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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.

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ABOUT JESSIE CHARLOTTE BLACKMAR ALPAUGH

Jessie AlpaughThe 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.

APPLY

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:

  1. 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
  1. 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
  1. 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.

2022 STUDENT WINNERS
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 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.

PAST WINNERS
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
HONORABLE MENTION
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