Cal Poly Humboldt Students Earn Top Honors at CSU Research Competition

CSU Research Competition

Three Cal Poly Humboldt students represented the University with extraordinary distinction at this year’s CSU Research Competition in April, each earning awards in their respective categories.

Cal Poly Humboldt proudly hosted the 39th Annual CSU Student Research Competition, marking a historic first for the campus. The University welcomed over 200 exceptional student researchers from all 23 CSU campuses and served as a vibrant hub for innovation, inquiry, and academic excellence.

The CSU Student Research Competition is an annual celebration of scholarly achievement, bringing together undergraduate and graduate students, as well as recent alumni, to present original research and creative work across 10 diverse categories, from the Physical and Mathematical Sciences to Humanities and the Arts. Winners are selected by a panel of expert judges and receive recognition along with cash prizes.

Winners took home custom-designed Cal Poly Humboldt trophies created by students in the Engineering 205: Introduction to Design class, who devoted thousands of hours in the University’s makerspace. The students worked in close collaboration with the Cal Poly Humboldt Sponsored Programs Foundation, as well as faculty and peers, to develop the designs.

Humboldt’s winners, pictured with Interim President Michael Spagna, are below.

Harmony Switzer-Tryon

2nd Place, Behavioral, Social Sciences, and Public Administration
Harmony Switzer-Tryon, Psychology: Emotional Intelligence Scores of Adult Children of Narcissistic Mothers

David Schmitz

2nd Place, Interdisciplinary
David Schmitz, ’24, Chemistry: Preparation and Evaluation of Polylactic Acid-Quinoa Composites

Garrett Kitchen

Honorable Mention, Behavioral, Social Sciences and Public Administration
Garrett Kitchen, Sociology: First Responders: Strain, Coping, and Camaraderie in Municipal Firefighting

See photos of the research competition here.