MANHATTAN — Outstanding undergraduate research in topics ranging from presidential history to biosystems engineering has earned several Kansas State University students the Kirmser Undergraduate Research Award, presented through the K-State Libraries.

Grand prize and honorable mentions were awarded in three categories: individual freshman, individual non-freshman and group. Individual grand prizewinners each received $1,000, and the group grand prizewinners shared a $4,000 award.

“K-State Libraries are dedicated to promoting, supporting and fostering undergraduate research and creative inquiry across all disciplines,” said Jason Coleman, undergraduate and community services librarian and chair of the award committee. “The Kirmser Undergraduate Research Award is an exciting opportunity for us to reward students who successfully engage in academic inquiry, and I commend all of our applicants and winners.”

The awards are made possible through a gift from the Philip and Jeune Kirmser estate. The Kirmsers’ daughter, Sandy Chastan, attended the ceremony.

The following local student is a recipient of a Kirmser Undergraduate Research Award:

• Sara McAfee, sophomore in open option, Great Bend, honorable mention in the group research category for “The accessibility of Kansas State University’s campus: A community-based action research project,” done in the Culture and Context in Leadership course with Leigh Fine, assistant professor of leadership studies.

 More information on the Kirmser Undergraduate Research Award is available at  ib.k-state.edu/kirmser-undergraduate-research-award-winners.