COM/IM Student, Adam Bockler ’11, will present paper at DePauw Honors Conference in April
03/28/2011 10:20 AM
Like many Bradley students, Adam Bockler ’11 recently had the daunting task of writing a research paper for one of his classes. But unlike many undergraduate students, Bockler will present his paper at the DePauw Honors Conference at DePauw University next month.
Bockler’s teacher, Ed Lamoureux, presented his IM 350 class with a list of possible topics for the research assignment. A double major in Interactive Media and Communication, Bockler picked the subject that would combine his interests: copyright and hot news misappropriation in an age where digital content roams free.
To Bockler, it was just a class assignment, but Lamoureux saw greater potential for the paper. According to Lamoureux, he has only recommended three or four student papers to the DePauw Conference in the past 25 years. Lamoureux explained what makes Bockler’s paper stand out from all the rest.
“Adam’s paper is researched and written in a scholarly fashion befitting a serious undergraduate with plans toward graduate school,” Lamoureux said. “It stood out because of its high quality scholarship and writing.”
With graduate school in Bockler’s future, the conference will provide him with useful experiences.
“The work on this paper, and Adam’s work in general, predict his success at a high quality graduate program,” Lamoureux said. ‘The DePauw Honors Conference will give him a preview of academic conversations at a level similar to what he’ll find in graduate school, both in terms of peers he’ll meet there and via the outstanding guest and feature visiting scholar professors at the sessions.”
According to Bockler, his nerves are already kicking in, but he is ready for the challenge of meeting new students and scholars at the conference.
“There are about 30 students that get into groups of three, each led by a scholar,” Bockler said. “We’ve been asked to print 10 copies of the paper for our group to look over while we’re there. I’m kind of hoping that we do some critiques and talk about how our papers are important to society. It’ll be cool to talk to other people with an interest in writing and maybe pick the brains of the students and scholars who will be there to pick up a new idea or two.”
The conference will be held April 7-9 in Greencastle, Indiana.