NHS Student Research Celebration

The College of Natural and Health Sciences’ (NHS’) Student Research Celebration honors noteworthy research by NHS undergraduate and graduate students as well as exemplary research mentoring by NHS Faculty. Fundraising associated with the event benefits the NHS Student Research Fund.

The fourth annual event took place on April 2, 2009 in conjunction with the University’s Student Research Day and Academic Excellence Week. The banquet was attended by roughly 100 individuals from the University and community, and a larger number of individuals participated in the student poster session. The evening began with student poster presentations by 24 NHS undergraduate and graduate students. These top scholars were selected by their programs and Schools for this special recognition. The poster presentations were followed by a banquet to honor the value of student research. Dr. Denise Battles, Dean of the College of Natural and Health Sciences, opened the banquet. She then introduced Abe Harraf, Provost of the University, who extended a welcome and spoke about the benefits of research and the opportunities that UNC offers in advancing student research.

The evening included speeches from two student speaker honorees: Jessica Smoot, an undergraduate student in the School of Mathematical Sciences, and Brendan Dwyer, a graduate student in the School of Sport and Exercise Science. Both students spoke about their research and the personal and societal benefits of their research.

The event was concluded by honoring the two Faculty Research Mentors of the Year. Dr. Gregory DeKrey, Associate Professor of Biological Sciences, was recognized as the Faculty Mentor of the Year for Undergraduate Research, while Dr. Juliet Fried, Professor of Rehabilitative Services, was honored as the Faculty Mentor of the Year for Graduate Research. Dr. Susan Keenan, the recipient of the 2008 Faculty Mentor of the Year for Undergraduate Research, spoke regarding the importance of faculty mentoring.

This year's Student Research Celebration was attended by several members of Greeley Centennial Rotary and their guests. Greeley Centennial Rotary sponsors the event, and the College appreciates its generous support.

NHS would like to extend congratulations to all of the poster presenters, student speakers, and faculty mentor nominees and honorees. Please view the program from the 2009 Student Research Celebration for a complete list of nominees and honorees.

Poster Presenters

Fourth Annual Student Research Celebration Poster Presenters

NHS Student Ambassadors help meet and greet guests during the poster presentations	Greg Klug, a graduate student in PVA, plays classical music during the poster presentations
Britney Writer presents Sarah Morris' research	Nicholas Carlson explains his research on web application behaviors
Joe Champion and Kristin King talk about their research on advising students in mathematics	NHS alumni and donor Brian Davidson chats with NHS Ambassador Katie Card
Dean Battles listens as Tiffany Brown-Utoft and Jessica Smoot explain their research	SES graduate student Brendan Dwyer presents his research on fantasy football
Katie Gersbach discusses her research on pediatric cochlear implants	Biology student Jacqueline Johnson is researching an edible Malarial vaccine
Meteorology student Doug Koch is researching the May 2008 Windsor tornado	Casey Kuhns and Adam Wilson present their research on open source internet robotics
Aaron Lucero compares student satisfaction of their respective university and college town	Chemistry Education graduate student James MacArthur presents on the effect of his graduate program's teaching practices
Biology faculty members Susan Keenan, Cindy White and Scott Franklin listen as Katie Gersbach explains her research	Bill Hoyt, Jean Schober Morrell and Ellen Gregg enjoy the poster presentations
Amie Madrigal and Ryan Pevey discuss their research on wolves	Biology majors Lindsey Mast and Alaina Monroe present their research regarding Schizophrenia
Heather Muir, an SES graduate student, shares her research on female collegiate hockey	Patricia Nickell presents her research involving oral complications in cancer treatment
Jessica Smoot and Tiffany Brown-Utoft discuss their mathematics research	Danelle Vallejos explains her research to Human Sciences faculty James Gould and Alena Clark
UNC faculty, staff, friends, donors and alumni enjoy the poster presentations	Danelle Vallejos presents her research on preventing plate waste in a tray-less system
Mathematics graduate student Ann Wheeler talks about her research concerning preservice elementary teachers	Stephanie Wood discusses her research on sheltered homeless women in Denver, CO
Walt Francis, NHS alumnus and donor, catches up with NHS Development Officer Nick Lobejko	Provost Harraf and faculty member Susan Keenan discuss the benefits of research at UNC
Dean Denise Battles welcomes banquet attendees	NHS alumna and donor Mary Jo Drew chats with SES professor Dianna Gray during the banquet
UNC Provost Abe Harraf shares his views on the benefits of student research	Greeley Centennial Rotary members enjoy the banquet
Mathematics major Jessica Smoot speaks about the personal and societal benefits of her research	Sport Administration graduate student Brendan Dwyer entertains the crowd with information about his research
Susan Keenan, an Assistant Professor in Biological Sciences, speaks about the importance of faculty mentoring	Dean Battles presents Gregory DeKrey with his award for Undergraduate Faculty Mentor of the Year. Juliet Fried, the recipient of the Graduate Faculty Mentor of the Year award, was unable to attend the event