Senior Scholar Award

Sponsored by the Provost's Office and Research and Fellowships, the Senior Scholar Award is presented to six graduating seniors in recognition of outstanding scholarship and contribution to a field of study.

Scholars are awarded based on the following criteria:

  • A compelling and clearly articulated thesis statement
  • Thoughtful research process and/or methods of inquiry, application, or analysis
  • Contributes new information to a field of study
  • Demonstrates social impact or importance within a broader, cross-disciplinary social context

Recipients of the Senior Scholar Award will receive $250 award, a featured profile on the Simmons website, and will be invited to present their projects to the Simmons community on Wednesday, April 22, 2026 from 2:00 - 3:30 PM.

Eligibility

This award is open to full-time, on the ground seniors who are graduating between October 2025 and May 2026. We welcome submissions from students across all disciplines!

How to Apply

Please submit the following items to be considered for the Senior Scholar Award:

  • Project Abstract (250 words)
  • Short response: Please describe the overall trajectory of your participation in the project, including how you became involved in the endeavor, your motivations for pursuing it, and why this research/work is important - either academically / professionally, within your discipline, or in a broader context. (3 paragraphs max)
  • Optional project sample
  • Bio + Headshot (for website)
  • Nomination Letter (recommended, but not required)

Submissions will be accepted until Monday, March 9. Please email [email protected] with questions.

Submit a Senior Scholar Award Proposal

Senior Scholars in the News

Ginjer Doherty ’25,  Aviva Foster ’25, CJ Haggard ’25, Theo Hatfield ’25, Lili Malatinszky ’25, and Grace Walters ’25

Six Students Selected for the 2025 Senior Scholar Award

Ginjer Doherty ’25, Aviva Foster ’25, CJ Haggard ’25, Theo Hatfield ’25, Lili Malatinszky ’25, and Grace Walters ’25 have been selected for the prestigious Senior Scholar Award at Simmons University. Sponsored by the Provost’s Office and the Office of Research and Fellowships, the Senior Scholar Award recognizes outstanding scholarly research across different disciplinary fields.


Headshots of the 2024 Senior Scholar Award winners

Congratulations to the 2024 Senior Scholars

The annual Senior Scholar Award is sponsored by the Provost's Office and the Office of Research and Fellowships. The award recognizes six graduating seniors for their outstanding scholarship and contribution to a field of study.


Questions? We are here to help.

Office of Research and Fellowships

The Office of Research and Fellowships is committed to supporting the intellectual curiosity, creativity and scholarly development of Simmons students.

Jaime Libowitz

Director of Operations, Student Engagement, Success, and Diversity