Students Showcase Outstanding Work at Celebration of Scholarship 2026
Published: May 8, 2026.
More than 170 student research and creative projects were showcased during 14th Annual 蘑菇视频 Celebration of Scholarship in Romeoville.
The two-day event featured 104 poster presentations, more than 50 oral presentations, and additional projects presented through competitions, exhibitions and special sessions, showcasing the breadth, depth and real-world impact of student learning across the university.
As the largest Celebration of Scholarship to date, the Celebration of Scholarship reflects growing student participation and highlights the Lasallian educational philosophy of faculty-mentored research and applied learning.
The interdisciplinary event fostered a collaborative academic environment, while encouraging a little friendly competition. Judges evaluated the poster and concurrent presentations that reflected the best of undergraduate and graduate projects.
Stephany Schlachter Award
1st Prize (Tie): Zach Pekol, Luke Pekol, and Tony Kochev ($250 each)
Project: "Quantifying the Court: Statistical Insights and Ranking Methods in NCAA National Collegiate Men抯 Volleyball"
1st Prize (Tie): Rebecca Ratajczyk ($750)
Project: "Developing a Circular Economy for Processing Copper CMP Wastewater"
2nd Prize: Miecio Smith ($500)
Project: "The Unveiling of Nature: Hegel抯 Geist as a Fulfillment of Heraclitean Thought"
Outstanding Undergraduate Presentations
Concurrent Sessions
Gianna Ciaccia; Mentor: Hayley Miller
Luca Fischer; Mentor: Rami Khasawneh
Shannon Tierney, Matthew Czaja, Chloe Torres, and Katharine Svehla; Mentor: Mardy Philippian
Poster Sessions
Alan Lopez; Mentor: Rami Khasawneh
Luke Pekol; Mentor: Amanda Harsy
Kristin Pawlowski; Mentor: Amanda Harsy
Nathan Petsche; Mentor: Jason Keleher
Angelina Martinez; Mentor: Jason Keleher
Samantha Schneider; Mentor: Dena Hinkle
Laila Albazzor; Mentor: Philip Blankenship
Jessia Barrios; Mentor: Huma Zia
Sabrina Peskind; Mentor: Ann Guernon
Arielle DeShazier; Mentor: Jason Keleher
Molly Paez; Mentor: Robert Chant
Outstanding Graduate Presentations - Concurrent Sessions
Anthony Baudino; Mentor: Kari Stone
David Rodriguez; Mentor: Joseph Kozminski
Sankeerth Thalloju and Taduru Bhavan; Mentor: Rami Khasaweh
Competition Winners
3MT (Three Minute Thesis) Competition
Jadyn Dominguez; Mentor: Jason Keleher
Adan Martinez; Mentor: Dan Kissel
Samuel Robles; Mentor: Jason Keleher
Research Slams
Andrew Murphy, John Zakhari, and Isabella Johnson; Mentor: Jason Keleher
Kiersten Smith (Mentor: Jason Keleher) and Maria Giron (Mentor: Hyeseong Lee)
Amanda Anderson; Mentor: Dan Kissel
Business Plan and Pitch Competition
1st Place: Homestead Harvest (Daniel M. Baumhart) � A local-first digital marketplace connecting suburban consumers with small-scale egg producers.
2nd Place: Action Packed (Elaina Veome) � A social impact venture funding hygiene kits for homeless shelters through youth sports clinics.
3rd Place: Aura Beats (Elizabeth Gonzalez) � A biometric-driven music platform personalizing listening experiences based on real-time physiological data.
The event kicked off with a plenary session from speaker Heather Blackmore, creator of �,� a gardening platform rooted in storytelling, education and real-life experience. Her work blends creativity with curiosity, showing how a foundation in language can shape careers far beyond the classroom.
蘑菇视频 is a modern, enterprising, Catholic university with a growing student enrollment from GED through doctoral level programs. As part of the global Lasallian network of 65 universities, Lewis is known for preparing graduates who impact the world for the better. Visit www.lewisu.edu for further information.
