Liberty announces Research Week winners, celebrates highest event turnout

Liberty University students were recognized for their outstanding work across countless areas of research Wednesday morning during the awards ceremony for this year’s Research Week, held April 15-18.

Open to both undergraduate and graduate students in Liberty’s residential and online programs, Research Week is a multidisciplinary event hosted by the Jerry Falwell Library in collaboration with the Office of Sponsored Programs & Research and The Graduate School. The event began in 2017 and is designed to highlight excellent research and scholarship studies by Liberty students.

The week kicked off with a keynote address by Dr. Scott Hayes, dean of Liberty’s School of Communication & the Arts, followed by three days of posters and oral presentations. Faculty members from across the university served as the judges.

Wednesday’s ceremony opened with a prayer and brief welcome from Angela Rice, dean of the Jerry Falwell Library, who said that the more than 400 student participants and over 300 projects presented this year marked the largest involvement of any Research Week to date.

Dr. Brian Yates, vice provost for residential programs, also spoke, acknowledging the value of the students’ participation in events like Research Week where they can share their discoveries as Christ followers in their given fields.

“Thank you for thinking from a biblical perspective to show the beauty of the world that God has created for us,” Yates said. “Thank you for being Christian researchers and scholars, and thank you for being here today.”

Awards were presented in 26 categories with winners for first, second, and third place.

2024 First-place Winners

(View the full list of the winners)

Undergraduate Awards 

Basic Poster: Carleigh Warsing

Basic Oral: Garrett Bohrnstedt

Applied Poster: Aidan Clancy and Meghan Gardiner

Undergraduate Applied Oral: Danielle Malanowski

Theoretical Proposal Poster: Delaney Rowe

Theoretical Proposal Oral Winners: Jack Gregory

Textual or Investigative Poster: Cherith Bradshaw

Textual or Investigative Oral: Elizabeth Rogerson

Creative & Artistic Poster: Adonai Brown

Creative & Artistic Oral: Hannah Grace Shirley

Performing Arts: Sarah Heath

2-D Juried Arts: Cassandra Poorman

3-D Juried Arts: Jennifer Trahant

Graphic Design Juried Arts: Rachel Rosenberger

Three-Minute Thesis: Joseph Krahn

Graduate Awards

Basic Poster: Reid Prichard

Basic Oral: Christopher Jaus and Kaelyn Haynie

Applied Poster: Andrea Mackenzie

Applied Oral: Abigail Frommack and Seth Woodfin

Theoretical Proposal Poster: Tanner Bohan

Theoretical Proposal Oral: Lindsay Anton

Textual or Investigative Poster: Victor Lambongang

Textual or Investigative Oral: Christian Mumpower

Creative & Artistic Oral: Sarah Tate

Performing Theatre Arts: Lindsay Anton

Three-Minute Thesis: Sophia Jantomaso