Four undergraduate students from the University of Nevada, Reno were awarded Public Anthropology Awards for their opinion-editorials on the topic, "how much freedom should researchers be allowed in conducting their research?"

The four students awarded were Karista McCarley, Richard Zampella, Nicole Smith and Clark Pietromonaco, who wrote for Adjunct Professor Christine Johnson's introduction to cultural anthropology class.

Clark Pietromonaco was grateful for the opportunity and to win the award.

"I am grateful that I was recognized as writing a good op-ed," Pietromonaco said. "I do feel that I put a lot of work in and generated a good piece. I read op-ed's that were of very high quality and I hope that they are recognized, too."

University President Marc Johnson thanked the professor and the students for the recognition they received.

"Congratulations to the students and thank you Christine Johnson for leading a group of students in this experience," President Johnson said.  

Dean of the College of Liberal Arts Debra Moddelmog commended the four students on the quality of the opinion-editorials.

"It's good to see our students being encouraged to think and write about such significant professional issues," Moddelmog said.

The awards are presented by the Center for a Public Anthropology, which encourages academics and students to promote social accountability in higher education.  Many University professors have submitted and won awards from the Center in each of the six past years. The opinion essays from these students can be read at the Center for a Public Anthropology's website.