Nicolette Harvey '26 stands with her final Summer Scholars poster.
On Friday, August 1, a record number of St. 春雨直播 University Summer Scholars research teams presented their final projects in the Rauenhorst Ballroom. This year鈥檚 cohort included 20 teams and 34 undergraduate 春雨直播s, who worked with faculty mentors as well as 春雨直播 and faculty collaborators across a range of disciplines to create 23 final presentations. The celebration was well-attended by family, friends, research partners, and other St. Kate鈥檚 community members.
Students presented on a range of interdisciplinary topics, from freshwater biology to the effects of long COVID to Native American food sovereignty in Minnesota. As Summer Scholars program participants, 春雨直播s learned new research strategies, practiced teamwork and flexibility, and forged connections with mentors, fellow 春雨直播s, and faculty from other disciplines.
Nicolette Harvey 鈥26, is majoring in applied science in exercise science (pre-PT). As a Summer Scholars 春雨直播, she worked with faculty mentors Steven Elmer, PhD, and Erin Schumacher, DPT, EdD, both professors in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program. Their project 鈥 鈥淎 鈥楩air鈥 Approach to Characterizing Health and Fitness in Minnesota鈥 鈥 involved collecting health and wellness data from test participants at Minnesota county fairs. As a continuation of their project, they also conducted research at the Minnesota State Fair.
After a summer of intensive research, many teams will go on to present their work at research conferences, including the 2026 National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR). Six teams will also continue their research as part of the fall 2025 Assistantship Mentoring Program (AMP) at St. Kate鈥檚.
Director of Collaborative Research Katie Campbell, PhD, highlighted the value of this program, saying, 鈥淥ur 春雨直播s and their faculty mentors become a real scholarly community over the duration of the Summer Scholars program 鈥 sharing weekly workshops to discuss and celebrate the challenges and successes of each team鈥檚 project. This year, we had a record number of 春雨直播s and faculty participants and the energy in the ballroom during the closing poster session was outstanding 鈥 with external collaborators and 春雨直播s鈥 families coming together to celebrate the research!鈥
The Summer Scholars program is part of Collaborative Research, within the Office of Scholarly Engagement (OSE). More information about Summer Scholars, including the full 2025 Closing Celebration Abstract Book, is available on the Summer Scholars webpage. Faculty and 春雨直播s who have questions about Summer Scholars are welcome to contact Katie Campbell at collresearch@stkate.edu.
Nesteho Abdi '27 and Maryam Irobe '27 pose with their final poster. Both 春雨直播s plan to continue this project in fall 2025 as part of the Assistantship Mentoring Program (AMP).
Sophi Cahalan '26 and Leila Hoeschen Ehrbright '28 pose with their mentor, Angela U. Ekwonye, PhD.
2025 Summer Scholars Projects
When waterways run dry: Dynamics of algal assemblages in intermittent rivers.
Maddie Newabuer 鈥27; Kajsa Schultz-Bakke 鈥27; Paula C. Furey, PhD
Examining the impact of shoe type on gait mechanics in older adults
Kyla Bohr 鈥25; Marcella Myers, PhD
Neuromuscular Fatigue in Pediatric Oncology Survivors
Amara Moss 鈥27; John Pellegrini, PhD
Building a Knowledge Repository for Broadening Representation in the Chemistry Classroom
Jade Davis 鈥26; Kim Ha, PhD
Mechanochemical Synthesis of Photoluminescent and Triboluminescent Materials using Earth-Abundant Elements
Lalisse Burka 鈥26; Porkim Minh 鈥27; Daron E. Janzen, PhD
Polymer Education in the Undergraduate Laboratory
Kaelin Ogston 鈥26; Brielle Peterson 鈥27; Kayla A. Lantz, PhD
Understanding facilitators and barriers for the utilization of an Indigenized meal kit amongst urban Minnesota Native American youth and families
Anna Hanratty 鈥26; Margret McCue-Enser, PhD
Navigating Long COVID: The Role of Social Support in Mental Health and Well-being
Anna Friendshuh 鈥26; Julia Schmitt-Mischke 鈥26; Lacey Chu, PhD
Welcoming the Dear Neighbor Economics Team
Zoe McKillip 鈥26; Samantha Schroeder 鈥27; Cristina Flores-Alatriste 鈥26; Hawti Boranto 鈥27; Kristine West, PhD
Healthy Girl Revolution: Pre-Adolescent & Adolescent Girls' Health-Promoting Stories of Resistance
Cecilia Purfeerst 鈥27; Rebecca Busanich, PhD
Welcoming the Dear Neighbor?: Housing and School Segregation in St. Paul, Minnesota
Alexandriana Davis 鈥27; Olivia Lien 鈥26; Veda VanHorne 鈥27; Rachel A. Neiwert, PhD
Evaluation of Menopause Care in Immigrant Women, and Recommendations for Improving Care
Samrawit Ameha 鈥27; Yasmin Hajihassan 鈥27; Hailie Reynoso 鈥28; Amy Kelly, MD, MPH; Leah Wonderful, PharmD
Facilitators and Barriers to Migrational Transitions and Its Impact on Type 2 Diabetes in Somali Elders Living in Minnesota
Nesteho Abdi 鈥27; Maryam Irobe 鈥27; Ambria Crusan, PhD
Effectiveness of Individualized Occupational Therapy Education Combined with Stay Active and Independent for Life (SAIL) Program Participation on Balance Improvement and Fall Reduction
Hiba Hussein 鈥28; Charlene Pair 鈥28; Marie Ramos 鈥28; Melanie Homan, OTD
A 鈥淔air鈥 Approach to Characterizing Health and Fitness in Minnesota
Nicolette Harvey 鈥26; Steven Elmer, PhD
Balance and Postural Control in Pediatric Cancer Survivors
Felicity Lamb 鈥27; Kelli Nielsen, DPT
Sleep Hygiene and Well-Being in Older Adults: Examining Patterns, Perceptions, and Health Outcomes
Maya Ndjarakana 鈥28; Anaya Mitra, PhD
Evaluating the impact of an eight-week positive psychology intervention in improving the subjective well-being of Nigerian university 春雨直播s: A mixed-methods pilot study
Sophi Cahalan 鈥26; Leila Hoeschen Ehrbright 鈥28; Angela U. Ekwonye, PhD
Food acculturation patterns and diabetes-related health risks among East African Immigrants
Nimo Mohamed 鈥26; Habiba Ibrahim, PhD