HomeNews TypesGeneral NewsCUR Congratulates STR 2025-26 Graduates

CUR Congratulates STR 2025-26 Graduates

The Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) congratulates the following 135 individuals for their completion from the 2025-26 Scholars Transforming Through Research (STR) Program. STR is a competitive, application-based, professional development opportunity for campus teams composed of one staff or faculty representative and one to three undergraduate students.  

Over several months, participants strengthened their communication and civic engagement skills, learning how to clearly articulate the value and impact of undergraduate research to their campuses, communities, and public audiences. The program culminated in onsite preparation and meetings with stakeholders and elected officials in Washington, DC. 

“This cohort reflects a growing community of campus leaders who understand how critical it is to engage the public when sharing the story and impact of undergraduate research. They recognize that communicating the value and outcomes of their work beyond the academy is not optional; it is essential to meaningful civic engagement and to sustaining long-term, broad support for higher education and research. Through STR, these teams have strengthened their ability to tell that story with clarity, purpose, and confidence.”

Lindsay Currie, CUR executive officer

This year’s STR teams represent 31 institutions from 15 states and are made up of 35 Campus Representatives and 100 undergraduate researchers.  

Alabama 

  • Troy University | Cora Wyrosdick, Jacqueline Jones, Jessica Hollis, Noah Atkins 

California 

  • Claremont McKenna College + Scripps College | Aaron Sheng, Clifford Jin, Max Rand, Yulin Zhai 
  • Fresno State | Alexis Valadez, Beth Winman, Jeffrey Thibodeaux, Kellie Nakazawa 
  • Pasadena City College | Emma Chua, Hyacinth Ang, Jared Ashcroft, Myra Interiano 
  • University of California, Riverside | Angel Zarobinski, Gladis Herrera-Berkowitz, Janna Soliman, Logan Reynosa, Mia Alvarado, Nicole D’Souza, Sreenidhi Surineni, Stephanie Dingwall 
  • University of the Pacific | Bellynda Trinh, Kaitlyn Ferreira, Quingwen Dong, Sarah Morgan, Valeria Nunez 

Florida 

  • University of Central Florida | Aaditya Balasubramaniyan, Carley Rich, Dylan Payne, Siva Annamalai, Sun Latt 
  • University of Florida | Ariana Robinson, Corey Broersma, Karina Alvina 

Georgia 

  • Berry College | Miriam Miller Hughes 
  • Clark Atlanta University | Elycia Daniel, Emery Sumberlin, Gabrielle Stevenson, Lisette Allison 
  • Georgia College & State University | Emily Wright, Hasitha Mahabaduge 

Indiana 

  • Purdue University | Gaven Acosta, Jason Ware 

Kentucky 

  • University of Kentucky | Austin Trotter, Grant Fischer, Jessica Jones-Bowman, Julianne Sharpe 

Maryland 

  • Johns Hopkins University | Arnav Koppala, Isabelle Jouve, Jason Shumsky, Kirsten Amematsro, Lauren Reynolds 
  • Montgomery College | Kathryn Monzo, Lila Wooden, Mishell Rea 
  • Morgan State University | Dance Prescott, Dylan Johnson, Jamiyu Saida Olayinka, Janae Crowder, Samia Kirchner 
  • Towson University | Emanuel Garcia Servellon, Liam Walker, Linh Tran, Monica Mitchel, Seth Gitter 

Michigan 

  • Grand Valley State University | Avri Marihugh, Leanne Kang, Melanie Avila 

Minnesota 

  • University of Minnesota, Twin Cities | Lorene Lanier, Sofiya Ismagilova 

Nebraska 

  • University of Nebraska at Omaha | Cody Friend, Justin Andersson, Mia Sanchez Rodriguez, Natalia Rodriguez Arellano 

North Carolina 

  • North Carolina A&T State University | Dallas Rawls, Jared Webb, Jordan Shegog, Leah Worrill, Sheila Mungai 
  • University of North Carolina, Wilmington | Ally Johnston, Kallie Davis, Katie Pizlo, Michael Tift, Rianne Lee 

Pennsylvania 

  • Carnegie Mellon University + Penn State University | Ningning Ying, Rachel Burcin, William Muckelroy 
  • Villanova University | Adriano Duque, Aiden Li, Christopher Kilby, Kathleen Heraty 

Texas 

  • Rice University | Abigail Schuh, Jessica Xu, Maya Harpavat, Prasi Desai, Sammi Frey 
  • Stephen F. Austin State University | Amielia Beam, Holli Heim, Katelyn Defrancis, Kiel Garrett, Sarah Straub 
  • University of Texas at El Paso | Angela Cole, Anna Rascon-Prieto, Karina Canaba, Luis Acosta, Roberto Garza 
  • University of Texas at San Antonio | Christopher Sauceda, Darrell Balderrama, Fiona Valorz, Jibel Mendez, Oscar Reyes Parker 

Virginia 

  • Radford University | Abigail Craig, Caleb Frankenberger, Carlee Bradbury, Daniel Berry, Jessica Handy, Jessica McCann, Kalyn Pinner, Kayla Fields, Lily Backus, Natalie Infante, Naveen Joseph, Nicholas Beach, Patrick Kielawa, Rhett Herman 
  • University of Mary Washington | Abigail Powers, Brooke Martin, Laura Sipe, Lillian Burbulis, Tyler Downs 

West Virginia 

  • West Virginia University | Christopher Arnold, Madison Metrick 

Registration for the 2026-27 STR Program will open in June 2026. Discover how you can apply for this advocacy program at www.CUR.org/STR. 

Founded in 1978, the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) focuses on providing high-quality and collaborative undergraduate research, scholarly, and creative activity. Among the many activities and networking opportunities that CUR provides, the organization also offers support for the professional growth of faculty and administrators through expert-designed institutes, conferences, and a wide-range of volunteer positions. The CUR community, made up of nearly 700 institutions and 13,000 individuals, continues to provide a platform for discussion and other resources related to mentoring, connecting, and creating relationships centered around undergraduate research. CUR’s advocacy efforts are also a large portion of its work as they strive to strengthen support for undergraduate research. Its continued growth in connections with representatives, private foundations, government agencies, and campuses world-wide provides value to its members and gives voice to undergraduate research. CUR is committed to inclusivity and diversity in all of its activities and our community.

CUR focuses on giving a voice to undergraduate research with learning through doing. It provides connections to a multitude of campuses and government agencies, all while promoting networking and professional growth to its community.

By Todd Waggoner

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