Special thanks goes to the Class of 1968 Fund through the Center for Engaged Learning for this award.
The Library Research Award recognizes undergraduate students who demonstrate excellence and creativity in the completion of a research assignment that employs the use of library and information resources.
Submissions for the 2024 Library Research Award have closed.
Check back later for information on next year's award!
First Place: Caleb Brock" Artificial Intelligence and its Influence in the Management of Workforces "
This study investigates the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on Human Resources (HR) and workforce scheduling, emphasizing the rapid integration of AI into these domains. It explores the benefits and drawbacks of AI in HR recruiting and scheduling by comparing traditional methods with AI-driven approaches. While traditional recruitment practices, such as in-person interviews and resume evaluations, are effective, they often limit access to a broader candidate pool. AI can streamline these processes, enhancing efficiency, provided human oversight exists to mitigate biases and ensure accuracy.
Through a comprehensive literature review, this study reveals varying degrees of AI adoption across organizations and highlights its dual impact: increased productivity alongside ethical and employment-related concerns. The article evaluates the effectiveness of traditional HR practices compared to AI-enhanced approaches, particularly how AI has transformed the hiring process by utilizing keyword recognition to streamline resume screening. This efficiency allows HR professionals to allocate more time to strategic roles. However, the reliance on AI for resume evaluation raises significant concerns, leading to an exploration of ethical and legal perspectives. This research aims to provide valuable insights into the implications of AI integration, fostering a thoughtful approach to its application in HR and recruitment practices as we navigate this evolving technological landscape.
Completed for BUS 340 with Dr. Sevinj Iskandarova
First Place: Miles Hudson" Missed Opportunities: An Analysis of U.S.-Argentine Relations During World War 2 "
No abstract given
Completed for HIST 470 with Dr. Brandon Marsh
Second Place: Allie Jansen"Military Paradise: The Paradox of Hawai'i in the Vietnam War"
Independently, there is an abundance of research into the path to Hawaiian statehood, the militarization of the islands, and the racism that has historically centered American discourse about Hawai‘i. There are very few scholars, however, that have sought to synthesize these ideas or investigate them in relation to the Vietnam War. The literature on Hawai‘i’s role in the war consists almost exclusively of a single book chapter: “Race War in Paradise: Hawai‘i’s Vietnam War” in Soldiering Through Empire by Simeon Man. Man provides a detailed account of the specific ways in which the Hawaiian Islands contributed to the US effort in Vietnam. This paper seeks to supplement evidence collected by Man with Congressional evidence of the ideological nature of Hawaiian statehood. By contrasting how Hawai‘i was intended to be perceived and how it was put into practice in the Vietnam War, this research illuminates the polarities of Hawai‘i as an American state. It concludes that American militarists and political leaders used the narrative of Hawaiian statehood as a symbol of democratic, racial harmony and tried to reproduce that symbolism in Vietnam. Doing so, however, revealed the contradictions between Hawai‘i’s simultaneous identities as a cosmopolitan paradise and as a violent facilitator of military imperialism. Hawai‘i’s role in the Vietnam War proves that it was not democracy that the 50th state extended into the Pacific, but rather American values of imperialism and racial violence.
Completed for HIST 250 with Dr. Yuka H Kishida
Second Place: Jared NicholsThe automobile industry is marked by intense competition and relatively stable demand, making customer retention highly essential for business survival in the sector. This research explores the factors and contextual conditions influencing customer loyalty among Ford vehicle owners in Virginia. By exploring these factors and their impact on loyalty decisions, the study aimed to provide insights into the drivers of customer loyalty and propose a model that auto manufacturers can adopt to attract and retain loyal customers more effectively. A mixed methods approach combining qualitative interviews, a focus group, and a survey of 105 participants was employed to analyze loyalty in customers of Ford Motor Company. Overall, this research finds that perceived quality, value, corporate image, and switching costs are critical factors in establishing and maintaining the loyalty of Ford vehicle owners in Virginia. However, of the four factors identified, perceived switching costs when considering competing brands may have the least influence on a customer’s decision to remain loyal compared to the other three factors tested. Based on these insights, the study has advanced the understanding of drivers of customer loyalty, providing managerial, empirical, and theoretical contributions that will move this field of inquiry forward.
Completed for class with Dr. Nuraddeen Nuhu
Submissions must include the following documents:
Submissions will be evaluated on three criteria:
The Judging Committee will include a librarian, the CEL Director of Student Research, and one faculty volunteer from each school.
