Oakton’s Mia Trais awarded Margaret Messer Student Research Grant

Oakton Community College student Mia Trais (Niles North High School ‘12) was recently awarded the Margaret Messer Student Research Grant from the Honors Council of the Illinois Region (HCIR) to complete her work on a children’s book designed for the children of incarcerated parents.

Trais’ honors professor, Megan Klein, encouraged her to submit the project for a student research grant. “Mia is a talented and creative student and her Honors project addresses a critical need: the social and emotional well-being of children with an incarcerated parent. This research grant is a great opportunity for undergraduate students to pursue original work and gain valuable experience writing grant applications.”

The cash grant will be used to produce copies of the illustrated paperback children’s book that Trais will self-publish. Her plan is to adapt paintings on canvas to illustrate the book. The design will encourage a child to read and talk with a care provider about the loss of their parent’s presence in their life.

The project grows out of Trais’ interest in psychology. She plans to pursue this major at Loyola University of Chicago, where she has been accepted and awarded a generous transfer scholarship.