Information and Guidelines Governing Application

Objective
Stimulation and recognition of scholarly achievements of undergraduate students.

The Awards
Awards not to exceed $2,500 per student will be awarded at the end of the academic year to one or more senior students judged by the Award Committee to have submitted outstanding papers or research reports. Judging is based primarily on originality, scholarship and creativity of the work submitted and is open to students in all undergraduate majors of the University. No award of less than $250 will be given, if the paper is selected for an award.

Guidelines for Papers
Papers considered for the Schultz-Werth Award must demonstrate independent scholarly or creative effort. The paper must provide evidence to verify that the work is truly original and independent.

Research/Creative methods used may include, but are not limited to, library research, experimental design, statistical application, survey design, historical, or descriptive research, creative and performing arts. The methodology utilized will depend upon the topic and discipline of the study. Proposals for projects are not eligible for award consideration.

The Schultz-Werth Award Committee encourages submission of projects from all disciplines at SDSU. The approach of the study or project, however, will vary from discipline to discipline. For example, a project submitted in the area of fine arts would undoubtedly differ from one submitted in the area of engineering or sociology.

In general, a student should approach his or her study project in the manner which would seem most appropriate for the selected topic. Students are advised to follow a format which is used within their fields or disciplines. While a faculty adviser may supervise the project, it is required that the research will be that of the student only and not a collaborative effort. The student must be the single author; this means co-authored papers will not be eligible for the award. The committee will give preference to original topics over variations on on-going research/scholarship/creativity.

The judging of papers will be based upon scholarship, creativity, and originality.

Rules and Application Procedures
1.  All papers and forms must be typed and will be submitted and judged in one of two
     categories:
               a.     Social sciences, humanities, fine arts, and education.
               b.     Physical and Biological sciences, and the professions of agriculture, 
                      engineering, nursing, family and consumer sciences, and pharmacy.

2.     A student may receive only one Schultz-Werth Award during his/her college career at South 
       Dakota State University.

3.     A candidate for the award shall be enrolled as a senior student (96+ semester credit hours)
      in one of the colleges of South Dakota State University and not yet earned a baccalaureate
      degree. The Office of Academic Affairs will verify senior status with the Records Office.

4.    The “Application” forms are available from the Vice President for Academic Affairs or at:
www3.sdstate.edu/Academics/AcademicAffairs/AwardsApplications/SchultzWerthAward/.
Upon deciding to enter this competition, the applicants shall submit:
       a.      Application for Schultz-Werth Award
       b.      Abstract
       c.      Biographical Data
       d.      Completed Research Paper/Scholarly or Creative Project
Please respond succinctly to all questions on these forms.

5.     The completed papers shall be submitted to the Award Committee via the Office of Academic Affairs no later than 5:00 p.m. on March 31. The original, unbound paper shall be supplied, and the Committee will prepare copies for its use. An applicant should submit all forms along with his/her final paper/project.

6.     The awards shall be presented to the students who, in the judgment of the Committee, present papers best exemplifying original research, and scholarship, and independent work. Students are cautioned to avoid plagiarism or poor documentation that suggests plagiarism. When in doubt, cite the appropriate reference.

7.    Individual authorship is required. Faculty may be acknowledged but cannot be co-authors. Signatures of the student and adviser/research sponsor will be required verifying that the research, scholarly or creative activity is original and independent work of the student.

The Award Committee
The Schultz-Werth Committee consists of six faculty members representing the physical and biological sciences, social sciences, and the humanities and fine arts. The Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs is Chairperson of the Committee.

Suggestions for  Student Applicants
The paper you submit for the Schultz-Werth Award competition may be an expansion of independent research or study assigned in your course work or it may be a project which you conduct outside of your classes.

Seek advice from your professors and instructors. Talk with your major advisor and request guidance from him or her.

Utilize writing manuals to aid in your style and format. The following guides are available at the Information Desk at Briggs Library:

1.     MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers.
(New York: Modern Language Association of America)

2.     Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association.
(Washington, DC: American Psychological Association)

3.     Turabian, Kate L.  Student’s Guide for Writing College Papers
(Chicago: University of Chicago Press)

Examine previous Schultz-Werth Award papers. These are available in the Archive Room in the Briggs Library.