SPOTLIGHT September 2026
Welcome Back!
Welcome back to another year at HPU with the Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Works! We hope you had a great summer, whether you were away or engaged in research and creative projects. In this year’s first issue of Spotlight, we’re celebrating a major milestone: HPU’s first ever AURA Award, a prestigious national honor recognizing excellence in undergraduate research (see image at left). We’re also highlighting opportunities to build your credentials, including presenting at SNCURCS and earning new microcredentials, along with the many ways to get involved in research and creative works this semester.
What’s Inside?
Welcome Back.................................................. 1
The URCW Mission Statement
The Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Works mission is to bring together undergraduate students and faculty members for the purpose of creating unique and collaborative projects. By fostering an imaginative research experience, we hope to promote the development of new competencies, encourage critical thinking skills, inspire students to add to the global sum of human knowledge, and help students develop the skills to be competitive in the marketplace.
AURA Award & SNCURCS........................... 2 New Microcredentialing Program................ 3 Research Apprentice Ceremony................... 4 Summer Research Recap.............................. 5 General Resources.......................................... 6 Why Do Undergraduate Research?.............. 7 Join the Registry............................................... 8
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URCW WINS 2025 AURA AWARD! HPU earns its first national honor for undergraduate research
Awards the Office of Undergraduate Research & Creative Works (URCW)
and
with the
AURA Campus-Wide Award for Undergraduate Research Accomplishments
2025
In case you missed the exciting news last spring, HPU received the 2025 AURA Award, a prestigious national honor from the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) recognizing institutions with exemplary undergraduate research programs! AURA recipients demonstrate the depth and breadth of their undergraduate research initiatives, as well as a commitment to innovation. CUR Executive Officer Lindsay Currie praised HPU for its “exceptional commitment to fostering a culture of inquiry, mentorship, and discovery” and for providing meaningful research experiences across a variety of disciplines. The award reflects HPU’s growing culture of undergraduate research. Through student funding, research symposia like High-PURCS, and faculty-student collaborations, URCW supports students in turning their ideas into meaningful research and creative work. Dr. Joanne Altman, Director of Undergraduate Research and Creative Works, emphasized the significance of the recognition: “The AURA Award is the highest honor an office of undergraduate research can earn, and we are excited to be a recipient.”
IT’S NOT TOO LATE FOR SNCURCS! Register to present your research & creative work at UNCC
The State of North Carolina Undergraduate Research and Creativity Symposium (SNCURCS) is the largest research symposium in North Carolina and is available to all undergraduate students across the state. This year, SNCURCS will be held at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte on Saturday, November 7th from approximately 8:30am–4:30pm. If you’re looking for an opportunity to practice presenting research, need experience to add to your resume, or want to absorb student research from all over North Carolina, register NOW! Students must submit applications and abstracts to the SNCURCS website (linked below) by October 1st. Students must also register through URCW by October 1st to have their $35 application fee covered by URCW. Students who register separately or after the deadline will be responsible for paying the application fee themselves. We look forward to seeing you at SNCURCS!
Find the link to submit your abstracts to SNCURCS here, then register for SNCURCS through URCW here Spotlight 2
STAND OUT WITH A NEW RESEARCH MICROCREDENTIAL! URCW offers opportunity to showcase research & career skills
URCW is excited to announce a new microcredentialing opportunity for undergraduates looking to develop their research, communication, and career-readiness skills. Through our partnership with HigherEd+ and the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR), students can earn two badges and two certifi-cates that will ultimately prepare them for graduate study, the industry workforce, and lifelong learning. These credentials are valued at $1000, but through URCW, it’s completely free! Read below to learn more about each different certification and how to take advantage of this opportunity.
CUR Undergraduate Researchers Badge
The first badge students can earn is called the CUR Undergraduate Researchers badge. To gain this badge, students must complete a course bundle of 12 modules which amount to 17 hours. Some of these courses include: “How to Write a Conference Paper or Poster Proposal,” “How to Conduct a Literature Search Using AI Tools,” and “How to Write a Resume for Industry Job Applications.”
