2026 Franke Honors Pinnacle Awardees
On April 23, the W.A. Franke Honors College hosted its annual research presentation symposium, Franke Honors Pinnacle. Nearly 250 Franke Honors students presented their work in the Bear Down Gym, showcasing diverse research projects that they have been working on throughout the semester. This showcase was the first year that several students participated in multimedia presentations, which showcased artifacts in addition to their posters.
Outstanding student research is acknowledged with awards. Check out the 2026 Franke Honors Pinnacle Awardees below and learn more about their incredible projects!
Overall Showcase Winners
Noorie Sandhu - Overall Showcase Winner
Protease Activation of α6β1 Integrin Primes Cancer Invasion Membrane Responses and Signaling
Orli Sanyal - Thesis Awardee
Orli Sanyal is a senior, pursuing dual degrees in Medicine and Molecular and Cellular Biology with minors in Public Health and Spanish. As a research assistant in the Cancer Health Equity Lab under Dr. Julie Armin, she has spent the past two years investigating geographic and structural factors that influence access to breast and cervical cancer care in rural Native American communities. Her project evaluates publicly available health datasets by creating a data crosswalk developed from a conceptual model integrating Indian Determinants of Health with the Behavioral Model for Vulnerable Populations and a socio-ecological framework. By completing a comprehensive multivariable examination of access-related factors, the findings highlight critical gaps in medical infrastructure and data availability specific to Native American measures. Results can inform proposals in geospatial analysis to further understand travel burden and construct targeted interventions to advance equity in cancer care delivery and improve overall health outcomes.
Sophie Singh - Thesis Awardee
Hysterotomy Impairs Long-Term Mechanical Integrity of Uterine Tissue
Truitt Shelts - Thesis Awardee
What You Don’t Know About Your Brain: A Mini-Archive of Essential Neuroscience for a Happier, Healthier, Longer Life
Francisca Fabiola Urrea Salazar - People's Choice Winner
Speaking Health: How Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Information Builds Trust in Healthcare
Francisca Fabiola Urrea Salazar is an undergraduate student at the W.A. Franke Honors College pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Public Health with a Health Promotion emphasis and a second major in Spanish (Hispanic Linguistics). Her Honors thesis explored the importance of culturally adapted health communication for Spanish-speaking communities. Conducted in collaboration with the Southwest Environmental Health Sciences Center (SWEHSC) at the University of Arizona, the project focused on developing Spanish-language educational materials on environmental health topics such as PFAS exposure, air quality, and noise pollution. Rather than relying on direct translation, the materials were adapted to ensure clarity, cultural relevance, and accessibility. The project demonstrates how thoughtful communication can improve understanding, strengthen trust, and support more equitable access to health information.
Quest Project Presentation Awardees
Smilangi Sidhugari - Quest Winner
Beyond the Chart: A Holistic Pediatric Mentorship and Empowerment Program
Smilangi Sidhugari is a first-year student pursuing a B.S. in Medicine, a prestigious Flinn Scholar, and the former Miss Arizona Teen. Research shows that delivering holistic care improves patient satisfaction, treatment compliance, and health outcomes; however, current hospital capacity can only address physical care. Aiming to bridge that gap, Smilangi's project is an eight-week, completely free virtual program for patients ages 12–18 that focuses on social and emotional healing while helping participants build a supportive community with peers who understand their experiences. Through interactive Zoom sessions and guided activities, participants will explore identity beyond diagnosis, build confidence, strengthen communication and self-advocacy in medical and social settings, manage academic responsibilities, and develop professional skills. The program concludes with an empowerment showcase, where participants present the skills, they’ve developed and share their growth in a supportive, noncompetitive environment. Ultimately, this initiative advocates for a shift towards holistic, human-centered healthcare.
Sohan Kumandan - Quest Runner-Up
Investigating H11: A First-in-Class bifunctional Dual Histone Deacetylase (HDAC and Autophagy Inhibitor for Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Sohan Kumandan is a freshman at the W.A Franke Honors College double majoring in Physiology & Medical Sciences as well as Creative Intelligence & Innovation with a minor in Health and Human Values. His Quest project at the University of Arizona Comprehensive Cancer Center explores a new approach to treating acute myeloid leukemia (AML) using a novel first-in-class bifunctional dual HDAC and autophagy inhibitor. AML is an aggressive and difficult-to-treat blood cancer, often characterized by high relapse rates and limited long term survival due to the ability of cancer cells to adapt to therapy. This approach aims to restore gene expression while simultaneously disrupting a key survival pathway that cancer cells rely on under stress. By targeting both epigenetic regulation and cellular survival mechanisms, this strategy is designed to overcome therapy resistance, improve long-term outcomes, as well as enhance overall treatment efficacy.
Exploratory Mini Grant Awardees
Carol Chen & Shraddha Dwivedi - EMG Winner
Shraddha is a current junior studying Neuroscience & Cognitive Science and Molecular & Cellular Biology with minors in Biochemistry and Public Health. Carol is currently a junior majoring in Neuroscience and Cognitive Science with minors in Spanish, Health and Human Value, and Biochemistry. They have been involved in Dr. Ying-hui Chou’s Brain Imaging and TMS Lab since their freshman year and are keenly interested in exploring the applications of brain stimulation research upon neurological interventions in medicine. Neural plasticity represents the brain’s ability to reorganize itself in response to stimuli, which facilitates our ability to learn and recover after brain injuries. Previous literature has demonstrated that exercise enhances neuroplasticity partly through metabolic shifts that increase circulating ketone bodies; when ketone metabolism is inhibited, these plasticity effects are diminished. While emerging evidence suggests that ketones may improve cognitive function, it’s still unclear whether they do so by directly increasing neuroplasticity. This study asks whether ketone supplementation acutely increases neuroplastic potential in humans.
Amelia Sommerhauser - EMG Runner-Up
Dear National Park Service
Amelia Sommerhauser is a sophomore undergraduate student at the University of Arizona studying professional, technical, and creative writing. Much of her home state inspires her work and artistic passions, and she enjoys hiking and traveling across the world. When not writing around Tucson, you can find her singing with a green ukulele in hand. Amelia's father was a Park Ranger for the National Park Service. Growing up this meant she lived in many small towns and even within the National Parks themselves. Her unconventional lifestyle changed how she looked at culture, nature, and even family. For her Quest Project, she created a series of postcards combining my own photography, compositions, and several memoirs on the Park Service. Her project, Dear National Park Service, (or, as she's come to know and love, Dear NPS), has reconnected her with the places and memories of her childhood.