{"id":7360,"date":"2022-03-02T16:35:38","date_gmt":"2022-03-02T21:35:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/librariesdev.mercer.edu\/?page_id=7360"},"modified":"2026-01-09T14:53:00","modified_gmt":"2026-01-09T19:53:00","slug":"edmonds-award","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/libraries.mercer.edu\/index.php\/studentservices\/student-research-awards\/edmonds-award\/","title":{"rendered":"Valerie B. Edmonds Student Research Award"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"7360\" class=\"elementor elementor-7360\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-3557b9d2 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"3557b9d2\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-1d3f4532\" data-id=\"1d3f4532\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-22ad8f0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"22ad8f0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b8c0e07 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"b8c0e07\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The Valerie B. Edmonds Student Research Award (Tarver Library)<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3cc713d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3cc713d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The Valerie B. Edmonds Student Research Award recognizes excellence in undergraduate research projects that incorporate the use of the University Libraries&#8217; collections and services and demonstrate exceptional information literacy skills on the part of the undergraduate researcher. The intent of the Valerie B. Edmonds Student Research Award is to celebrate student engagement in original research in all academic disciplines and to promote extensive and meaningful use of library resources and services.<\/p><p>The winner will receive a $300 monetary prize and a commemorative plaque awarded at Honors Convocation on Friday, April 10, 2026, and the runner-up will receive a $200 monetary prize and certificate.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7c53d11 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"7c53d11\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Eligibility<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-85f7054 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"85f7054\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li>Individuals must currently be enrolled as undergraduate students at Mercer University (Macon campus) or the Macon Regional Academic Center. <strong>Students who completed degree requirements in December 2025 are also eligible.<\/strong>\u00a0All class levels and disciplines are eligible.<\/li><li>All submitted projects must contain an element of library research. The use of primary and\/or secondary sources must be demonstrated.<\/li><li>Individual or team submissions are allowed.<\/li><li>Each participating student or team may submit one project only.<\/li><li>Applicants must express their consent to have winning papers\/projects exhibited at the Tarver Library and included in the Archives. Photographs of the winners may be displayed on the University Library website. All application materials remain the property of the library.<\/li><li>Research must have been conducted while a student at Mercer University and using the University Libraries&#8217; resources and services.<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c18046c elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"c18046c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><span style=\"font-size: 24px; white-space: normal;\">Evaluation Criteria<\/span><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ee6e75e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ee6e75e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Each Valerie B. Edmonds Student Research Award application will be carefully reviewed by a panel consisting of designated Mercer librarians. Submissions will be judged on the following criteria:<\/p><ul><li>Demonstrated ability to select, evaluate, and synthesize appropriate library resources and successfully use them in the creation of a research project or paper<\/li><li>Evidence of significant scholastic and\/or personal learning and the development of a steady research pattern or habits that can be utilized in future academic endeavors<\/li><li>Ability to describe and analyze the applicant&#8217;s research strategies, techniques, and learning process in a well-written introductory essay<\/li><\/ul><p>Expectations for achievement will be commensurate with the applicant\u2019s class year and the requirements of the discipline.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cfe156c elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"cfe156c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Application Procedure<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2c48be9a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2c48be9a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"font-style: normal; color: #222222;\">Applications submitted by <span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">5:00 PM Friday, February 6, 2026<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 16px; font-weight: 500;\">, will be given full consideration. Incomplete or late submissions will not be considered.\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Please ensure that all portions (see list below) are submitted.<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 16px; font-weight: 500;\">\u00a0Unless requested by the applicant, submitted materials will not be returned. When possible, please submit copies in lieu of original documents or projects.<\/span><\/p><p style=\"font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 500;\">All application packages must include the following:<\/p><ul style=\"font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 500;\"><li style=\"font-size: 16px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/libraries.mercer.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/2026-edmonds-cover-sheet.pdf\">Application\u00a0cover sheet<\/a>\u00a0with student and supporting faculty member signatures. Submissions of this document are acceptable in PDF format only.<\/li><li style=\"font-size: 16px;\">A 100 word abstract\/summary of the research project.<\/li><li style=\"font-size: 16px;\">A 500-750 word essay describing research strategies as well as the application of library resources to the project.<\/li><li style=\"font-size: 16px;\">A final version of the completed research project. Please make sure student names appear ONLY on the cover sheet and not on the project itself.