December 2023 Mary Lou Fulton Contest Winners

On Thursday, Dec. 7, the Ballroom in the Wilkinson Student Center went from an open dance floor to a dedicated space to present mentored research and scholarly discussion as 174 research posters were presented by 291 students (158 undergraduate and 16 graduate) during the Mentored Student Research Conference.

Every fall and winter semesters, students present months worth of research, showcasing their projects to students, faculty, administrators, and alumni. The students are mentored by faculty —76 faculty members supported students this semester — and all the conference expenses are funded by the Mary Lou Fulton endowed chair in the College of Family, Home, and Social Sciences.

New this year was a conference registration app developed by student employees in the college’s Computing Services department. The app allowed a student presenter to scan a QR code and sign in on their phone. The student was then guided through the check-in process of identifying and picking up their poster, selecting the proper hanging mechanism, and displaying their poster. This automation eliminated long lines and reduced the number of staff members needed.

All research posters are judged to provide cash awards to students with top projects. Posters are judged by department with separate categories for undergraduate and graduate students where applicable. Posters can also be entered in additional categories if the research topic is related to belonging &

diversity, civic engagement, gerontology, or western studies. Finally, student attendees vote for Students’ Choice Awards in the categories of timeliest topic, best presenter, most relevant research, and most eye-catching poster.

Poster awards were announced at a luncheon for presenters and mentors after the conference and can be seen in the list below. All posters are now viewable at the conference site by selecting the “Past Conferences” menu item.

There are many benefits for students who participate in the Mentored Student Research Conference. Aside from the experience presenting your research, a great lunch, and potential awards, students are also able to enter their research at BYU ScholarsArchive and every conference presenter is eligible for a grant to help cover the costs of graduate school applications.

Talk to your professors about how to participate in future conferences or discover more about the process online. The next conference is April 11, 2024.

Undergraduate Awards

Center Awards

Graduate Awards

Students’ Choice Awards