York College Scholars Shine at Annual Undergraduate Research Showcase

YORK, PA — Yorkview Hall buzzed with intellectual energy as students from across campus gathered for the annual Undergraduate Research Showcase on April 29. The event served as a definitive platform for 38 student presenters to transition from "passive consumers to active producers of knowledge," highlighting York College of Pennsylvania's academic culture.

Organized by the Center for Faculty Excellence, the showcase is recognized as a high-impact educational practice. Director Randi Shedlosky-Shoemaker noted that while many of these projects begin in the classroom, they often "go above and beyond classroom requirements and expectations".

"This showcase gives the students a moment to really celebrate what they’ve accomplished," Shedlosky-Shoemaker said. "Especially when you’re doing research or any scholarly work, it can sometimes feel isolating when you’re not able to show it off and talk to other people about it".

The journey to the showcase began with a campus-wide call for nominations, resulting in 15 to 20 students opting into the competitive presentation portion. After submitting recorded video presentations, six finalists were selected to compete for top honors.

The diverse range of topics presented by the finalists, spanning from forensic chemistry and nursing to graphic design and marketing, demonstrated the multidisciplinary nature of the event. Shedlosky-Shoemaker emphasized the professional growth inherent in the process: "It feels really cool to be an undergraduate student and be the expert in something! And others are coming to you, asking questions... it’s just a really great experience for students to see that their work matters".

Award Winners

In a testament to the high caliber of research presented this year, the judging panel announced a tie for first place between Alexia Brubaker and Lara Munford, with both students receiving a $200 prize.

• First Place (Tie): Alexia Brubaker and Lara Munford ($200 prize for each).
• Second Place: Katie Jeanes ($100 prize).
• People's Choice: Riley Dunn, who secured approximately 25% of the attendee vote ($50 prize).
• Honorable Mentions: Naiara Garcia, Kaitlin King, and Dendera Hightower ($50 prize each).