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Scholars Showcase

Held annually every April, EKU’s Scholars Showcase celebrates, showcases, and promotes faculty, student, faculty-student scholarship, research, and creative endeavors. Scholars Showcase increases opportunities for faculty scholarship, research and creative endeavors, and faculty-student collaborations while recognizing research, creative, and academic endeavors at all levels. Scholars Showcase will take place in April 2026.

Scholars Showcase recognizes the transformational significance of student and faculty scholarly activity, creative endeavors, and high-impact practices across all areas of Eastern Kentucky University (EKU). It is an opportunity to engage in productive and inspiring dialogues, develop cross-disciplinary collaborations that lead to innovation, immerse in highly effective learning experiences, and advance academic practices related to the scholarship of teaching and learning and discovery.

2026 Scholars Showcase Schedule

Friday, March 27
1:00 PM – 3:00 PM – Faculty Research Showcase (Center for STEM Excellence)
The Faculty Research Showcase at the Scholar’s Showcase will highlight faculty research and creative endeavors through broad overview presentations that are accessible to the university at large. 

Wednesday, April 1
6:00 PM – Alumni Spotlight: “Shared Spirits: Pairing the Hospitality and Bourbon Industries.” (Crabbe Library Grand Reading Room)

Kick off the EKU Scholars Showcase with an exclusive Alumni Spotlight evening dedicated to Kentucky’s most famous export. Join us for a deep dive into the intersection of the Hospitality and Bourbon industries with hospitality expert Jeff Crowe ’18 from Heaven Hill Distillery and EKU adjunct faculty member and bourbon expert Susan Reigler.

For more information, visit the following link: https://www.givecampus.com/schools/EasternKentuckyUniversity/events/shared-spirits-pairing-the-hospitality-and-bourbon-industries



Thursday, April 2
2:00 PM – 4:00 PM – ODK Induction (O’Donnell Auditorium)
Omicron Delta Kappa is the nation’s oldest leadership honor society and recognizes individuals of superior leadership among five pillars of campus life:
Academics and Research
Athletics
Service to Campus and Community
Communications
Creative and Performing Arts. 
Join members of the EKU community in recognizing inductees.

Thursday, April 2
5:00PM – Art Student Association Juried Exhibition & Awards Ceremony (Giles Gallery)
Join ASA to meet the artists at this public reception and awards ceremony. This event is free and open to the public.


Monday, April 6 through Friday, April 17
ASA Student Juried Exhibition (Giles Gallery)
This exhibit is organized by the Art Student Association (ASA), one of the longest-standing student organizations at Eastern Kentucky University. The competitive juried exhibition showcases student creative research across a wide range of media and disciplines, providing emerging artists with an opportunity to present their work in a professional public setting. This year’s juror is Kiana Mahjub. Kiana Mahjub is an artist and arts administrator serving as Executive Director of the Berea Arts Council (BAC). She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts from Eastern Kentucky University in 2019, with a concentration in printmaking. Following graduation, she completed multiple grant-funded projects through the Kentucky Foundation for Women, further developing her studio practice and community-centered approach to arts work. In early 2022, Mahjub began her role with the Berea Arts Council, where she has since led large-scale community initiatives, exhibitions, and public-facing programs that expand access to the arts and strengthen local creative networks.


Tuesday, April 7
10:00 AM, 1:00 PM & 3:00 PM – Honors Presentations (Powell 220 and 224)
Students in the Honors program will give their thesis presentations. All members of the EKU community are welcome to attend.


Wednesday, April 8th
10:00 AM, 1:00 PM & 3:00 PM – Honors Presentations (Powell 220 and 224)
Students in the Honors program will give their thesis presentations. All members of the EKU community are welcome to attend.


Thursday, April 9th
10:00 AM, 1:00 PM & 3:00 PM – Honors Presentations (Powell 220 and 224)
Students in the Honors program will give their thesis presentations. All members of the EKU community are welcome to attend.
12:00 – 4:00 PM  – 12th Annual Undergraduate Homeland Security & Emergency Management Career & Research Showcase
12:00 – 2:00 PM – Career Showcase (Stratton)
2:00 – 4:00 PM – Research Showcase (Perkins) 
The showcase offers EKU students the opportunity to present their original research to the broader university community, including alumni, as well as external partners. Conducting research to produce high-quality scholarship is a desired skill of emergency management, intelligence, and security professionals. The event this year will include a new category of applied projects and creative works, and a career showcase to give students an opportunity to interact with employers. 

