Fayetteville State University Honors Students Showcase Research, Build Networks at Regional Conference

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Eight students from Fayetteville State University’s Honors Program attended the 2026 Southern Regional Honors Council Annual Conference, held March 25-28, where they were accompanied by program director Justin Graham, Ph.D., and program coordinator Robyn Huereca. The group joined honors scholars and administrators from across the South for a multi-day experience centered on research, collaboration, and professional growth.

This year’s conference, organized around the theme "Inspired by History," encouraged participants to reflect on the past while shaping the future of honors education and scholarship.

The FSU student group included Katrina Edwards, JaMyah Jones, Mariana McCottry, Kaiyanla Clark, Oluwademilade Ajibola, Trezur McNeill, Taylor Atkinson and Azaria White, all of whom actively participated in conference sessions and networking opportunities.

"Attending the Southern Regional Honors Council Conference in Montgomery, Alabama, was truly an unforgettable experience. From the first day, I was deeply impacted by the 'City as Text' activity, where we explored historical sites connected to the civil rights movement. Walking through those spaces and reflecting on the sacrifices and courage of those who fought for equality was both inspiring and emotional," said Oluwademilade.

Three students were selected to present their summer research projects, highlighting the university’s commitment to undergraduate research and academic excellence. 

• Katrina Edwards, mentored by Mabel Aworh, Ph.D. (Fayetteville State University), presented her research, "Occurrence and Genomic Relatedness of ESBL-Producing Klebsiella from Wastewater and Agricultural Sources."
• JaMyah Jones, mentored by Md. Sharear Saon, Ph.D., and Philip C. Bevilacqua, Ph.D. (Pennsylvania State University), presented "Identifying Structural Trends in Rare Tautomers Formed Between Two Aligned Adenines Using Cheminformatics."
• Mariana McCottry, mentored by Pius Nyutu, Ph.D. (Fayetteville State University), presented "Examining the Effects of Childhood Mental Health Disorders on Adult Work Ethic."

These presentations provided students the opportunity to engage with a broader scholarly audience and receive meaningful feedback on their work.

Participation in the conference offered students valuable opportunities beyond the classroom. By attending sessions, engaging in discussions and interacting with peers from other institutions, FSU honors students strengthened their communication skills, expanded their academic perspectives and built meaningful professional networks. The conference environment fosters collaboration and exposes students to diverse ideas, disciplines and approaches to research.

"The SRHC conference provides an important platform for our students to grow as scholars and professionals," said Graham. "Presenting their work and connecting with other honors students helps them build confidence and prepares them for future academic and career opportunities."

In addition to student engagement, the conference served as a professional development opportunity for program leadership. Dr. Graham and Ms. Huereca participated in sessions and networking events with honors administrators from across the region. These interactions allowed them to exchange ideas, explore innovative programming strategies and identify best practices for addressing common challenges in honors education.

The conference featured a dynamic program that included research presentations, poster sessions, panel discussions, and professional development workshops. Sessions focused on topics such as interdisciplinary research, leadership development, graduate and career preparation, and strategies for enhancing honors education. The program also incorporated opportunities for cultural engagement and reflection aligned with the conference theme, allowing participants to connect historical context with contemporary scholarship and innovation.

Through their participation, Fayetteville State University’s Honors Program continues to demonstrate its commitment to fostering academic excellence, undergraduate research, and student success. Experiences such as the SRHC Annual Conference play a critical role in preparing honors students to become leaders, scholars, and professionals in their respective fields.