York College of Pennsylvania hosted its annual Undergraduate Research Showcase this spring, highlighting students' diverse and impactful work across a wide range of disciplines. From the prominence of childhood lead poisoning in York City to the radicalization of the gaming industry, about 30 student-led research projects were presented to the campus community.
Organized to promote and celebrate the hard work and in-depth research of YCP students, the event included poster presentations and a competitive oral presentation round judged by a faculty panel. All projects were nominated by faculty or fellow students, reflecting the high caliber of work produced across campus.
Dr. Molly Sauder, Dean of the Graham School of Business, oversaw 10 student presenters from her school alone. She praised the variety and depth of research on display.
“You’re going to see a little bit of everything,” Dr. Sauder said. “Everything from a big project a student worked on in class to a study they did. Over the last few years, it’s been amazing to see the level our students are performing at. It’s also been great to see the diversity and inclusivity of what makes scholarship.”
Dr. Sauder emphasized the personal connection many students have to their work. “This research is an intersection of personal interest and professional interest that led them there,” she said. “The students can take something they are interested in and related to their majors and create something we may not have known before.”
Attendees were invited to vote for their favorite poster presentation. Stephen Torregrossa's project, “Decline of Pocono Resort Tourism,” won a $50 People's Choice award.
In addition, five students were selected to give oral presentations in a judged competition. Kimberly Bautista Ruiz earned the top prize of $200 for her research on “Preventing Misperceptions on the Racial Economic Gap.” Evan Gibbs was named runner-up, receiving $100 for his project on “Elucidating the Heterogeneity of D. Melanogaster Wing Morphology Using Wasserstein Geometry.” The three other presentation finalists—Nevin Ferry, Lydia Sanderson, and Grace Strickland—were each awarded $50 as honorable mentions.
Some students received funding from the Graham Center for Collaborative Innovation (GCCI) to pursue independent research—another example of the college’s commitment to hands-on learning and real-world application.
“I think York has always been good at this,” said Dr. Sauder, “but I think we’ve showcased even more that scholarship can mean discovery.”
The full slate of presentation finalists included:
Kimberly Bautista Ruiz
Nevin Ferry
Lydia Sanderson
Grace Strickland
