2022 URAC Competition Prize Winners Announced

Westminster College recently announced the winners of several prize competitions held throughout the day at the annual Undergraduate Research and Arts Celebration (URAC) that took place on Wednesday, April 27.

The winners are listed below:

First-Year Poster Prize:

1st place: “Consumerism: Its Past, Our Future,” junior Ashley Tarter, a political science major from Alliance, Ohio.

2nd place: “Environmental Impact of Cryptocurrency,” first-years Matthew Kane, an environmental science major from Mantua, Ohio; David Kelly, a business administration major from Gibsonia, Pa.; Mitchell Myers, a business administration major from Beaver Falls, Pa. and sophomore Jordan Roser, a business administration major from Titusville, Pa.

3rd place: “Environmental Entrepreneurship: Westminster Bee Company,” first-years Matthew Kane; Shea O’Donnell, an environmental science major from Hatfield, Pa.; Tomi Taiwo, a business administration major from Pittsburgh; sophomore Megan Miller, an environmental studies major from New Castle, Pa.; juniors Victoria Harden, an individual interdisciplinary major from Greensburg, Pa,; Nathan Kacey, an environmental science major from Pittsburgh; seniors Baylee Horvath, a business administration major from Murrysville, Pa.; Trevor McCabe, an environmental science major from Avon, N.Y.; and Tyler Sportelli, an environmental science major from Natrona Heights, Pa.

Environmental Prize:

“Consumerism: Its Past, Our Future,” Ashely Tarter.

Diversity and Social Justice Award:

“Just Mercy: Inadequate Public Defense in U.S. Death Penalty Cases,” Makayla Wheeler, a criminal justice studies major from Millersport, Ohio.

Health and Well Being Award:

Posters: “Consumerism: Its Past, Our Future,” Ashley Tarter.

Roundtables: “Westminster College Global Health Project,” seniors Noah Pollio, a biology major from New Castle, Pa.; Sara Small, an individual interdisciplinary major from Beaver, Pa.; Lauryn Todd, a finance major from Lisbon, Ohio; Ashley Wire, a biochemistry major from Poland, Ohio and junior Jad Jadallah, a human resource management major from Canfield, Ohio.

Public Speeches: “The Masking of Neurodivergence: A Public Narrative,” sophomore Tyler Hunter, an English major from Trafford, Pa.

Art, Photography and Fashion Displays: “Exploration and Significance of Mycology,” senior Lindsey Rutledge, an individual interdisciplinary major from Pittsburgh.

Neuroscience Research Award: “The effects of Topiramate on the Development of the Nervous System using Zebrafish as a Model Organism,” senior Magen Polczynski, a neuroscience major from Irwin, Pa.

Psychology Research Award: “What Beliefs and Attitudes do Gender Diverse College Students have Regarding Sexual Assault and Rape Myths on Campus,” senior Jill Douglas, a psychology major from Fairhaven, Mass.

Nursing Capstone Prize: “Decreasing Left Without Being Seen Rates in the Emergency Rooms,” seniors Dominic Mymo, a nursing major from Hermitage, Pa. and Joshua Hutcherson, a nursing major from Uniontown, Ohio.

URAC, a day-long event that puts classes on pause, showcases the collaborative work between Westminster faculty and students.

For a list of all podium presenters, oral presentations, research roundtables, poster sessions, videos, performances and art displays at URAC 2022, click here.

For more information on URAC, click here.

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