Missouri Valley College | Academics | Learning Beyond the Classroom | Student Research Symposium

Student Research Symposium

The Student Research Symposium is a professional opportunity for our students to share academic, professional, and creative work with the entire campus community. Twice a year, students can participate in the Symposium with submissions of original research, reviews, scholarly essays, creative writing, performance, film and original artwork. During the symposium, outstanding student work is recognized with three awards for excellence in undergraduate student research.

Spring 2025:
  • Submission Deadline: Midnight, Monday March 31
  • Symposium: Monday, May 5

 

  • Submission Guidelines
    Submissions are due on Monday, November 4 by 11:59PM. Students may submit a proposal for one presentation, performance, or poster.
    A presentation is a 10-minute oral presentation of critical, research, professional, or creative work (including original film), followed by short Q & A at the end of each session.

    A creative work is a 10-minute performance of dance, spoken word, creative writing, music, or drama, followed by short Q & A at the end of each session.

    A poster is a 24×36″ graphic presentation of research, professional, or artistic work; presenters participate in audience Q & A during the session.

  • Frequently Asked Questions

    What type of work can I submit?

    Presentation (10 minute oral presentation, papers, research projects, original films, etc), Creative work (10 minute performance, music, creative writing, dance, drama), Poster (24”x36” poster, research results, visual art)

    Why should I present my work? 

    • Feedback and new ideas on ongoing projects
    • Recognition from faculty and colleagues
    • Professional experience presenting work in a formal setting
    • More mileage out of essays, projects, posters, and research you’ve already done
    • A line on your resume/CV

    Are there other ways to be involved besides presenting? 

    Absolutely! You can serve as a session chair, volunteer at the registration desk, or serve as a committee member! To learn more, email livengoodj@moval.edu or schmidtc@moval.edu. 

     

     

  • Excellence in Student Research Awards
    There are four Excellence in Student Research awards presented at each symposium and winners of this award are given a $500 scholarships; Best Presentation, Best Poster, Best Creative Work and Best Graduate Work. Presenters are scored by a panel of judges. Additionally, symposium attendees vote for their favorite presentation, and that individual is awarded the People’s Choice Award.

    Fall 2024:

    Excellence In Student Research Awards:

    Best Poster

    • Honorable Mention
      • Lucia Valdivia Escabia for “Leadership in Transition: New Models for a Changing Society”
      • Giavanna Parisi for Strangles in Horses: What We Need to Know”
    • Winner
      • Brooklin Rose “The Impact Bacterial Vaginosis has on Women’s Health”

    Best Presentation

    • Honorable Mentions
      • Alexx-Torres Gonzalez for “Anti-Monogamy & Human Possibilities of Love”
      • Estafano Del Aguila Delgado for “Microhabitat Selection of Snakes in Marshall Junction Conservation Area, Saline County”
    • Winner
      • Sidni Hunter “Spatial Changes in the Community Composition and Diversity of Fishes in the Salt Fork Creek”

    Best Creative Works

    • Honorable Mentions
      • Maria Greider for “Performance of Distinction in Debate: Poetry Interpretation”
      • Carla Medina for “Silent Frail:
    • Winner
      • Lucinda Lombard for “echoes of Movement”

    Best Graduate Research

      • Honorable Mention
        • Iris Cruz for “Cognitive Behavior Therapy with Generalized Anxiety Disorder”
        • Whitney Leadbetter for “Hidden Woulds: The Impact and Healing Pathways for Child Sexual Abuse Survivors”
      • Winner
        • Glenda Gallardo-Menendez for “Beyond Talk: Addressing Trauma with Integrative Techniques”

    People’s Choice Award

    • Winner
      • Ona Bartolome Areny for “To What Extent Does the Current Extreme-Right in Europe Have Direct Impact on the Liberal Democracies of Italy, Germany, and Spain?”

    Spring 2024:

    Excellence In Student Research Awards:

    Best Poster

    • Honorable Mention
      • Alyssa Hardwick for “Classroom Assessment”
      • Mackenzie Aguiar for “Does Growing Up in an Unstable Environment Make Kids More Aggressive?”
      • Jeanie Palsis for “ Student Debt Affecting College Students Academic Performance and Mental Health”
    • Winner
      • Kilee Bradley Robinson for “The Effect of Parenting Styles on College Students Academic Success and Mental-Wellbeing”

