ABOUT THE PRIZE
The Jessie Alpaugh Senior Prize in Disability Studies, awarded annually, was established to recognize graduating seniors who are enrolled in the UCLA Disability Studies minor and have developed an outstanding capstone project that contributes to emerging scholarship in the field and also captures their intellectual passion.
ABOUT JESSIE CHARLOTTE BLACKMAR ALPAUGH
The prize is named in honor of Jessie Charlotte Blackmar Alpaugh, an art history major at UC Berkeley who, during the last summer before her sudden death in 2002, worked at UCLA on an independent studies project that contributed to the foundation of UCLA’s Disability Studies minor.
At the age of 16, Jessie had suffered a catastrophic series of neurological illnesses that left her a quadriplegic with severe speech, hearing, and visual impairments. Despite these challenges, Jessie thrived intellectually and was admitted to UC Berkeley in 1999 as a Chancellor’s Scholar. There she found a vibrant group of scholars who were engaged in developing the interdisciplinary field of disability studies. The disability world was never a “club” that Jessie wished to join – the illness that had threatened her life and left her severely disabled deeply saddened her. However, through disability studies she discovered an amazing academic community that simultaneously challenged her mind, respected her experience, and sparked in her a sustaining passion and purpose.
Jessie would be extraordinarily proud of the UCLA Disability Studies program and would be humbled to learn about the senior prize awarded in her name.
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
Please review the 2023 Jessie Alpaugh Senior Prize Announcement to ensure eligibility BEFORE starting your application.
The prize totals $4,650 split into one or two awards.
In a single pdf document, include the following three items:
- Cover page with the following information:
- Full Name
- Student ID Number
- Enrolled in DIS STD 191, DIS STD 199B
- For Students enrolled in DIS STD 199B, list your Faculty Mentor
- Internship Site
- A 1-page double spaced Capstone project proposal covering the following:
- Working title
- Brief explanation of the project
- Impact your project will have on the field of Disability Studies
- A 1-page double spaced response to the following prompt:
- Disability Studies scholars understand ‘disability’ as a social construction and a dominant lens through which we can understand difference in the world. How has disability studies shaped your perspective of difference? How is your capstone project related to your aspirations and how does it contribute to viable action to advance a just society?
Save the PDF in the following format:
- LastName_FirstName_Application.pdf
- Ex: Block_Gene_Application.pdf
Obtain a copy of your unofficial transcript and save it in the following format:
- LastName_FirstName_Transcript.pdf
- Ex: Block_Gene_Transcript.pdf
Email both files to the Jessie Alpaugh Senior Prize Committee*
Confirmation email:
- You will receive a confirmation email when your application has been received**
Applications are due Monday, May 15, 2023 at 11:59 PM
*Your application materials should be sent directly to the committee via the following email address: 2023.269vmpiqozvm5jhp@u.box.com
**If you do not receive a confirmation email or if you are having issues uploading your application materials, please contact Charlotte Vo.
If you have questions about the application requirements, please contact Pia Palomo.
Natalee is a white person with straight dark brown hair wearing a black cap and gown and blue and gold UCLA sash, a colorful patterned long sleeve mesh top and a black and white swirl patterned skirt. They are seated on a black mobility scooter next to a silver quad cane outside in front of a rusted metal Richard Serra sculpture. They have their legs crossed and are smiling.
NATALEE DECKER
Major: Design | Media Arts
Project Title: Cripping_CG
Natalee Decker (they/them) is Chicago born Los Angeles based artist who received their undergraduate degree from UCLA in Design|Media Arts and Disability Studies in 2022. Via a multidisciplinary practice, they investigate disability aesthetics, technology, and crip fantasy. Their recent work uses 3D computer graphics to creatively reimagine the mobility devices – walkers, scooters, wheelchairs, canes – they use each day, imbuing them with fluid impractical form, vivid celebratory color, and questions about desirability. Their UCLA capstone project – Cripping_CG – is a web-based collaborative archive of digital disabled embodiment. Using 3D modeling, motion-capture, and interviews they create digital assets authentically and expansively representative of disability. These digital objects will serve as a community resource, bringing more critical disability perspectives into the field of media arts. In collaboration with artist Cielo Saucedo, they are continuing to expand and develop the Cripping_CG archive. Natalee’s practice also included disability advocacy – while a UCLA student they helped form the UCLA Disabled Student Union working towards better equity and access on campus. They are passionate about mutual aid, social justice and imagining more liberatory futures through creative expression. Beyond graduation, Natalee is excited to continue their artistic practice and develop innovative contributions to the field of Disability Studies.
Quinn, a mixed race person with short black hair and some tattoos visible on her arms smiling at the camera. She is wearing silver hoop earrings and a white dress with a “UCLA Class of 2022” graduation sash. They are standing in front of Powell Library on campus in black ankle boots.
