By: Cassidy Delamarter, USF College of Education
Through the 2026 Educational Research in the Classroom & Beyond: Undergraduate Summer Research Academy, seven undergraduate students in the 最新天美传媒 College of Education explored some of today's most pressing educational and health challenges.
Supported by the and USF Research, the academy provided each student with a $1,400 stipend while participating in a 10-week hybrid research experience that combined faculty mentorship, hands-on research training and, for the first time, integrated artificial intelligence instruction. The program, which ran from May through July, included weekly training sessions designed to prepare undergraduate students for graduate study and research careers.
"This year's academy builds on the success of previous years while preparing students to use AI responsibly as part of the research process," said Janet Outlaw, academy coordinator and assistant professor of instruction. "My favorite part has been working with each of the student scholars and seeing them embrace the possibilities of research and think more broadly about systems and the way their insights can impact their field."
The students' projects reflected both personal experiences and a desire to improve outcomes for others.
Khalia Jones
Kayla Fitzpatrick-Holt
Parth Patel
Rising sophomore鈥疨arth Patel, an exercise science and kinesiology student, examined whether mental health serves as a link between sports injuries and academic performance among student-athletes. Inspired by his own recovery, Patel hopes his research will help coaches, athletic trainers and healthcare professionals better support injured athletes.
"I actually suffered an ACL tear in high school, so I know what it feels like," Patel said. "Rehabilitation affects your mental health a lot, and trying to focus on your studies makes it even harder. I wanted to investigate these issues because I want to better understand how we can support student-athletes at both the high school and college levels."
For rising junior鈥疜ayla Fitzpatrick-Holt, classroom observations during her teaching internships sparked an interest in student engagement. Her research explored how gamification can improve learning and participation in elementary classrooms.
"Educational games can be really effective for learning and progression in the classroom, while also helping teachers increase student engagement," Fitzpatrick-Holt said.
Horace and her daughter, Lauren, who attended the final day of the academy and was excited to see her mom present her research.
Helene Horace鈥痜ocused her research on the experiences of nontraditional student mothers facing housing instability and unemployment. Using personal journals alongside focus groups with other student mothers, her research examines the systemic barriers that can delay degree completion, including childcare, financial hardship and balancing work with family responsibilities. Her long-term goal is to advocate for institutional changes in education, including family housing and additional support services for student parents.
"I graduated high school in 2009. It took almost 17 years for me to get here today, trying to balance school and raising my kids," Horace said. "While doing this research, it made me heal and realize I was not alone."
Horace is on track to graduate December 2026 and hopes to become an elementary teacher.
"Undergraduate research is one of the nation's recognized high-impact practices because it allows students to pursue questions they are passionate about while developing the scholarly skills they'll carry into their careers," said Sandra Johnson Austin, director of USF Student Engagement for Research & Innovation. "The perspectives and innovation these young scholars bring will ultimately benefit our communities and society."
Project titles:
- Anna Kardiolaka, The Impact of Creative Arts Integration on Student Engagement in Elementary Special Education Classrooms
- Alyssa Godsill, Causality of the School-to-Prison Pipeline in Elementary Schools
- Helene Horace, Autoethnography of a Non-Traditional Student: Navigating College as a Mom Over 35 Facing Housing & Unemployment Instability
- Jamy Bonczek, Generative AI and Academic Integrity in Higher Education
- Kayla Firzpatrick-Holt, Gamification in the Classroom
- Khalia Jones, The Effects of Classroom Reward Systems on Student Motivation, Academic Achievement and Attendance in Elementary Classrooms
- Parth Patel, The Impact of Sports Injuries on the Academic Performance and Mental Health of Student-Athletes