Students from Sam Houston State University represented their fellow Bearkats at the state capitol this week as they presented their undergraduate research to state leaders.
Bearkats Ava Garrett and Makenzie Hesse were selected to represent the university after a careful deliberation process due to numerous submissions of outstanding research.
Garrett presented research from a multi-institutional project on the City of Brownsville’s community-driven COVID-19 response and how socio-economic factors were considered in the city health officials’ plan.
Her fellow Bearkat researcher, Hesse, used her knowledge of economics and connections with the Gibson D. Lewis Center for Business and Economic Development to gauge the economic impact of Huntsville’s colony of Mexican free-tailed bats. Hesse was able to work with the center’s director and economics professor, Christian Raschke, to coordinate with volunteers and the City of Huntsville.
The researchers’ day did not conclude after their presentations; they were able to spend the whole day at the capitol. They made the most of their visit by taking part in the capitol tours, sitting in on legislative sessions, networking with fellow researchers and participating in the student poster presentation session.
