An Undergraduate Research Award Adds Depth to Students' Experience

An award created by the Stull family in Dallas has allowed U.Va. undergraduates Kara Downs (College '08) and Trevor Royce (Engineering '07) to publish their research in a major peer-reviewed public health journal.

For the past four years, an endowment created by John Stull, his wife Drew, and their children has provided funding for an undergraduate research award through the University's Center for Undergraduate Excellence.

"Research adds real depth to the undergraduate educational experience," said Lucy Russell, director of the Center for Undergraduate Excellence. "Students learn from the entire process, from formulating the initial inquiry and writing a proposal all the way through analyzing what they have found and presenting their conclusions."

And with this experience, students who conduct research make better candidates for fellowships, graduate and professional school admissions, and career placement, she said.

Drew Stull said, "Our children had a terrific undergraduate experience at U.Va., and we wanted to give back to U.Va. to honor that experience."

The Stull Family Award was created in 2005 to fund student research through the University's Center for Undergraduate Excellence. The family created the award in gratitude for the undergraduate student experience of the Stull children - J. Machir Stull (College '05), and daughters Mary Wick (Commerce '98) and Ann Winters (College '01).