The University has announced that second-year College student Claire Romaine is the first recipient of the Hannah Graham Memorial Award.
The award was established in honor of late University student Hannah Graham, who disappeared Sept. 13, 2014.
The award, sponsored by Graham’s parents John and Sue Graham along with other donors, seeks to “honor the spirit and impact that we believe Hannah would have had on the University and the world had she lived,” according to its webpage.
Candidates for the award exhibit a love for French, a commitment to justice and sustainability, and the motivation to take on difficult problems.
Romaine’s selection was based on her proposal titled “Epidemiological and Cultural Understanding for the Prevention of Gastric Cancer in Rwanda,” which outlines her plans to travel to Rwanda to uncover the cultural conditions behind the high concentration of gastric cancer cases in the Central African country.
Romaine said she was incredibly honored to be the first recipient of the award and said her attraction to applying for it stemmed from her attendance of the press conference last year announcing the launching of the award, which featured as speakers University President Teresa Sullivan and the Grahams. Romaine also referenced the cohesion among the University community which resulted from Graham’s disappearance as an inspiring force behind her decision to pursue the award.
“I got to see Teresa Sullivan talk about the award and got to meet Hannah Graham’s parents, so I was very inspired to apply,” Romaine said. “I never met Hannah, but I remember how much [Graham’s disappearance] last year brought the University community together.”
Romaine said she chose Rwanda because of the nation’s recent past remedying communicable disease, allowing health care professionals to focus on non-communicable diseases such as gastric cancer. Rwanda is also a traditionally French-speaking nation.
“For whatever reason, there is something going on that is directly linked to gastric cancer in Rwanda, and hopefully we’ll figure out what that is,” Romaine said.
Romaine created her project under the guidance of a group of mentors including Dr. Allison Martin and Dr. Anneke Schroen of the University School of Medicine, both of whom will be directly involved with the execution of Romaine’s research throughout the entire process. Also providing faculty support was Dr. Rebecca Dillingham, director of the University Center for Global Health, who served as a faculty reviewer over all applications. Dillingham said Romaine’s work impressed the committee of faculty reviewers who were responsible for providing recommendations to the selection committee.
“Claire's commitment to careful study of a global health issue in conjunction with her mentors and their vision for her how their work could lead to better cancer care in Africa impressed the committee,” Dillingham said.
Dillingham also said the award holds significance to the University community, claiming it provides motivation for students to develop their own course of study as well as explore issues of global health.
“[The award] is also an incredible gift to the University. It challenges us to encourage students to develop rigorous programs of study and service that address some of the most [pressing] global health questions of today and tomorrow,” Dillingham said.
Romaine was selected from among two other finalists for the award, all of whom interviewed with the award’s board. Dillingham said the process was “highly selective.”
Romaine’s work will extend for a full calendar year, as she is required to perform preparatory work next semester in Switzerland, research in Rwanda this summer and complete follow-up work upon her return to the University next fall.
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