UW AHC Awards Graduate Student Research Prize for Innovative Podcast Project

The University of Wyoming’s American Heritage Center (AHC) has awarded its annual Graduate Student Research Award to David Riedel for his unique podcast series, “The Riedel Chronicles: Adventures in an Anomalous Archive.”

Riedel, who graduated with his master’s degree in English this spring, created a five-episode podcast series based on extensive research in the AHC’s R. Leo Sprinkle Papers collection. The Sprinkle papers contain materials related to UFOs, the psychology of UFO contactees, paranormal activity, multiple personality disorder, parapsychology, reincarnation and near-death experiences.

Sprinkle, a former UW faculty member, served in various roles, including as associate professor of guidance education; assistant professor of psychology; director of counseling and testing; professor of counseling services; and counseling psychologist.

The project explores Riedel’s personal journey to understand his father’s claimed alien abduction experiences through archival materials while also examining broader themes of memory, history and the nature of archives.

Nancy Small, a UW associate professor of English, nominated Riedel for the award, praising his innovative approach to archival research and storytelling.

“We’re so impressed by David’s work. It’s not often that we see students combine archival research with such personal storytelling,” says Paul Flesher, UW AHC director. “His podcast shows how our collections can spark creativity and shed light on both individual and shared histories. This is the kind of innovative project that really brings out the full potential of our archival resources.”

The award recognizes outstanding graduate student research substantially based on AHC materials. Projects in any format are considered as long as they are created for academic credit and demonstrate significant use of AHC resources, Flesher says.

Riedel’s podcast series stands out for its creative approach to archival research, blending personal narrative with broader historical and cultural analysis. The project makes innovative use of archival audio recordings, photographs and documents to explore complex issues surrounding UFO phenomena, family relationships and the nature of historical evidence.

The AHC is UW’s repository of manuscript collections, rare books and university archives. The center is an internationally recognized research institution and a major resource for the culture and history of Wyoming and the nation.

For more information about the AHC and the Graduate Student Research Award, visit www.uwyo.edu/ahc.