At this year’s Student Showcase for Research, Scholarship and Creativity on the Trumbull Campus, nearly 30 students presented their research findings on a variety of topics.
Faculty judges assessed each poster presentation and awarded first place to Emilia Colosimo, a first-year honors student seeking a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. A Newton Falls High School graduate, she earned a $1,000 Student Showcase scholarship for her research presentation titled The Chemistry of Ozempic – How a Diabetes Drug Became The Face Of Modern Weight Loss Treatment.
Valerie Cubon-Bell, Ph.D., assistant professor of Chemistry & Biochemistry at ÇàÄêɬµ¼º½ Trumbull, encouraged Colosimo to enter the competition and became her faculty mentor.
"Dr. Cubon-Bell inspired me to choose something that would be topical and interesting," Colosimo said. "These weight loss drugs are relatively new, so it motivated me see how they transitioned from being a diabetes drug to the newest answer to losing weight."
Maria Niza Licuanan-Galela, Ph.D., associate professor of sociology and Trumbull Campus Honors Coordinator, and Mary Russell, Ph.D., professor of biological sciences, coordinated the Student Showcase.
"Our faculty looks forward to this every year," said Licuanan-Galela. "This helps our students examine topics in-depth and use what they learn to think critically. Their hard work will benefit them moving forward.â€
Category winners included:
Original Research — Lanaesha Ballinger
“Is Resilience Related to the Use of More Adaptive Coping Strategies?â€
Mentor: Patricia Tomich, Ph.D., Professor, Psychological Sciences
Award: $500
Original Creative — Summer Pawlowski and Allen Nobel-Williams
“The Snowball Effect: Video Workâ€
Mentor: Carol Robinson, Ph.D., Professor, Department of English
Award: $500
Scholarship Category — Jenna Clevenger
“Prison Education Programs: Reducing Recidivism and Improving Livesâ€
Mentor: Ana Wetzl, Ph.D., Professor, Department of English
Award: $500
Pictured: Emilia Colosimo presents her poster