QUINN O’CONNOR
Major: Theater
Project Title: Disability Access and Representation Present in Los Angeles Theaters
During her time at UCLA, Quinn co-founded and led the Disabled Student Union at UCLA through numerous advocacy efforts, garnering support of over 30,000 individuals across the nation. As a disabled, queer, theatremaker, Quinn’s capstone focuses on the intersection of theatre and access. They outreached and assessed accessibility initiatives and disability representation in theaters across the nation, including Center Theatre Group, Yale Repertory, and others. With her experience working as a physically disabled person in the industry, she intends for this capstone to extend to her work post-graduation to further open up conversations surrounding access for years to come. After graduating, Quinn is freelancing as a stage manager primarily based on the east coast. Later, they intend on pursuing JD/MFA degrees to move into higher theatre administration; to produce more disability-centric works while creating policy changes within New York theater organizations to further accessibility for disabled audiences, actors, and designers. Nothing about us, without us.
| Kathleen De Nicola – 2021 Major: Dance Project Title: Dancing Beyond the Eye – Using Audio Descriptions to Make Dance Accessible to the Blind and Visually Impaired Community |
| Kristal Orta Martinez – 2021 Major: History Project Title: Investigating the Experiences of Autistic Women of Color: Does the Spectrum Include Women of Color? |
| Veeksha Balasa – 2020 Major: Psychobiology Project Title: More Than a “Public Charge”: An Investigation of the Targeting of Migrants with Disabilities by the U.S. Immigration Regime |
| Amy Bugwadia – 2020 Major: Political Science Project Title: Integration of Disability Studies Frameworks into the Master of Science in Genetic Counseling Program at UCLA |
| Isita Tripathi – 2020 Major: Neuroscience Project Title: Embracing Neurodiversity: Impacts of an Early Social Skills Intervention on Acceptance and Advocacy among Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Other Social Challenges |
| Avery Horne – 2019 Major: Psychology Project Title: Legalized Ableism: A Look Into the Criminality of Conservatorship Hearings in the U.S. |
| Bethanie Atinuke Sonola – 2019 Major: Psychology Project Title: Mind the Gap: The Role of Special Education in Higher Education Outcomes |
| Juliana Kotz – 2018 Major: Cognitive Science Project Title: Human Rights, Dignity, and Disability Studies: An Investigation of Jail Conditions for People with Psychiatric Disabilities |
| Justin Kawakami – 2017 Major: English Project Title: “Merely more than de minimis”: Establishing Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) in the United States under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA) |
| Miso Kwak – 2017 Major: Psychology Project Title: Relationship Between Accessibility of Music Education and Self-Esteem of Blind/Visually Impaired Students in Grades 6-12 |
| Jaemmie Cañas – 2016 Major: Anthropology Project Title:What Futures Await Foster Youth and Psychiatric Disabilities? |
| Rebecca Snyder – 2016 Major: Psychology Project Title: Examination of Voting Restrictions for Individuals with Mental Disabilities |
| Dianna Padilla – 2015 Major: Anthropology Project Title: Latino Border Town Communities and Autism: An Analysis on Access to Resources for Children with Autism in Nogales, Arizona |
| Nikki Reyes – 2015 Major: English Literature Project Title: SISE – Sensory Integration Strategies for Early Educators (A proposal for Public Early Educators) |
| Brittany Steiminger – 2014 Major: Psychology Project Title: Democratic Schooling: A viable alternative for autistic students? |
| Shayna Svihovec – 2014 Major: Human Biology and Society Project Title: Straddling the Line Between the Deaf and Hearing Communities in a Hearing Dominated World |
| Hannah Warren – 2013 Major: Psychology Project Title: Insurance and Intervention: An Evaluation of the Relationship between Service Access and Socioeconomic Status of Families with Children with Autism |
| Jessica Kianmahd – 2013 Major: Psychology Project Title: Proposing a New Perspective of Disability: Approaching the Persian Jewish Community from a Jewish Lens |
| Paulina Ong – 2012 Major: Physical Science Project Title: Saying Something About Autism: An Evaluation of the Personhood Consciousness Model of Music Therapy |
| Sarah Baron – 2012 Major: Political Science Project Title: Impact of Affordable Care Act for people with disabilities |
| Eunice Im – 2011 Major: English Project Title: What Happened to the Clubhouse? An Investigative Study on a Program for Children with Autism in the UCLA Medical Center |
| Rhiannon Maycumber – 2011 Major: Psychology Project Title: A Qualitative Comparison of Transition Practices for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in California and the United Kingdom |
| Shareen Nizami – 2010 Major: Political Science Project Title: Working with the FMLA: Expanding Rights of the Workforce |
| Michelle Tang – 2010 Major: English Project Title: Center Stage: How a Passion for the Performing Arts Help Deaf/hard of Hearing Individuals Find a Social Outlet and Overcome Their Disability |
| Samantha Chang – 2022 |
| Nanami Murata – 2022 |
| Priyanka Bhakta – 2021 |
| Natalie Hynes – 2021 |
| Haley Gamboa – 2019 |
| Samantha Mallari – 2019 |
| Claudine Ignacio – 2018 |
| Elaine Lu – 2018 |
| Amanda Mekhail – 2017 |
| Hayley McAvoy – 2017 |
| Lindsey Hoffman – 2016 |
| Vanessa Magula – 2016 |
| Ana Zepeda – 2016 |
| Cindy Sayani – 2015 |
| Kristen Lee – 2015 |
| Brianna Mitchell- 2013 |
| James Choi – 2012 |
| Jenna Rodman – 2012 |
| Laura Merchant – 2010 |
| Lillian Kong – 2010 |