The submission window for the 2026 Becker Undergraduate Award is closed. The winner will be announced at the annual Becker Colloquium on May 28th in RCB 6152 at 12:30pm.
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This undergraduate award commemorates Yvonne Becker and highlights her invaluable contribution to the Department. The award fund totals $500. If the selection committee agrees that two submissions are equally deserving, the award may be divided between the two students. During the annual Becker Colloquium, the certificate(s) of achievement will be presented. A celebratory lunch with the colloquium speaker and Linguistics faculty will also be offered.
Submission content and format
- Content must pertain to concepts in the field of linguistics.
- Submissions can take a number of written formats, for example research proposals, literature reviews, linguistic arguments, instructional materials, or articles on linguistics for a general audience.
- File type: Microsoft Word. Note that submissions can be created using free software such as Google Docs; please then export and submit as a Word file.
- Word limit: 1,250 to 5,000 words.
Eligibility criteria
The student must be actively enrolled in one of the following programs:
- Linguistics program (including Major, Joint Major or Extended Minor)
- Indigenous Languages undergraduate program
- Linguistics discipline within the Cognitive Science program
- Certificate in the Linguistics of Speech Science
- Focus in Post-Baccalaureate Diploma program that includes a Linguistics course
The submission must be supported by an instructor's nomination:
- If the submission is a result of coursework, it should be supported with a nomination from the instructor who taught the course.
- If the submission is independently composed, please seek a nomination from one of your previous instructors.
Selection criteria
- Originality of ideas
- Understanding of linguistic concepts
- Clarity of expression
Submission instructions
The submission window for the 2027 Becker Undergraduate Award will open in January; more details to come.
Meet the past winners
Get inspired by reading these winning submissions and check out the interviews with the winners.
2025
Elizabeth Alvarez Alfaro (co-winner)
Finding The Odd One Out: Exploring the Development of Rhyme Acquisition in Preschool Years: Interpretation Guide
Carley Carder (co-winner)
The Role of Self-Monitoring and Repair in AAC Communication for Children with Autism: A Literature Review
2024
Kayla Koch
Reading Across Writing Systems: The System Accommodation Hypothesis in Cross-Linguistic Visual Word Recognition
2023
Rebekah Wong
Manifesting Politeness in Children Cross-Culturally