Casey Boutwell ('08)

Casey partnered with fellow physics major and friend Laurence Lewis ('08) as an intellectual pioneer, spearheading the creation of the JMU Research Journal, or JMURJ. Casey sees tremendous potential in the journal, which will increase awareness of the remarkable depth of undergraduate research being conducted at Madison. The journal's editor-in-chief Kurt Schick, associate professor of writing and rhetoric studies, lauded their effort. "These two undergraduate intellectual entrepreneurs … are enacting our university's mission to create educated and enlightened citizens," says Schick. JMURJ invites students of all disciplines to submit their research for publication, and the first edition is scheduled for publication in spring 2009. Although Casey and Laurence have graduated, they'll be watching the future development of their brainchild and hope to publish an article about the creation of the journal. They left a unique legacy to JMU, one that's sure to foster undergraduate research, collaboration and intellectual endeavor.

"This journal is designed to give [undergraduates] practice and training for external technical publication … and showcase undergraduate research at JMU."