Eagle research shines at Celebration of Student Scholarship

Morehead State University showcased the depth and scope of student academic research and creative inquiry during the 21st Annual Celebration of Student Scholarship on Wednesday, April 15.

The event highlights students' academic research and creative work under the expert guidance and mentorship of MSU faculty and staff.

Including presenters and attendees, the event had over 300 students and more than 80 faculty mentors. There were 109 posters and 45 oral presentations, with several students earning awards and recognition for their work.

"One of the things that I tell my own kids almost every day before they go off to school is 'move towards the things that scare you.' You students have done that today," said Dr. Chris Schroeder, provost and vice president for academic affairs, in the event's opening remarks. "You made the decision to take deliberate and purposeful steps towards something that is hard and that, most likely, was scary. But I hope you agree that it was worth it, if for no other reason than you have learned something about yourself, and that is, that you can do hard things. And we can't wait to see what you will take on next."

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Award Winners

• A. Frank and Bethel C. Gallaher Memorial Music Performance Competition 2025-26 winner – Hayden Osborne, Owen County
• Molly McBride Tutoring Excellence Award 2025-26 winner – Gwen Akers, Ashland

Merit Oral Presentations

Caudill College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

• Creating The Buzz: Using Audience Development and Community Engagement to Fill Every Seat - Meredith Fraley*. Ms. Octavia Biggs (Class of 1987), mentor, Department of Music & Theatre, Caudill College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
• Examining The Strategies of Kwame Nkrumah's Success - Emma McClure*. Dr. Alana Scott, mentor, Department of History, Philosophy, Politics, Global Studies & Legal Studies, Caudill College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

College of Science & Engineering

• The Ants of Kentucky: Proceratium - Elyssa Spiggle*, Josiah Kilburn, Labindra Dhami, Kash Hunt. Dr. David Peyton, Dr. Sean O'Keefe, mentors, Department of Biology & Chemistry, College of Science & Engineering
• Developing an Open-Source Algorithm to Process Data from Sky Quality Meters - Ivan Hargesheimer *, Dr. Jennifer Birriel, mentor, Department of Engineering Sciences, College of Science & Engineering
• Investigation Into Place-Based Lessons in Appalachia - Sydney Dunn*, Dr. Will Tidwell, mentor, Department of Mathematics, College of Science & Engineering

Elmer R. Smith College of Business & Technology

• The Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship and Short-Term Study Abroad - Sarah Houseman*, Dr. Jonathan Nelson, Dr. Jason Adkins, mentors, Department of Business Administration, Elmer R. Smith College of Business & Technology
• Maintaining Perceptions of Fairness While Supporting Second Chance Employment - Andrea Newland *, Dr. Johnathan Nelson, mentor, Department of Business Administration, Elmer R. Smith College of Business & Technology
• International Management Solutions and the Integration Thereof - Elijah Fyffe*, Mr. David Barber (Class of 1984), mentor, Department of Business Administration, Elmer R. Smith College of Business & Technology

Ernst & Sara Lane Volgenau College of Education

• From Student to Career Advocate: The Experience of an Undergraduate Engagement Fellow - Jared McGlone*, Mr. Andrew Sexton (Class of 2020, 2022), mentor, Department of Teacher Education, Ernst & Sara Lane Volgenau College of Education

Craft Academy for Excellence in Science & Mathematics

• Music In Gifted Education - Jayla Sands*, Aryanna Soden*. Dr. Ann Andaloro, mentor, Craft Academy for Excellence in Science & Mathematics, Craft Academy for Excellence in Science & Mathematics

Exceptional Merit Oral Presentations

Caudill College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

• Creating A Guide to Historical Undergarments - Kadence Montgomery*, Ms. Rebecca Earehart, mentor, Department of Communication, Media, Art & Design, Caudill College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
• Hazel Green: A Forgotten Town Restored - Zander Mack*, Heather Parks *, Dr. Ann Andaloro, mentor, Department of Communication, Media, Art & Design, Caudill College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
• A Voice for the Suppressed: The Life's Work of Desmond Tutu - Kinsey Thacker*, Dr. Alana Scott, mentor, Department of History, Philosophy, Politics, Global Studies & Legal Studies, Caudill College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

College of Science & Engineering

• Instrumentation Training on the I Ce 3300 Gfs Graphite Furnace Aas Atomic Absorption Spectrometer and Analysis of Metal Content in Cereal - Jonah Gibson*, Dr. Emmalou Schmittzehe, mentor, Department of Biology and Chemistry, College of Science & Engineering
• Correlating Fetal Kidney Length and Placental Thickness to Gestational Age - Morgan Howard*, Ms. Jennifer Clark, mentor, Department of Health, Kinesiology, Imaging & Psychological Sciences, College of Science & Engineering
• Dissecting The Meiotic Defects Created by Circular Chromosomes in Budding Yeast - Megan Shirley*, Adelyn Weaver, Rebecca Bailey. Dr. Melissa Mefford, mentor, Department of Biology & Chemistry, College of Science & Engineering

Elmer R. Smith College of Business & Technology

• Understanding The Economic Concept of Incentives: Will Changes to Federal Loan Policies Push Colleges to Raise Tuition? A Look at Kentucky's Public Appalachian College - Allyson Weinert*, Hannah Sparks*, Amy Roberts*, Dr. Elaine Tontoh, mentor, Department of Business Administration, Elmer R. Smith College of Business & Technology

Ernst & Sara Lane Volgenau College of Education

• Teaching Low Socioeconomic Rural Appalachian Kids: Are They Different Than Other Students? - Caroline Caudill, Clay Coldiron, Ava Fluharty, Nathaniel Honeycutt*, Libby Oliver*, Jenny Yang*, Dr. Jeannie Justice, mentor, Department of Foundational and Graduate Studies in Education, Ernst & Sara Lane Volgenau College of Education

Craft Academy for Excellence in Science & Mathematics

• Strengthening Experiential Learning Through Student-Led Innovation: The Craft Research Impact Team (Crit) - Joseph Reader*, Tori Reid*, Avery Wasinger*, Nolan Roberts, Dr. Rachel Rogers, mentor, Craft Academy for Excellence in Science & Mathematics
• Hazel Green Academy Revitalization Project Oral Presentation - Dani Smith*, Kya Taylor*, Skylan Stevens*, Heather Ott*, Natalie Brooks*, Dr. Rachel Rogers, mentor, Craft Academy for Excellence in Science & Mathematics

Additional information about this event and MSU's undergraduate research opportunities can be obtained by contacting Alexis Mathews, coordinator of undergraduate research, by calling 606-783-2229 or by emailing armathews@moreheadstate.edu.