John Miers Award for Excellence in Library Research
In October 2019, SPCS announced the creation of the John Miers Award for Excellence in Library Research in the School of Professional & Continuing Studies.
The award honors the memory and passion for research of John Miers, C’13, a graduate of the SPCS Weekend College program who passed away on June 7, 2019, after having been diagnosed with a rare form of myeloma just 19 days earlier.
The award recognizes excellent library research skills as demonstrated in a research-based class project. SPCS undergraduate students are eligible, based on a project completed during the fall or spring semester of each academic year.
The winning paper, selected annually, demonstrates effective use of library research materials along with clear evidence of thoughtful command of these resources. The winning paper is selected from among papers nominated by SPCS faculty members. A committee of library staff and SPCS faculty select the winning paper.
The winner will be named annually in the fall semester.
Award Recipients
2022: Samuel Parsons, C’22
- Major: Human Resource Management (BSPS)
- Paper: “Sexual Assault in the Military: Military Justice Improvement and Increasing Prevention Act (MJIIPA)”
2021: Shannon Cooke, C’23
- Major: Liberal Arts (BALA)
- Paper: “The Need for Increased Mental Health Support for Students due to Impacts from the COVID-19 Pandemic: Proposed Solutions”
About John Miers
John Miers, C’13, graduated from SPCS after completing a bachelor’s degree through Weekend College. During his first class, he discovered his passion for research and pursued it in graduate school and professional life thereafter. In 2016 he was named Director of Library Services at New Mexico State University in Grants, New Mexico. He worked at NMSU until his death in 2019.