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.
2025 Application Information
Students who intend to submit an application must attend one of two information sessions:
- January 24th at 1pm via Zoom
January 28th at 12pm in the Packard Hall Conference Room
The Application deadline is February 14th, 2025. Any questions should be directed to internationalrelaitons@tufts.edu.
Recipients of the 2025 Anne E. Borghesani Memorial Prize
Rio Hunter Black
Year: 2026
Major(s): Biology (Pre-med track)
Project Title: Examining the Cultural and Socioeconomic Factors Affecting Access to Sustainable Protein
Sources in France
Project Description: Expanding on the cellular agriculture research I perform on Tufts campus with the
Kaplan Lab, my project will aim to answer the question: What factors unique to French culture and
society impact people’s access to sustainable protein sources? By examining the role of protein in French
cooking, the means by which communities access protein sources, and the cultural perspectives and
opinions surrounding sustainable protein alternatives, I will gain a global perspective on the culture of
sustainable protein production and consumption.
Zac Colah
Year: 2026
Major(s): International Relations
Project Title: Exploring the Enduring Legacies of Partition in the Punjab and Kashmir
Project Description: I will be traveling to Pakistan to film a documentary examining the contemporary
realities of the 1947 partition of British India, which led to the creation of India and Pakistan. The border
that emerged from this division continues to shape international relations, domestic politics, and the lived
experiences of those residing along its contested line.
Hashem El-Saudi
Year: 2027
Major(s): Community Health
Minor(s): Chemistry
Project Title: Community Rebuilding in Rural Nepal
Project Description: This May, I’ll be traveling to Nepal with four other students as a GROW Intern
through Tufts for Health Equity and PHASE Nepal, an NGO focused on healthcare, education, and
sustainability in rural communities. We’ll support PHASE’s work by delivering health products, leading
school health education sessions, assisting with nutrition and literacy programs, and observing disaster
recovery efforts in areas like Gorkha. This experience will give us hands-on exposure to global health in
action while contributing to community-led efforts to improve health and resilience.
An Hà
Year: 2026
Major(s): Studio Art
Project Title: Beyond the White Walls: Reimagining Western Exhibition Culture Through the Aesthetic of
Vietnamese Ungentrified Street Vendor
Project Description: Merging the aesthetics and methods of Vietnamese street vendors into contemporary
art exhibition culture in the West. Exploring how art can engage with public spaces, cultures, and urban
environments, making it more accessible and embedded in everyday life beyond the white gallery walls.
Gawon Yoo
Year: 2026
Major(s): Community Health and Biology
Project Title: The Ipfundo Framework: Closing the Gap Between Health, Education, and Water Systems
in Rural Rwanda
Project Description: As a Move Up Global Fellow, I’ll be working in Musanze District, Rwanda in
collaboration with local teams to strengthen the intersection of education and health through The Knot
(Ipfundo) approach. My main project focuses on designing and implementing a week-long Sexual and
Reproductive Health (SRH) and Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) curriculum for high school
students, paired with engaging, community-building activities to improve health and learning outcomes.
This project will push me to critically reflect on global health frameworks commonly applied in low- and
middle-income countries and explore how to move beyond traditional aid models toward sustainable,
community-led solutions rooted in root-cause analysis and change ideas.
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.