Sharon Gaber, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs, presented awards to 20 first-place winners in the University of Arkansas’ graduate research competition during ceremonies Monday, Feb. 25, at the Janelle Y. Hembree Alumni House.

“The quality of the research presentations this year speaks volumes about the quality of our graduate students and the faculty that mentor these exceptional students,” Gaber said. “As the University of Arkansas continues to grow, our graduate students will continue to play an important role in our success and in our effort to become a top 50 public research university.”

More than 120 graduate students from all academic areas on campus competed in the sixth-annual contest, “From Abstract to Contract: Graduate Student Research and Creative Expression Competition.” The public viewing and judging portion of the competition was held Feb. 8 in Mullins Library. The winners received $200; those placing second got $100.

Winners are:

First place

• Ashley Binns, a doctoral student in kinesiology and exercise science; her adviser is Michelle Gray.
• John Blanchar, a doctoral student in experimental psychology; his adviser is Scott Eidelman.
• Ashleigh Burns, a master of fine arts student in drama and scenic design; her adviser is Pat Martin.
• Ananya Chakravarti, a doctoral student in cell and molecular biology; her adviser is David S. McNabb.
• Donna Davis, a doctoral student in environmental dynamics; her adviser is Frank L. Farmer.
• Jace Hollenbeck, a master’s student in animal science; his adviser is Jason Apple.
• Daniel Keeton, a master’s student in agricultural economics; his adviser is Michael Popp.
• Brian Kisida, a doctoral student in education reform; his adviser is Jay P. Greene.
• Bhanu Prasanth Koppolu, a doctoral student in biomedical engineering; his adviser is David Zaharoff.
• Mary Kordsmeier, a master’s student in food science; her adviser is Luke Howard.
• Cassandra Marnocha, a doctoral student in space and planetary sciences; her adviser is John Dixon.
• Si Hong Park, a doctoral student in cell and molecular biology; his adviser is Steven C. Ricke.
• Noah Pittman, a doctoral student in public policy; his adviser is Michael Miller.
• Tyson Raper, a doctoral student in cotton physiology; his adviser is Derek M. Oosterhuis.
• Timothy Seidel, a doctoral student in accounting; his adviser is Linda Myers.
• Mahmoud Sharara, a doctoral student in biological and agricultural engineering; his adviser is Samy Sadaka.
• Matthew Strasser, a doctoral student in civil engineering; his adviser is R. Paneer Selvam.
• Jingjing Tong, a doctoral student in industrial engineering; her adviser is Heather Nachtmann.
• Amber Tripodi, a doctoral student in entomology; her adviser is Allen Szalanski.

Second place

• Emily Arijaje, a doctoral student in food science; her adviser is Ya-Jane Wang.
• Nathanial Cahill, a master’s student in agricultural economics; his adviser is Michael Popp.
• Mallory Everett, a master’s student in entomology; her adviser is Robert Wiedenmann.
• Eric Fernstrom, a doctoral student in engineering; his adviser is Kirk Grimmelsman.
• Jordan Glenn, a doctoral student in exercise science; his adviser is Ro Di Brezzo.
• Jacob Haislip, a doctoral student in accounting; his adviser is Linda Myers.
• Zachery Heller, a master’s student in biomedical engineering; his adviser is Jeffery Wolchok.
• Diana Kaiser, a master of fine arts student in drama; her adviser is Pat Martin.
• Kristin Kelley, a master’s student in sociology; her adviser is Jeff Gruenewald.
• Erika Kohler, a doctoral student in space and planetary sciences; her adviser is Claud Lacy.
• Issam Moussaoui, a doctoral student in supply chain management; his adviser is John Aloysius.
• Jonathan Mills, a doctoral student in education reform; his adviser is Gary Ritter.
• Christiane Pilon, a doctoral student in crop, soil and environmental sciences; her adviser is Derek M. Oosterhuis.
• Kalavathy Rajan, a doctoral student in food science; her adviser is Danielle Julie Carrier.
• Ana Roso, a doctoral student in agronomy; her adviser is Nilda Roma Burgos.
• Everrett Smith, a doctoral student in public policy; his adviser is Michael T. Miller.
• William Smith, a master’s student in animal science; his adviser is Kenneth P. Coffey.
• Marla Steele, a doctoral student in biology; her adviser is Doug James.
• Chase Stoudenmire, a master’s student in history; his adviser is Alessandro Brogi.