Research Methods Badge & Certificates
The second badge is the Research Methods badge, where students complete 8 modules over 10.5 hours, such as “Reliability & Validity in Research” and “Experimental Research Designs.” Individual certificates are also available, including How to Cultivate Effective Study Habits, which takes 25 minutes, and Mastering Reference Management Software, which takes 1.75 hours.
Visit the “Microcredentialing (NEW)” tab on our website by clicking here to apply for access to these programs and learn more about how to get started! Spotlight 3
CELEBRATING OUR NEW RESEARCH APPRENTICES Congratulations from URCW!
This September, we celebrated a large class of Research Rookies as they were elevated to Research Apprentices at our Research Apprentice Ceremony! Students who complete the Research Rookies program over two consecutive semesters— including 15 activities such as workshops, online assignments, and discussions, along with one micro research experience—are awarded Research Apprentice status, earning a certificate, a medal to wear at graduation, and the skills necessary to jumpstart their journey in undergraduate research. Each Research Apprentice celebrated their accomplishments with peers, faculty, and family by sharing their future aspirations for research, with many already connected with mentors in their fields.
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Congratulations to the following students who were elevated to Research Apprentice: Sophia A. Bellino, Kaylee Brooks, Madyson Carter, Nyla Castro, Annabelle Cloud, Allison Dishman, Aubrey Durham, Kiora Gibbs, Logan Hodge, Alexa Irons, Bethany Jenkins, Kasen Kalafut, Nelia Kelleher, Jake Kimbro, Raina Lassissi, Rana Gabrielle Ligue, Julia Matachun, Sophia Messerly, Caitlin Anne Michaelis, Scarlett Peabody, Veda Puri, Eva J. Richardson, Isabella Spencer, and Faith Wagoner
SUMMER SUMMED UP
New summer research program sparks a summer of discovery Each summer, students from a variety of disciplines join new and existing mentors as they dive into one of URCW’s summer research programs: The Summer Research Institute (SuRI), The Summer Research Program in the Sciences (SuRPS), The Congdon School of Health Sciences (CSHS) Summer Research Fellowship (SuRF), and our brand new engineering research program SURE. Congratulations to the 93 students who completed these programs over the course of 10 weeks during the summer, and to the 10 students who enrolled in the new engineering program! If you’re interested in staying on campus and working in research over the summer, make sure to keep your eye on new projects developing on campus from your favorite professors. Applications for summer research open in January! If you’re thinking about conducting research next summer, see what these students gained from their research experiences below.
Ava De Simone
Abbey McRae
“I had the opportunity to learn from an experienced mentor who guided me through different aspects of the research process. I was encouraged to ask questions, think critically, and navigate challenges, which greatly improved my confidence and adaptability.”
“Building a project from the ground came with the realization that elements will likely change, and I needed to be patient and ready to adapt. I really enjoyed collaborating with my mentor to develop the literature review and stimulus, as well as learning to discuss complex topics like my research with anyone through the pitch competition.”
Holley Lowe
Keira Chestnut
“I have had the opportunity to learn many transferable lab skills that I can see serving me in my future career in research!”
“Through my first research experience with the 2026 SURE team, I learned the importance of precise data collection and written procedures. I am deeply grateful for this opportunity and look forward to future research endeavors!”
Year: Class of 2027 Program: SuRF Research Topic: Remote Therapeutic Monitoring using Wearable Technology in Outpatient Physical Therapy Practice
Year: Class of 2027 Program: SuRPS Research Topic: Applications of Extracellular Vesicles in an In-Vivo Model
Year: Class of 2026 (Dec. graduate) Program: SuRI Research Topic: Marketing the Macabre
Year: Class of 2029 Program: SURE Research Topic: Multimodal Assessment of Functional Balance
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WHAT CAN RESEARCH DO FOR YOU?
