Voinovich School students shine at 2019 Student Expo

Students from the Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs took home 20 awards for their research and creative work April 11 from the Ohio University Student Research and Creativity Expo.

Both graduate and undergraduate students affiliated with the Voinovich School presented their research and creative projects on a range of topics in the fields of environmental studies, public administration and more. Voinovich School faculty and professionals continuously supported the student researchers in developing and presenting their projects.

Katie Kemp, a Voinovich Undergraduate Research Scholar, presented in the Student Expo for her third year. This year, she presented both her research conducted through the Voinovich School and a two-year study conducted in the Department of Psychology.

Kemp earned a first-place award for her psychology study on the role of infographics in improving participants’ ability to estimate the amount of sugar in bottled drinks. She also earned first place for her development of a concise and visually appealing flier on the OHIO Community Health, Prevention and Promotion Team through her position as a Research Scholar.

Kemp said her experiences at the Student Expos have been continuously enjoyable and beneficial by providing her an outlet to share her hard work with others.

“I am very thankful to receive recognition and promote the Department of Psychology and Voinovich School with ambition and professionalism,” she said. “For me, at the end of the day, the awards simply make me feel more accomplished and remind me that my skills, interests, and experiences matter.”

Meg Little, a graduate student in the environmental studies program, presented at the Student Expo for her first time this year. Her research examined the social, political and economic drivers of illegal logging in national parks in Kosovo, a small nation in Southeastern Europe.

Little said it was a bit nerve-wracking to present her work to judging panels, but she ended the day with a handful of awards for her outstanding research. She earned the first-place Library Award for graduate students, and second-place in the sustainability research category.

“It made me feel really proud to be a Bobcat and be part of this great institution,” she said. “I was honored to receive the awards and greatly humbled by how many amazing research projects I learned about at the expo.”

The Voinovich School congratulates all the award winners on their hard work and dedication to their research.

Award winners in the Voinovich School:

• First Place: Tess Herman, Master of Environmental Studies candidate; Jasmine Facsun, Master of Environmental Studies candidate; Rachel Martin, Undergraduate Research Scholar; Savannah Schuring, Master of Environmental Studies candidate; Katie Kemp, Undergraduate Research Scholar; Danielle Valaitis, Master of Public Affairs candidate; Junia Purwandani, Master of Environmental Studies candidate; Meg Little, Master of Environmental Studies candidate

• Second Place: Tate Pashibin, Master of Environmental Studies candidate; Andreana Madera-Martorell, Master of Environmental Studies candidate; Emily St. Amour, Undergraduate Research Scholar; Bethany Blinsky, Master of Public Affairs candidate, with Aleah Cumberbatch and Eli Wanner, Undergraduate Research Scholars; Grace Fuchs, Undergraduate Research Scholar