Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities

URCA Assistant & Faculty Awards

Congratulations to the winners of the Spring 2026 URCA Assistant Program Awards!

URCA Research Mentor of the Semester Award

Dr. Annie Imboden, Department of Nursing

Nominated by: Dirk Tescon

 Nomination: 

     "I am writing to nominate Dr. Annie Imboden for the URCA Faculty Award. I have worked with Dr. Imboden for the past 2.5 years on her pediatric obesity project and have grown significantly through her mentorship. She not only invests in her students as researchers but also develops them as future professionals.

    Under Dr. Imboden, URCA has played a large role in shaping my critical thinking and analysis skills. The program and my mentor have taught me the foundational research process from data collection, data interpretation, and communicating findings, and how to apply it in real-world scenarios. More importantly, she helped me build the mindset that comes with doing research well: Asking Questions.

     One of the most distinctive parts of Dr. Imboden’s mentorship is how she involved me in the full research project. She gave me the opportunity to be involved and to lead from the earliest stages of data collection through manuscript preparation for publication. She creates an environment that allows me to take initiative, contribute ideas, and grow into greater roles at each stage of the project. have learned how to extract data from electronic health records while adhering to HIPAA, filter data sets and prepare them for analysis, create tables for research presentations, and write various sections for a peer-reviewed manuscript. Because of her guidance and communication, I gained a stronger understanding of research projects from start to finish and communicating the findings with people all around the country.

     What I value most about my experience with Dr. Imboden is the way she gives feedback. It is constructive, direct, and encouraging. She communicated in a way that helped me improve without feeling discouraged. She sees the strength in a student’s input and work. The feedback not only helped me grow into a researcher but also my professional development in the hospital and in tutoring. Through working with her, I have become more confident in presenting my ideas in professional settings and representing our work at prestigious organizations, including the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners National Conference and the Midwestern
Nurse Research Society Regional Conference, in cities such as Chicago and Indianapolis. Dr. Imboden leads by example. She consistently models professionalism and genuine care for the work that she is involved in. She is approachable, flexible, and open to new ideas.

    She creates a space where I feel comfortable asking questions, sharing perspectives, and contributing to the project. It is the type of environment that is important for mentoring and guiding undergraduate students' research, as it helps students feel both supported and challenged.

     She ensures that students' voices matter, and that is a large portion of what makes her such an effective mentor. She pushed me to think critically, ask better questions, and understand the “why” behind the work. For these reasons, I strongly believe Dr. Annie Imboden is highly deserving of the Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Faculty Award. Her mentorship will have a lasting impact on my growth as a researcher, student, and future professional."

URCA Creative Arts Mentor of the Semester Award

Abbey Hepner, MFA, Department of  Art and Design, Photography

Nominated by: Hannah Asbeck

 Nomination: 

    "I am writing to offer my strong recommendation of Abbey Hepner for this award. I have had the privilege of working with her as a URCA Associate, and my experience under her mentorship has been exceptionally meaningful.

    Working with Professor Hepner has been an invaluable opportunity for both my academic and artistic development. She has guided me through her own creative processes while encouraging me to grow in the development of my independent
work.

    Through my involvement in her darkroom practices, I have been introduced
to a wide range of techniques and methodologies that have significantly
expanded my learning beyond the traditional classroom environment.
In addition to her technical expertise, Professor Hepner has played a vital role in shaping my growth as an artist. Her mentorship and thoughtful guidance on my thesis work have been instrumental in helping me refine my ideas and strengthen my creative voice. She possesses a deep knowledge of the field of photography, and it has been a true privilege to learn from her firsthand. Equally important, she is generous in sharing her knowledge and consistently supportive in fostering the development of her students.

    Professor Hepner’s work reflects a profound commitment to research, as well as a genuine desire to connect with others. It is characterized by creativity, empathy, and intellectual curiosity—qualities that I find both inspiring and deserving of recognition.
I strongly believe that Professor Hepner is an outstanding candidate for this award and wholeheartedly support her nomination."

URCA Research Assistant of the Semester Award

Gayvnn Baer, Department of Speech Language Pathology and Audiology

Nominated by: Dr. Kimberly Ott

 Nomination: 

         "It is my pleasure to write a letter of recommendation for Cadet Gavynn Baer for consideration as an outstanding URCA assistant. In my 44-year career I have never worked with a student or colleague who possesses the enthusiasm, dedication, work ethic, and skill set that Gavynn brings to our project.