Tuesday, April 14th
9:00 AM – 1:00 PM – College of Health Sciences (CHS) Scholars Day (Keen Johnson)
1:00 PM – 5:00 PM – IPE Event (Keen Johnson)
The College of Health Sciences Scholars Day is held annually to honor the college’s students and faculty mentors in their pursuit of outstanding research, scholarship, and creative endeavors.
6:00 PM – 7:00 PM – Society of Foundation Professors’ Rowlett Award Recognition Concert (Campbell 239)
Dr. Bernardo Scarambone, School of Music, will present a program titled ‘Rescue of a Repertoire for Social Justice’ consisting of musical works by Amazonian composer Lindalva Cruz. The program represents work supported by an award from the Dr. John D. Rowlett Endowed Fund for Faculty Scholarship.


Wednesday, April 15th
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM – Three-Minute Thesis Presentations (3MT) (Zoom)
The Three-Minute Thesis (3MT) competition is a mainstay for many international and national graduate programs. The competition showcases public speaking and presentation skills as well as a graduate student’s ability to communicate research in a condensed time frame to a non-specialist audience. With only 180 seconds (three minutes), a single slide and no additional props or media, the competition will showcase some of the best and brightest graduate research projects at EKU. To find out more about the 3MT @ EKU, visit:https://www.eku.edu/in/guides/scholars-showcase/#three-minute-thesis-3mteku
2:00 – 4:30 PM – University Presentation (UP) Showcase & Scholars Fair (Keen Johnson) 
UP Showcase Features Include:
Scholars Fair
Undergraduate Presentation Showcase
Graduate Presentation Showcase
Students in all departments who have collaborated with faculty/staff on scholarly and/or creative projects are invited to participate in the 25th Annual University Presentation Showcase. Projects may include artwork, original writing, research and other scholarly/creative work. Projects that go beyond a classroom assignment are most appropriate, although there are exceptions (e.g. senior theses). Students must have collaborated on the project with a faculty or staff mentor, who must recommend the student’s project for the Showcase and approve the abstract before submission. 
Scholars Fair:
Drop by this event to learn more about the various offices on campus that support scholarship at EKU. 

Friday, April 17th
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM – Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy Research Day (Carl D. Perkins Building)
The Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy annually holds a conference to showcase the research of our students, Research Day.  The day is also held as an opportunity to provide continuing education units (CEU)’s for Occupational Therapy clinicians, Occupational Therapy alumni of Eastern, and graduating students through the Kentucky Occupational Therapy Association (KOTA).  The conference is a one day event which for 2025 will be held at the Perkins Building at EKU on Friday, May 2 from 8 AM- 5 PM.  
The day includes the following:
Keynote Speaker
Poster Presentation Showcase
Inquiry Team Presentations
Individual Student Presentations
Opportunity for Networking with Occupational Therapy Clinicians


Information for Registration will be available in the early Spring on the Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy’s website. The event is put forth in conjunction with the Pi Theta Epsilon student organization, which is the National honor society organization for Occupational Therapists and Occupational Therapy students.
12:00 PM – 2:00 PM – Faculty Research Showcase (Crabbe Library, Grand Reading Room)
The Faculty Research Showcase at the Scholar’s Showcase will highlight faculty research and creative endeavors through broad overview presentations that are accessible to the university at large. 


