Student achievement, faculty mentorship showcased during annual RICE celebration

During its annual RICE Week, Centre College honored students who are putting classroom learning into action.

RICE, which gets its name from research, internships and creative endeavors, gives students a chance to polish their presentation skills in an academic conference setting. 

This year’s symposium featured 65 student presentations, including oral and poster presentations. These projects spanned many subjects and highlighted an array of research methods that had students working closely with professors and community partners, putting all the skills they’ve learned in class to the test. J.H. Atkins Scholars also presented on their research and projects focusing on diversity, equity, inclusion and social justice.

Among the presenters were student researchers Odile Clements, Teresa Curry and Liz Dickerson, all class of 2026, who aimed to improve a local water retention pond that had been neglected. After becoming overrun with invasive plants, the basin doesn’t drain properly, increasing the risk of flooding during heavy rainfall. The students presented a plan to renovate the area into a bio retention garden with native plants that would improve drainage and beautify the area. 

Sumit Sah, class of 2028, worked with another (and furrier) local community, teaming up with the Danville Boyle County Humane Society to create an app that collects and analyzes data to aid with the pet adoption process. Along with the app, Sah redesigned the Humane Society’s website. 

With both a faculty mentor and faculty research partner, Kayla Sharkey, class of 2025, studied sourdough starters. She and Associate Professor of Biology Kelly O’Quin studied how different flours affect the microbiome of the crucial ingredient. 

The week of programming concluded with a student art exhibition displaying multiple works including blown glass, paintings, pottery, photography, drawings and multimedia sculptures. 

Dr. John Barton Excellence in Undergraduate Research Mentorship Awards

The week also included a moving tribute to the late John Barton ’79, a beloved Kentucky physician and longtime member of the Centre Board of Trustees, who was an ardent supporter of RICE week. His commitment to faculty-student collaboration inspired the creation of the Dr. John Barton Excellence in Undergraduate Research Mentorship Award. 

The 2025 RICE Celebratory Luncheon marks the second year these awards were presented to faculty mentors and recognizing their work with students. This year’s recipients include: 

• Division I: Amy Frederick, National Endowment for the Humanities Associate Professor of Art History
• Division II: Shana Sippy, Associate Professor of Religion
• Division III: Prayat Poudel, Associate Professor of Mathematics, and Jeffery Heath, Margaret V. Haggin Professor of Mathematics and Data Science

Honorees were nominated by their division chairs, who also presented the awards. During the decision-making process, Eva Cadavid, Cantrell Associate Professor of Philosophy and RICE committee secretary, emphasized the pivotal step of understanding how nominees support students both inside and outside the classroom.

The ability to mentor and collaborate intellectually is at the heart of the relationship between professor and student at Centre and what Barton cherished and supported. For community members who interacted with him personally, the award is an embodiment of that.

“Not only did Dr. Barton financially support student research, he attended the RICE Symposium every year and listened to the presentations. He’d ask questions that would help students think through their research or consider new angles, said January Haile, Elizabeth Molloy Dowling Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology. 

“Dr. Barton loved learning, and I think more than anything, RICE is a celebration of learning.”