The Herb Innovation Center (THInC) at The University of Toledo’s Judith Herb College of Education recently hosted its Spring 2025 biannual 3-Minute/5-Minute (3M/5M) Research Competition.
The event showcased the education research conducted by UToledo education students, offering a platform for them to sharpen their research communication skills and compete for scholarship awards.
The 3M/5M Research Competition brought together 16 students across four competitive tracks: Undergraduate Early-Track (in-person/virtual); Graduate Early-Track (in-person), Graduate Early-Track (virtual), and Graduate Late-Track (in-person/virtual).
Participants presented their research within a concise three- or five-minute timeframe, with both in-person audiences and virtual audiences via YouTube Live. The competition drew more than 60 total attendees, celebrating student research excellence and fostering academic dialogue.
Award Winners:
Undergraduate Early-Track (In-Person/Virtual)
• First place: Maria Varner — Classroom Integration of Cultural Differences in Preparing Students to be Emotionally Healthy to Avoid Becoming a Bully or Being Affected by a Bully.
• Second place: Sophia McKarus — Fostering Belonging: Helping a Non-English-Speaking Student Engage in Social and Academic Activities as a Preservice Teacher with the Help of AI.
Graduate Early-Track (In-Person)
• First place: Melike Koc — Empowering Educators: Measuring Collective Teacher Efficacy For Greater Impact.
• Second place: Hua Sowa — The Role of Human Rights Education (HRE) in the Preservation of Democracy.
Graduate Early-Track (Virtual)
• First place: Randisha Owensby — A Thin Line Between Love and Hate: Unmasking Post-Traumatic Slave Syndrome Consequences on Black Men Who Perpetuate Intimate Partner Violence within Intra-Racial Relationships.
• Second place: Tara Lax — Special Education and the School-to-Prison Pipeline.
Graduate Late-Track (In-Person/Virtual)
• First place: Kelly Gobrogge — An Exploration of Play and Language in Families with Young Children Experiencing Homelessness.
• Second place: Brenda Payne — Factors Associated with Community College Students’ Time to Degree Completion: A Six-Year Analysis of One Community College Cohort.
People’s Choice Awards:
• In-Person: Melike Koc — Empowering Educators: Measuring Collective Teacher Efficacy For Greater Impact.
• Virtual: Tara Lax — Special Education and the School-to-Prison Pipeline.
The Herb Innovation Center remains committed to supporting and celebrating student research. The biannual 3M/5M Research Competition will continue to provide students with invaluable opportunities for growth, visibility, and academic achievement.
