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Students gave 69 poster presentations and 24 oral presentations at the University of North Georgia's (51������) 30th Annual Research Conference (ARC), held March 21 in the Cottrell Ballroom at 51������'s Dahlonega Campus. That includes many projects that included multiple students.

"The Annual Research Conference is a great entryway into academic conferences. Submissions are peer-reviewed. Students receive quality feedback, and they are able to practice their presentation skills," Dr. Diogo Pinheiro, Center for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities (CURCA) assistant director and associate professor of psychology, said. "Additionally, it is a great way to increase the visibility of all the quality work they have done."

Awards winners at ARC were:

• Best Poster — Natural and Physical Sciences: Micah Chandler.
• Best Poster — Social Sciences and Humanities: Steffani Pass, Cindy Gonzalez and Xitlally Miguel.
• Best Essay Award: Sarah Miller.
• Best Essay — Honorable Mention: Enoch Johnson.

Chandler, a junior from Cumming, Georgia, pursuing a degree in mathematics, created his research poster to focus on complex analysis and applications of fluid dynamics.

"In many STEM fields, it's hard not to feel like an impostor," Chandler said. "Winning an award like this renews my confidence in my research abilities."

He plans to apply to an applied mathematics Ph.D. program at Emory University or a marine sciences Ph.D. program at the University of South Alabama. For his final academic year at 51������, he will be conducting research with Dr. Jeffrey Landgren, assistant professor of mathematics.

Pass and Gonzalez are juniors, and Miguel is a senior. All three are pursuing degrees in psychology. Their research compared pre-COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 sexting behavior. They appreciate the mentorship of professors in their department.

"They notice the students who are doing well and try to elevate them and see potential they may not have realized before," Pass said.

Pass is a member of the McNair Scholars Program at 51������.

Miller, a senior from Blue Ridge, Georgia, pursuing a degree in biology, wrote an essay on her research into the effect of metacognition on reading comprehension of scientific literature. She said she was honored to be recognized and felt like ARC was a full-circle moment in her research journey. She will enroll this fall in Georgia State University's clinical neuropsychology Ph.D. program.

"All the faculty who have poured into me and invested in me have done amazing things to prepare me for this next step and make me a strong candidate that could be accepted into a Ph.D. program," Miller said.

Johnson, a senior from Gainesville, Georgia, pursuing a degree in cybersecurity, wrote an essay on his research about incorporating time and location into authenticating user access into a physical space. It was his first undergraduate research project.

"It was challenging, but it was very rewarding to contribute to the research in this area," Johnson said.