MISSION STATEMENT TheOfficeofUndergraduateResearchandCreativeWorksmissionistobringtogether undergraduatestudentsandfacultymembersforthepurposeofcreatinguniqueandcollaborative projects.Byfosteringanimaginativeresearchexperience,wehopetopromotethedevelopmentof newcompetencies,encouragecriticalthinkingskills,inspirestudentstoaddtotheglobalsumof humanknowledge,andhelpstudentsdeveloptheskillstobecompetitiveinthemarketplace.
Inourfinalnewsletterofthe2025-2026schoolyear, URCWwouldliketoextendthankstoallofthestudents, faculty,andstaffwhohavemadethisyearsomemorable!As theyearcomestoaclose,weareproudtohighlightthemany presentations,awards,andaccomplishmentsthatreflectthe dedicationandhardworkofourstudentsatHigh-PURCS. Thisissuealsofeaturesoursummerresearchparticipants, newlyawardedgrants,andthewinneroftheResearch Registry readontocelebratetheseachievementsanda remarkableyear!
SHINING BRIGHT AT HIGH-PURCS: High-PURCS Awards and Spring Research Apprentices Atthisyear’sHigh-PURCS,wehadatotalof 259projectsfrom410undergraduatestudents mentoredby88facultyfrom40differentfields acrossHPU’sschools,includinggraduate schools.Congratulationstothefollowing studentswhoreceivedawardsfortheir outstandingachievements,demonstrating exceptionaldedicationandexcellence!
2026 Spring Research Apprentices ResearchApprenticeswhocompletedtheirResearch Rookiescurriculumbetweenspringandfall2025 wererecognizedatthisyear’sHigh-PURCSand awardedamedalliontowearatgraduation!
Fromlefttoright:BeyzaAksoy,AlexDailey, TripDonaldson,KennaEscoz,JaydenMicaela Javier,SamPate,andEmreeSpivey
Notpictured:AngelBell
Mason Wolford
Catherine Gallagher
Evan Mills
Winner of the SIRG Grant
Best Digital Performance
Best Digital Oral Presentation
Best Digital Poster Presentation
Catherine Gallagher
RESEARCH ON DISPLAY: POSTER SESSIONS I, II, & III ThisyearatHigh-PURCS,wehadsomanyposterpresentationsthat,forthefirsttime,athirdposter sessionwasadded.Topicsspannedawiderangeofdisciplines fromexploringmusicatthecellular leveltothedesignofFrenchBaroquegardens.Withthesupportoftheirmentors,studentsdesigned theirpostersandrefinedtheirpitchestosharetheirresearchwithattendeesthroughouttheQubein Center.Exploreaselectionofthesestudentpresentationsbelow!
LiliannaAllen,TheDesignofFrench BaroqueGardensandFountains
AlyssaJoshua,EffectsofAnkle InstabilityinFemaleDivisionIAthletes
MirianaShorkey,NextSteelcase:Student DesignCompetition
KaylaDenoo,CorrelationalStudy betweenAIUse,AILiteracy,andCollege Students’AcademicSuccess
NathanStockman,ExploringBiofilm AcrossDifferentMRSAStrainsby Aminoalkylsilane-TreatedPDMS
GabiLoweandJohnZimmerman, Creatinedoesnotalterskeletalmuscle BCAAMetabolism
KaleyLeFevre,OrganicSynthesisof AntibioticAdjuvants
MeredithDay,ExploringImpactof ChildhoodAdversityandPersonalityon PainCatastrophizingandDisability
SydRyan,MusicattheCellularLevel: HowSoundInfluencesLivingCells
TAKING THE STAGE: ORAL PRESENTATIONS & PERFORMANCES Beyondposterpresentations,studentsengagedina rangeofresearchandcreativeformats,sharingtheir workthroughoralpresentationsandstage performances.Theseincludedresearchtalks, slideshowpresentations,musicalperformances,and student-choreographeddancepieces.
