Pictured, from left to right, are senior chemistry major John Stevens IV; Dr. William “Bill” Anderson, professor in and chair of the Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences; junior geology major Carly Maas; Dr. Cole Edwards, assistant professor in the Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences; and sophomore geology major Bryson Honeycutt. Stevens, Maas and Honeycutt were selected as the top three undergraduate student winners of Appalachian’s 22nd Annual Celebration of Student Research and Creative Endeavors. Anderson and Edwards are faculty research mentors to Maas and Honeycutt, respectively, and Dr. Megen Culpepper, assistant professor in the A.R. Smith Department of Chemistry and Fermentation Sciences, not pictured, is the faculty research mentor of Stevens. Photo submitted
BOONE, N.C. — Three undergraduate and three graduate students have been recognized for their research presentations in Appalachian State University’s 22nd Annual Celebration of Student Research and Creative Endeavors.
“The student presentations at this event are always impressive and often involve ways to solve real-world problems,” said Dr. Rebecca “Becki” Battista, professor in Appalachian’s Department of Health and Exercise Science and interim director of the university’s Office of Student Research (OSR). “It is a great celebration of the hard work of our students and the dedication of our faculty in mentoring these students.”
During the annual event, held on Appalachian’s campus in April and organized by the OSR, undergraduate and graduate students from a variety of disciplines present their research and creative activities. The student presentations in this year’s event represented 24 different academic departments and 91 faculty mentors.
Exercise science graduate student Amelia Bruce, of Taylorsville, left, and Liz Derrick, a music therapy graduate student, display their awards from Appalachian’s 22nd Annual Celebration of Student Research and Creative Endeavors in April. Not pictured is Tom Hastings, a biology graduate student from Bear, Delaware, who also won in the event’s graduate category. Photo submitted
This year also marked the 10th anniversary of the event’s Student Poster Competition, in which a panel of faculty reviewers selected the top 10 undergraduate and graduate abstracts from over 100 abstracts. These students then discussed their research with faculty judges during the event’s morning session, after which the top three posters in each category — graduate and undergraduate — were selected.
The top three undergraduate winners:
- Bryson Honeycutt, a sophomore geology major from Alexander.
- Carly Maas, a junior geology major from Greensboro.
- John Stevens IV, a chemistry major from Gonzales, Louisiana.
The top three graduate winners:
- Amelia Bruce, an exercise science graduate student from Taylorsville.
- Liz Derrick, a music therapy graduate student from Little Mountain.
- Tom Hastings, a biology graduate student from Bear, Delaware.
Dr. Kathleen Schroeder, professor and chair in the Department of Geography and Planning, left, presents Dr. Maggie Sugg, assistant professor in the Department of Geography and Planning, with the third Undergraduate Research Mentorship Excellence Award during Appalachian’s 22nd Annual Celebration of Student Research and Creative Endeavors in April. Photo submitted
The six student winners received their awards during the afternoon Research Day Awards Ceremony. Additionally, Dr. Maggie Sugg, assistant professor in the Department of Geography and Planning, was named the recipient of the Undergraduate Research Mentorship Excellence Award at the ceremony.
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About student research at Appalachian
Appalachian State University encourages faculty-mentored student research, which provides students with the opportunity to work side by side with faculty on meaningful research or creative endeavors. These projects often result in presentations, performances or exhibitions at regional, national and international conferences and events. Students who engage in research are able to apply knowledge from the classroom into real-world experiences and learn how to problem-solve, effectively communicate and analyze complex issues. Appalachian’s Office of Student Research (OSR) was established in 2005 to expand the opportunities necessary for undergraduate and graduate students to engage in research and creative activities at Appalachian. Learn more at https://osr.appstate.edu.
About Appalachian State University
As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, cost-effective education. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.
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