Any student project involving a significant research component, done as part of a credit-bearing GCC class, is eligible for the award. This includes primary and secondary research across disciplines; honors projects, internship research, independent study work and group projects are all eligible. In the case of group projects, the monetary award will be split equally between group members.

In addition to traditional research projects, works like business plans, care plans and art pieces will be considered if the student conducted significant research as part of the process. Students who submit this type of project are encouraged, but not required, to submit a supplementary 1-2 page description of their research process.

The library will announce the winner of this year’s award in June of 2026. Applications will be accepted through May 21st, 2026. Faculty, staff and students may nominate projects from the following academic terms:

• Summer I 2025
• Summer II 2025
• Fall 2025
• January 2026
• Spring 2026

The library will accept applications for the award in three ways:

1. Student Presenters. Any GCC student who participates in the GCC Student Symposium or the Massachusetts Undergraduate Research Conference will be considered for the research award.
2. Faculty and Staff Nominations. GCC faculty and staff may nominate any student using the Application Form. Faculty and staff will need to submit a copy of the student’s work as part of the application and  should ask the student’s permission before sharing. Faculty and staff can nominate as many student projects as they would like.
3. Student Self-Nominations. Students who have completed research projects at GCC in any of the the academic terms above may nominate themselves–or their groups, in the case of a group project–for the award, using the Application Form. Students may submit as many research projects for consideration as they would like. Students may only self-nominate; they can’t nominate other students.

Judges will evaluate applications based on the following criteria:

1. Originality: The student identifies a question or problem that is novel, timely and important.
2. Creativity: The student approaches a question or problem using creative methods and/or makes use of data and information in a creative way.
3. Clarity: The student communicates effectively to an intended audience, presenting a clear main point and supporting that point in ways that suit the audience, medium and discipline.
4. Depth: The work evidences significant intellectual work, understanding of context and attention to detail.

2025: Zachary Colby, Novel Method of Identification for Invasive Knotweed.