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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.

The 2026 Scholars Showcase schedule will be available late Fall 2025.

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.

Proposals are due Monday, April 7, 2025 at 8:00 AM. 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. Blair at james.blair@eku.edu or Dr. Huq at tahsin.huq@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 event will occur on Monday, April 14, 2025 from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM in the Faculty Center for Teaching & Learning, Crabbe Library 318. 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.

  • Wednesday, March 18, 2026 – Deadline to register for competition
  • Thursday, April 2, 2026 – Deadline for video submissions
  • Friday, April 3 – Thursday, April 9, 2026 – Video judging
  • Friday, April 10, 2026 – Email notification to finalists
  • 11 a.m., Tuesday, April 15, 2026 – 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 9, 2025, 2:00-4:30 pm in the Keene Johnson building. Apply at this link. Applications are due on March 18th, with early consideration beginning March 8th.”

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 21, 22, and 23, 2025 in Perkins.

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

For three days, this “academic incarceration” will provide private space in Perkins 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