2021 Featured Presentation Competition

 

The 2021 Research & Scholarship Conference is hosting an academic award competition for Graduate and Undergraduate students. Winners will be announced on March 24th, 2021. A graduate and undergraduate student will be named in 3 thematic areas. 

The 2021 Featured Presentation Competition accepted abstracts and artist statements for consideration in three thematic areas based on the UNITED NATIONS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGS). Abstracts and statements have been juried by a panel of experts in the following thematic areas.

Theme 1: Cultural Awareness, Diversity Equity & Inclusion, and Peace & Justice  

Theme 2: Sustainable Progress and Future Innovation    

Theme 3: Health & Well-being, Partnerships, and Regional Impact or Engagement

      Meet the Judges

      Theme 1: Cultural Awareness, Diversity Equity & Inclusion, and Peace & Justice

      Sloane Goodman

      – Undergraduate WINNER –
      WHEN WOMEN MAKE MORE THAN MEN: THE GENDER WAGE GAP STORY OF COUNTY FINANCE DIRECTORS IN NORTH CAROLINA
      Explore Project

      Tracy Hewitt

      – Graduate WINNER –
      Engineering in STEM: Impacts on Male and Female Elementary Student Engageme​nt
      A Literature Review
      Explore Project

      Kendall Rhymer

      – Undergraduate FINALIST-
      Batá Drumming: Ethical & Respectful Use by Non-Santeros
      Explore Project

      Jordan Upton

      – Graduate FINALIST –
      “Patriotism, Honor, and Filial Duty”: Examining the Rhetorical Implications of “Sylva Sam” and Confederate Monuments
      Explore Project

      Theme 2: Sustainable Progress and Future Innovation

      Sara Rivera

      – Undergraduate WINNER –
      Can You Hear Me Now? Improving Detectability of Dusky Gopher Frog Advertisement Calls
      Explore Project

      Md. Shohel Amin

      – Graduate WINNER –
      Design and Analysis of Bidirectional Rack and Pinion for Wave Energy Conversion (WEC)
      Explore Project

      Charles Wright

      – Undergraduate FINALIST –
      Differentiating the groundwater flow paths in two tributaries within a forested and humid headwater located in Cullowhee, NC.
      Explore Project

      Erica Vandermore

      – Graduate FINALIST  –
      Increasing Exposure and Understanding of Post-Secondary Education: Breaking Down Barriers to College During a Pandemic
      Explore Project

      Theme 3: Health & Well-being, Partnerships, and Regional Impact or Engagement

      Miranda Pavey

      – Undergraduate WINNER  –
      Are Water Striders Predators of the Invasive Aedes japonicus?
      Explore Project

      Jen Gordon

      – Graduate WINNER –
      Watershed- a Pathway Connecting Communities with the Arts to Engage in Creative Ways of Addressing Issues Affecting People and the Environment.
      Explore Project

      Sierra Croney

      – Undergraduate FINALIST –
      The effect of canopy openness on saproxylic Coleoptera diversity in the Wilson Creek Watershed
      Explore Project

      Amanda-Jean Blackburn

      – Graduate FINALIST –
      Banking on the future of rock outcrops​
      Analysis and comparison of soil seedbank and vegetation composition of two high-elevation outcrop communities​
      Explore Project

      Grayson Williams

      – Graduate FINALIST –
      Transient Expression of the Rabies Glycoprotein in Soybean
      Explore Project