First-generation scholar earns opportunity to expand research to an international scale
Research as an Atkins Scholar has led Nick Minton to another prestigious research opportunity: the DAAD German Studies Research Grant.
It’s the latest accolade for Minton, a member of the class of 2026. He arrived at Centre as a New Horizons first-generation scholar and will travel abroad to Germany this spring as a Gilman Scholar. He also received support for study abroad as an AATG Study Abroad Scholarship for College Students recipient. Presented by the American Association of Teachers of German, the scholarship supports full-time undergraduate students on their study abroad journey.
Later in the year, he will continue his research into the ballroom community and voguing scene in Germany.
“It doesn't feel real,” Minton said of the opportunities and honors he has received at Centre. “In high school, I wanted to go to Centre and graduate with something that I would enjoy. But I couldn't imagine where I am now.”
Not only have the mentorship and research opportunities opened exciting doors for Minton, but the experience has also changed the way he thinks about his future.
“It has definitely pushed me to be a better student and work toward something that I can be proud of and make change with,” he said. “Having aspirations to go to graduate school and really take this even further is something that I've started to envision.”
The DAAD, a German Academic Exchange Service for all academic levels, selects “highly qualified candidates” for a German Studies related research topic. For his research, Minton will work with Assistant Professor of German Katrin Bahr.
“For Nick, this research grant is a powerful testament to the transformative potential of a Centre education,” Bahr said. “It highlights the College's commitment to nurturing students who, regardless of their background, have the ability to contribute meaningfully to academic discourse and make an impact in their chosen fields. Centre equips its students with the resources, mentorship and intellectual curiosity needed to pursue ambitious research projects, both locally and internationally.”
During his work as an Atkins Scholar, Minton first researched ballroom and voguing in the United States — a culture and competition formed in the late 1970s and early 1980s for Black, trans and queer people.
“There's a unique dance style called voguing that comes out of this competition,” Minton said. “At some point, it moves to Europe and there are different groups that I've found doing this. In Germany, where I'm looking, it's exploding right now in popularity, given the diversity that Germany has in much bigger cities.
“People of color are attracted to come to this space and find a community for themselves. That’s what I'm really trying to look at with the DAAD grant — to interview people and see the scene for myself.”
Minton credits Bahr’s tutelage and Associate Professor of Anthropology Jamie Shenton — his two advisors as a double major in German and Anthropology/Sociology — for pushing him to explore what he is passionate about.
“The DAAD program encourages research that explores the multifaceted dimensions of contemporary German society, including its cultural, political, historical, economic and social aspects, all through an interdisciplinary lens,” Bahr said. “Nick’s award highlights the strength of his academic work and underscores the importance and innovation of his research project especially in such precarious times like this.”
