Christina Gavalas of Franklin Square Wins University of Scranton Weinberg Memorial Library Research Award

2017 Jun 27

Christina Gavalas of Franklin Square was awarded The University of Scranton Weinberg Memorial Library 2017 Library Research Prize for graduate students. She is pursing a master's degrees in occupational therapy at Scranton.

The award was presented by Charles E. Kratz, dean of the library and information fluency at The University of Scranton.

The University's Weinberg Memorial Library inaugurated the research prizes in 2011 to recognize excellence in research projects that show evidence of significant knowledge of the methods of research and the information gathering process, and use of library resources, tools and services.

Gavalas and Toron submitted an "Historical Analysis of Low Vision in Occupational Therapy," which they completed for the Leadership in Occupational Therapy course (OT 501). The assignment required them to find primary sources beginning with the founding of their profession in 1917. Their research gathering included locating items on microfilm and on databases far removed from occupational therapy. In their application essay, they said, "We can truly attest to the 'golden gem' of a library that we have access to, both on campus and online." Coincidentally, the two also won the Library Research Prize in the undergraduate category last year. Gavalas serves as the graduate assistant for the University's Leahy Community Health and Family Center. Toron serves as the head resident assistant for the sophomore and junior region at the University.

An Honorable Mention in the graduate category was given to Katelyn Moyer, Allentown, Daniel Dolphin, Scranton, Robert Roncek, Barnsville, and Steven Roughton, Blandon, who are graduate students in the University's Doctor of Physical Therapy Program. Their submission was a systematic review on "The Effect of Depression on Functional Mobility in Older Adults Following Hip Fracture Surgery," which they presented as a poster at the Combined Sections Meeting for the American Physical Therapy Association in San Antonio, Texas in February.

For more information about the Library Research Prize, contact Bonnie Oldham, information literacy coordinator at The University of Scranton's Weinberg Memorial Library, at 570-941-4000 or bonnie.oldham@scranton.edu.