Senior psychology student wins inaugural Research Pitch contest

When University of North Georgia (UNG) senior Madison Rodriguez heard about the inaugural Research Pitch competition, she was hesitant to participate. She had never presented her research in front of judges.

"My mentor, Dr. Lauren Johnson, told me to give it a shot," Rodriguez said.

The competition proved rewarding. Rodriguez, a McNair Scholars and Honors student who is pursuing a degree in psychology, won. She pitched her research about "The Effect of Immigration on Mental Health and Academic Experiences of Latinx College Students."

"I was honestly very surprised," said the 21-year-old from Commerce, Georgia. "I've never won anything. I didn't think it would be possible to do something like that in a short amount of time and do it in a way that people noticed. I was glad I got to do it before I graduated."

Andi Fleming and Madison Bunch collaborated to win second place, and Bryan Rocha finished in third.

Sponsored by UNG's Center for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities (CURCA), the Research Pitch contest showcased graduate and undergraduate students from across the disciplines who distilled their research into accessible, intriguing, 3-minute overviews.

"Our students demonstrated impressive poise and professionalism in delivering their excellent 3-minute research presentations online, even with the clock counting down in the background," said Dr. Anastasia Lin, assistant vice president of research and engagement.