Student Awards and Funding
DEPARTMENT SUPPORT
The Department of Anthropology at the University of Delaware presents annual awards to undergraduate students in recognition of leadership, service and academic excellence. Undergraduate students can also apply for research and travel funding at any point during the year.
Research and Travel Funding
Department funding is available for student projects in the United States and abroad through the Monica and Brand Fortner Endowment and the Peter M. Weil Travel Award. These funds help undergraduate students conduct fieldwork, lab and archival research, art and writing projects, internships, and myriad other activities related to anthropology.
In 2022, Amber Schlichtig received funds to participate in the Blackfriary Archaeology Field School in Ireland. In 2023, Keyaira Muflihi received funds to support her internship with a National Park Service project in northern Delaware. These are just two of the many undergraduate student projects that the department has supported through funding from the department’s
How to Apply
To apply, students should email Professor Peter Benson, department chair, to indicate an interest in applying for funds. Students should also identify a faculty sponsor to serve as the supervisor for their project.
Monica and Brand Fortner Endowment Award Recipients
Sam Side, 2020–2021
Through a 2021 summer internship with the Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs, Sam Side will be working with archaeological collections from excavations at the John Dickinson Plantation (Dover, DE) to analyze and create an understanding of the lives and experiences of the people who lived and worked at the John Dickinson Plantation through the lens of current social phenomena, like the Black Lives Matter movement. The ability to expand the stories of the African Americans who lived and worked at the plantation through archaeological artifacts can help contribute to a larger understanding of the experiences faced in the past and how these have influenced experiences in the present day.
Claire Seeley, 2018–2019
During summer 2019, Claire traveled to Austria to work with an anthropological research team led by Dr. Adam Fracchia. In conjunction with the U.S. Department of Defense, the team is recovering and identifying remains of military personnel Missing in Action in World War II. Their research focuses on downed military aircraft sites.
Annabelle Fichtner, 2017–2018
Presented poster “Examining the Effects of Increased Ocean Acidification on Slave Ship Wrecks” at the annual meeting for the American Institute for the Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works in Houston, Worked as a conservation intern at the Arizona State Museum on the University of Arizona campus completing interventive conservation treatments, assisting with preventive conservation measures, and interpreting x-ray fluorescence data to identify the presence of heavy-metal pesticides on Navajo textiles.
Amy Cimminnisi, 2017–2018
During the summer of 2018, Amy will participate in the excavation at Pan de Azucár, a Casma site in the Nepeña Valley, Peru. Examination of architecture, ceramics, burial practices, and skeletal remains to understand how the Casma responded during the Chimú conquest in the 14th century will help Amy develop skills in excavation techniques and ceramic and skeletal analysis.
Anissa Speakman, 2016–2017
Conducted research on prehistoric skeletal sample from Tepe Hissar in modern day Iran, collecting data on enamel hypoplasia and dental caries to look at sex differences in the prevalence of these conditions.
Annabelle Fichtner, 2016–2017
June 3-17, 2017: Attended the Balkan Heritage Field School and their mosaic and documentation workshops in Stobi, Macedonia.
July 5-August 18, 2017: Annabelle served a conservation internship at Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology at Harvard University where she participated in condition assessment, cleaning and box making for hats and feathered objects and Polynesian shields, cleaning buffalo robes and southwest textiles.
Samantha Matera, 2016–2017
Participated in the Archaeology in Annapolis program run through the University of Maryland, May 30- July17, 2017. Samanth excavated, processed and curated found objects.
Margaret McManus, 2016–2017
Attended University of Nebraska-Lincoln, faculty led Mummies Studies in Sicily, Italy, summer 2017. Worked directly with mummies to assess their preservation as well as performed non-invasive analysis of decomposition, the effects of insects on mummies, practiced facial reconstruction, and examined dietary remains.
Ana Vega Ambriz, 2015–2016
Presented co-authored paper on the Old Swedes Church archeological project at the CNEHA conference, Fredericksburg, VA, November 2015.
Kaitlyn Cometa, 2015–2016
Attended the UA Upper Gila Preservation Archaeology Field School May – July, 2016, where she participated in excavations at the Gila River farm sites of pueblo communities of A.D. 1300-1400.
Adrienne Gendon, 2014–2015
Participation in archaeological fieldwork, summer 2015, with the Central Lydia Archaeological Survey in collaboration with Kaymakçi Archaeological Project.
Sarah Driver, 2014–2015
Worked as field assistant for Dr. Peter Roe in San Juan, Puerto Rico, retaking site measurements and photographs in the central highlands to compare accuracy of petroglyph reproductions to original physical carvings.
Melissa Miller, 2013–2014
AAPA Annual Conference poster presenter Spring 2014
Chelsea Rozanski, 2013–2014
Participation in a collaborative multidisciplinary project supported by the Amazon Center of Education and Environmental Research (ACEER) to document the lives of the Ese'eja, on of the few remaining foraging indigenous peoples in Latin America.
