Evie Benton (left) is the first recipient of the Jack Bales Scholarship
The University of Mary Washington has announced the first recipient of the Jack Bales Research Scholarship, established in honor of Reference & Humanities Librarian Emeritus Jack Bales, whose 40-year career championed student research and the vital role libraries play in the research process.
The scholarship recognizes a student who produces an outstanding research paper while working closely with a librarian during the development and completion of the project. The inaugural recipient is Evie Benton, an environmental science major, for a paper examining the sustainable aquaculture of the Nile tilapia written for Dr. Tyler Frankel’s EESC 357 course.
An important part of Benton’s research process was the support of Paul Boger, sciences librarian, who assisted with source recommendations, citations, and research guidance throughout the semester.
“I worked with Paul Boger of the Research Desk to find sources for my paper on the Nile Tilapia,” Benton said. “He provided source recommendations, citation help, and much-needed guidance throughout the writing process. With his help, I got a 95% on that semester-long assignment.”
The scholarship celebrates both Benton’s achievement and the important role librarian-student collaboration plays in academic success, while honoring the legacy of Jack Bales and his longstanding commitment to research excellence at Mary Washington.
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