SOURCE 2026 recognizes student research, creative expression

The Symposium of University Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE) brought Lenoir-Rhyne University students, faculty and staff together for a campus-wide celebration of undergraduate research, scholarship and creative expression. Throughout the day, students from across disciplines presented their work in academic presentations and artistic showcases, sharing their most significant projects and performances with the campus community.

Held annually, SOURCE serves as a signature academic experience at Lenoir-Rhyne, highlighting the breadth of student inquiry across fields ranging from the sciences and health professions to the humanities and creative arts. The symposium emphasizes interdisciplinary engagement and provides students the opportunity to present work that reflects months and often years of dedicated study, research and creative development.

Honors Thesis Competition

A centerpiece of SOURCE is the Honors Thesis Competition, which recognizes outstanding presentations of Program Honors research, scholarship and creative expression. Each project represents one or more years of sustained academic work, culminating in original contributions to knowledge within a student’s field of study. Presentations are evaluated on how effectively students communicate what they studied, what they learned and why their work matters.

Twenty-seven students competed this year, representing majors across the university, including biology, nursing, psychology, chemistry, biochemistry, computer science, philosophy and exercise science. The competition is sponsored and organized by the Fritz Honors College.

These students also presented their research at the North Carolina Academy of Science annual meeting April 24–25.

• First place

  Anna Alexander (Biology), “Bacteriophage and Surfactant Mediation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilms in vitro: A Potential Therapeutic Strategy for Cystic Fibrosis”

• Second place

  Grace Chatham (Biology), “Alternatives for Cryopreservation of Mouse (Mus musculus) Embryonic Fibroblasts at -80°C”

• Tied for third place

  Lindsey Corwin (Biology), “Quantification of Mitragynine in Maeng Da and Borneo Kratom Strains: Analysis of Kratom Leaf Color and Strain using GC-MS and GC-FID”

  Mallory Evitt (Biology), “Growth of Fusobacterium nucleatum: Method Development and Recovery of Bacteriophage Specific to the Type Strain”

  Mary Elizabeth Carter (Nursing), “Gender Differences in Length of Hospital Stay for Diabetic Patients Post-CABG”

Bears Engage: Voices of America Competition

SOURCE 2026 also featured the Bears Engage: Voices of America Competition for Student Research and Creative Expression, a new addition to the SOURCE program this year. The Bears Engage initiative originally launched in 2024 to promote nonpartisan dialogue on political and cultural topics through campus seminars and guest speakers. The series continues throughout the academic year and will return in the fall with a new slate of programming. In 2026, the initiative expanded to include a student competition recognizing work that engages with American narratives, past and present.

The competition highlights student projects that foster dialogue, deepen understanding and encourage critical engagement with cultural and historical themes. Organized by faculty across campus, the awards component builds on the broader mission of Bears Engage while creating additional opportunities to recognize student scholarship and creativity.

• First place

  Joseph Barrett, “Same Ole Same Ole”

• Second place

  Gabriel Odom, Kelly Esteves, Nicki Stephens and Kostakis Penessis, “Perception of Intelligence on Speech Patterns”

• Third place

  Olivia Clark, “A Long Way from Wittenberg: American Lutheranism and Judaism After the Holocaust”

Together, the Honors Thesis Competition and the inaugural Bears Engage awards highlighted the range and depth of undergraduate work at Lenoir-Rhyne University. SOURCE 2026 showcased student achievement across disciplines and reinforced the university’s commitment to academic inquiry, creative expression and interdisciplinary engagement through both longstanding traditions and newly expanded opportunities for recognition.