Kaitlyn Laws, 2012–2013
Bedouin Links to the Dawn of Agriculture: Oxygen, Nitrogen and Carbon Isotope Analysis Offer Connections Between Modern and Neolithic Caprids
Daniel Reyes, 2012–2013
2013 National Anti-Hunger Policy Conference
Neil Redfield, 2012–2013
Sitting in the Dark: The Active Role of the Theater Audience
Weil Travel Fund Recipients
Sam Side, 2020–2021
Through a 2021 summer internship with the Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs, Sam Side will be working with archaeological collections from excavations at the John Dickinson Plantation (Dover, DE) to analyze and create an understanding of the lives and experiences of the people who lived and worked at the John Dickinson Plantation through the lens of current social phenomena, like the Black Lives Matter movement. The ability to expand the stories of the African Americans who lived and worked at the plantation through archaeological artifacts can help contribute to a larger understanding of the experiences faced in the past and how these have influenced experiences in the present day.
Amy Cimminisi, 2018–2019
During winter session 2019, Amy Ciminnisi interned in the NAGPRA (Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation) office at the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology in Philadelphia, commonly known as the Penn Museum. She photographed and conducted research on an archaeological collection of more than 40 artifacts, and worked with the collections, museum and archival documentation, and published sources. Ciminnisi also updated the Museum’s collections database through the addition of reference photographs, bibliographic information, and catalogue cards. The information she gathered will support the Penn Museum’s compliance with NAGPRA.
Clair Seeley, 2018–2019
During summer 2019, Claire traveled to Austria to work with an anthropological research team led by Dr. Adam Fracchia. In conjunction with the U.S. Department of Defense, the team is recovering and identifying remains of military personnel Missing in Action in World War II. Their research focuses on downed military aircraft sites.
Annabelle Fichtner, 2017–2018
Presented poster “Examining the Effects of Increased Ocean Acidification on Slave Ship Wrecks” at the annual meeting for the American Institute for the Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works in Houston, Texas. Worked as a conservation intern at the Arizona State Museum on the University of Arizona campus completing interventive conservation treatments, assisting with preventive conservation measures, and interpreting x-ray fluorescence data to identify the presence of heavy-metal pesticides on Navajo textiles.
Amy Cimminisi, 2017–2018
Participated in the excavation at Pan de Azucár, a Casma site in the Nepeña Valley, Peru. Examined architecture, ceramics, burial practices, and skeletal remains to understand how the Casma responded during the Chimú conquest in the 14th century.
Emaline Reyes, 2017–2018
Presented poster on research at annual AAPA meeting in Austin, TX, April 2018.
Annabelle Fichtner, 2016–2017
June 3-17, 2017: Attended the Balkan Heritage Field School and their mosaic and documentation workshops in Stobi, Macedonia.
July 5 - August 18, 2017: Conservation internship at Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology at Harvard University where she participated in condition assessment, cleaning and box-making for hats and feathered objects and Polynesian shields, cleaning buffalo robes and southwest textiles.
Francis Mahon, 2015–2016
Attended the Salve Regina University archaeological field school in Charleston, SC, formerly known as Charles Town. He then interned with a South Carolina state archaeologist cleaning and cataloging the artifacts recovered. Fran will develop archaeological field and laboratory experience and develop an understanding of the Gullah and Geechee cultures found within Charleston and the eastern coast of South Carolina.
Adrienne Gendon, 2014–2015
Participated in archaeological fieldwork, summer 2015, with the Central Lydia Archaeological Survey in collaboration with Kaymakçi Archaeological Project.
Sarah Driver, 2014–2015
Worked as field assistant for Dr. Peter Roe in San Juan, Puerto Rico, retaking site measurements and photographs in the central highlands to compare accuracy of petroglyph reproductions to original physical carvings.
In recognition of students for leadership and service to the UD anthropology community. Villamarin was professor and chair of the anthropology department. He placed a particular emphasis on the needs and merits of underrepresented and marginalized undergraduate students.
Award Winner for 2024
Sara Grelak
This annual award is present in recognition of senior anthropology majors demonstrating academic excellence. Buxbaum was a formative faculty member in the establishment of the UD anthropology department. He researched sponge fisherfolk in Greece and in Greek immigrant communities in the United States.
Award Winners for 2024
Catherine Carlson-Estes
Maxwell Poruban
In recognition of junior anthropology majors demonstrating academic excellence. Steward was a twentieth-century American anthropologist best known for work on ecology and culture change.
Award Winners for 2024
Jamie Milby
In recognition of sophomore anthropology majors demonstrating academic excellence. Hughes majored in both anthropology and sociology at UD and was a justice of the peace in New Castle County for several decades.
Award Winner for 2024
Akimah Kumar
