Students participating in Elon's Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) offer their thoughts about what the opportunity means to them.
Elon students who participate in the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience, or SURE, come to the opportunity from a wide variety of disciplines as they pursue in-depth, mentored research.
SURE offers the opportunity for students to spend the summer dedicated to their research work with the support of their faculty mentors, with SURE culminating in late July in a poster presentation for the campus community. It’s a chance to propel forward their often years-long work to explore new corners of their disciplines and to break ground while working closely with faculty.
This summer, the Elon University News Bureau asked students participating in SURE to share some of their thoughts about what their research means to them and what they are taking away from the opportunity. Find a selection of responses from students below.
Emerson Baker ’26
Sport Management – “Perceptions v. Reality: An Examination of Walk-On Student-Athletes at a Mid-Major Institution”
“I am researching the walk-on student-athlete experience and how different sports teams treat their walk-on athletes, along with how these walk-on athletes perceive themselves as valuable to their team. I hope that this will open the eyes of people who don’t really know what it is like to be a walk-on athlete and the sacrifice it takes.”
Jo Bogart ’26
Creative Writing and Classical Studies – “Dux Femina Facti: Feminist Translation and Re-Vision of Vergil’s Aeneid”
“I’ve learned a lot but what I most appreciate is how much being passionate about something can become meaningful to others as well. Having mentors who are equally supportive of and interested in my research and who love hearing me ramble on about it has been one of the most formative and rewarding aspects of my mentor relationships that I could have asked for.”
Joshua Franklin ’25
Political Science and Economics – “Changing Course in Foreign Policy: State Recognition during the Arias Presidency in Costa Rica, 2006-2010”
“Beyond being a guide in my research process, Dr. Baris Kesgin has really embodied the word ‘mentor.’ At times, he has helped me realize my potential, both as a researcher and as a student. At other times, he has helped me reign in my crazier ideas. Overall, Dr. Kesgin has been a big part of the growth I have had in my time at Elon, both academic and professional.”
Natalie Peeples ’26
Psychology -“What do parents want for their children?: A cross-cultural study of parental perceptions of well-being in early childhood “
“The number one lesson I have learned from my mentor is to come to terms with the fact that research isn’t perfect. Coming into it, I felt like everything I did for my projects would have to be astonishing and perfect, but as we have begun the research project, she has helped me learn that it’s okay to have bumps in the road, and resilience is key to having a successful experience.”
Carter Stoke ’25
Exercise Science – “Assessing the Impact of High Theacrine Doses on Hemodynamic Measures, Cognitive Performance, and Physiological Stress”
“One lesson I have learned from my mentor is patience when things do not always go as expected. There have been challenges during my research process and Dr. Madizima has always been calm and patient when I am worried about something not going right. His calm presence and ability to offer solutions to problems always helped my worrying and allowed me to see the bigger picture when something small was not exactly right. I hope my research project provides a great learning experience for my graduate school ambitions. I have enjoyed the research project and am looking at completing more research in graduate school and potentially pursue a research-related career. For the field, I hope my study contributes to the growing body of knowledge on theacrine. There is still a lot we do not know about the supplement so I hope my study can be used as a basis for future projects.”
Stoke is also one of two Elon students who received the Undergraduate Research Award from North Carolina Independent Colleges & Universities.
