The twentieth Exhibition of Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement (EURēCA) took place April 11–15, in Hodges Library. Students from across the university entered their undergraduate research, senior design projects, clinical projects, and creative achievements for judging. Of 247 entries, eighty-eight received recognition at the EURēCA Awards night.
Each undergraduate college selects and honors their top students. Colleges presented 65 awards from first place to honorable mention. ORE Awards for Undergraduate Research funded by the Office of Research and Engagement are also presented across research areas and highlight the best of the best in undergraduate research and creative achievement at UT. In seven categories, students were awarded seven gold, eight silver and eight bronze awards. These awards provide prizes of $600 for gold awards, $400 for silver awards, and $200 for bronze awards.
The 2016 gold awards were awarded to:
- Alexis Burnham, a senior from Oak Ridge, Tennessee, for her project “Identifying genetic factors in Streptococcus uberis that Enable Evasion of the Host Immune Response.”
- William Dunn, a junior from Nashville, Tennessee, for his project “Knoxville Architecture Senior High School: Sewing the Fabric of Place.”
- Emmitt Turner, a senior from Maynardville, Tennessee, for his project “Changes in HIV over Time for the East Region of Tennessee.”
- Jenny Patel and Madeline Standbridge, juniors from Kodak and Piney Flats, Tennessee, for their project “A Comparative Study of Cellular Calcification within the Male and Female Aortic Valves.”
- Shaun Mccomas, a senior from Barboursville, West Virginia, for his project “The Homeless and Civilians Legal Assistance Initiative: An Outcomes Evaluation.”
- Rachel VanDeventer, a senior from Gahanna, Ohio, for her project “Evaluating Prediction Models for Targeting Product Reviewers.”
- Quentin Eastridge and Erik Vass, juniors from Franklin and Oak Ridge, Tennessee, for their project “Health Information Technology and Simulation Lab: Interactive Debriefing Application (IDA).”
Between the colleges and the Office of Research and Engagement, monetary awards for the evening totaled approximately $20,000.
In addition to college and ORE awards, two university-wide awards were presented. The Office of Sustainability provides an award for a project which embodies environmental sustainability. The 2016 award was presented to Architecture and Design students MacVan Scott and Caleb Brothers.
The William Franklin Harris III Undergraduate Research Award is named for a former Vice Chancellor of Research and highlights a student for innovation and excellence in research. The winner of the William Franklin Harris III Undergraduate Award for 2016 was Chad Melton from the College of Arts and Sciences.
To see the full list of winners, visit eureca.utk.edu/2016-event.
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CONTACT:
Erin Chapin (865-974-2187, erin.chapin@utk.edu)