Monday, April 20th
6:00 – 8:00 PM – Scholars Tank (Faculty Center for Teaching & Learning, Crabbe Library 318)
Scholars Tank is an entrepreneurial-themed addition to Scholars Week, where students and faculty can present an idea to improve some aspect of campus that has the potential to be turned into an entrepreneurial venture. Our campus entrepreneurs will pitch their idea to a panel of “sharks”, who will decide which idea gets funded.
Learn More Here


Tuesday, April 21st
11:00 AM – 12:15 PM – Community Scholars Showcase (Center for Africana Engagement)
1:00 – 2:00 PM – EKU Authors Book Showcase (Crabbe Library, Grand Reading Room)
Celebrate the creativity and scholarship of EKU authors at this drop-in event featuring books, articles, presentations, podcasts, and other multimedia work. Meet faculty, staff, and retired authors, learn about their publications, and connect with fellow community members. Past events have included informational texts, novels, children’s literature, and more! The campus and community at large are welcome to attend. EKU authors who wish to participate in this event should complete the registration form and reach out to Christina Stallard (christina.stallard@eku.edu) with any questions.
4:30 – 7:30 PM – Annual Faculty Awards & Recognition Ceremony & Sabbatical Showcase (Keen Johnson)
The University will recognize faculty for success in teaching and learning, academic innovation, leadership, and student success. All members of the EKU community are welcome to attend.


Thursday, April 23rd
8:00 AM – 4:00 PM – SCALS (Crabbe Library)

2:00 PM – 4:30 PM – Celebration of Student Writing (Keen Johnson)
EKU’s Celebration of Student Writing (CSW) showcases the exciting work students are doing this spring in ENG 102: Research, Writing, and Rhetoric. In this course, students develop research topics and explore writing in multiple genres, for multiple real-world audiences. The course is student-centered and develops career readiness:
Each class pursues a research theme selected by students.
Instructional librarians partner with individual sections to help students find and evaluate credible sources, with an emphasis on audience, purpose, and credibility.
Students develop multigenre research projects that delve deeper into the course theme; they identify their intended audience and explore multiple ways of sharing their research using genres and modes that best appeal to their target audiences.
Students develop research skills, information literacy, audience awareness, and intellectual flexibility. These skills don’t only prepare them for success in other research-oriented courses, but in their professional careers and personal lives.
The Spring 2026 Celebration of Student Writing is an opportunity to see an ambitious Gen Ed course redesign at work and to witness the creativity and engagement of EKU students as they work on projects that really matter to them


Friday, April 24th
9:30 – 11:00 AM – Scholars Assembly (Crabbe Library, Grand Reading Room) 
Join EKU Libraries and Academic Affairs in honoring student excellence and academic achievement.
1:00 PM – 3:00 PM – Faculty Research Showcase (Ravine)
The Faculty Research Showcase at the Scholar’s Showcase will highlight faculty research and creative endeavors through broad overview presentations that are accessible to the university at large.

 
Wednesday, April 29th
4:00 – 5:30 PM – EKU Honors Celebration Day Showcase (Walnut Hall)

First-year students in the EKU Honors Program will be sharing research posters based upon their final projects in our HON 104 Learning Community courses. The Honors Celebration Day Showcase represents the culmination of the EKU Honors first-year experience. Posters will represent the range of topics in our Learning Community seminars, including the US Constitution, the science of brain health, leadership in theory and practice, climate change, and critically reading wellness.

7:30 – 9:00 PM – Interdisciplinary Arts Show: The Creative Imagination: Death and Life (O’Donnell Auditorium, Whitlock Bldg.)

The Creative Imagination interdisciplinary arts show is a dynamic, multi-media experience in which first-year honors students from our creative arts HON 104 Learning Community present their final course projects on topics related to the common theme “Death and Life.” The range of arts represented in past shows has included everything from poetry to sculpture, drama, song, video, painting, interpretive dance, and more.

Friday, May 1st
1:00 PM – 3:00 PM – Faculty Research Showcase (Campbell 239)
The Faculty Research Showcase at the Scholar’s Showcase will highlight faculty research and creative endeavors through broad overview presentations that are accessible to the university at large. Attendees are then encouraged to view the BFA exhibit in the Giles Gallery from 3:00 – 4:00 PM.


2025 University Presentation Showcase Winners

This year for the UP Showcase over 50 students presented their research from throughout the university. The posters the students constructed were presented to a group of faculty evaluators and the winning posters from the showcase for undergraduate and graduate students are listed below. Thanks again for all of the students and their faculty mentors for presenting at the showcase and we hope to see you there again next spring.