LilyGraceFoister,EmersonHansen,AmirHamidpour, andLianaContipresenttheirresearchtitledBreakingFood Barriers:CanCollegeReverseChildhoodPickyEating
1)NicoleAmorocho,NataleeBalastra,ToniFrost,CatherineGallagher,MonicaKepins,JessaminaPiazza,EmersonSchmidt,Genevieve Shultz,DevlinTurner,“flow”2)AbbyFort,EvaluatingAutomaticBiasesThroughCriminalProfiling:AnAnalysisofCrimeMedia,Crime Type,andSimilarity3.)JacquelinePerry,Split-SecondDecisions:TheEffectofVirtualRealityEnvironmentsonFineMotorSkills4.)Dani Hoecker,“NeverFallinLovewithanElf”5.)QuinnFergusson,“LikeaBirdofPrey”:TheImperialPredatorinMaupassant’sBel-Ami
6)
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7)EllaMarron,“SheUsedtobeMine” 8.)GiannaAielloWilliams,NicoleAmorocho,NataleeBalestra,AddisonClary,MarynaCrawford,ToniFrost,CatherineGallagher, CatrinaGromley,MonicaKepins,AddisonLee,JessaminaPiazza,EmersonSchmidt,DevlinTurner,MadisonWalsh,“IWillCarryYou”9.) “flow”(asseeninPhoto#1)
EmmaGilchrist
SocialMediaandClimateExperienceasPredictorsofYouthClimateScienceEfficacy
HIGH-PURCS SUPERSTARS Preparingandpresentingresearchorcreativeworkisnosmallfeat letalonedoingsomultipletimes! However,AshleyMullens,CatherineGallagher,andJessaminaPiazzawentaboveandbeyond,each presentingthreeormoreprojectsatHigh-PURCS2026.Readbelowtolearnmoreabouttheir accomplishments,presentations,andthediversefieldstheyhaveexplored.
Ashley Mullens Ashley,asophomoreBiologymajorandEnglish Literatureminor,settherecordformost presentationsatHigh-PURCSwithatotaloffive! Fromfruitflygeneticstooperamusic,andfrom detectivefictiontothepsychologicaltheoryof mind,shehasdemonstratedaremarkableabilityto exploreandthriveacrossawiderangeofdisciplines, bothrelatedandunrelatedtoherfieldsofstudy. Congratulationsonsuchanincredible accomplishment!
Jessamina Piazza Jessamina,aseniorPsychologyandDancemajor, performedandpresentedfourdifferentprojectsat High-PURCS Shechoreographedherdancepiece titled“IWillCarryYou”andperformedin CatherineGallagher’spiece“flow.”Shealso presentedonstudystrategybeliefsandusagein middleschoolteachersandtherelationshipbetween stressandsubstanceusepoliticalevents.Thankyou foryourdedicationtoURCW,andcongratulations!
Catherine,aseniorPsychologyandDancemajor, presentedfourimpressiveprojectsatHighPURCS2026acrossherdifferentareasofstudy. Shechoreographedadancepiecetitled“flow,” performedJessaminaPiazza’s“IWillCarryYou,” andpresentedtwopostersonherpsychology research.CatherinealsoreceivedtwoHighPURCSawards(seepage2),settinganother recordforURCW congratulations,Catherine!
Catherine Gallagher
URCW WINS THE 2025 CUR AURA FOR THE FIRST TIME IN PROGRAM HISTORY TheCouncilofUndergraduateResearchhasawardedtheOfficeofUndergraduateResearchand CreativeWorkswithits2025Campus-WideAwardforUndergraduateResearchAccomplishments (AURA)!Thisawardrecognizesaninstitutionwithexemplaryprogramsthatprovidehigh-quality researchexperiencesforundergraduates.ToreceiveAURArecognition,campusesmustdemonstrate depthandbreadthintheirundergraduateresearchinitiativesandevidenceofcontinualinnovation.
LindsayCurrie,CUR’sexecutiveofficer,congratulatedURCW,saying,“OnbehalfofCUR,we congratulateHighPointUniversityonthisrecognition,whichreflectsHPU’sexceptionalcommitment tofosteringacultureofinquiry,mentorship,anddiscovery Byprioritizingmeaningfulresearch experiencesforundergraduatesacrossdisciplines,theuniversityisempoweringstudentstothink critically,engagecreatively,andcontributetosolvingcomplexchallenges.Weapplaudtheirleadership anddedicationtoadvancingundergraduateresearchasatransformativeeducationalpractice.”
