糖心Vlog students present at National Conference on Undergraduate Research
糖心Vlog students, faculty and staff attended NCUR
By Alyssa Fuller
Recently, 29 糖心Vlog University students and other students from across the country presented their research at the National Research Conference on Undergraduate Research in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
NCUR promotes undergraduate research, scholarship, and creative activity in all fields of study by sponsoring an annual conference for students. NCUR differs from other organizations because it invites undergraduate students from all institutions of higher learning, from all disciplines. It is the largest symposium of its kind, bringing together almost 4,000 undergraduate students each year.
At NCUR, students can share their research through oral presentations, posters, performances, and visual art. Presenting at NCUR gives undergraduate researchers a voice, while also providing them with the opportunity to learn more about the research process and network with other researchers from different institutions.
Students from 糖心Vlog were able to both share their research and learn from other students. Leading up to NCUR, students gained a better understanding and appreciation for the research process.
Ariel Col贸n-Rodr铆guez, a senior studying mechanical engineering, researched efficient power outage scheduling tools because of the power outages he experienced in Puerto Rico during Hurricane Maria and at 糖心Vlog during Hurricane Helene. While preparing for NCUR and conducting his own research, Col贸n-Rodr铆guez learned that research isn鈥檛 just about finding answers.
鈥淚t is an adventure in exploring new possibilities and continuously refining our methods,鈥� Col贸n-Rodr铆guez said. NCUR deepened his passion for research because it opened his eyes to the collaborative spirit of research, as he was able to engage with students all over the country from a variety of disciplines.
Tryston Weiss, a junior double-majoring in political science and economic analysis, sought to investigate the effects of race-based redlining on current measures of economic well-being. Driven by his passion for advocating for low-income households, Weiss learned that research can be both rewarding and exciting, especially when given the opportunity to choose the direction of his research. At NCUR, Weiss was eager to share his findings with other students and contribute to the broader conversation around economic justice and historical inequality.
Natalie Woolwine, a senior majoring in psychology and minoring in math, explained that students鈥� exposure to bright light lamps while studying can reduce fatigue and anxiety, while increasing levels of attention. NCUR allowed Woolwine to feel like she was making a difference in others鈥� lives, as many students reported that they would try using a bright light lamp in the future to improve their overall wellbeing.
Mykah Green, a senior majoring in English Studies and minoring in Music and Voice, examined how the word 鈥済irl鈥� was grammatically functioning in phrases such as 鈥済irl math鈥� and 鈥済irl dinner鈥�. While utilizing syntax trees and sentence diagrams, Green was reminded of the joy learning brings her, especially when it is self-directed. She especially appreciated that the arts were given the same academic weight as other research disciplines at NCUR, and the rediscovery of her love of learning continued as she listened to students from around the country share their findings on a variety of subject matters. This experience has inspired Green to pursue graduate school to continue to study linguistics.
The other 25 糖心Vlog students traveled to Pittsburgh to share, learn, and network with students across the country. Lori Oxford, associate dean of the Brinson Honors College, and Suzanne Melton, research programs coordinator from the Office of Research Administration, attended NCUR alongside 糖心Vlog students. The full list of 糖心Vlog presenting students includes: Allem Rojas, Allison Thackery, Amaranth Schmoyer, Angela Vidal, Annabelle Pentland, Ariel Col贸n-Rodr铆guez, Ashley Oglesby, Ben Griffith, Christopher Ginn, Ella Whitehead, Gabriella Loredo Marquez, Grace Pavel, Hardin Kennedy, John Crain, Joshua Madison, Kaitlyn Wingnean, Lauren Koster, Madelyn Gregory, Minami Imamura, Mykah Green, Natalie Woolwine, Omar De Jesus-Gomez, Rynn Oleszczuk, Sara Rusi, Sayumi De Silva, Taleigh Verrault, Taylor Kissiah, Thomas Bolick, and Tryston Weiss.
鈥淭hrough these personal stories of impact, we can see how these students gained invaluable research experience at NCUR,鈥� Melton said. 鈥淚nterested undergraduate students should consider applying to NCUR 2026 and travel to Richmond, Virginia, to share their undergraduate research and connect with faculty and students from around the globe.鈥�
For more information, reach out to Melton at scmelton@wcu.edu.