Voinovich School students take home awards in 2023 Student Expo

At the 2023 Student Research and Creative Activity Expo, numerous Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service students won awards for the work they presented.

The Expo was held both virtually and in person on April 13, highlighting student research and development. 

The Expo enables students to present their research projects or creative endeavors across their various disciplines. Their presentations were reviewed, and they were awarded their respective placements. 

The Voinovich School would like to thank all participating students for their hard work and congratulate the winners on their achievements.  

Kehinde Moyosola Ositimehin, a master of science in environmental studies student, presented her research on the Bloody Run Swamp in Ohio, which focused on the impacts of intensive agricultural practices on water quality. For her work, Ositimehin was awarded joint first place in the sustainability category. 

“Receiving first place at the Student Expo was an incredibly humbling experience for me. I was filled with a sense of joy and gratitude, both to God and to those who have supported me throughout my journey,” Ositimehin said.

She credited her advisor, Dr. Natalie Kruse Daniels and her lab colleagues in helping her to achieve this accomplishment. 

“The opportunity to share my research findings and discuss my work with others was invaluable,” Ositimehin said. “It was also an excellent opportunity to learn about other students' research from diverse backgrounds. I found presenting at the Student Expo to be a fantastic experience that has provided me with valuable skills and opportunities to learn and engage with others.”

Molly Pennington, an undergraduate research scholar, shared her research which examined the attitudes of community health workers in training regarding which social determinants of health had the greatest impact on the Appalachian community. Pennington was awarded joint first place. 

“A lot of people showed genuine interest in the work that I spent so much time on, so it was really awesome to feel like my research had an impact,” Pennington said. “I also enjoyed getting to talk to other students that shared my interests. This was my very first big research project, so it was a learning process the entire time. I was proud of myself though, and it's an experience that I won't forget.”

Award winners from the Voinovich School

First Place:
Samuel Adu Fosu, Master of Environmental Studies (MSES) Candidate; Kehinde Ositimehin, Master of Environmental Studies (MSES) Candidate; Mia Citino, Honors Tutorial College Environmental Studies; Kennedy Hammond, Environmental Studies, Sustainability, and Resilience Undergraduate Certificate; Kate Harmon, Honors Tutorial College Environmental Studies, Mackenzie Kay, Undergraduate Research Scholar; Gabi Lindsey, Undergraduate Research Scholar; Colin McClurkin, Undergraduate Research Scholar, and Environmental Studies, Sustainability, and Resilience Undergraduate Certificate; Molly Pennington, Undergraduate Research Scholar; Katelyn Roush, Honors Tutorial College Environmental Studies; Noel Rozic, Undergraduate Research Scholar; Lily Schaefer, Honors Tutorial College Environmental Studies; and Olivia Tenoglia, Honors Tutorial College Environmental Studies.

Second Place: 
Era Bakia, Environmental Studies, Sustainability, and Resilience Undergraduate Certificate; Helena Karlstrom, Undergraduate Research Scholar and Honors Tutorial College Environmental Studies; Paige Roswell, Environmental Studies, Sustainability, and Resilience Undergraduate Certificate; 

For a complete list of all the awardees, visit https://www.ohio.edu/studentexpo.