Morethan90%ofHPUundergraduatescompleteatleastoneexperientiallearningopportunity suchasfaculty-mentoredresearch,internships,orstudyabroad beforegraduation,withagrowing numberengagedinoriginalresearchacrossdisciplines.URCWsupportsthisworkthroughfundingfor studenttravelandpresentations,research symposiathroughHigh-PURCS,andstrong faculty-studentcollaborationsthatleadto conferencepresentationsandpeer-reviewed publications.
canearn,andweare excitedtobearecipient. “ “ TheAURAAwardisthe highesthonoranofficeof undergraduateresearch
-Dr.JoanneAltman, Directorof UndergraduateResearch andCreativeWorks; ProfessorofPsychology
THANK YOU FROM URCW! URCWisproudtoawardgrantstostudentsandfacultymentorswhoplantopresenttheirresearchandcreative worksatdisciplinaryconferences,aswellastostudentswhoarecontinuingtodeveloptheircurrentprojects alongsidetheirmentor.Congratulationstoallofthegrantrecipientslistedbelow weareexcitedtoseeyour impactthroughtheseexperienceswithinyourfieldsandbeyond!
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
DevonDerrenbacherandBradyThomastopresentattheAmericanSocietyofNeurorehabilitation ConferenceinLongBeach,CaliforniamentoredbyDr.MelikeKahya.
MasonWolfordwinneroftheSIRGgrant,toaidhisresearchforhisinterdisciplinaryproject“Playfast MotionLLC”mentoredbyProf KathrynElliot,Dr NeilPetroff,andProf PhillipPlanes
EmilieBriscoandAvaSalvanttopresentattheNationalConferencesofUndergraduateResearchin Richmond,VirginiaaccompaniedbyDr RobertCharvat
BrianaAlpacaBarreros,TatianaAntonini,HaleyGorman,ElysiaHagstrom,ContessaKim,KellieLanga, AshleyMullens,HannahStewart,andNathanStockmantopresentatthe2026SouthernRegional HonorsCouncilConferenceinMontgomery,AlabamaaccompaniedbyDr.NathanHedman,Dr.Stacy Lipowski,andDr.PamelaLundin.
FaithBradley,KalBurgess-Hicks,ChloéBuffalino,PhilipMorisseau,andMacySchmelzertopresentat theSymposiumforYoungNeuroscientistsAndProfessorsoftheSouthEast(SYNAPSE)attheUniversity ofChapelHillatNorthCarolinaaccompaniedbyDr.MichaelGrider.
WAIT TO FIND YOUR MENTOR FOR FALL 2026! Don’twaittofindyourmentorforFall2026 startnowwith ForagerOne!URCWusesForagerOnetohelpstudentsconnect withfacultymentorsacrosscampus.Bycreatinganaccount,you canexploreHPUfaculty,learnabouttheirresearchandcreative projects,anddiscovercurrentopportunitiestojointheirteams Clickheretogetstarted!
urcw@highpoint.edu
highpointedu/urcw
@hpu urcw
@hpu.urcw
STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN SUMMER RESEARCH URCWisexcitedtoannouncethelistofstudentswhowillbeparticipatinginresearchoncampusthissummer! Studentswillbeapartofoneofourfoursummerresearchprograms SuRI,SuRF,SuRPS,andSURE URCW isexcitedtoannouncethatatotalof93undergraduatestudentswillbeinvolvedinsummerresearch!
AndreyBobb,SamanthaCarrara,CaneelConlon,Maryna Crawford,SimeonDavis,RyanDeFalco,AlexandraFisher,Lily GraceFoister,RachelHumphries,TatumJames,AlexaKlein, ConnorKresock,RanaGabrielleLigue,AbigailMcRae,Will Radcliffe,VioletRuizSanchez,SkylarScobbo,KeishaUdoetul, SierraWerner
DariannAdams,GavinAgahigian,JustinAllan,SencerityBaker, SophiaBellino,JosephineBertuna,BlakeBird,MadisonBurnett, SophiaCastillo,ThyliahColeman,PaulCusumano,Trip Donaldson,SamanthaDowd,NathanDwier,LanieGardner, GustaviaGooding,NickGonzalez,CJGulla,NeliaKelleher,Daniel Kent,EleanorLee,HolleyLowe,KobyMante,CaitlinMichaelis, SophiaMesserly,PhilipMorisseau,ScarlettPeabody,MaiaRamirez, LoganRampetsreiter,AngelinaRoy,HavenTucker,IsabellaWells
