2025 Franke Honors Pinnacle Awardees

Tuesday
Image
Franke Honors Pinnacle Graphic
Last week, the W.A. Franke Honors College hosted its annual research presentation symposium, Franke Honors Pinnacle. More than 185 Franke Honors students presented their work in the Bear Down Gym, showcasing diverse research projects that they have been working on throughout the semester. Each year, students are judged on their poster presentations in a variety of categories. Outstanding research is acknowledged with financial awards for Quest projects, Honors Thesis work, Exploratory Mini-Grants, and a people's choice award. 
Check out the 2025 Franke Honors Pinnacle Awardees below: 

Overall Showcase Winner

Orli Sanyal 2025 Pinnacle Awardee

Orli Sanyal - Overall Showcase Winner

View Orli'S PROJECT

Senior Thesis Presentation Awardees

Kayla Jones, 2025 Pinnacle Awardee

Kayla Jones - Poster Presentation Winner

Germline Mutation Spectrum, Demographics, and Outcomes in Patients at the University of Arizona Cancer Center: A Retrospective Analysis

Kayla Jones is a senior studying Molecular & Cellular Biology and Psychology, with minors in Spanish and Biochemistry. Her Honors Thesis, titled Germline Mutation Spectrum, Demographics, and Outcomes in Patients at the University of Arizona Cancer Center: A Retrospective Analysis, explores disparities in genetic counseling, testing, and referrals. Under the mentorship of Lauren Maynard, MS, CGC and Dr. Sima Ehsani, MD, Kayla characterized and compared demographics and cancer diagnoses among 1) patients who tested positive for germline mutations with 2) the broader cancer patient population, in order to highlight disparities and emphasize the need for more equitable cancer care.

View Kayla's Project

Jenna Ortega, Pinnacle 2025 Awardee

Jenna Ortega - Poster Presentation Runner Up

Jenna Ortega is a senior at the W.A. Franke Honors College, graduating with degrees in Law and Philosophy. Jenna’s Honors Thesis, Restructuring Eyewitness Identification to reduce Wrongful Conviction Cases in the United States, examines the role of eyewitness misidentification in wrongful convictions focusing on the flaws of the traditional simultaneous police lineups. Through experimental research comparing simultaneous and blind sequential lineup procedures, Jenna demonstrated that blind sequential lineups significantly reduce eyewitness identification errors. This thesis advocates for a nationwide adoption of blind sequential lineups as a necessary reform to improve the reliability of eyewitness evidence and prevent future miscarriages of justice.  

View Jenna's Project

Ashley Mentor, Pinnacle 2025 Awardee

Ashley Mentor - Poster Presentation Runner Up

Barriers and Facilitators to Diversity in Speech-Language Pathology

Ashley Mentor is a senior at the University of Arizona in the W.A. Franke Honors College majoring in Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences with a minor in Health and Human Values. Her Honors Thesis, Barriers and Facilitators to Diversity in Speech-Language Pathology, examines the lived experiences of individuals from marginalized communities within undergraduate and graduate training programs. The project explores how structural elements such as the presence of faculty of color and affinity groups shape these experiences. With the field of speech-language pathology remaining 90.3% White, Ashley’s research aims to shed light on the systemic racism that persists and offer actionable strategies to foster greater diversity, equity, and inclusion, ultimately making the field more reflective of the diverse communities it serves.

View Ashley's Project

Quest Project Presentation Awardees

Swanuja Godasi, 2025 Pinnacle Awardee

Swanuja Godasi - Quest Winner

Exploring Bharatanatyam Mudras as a Way to Increase Hand Mobility and Strength 

Swanuja Godasi is a freshman studying Physiology and Medical Sciences with minors in Health and Human Values and Biochemistry. She wanted to incorporate her culture with my passion for healing through my Quest project, and explored how hand gestures, or mudras, from Bharatanatyam (an Indian Classical Dance) could affect hand strength and mobility in older adults. Swanuja conducted classes at the St. Luke’s Home, and many residents reported an increased ability in hand mobility and ease in performing daily hand-related tasks. The opportunity through Quest was so rewarding, and she hopes to continue this project in the upcoming years.

View Swanuja's Project

Exploratory Mini Grant Awardees

David J Aberle 2025 Pinnacle awardee

David J. Aberle - EMG Winner

View David's project

EMG 2025 Pinnacle Awardees

Tanya Agarwal and Kabir Rathore Muthu -- EMG Runner Ups

Beyond Blame: Exploring the Dual Health Impacts of Systemic Racism on Police and Minoritized Communities

Tanya is a junior studying Physiology & Medical Sciences, and Kabir is a sophomore studying Neuroscience & Cognitive Science and Economics. Both are involved in the HHV program, which emphasizes the intersection of health, human values, and community well-being. This project examines how structural racism impacts the health of minoritized communities and the well-being of officers policing these communities. By synthesizing these areas, the poster highlights the shared burden of systemic racism on both groups, promoting dialogue between law enforcement and communities. This approach seeks to bridge divides and foster collaborative, evidence-based solutions to public health disparities. 

View Tanya and Kabir's Project

People's Choice Awardee

Jerrett Overland, Pinnacle 2025 Awardee

Jerrett Overland - People's Choice Winner

Beyond The Game: The Legal and Business Impact of NIL on Universities
 

Jerrett is a graduating senior studying Business Management. Through a business and legal analysis, he examined the impact of Name Image and Likeness (NIL) rights on college athletics. In his research, he examined how universities and athletes adjust to the changing NIL environment by studying intellectual property issues, financial effects, and public opinion transformations. Jerrett interviewed college coaches, current and former college athletes, and player agents to obtain practical information about branding, revenue generation, and compliance. The research reveals how NIL affects the relationship between opportunities and sustainability in the college sports industry.

View Jerrett's Project