URS 2021

The Spring Hill College Undergraduate Research Symposium provides a venue for Spring Hill College students to present research, artistic works, classroom projects, and more to the entire campus community and the public. This year, we decided to proceed with the virtual format, similar to last year. It is our hope that next year the epidemiological situation will allow having an Undergraduate Research Symposium in a traditional, face-to-face, format.

This year, in Spring 2021, we received more almost 60 submissions, ranging from original research and class projects to off-campus research and media projects. This is almost as twice as much as last year's numbers! Most students chose to submit short videos (up to 15 mins) explaining their work. Students submitted a quality work of professional importance or academic interest, work worth sharing with their classmates and professors. Many students turned in first-rate products, and having a video record of their work could also be beneficial for their LinkedIn profiles and professional visibility. Most video presentations will be available to the Faculty via the shared URS google folder. All presentations are organized according to the last name of the project leader. Later on, we hope to open it to be viewed (and, hopefully, discussed) by non-presenting students or students who intend to present their work at the next year's symposium.

Our team of 16 judges this year includes Faculty from all over the campus: Alex Ruble, Ani Biswas, Kathleen Orange, Chelsea Haramia, Dan Macey, Jamie O'Bryant, Jennifer Henson, Joan Sands, Lauren Grimley, Martha Gibson, Maura Mandyck, Thomas Metcalf, Cinthya Torres, Shoon Liu, Stuart Babbington, and Tom Hoffman. On behalf of the event coordinators, sponsors, and presenters I would like to thank you for judging the student presentations! Your willingness to participate in the event in this challenging environment demonstrates our unwavering commitment to the ideals of Spring Hill and experiential learning. It is through your generous support and selflessly allocated time we were able to have a successful event. We also thank all the mentors and advisers who are committed to our students' success. Given the impressive number of submissions, each judge evaluated 5 (five) presentations. For our next symposium, the URS2022, I'd like to urge more Faculty volunteers for judging.

I am proud to announce our 2021 winners and runner-ups. The competition was fierce. One main difference from 2020 is that we decided to celebrate not only winners but runner-ups in most categories as well. As the Class Project category was by far the biggest one, we have identified two -- the first and the second -- runner-ups, whose final scores turned out very impressive and fairly close to the winners' ones. Another difference (again, given the huge number of presentations that give recommendations for the holders of corporate shares of stock whether to keep it or sell the stock now) is that we have a new category for the company analysis.

Original research

The award presented for best projects with a substantial original research component whether conducted independently or as a part of a course.

Winner: Randa Day, Nicole Johnson, Dionte Rudolph, & Gabby Carollo (Psychology) Student Success Survey

Winner: Gillian Nelson (Political Science) Ukraine and Vaccine Diplomacy

Internship or service project:

The award presented for best projects involving either a professional internship or service project.

Winner: Avery Thayer (Communications) Easter Basket of Plenty: Campaign and Event

Media project:

The award presented for best media projects including graphic design projects, film projects, and other media projects.

Winner: Tara Summers (Communications) Women in Music: A Podcast Series

First runner-up: Eleanor Grindinger & Grace Crapps (Communications) One Hill: A Freshman Yearbook for the Class of 2020

Art:

The award presented for best fine art projects including painting, sculpture, and other media.

Winner: Mia Lormand (Visual and Performing Arts) Heterochromia (oil paint)

Class Project:

The award presented for best projects completed as a part of class whether individually or by a group.

Winner: Brian Pempel (History) Coordination and Unity Within the Early Ku Klux Klan

First runner-up: Ian J. Poole (History) "Bloody Sunday, A Massacre which Shaped a Nation

Second runner-up: Stephen Bonck & Wyley Sharp (Political Science) Crisis in Yemen: Advice to a Policymaker

Company analysis:

The award presented for best company analyses that give recommendations for the holders of corporate shares of stock whether keep it or sell it now.

Winner: Jakob Graevinghoff, Valerie Vujnovich, Charles Scheipeter, & William Brackin (Business) Pfizer Company Analysis

First runner-up: Robin Stoffels, Lauren Madden, & Elizabeth Eldridge (Business) Analysis of Zoom Video Communications

Last but not least, certificates of accomplishments and monetary prizes are prepared for being mailed to our winners!

Sincerely,

Dr. Vlad Kravtsov

URS 2021 Director