Each year, a respected scholarly association offers a notable award to recognize outstanding work by an undergraduate student in the field of cultural beliefs and traditional practices. This prize highlights original research that delves into how folklore and belief systems shape community life and personal identity.
Eligible applicants are undergraduate students whose research examines themes related to cultural beliefs—for example, folk narratives, spiritual traditions, rituals, or symbolic practices. The work should be thoughtful, research-based, and focused on how communities use or express these traditions. Papers may be either unpublished or already submitted for a class or conference but must have been written within the previous academic year.
Submissions are carefully reviewed and selected through a blind-review process, ensuring fairness and academic integrity. The chosen author receives a modest honorarium (set at $250), but perhaps even more valuable is the recognition their work receives within the academic and scholarly community.
To apply, students typically submit a clean version of their paper—devoid of identifying information—a brief biographical statement outlining their academic status and research interests, and a letter from a faculty sponsor endorsing the work and its scholarly merit. The application deadline is early June each year, with final decisions announced at the society’s annual meeting and recognition featured in their communications.
What makes this opportunity meaningful is not just the financial token, but the spotlight it shines on emerging scholars in the field—encouraging further exploration of cultural traditions and belief systems. It honors deep curiosity, methodological care, and the ability to connect university-level research with lived cultural expression.
