(L to R): Elisah Lewis, director of research and student support services, Andrew Fernandez, sophomore, Sundaresh Ramnath, associate professor of accounting, John Coleman, junior, Lindsey Morgado, senior, Charles Walker, senior, Edward Baker, chair & professor of management science, Robert Till, sophomore. In the background is Lindsey & Charles and Johns RCF First Place winning posters.
	School of Business Senior - RCF winners at the University recognition reception at the Bank United Center on April 6. (L to R) Lisette Hichez, Hayley Donaldson, Sebastian, Lindsey Morgado, Charles Walker and Elisah Lewis.
	Junior First Place: John Coleman
	Senior First Place: Lindsey Morgado and Charles Walker with Elisah Lewis

The competition is open to University of Miami students from all disciplines and school years who have completed or are currently exploring topics of interest.  Students are required to create an abstract of 250 words and a presentation poster detailing their studies.  Forty-six School of Business students participated individually or with a group.   Students were required to give a 10-minute presentation to each judge and answer questions about their research. Students were evaluated based on presentation style, significance, originality, methodology, and presentation quality. The School of Business students were judged by Linda Neider, vice dean for Undergraduate Business Programs, Chester Schriesheim, distinguished professor of management, John Daniels, Samuel N. Friedland chair professor of executive management, Santiago Mingo, assistant professor of management, Sheryl Alonso, lecturer in management, George Corton, senior director of development, Alex Pons, former director of the Ziff Center, and Mary Young, director of the Ziff Center. 

"This was an extremely worthwhile program in that students not only learned how to present a research study to their peers and faculty judges but also learned from seeing the posters of their fellow students," said Elisah Lewis, director of research and student support services, who organized the business students' participation in the program. "The upper-class students were a wonderful inspiration to the freshmen and encouraged them to be excited about conducting research in the future." 

In addition, the School held a recognition ceremony on April 16 to honor the students who participated in research during the academic year and their faculty mentors.  Each student who participated in the Forum received a certificate and gift recognizing his or her efforts.  The 2010 Leadership in Research Award was given to Seth Levy, a senior, whose mentor was Susan Amat, lecturer in the management department and director of the UM Launch Pad.   The Dedication to Research Award was presented to Christina Farmer, a junior and UM 2010 Student Government President whose research mentor is Joseph Johnson, associate professor of marketing. The 2010 Faculty Mentors of the Year were also recognized with their award winning students.

Two of the participating students were also selected to participate in the Fifth Annual Undergraduate Research Atlantic Coast Conference "Meeting of the Minds" April 16 and 17 held at the Georgia Institute of Technology. The 2011 Meeting of the Minds ACC research conference will be held at the University of Miami.

Seniors

Lindsey Morgado and Charles Walker - First Place
"Optimization through Simulation"

Lisette Hichez - Third Place
A Global Perspective on Women Gender Discrimination

Seth Levy - Honorable Mention
"The Disparity between Skateboard Park Construction and America's Skateboarders - the Opportunity it Presents"

Juniors
John Coleman - First Place
Carlos Antonorsi - Second Place
Josh Bergman - Third Place
Sara Michalski - Third Place
Christina Farmer - Honorable Distinction
Marco Jovovich and Chris Papa - Honorable Distinction
Richard Treichel - Honorable Distinction
Jennifer Dowd - Honorable Mention
Stephanie Greene - Honorable Mention

Sophomores

Freshmen

Faculty Mentors of the Year Award

Dr. Edward K. Baker

Mentor to:

Dr. Sundaresh Ramnath

Mentor to: