Winners Announced in Spring Biannual 3 Minute/5 Minute Research Competition

Winners Announced in Spring Biannual 3-Minute/5-Minute Research Competition

The Herb Innovation Center (THInC) at The University of Toledo's Judith Herb College of Education recently hosted its Spring 2025 biannual 3-Minute/5-Minute (3M/5M) Research Competition.

The event showcased the education research conducted by UToledo education students, offering a platform for them to sharpen their research communication skills and compete for scholarship awards.

The 3M/5M Research Competition brought together 16 students across four competitive tracks: Undergraduate Early-Track (in-person/virtual); Graduate Early-Track (in-person), Graduate Early-Track (virtual), and Graduate Late-Track (in-person/virtual).

Participants presented their research within a concise three- or five-minute timeframe, with both in-person audiences and virtual audiences via YouTube Live. The competition drew more than 60 total attendees, celebrating student research excellence and fostering academic dialogue.

Award Winners:

Undergraduate Early-Track (In-Person/Virtual)

• First place: Maria Varner - Classroom Integration of Cultural Differences in Preparing Students to be Emotionally Healthy to Avoid Becoming a Bully or Being Affected by a Bully.

• Second place: Sophia McKarus - Fostering Belonging: Helping a Non-English-Speaking Student Engage in Social and Academic Activities as a Preservice Teacher with the Help of AI.

Graduate Early-Track (In-Person)

• First place: Melike Koc - Empowering Educators: Measuring Collective Teacher Efficacy For Greater Impact.

• Second place: Hua Sowa - The Role of Human Rights Education (HRE) in the Preservation of Democracy.

Graduate Early-Track (Virtual)

• First place: Randisha Owensby - A Thin Line Between Love and Hate: Unmasking Post-Traumatic Slave Syndrome Consequences on Black Men Who Perpetuate Intimate Partner Violence within Intra-Racial Relationships.

• Second place: Tara Lax - Special Education and the School-to-Prison Pipeline.

Graduate Late-Track (In-Person/Virtual)

• First place: Kelly Gobrogge - An Exploration of Play and Language in Families with Young Children Experiencing Homelessness.

• Second place: Brenda Payne - Factors Associated with Community College Students' Time to Degree Completion: A Six-Year Analysis of One Community College Cohort.

People's Choice Awards:

• In-Person: Melike Koc - Empowering Educators: Measuring Collective Teacher Efficacy For Greater Impact.

• Virtual: Tara Lax - Special Education and the School-to-Prison Pipeline.

The Herb Innovation Center remains committed to supporting and celebrating student research. The biannual 3M/5M Research Competition will continue to provide students with invaluable opportunities for growth, visibility, and academic achievement.