UW-River Falls students present research, scholarly and creative works at Fall Gala
Dec. 4, 2025 – 154 students presented projects at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls Undergraduate Research, Scholarly and Creative Activity (URSCA) Fall Gala on Tuesday, Dec. 2.
The annual event highlighted research and scholarly displays by undergraduates whose work included research posters, oral presentations, artwork, short films and interactive displays. Students and faculty advisers represented 17 departments across the university’s three colleges.
“Undergraduate research is a high-impact practice known nationally to increase retention to degree, to increase things such as curiosity, transformation and public speaking, all the wonderful things that help [students] become career-ready students and career-ready members of society,” said URSCA Director Molly Gerrish. “These projects are more than just something students are completing for class. It is a question. It’s a curiosity. It is a transformation from being a student to a scholar.”
Interim Chancellor John Chenoweth highlighted the broad scope of the work being presented, including a project explaining the origins of a TV talk show, the causes of injuries in yellow-bellied sapsuckers, the presence of a concerning pathogen in local buckthorn and its impact on agriculture, the identification of a compound with potential as a new cancer treatment, and many creative projects.
“You can see what makes UW-River Falls a truly comprehensive campus with limitless opportunities for our students,” Chenoweth said. “In this room is the future. These students, guided by their amazing faculty mentors, are finding solutions to problems and developing art that will move generations.”
Chenoweth noted the collaborative nature of the gala, which also included students from Chippewa Valley Technical College and many projects funded by the Dairy Innovation Hub, a collaboration between UW-River Falls, UW-Platteville and UW-Madison.
Austin Meade, a senior soil science major from Hudson, presented research into a pathogen known as oat rust that is present in local buckthorn (an invasive weed) and can impact oat crops. Meade said he appreciated the opportunity to conduct practical research and share it at the gala.
“This is a relatively new pathogen to our region, and it’s quite detrimental to oats,” Meade said. “Most farmers don’t know about this pathogen, so being able to have supporting evidence that shows that it is here and isn’t going anywhere is vital to educating them about prevention.”
Grace Nickoloff, a senior criminology major from St. Paul, Minn., researched factors that shape experiences of bullying among college students. Nickoloff said she found the project both interesting and demanding.
“I have never done quantitative research of this size before, so it was certainly challenging to navigate a new experience on this large of a scale,” Nickoloff said. “It was most definitely a valuable experience as I learned a lot, and it felt like a good way to wrap up my educational experience at UWRF.”
Jon Tabora, a junior applied physics major from Crystal, Minn., displayed a rocket designed by the UWRF Falcon Rocketeers collegiate rocket launch team. He explained their research into ways to collect accurate pressure and temperature readings inside their rocket to inform future designs and improve flight results.
“It was a lot of really good hands-on experience, being able to apply theoretical aspects combined with physical, hands-on work,” Tabora said. “It's very satisfying seeing it all come together.”
UW-River Falls hosts the Fall Gala annually. Undergraduate students are also encouraged to present their research at state and national events, as well as at discipline-specific conferences.
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Photo: UW-River Falls student Holden Leifer discusses his biology research during the Undergraduate Research, Scholarly and Creative Activity (URSCA) Fall Gala Dec. 2. 154 students and 30 faculty mentors participated in the annual event. UWRF photo.