Members of the Knox community complete a myriad of remarkable projects each year. From independent studies to senior research projects, Knox’s Richter program offers funding that enables many students to pursue their work. 

Among these students is Ibrahim Sakrani '21, who is pursuing a double major in biology and environmental studies. Sakrani is conducting a camera trap study on coyotes and bobcats to assess their population densities and determine community composition. His project is titled “Estimates and Interpretations of Coyote (Canis latrans) and Bobcat (Lynx rufus) Population Densities at Green Oaks Biological Field Station.”

“I was meant to conduct some sort of field research project while I was abroad in Tanzania last winter; however, I was unable to because of [the pandemic],” said Sakrani. “So, if I had not received Richter funding, I most likely would have had to pursue a different project or used a different technique to estimate populations. Data collection in the winter would not be as doable without the use of camera traps.”

Since 1995, the Paul K. Richter and Evalyn Elizabeth Cook Richter Memorial Funds, Bank of America, N.A., Trustee, have provided more than $1.3 million to support Knox College students pursuing projects that foster independence of thought and expression beyond the classic classroom setting. Funds have supported students' travel to conduct or present research, housing for summer research and internships, and the purchase of materials, supplies, or equipment to pursue ambitious independent and creative projects. Any student in any discipline is eligible to apply for funds from the Richter program. In fall 2020, 11 students were awarded Richter grants for projects ranging from research on medicine for marginalized communities to open studio art. 

Richter funding was also crucial for Anelisa Gamiz '21 and her project, which analyzes the effects that small-town jury trials have on defendants of color. “I used a big part of my funding for court transcripts, which are pretty expensive, and I would not have been able to finance that on my own,” said Gamiz, who studies anthropology and sociology. “My project focuses on Galesburg because small towns have fewer people and diversity, meaning a jury composed of the surrounding community cannot be as equal.”

The students are excited about their projects. “Being able to do field research at Knox, studying wildlife in its natural habitat, truly means the world to me,” said Sakrani.

Learn more about funding for advanced studies at Knox.

A complete list of fall 2020 Richter recipients and their projects is below. 

• Janki Bhalodi '21, “Characterizing the Requirement of Upregulated Genes for Proper Regeneration in Stentor Coeruleus”
• Mussadiq Javed '20, “Business Analysis at Baroque”
• Riya Dahal '21, “Changes in Alpha and Theta Oscillations by Focused-Attention and Open Monitoring Meditation”
• Anelisa Gamiz '21, “The Right to a Trial by Jury in Small Town America”
• Loislove Boakye '21, “The Effects of Different Surgical Techniques on the Healing Process of Wound Closures in Carassius Auratus (Goldfishes)”
• Keegan Proctor '21, “Cold Stage SEM Analysis of the GBH-1 Protein Based Hydrogel”
• Kelly Feng '21, “Possible Modulation Effects of Bacopa monnieri on EAAT-3 in C6 Glioma Cell Culture”
• Tina Jeon '21, “Teachers' Experience During / After the Pandemic: Comparison of America and South Korea”
• Ibrahim Sakrani '21, “Estimates and Interpretations of Mammalian Carnivore Population Densities at Green Oaks Biological Field Station”
• Madelyn Turner '21, “Open Studio Project” 
• Melissa Magana '21, “Recognizing Perceived Care for Hispanic/Latinx Cancer Patients”