In many ways, the annual Keystone College Undergraduate Research and Creativity Celebration has come to signify the type of intellectually talented and engaged students that Keystone College has been fortunate to attract. Now in its third year, the Undergraduate Research Celebration features more than 100 exhibits highlighting year-long faculty mentored research projects, creative works, and senior capstone projects.
These projects, representing all of the college’s academic divisions (Business Management and Technology; Education; Fine Arts; and Natural Sciences and Mathematics), feature important research and noteworthy projects in science, medicine, technology, business, art, and education. Every field of study has its own research problems, tools, and data analysis methods. Critical research might take place in a laboratory, art studio, classroom, computer lab or in the community.
For example, at the 2011 Research and Creativity Celebration held in April, Keystone student Jenna Fancher conducted groundbreaking research on a protein linked to chronic fatigue syndrome and prostate cancer and Kandi Zaploski studied bacteria exposed to ultra-violet radiation. Jenna and Kandi have since graduated and are successfully continuing their education and respective careers. The results of their Keystone research may one day be published in educational or professional journals and then put into professional practice.
Their projects, and many others taking place on our dynamic campus, speak volumes regarding the quality of the academic work performed by Keystone students on a daily basis. People often assume that significant educational and scientific research takes place only at large graduate level institutions. That’s simply not the case. Important research projects are being completed at the undergraduate level across the country at large and small institutions alike.
At Keystone, research projects are coordinated by the Office of Undergraduate Research, which assists students and faculty by awarding College-supported grants, usually of $500-$1,500, to help in the completion of research projects. Awards are also given to faculty members for mentoring student projects. Each year the best projects are displayed at the Undergraduate Research and Creativity Celebration.
Additional scholarly communication is also a critical component of the research cycle. Students are required to present their research results to their peers, professors and the community. This gives them valuable experience in public speaking and creates exposure for themselves and Keystone College. Some students have had opportunities to present at national and international conferences. For example, Keystone students have presented their research at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR), at the Clute Institute’s conferences in Barcelona, Spain and Dublin, Ireland and at a forum on undergraduate research at the state capitol building in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Keystone College is fortunate to attract students and faculty who are dedicated not only to their own academic and professional careers but to helping others as well. Our mission to serve others through higher education has been part of the Keystone tradition since our founding and will continue in the years and decades to come.