Nearly 40 years after his death, English professor John Tuckey continues to influence students at Purdue Northwest.

The John S. Tuckey Graduate Research Award, established by the Tuckey family in December 1987, serves as a memorial to the faculty member, who served 25 years as chair of the Department of Philosophy and English at Purdue Calumet, a predecessor institution of Purdue University Northwest. A leading Mark Twain authority, Tuckey was a faculty member in Hammond for more than 30 years. He was also the first assistant dean of the graduate school within the Department of English and Philosophy.

“Other awards are funded out of departments and the graduate studies office… but this award is funded by his family, which makes it different from the others,” said Peggy Greer, associate director of Graduate Admissions and Records. “It was [originally] handled in the Department of English back then because that was his home department,” she said. 

Joy Colwell, director of Graduate Studies, said the award has made a difference to students.

“The Tuckey Award has enabled students to explore in-depth research that they may not have otherwise had the resources to do,” said Colwell. “Recipients have been able to attend academic conferences and obtain access to resource materials that may not have been possible without this award.”

Eligible applicants must be enrolled in humanities programs and pursuing a degree during the award presentation. Winners of the $1,500 award are selected in the spring semester. Most graduate awards are only up to $500. Though technically a graduate grant, seniors registered for graduate studies in the following academic year are also eligible.

Lillian Knapik, a graduate Communication student who won the 2023-24 award is researching  communication dynamics on Facebook.

“My project is exploring how data filtered through user patterns of behavior impact political communication,” she said.

The grant gives Knapik research options she would not otherwise be able to explore.

“It has enabled me to adopt strategies like a survey to collect data from individuals who use Facebook,” she said. “This will provide significant insights to better understand engagement with political content on the platform.”

Award recipients share their research during research days on campus, during which they discuss their work with faculty and other students.