Staff of the University Libraries conceived the competition in 1997 to honor retiring instruction librarian Maria Dittman, who taught research skills to thousands of students in her 25+ years at the university. The first awards were made in 1998, funded entirely by the Librarians' Assembly. An elected committee of librarians and support staff now organize the annual competition and award process. When Maria Dittman passed away in 2005, her family designated the Dittman Competition for memorial gifts, ensuring a long future for the competition. A permanent plaque for the award was commissioned and hangs near the entrance to the bridge between Raynor Memorial Libraries.
The competition invited Marquette students to submit a recent A-grade paper and a one-to-two-page description of the research process. After twenty years of recognizing student research excellence, the award was sunsetted in 2017.
To view the official news story for any of the annual competitions, click on the date.
Emily Butler: undergraduate
Angela Michel: graduate/professional
Kayley Edgin: freshman/sophomore
Michael Haen: junior/senior
Stacy Stolzman: graduate/professional
2012:
Katie Sass: freshman/sophomore
Anne Richmond: junior/senior
Kathryn Jackan: graduate/professional
2011:
John Kilbane: junior/senior
Rachel Bernstein: graduate/professional
Albert Rivero: freshman/sophomore
2010:
Briana Ellis: freshman/sophomore
Christopher McFadin: Junior/Senior
Lincoln Rice: graduate/professional
2009:
Mark Kelley: undergraduate
Kathy Lemley: graduate
2008:
Christina Jahnke: freshman/sophomore
Sarah Kirby: junior/senior
Keriann Conlon: graduate
2007:
Kaye Wierzbicki: freshman/sophomore
James Conway: junior/senior
Abby Matson: graduate
2006:
Joanna Burgarino: freshman/sophomore
Elizabeth Wawrzyniak: junior/senior
Lisa Stephenson: graduate
2005:
Jennifer E. Bustamante: freshman/sophomore
Diana Boras: junior/senior
Aaron Stockham: graduate
2004:
Latina Quinn: freshman/sophomore
Cody Smedsrud: junior/senior
Jin Seong Park: graduate
2003:
Sarah Balus: freshman/sophomore
Kerry Olivetti: junior/senior
Sonika Saddar: graduate
2002:
Stephanie Noll: undergrad
Steven Burk: graduate
2001:
Cheran K. Dollard: undergrad
Christopher Miller: graduate
2000:
Lisa Brennan-Lundqvist: undergrad
Michael Doughery: graduate
1999:
Jill Stukenberg: undergrad
Lee Hildebrand: graduate
1998:
Olivia Gatti Taylor: undergrad
Robert Nohr: graduate