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Each semester, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities (URCA) program recognizes outstanding faculty mentors and student researchers through four awards.

The URCA program encourages, supports and enables undergraduate students of all disciplines to participate in research and creative activities under faculty mentorship. These experiences allow undergraduate students opportunities to engage in scholarship, interact with faculty, and fully connect in the educational process of discovering and creating.

The spring 2022 Vaughn Vandegrift URCA Research Mentor of the Semester Award was presented to Bryan Smith, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Applied Health in the SIUE School of Education, Health and Human Behavior (SEHHB). The URCA Creative Activities Mentor of the Semester Award was presented to Rodrick Whetstone, MFA, assistant professor in the College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Art and Design. Award winners were nominated by URCA students.

“All URCA faculty mentors have to ‘try out’ each semester, and it is not uncommon to receive over 120 faculty applications for approximately 90 funded positions,” said Laura Pawlow, PhD, URCA coordinator and professor in the Department of Psychology. “Whittling it down to the best 90 applicants is extremely tough. Those who make it are excellent mentors who are extremely dedicated to helping students achieve specific learning outcomes. To be recognized within this fantastic pool as an award winner is incredibly noteworthy.”

Junior Linnea Skillrud, an URCA assistant, nominated Smith, acknowledging his commitment and passion for helping students. “I have never met someone as kind and dedicated as Dr. Smith,” she said. “He is one of the most intelligent, dependable, genuine, and qualified candidates for this award. His leadership, compassion, and intelligence have pushed me to succeed in all areas of my life”

In her nomination, URCA assistant Brittany Kehoe described Whetstone’s impact on her academic success and the resultant life-changing experience from various collaborations with him.

“Through his exceptional leadership skills and amazing personality, Rodrick has given me the chance to grow professionally as an artist, allowing me to spread my wings and flourish on my own,” Kehoe said. 

The Research Assistant of the Semester Award was presented to Natalie Karibian, of Glen Carbon, a junior in the Department of Biological Sciences. Alex Okenfuss, a junior studying in the Department of Art and Design, was presented the Creative Activities Assistant of the Semester Award.

Okenfuss’ technical expertise and attention to detail have contributed significantly toward assisting Mike Stumbras, PhD, assistant professor of Art and Design, in building a ceramic studio from start to finish.

Karibian was nominated by Maurina Aranda, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, whom she has been working with since fall 2020. She underscores Karibian’s professional contributions to research tasks, noting her exceptional skills at taking critical looks at research materials for detailed analysis. Most importantly, Karibian has been described as a dependable team player. 

“She provides thoughtful insights and is always supportive of others on the team,” Aranda shared.  “She is inclusive to her peers, ensuring that everyone is heard and valued during meetings. She asks follow-up questions and presses for new ideas. Her suggestions for improvement have been critical to getting our work published. I look forward to watching her mentor others in the lab and in her future career.” 

“Alex demonstrates an exceptional adaptability, intelligence, maturity and thoughtfulness in the planning and execution of our research goals,” Stumbras said. “He is an excellent candidate to receive the award based on the above-and-beyond quality of the assistance he has rendered and the adeptness and efficacy with which he has put learned objectives from the mentorship into practice.”

Okenfuss has been accepted into a Nationally Juried Exhibition for work made throughout the URCA mentorship, entitled LAST CALL VII: Handmade Ceramics for Storing, Pouring, & Sipping, at the highly-respected Companion Gallery in Humboldt, Tenn. He also won an award at the Student Juried exhibition in the Art and Design West Gallery in February and served as a participating member of the Wagner Potters’ Association, a student-run organization.

For more information on SIUE’s URCA program, visit siue.edu/urca.

Photo: URCA awardees (L-R) Bryan Smith, PhD, Natalie Karibian, Alex Okenfuss, and Roderick Whetstone, MFA.