SFU Announces 2021 Intrepid Award Winners

Saint Francis University is proud to announce its 2020-2021 Intrepid Research Grant Award recipients. Congratulations to Oliva Coll Nazarak, Kei-shon Graham, and Scott Riner.

For over a decade, $1,000 competitive grants are award annually to students proposing significant academic, creative, or service projects that are firmly grounded in the humanities. The grants are made possible through the generous donations of SFU alumni who wish to support interdisciplinary student research, creative or service projects.

Olivia (Coll) Nazarak is a Middle School English and Special Education Major who graduated in December. She received an Intrepid Award to pursue publication of her children's book, School is Cool: Even During a Pandemic. The book is designed to help elementary school children struggling with the changes brought about by the COVID pandemic restrictions. The Intrepid funds will also enable Olivia to hire an SFU student to create illustrations for her book.

Kei-shon Graham is a Psychology Major and Honors student who will be graduating this Spring. He received an Intrepid Award to pursue the publication of his novel, Uniquely Generic. The final product of his Honors Thesis, his novel examines the effects of systemic racism on inner-city youth. The Intrepid funds will also enable Kei-shon to secure a copyright and cover the cost of printing.

Scott Riner is a Junior English Major with a minor in Communications and a concentration in Writing. He received an Intrepid Award to write, produce and direct an original theatrical performance that proposes a modern adaption of the Nativity story by situating characters in Depression-era America. Scott intends to donate the proceeds from ticket sales to St. Jude's Hospital.