The Global Medieval Studies Best Undergraduate Essay Prize is awarded annually to multiple students in various categories. Students are encouraged to submit essays of over 1200 words with medieval foci from any course, regardless of whether the course in which they wrote a piece is affiliated with the Global Medieval Studies minor.
Past Winners
2023-2024
Essays in English:
- Brisa Bolanos, “Threads of Encounter: Cultural Interplay in Inka Textiles and the Western World during the Early Colonial Era” (HI 414). Major in History.
- Katie Harmon, “Alexander Three Different Ways: How the Gog and Magog Story Reveals the Author’s Intentions with Alexander” (XL 343). Major in Middle Eastern & North Africa Studies, Minors in Global Medieval Studies, History, Political Science.
- Dhruv Kapadia, “Janabai and Bulleh Shah: Class and Political Struggle in Devotional Poetry” (XL 225). Major in Political Science, Minors in Economics, Statistics.
- Kenneth Wong, “Saint Teresa of Ávila (1515-1582): Gender and Interior Spirituality in the Catholic Reformation” (RN 310). Majors in Classical Civilization, History, Philosophy and Religion; Minor in Global Medieval Studies.
Essays in Spanish:
- Morgan Devlin, “El propósito de los sueños literarios medievales y su uso entre culturas” (LS 456). Major in Human Physiology.
- Madison Keefer, “El mito de semental negro, su aplicación en Las Mil y una noches, y sus implicaciones sociales” (LS 456). Majors in International Relations, Spanish, Minor in Global Medieval Studies.
Creative Essay:
- Evan Kwong, “The Boston Alexander Romance” (XL 343). Major in Biomedical Engineering.
2022-2023
Freshmen/Sophomore Category:
- Madison Keefer, “Linking Epilepsy and Corpse Medicine Through the Lens of Religion and Spirituality” (WR152). Sophomore, Majors in International Relations and Spanish, Minor in Global Medieval Studies.
- Tanusha Tholla, “¿Adónde?: el mapeo espiritual entre el-Andalus y el Occidente en “On Fleeing his City” por Samuel el Nagid y otros rithāʾal-mudun” (LS410). Major in Medical Science, Minor in Spanish.
Junior/Senior Category:
- Carly McDermott, “La autoridad piadosa: la función del lenguaje religioso en Las Cantigas de Santa María” (LS 410). Major in Biology, Minor in Spanish.
- Andrea Wetzler, “Nonlinear Fictionality: Makura no sōshi as Trauma Narrative” (LJ 480). Major in Comparative Literature, Minors in Persian Cultural Studies and Global Medieval Studies.
- Alita White, “Joan of Navarre: Understanding her Life” (HI 412). Major in History.
Creative Paper (Honorable Mention):
- Kauther Mohammed, “The Proper Conduct in the Case of Eddard Stark Lord of Winterfell” (HI 207). Major in Chemistry.
2021-2022
Freshman/Sophomore Category:
- Madison Keefer, “Ensayo Sobre La Classificación de Don Quijote de La Mancha” (LS350). Freshman, Majors in International Relations and Spanish.
- Salvatore Cordova Quijano, “Dante’s Commedia: A Consistent Notion of Justice and Divine Punishment” (CC 102). Freshman, Majors in Physics and Philosophy, Minor in Mathematics.
- Emily Yoder, “Nation-Building by Alexander the Great in Medieval Persian and European Alexander Romances: Chivalry, Justice, and Statesmanship” (XL343). Sophomore, Major in Comparative Literature, Minors in History and Latin.
Junior/Senior Category:
- Iris Fitzsimmons Christensen, “El papel de Elvira y Sol: Las hijas deshumanizadas y martirizadas en el Poema de mio Cid” (LS456). Junior, Majors in International Relations and Spanish.
- Dina Famin, “Looking the Gift Horse in the Mouth: The Conspicuous Absence of Bucephalus in the Persian Alexander Romances” (XL343). Junior, Majors in Biology, Comparative Literature, and History and Minor in Global Medieval Studies.
- Magdalene Farren, “Transforming the Human Body in Marie de France’s Yonec” (EN722). Senior, Major in English, BA/MA Program in English.