Participating in research can turn experience into opportunity. Are you considering becoming involved in joining research or creative work on campus, but aren’t sure if you’ll receive a proper return on your time investment? URCW has the answer! Participating in undergraduate research gives students more than just experience—it helps them build skills they can carry into their careers and beyond. Through research and creative work, students develop resilience, teamwork, independence, and the confidence to work through challenges and find better answers. Research also gives students opportunities to build meaningful relationships with faculty mentors while creating tangible work. This work can range from publications, presentations, performances, exhibits, and beyond, all of which act as credentials which demonstrate their skills and experience. These ex-periences give students something unique to discuss in job or graduate school interviews, and can help them stand out to future employers.
RESEARCH ROOKIES OF THE MONTH SET THE BAR
Congratulations to our August and September Research Rookies!
Rylie Bancroft (Aug.)
Genevieve Schultz (Sept.)
Congratulations to our August Research Rookie, Rylie Bancroft! Rylie is a freshman Biology major. When asked how Research Rookies has been meaningful to her, Rylie
Congratulations to our September Research Rookie, Genevieve Schultz! Genevieve is a sophomore with a double major in Dance and Psychology. When asked about her
said, “Even in the short time I have been a part of Research Rookies, I have already gained valuable experience, and a better understanding of what research looks like. Through this program, I have developed new skills, explored my interests, and gained confidence in pursuing research opportunities. I look forward to continuing to learn and grow throughout the semester!” Spotlight 6
experience in the Research Rookies program, Genevieve said, “As someone who wants to go into the research field, Research Rookies has been excellent preparation. It encourages you to dip your toes into the world of research, whether that’s attending a research conference, preparation modules and talks, or gaining your own research experience while in the program.”
RESOURCES AT A GLANCE
Looking to fund a project or presentation? Learn how below! URCW is committed to encouraging and supporting high-quality undergraduate research and creative projects. To that end, the University has made funds available to support student and faculty mentor travel to present research or creative work, participate in competitions or performances, and support work in progress. If you are a student looking to fund an individual research project, you can click below to learn the process for applying. However, if you’re interested in traveling to attend a conference or present your research and/or creative work, only faculty mentors can apply for a travel grant. Talk to your mentor or a professor in your field if you’re interested in applying for a travel grant. Currently, students need a faculty member to travel with them and submit the travel grant.
Click here to learn more about how you can access funding from URCW!
LET’S KEEP IN TOUCH! urcw@highpoint.edu Find our website here Follow our Instagram here Follow our FaceBook here
Find Your Mentor with ForagerOne
Are you looking for a mentor to guide you in your desired field of study? Create an account with ForagerOne! URCW uses ForagerOne as our platform to assist students in finding their faculty mentor. By creating an account, you can search for HPU faculty, explore their fields, see the research and creative projects they are working on, and find current openings to join their teams.
Make your account here!
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STUDENTS IN RESEARCH AND CREATIVE WORKS
PRE-PHARMACY
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
MATHEMATICS
INTERIOR DESIGN
EVENT MANAGEMENT
COMPUTER SCIENCE
CHINESE/CHINESE CULTURE
BUSINESS ANALYTICS & ECONOMICS
ADVERTISING & PUBLIC RELATIONS
PHYSICAL THERAPY
NEUROSCIENCE
HEALTH & WELLNESS
GAME DESIGN
PHYSICS
CHEMISTRY
PSYCHOLOGY
EXERCISE SCIENCE
BIOLOGY
MARKETING
BIOCHEMISTRY
From the URCW Registry
Are you counted? URCW tracks the number of students who are undertaking new research and creative projects across all disciplines at High Point University. By registering your work with URCW, you not only contribute to highlighting the achievements of your department, but also help us record the diverse creative works happening on campus. This allows us to reach out with valuable resources relevant to your goals and endeavors! Sign up on the registry if you are:
#1
Collaborating or assisting with faculty members’ academic research or creative work
#2
#3
Pursuing your own independent projects that are mentored by a faculty member
Further developing research or creative work done in class into a presentation or exhibit for a broader audience
Sign up for the registry here! Spotlight 8
Newsletter created by Haley Gorman ‘28