Student: Demitra Watson
Mentor: Mike Lane
Project Title: Body Composition and Self-Image: Exploring the Impact on Exercise Motivation and Behavior

Synopsis from the student: “Following graduation, I will be attending the University of Pikeville Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine this fall to pursue my dream of becoming a physician, with a particular interest in pediatric psychiatry. I’m excited to carry forward the knowledge and research skills I’ve gained into my medical studies and future career.
I would love for the website to highlight how my project explores the relationship between body composition, perceived self-image, and exercise behavior in college students. This research contributes to a broader understanding of how mental health and physical habits are deeply connected, especially during a time when young adults are forming lifelong wellness practices. My goal was to shed light on how self-perception impacts motivation and to support more holistic approaches to health in student populations.”

Student: Rachel Rion
Mentor: Cassie Whitt
Project Title: The Dark Triad and Digital Politics: Personality, Behavior, and Parasocial Bonds in the US 2024 Election

Synopsis: this thesis was a pilot study for a more in-depth master’s thesis that will be explored with Dr. Whitt in her lab. I am so grateful for everything Dr. Whitt has taught me and how far I have been able to come with her guidance. Please get back to me about a convenient time to meet, I can be available at any time.

Student: AnneMarie Kinman
Mentor: Laura Bray
Project Title: Health Disparities with People with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Synopsis: This investigation looked into differences in outcome from individuals with RA due to socio economic and geographical factors. Which sets up the next iteration of this study for how to help these individuals get access to the care that they need.


Students: Speck, Megan E., Ezell, Sarah K., Gooden, Emma K., Henson, M’Kenna J., Poole, Madison E., Wheatley, Kelly D., and Surrett, Kaela A.
Mentor: Dr. Laura Bray
Project Title: Home Safety Environment of Older Adults for Fall Risk and other Health Outcomes

Synopsis: This investigation looked in two different methodologies of measuring home safety for fall risk in older adults. The results suggest creating a novel test that better encapsulates the variety of living environments.

Best-of Awards

The Scholars Showcase Best-of Awards celebrate excellence in research, innovation, and creative achievements across disciplines. Here are the 2025 winners:

  • Transformative Colonel: Angel Michael Cobb
  • Keen Scholars: Connor Dixon
  • Opportunity Award: Nadia Grullon
  • Game Changer Award: Taylor Ashford
  • Outstanding Mentor/Mentee Collab: Dr. Amanda Green, Malcolm Hale, Maddox Hillard, and Puck

Program-Specific Best-of Awards:

  • Honors Thesis Presentation Distinction Award: Katie Webb, Abigail Kennedy, Savanna Crooks, Morgan Daniels
  • Scholars Tank: Christian Carroll, Sumana Somineli, Bibhas Shrestha and Avash Shrestha

Scholars Tank

Scholars Tank is an entrepreneurial-themed addition to Scholars Showcase, where students and faculty can present an idea to improve some aspect of campus, that has the potential to be turned into an entrepreneurial venture. Our campus entrepreneurs will pitch their idea to a panel of “sharks” who will decide which idea gets funded.

The winner will be awarded $5,000 to seed that idea from concept to concrete–watching your idea grow into something that has a positive impact on the university. These can be individual projects or group projects (up to 5 people per group).

Your Presentation Must Address:

  • The Problem: Innovations break constraints. Your innovation that solves a problem can be something you’ve personally faced, something that you have seen on campus, or something much bigger. Or, is there an opportunity that the university is not taking advantage of that you are uniquely suited to execute?
  • The Addressable Market: So, you have identified a problem, but is it really a problem? Or an opportunity? Provide evidence to support your argument. Who does this problem affect? How much money is in the market, and where is the market headed?
  • The Current Solutions: Often, someone else will also be trying to solve the problem you are addressing or has already tried. Tell us what those solutions leave out and why that is a problem.
  • Your Solution: You’ve made the case, now tell us how you solve it? Is it a product or service? Something that you have already prototyped? What’s next? What do you see for the future, based on available information today? A cool name for your solution never hurts.
  • 180 Seconds!! The time restriction forces you to think through the entire problem & solution. It’s easy to ramble, but to fit everything in that time frame, you must know your stuff! That said, don’t let the time limit be the thing keeping you from pitching. The best way to beat the clock is by practicing. The Scholar Tank Team will also give you feedback as to what went well and what needs to be improved so you can fine tune your idea.