MooreaBarbee,GradyBarrett,EmmaBengston,AmiraBrown, GracieCallahan,SamuelCastelan,SydneyCinquemani,Brayden Davis,AvaDeSimone,BriAnnaDoll,AddisonDurst,XavierEvans, OliviaEverhart,GavinFrey,KaileyGrapes,BriannaHarvey,Bethany Jenkins,BrittanyJohnson,AlyssaJoshua,AnstasiaLedet,Delilah Michel,JackNolan,JordynO’Loughlin,AustinOsborne,GavinPost, JordanSahatciu,TaylorSchaeffer,AdisonSink,Alexsandra(Alli) Smith,NickSorensen,BrodieSukow,MariahTalford
KeiraChestnut,JacksonCirami,SarahCzuba,MichaelLarson, EgorMaximenko,ClaraOwen,MariaRamirezBuitrago,Blanca RoviraSalvador,TylerWelch,JoshuaWijesinghe
STUDENTS IN RESEARCH AND CREATIVE WORKS FromtheURCWRegistry
Chemistry
Biology
Psychology
Marketing
GameDesign
Neuroscience
English
HealthandHumanPerformance
PoliticalScience
PhysicalTherapy
ElectricalandComputerEngineering
ComputerScience
Music
ReligionandPhilosophy
Sociology&Anthropology
PhysicsandAstronomy
History
AthleticTraining
InteriorDesign,Furnishing
MathematicalSciences
Theater&Dance
WorldLanguagesLiteratures
BasicPharmaceuticalSciences
PhysicianAssistantStudies
StrategicCommunication
Communication&BusinessLeadership
CriminalJustice
Economics
MediaProduction
ARE YOU COUNTED? URCWtracksthenumberof studentswhoareundertaking newresearchandcreativeprojects acrossalldisciplinesatHighPoint University.Byregisteringyour workwithURCW,younotonly contributetohighlightingthe achievementsofyourdepartment, butalsohelpusrecordthediverse creativeworkshappeningon campus.Thisallowsustoreach outwithvaluableresources relevanttoyourgoalsand endeavors!Besuretosignupyour neworcontinuingworkonthe registryforthe2026-2027 academicyearifyouare:
1 Collaboratingorassistingwith facultymembers’academicresearch orcreativework
2.Pursuingyourownindependent projectsthatarementoredbya facultymember
3 Furtherdevelopingresearchor creativeworkdoneinclassintoa presentationorexhibitforabroader audience
FAREWELL FOR NOW! Senior Abby Fort Signing Off “WorkingwithURCWasadataanalystforfouryears,and ResearchRookiementorfortwo,hasbeenquiteafulfilling journey.IstartedasaResearchRookiesmyselfbecauseIwas interestedinconductingmyownresearchandIamhonoredthat Ihavebeenabletohelpothersexperiencethataswellwithinmy rolewithinthisoffice.WiththesupportofDr.Altman,the URCWstaff,andeverypersonwhohaseverengagedwith URCW IfeelasifIhavemadequitealotoutofmytimehere. Fromdiscoveringmypassionstomakingmeasurableimpactsat HighPoint,IamproudoftheworkIhavedoneandexcitedfor theofficetodevelopevenfurtheraftermygraduation.This officehasallowedmetoexploremyinterests,solidifycareerand lifeplans,andsharepassionforundergraduateresearchandcreativeworkstocountlessothers.IfIhadto relivemytimeatHPU,Iwoulddothisalloveragain.Ithankeveryonewhoisalsopassionateabout undergraduateresearchandcreativeworksforgivingmeapl forherpalpableloveforURCWanddevotiontopushingm officeforsupportingmewithinmyownresearchandhundr thatHPUURCWwasmystartingpoint,andIamexcitedto future!”
A Note from Your Editor “IthasbeenanabsolutejoyservingasURCW’sNewsletterEditorfor the2025-2026schoolyear.Irememberthinkingaftermyfirstmeeting oncampuswithDr.Altman,‘Wow.Thisisgoingtobeachallenge,’and whileIwasright,Icouldn’thaveaskedforabetterone!Thisrolehas pushedmeintoroomsanddisciplinesthathavefeltcompletelyforeign tome,butmyunfamiliaritywithresearchanduncomfortabilityhas providedmewithmoreknowledge,growth,andappreciationforthe researchandcreativeworkhappeningoncampusthanIevercouldhave imagined.IamsogratefultoDr.Altmanforseeingmypotential, allowingmetobothmakemistakesandsucceed,andbecomingamentor andfriend.AndthankyoutoSamantha,Allie,Abby,andSavannahfor yourunwaveringwillingnesstohelpmewithallthingsSpotlight.I’m excitedforandlookingforwardtoreturningasyourNewsletterEditor nextyear!”-HaleyGorman
