The Nancy Allen Research Writing Awards
Recognizing exemplary research and writing
The Nancy Allen Research Writing Awards recognize exemplary research and writing by students in Missouri State University's Writing II courses.
Writing II introduces students to the writing of their chosen disciplines and professions; as such, exemplary writing will demonstrate research-informed discussion from a variety of disciplines and writing approaches.
Eligible Writing II courses include AGR 320; ENG 210, 221, 310, and 321; GLG 358; and HST 210. Writing II instructors will select papers for award consideration, and awards will be determined by writing faculty. Chosen authors will be announced at the beginning of the fall semester and featured on this webpage.
Award categories
MSU Writing II Instructors submit one student paper for consideration in each award category:
Entering the Conversation
This award category recognizes student writing centered in source-informed discussion exploring the student’s position on a topic or issue within their discipline or profession. The paper does not have to argue a particular position, although it certainly can do so, but the discussion must offer something new to say by identifying and exploring a variety of concerns or approaches to an issue or understanding within a discipline or profession.
Expanding the Conversation
This award category recognizes source-informed student writing on a particular topic or issue within a discipline or profession created for a variety of audiences and platforms beyond the academy, including writing for social media; professional writing for the workplace; and creative writing that is informed by research yet presented through creative approaches.
Award Winners & Finalists 2025-2026
Category I - Entering the Conversation
WINNERS
Delaney Smith
"Beyond the Books: Libraries as Essential Community Spaces"
ENG 210 - Instructor: Darcy Lewis
Hailey Wilkinson
"Examining Maladaptive Childhood Perfectionism: Progression to Obsessive-Compulsive
Personality Disorder"
ENG 310 - Instructor: Lori Rogers
Kathryn Lalor
"Pediatric Oral Motor Development and Prolonged Pacifier Use: The Impact of Caregiver
Resource Constraints"
ENG 310 - Instructor: Lori Rogers
FINALISTS
Adrianne Reim
“Gestalt Language Processing”
ENG 210 - Instructor: Leslie Muench
Jake Nguyen
“Adapting to the Future: Why Colleges Should Integrate AI into IT and Coding Curricula”
ENG 210 - Instructor: Alana Rowan
Lydia Gibfried
“Understanding Recidivism: Contributing Factors and Pathways to Reform”
ENG 210 - Instructor: Makayla Malachowski
Rachel Goh
“From Rhetoric to Racism”
ENG 210 - Instructor: Janet DePasquale Whiteaker
Ruby Reeves
“To Be, or Not to Be? The Setbacks of Method Acting”
ENG 210 - Instructor: Mikaela Koehler
Category II - Expanding the Conversation
WINNERS
Keileen Burt
“The Silent Crisis of Special Education Failure in America: How federal decisions and
funding failures are negatively shaping the future of special education”
Research report
ENG 210 - Instructor: Samuel Kriegel
Nico Jenkins
“Bias in Reporting”
Research poster/deck slides
ENG 210 - Instructor: Mikaela Koehler
Olivia Meek
“The Immortal Depiction of Ever-Changing Beauty”
Creative nonfiction
ENG 210 - Instructor: Samuel Kriegel
FINALISTS
Cass Curtis-Tye
"Skip, Save, Shuffle: The warehouse in your headphones”
Research report
ENG 210 - Instructor: Samuel Kriegel
Ashley Hopper
“Hip-hop Diversion Program Proposal”
Research proposal
ENG 221- Instructor: Vicke Kepling
Ancy Kuruvilla Peter
“Life Rooted in the Land”
Creative nonfiction
ENG 221- Instructor: Vicke Kepling
Harlee Carrico
“How the Army Went Viral: The evolution behind modern military recruiting”
Research report
ENG 210 - Instructor: Samuel Kriegel
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