Century”

Judges:

Professor Ron Linden, Department of Political Science, University of Pittsburgh (chair)

Professor Tom McKechnie, Department of Political Science, University of Pittsburgh

Emilia Zankina, PhD student, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, University of Pittsburgh

PANEL 3, Legacy of War

First Prize was awarded to:

• Adelheid Frederika Schaupp, 𠇊 German Cross-Generational Comparison of the Effects of Nazism”

Judges:

Professor Gregor Thum, Department of History, University of Pittsburgh (chair)

Professor Bernard Hagerty, Department of History; University of Pittsburgh

Tony Novosel, Instructor, Department of History; and Undergraduate Advisor in the CAS Advising Center, University of Pittsburgh

PANEL 4, Europe Under Communism

First Prize was awarded to:

• Pedja Jurisic, 𠇎xploring the Role of the Yugoslav Economy in Creating the Climate for the Rise of Nationalism”

Judges:

Professor Jonathan Harris, Department of Political Science, University of Pittsburgh (chair)

Professor Jennifer Cash, Department of Anthropology, University of Pittsburgh

Ellen Mercer, PhD Student, Department of History, University of Pittsburgh

PANEL 5, European Union and the World

First Prize and Grand Prize was awarded to:

• Thomas L. Bogacz, “Investment Enigma: Determinants of US Foreign Direct Investment in Europe”

Judges:

Professor Thomas Boyle, Department of Business, Seton Hill University, Greensburg, PA (chair)

Professor Shirley Cassing, Department of Economics, University of Pittsburgh

Melissa Parker, PhD Student, Department of Political Science, University of Pittsburgh

PANEL 6, Evolving Europe

First Prize was awarded to:

• Anthony Catania, “German Länder: An Invasion of Brussels”

Judges:

Professor Ilya Prizel, University Center for International Studies, Department of Political Science, University of Pittsburgh (chair)

Professor Gemma Marolda, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, University of Pittsburgh

Zak Shusterman, JD Student, School of Law, University of Pittsburgh

Congratulations to all of the Undergraduate Research Symposium participants!