Scholarships Presented at Record-Setting Research Symposium

More than 250 students presented Monday at Missouri Valley College’s Fall 2025 Student Research Symposium, setting a new college record for participation. The symposium 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: Eva Agcaoili, “From Polarization to Proximity: The Importance of Local Community in American Democracy.”

Best Creative Works: Jyoti Chhetri “Smart Mirror.”

Best Poster: Miranda Wilson, Gia Parisi, Hannah Their and Marcela Ferreiro “Caffeine Can be Killer: The Dangers of Energy.”

Best Graduate Research: Jim McMeachin “An Ongoing Analysis of Psychological Theory as Depicted in Marvel.”

“The Symposium was incredible,” said President Joe Parisi. “It was the biggest and best ever. Kudos to all of our students who worked so hard to prepare. And I can’t say enough about the staff and volunteers who made it happen.”

Tru Naumovitz earned the People’s Choice Award for “Disability Advocacy” Where Can We Go From Here.”

Second place finishes:

In Best Poster, Julia Brown for “The Causes, Pathogenesis and Prevention of Meningitius.

In Best Presentation, Shelby Welling for Hepatitis.

In Best Creative Work: Sopie Cott for “I Want to Go Home.”

In Best Graduate Research Work: Alena Blachowski for “Victory.”