The University Libraries recently presented awards to students participating in the Undergraduate Research Exhibition in the HUB-Robeson Center, at University Park. The Libraries' judging team, led by Bonnie Osif, engineering librarian, was looking for students who demonstrated strongest research skills, for the 2009 Information Literacy Award.
After the judging session, Osif said she was very impressed with the quality of research overall, and noted that the presenters were innovative, creative and used resources well. "Many of the students clearly indicated the most important resources used in their research on their posters and were cognizant of the correct citation methods. In conversation, it was amazing to hear the wide range of reliable resources they used with almost no mention of Google or Wikipedia! The sophisticated research skills mentioned were very encouraging--it would seem as if a number of the students are really getting the importance of quality searching and evaluated resources," she said.
Among the winners of the University Libraries Award for Information Literacy were first place, Timothy Walters; second place, team of Sammy Khayat, Mehmet Gunay, David Reinbold, Eric Zee, Matthew Guy and Todd Fornwalt; third place, Gregory Ciccarelli. Honorable mention went to Elody Gyekis, Hillary Grube, Courtney Gallen, Alyssa Miller, and Annette Slutter.
The winners' college affiliation as well as comprehensive listing of award winners in all categories is available at http://www.undergradresearch.psu.edu/exhibition/winners09.cfm
For additional information about the Libraries' awards, contact Loanne Snavely, head of library learning services, at (814) 865-3064.