This April, Jackson School undergraduates Daisy Fernandez and Fiona Garvey traveled to Claremont, California for the 23rd annual Undergraduate Research Conference on the European Union — the oldest and largest academic gathering in the U.S. dedicated to undergraduate research on the EU.
Both Fernandez and Garvey submitted research papers at the conference, earning top honors for their work. Fernandez was awarded the Best Paper and Presentation, while Garvey received Outstanding Paper.
In this Q&A, the two share their experiences at the Claremont Conference and what they’ve taken away from it.
Meet Daisy Fernandez, B.A. English and International Studies, 2025
Daisy Fernandez at the 22nd Claremont Conference, April 3-4, 2025.
“I applied to this conference as a part of Dr. Sabine Lang’s class, JSIS A 302: The Politics and Cultures of Europe, and I would 100% recommend both the class and the conference to all University of Washington students. I bonded with my fellow UW conference representatives, and I met so many cool people from across the country who were also interested in the European Union.”
Hometown: Virginia Beach, Virginia
Meet Fiona Garvey, B.A. International Studies and Sociology, 2025
Jackson School undergraduate Fiona Garvey at the 22nd Claremont Conference, April 3-4, 2025.
“[The conference is] truly a great experience! Regardless of whether you win an award or not, it is so rewarding to be surrounded by so many intelligent people from all across the country who have similar passions and interests to yours.”
Hometown: Chagrin Falls, Ohio