<\/li><li style=\"font-size: 16px;\">A bibliography or other appropriate list of sources consulted.<\/li><\/ul><p style=\"font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 500;\">Submit application package using our\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/mercer.libwizard.com\/f\/edmonds_award_26\">Online Submission Form<\/a> (All documents must be PDFs to be uploaded).<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-de7ffc2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"de7ffc2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Purpose<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-3653878 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"3653878\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-05e12a2\" data-id=\"05e12a2\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a8ebbb2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a8ebbb2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The Valerie B. Edmonds Student Research Award recognizes excellence in undergraduate research projects that incorporate the use of the University Library&#8217;s collections and services and demonstrate exceptional information literacy skills on the part of the undergraduate researcher. The intent of the Valerie B. Edmonds Student Research Award is to celebrate student engagement in original research in all academic disciplines and to promote extensive and meaningful use of library resources and services.<\/p>\n<p>The award honors long-time librarian and student mentor, Valerie B. Edmonds, whose tireless service to students and faculty over a thirty-year career exemplified passion and commitment to scholarship and research.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-0af3922\" data-id=\"0af3922\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-2077ce6\" data-id=\"2077ce6\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2f1f215 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"2f1f215\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"198\" src=\"https:\/\/libraries.mercer.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/273d216c-953d-4938-892f-0e56dbf2d606.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-7365\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/libraries.mercer.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/273d216c-953d-4938-892f-0e56dbf2d606.jpeg 200w, https:\/\/libraries.mercer.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/273d216c-953d-4938-892f-0e56dbf2d606-75x75.jpeg 75w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Pictured: <i>Valerie B. Edmonds<\/i><\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e87c470 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"e87c470\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Questions<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5aaa956 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5aaa956\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Please submit questions regarding the Valerie B. Edmonds Student Research Award to <a href=\"mailto:olson_lt@mercer.edu?subject=Edmonds%20Award%20Inquiry\">Lee Olson<\/a>, Head of Research Services.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3fb6858 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"3fb6858\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a58dac0 elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"a58dac0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"\/index.php\/studentservices\/student-research-awards\/previous-student-research-award-winners\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">View Previous Winners<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-241fa8d elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"241fa8d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-5e53f85 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"5e53f85\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-8cfdedb\" data-id=\"8cfdedb\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-87cdbb1 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"87cdbb1\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-048aed5\" data-id=\"048aed5\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Valerie B. Edmonds Student Research Award (Tarver Library) The Valerie B. Edmonds Student Research Award recognizes excellence in undergraduate research projects that incorporate the use of the University Libraries&#8217; collections and services and demonstrate exceptional information literacy skills on the part of the undergraduate researcher. The intent of the Valerie B. Edmonds Student Research [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":732,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"disabled","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":false,"thumbnail":false,"medium":false,"medium_large":false,"large":false,"1536x1536":false,"2048x2048":false},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Christian Pham","author_link":"https:\/\/libraries.mercer.edu\/index.php\/author\/cspham\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"The Valerie B. Edmonds Student Research Award (Tarver Library) The Valerie B. Edmonds Student Research Award recognizes excellence in undergraduate research projects that incorporate the use of the University Libraries&#8217; collections and services and demonstrate exceptional information literacy skills on the part of the undergraduate researcher. The intent of the Valerie B. Edmonds Student Research&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/libraries.mercer.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7360"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/libraries.mercer.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/libraries.mercer.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/libraries.mercer.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/libraries.mercer.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7360"}],"version-history":[{"count":27,"href":"https:\/\/libraries.mercer.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7360\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13065,"href":"https:\/\/libraries.mercer.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7360\/revisions\/13065"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/libraries.mercer.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/732"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/libraries.mercer.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7360"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}