Nearly 500 first-year students made impressive presentations at FIRE's Undergraduate Research Conference on April 27.
The event was highlighted by the success of the team "Live 3 or Die," whose product, Power Pave, aims to provide solutions for clean and affordable energy. This team's innovative approach to an urgent global issue earned them the top honors at the conference.
Acknowledgments are due to team members Aidan McGinley, Mason Tatarian, James Sylvester, and Bradley Richards for their outstanding presentations. Additional commendations go to Maeghan McGraw, the peer advisor, who played a pivotal role in guiding the team throughout the academic year.
The First-Year Innovation and Research Experience (FIRE) program at Paul College is designed to immerse first-year students in research from the onset of their college journey. Through a year-long, gamified experience, students tackle real-world problems by developing viable business plans. This hands-on approach is designed to integrate students into college life while building essential academic and professional skills.
The program includes:
- Conducting thorough research and literature reviews.
- Crafting detailed business plans aimed at addressing the assigned issues.
- Developing and presenting their ideas through both poster and oral presentations.
The culmination of these efforts is the conference itself, where students present their projects to a panel of faculty, alumni, and peers. The event not only fosters academic excellence but also rewards the winning team with a $500 academic achievement prize per member.
