Published on April 23, 2024 by Dakota Rice  
Student Research Presentation GE6A6327

On Friday, April 19, Samford University hosted its 3rd annual Student Research Colloquia, held in the Davis Library. More than 90 students and student groups prepared poster presentations spanning 21 categories ranging from analytics to exercise science to social work.

Linnea Minnema, director of grants and sponsored programs, said students benefit from collaboration with faculty and by presenting to their peers.  She said, “Students really have an amazing experience. We realized this was a need for them. They’re engaged in research with faculty, and we wanted to celebrate that.”

These students prepare detailed abstracts that must be understandable to the general public, whether they are presenting on acorn germination or the effects of true crime dramatizations.

This event is led by the Research Advisory Collaborative in partnership with the Office of Research at Samford. The colloquia, which is open to undergraduate and graduate students from all 10 academic schools, allows students to gain practice presenting mixed disciplines to non-specialists.

One presenter, Anna Dollar, a sophomore exercise science major, reflected on her experience in this year’s colloquia. Dollar shared, “The Samford Student Research Colloquia provided information on topics I would never have thought to study myself. It was a great opportunity to simultaneously learn about many different topics. All the attendees and judges were welcoming and friendly, which made presenting (which is usually anxiety-inducing) a breeze.”

The Samford Research Colloquia also exemplifies three pillars of the university’s strategic plan, Fidelitas: academic distinction, community celebration and student engagement.

2024 Student Research Colloquia Winners

Undergraduate Winners

  • John Matthew Erickson (Environmental Science)
  • Donald Bradley (Biology)
  • David Sputh (Economics)
  • Margaret Ann Sanders (Education)
  • Cole McGough (Biology)
  • Zachary Hagedorn (Pharmacy)
  • Raney Collins, Grant Sides, Caroline Tapscott (Biology)
  • Jaren Dildine (Kinesiology)
  • Emma Grace Broach, Owen Fulton (Kinesiology)

Graduate Winners

  • Justin Williams (Pharmacy)
  • Caroline Bennett (Social Work)
  • Grace Belcher, Macey Lundstrom (Communication Sciences & Disorders)

 

See below for school-specific coverage on the Samford Research Colloquia:

McWhorter School of Pharmacy School of Public Health Brock School of Business

 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 5,791 students from 49 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks 6th nationally for its Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.