Student researchers like Kristina Allen will soon face an upcoming deadline outside of class, the turn-in date for undergraduate research grant applications.

For 15 years, the Honors College has provided grants to undergraduates who have a 3.0 grade-point average along with a faculty member to monitor their research, said Bonnie Irwin, dean of the Honor’s College.

“Any department on campus can apply for the grants,” Irwin said. “We enjoy seeing a variety in the students.”

On the application, students are required to describe the purpose of their research, the process of their research, how they plan to implement it, what background they have in research, and how they plan to publicize it.

“We give out probably 24 (grants) per year,” Irwin said.

Allen, a senior communication disorders and sciences major, received a grant in fall 2005 to research how the articulation theory affects school-aged children. Assistant professor Rebecca Throneburg and associate professor Lynn Calvert helped Allen conduct the study on four first-graders in Shelbyville.

“I would say that it has been a unique experience,” Allen said. “It has definitely been worth it.”

Allen arrived at the idea for her research through an Honor’s Council Meeting.

“I think it’s good to have an open mind about what you’re doing with your research,” Allen said.

Throneburg and Allen met weekly to discuss the progress of the research, and to brainstorm any new ideas or to solve any problems they might have.

“I would say to try to find the balance of letting the student take the lead; just to give insights along the way,” Throneburg said.

The end results of Allen’s research will be presented at a state speech pathology convention in Chicago this February as well as a national convention in March.

“As the student’s thesis, this goes a little further,” she said. “It doesn’t just sit on a shelf somewhere, that only Mom and Dad can be proud of.”

Right now, Throneburg is in the process of overseeing eight different students.

“Faculty members work as a team, and we see what is working and what is not working,” she said. “Since it’s a small department, there tends to be a lot of teamwork. Students need to be organized and show leadership, so it is truly their project and not ours.”

Applications are due on March 8, and the recipients of the grants will be announced in April.

Students wishing to apply for the grants can pick up applications at the Honors College Office in Booth House.