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Wickie Awards

Students can win awards! The Wickies celebrate our students’ development from various perspectives. Awards have been given out for outstanding presentation, distinguished research, most impactful solution (since we are about solving wicked problems!), and video excellence.

Our judging teams are made up of one faculty/staff member, one award-winning student, and one alum. These teams bring their diverse perspectives to judging our students' contributions. Thanks to all our judges who work hard in relative obscurity but contribute immeasurably to the festival.

Outstanding Presentation

The Outstanding Presentation award recognizes a student/team which most effectively presents its problem and solution at the Wicked Festival. Awards may include up to gold, silver, and bronze levels of recognition. 

Distinguished Research

Distinguished Research recognizes the student/team with the most sophisticated research of their problem and solution. Awards may include up to gold, silver, and bronze levels of recognition. 

Impactful Solution

The Impactful Solution award rewards the student/team whose solution most aptly fits their wicked problem or which would make the most difference to the world if adopted. Awards may include up to gold, silver, and bronze levels of recognition. 

Rising Star Rookie

The Rising Star Rookie award rewards the student/team participating in the Festival in a 100-level class who show the greatest promise in creative problem solving. Awards may include up to gold, silver, and bronze levels of recognition. 

Any questions about Wicked Festival awards? Get in touch with Dr. Paige Tan, Ph.D.,, Wicked Festival Coordinator.

Wicked Festival Award Recipients

Fall 2023

Outstanding Presentation Judges: Professor Susan Sheridan Smith, student Rafael Parra, alum Caitlyn Scaggs

  • GOLD 1-6 How the US Can Combat the Fentanyl Crisis by Becca Holcombe, Caroline Sapp 
  • SILVER 1-45 Fueling the Future: A Study on Food Insecurity in Elementary-aged Children in the NRV by Kyndall Altamirano, Jae Horst, Jordyn Johnson, Kristina Milochova 
  • BRONZE 2-81 How Racism Erodes the Mind, Body, and Spirit by Celena Osorio 
  • HONORABLE MENTION 1-42. RU Wasteful? Alexa Parisi, Jonah Packer, Owen Tidd, Harleigh Britt, Cait Verdura, Jacob Gilbert 

Distinguished Research: Judges Dr. Laurie Cubbison, student: Keiko Klisiewecz, alum: Pattie DeLoatche 

  • GOLD 2-76 Deterring Chinese Aggression against Taiwan by Camilla Eggleston, Adian Lacy 
  • SILVER 2-16 How Might We Expand Sexual Health Education among Radford University Students to Prevent Sexually Transmitted Diseases by Alison Sayers, Denise Kackley, Emma Fleming, Jazmyne Scott, Kaitlyn O'Shaughnessy, Maddie Kayes, Michael Mitchell, Tejaeden Harrigan 
  • BRONZE 1-58 How Might We Bring More Awareness to Radford Students about Health Services Offered by Anna Mason, Bryan Dehoyos, Kenzie Andruss, Taylor Miller 

Impactful Solution: Judges Dr. Jack Call, student: Isaiah Hawkins, alum: Rick Sparks

  • GOLD  1-8 Ultra-Processed Foods by Cory Page, Cole Harrington, Evan Harless 
  • SILVER 2-35 Global Warming Solved the Right Way by Nick Terehoff 
  • BRONZE 2-21 Assisting the Homeless through Job Opportunities by Geronimo Moleno, Isabelle Mohl, Daniel Huff, Walker Bourne, Liam Valvo 

Video Awards

Spring 2023

Outstanding Presentation 

  • Gold: How to Democratize Belarus by Corey Burgess  (Paige Tan, Ph.D., Political Science) 
  • Silver: Gaps within the American Foster Care System by Lucy Cooper, Ronnie Butler, Gabe Robertson (Chapman Rackaway, Ph.D., Political Science) 
  • Bronze: Equity for Equatorial Guinea: The Importance of the Removal of Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo by Riley Petroski (Paige Tan, Ph.D., Political Science) 

Distinguished Research

  • Gold: Taking Down Mohammed bin Salman by Becca Holcombe, Emmie Maurer (Paige Tan, Ph.D., Political Science) 
  • Silver: How Might We Control Portion Sizes? By Jasmine Blevins, Nic Cook, Carley Fagan, Isaac Morales, Evan Valdez (Jane Machin, Ph.D., Marketing) 
  • Bronze: The Great Replacement and White Nationalist Violence in America by Nick Robinson, Will Avalos, Riley Petroski (Tay Keong Tan, Political Science) 

Impactful Solution

  • Gold: Killer Asteroids by Levi Hylton, Jalen Booker, Rafael Parra (Tay Keong Tan, Ph.D., Political Science) 
  • Silver: Massive Solar Eruptions by Kate Sutherland, Makayla Fields, Charity Wilson (Tay Keong Tan, Ph.D., Political Science) 
  • Bronze: What a Waste: Food Sustainability at Radford by Annalisa Twum, Darryl Fulton, Bailey Lester, Anthony Barbarisi, Keiko Klisiewecz, Isaiah Hawkins (Steven Fesmire, Ph.D., Philosophy) 

Video Awards

  • Gold: Equitable Energy by Nicholas Beach, Sara Johnson, Camden McGookin, Will Sadler (Meg Konkel, Ph.D., Design/Philosophy) 

Fall 2022

Outstanding Presentation

  • Gold: Hunter Cole and Makayla Fields, “Islamic State-Sinai,” POSC 355 Terrorism (Paige Tan, Ph.D.).  
  • Silver: Rose Guillaume, Grace Herritage, Travis Giraldi, Cayden Guinther, “A World with Serial Pandemics,” INST 101 Understanding the World (Tay Keong Tan, Ph.D.)

Distinguished Research

  • Gold: Madelyn Cheney, Kristen Chang, Ava Graham, Ethan Gear, “How Might We Eliminate Barriers to Homelessness Resources,” MKTG 101 Creativity and Innovation (Jane Machin, Ph.D.)
  • Silver: Rose Guillaume, Grace Herritage, Travis Giraldi, Cayden Guinther, “A World with Serial Pandemics,” INST 101 Understanding the World (Tay Keong Tan, Ph.D.)

Impactful Solution

  • Gold: Alex Cook, Wellington Dressler, Prophet Magee, Trey Taylor, “Is the Fentanyl Epidemic Gone Too Far?” CRJU 495 Critical Perspectives in Criminal Justice (Steve Owen, Ph.D.)
  • Silver: Madelyn Cheney, Kristen Chang, Ava Graham, Ethan Gear, “How Might We Eliminate Barriers to Homelessness Resources,” MKTG 101 Creativity and Innovation (Jane Machin, Ph.D.)
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