Every two weeks, Highlander Highlights shares with readers some of the extraordinary research and accomplishments happening on and off campus through the tireless work and curiosity of our students and faculty.
Radford researchers show their work in Richmond
Two Radford University student researchers presented their work on Feb. 6 at the inaugural Undergraduate Research Showcase at the Capitol in the General Assembly Building in Richmond, Virginia.
Following a competitive selection process, Cora Burt and Lauren Griffin were among the 34 students chosen from the commonwealth’s colleges and universities. Burt, a junior art education major, talked with attendees about her work, “Empowering Graduates: The Impact of Undergraduate Research in Developing Career Readiness Competencies.” Griffin presented her exploration into “Cybercrimes Committed Against Youth.”
“Both were wonderful examples of projects that cross disciplinary borders and rely on interdisciplinary teams to create new knowledge,” said Office of Undergraduate Research and Scholarship (OURS Director Joe Wirgau.
Both students worked with faculty mentors throughout their research processes. Wirgau and School of Communication Professor John Brummette mentored Burt, while Griffin worked with Joe Chase, a professor in the School of Computing and Information Sciences, and Associate Professor of Criminal Justice ‘Shawn Smith.
“I had an amazing time, and it was a fantastic opportunity to be able to display my hard work to Virginia legislation, people of the community and other student researchers,” Griffin said. “It was amazing to see fellow student researchers from other universities and the research projects that they’ve been working on. There was truly some incredible work there. I feel accomplished and excited about the new knowledge that I gained.”
Radford students excel in Microsoft Office competition
Four Radford University students finished in the top 10 in Virginia during the fall qualifier of the 2025 Microsoft Office Specialist U.S. National Championship.
Students aged 13 to 22 became eligible to compete in the fall qualifier by achieving a passing score on the Microsoft Office Specialist certification exams for Word, Excel or PowerPoint by Dec. 20, 2024. The competition featured six different tracks. Radford students participated by taking qualifying tests for Microsoft Excel 365 Apps.
Winners were announced in late January. The winning Highlanders were:
- Michael Rodgers, first place, Microsoft Excel (Microsoft 365 Apps)
- Alyssa Hendrickson, second place, Microsoft Excel (Microsoft 365 Apps)
- Logan Chaney, fourth place, Microsoft Excel (Microsoft 365 Apps)
- Sophia Brown, fifth place, Microsoft Excel (Microsoft 365 Apps)
Students prepare for and take the MOS Excel exam in Professor Arthur Carter’s data management and analysis with spreadsheets (INSY 281) course. “Most students pass the exam, and many excel,” said Carter, chair of the Department of Accounting, Finance and Business Law. “Four of the students taking the exam this past year placed in the top 10 in the state, which is an affirmation of their work in the class.”
The first-place finish qualifies Rodgers for the national championships in Dallas, Texas, an accomplishment that “means a great deal” to him, he said. The junior accounting major from Wytheville, Virginia, admits to avoiding Excel in the past because he “didn’t understand its capabilities.”
However, “after taking an introductory Excel class last semester with Dr. Arthur Carter, I found that I loved using Excel and that it was super helpful with many different aspects of my program. I am super excited to be competing in the National Championship and have been receiving extra help from Dr. Carter to prepare for it.”
Brown said her Radford training prepared her exceptionally well for the tests.
“Radford gave me ample resources to pass the test with the ITECH class. The GMetrix training software for the exam perfectly mirrored and prepared me for it. There was nothing on the exam that wasn't covered in the training. Everything that I learned in that class will be extremely helpful in the future, as I am going to be a CPA.”