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Tennessee Tech University celebrated its 18th annual Research and Creative Inquiry Day, an event that provides a platform for students from various academic backgrounds to showcase their innovative research and creative projects to a broad audience. 

More than 200 students submitted abstracts on a wide range of topics from 24 fields of study, representing six different colleges on campus, through engaging posters and paper presentations. 

University leaders note that this year’s participants demonstrated a passion for their work, a drive for excellence and an impressive range of skills - contributions that reflect Tech's commitment to fostering a culture of research and to providing students with the resources and support they need to succeed. 

“We are so proud of all of our students working with faculty, and their outstanding efforts highlighted during Research Day. We had a great turnout and tremendous quality across so many disciplines. This year there was truly something of interest for everyone at Research Day 2023,” said Tech's Interim Vice President for Research Carl Pinkert. 

The university continues to focus on growing research. For the 2022-2023 year, externally funded research hit over $20 million and is on track to have its biggest year in Tech history. 

“These students who participate in research are not afraid to be bold and take risks,” Tech President Phil Oldham said. “An added benefit is that Tech’s talented faculty and staff mentor and support these students throughout the year, so they build scholarship and relationships together.”

This year's winners included:

College of Agriculture and Human Ecology 

• Agriculture
  • Madison Jones, undergraduate
  • Kenny Pierce, graduate
    
    
• Human Ecology
  • Alyson Parks, undergraduate
  • Kathryn Dye, undergraduate
  • Hailey Smith, undergraduate
  • Krissie Miranda, graduate 

College of Arts and Sciences 

• Biology
  • Natalie Perkins, undergraduate
  • Holly Gothard, graduate
    
    
• Chemistry
  • Shawna Radford Coulter, undergraduate
  • Sydney Decatur, undergraduate
  • Alice Letran, undergraduate
  • Samiat Olayiwola, graduate
    
    
• Earth Sciences
  • Gabi Burke, undergraduate
  • Clarice Kiser, undergraduate
    
    
• English
  • Hailey Reagan, undergraduate
  • Nicki Parish, graduate
    
    
• History
  • Cheyenne Douthitt, undergraduate
    
    
• Mathematics
  • Angus Bryant, graduate
    
    
• Physics
  • Luke Parsons, undergraduate
    
    
• Sociology and Political Science
  • Marlee Miller, undergraduate
    
    

College of Business 

• Accounting
  • Clay Melton, undergraduate 
    
    

College of Education & Human Sciences 

• Counseling and Psychology
  • Jessica Mitchell, graduate
• Curriculum and Instruction
  • Carey Wilson, graduate
    
    
• Exercise Science
  • Spencer Stiles, undergraduate 
    
    

College of Engineering 

• Chemical Engineering
  • Silas Boyd, undergraduate
  • Shafieh Karami, graduate
    
    
• Computer Science
  • Katherine Phillips, undergraduate
  • Ocheme Anthony Ekle, graduate
  • Matthew Brotherton, graduate
  • Daniel Simpson, graduate
  • Bethanie Williams, graduate
    
    
• Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Austin Jerrolds, undergraduate
  • Emmanuel Aboah Boateng, graduate 
  • Joshua Lolonyo Korku Avornyo, graduate
  • Taiye Owu, graduate
  • Mohammad Alshaikh Ali, graduate
    
    
• Mechanical Engineering
  • Miguel Fuentes Garcia, undergraduate
  • Jacob Hott, graduate 
    
    

College of Fine Arts 

• Music
  • Jacob Starker, undergraduate 
    
    

For more information about the research presented at this year's Research and Creative Inquiry Day, visit: https://www.tntech.edu/research/research-day.php/

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