UNO's 16th Annual Research and Creative Activity Fair: A Celebration of Academic Excellence

On Friday, March 22, the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s (UNO) campus was abuzz with the celebration of the 16th Annual Research and Creative Activity Fair (RCAF). For the first time in its history, the event was proudly sponsored by UNO's Alumni Association, UNeMed, and Great Plains IDEA.

“I first started participating in RCAF as a student at the very first fair. Now it is a tradition for me and important for celebrating all research and creative activity that occurs at UNO. It is a great way for students and their faculty mentors to showcase their work, gain confidence for presenting in a regional or national setting, as well as a way for the UNO community to learn more about the excellent and impactful work being conducted at UNO,” said Sara Myers, Ph.D., Associate Vice Chancellor for Research and Creative Activity at UNO.

From eloquent research presentations to show-stopping vocal performances, students gathered in the Barbara Weitz Community Engagement Center, the Strauss Performing Arts Center, Criss Library, and the Weber Fine Arts Building to demonstrate their skills.

The fair provides undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students with an unparalleled opportunity to showcase their cutting-edge research and innovative creative endeavors.

Spanning across all divisions, the fair saw participation from students representing each of UNO’s colleges, highlighting the diverse nature of academic exploration at the university.

Over its impressive 16-year history, RCAF has served as a resource to advance numerous academic scholars, performers, scientists, musicians, educators, social workers, artists, and many other professionals into successful careers.

“RCAF provides students with the opportunity to show off their work and inspire others. I am excited to share my research, which is a qualitative study of using storytelling to enhance the character strength of perspective in children,” said Macy Cummins, an undergraduate student majoring in psychology.

This year, 205 students delivered 199 presentations. Twenty submissions were selected from among the best across undergraduate and graduate categories for exhibits, oral and poster presentations, and performances or demonstrations.

2024 Research and Creative Activity Fair Winners

Here are this year’s award recipients, as determined by a panel of 99 judges and 37 moderators, comprised of community members, esteemed professionals, and UNO faculty members.

Undergraduate Performances or Demonstrations

Best: Ethan Robles

“Spirit Ingredient.” Advised by Lilly Lu, Ph.D.

Outstanding: Luke Koesters

“10,000 Years of Happiness, Selected Thesis Poems.” Advised by Todd Robinson, Ph.D.

Meritorious: Amanda Overfield

“From Script to Scene: A Directing Capstone.” Advised by Ron Zank, Ph.D.

Graduate Performances or Demonstrations

Best: Claire James

“Charanga: Cuban and Classical Flutistry” Advised by Christine Beard, D.M.A.

Outstanding: Matthew Sheppard

“Debussy through the Ears of Falla.” Advised by Hadley Heavin, M.Mus.

Meritorious: Ethan Christiansen

“Nothing is Real: A Discussion of Sound and Music.” Advised by Hannah Weaver, D.M.A.

Undergraduate Poster Presentations

Best: Andrew Huang

“Using Common Marmoset (Callithrix Jacchus) Feces to Isolate and Characterize Acinetobacter” Advised by: Jonathan B. Clayton, Ph.D.

Outstanding: Victor Rivero

“Human Blood Cell Isolation: THE CRITICAL FIRST STEP IN OUR LABORATORY’S IMMUNOBIOLOGY EXPERIMENTAL PROTOCALS” Advised by: Paul W. Denton, Ph.D.

Meritorious: Bailey Shubert

“When is “I’m Sorry” Not Enough?: An exploration of breaking bad news in a simulated clinical setting.” Advised by: Timi Barone, Ph.D.

Honorable Mention: Kathryn Chain, Dylan Herrmann, and Julio Navas

“Solving Two-Dimensional Schrödinger Equation for a Double Well Potential Using Analytical and Variational Methods.” Advised by: Wai-Ning Mei, Ph.D.

Graduate Poster Presentations

Best: Kennady Ruffcorn

“Does Lack of Psychological Readiness Influence Reinjury in Athletes at Return to Play After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Surgery?” Advised by: Adam Rosen, Ph.D.

Outstanding: Seung Kyeom Kim

“Bridge Between Predictability and Complexity in Human Gait.” Advised by: Aaron Likens, Ph.D.

Meritorious: Sarah Woelfel

“The Relationship Between Patellar Tendon Anthropometrics and Modifiable Risk Factors of Patellar Tendinopathy.” Advised by: Adam Rosen, Ph.D.

Honorable Mention: Christine Stasi-Arispe

“How to Successfully Implement Practical Functional Assessment in School Settings.” Advised by: Adam Weaver, Ph.D.

Undergraduate Oral Presentations

Best: Nathaniel Booher

“BET Inhibitor Exposure Impacts on Cancer Cells’ Surface Expression of NK Cell Ligands.” Advised by: Paul W. Denton, Ph.D.

Outstanding: Angela Truong

“Surface CD16 Modulation by Toll-Like Receptor 9 (TLR9) Agonism on Human Natural Killer Cells.” Advised by: Paul W. Denton, Ph.D.

Meritorious: Diya Joy Varughese

“Employing an Experimental Approach to Study the Killing Capacity of Natural Killer Cells.” Advised by: Paul W. Denton, Ph.D.

Honorable Mention: Donald Rogers

“Validation and Implementation of Human-specific Multiplex Analysis to Quantify the Inflammatory Response in the Plasma of Common Marmosets (Callithrix jacchus).” Advised by: Paul W. Denton, Ph.D.

Graduate Oral Presentations

Best: Adarsha Bhattari

“Security Mechanisms and Communication Strategies for the Adaptive Partition of Remote Electrocardiogram (ECG) Diagnosis Between Wearable Sensor Net and Cloud.” Advised by: Dongming Peng, Ph.D.

Outstanding: Theodore Deligiannis

"Negative Impact of Aging on Gait Autocorrelation: A Mised-Effects Analysis of Stride Interval Dynamics.” Advised by: Aaron Likens, Ph.D.

Meritorious: Diana Mwikisa

“Uterine Fibroids: A Silent Crisis.” Advised by: Roma Subramanian, Ph.D.

Honorable Mention: Alexia Rains

“The Relationship Between Compensatory Behavior and Balance Control During Walking in Stroke Survivors.” Advised by: Mukul Mukherjee, Ph.D.

Undergraduate Exhibits

Best: Amiey Elsasser

“DERMA: Expressions in Body Paint Post Spinal Injury.” Advised by: Mark Gilbert, Ph.D.

Outstanding: Kennedy Wallman

“Experiences In Femininity.” Advised by: David Helm, Ph.D.

Meritorious: Kiara Hernandez Padron

“Desolation.” Advised by: Rebecca Norris.

Honorable Mention: Savana Schiltz

“Spring.” Advised by: Rebecca Norris.