Six students have been named winners in Coastal Carolina University's first Undergraduate Research Competition, which was held as part of the recent 2009 Celebration of Inquiry conference.

As a new feature of this year's annual Celebration of Inquiry, students were invited to present their research projects to a University faculty panel of judges. Presentation topics ranged from a variety of disciplines, and judges rated each project on established research and presentation criteria.

Winners include:

* First place: Nicole Horton, a senior arts major from Mullins, and Frances Stankiewicz, a senior marine science major from Fountain Inn, for "Ashes2Art: Digital Reconstruction of Ancient Monuments," $500 award

* Second place (tie): Gabrielle Folger, senior marine science major from Myrtle Beach, and Jeff Renchen, senior marine science major from Fort Thomas, Ky., for "The Effect of Submerged Groundwater Springs on Nutrition and Salinity Dynamics in Discovery Bay, Jamaica," $300 award

* Second place (tie): Kerry Hendrix, junior English major from Murrells Inlet, for "Heterosexualizing of Lesbian Romance," $300 award

* Third place: Candace Hoover, junior elementary education major from North Myrtle Beach, for "The Little Mermaid: A Study of Women Under the Sea," $100 award

For more information on the Undergraduate Research Competition, visit www.coastal.edu/inquiry/2009/competition.html.