UNK Online
UNK Online
University of Nebraska at Kearney 2025 Graduate Research Awards
Graduate Oral Presentation
Natural and Physical Sciences
1st Place: Cody McGregor - “Avian Communities in Varying Stages of Restored Riparian Habitat Along the Platte River”, Biology, Mentor: Jayne Jonas-Bratten
Fine Arts and Humanities
1st Place: Kiley Truex - “Basic Writing through the Lens of Mina Shaughnessy: The Ideas and Influence of the Field's Most Prominent Figure”, English, Mentor: Amanda Sladek
2nd Place: Amelia Rodgers - “Evangelical Activism, Domestic Ideology, and Women's Desires in the Victorian Novel”, English, Mentor: Susan Honeyman
Graduate Poster Presentation
Fine Arts and Humanities
1st Place: Joseph Colanino - “Remembering the Red Summer: The Commemoration of Omaha's Riot in 1919”, History, Mentor: Will Stoutamire
2nd Place: Katie Henry - “Forgotten West: The Lost Integrity of Josephine Meeker”, History, Mentor: Will Stoutamire
Professional and Applied Studies
1st Place: Charlotte Okraska - “Ethical Challenges in Counseling: Future Counselors' Approaches to Political Discussions with Clients”, Counseling School Psychology and Family Science, Mentor: Umut Arslan
2nd Place: Gabrielle Oborny - “Identifying Deficits in Joint Mechanics for Return-to-Play Decisions after ACLR Surgery in High School and College athletes.”, Kinesiology and Sports Sciences, Mentor: Kazuma Akehi
Thesis Awards
Outstanding Thesis Award 2023 - 2024
Christy Gordon Baty - “Rare and Curious Covers”: Embroidered Book Bindings in Early Modern England. Will Stoutamire – History, Advisor
Best Thesis Award in the Natural Sciences 2023 - 2024
Sunanda Rajput - Sex Differences in Innate immune Response Following Peanut Exposure. Joseph Dolence – Biology, Advisor
Best Thesis Award in Humanities 2023 - 2024
Kalen Krantz - The Gothic Horror Tradition and Religious Sanctity: Terror and Faith in Midnight Mass (2021). Rebecca Umland – English, Advisor
Graduate Student of the Year
UNK Graduate Student of the Year
Kristen Wetovick - Teacher Education – Learning Design and Technology
College of Arts and Sciences Graduate Student of the Year
Kattie Sadd - Communication – MA in Public Communication
College of Business and Technology Graduate Student of the Year
Chloe Dakan - Business Administration – Master of Business Administration (MBA)
College of Education Graduate Student of the Year
Jarod Owen - Communication Disorders – Masters in Speech-Language Pathology
Faculty Mentor Awards
Graduate Research Mentor of the Year
Dr. Mary Harner - Professor of Communications
