Anne E. Borghesani Memorial Prize
The Anne E. Borghesani Memorial Prize is an incentive award that enables the recipient(s) to undertake a research project, internship, volunteer activity, or plan of study in any field involving international issues. Designed to foster the spirit of the award, the prize encourages personal growth and independence, while increasing one's understanding of all peoples and encouraging a commitment to the world community.
Since 1991, students from a variety of Tufts majors have used the prize to venture abroad and study, conduct research, participate in international internships, and become involved in social change movements. Borghesani award recipients have carried out their plans worldwide.
Second-semester sophomores and juniors from ALL departments or majors with a GPA of 2.8 or above are eligible to apply, providing the proposal has a strong international component. Each year in January, a call for applications is announced. Applicants must attend one of two offered information sessions prior to submitting their application. The deadline for submissions is the second week of February, date TBD. Project proposals are submitted for review by the full Prize Committee. The selection committee may make one or several awards, depending on the quantity and quality of submissions in a given year. Thus, applicants should be aware that the award might not cover the full cost of proposed activities. Awards generally range between $1,000-$3,000.
The award honors the memory of Anne E. Borghesani, J’89, an international relations major. Anne’s years at Tufts were a time of intellectual and personal challenge, adventure, and increasing commitment to her friends, the Tufts community, and to the larger world. Anne’s love of people and her fascination with travel and other cultures made her major a natural choice. This memorial prize is a tribute to Anne, who we were fortunate to know, if only for a short time. The prize is designed to inspire personal and intellectual growth in others, reminiscent of that which was so evident in Anne.
The 2026 application window is closed.
Questions should be directed to internationalrelations@tufts.edu.
Recipients of the 2026 Anne E. Borghesani Memorial Prize
Maanasa Bandi
Major(s): Community Health and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Project Title: Implementing reproductive and menstrual health and hygiene educational interventions for adolescents in Rwanda
Project Description: As a recipient of the Anne E. Borghesani Memorial Prize, Maanasa will be working on a project in Rwanda focused on improving menstrual hygiene literacy for adolescents in secondary schools. This initiative centers on creating interactive, culturally responsive learning tools that make conversations around menstruation more accessible, engaging, and stigma-free for young people. By combining public health knowledge with creative, youth-centered design, the project aims to empower adolescents with accurate information, promote confidence in managing their health, and address gaps in menstrual education in a way that is both impactful and sustainable within the local community.
Colin Browning
Major(s): Mechanical Engineering
Project Title: Engineering Design Abroad in Cartagena Colombia
Project Description: This summer, I will be participating in the Engineering Design Abroad program in Cartagena Colombia through Tufts Global Education. Our team will work directly with community members on Isla Barú to address problems involving waste management by designing a pulley system that makes trash collection more efficient. We will also help build and illuminate a pathway so community members can safely access the beach. In addition to our engineering work, we will experience Colombia’s rich culture and history through the local music, food, and visits to historical sites such as San Basilio de Palenque.
Sarah Jensen
Major(s): Biomedical Engineering
Project Title: Identifying and Understanding the Reason for Nonadherence to Tuberculosis
Medication in India
Project Description: This summer Sarah will travel to Chennai, India as part of a larger project on TB (tuberculosis) medication adherence. She will be working on the qualitative part of the study, involving patient and health care professional interviews. These interviews will explore the reasons why patients do not adhere to their medications and providers' inputs on new tests for medication adherence.
Edward Kinservik
Major(s): Studio Art and Anthropology
Project Title: Lars Kinsarvik and the Birth of a National Craft in Norway
Project Description: This summer, as a Tufts Summer Scholar, I will be traveling across Norway to see the work of my great great uncle, Lars Kinsarvik, a Norwegian woodcarver from Kinsarvik Norway whose work was a part of the development of national craft when Norway became independent in 1907. I will be visiting museums, stave churches, and other cultural institutions which preserve his work. I intend to use my studio art and anthropology degrees to understand the influences on his work, and the impact it has had in the years since its creation.
Daniela Monroig
Major(s): International Relations and Economics
Project Title: Between History and Dependence: United States - Marshall Islands Relations
Project Description: Daniela’s project will examine the historical and ongoing impact of U.S. nuclear testing in the Marshall Islands, with a focus on how these legacies continue to shape civilian life, environmental conditions, and political relationships today. Through fieldwork in Majuro, Kwajalein, and Ebeye, she will engage with local leaders, community members, and institutions to better understand the long-term consequences of displacement, militarization, and environmental damage. The project will culminate in a research paper analyzing how these factors influence present-day perspectives on the United States, particularly under the Compact of Free Association, while also exploring pathways for more responsible and sustainable civil–military partnerships.
Meet Some Recent Award Recipients
Nia Goodall (2024)
"Global Health and Development Policy at the School of International Training in Geneva, Switzerland"
Bennett Pease (2024)
"Linguistic and Cultural Immersion Amongst Russian Émigré Communities in Latvia"
Application FAQs
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Students must attend one of two general interest meetings (in-person or Zoom) offered prior to submitting their application. The date of the meetings are announced in January. If a student is unable to attend either meeting, they should contact internationalrelations@tufts.edu as soon as possible.
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When a student is selected for the Anne E. Borghesani Memorial Prize, they will be notified by the International Relations Program. Selected students are obligated to attend the Academic Award Ceremony in the Spring semester of the year they are awarded and the following year as well as present in the annual Anne E. Borghesani Symposium in the Fall. Alumni Fellow may be contacted by the IR Program or newly awarded Fellow regarding their projects.
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Projects that have human subjects must be submitted for approval by the Institutional Review Board (IRB). The Institutional Review Board (IRB) is a panel of Tufts’ faculty and staff, as well as at least one individual community member that reviews all human subject research proposals to determine if they are assuring adequate protection of human participants.
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Any sophomore or junior undergraduate student at Tufts may apply. All projects must have an international aspect, but students are not required to be International Relations majors. Projects can range from research projects, internships, volunteer activities, or plan of study in any field involving international issues. Students must provide a full outline of their desired project to be considered for funding.
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The selection committee may grant one or several awards, depending on the quantity and quality of submissions in a given year. Thus applicants should be aware that the award might not cover the full cost of proposed activities. Awards typically range between $1,000 and $4,000 but applicants are encouraged to apply for additional funds where applicable.