Distinguished Scholar Awards
Each year, undergraduate students submit their undergraduate research, creative works, or service learning projects to compete for awards at the Engaged Scholar Symposium (ES2).
Projects may be submitted into four divisions: Research, Creative Works, Community Engagement, and Sustainability. To be eligible to compete, the project-lead and first author must be a current UTRGV student. (NOTE: Recent graduates, i.e., within 1 year of graduation, and first-year graduate students may submit projects from their undergraduate career as the first author). Graduate students, faculty, and other contributors may provide academic or mentor support and, if applicable, be listed as authors.
The Poster Presentation division is open to undergraduate-lead research or service learning projects across all disciplines. Typically, each poster will be judged by 2-3 professional members from academia or industry. Presenters must present at the scheduled time (see below). Awards will be presented to the top 5% of poster presentations in each area. See our Call for Abstracts and Presentation Guidelines for more details about the Poster Session and Poster Requirements. Session times may be removed, reduced, or combined with other categories based on the number of eligible submissions.
Applied Science
Distinguished Scholars
Conformational analysis of the 3,4,5-trifluorobenzoic acid-benzoic acid dimer.
Diego Hernandez, Wei Lin
Honorable Mentions
Control Strategies for Cooperative Multi-Robot Tasks Using Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning.
Daniel Masamba, Tyler Morgan
Life & Health Science
Distinguished Scholar
Latinx college-going parents attachment styles.
Amaris Gonzalez
Honorable Mention
Characterizing the Mechanism of Sorafenib Resistance in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.
Yamile Anaya, Dennis Kwabiah, Sophia Leslie, Ricardo Pequeño Bracho, Mohammad Shabir Hussain, Manish K Tripathi
Community Engagement
Rising Scholar
Across the Borders: Approaching to Tackle Homelessness in Rio Bravo, Mexico and Brownsville, United States.
Laure Sanchez Martinez, Mariann Nunez, Jaqueline Lopez Arteaga, Savannah Cantu
Distinguished Sustainability Graduate Scholar
Bridging Healthcare Disparities through Service-Learning: A Case Study in La Joya, Texas.
Christina Limon, Margaret Rubi, Nancy Nadeau, Luz Maria Silva
Honorable Mention
Oral Health and its Impact on Overall Health.
Alyssa Gonzalez
Texas city Mcallen Ranked number one in Obesity! How can Social and Environmental Sustainability help.
Victoria Gonzalez
STEM Educational Needs of High School Students in Brownsville.
Marcos Garcia
Humanities & Social Science
Distinguished Scholar
Examining Rumination as a Mediator in the Association between Cyber Intimate Partner Victimization and Problematic Smartphone Use.
Joshua Figarola, Ines Cano-Gonzalez, Jorge I. Cantu, Ana Soto, Dr. Ruby Charak
Honorable Mention
Empathy in the Face of Stress: A Behavioral Analysis in Female Rats.
Adelyn Garcia, Claudia Martinez
The Oral Presentation division is open to any undergraduate research or creative works. Authors are encouraged to provide a detailed submission of 500-1000 words elaborating on key discussion points. See our Call for Abstracts and Presentation Guidelines for recommendations on abstract content. The top three abstracts, based on reviewer feedback, will be invited to present in the final judging round. One project will be awarded by each discipline. Session times may be removed, reduced, or combined with other categories based on the number of eligible submissions.
Applied Science
Distinguished Scholar
Evaluation of Multi-Session Temporary Anesthesia to Improve Upper Limb Recovery: A Preliminary Analysis in Healthy Subjects.
Ashley Tijerina, Dr. Kelsey Baker
Honorable Mention
Understanding and Experimenting with Ceramic High-fire Glazes.
Erika Lino
Humanities
Distinguished Scholar
Disconnect: Alienation & Search for Identity in the Borderlands.
Sara Azua
Trapped in Shame: The Immigrant Experience.
Martha Castillo De Leon
Honorable Mention
Anger As a Tool and Not As a Burden.
Sofia Homes-Maestre
Applications of the Heroes Journey to Combat Anxiety.
Rigoberto Pena
Social Science
Distinguished Scholar
Music and Culture in the Valley of the Clueless.
Anuschka Mai
Honorable Mention
Intersecting Identities, Social Support, Identity Concealment, and Health among Latinx LGBTQ+ Adults.
Amanda Lamas, Andrea Rodriguez, Rocio Gonzalez
Life & Health Science
Distinguished Scholar
What is the Role of Nuclear Factor-κB in the Pathogenesis of Diabetes?
Dylan Segura, Clyde J. Wright, Paul J. Rozance, Alicia White, Mack Solar
Honorable Mention
The Behavioral Influence of Fungal Endophytes on Yellow Fever Mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti).
Sofia Ayala, Emily Medelez, Dr. Christopher Vitek, Dr. Pushpa Soti
Physical Science
Distinguished Sustainability Scholar
Exploring the potential of Co-inoculating two cultivated mushroom species.
Carlos Wong, Robin A. Choudhury
The Art Gallery is open to Studio Art, including Painting, Prints/Graphic Design, Drawing, Sculpture, and Ceramics. Typically, each submission will be judged by 2-3 professional members from academia or industry. Artists must be available to discuss their work with judges during the "Meet the Artist" session. Awards will be presented to the top 5% of submissions in each sub-area.
Late submissions will not be accepted. All art must be delivered no later than 3:00 PM on Friday, April 7 to the Charles and Dorothy Clark Art Gallery for setup. All art must be picked up before 3:00 PM on Friday, April 25. See our Call for Abstracts and Presentation Guidelines for more details about the Art Gallery and Submission Requirements. Competition sub-areas may be removed, reduced, or combined with other categories based on the number of eligible submissions.
Creative Works
Distinguished Scholar
Johnathan's Armor.
Eduardo Escamilla
Master of None.
Jahaai Cardenas
Honorable Mention
60% Photography.
Regina Cerna Matamoros
The Performance division is open to any type of creative work in all categories of performing arts (e.g., Music, Theatre, Dance, and interdisciplinary). See our Call for Abstracts and Presentation Guidelines for more details about the Performance Hall and Submission Requirements. Venue accommodations can be made around entry needs. For those who wish to compete, performances will be judged by 2-3 professional members from academia or industry.
The lead performing artist (at least one per team) must be available to discuss their work with judges during a brief 10-minute interview. Awards will be presented to the top 5% of performances. Late performances will not be accepted. Session times may be removed, reduced, or combined with other categories based on the number of eligible submissions.
Creative Works
Distinguished Scholar
Cocina de sueños compartidos.
Danna Vegageron
Honorable Mention
There’s a Tornado in Heaven and I Drank All the Bodies of Water.
K O N