SIUE Honors Spring 2026 URCA Award Recipients for Undergraduate Research and Mentorship

SIUE Honors Spring 2026 URCA Award Recipients for Undergraduate Research and Mentorship

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville has recognized four members of the campus community with Spring 2026 Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities (URCA) Awards, celebrating excellence in undergraduate research, scholarship and mentorship.

Student award recipients include Gavynn Baer, URCA Research Assistant of the Semester and Hannah Asbeck, URCA Creative Arts Assistant of the Semester. Faculty mentor award recipients are Abbey Hepner for URCA Creative Arts Mentor of the Semester and Annie Imboden with URCA Research Mentor of the Semester.

The awards are selected through a nomination and review process led by the URCA Board, a multidisciplinary team of 15 SIUE faculty members representing departments across the University.

Student recipients are nominated by faculty mentors, who are in-turn nominated by URCA assistants. The URCA program provides undergraduate students with opportunities to engage early in their academic careers.

"The URCA awards are a great way to recognize excellence in undergraduate research mentoring from faculty as well as undergraduate student participation in research," said Amelia Pérez, PhD, RN, CNE, professor of family health and community health nursing and coordinator of URCA. "Two faculty mentors and two URCA assistants are selected each semester based on nominations submitted to the URCA Board. This allows opportunities for multiple faculty and students to be recognized for their work."

Among the student recipients, Baer reflected on the collaborative impact URCA has had on his academic and professional development.

"Serving as a research assistant has been an incredible opportunity," said Baer. "I am truly thankful for the knowledge, experience and opportunities I have gained through URCA."

Baer also credited faculty mentors and collaborators including nominator Kimberly Ott, AuD, Steffany Chleboun, PhD, Huaibo Xin, DrPH, and fellow research team members for helping shape his confidence and growth as a future audiologist and researcher.

Research mentor Imboden was nominated by URCA Assistant Dirk Tecson, who praised her thoughtful mentorship and constructive feedback.

"The feedback not only helped me grow into a researcher but also my professional development in the hospital and in tutoring," wrote Tescon. "Through working with her, I have become more confident in presenting my ideas in professional settings and representing our work at prestigious organizations."

URCA assistant Asbeck was nominated by her URCA faculty mentor and co-recipient of a semester award, Abbey Hepner, MFA.

"Hannah has already seamlessly integrated what she has learned this semester into the work that she is creating for her thesis exhibition next month," wrote Hepner. "She has produced her own liquid light images and is now helping me produce tintype frames for a large solo exhibition at the Center of Southwest Studies in Durango, Colorado."

According to Pérez, impactful undergraduate research experiences often extend far beyond traditional classroom learning and career preparation.

"The URCA Assistant program helps prepare students for potential research and creative activities opportunities in their job after graduation, and for graduate school," said Pérez. "Many of our URCA Assistant students have engaged in co-authoring professional presentations at conferences and publications in peer-reviewed journals before graduation."

Pérez added that former URCA assistants continue pursuing research contributions long after commencement day.

"Previous SIUE URCA Assistants have moved on to academic and professional positions after graduation where they continue their research path making an impact to society."

The URCA program supports SIUE's commitment to experiential learning by helping undergraduate students build professional skills, contribute to scholarly discovery and participate in meaningful mentorship relationships that extend beyond the classroom.

Learn more at siue.edu/urca.

Photo: Gavynn Baer, Abbey Hepner, Annie Imboden and Hannah Asbeck. Individual photos provided by awardees.