Six undergraduate students from the Michigan State University College of Education received first-place awards in the education and kinesiology categories at the 2018 University Undergraduate Research and Arts Forum (UURAF). The annual event, held this year on April 13, is an opportunity for students across the university to showcase their research and creativity.
The 20th annual UURAF was the largest year on record: nearly 1,000 undergraduates and 600 research mentors from 14 colleges participated.
Tim Herd poses with Assistant Dean Susan Dalebout at the UURAF awards ceremony.
Research presentations, both in a poster and an oral format, were shared throughout the forum, from engineering to psychology–and including education and kinesiology topics.
“Undergraduate students have a wide variety of immersive and hands-on research opportunities at Michigan State University,” said Susan Dalebout, assistant dean of student affairs. “These add depth to the student experience and inspire further inquiry and continued development as students look toward their future careers.”
The college would like to congratulate the following first-place award winners being recognized for their research:
- Tim Herd (Education) for his poster presentation: “Closing the Opportunities for Black Males in K-12 Education.” His mentor was Assistant Professor Chezare Warren.
- Jessica Kahn (Kinesiology) for her poster presentation: “Differing Responses to Gross Motor Intervention of Two Preschoolers Varying on the Autism Spectrum.” Her mentors were Isabella Felzer-Kim, a graduate student collaborating with Assistant Professor Janet Hauck in the Department of Kinesiology.
- Robert McKay (Physical Science – Secondary Education) for his poster presentation: “Getting a Clue (About Chemistry) in High School.” His mentor was Melanie Cooper, Lappan-Phillips Professor of Science Education. Coooper holds a dual-appointment in the College of Education and the College of Natural Science.
- Brianne Rajala (Kinesiology) for her poster presentation: “Skill-Based Differences in Fundamental Motor Skills of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Down Syndrome.” Janet Hauck also served as her mentor.
- Rachel Stadwick (Special Education) and co-researchers Sydney Miller and Kelsey Johnson for their poster presentation: “The Relationship Between Preschool Children’s Oral and Written Language on a Composition Task.” Their mentor was Hope Gerde, an associate professor of Human Development and Family Studies at MSU.
- Shelby Weaver (Kinesiology) and co-researcher Lauren Jackson for her oral presentation: “Examining Relative Risk and Clinical Incidence of Sport-Related Concussions Between Two Athletic Seasons.” Their mentors were Associate Professor Tracey Covassin and Kinesiology graduate student Jennifer Savage.
All students who receive first-place awards will receive $100 each and are eligible to submit their research for the grand prize award, which will be announced in June. They were officially recognized for their research on April 18.
For more information on UURAF and the 2018 winners, click here or visit MSU Today.