DECATUR, Ill. – Millikin University students took center stage to present original research and creative scholarship during the 33rd Annual Judith & G. Richard Locke Poster Symposium, an event that continues to highlight the University’s commitment to Performance Learning.
The symposium featured 26 presentations from more than 40 students across a wide range of academic disciplines, including Biology, Nursing, Political Science, Finance, and Psychology. Open to students of all majors and class years, the event provides a platform for participants to share scholarly work developed through coursework, independent study, internships, and research initiatives.
Millikin President Dr. Dean Pribbenow praised the students’ efforts and the collaborative nature of the event. The symposium, he said, is designed to model professional research conferences while giving students the opportunity to strengthen communication skills essential for future careers.
“This event truly represents the strength of Millikin’s Performance Learning education,” added Interim Provost Dr. Nancy Curtin during the awards presentation.
Participants were grouped into four categories — Graduate Nursing, Natural Sciences, Health-Related, and Business & Social Sciences — with top projects recognized for excellence.
2026 Poster Symposium Award Winners
Graduate Nursing
- 1st Place: Tatum Harman
- 2nd Place: Joshua Platzbecker
Natural Sciences
- 1st Place: Hailey Gula
- 2nd Place: Emily Clevidence
Health-Related
- 1st Place (tie): Grace Harmston & Luke Rogers; Maggie Damery & Tre Spence
- 2nd Place (tie): Taiylor Daykin; Chloe Luttrell
Business & Social Sciences
- 1st Place: Lila Castillo
- 2nd Place: Tabor Student-Managed Investment Portfolio team
The symposium’s highest honor, the Phi Kappa Phi Award for the top overall project, was awarded to Tatum Harman for her research examining the long-term psychological effects experienced by both pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) patients and their families.
Harman’s literature review analyzed recent studies on outcomes such as post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression following PICU admissions. Her findings highlight that both children and their families often experience lasting psychological distress, with outcomes closely linked between the two groups.
Projects presented at the symposium reflected a wide range of study — from healthcare interventions and disease management to environmental research and global policy analysis — demonstrating the breadth of student scholarship at Millikin.
The Judith & G. Richard Locke Poster Symposium remains a cornerstone academic event of the Celebrations of Scholarship, encouraging students to explore research opportunities while showcasing the impactful work produced through Millikin’s hands-on learning approach.
