JMU Graduate School held our seventh annual competition on January 24, 2025. The following students were chosen among the competitors who presented their thesis or dissertation within a 3-minute timeframe. Students were evaluated on communication, comprehension, content and engagement. The first-place winner moves on to the regional competition at the annual Conference of Southern Graduate Schools. All winners received a monetary award along with recognition for their outstanding work.

First Place 
Luke Lotsis, Biology, M.S. 
Investigating the role of intrinsic foot muscles in modulating foot shape on banked surfaces

Second Place 
DaNae Peterson, Communication and Advocacy, M.A. 
The Voices of Black Motherscholars: Navigating Academia, Identity, and Community

Third Place
Jonathan Miller, Biology, M.S. 
Characterizing the Mcoln1 mouse as a model of early Age-related Macular Degeneration

People's Choice (Tie)
Luke Lotsis, Biology, M.S. 
Investigating the role of intrinsic foot muscles in modulating foot shape on banked surfaces

People's Choice (Tie)
DaNae Peterson, Communication and Advocacy, M.A. 
The Voices of Black Motherscholars: Navigating Academia, Identity, and Community