Students majoring in biology, theatre arts and marine science majors took first place honors in the annual Undergraduate Research Competition at Coastal Carolina University. The awards will be formally presented at the Honors Convocation on Thursday, May 4, at 6 p.m. in Wheelwright Auditorium. The public is invited to attend.

More than 100 presentations were delivered by students from 22 majors representing all five of CCU's academic colleges, illustrating the outstanding quality of student research at the University and the wealth of experiential learning opportunities at CCU.

The student presentations were judged by nearly 60 faculty judges. First, second and third place awards were given in three award categories: Oral Presentations in the Natural and Applied Sciences, Oral Presentations in the Humanities and Fine Arts, Business, and Education, and Poster Presentations (all subjects).

Oral Presentations: Natural and Applied Sciences

1st place: Ashley Pribble, biology major, "Characterizing Galactosemia in C. elegans" (faculty mentor Daniel Williams)

2nd place: Kaitlyn Benson, biology major/psychology minor, "Gender, Perceived Stress and Coping Strategy as Predictors of Emotional Eating in College Students" (faculty mentor Linda Palm)

3rd place: Daniele Aguilera, psychology major, "College Students' Attitudes Toward Deservingness of Government Assistance" (faculty mentor Joan Piroch)

Oral Presentations: Humanities and Fine Arts, Business and Education

1st place: Dara Potts, theatre arts major, "Clown Therapy: Healing One Laugh at a Time" (faculty mentors Amy Tully and Ben Sota)

2nd place: Charlie Whittington, political science major, "The Emergence of Leaders: State Supreme Court Justices" (faculty mentor Mikel Norris)

3rd place: Amelia Dobbs, musical theatre major, "Jack Cole and Andy Blankenbuehler: The Influence of Ethnic Dance on Choreographic Style" (faculty mentor Adam Pelty)

Poster Presentations (all subjects):

1st place: Madeleine Lee, marine science major, "The Movement of Nitrogen through a Stormwater Retention Pond System" (faculty mentor Angelos Hannides)

2nd place: Cierra Lucas, biology major, "Digestive Efficiency and Energetic Content in the Prey of Diamondback Terrapins" (faculty mentor Scott Parker)

3rd place: Nicholas Conway, marine science major, "Tracing Extreme Floods of the Waccamaw River Using Oxbow Lake Deposits" (faculty mentor Zhixiong Shen)