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Washington Semester Program

The Washington Semester Program is a selective, semester-long program offered in Washington, D.C., through Holy Cross. The program welcomes students from all disciplines, and it allows them to have the opportunity to work with national leaders, engage in independent research, and live in the stimulating environment of Washington, D.C. An award is given each semester for the best research paper produced in the Washington Semester Away Program. The recipient of the prize is accorded the opportunity to give a public lecture at the College on their research. In addition, the recipient receives a bound copy of the thesis and is presented the book award during Commencement exercises.

Papers from 2024 2024

Responding to the Call: How States Handle Federal Family Engagement Guidelines and the Similarities and Differences Between States, Owen Boxer

Closest to the Harm, Closest to the Solution: Indigenous Resistance to Colonial Capitalism Through Female Leadership in Financial Inclusion, Grace Evans

Beyond the Myth: Uncovering Mental Health Research Gaps in Asian American Communities, Maile Sit

Exploration of Historic Inequities in Government Funding Programs Towards Native Americans with Contemporary Analysis, Nathaniel S. Snyder

Papers from 2023 2023

The Gift That Never Stops Giving: A Comparison of US Aide and Reconstruction in Afghanistan, Post-War Europe, and Ukraine, John Chadwick Canty Jr.

Family First: Kinship Care as a Gold Standard, Ava Cloghessy

Uplifting an Invisible Population: How We Can Combine Psychology and Policy to Improve the Educational and Mental Health Outcomes of Homeless Youth, Melissa Hamilton

The Spectrum of Federal Funding's Impact: A Texas-Vermont Case Study, Nicholas Lupone

You Have the Right to Remain Uneducated: The Role of Lobbying in Subverting Anti-Racist Curricula, Liam Martin

Bridging the Gap: Understanding and Addressing Intimate Partner Violence in Deaf Communities, Catherine Pellini

A Path to Full Citizenship: The Impact of the Civil Rights Movement on the Creation of Title I Schools through the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, Edwin Ryan

Papers from 2022 2022

For better or for worse? Impacts of Marriage Equality Policy on LGBTQ+ Mental Health, Mia Gajda

The United States Military’s Role in Maintaining National Security During the Height of the “War on Drugs”, Sara Terrien

The Sunflower Movement of 2014: How Commitment to Democratization Drives Activism in Taiwan, Katherine Ann Wagner

Papers from 2016 2016

Resettling Syrian Refugees in the U.S.: Regional Stability and Saving Lives, Alexander Kochenburger

Papers from 2015 2015

The Economic Impact of Lifting Sanctions on Iran: How the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action Will Affect the Economy of Iran, Ryan Foley