Proposal deadlines for 2026 will be announced in the spring. All individuals on the proposal must be EKU students currently enrolled in courses.

In your proposal, please include the following information:

  • Names of participants
  • One paragraph explaining how your business will solve a problem in the marketplace (maximum of 100 words).

Email your proposal to Dr. Huq at tahsin.huq@eku.edu or Paige Fender at paige.fender@eku.edu. They will confirm with you receipt of your submission if you are selected for the Final Round.

Submissions selected to the Final Round will have a 3-minute presentation with a panel of judges followed by approximately 10-minutes of Q&A with the judges. The date, time, and location for this event will be announced in the spring. The presentation will be open to the public, and we encourage you to view the presentations and cheer on the presenters.

Three Minute Thesis -3MT@EKU

The Three-Minute Thesis (3MT) competition is a mainstay for many international and national graduate programs. The competition showcases public speaking and presentation skills as well as a graduate student’s ability to communicate research in a condensed time frame to a non-specialist audience. With only 180 seconds (three minutes), a single slide and no additional props or media, the competition will showcase some of the best and brightest graduate research projects at EKU. The 3MT@EKU is a collaborative effort between the EKU Graduate School, the EKU Graduate and Online Council, and the Noel Studio for Academic Creativity.

  • Friday, March 20, 2026 – Deadline to Register for the Competition
  • Thursday, April 2, 2026 – Deadline for Video Submissions
  • Friday April 3 – Thursday April 9, 2026 – Video Judging
  • Friday, April 10, 2026 – Email Notification of Finalists
  • Wednesday, April 15, 2026 11:00am – Online Awards Ceremony

The 3MT@EKU represents an exciting opportunity for graduate students and faculty. This is an excellent event to showcase on resumes and job applications. This event easily fits into Extra-Curricular or Professional Skills and highlights several skill sets of the student:

  • Public Speaking and Presentation Skills
    3MT enables this skill through the development of a clear, concise, jargon-free three-minute presentation.
  • Research Communication with a Non-Specialist Audience
    The ability to communicate technical or specific details to a non-specialist audience is a key premise of the 3MT. The competition will feature a broad range of judges and observers.
  • Communicate Research (breadth and significance) in a Condensed Time Frame
    In today’s fast paced world, the ability to succinctly and effectively summarize key ideas is a valuable skill. The 3MT gives participants the opportunity to do this in 180 seconds!
  • Expand Portfolio with Technology
    Technology is a critical tool in communication and job performance. The 3MT will allow students to expand their professional network through a juried presentation that will provide more exposure to research and build their professional portfolio and resume.
  • A single static PowerPoint slide is permitted. No slide transitions, animations or ‘movement’ of any description are allowed.
  • No additional embedded electronic media (e.g. sound and video files) are permitted.
  • No additional props (e.g. costumes, musical instruments, laboratory equipment) are permitted.
  • Presentations are limited to three minutes maximum. Competitors exceeding three minutes are disqualified.
  • Presentations are to be spoken.
  • Presentations are considered to have commenced when a presenter starts their presentation through either movement or speech.
  • The decision of the judges is final.

Master’s Student Research

  • Eligibility: Graduate student currently enrolled (in good academic standing) in an EKU Master’s program
  • Research Requirements: Thesis research that is complete or nearly complete at a stage where findings, preliminary conclusions, and broader impact can be discussed.

