History & Purpose
The Mould Senior Thesis Award recognizes excellence in research, creative endeavor or impact in one senior thesis each year. The award was established by the family of Dr. William A. Mould, the first dean of the South Carolina Honors College, to commemorate his legacy. Bill helped craft the Honors College in its earliest days and was a driving force behind the senior thesis requirement, believing that it was the ideal capstone experience for bright, eager young minds. One student completing a thesis in the current academic year is recognized at May Revocation and receives a $1,000 award.
Nominate a Student Thesis
Students are nominated by their thesis directors, and the winning thesis is selected by a committee within the Honors College. The award is presented at spring Revocation each year; however, any student completing their thesis within the current academic year can be nominated.
2025-2026 Mould Award Winner
Each year, Honors College students develop and present an array of outstanding research and creative or applied projects. Selecting the very best out of some 400 projects each year is challenging, to say the least. Through the generosity of the Mould family, we recognized one outstanding thesis projects at the May 2026 Revocation.
Miranda Borland (B.A. Global Studies/B.A. Spanish) identified and explored a unique perspective on global migration and asylum policy in her senior thesis — The Outsourcing of Asylum: A Critical Discourse Analysis of the U.K.-Rwanda Asylum Partnership and its Implications for Global Asylum Policy. Specifically, she uses this partnership as a case study on how powerful states control migrants’ access to asylum. As noted by her thesis director, Dr. Austin Crane, “Miranda's thesis is the first piece of scholarship, to my knowledge, that analyzes the Rwandan government's perspective on this policy.” Through her “impressive qualitative data analysis,” Borland reviewed hundreds of parliamentary transcripts from both countries to cultivate a nuanced discussion about the changing political landscape regarding migration management. Dr. Crane highlights Borland’s work ethic, creativity and the impactful contribution of her thesis. “As an aspiring law student, I believe her thesis will provide an excellent foundation for her law school applications, coursework and future career practice.”
Borland will spend the next year abroad in Spain as she continues working on co-publications and preparing for law school. She aspires to pursue a career in immigration law, specifically working on asylum cases for a nonprofit organization.
2025-2026 Finalists
Jake Arcement, Neuroscience
Eating Disorder Prevention and Early Intervention in U.S. Higher Education – A Comparative
Benchmarking Study
Directed by Toni Torres-McGehee
Francesca Cumello, International Business; Marketing
The Silent Language of Success: Analyzing the Impact of Emotional Intelligence, Cultural
Intelligence, Bargaining Style, and Nonverbal Behavior on Negotiation Outcomes
Directed by Nancy Buchan
Jordan Jeffreys, Geological Sciences; Anthropology
Reimagining Land Relations in Geoscience: A Collaborative Teaching Module with the
Navajo Nation
Directed by Katherine Ryker
Ella Lukowiak, Media Arts
The Eye: A Science-Fiction Screenplay Examining Space-Time, Meteorology, and Human
Connection
Directed by Northrop Davis
Past Mould Award Winners
Read about our past Mould Senior Thesis Award winners since 2017.