Elizabeth (Betsy) Cathles volunteered in the Mortenson Library Archives for many years. She had a lifelong love of natural history and human cultures, a unique sense of the importance of travel, and a great appreciation for the adventure of learning. A fund has been established in her honor to support student research projects.
- Two (2) undergraduate awards of $2,000; and
- One (1) graduate award of $3,000 will be conferred for the 2026–27 academic year.
These figures represent our biggest awards to date, and we are excited to see the types of projects this additional funding will support.
Eligibility:
Undergraduate and graduate students at the University of Hartford with a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher are eligible to apply for the Cathles Award.
While submissions from all disciplines are welcome, priority will be given to research projects in the Humanities and Social Sciences, reflecting Betsy's original preference. Applicants in other disciplines are strongly encouraged to highlight interdisciplinary connections to these core fields. Additionally, projects that integrate University Archives and Harrison Libraries resources into their research will be given special consideration.
Applicants must include a description of the proposed research project. The specific requirements are outlined in the application, but applicants are asked to limit the description to approximately 1,000 words in total. Additionally, applicants must include a letter of support from a faculty sponsor.
The application deadline is Friday, Oct. 16.
Links to the application and faculty sponsor form:
Recipients of the award must submit a paper that synthesizes the research at the end of the 2026–27 academic year, to be forwarded to the award committee by the faculty sponsor. Additionally, the award recipients are expected to present their research at the Graduate or Undergraduate Colloquium in the Spring semester.
Questions? Please reach out to Head of Research, Instruction, & Circulation (Mortensen Library) Taylor St. Pierre at tstpierre@hartford.edu. Please include the word “Cathles” in the subject line.