Doctoral Student Research

  • Eligibility: Doctoral student currently enrolled (in good academic standing) in an EKU Doctoral program (Psy.D., Ed.D., DNP, OTD)
  • Research Requirements: Dissertation/capstone/case study that is complete or nearly complete at a stage where findings, preliminary conclusions, and broader impact can be discussed.
  • A 200–250-word abstract highlighting the significance of the research
  • Required registration/demographic information

Category One: Comprehension & Content

  • Did the presenter clearly establish the nature and purpose of the research?
  • Did the organization make sense? Was the content easy to follow?
  • Did the presentation clearly describe the key outcomes, results, and conclusions of the research?
  • Did the presenter clearly indicate why this research is important/significant?
  • Did the speaker explain/define important terminology, avoid jargon, and provide adequate background information to illustrate key points?
  • Did the presentation include an effective introduction and conclusion?

Category Two: Clarity & Engagement

  • Was the presentation engaging? Did it make you want to know more?
  • Would this talk help a general/non-specialist audience be able to understand he research?
  • Did the slide enhance, rather than detract from, the talk – was it clear, legible, and concise?
  • Was the presenter enthusiastic, conversational, personable, and professional?
  • Did the presenter’s pacing and style capture and maintain your attention?
  • Did the presenter effectively and appropriately utilize non-verbal communication skills (i.e. eye contact, vocal variety, body movement, etc.)?

Not only will graduate students gain valuable skills and experience for their resumes/professional portfolios, there will also be awards for each category:

  • Master’s Student Research Category
    1st Place: $400 and a plaque
    2nd Place: $150 and a certificate
  • Doctoral Student Research Category
    1st Place: $400 and a plaque
    2nd Place: $150 and a certificate

University Presentation Showcase

EKU’s Scholars Showcase celebrates, showcases, and promotes faculty, student, faculty-student scholarship, research, and creative endeavors. Students are encouraged to apply to present as part of the University Presentation (UP) Showcase & Scholars Fair. This is a great opportunity for students to present their research or creative endeavor they have developed over the past year.

The event will take place on Wednesday, April 15th, 2026, 2:00 – 4:30 pm in the Keene Johnson building. Apply at this link. Application deadlines will be announced in the spring.

Abstract Criteria

  • Purpose of project
  • Process/methods
  • Findings/results
  • Conclusions/discussion

Novel Aspect Criteria

  • What is the importance/implications of the presented project?
  • What are the practical and/or theoretical applications?

Abstract Submission Instructions:

  • Visit the submission portal in Encompass
  • Create an account and login
  • Read the Encompass Copyright statement and click the box if you agree to the terms and conditions. Proceed to the next page.
  • Fill out the submission form, including all information about the presenters, mentor, the type of presentation, and whether the student is an undergraduate or graduate student
  • When the entire form is complete, please click submit

Submissions will then be reviewed by the UP Showcase Committee, who will inform the student whether it was accepted or not. They will also receive further instructions for uploading the presentation into Encompass, and participating in the showcase.

Templates for EKU Branded Academic Research Posters available through CBM.

Questions?
Undergraduate Coordinator: mike.lane@eku.edu
Graduate Coordinator: charles.elliott@eku.edu
Noel Studio: noelstudio@eku.edu

Faculty Writer’s Retreat

The Office of the Provost, the College of Business, EKU Libraries, and the Noel Studio for Academic Creativity have partnered to offer an EKU Faculty Writer’s Retreat, May 18, 19, and 20, 2026.

Think of this retreat as an “academic incarceration”! We provide you with a private space – away from the distractions of your office – to focus only on your writing.

For three days, this “academic incarceration” will provide private space to focus on your writing project, grant application, or the finishing touches of your latest draft. In return, you agree to write – and leave the grading, email, meetings, and social media at home, or in your office.

Arriving at the retreat with very specific writing tasks, whether conceptualizing and drafting a new manuscript or completing final revisions to a long-standing work, will allow you to maximize this opportunity.

All instructional faculty are welcome to apply – preference will be given to faculty preparing for a major review and to new faculty establishing a writing program.

2025 Attendees

  • Daniel Joseph
  • James Blair
  • Cynthia Tran
  • Karina Powell
  • Autumn Whitson
  • Heather Campbell
  • Sara Rico Godoy
  • Joshua Qualls
  • Carl Root
  • Kendall Simpson
  • Lisa Day
  • Erin Rhoden
  • Gabriella Bedetti