Chiffer wins Library Paper Prize for research writing

By Jessica Dunkel
Norwich Guidon Staff Writer

Kelly Chiffer was pleasantly surprised when she ran across her nursing professor Barb Robbins in the Wal-Mart supermarket one spring afternoon.

"I didn't even know the paper was submitted until she told me that she'd submitted it, and then five minutes later she told me that they'd voted today and I'd won," Chiffer said.

Chiffer, a 20 year-old junior nursing major from Glastonbury, Conn, had just been notified by her professor that she had been chosen as the winner of this year's Library Paper Prize. She couldn't believe it.

"When I was told that my paper had been submitted, at first I thought I couldn't have won. I thought some English major must have, "said Chiffer, "I was shocked it was me."

Chiffer had taken Pharmacology the previous spring with Professor Robbins. As part of the course she was assigned a research paper on a topic of her choice. She chose obesity, because she was interested in why obesity occurs, and how the drugs that are currently on the market can help these people.

"I did all of my research using library books, articles, and info-track searches," said Chiffer.

When a student or faculty member deems a paper of good enough quality to enter for the prize, there are a few criteria that must be met in order for it to be eligible for the library's contest.

According to Deb Ahlers, Inter Library Loan/ Reference Librarian, of Jericho, Vt., the student must be enrolled at Norwich University during the spring, summer, or fall of an academic year in order to have their paper be eligible for submission to the contest.

The faculty and staff are notified about the Library Paper Prize Contest in November every year, and they post this information for viewing by the students in their classes. The students must enter their papers for submission by the first Monday in February.

"The paper can be from any class, and on any topic, but it has to be an undergraduate paper," said Ahlers.

About eight judges do the judging of the papers in the spring. The committee is made up of a representative from each division within the library, including a representative from the Vermont College Adult Degree Program.

When judging the contest, the judges look for research papers that really reflect good grammar and punctuation, knowledge of the topic, and an above average amount of quality and effort. They also pay close attention to research and resource content.

"The judges look for the research done, and the usage of the library resources," said Ahlers, "it's supposed to be a research paper that [the student] is doing for this prize. They want to see how well resources of the library are being used."

The Library Paper Prize has now been an annual contest at Norwich University for about four years, now.

A loose affiliation of faculty, staff, and community members who make donations to the library sponsor the Library Paper Prize each year.

"The $250 of prize money, is voluntarily donated each year by the Friends of the Norwich University Libraries," said Ahlers.

After four months of judging, the judging committee had chosen Chiffer as the winner of the 2001 Library Paper Prize.

Her paper, Drug Therapy for Obesity: A Comprehensive Look at the Disease and How to Treat It, was a "well-written, well-researched piece that exemplified the criteria that this year's committee was looking for," explained Ahlers.

This year, there were only three entries submitted for the paper prize contest. Historically, the contest does not draw more than about five or six entries. The library is looking to publicize upcoming years' contests in The Guidon in order to bring more awareness and popularity to the Library Paper Prize.

"The Paper Prize is a great way for students to show off the fact that they've done a really good quality research paper. They should talk to their professors to be sure that they get their papers submitted," said Ahlers.

The contest winners are also presented with another opportunity that may prove useful in the students' future. Winners might have the advantage of boosting their resume portfolio because they won the Paper Prize.

"The students receive a certificate when they are presented with the award as well as the check," said Ahlers.

Though Chiffer has not officially been awarded her prize as of yet, the contest officials and some university officials have decided to make her award at a ceremony in the fall of 2001.

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