Snapshots from the 17th Annual UNO Student Research and Creative Activity Fair

published: 2025/04/14
contact: Bella Lockwood-Watson - Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications
email: unonews@unomaha.edu

A student shares their poster presentation at the Research and Creative Activity Fair (RCAF) inside of UNO's Barbara Weitz Community Engagement Center.

Two individuals engage in conversation during the Research and Creative Activity Fair at the University of Nebraska at Omaha on April 11, 2025. One person, holding a coffee cup, discusses a research poster while the other listens attentively. The background features a poster with information about the event.

A student dressed in a black shirt plays a classical guitar at the Research and Creative Activity Fair at the University of Nebraska at Omaha on April 11, 2025. He is focused and engaged in his performance.

A student plays a classical guitar at the Research and Creative Activity Fair (RCAF). He is focused and engaged in his performance.

A student shares their poster presentation at the Research and Creative Activity Fair (RCAF) inside of UNO's Barbara Weitz Community Engagement Center.

➡️ The news: On April 11, 2025, University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) students from every college participated in the 17th Annual Research and Creative Activity Fair (RCAF). The event spanned across four buildings: the Barbara Weitz Community Engagement Center (CEC), Strauss Performing Arts Center, Criss Library, and Weber Fine Arts Building. The fair featured research presentations, artistic performances, and innovative projects by undergraduates, graduates, and doctoral students.

💡 What did we see?

Nearly 300 students shared their work—from cutting-edge scientific research to captivating artistic performances.
The event highlighted a diverse array of academic disciplines, showcasing the rich breadth of talent at UNO.
Students had the chance to network with faculty, industry experts, and peers, creating valuable connections for future endeavors.

💡 Why it matters: RCAF serves as a career-launching platform. It provides students with the chance to present work that could shape their professional journeys, whether in science, education, social work, or the arts. UNO’s RCAF continues to inspire students to bridge the gap between academics and real-world applications, helping them gain skills that extend far beyond the classroom.

🤝 Who Supported it? This year’s fair was proudly sponsored by UNO’s Alumni Association, Bio Nebraska, Nebraska National Guard, Great Plains IDEA, Holland Computing Center, and Invest Nebraska.

2025 Student Research and Creative Activity Fair Awardees

Undergraduate Performances

Best:
Matea Jerkovic, Cameron Jordan, Hayden Johnson, Robert Russell

Outstanding:
Isa Wright

Meritorious:
Alex Martinez

Graduate Performances

Best:
Kyle Paoletti

Outstanding:
Aaron Scobie

Undergraduate Exhibits or Demonstrations

Best:
Kennedy Wallman

Outstanding:
Ian Andress

Meritorious:
Jen Riedl

Honorable Mention:
Alyssiah Green

Graduate Exhibits or Demonstrations

Best:
Chelsea Kavich

Outstanding:
Savannah Boedigheimer

Undergraduate Poster Presentations

Best:
Paw Thlay Wah

Outstanding:
Megan Althouse

Meritorious:
Brooklynn Schmidt

Honorable Mention:
Claire Wing

Graduate Poster Presentations

Best:
Chukwuma Adinchezor

Outstanding:
Christopher Engsberg

Meritorious:
Sarah Woelfel

Honorable Mention:
Mahboubeh Ghanbari

Undergraduate Oral Presentations

Best:
Isabelle Weber

Outstanding:
Izzy Vargas

Meritorious:
Charleston Berryman

Honorable Mention:
Cherylynn Gibson

Graduate Oral Presentations

Best:
Sarah Lehn

Outstanding:
Ramin Shahbad

Meritorious:
Toka Mootaz AboElnour Ahmed

Honorable Mention (Tie):
Mehrnoush Haghighatnejad

Honorable Mention (Tie):
Thomas Forke

About the University of Nebraska at Omaha

The University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) is Nebraska’s premier metropolitan university, committed to innovating for the public good, advancing social mobility, powering workforce development, and serving as a hub for community engagement. Nearly 15,000 Mavericks choose UNO for its hands-on education experiences, nationally ranked online and graduate programs, military-connected student support, and innovative approaches to supporting lifelong learning. UNO holds the Carnegie Research Activity “R2” designation, securing more than $40 million annually in external research funding and counts its faculty among the world’s most cited scholars. Sixteen Omaha Athletics programs compete in NCAA Division I as members of the Summit League and National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC).

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