    I have known Gavynn for the past three years as a student in five Audiology classes which I have taught. As a university student he has demonstrated a high level of academic ability while working as an EMT and a Cadet in the SIUE ROTC program. His coursework has been completed thoroughly and often submitted early, a testament to his well-developed work ethic. Not only has Gavynn been an engaged learner in the classroom, but he has also shared his knowledge and skill set with members of his cohort. Students who are not as academically talented as Gavynn have benefited from his generous assistance as he manifests the roles of both leader and collaborator. Gavynn has also demonstrated characteristics of a well-rounded individual who is kind,
thoughtful, and helpful. He is the first to clean up whatever the project of the day was, to volunteer to head up a new project, and to share his overall experiences with others. Gavynn has excellent interpersonal skills and communicates clearly and effectively with others.

    When Gavynn expressed an interest in the research project I had started, I was overjoyed at the prospect of having him on board. Knowing his skills, personality, and enthusiasm I felt that the project would no longer limp along but rather come to fruition. Gavynn became the paid URCA assistant FA25 and continues this semester in the same role. During this time, due to his assistance and leadership with the project, IRB approval for working with human subjects was granted. Prior to IRB approval, Gavynn developed the Data Management Plan which was submitted as part of the IRB process. He developed the database for
tracking data and the de-identification measures to protect private health information of each subject in the study. He trained the two unpaid URCA assistants in procedures for data collection which involves taking middle ear measurements on children in local elementary schools. He conducted the data collection and management with the assistance of the two unpaid researchers. Gavynn also took responsibility with the less glamourous aspects of this project. He picked up printed materials from the printer and led student volunteers with the assembly of 1000 parent packets. When the volunteers waned, he completed the task
himself without complaint. He cheerfully and consistently completes the grunt work.

    Gavynn researched the demographics of the school district we were working within, personally met with principals and school secretaries to deliver parent packets, and created a video of himself and one of the unpaid URCA assistants for parents to view to help the parents understand the research project and feel comfortable with the people working with their children.

    In February of this year Gavynn and the two unpaid assistants presented the research project to date at the Illinois Academy of Audiology annual conference in Naperville, IL. This was the first time in the history of this conference that undergraduate students presented research. Gavynn wrote the application, the scripts, and created the PowerPoint presentation for the conference. He coordinated rehearsals for our group, and following a successful presentation, the URCA assistants were greeted by numerous conference participants with favorable comments. All of this, and…… when we had mechanical trouble with the University van on our way back to Edwardsville, Gavynn was able to solve and repair the problem. Having worked on ambulances as an EMT, he knew exactly what to do. Currently, Gavynn is researching which statistical methods will provide the data analysis needed to wrap up the study.

I hope you will give your strongest consideration to Cadet Gavynn Baer as an outstanding URCA assistant."

URCA Creative Arts Assistant of the Semester Award

Hannah Asbeck, Department of Art and Design, Photography

Nominated by:  Abbey Hepner, MFA

Nomination:

     "I am writing to nominate URCA Assistant Hannah Asbeck for the outstanding URCA assistant award for creative activities. Hannah has been working in my studio alongside me throughout the semester. With their assistance, I have been making milk beads that are attached to vintage
frames and 3D-printed tintype cases. Both processes have had a learning curve, and Hannah has taken the initiative to tackle them. From the very first day of the semester, Hannah has been an enthusiastic and motivated contributor to the work that I have been creating. She has brought new ideas, interesting approaches, and creative problem-solving techniques when the work did not go as planned.

    Hannah has helped document my sabbatical work and has spearheaded the construction of my framed work installation. She has been essential in completing and preparing work for submission to a number of external grants, and the work has been much more successful because of her engagement and contributions. Without Hannah’s help, I wouldn’t have been able to get all of the work prepared in time. I am now preparing to present my work at the 63rd Annual Society for Photographic Education Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, on March 13th. I am thrilled to be showing work from the series Hannah has helped me with, and I am excited for her to participate in the conference as well.

    Hannah has already seamlessly integrated what she has learned this semester into the work that she is creating for her thesis exhibition next month. She has produced her own liquid light images and is now helping me produce tintype frames for a large solo exhibition at the Center of Southwest Studies in Durango, Colorado, opening in June 2027. 3D printing is new to both of us, and Hannah has been a motivated participant, learning alongside me, experimenting, and watching videos on her own so she can make suggestions when we run into unexpected snags. Hannah’s ambition, enthusiasm, and positive attitude have been reinvigorating, and I am grateful for what a collaborative process this has been.

    I cannot think of anyone more deserving of an URCA Assistant Award than Hannah Asbeck."