    Best Presentation

    • Honorable Mentions
      • Angelique Morgan for “Population Ecology of Turtles Inhabiting Mid-Missouri Farm Ponds”
      • Morgan Osborne for “An Educational Model on the Prevention of Ventilator Associated Pneumonia”
    • Winner
      • Yago Merino for “Population Demography of Pond Turtles in Mid-Missouri Farm Ponds”

    Best Creative Works

    • Honorable Mentions
      • Estefano Del Aguila Delgado for “From Novice to Nature’s Glimpses:  A Photographer’s Tale”
      • DeRel Morris for “Who Are You Truly? Act II”
    • Winner
      • Chané Higgo, for “Formula 1 Brandalism”

    Best Graduate Research

    • Capstone Presentation
      • Mackenzie Murphree for “I don’t know how I got here”
    • People’s Choice Award
      • Honorable Mention
        • DeRel Morris, “Who Are You Truly? Act II”
    • Winner
      • Raul Hinojosa Mesa for “Patellar Tendinopathy Injury”

    Spring 2023:

    Excellence in Student Research Awards:

    Best Poster

    • Honorable Mentions
      • Sade Wright, “Music Preference Study”,
      • Matias Marquiera, “How Does Cannabis Affect College Students”
      • Olivia Martin, “The Iowa Gambling Task”
      • Julio Otto Marge Eichemberger, for his poster, “Excessive Smartphone Use & Mental Health Among College Students”

    Best Creative Work

    • Honorable Mentions
      • Jenasyn Baker, for “Mary Wigman – Modern Dance II Project”
      • Kristin Boynton, for her chapter reading from A Reason to Kill
    • Winner
      • Lindsey Curtis, “Descent From Eden: Female Trauma and Healing,” featuring Tori Heglin

    Best Presentation

    • Honorable Mentions
      • Seth Carter, for “Positive and Negative Queer Representations: An Analysis of South Park”
      • Vitor Furiati, for “Business Analysis – Volleyball Club”
      • Camden Phillips, for “Weaponitis: Modern Strains of an Age-Old Disease”
    • Winner (a historical event: we have a tie!)
      • Sidni Hunter, whose presentation “Incels: the Internet’s Newest Form of Terrorism” tied for first place with her earlier presentation, “The Kantian Dilemma – How a Hierarchy of Rationality Limits Understandings of Morality”

    Best Graduate Presentation

    • Honorable Mention
    • Pamela Zuluaga for her graduate capstone project “Person-Centered Therapy When Questioning Gender Identity”
    • Winner
    • Valentina Cardoso Rodriguez for her graduate capstone project, “Solution-Focused Brief Therapy with an Abuse Survivor”

    People’s Choice Award

    • Honorable Mentions
      • Beni Kabongo for “Belight”
      • Dajah Robinson for “Stigmatization of Medical Cannabis”
    • Winner
      • McKenna Beeler for “Emotional Intelligence’s Relationship to Burnout Among Collegiate Athletes Participating in Team Sports”

    Spring 2022

    Excellence in Student Research Awards:

    Best Poster

    • Julia Mata for “Post-stress Relief”

    Best Presentation

    • Temo Olvera for “Photojournalism or Digital Art: Digital Manipulation”

    Best Creative Work

    • Madison Vogelsmeier for “In Between Sane & Sanity”

    Best Graduate Capstone Presentation

    • “Eclectic Therapy Interventions in the Treatment of Adolescent Autism Diagnosis”

View the Spring 2025 Program

View students names, submission titles and 100-word abstracts.

View the Program

Recent News

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December 10, 2024

Scholarships Presented at Student Research Symposium

More than 170 students presented Monday at Missouri Valley College’s Fall 2024 Student Research Symposium, setting a record for participation. The symposium, now in its 8th year, featured academic, creative and professional student work. The event culminated with the presentation of four $500 scholarships to the Excellence in Student Research Winners. They are: Best Presentation: … Read Scholarships Presented at Student Research Symposium

November 28, 2023

Student Research Symposium Set for Dec. 4

Missouri Valley College students will share their academic, creative and professional work at the fall 2023 Missouri Valley College Student Research Symposium on December 4. A total of 125 students are set to present at the all-day event, which is open to all students, faculty, staff, and community members. “This is such an exciting time … Read Student Research Symposium Set for Dec. 4

May 3, 2023

Spring Research Symposium Sets Record

A record number of Missouri Valley College students presented Monday at the Spring 2023 Student Research Symposium. The symposium, now in its 7th year, featured the academic, creative, and professional work of nearly 140 students. “The spring symposium was particularly exciting,” said Dr. Claire Schmidt, associate professor of English. “Not only was it the biggest … Read Spring Research Symposium Sets Record