“I was accepted to the Honors Program, and FSU unlocked an academic desire I did not know was inside me.”
Fast Facts
- Gamer: Competed on the varsity League of Legends team for FSU’s Esports team
- Cheerleader: Competed for Garnet Girls Club Cheer
- Favorite spot at FSU: Honors, Scholars and Fellows House
- Animal-lover: Has 14 cats
- Traveler: Visited six European countries in one summer
As an international affairs and Russian studies student at Florida State University, Sophie Works researches the history of Russian lacquer art. In support of her work, she has received a Tyler Center for Undergraduate Research Grant, the Edna Ranck International Studies Award and acceptance into the Global Scholars program.
Those recognitions funded her Honors in the Major study abroad research in Riga, Latvia. Works performed photogrammetry, creating 3D models from 2D photographs, to examine the Russian, Latvian and broader Baltin influences in the art’s cultural memory. She hopes to create a digital platform for her research on Russian lacquer art and develop more research on Slavic heritage art that reflects the history of de-russification in the Baltic region.
Outside of academics, Works founded the HSF Undergraduate Research Association and been involved in clubs such as the varsity League of Legends team for Florida State Esports and the Garnet Girls Competitive Cheerleading Club.
Why did you choose Florida State University?
I was a competitive cheerleader, and there were many paths I could have taken to achieve my dream of becoming a Division I cheerleader. However, when I visited FSU for the first time, something about this place spoke to me. I was accepted to the Honors Program, and FSU unlocked an academic desire I did not know was inside me.
I chose FSU, tried out for the cheer team, made it to the final round and was cut. Instead, I joined FSU’s club cheer team and pushed myself harder than ever before.
Since I was not cheerleading, I had the time to explore the introverted, nerdy side of myself. I joined FSU Esports and made the varsity team, devoted myself to my studies, discovered my passion for Russian material culture and now am pursuing a funded research project that never would have happened if things had gone according to my original plan.
What academic achievements have you accomplished at FSU?
I had the privilege of receiving the Tyler Center for Undergraduate Research Grant twice, Edna Ranck International Studies Award, Bess H. Honors Thesis Award, various conference grants and acceptance into the Global Scholars 2025 cohort and FSU Libraries Digital Research Incubator 2026 cohort. These awards and programs have fully funded, supported and mentored my Honors in the Major Project in Riga, Latvia and Tallinn, Estonia.
Shortly after receiving these awards and acceptance into these programs, I was recognized with the Outstanding Undergraduate Recognition Award at the two previous annual Honors Reception events in the Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics.
I presented my research at multiple conferences on and off campus. I received the honor of presenting my finalized Honors thesis at the President’s Showcase of Undergraduate Research Excellence and Global Scholars Showcase in the fall.
I am so excited to have recently founded the HSF Undergraduate Research Association, which will help to support other students in their own undergraduate research ventures.
I have recently received an Ada Belle Winthrop-King Institute Summer Scholarship in Russian, allowing me to continue my research work abroad. I have begun and conducted my second Honors in the Major thesis on Russian Orthodox iconography in Tallinn, Estonia. I plan to continue this research after I graduate in the spring.
How have you shared your experience with the FSU community?
As the president of the HSF URA, I have been incredibly fortunate to be placed in a role where I can help other student researchers pass on their wisdom, experiences, and connections onto other undergraduates across campus.
Additionally, being afforded the honor of presenting as the keynote student speaker at the President’s showcase has completely changed my perspective on what I’m here to do at FSU. It’s not just to get a degree, to do research for myself, and to use it to propel my career further. It’s to help other students step into their own light in research just as my own mentors have done for me.