Judith Herb College of Arts, Social Sciences and Education

Previous Winners

Check out YouTube for previous winners of THInC's 3M/5M Research Competition.

• Undergraduate 5M example late-track
• Undergraduate 5M example early-track 1
• Undergraduate 5M example early-track 2
• Graduate 3M example late-track 1
• Graduate 3M example late-track 2
• Graduate 3M example early-track 1
• Graduate 3M example early-track 2

Testimonials

See what past participants have said about the 3M/5M competition and prep sessions:

Melike Koc

Spring 2025, Graduate Early -Track 1st place and People's Choice

"At first, the idea of summarizing my research in just three minutes felt daunting, but the prep sessions and support along the way made all the difference. I gained so much confidence in explaining my work in a way that truly connects with people outside my field. I am so grateful for the opportunity, and I highly recommend this competition to anyone looking to sharpen their communication skills and share their passion for research!"

Hua Sowa

Spring 2025, Graduate Early -Track 2ndplace 

"The competition was the first time I had presented my work to anyone other than my advisor. Presenting to an audience that was unfamiliar with what I had done, and who might lack the background necessary to grasp my topic's full nature and importance, I found that the 3-minute limit forced me to pay greater attention than ever before to precision and clarity. That being the case, I think the competition was great preparation for my defense, and it has certainly raised my confidence."

Randisha Owensby

Spring 2025, Graduate Virtual Early -Track 1stplace 

"Participating in the 3MT competition was a valuable experience that allowed me to showcase my passion for addressing intimate partner violence ( IPV) and advocating for the healing journeys of Black men who perpetrate such violence within intra-racial relationships. While the field of intimate partner violence rightly focuses on supporting survivors—a important and commendable effort—it is equally important to address the needs of men who use violence. By shedding light on the challenges faced by Black men, developing a culturally relevant curriculum, and implementing culturally appropriate interventions within mental health agencies that facilitate Batterer's Intervention Programs, mental health professionals can address the unique needs of Black men and work toward reducing intimate partner violence more holistically and effectively. This includes promoting healing and transformation for Black men impacted by historical trauma stemming from Post-Traumatic Slave Syndrome that contributes to IPV."

Tara Lax

Spring 2025, Graduate Virtual Early -Track 2nd place and People's Choice

"My desire to participate in the 3MRC was sparked by a fellow doctoral student who was also participating. I jumped in headfirst and enjoyed every minute of the experience! The prep sessions were informative and a good use of my time. The people who ran the program were helpful, professional, and kind. I learned so much through this experience, and I would absolutely do it again!"

Maria Varner

Spring 2025, Undergraduate Early-Track 1st Place 

"The first time I heard about the 3M/5M research competition, I was intrigued and wanted to know more about it. I attended a presentation meeting last fall 2024 and had an opportunity to meet other students and learn about their research proposals.  Joining the Spring 2025 competition was one of the best decisions I have made to be involved in the university. I was able to express my passion regarding the importance of cultural differences in the classroom setting. I am hoping for more education students like me to participate in the future. The experience is truly beneficial for my future career."

Amy Brinthaupt

Spring 2024, Undergraduate Early-Track 1st Place 

"My experience with the 5M competition started out of curiosity. I didn't know what the competition entailed so I went to a meeting to learn more. I talked with Professors, doctorate students, grad students, and undergraduates. It was great to bounce innovative ideas about education with a group of supportive individuals."

Alanna Encalado

Spring 2024 Undergraduate Early-Track 2nd Place and Undergraduate's People’s Choice

"The competition was nothing short of an amazing experience. From getting to know everyone who participated to getting up and presenting in front of everyone, I learned so much. As the only high school student to participate, I walked in super nervous about what was to come. However, the people made every second worth it." 

Hala Abou-Dahech, Ph.D., M.B.A.  

Spring 2024 Graduate Late-Track 2nd Place

"I participated in the THInC competition in my final semester as a doctoral student (in fact, it was just a few weeks before my dissertation defense). I definitely believe it was a beneficial experience. Writing a dissertation is a long and oftentimes overwhelming process and as you complete chapters, it can become easy to lose sight of the “why” behind your study. By challenging me to summarize a 150+ page dissertation in minute to audience members who knew nothing about my study, I know that THInC allowed me to be better prepared for the dissertation defense. I would highly recommend the experience to all doctoral students!"

 
Carolani Green  Spring 2024 Graduate Early-Track 1st Place and Graduate's People's Choice, Fall 2023 Graduate Early-Track 2nd Place, Fall 2024 Graduate Virtual Early-Track 2nd Place

"I originally participated because a professor recruited me to and I had no idea what real research was. Going through the prep-sessions really helped me refine my idea and understand exactly what a research project entailed. Participating has not only given my resume some research clout, but it's gotten me excited about conducting my own research study and possibly getting it published, even while being a doctoral student. I also really appreciate that I could compete (and win!) over multiple years. I'm looking forward to taking one of my early-track ideas and pushing it through an actual study to present in late-track next year!"

Kimberlie Kowalka Todd, M.Ed.

Spring 2024 Graduate Early-Track 2nd Place, Fall 2024 Graduate Late-Track 1st Place

"When I heard about the THInC 3MT competition during a presentation in one of my courses my first thought was, "That's just what I need - one more thing to do!" I was intrigued enough to go to a prep session - if anything I would get some free pizza - and left with a much better grasp of how to focus my research ideas. Having experienced people in the room provided quality feedback that helped me figure out how to deliberate in a way that led me to a focused, quality research question. This saved me so much time and effort in the long run - and I won second place and received a prize!"

Danielle Santos Spring

2024 Graduate Early-Track Honorable Mention

"Last spring, I participated in the early track of the THInC 3M Research Competition as a first-year doctoral student in the Social Foundations program. Before going back to school, I had a fair amount of experience working in various education research as a long-time education equity advocate. While research was not a "new" or "scary" idea to me, I learned a lot from my fellow competitors who came from all walks of life and had varying levels of experience with conducting education research. From day one of the prep sessions through competition day, it became quickly clear to me that the point of this competition was not so much to win (although prize money and free food never hurt!). Rather, THInC provided a low-stakes, relaxed, and community-driven space for me to practice sharing my next great idea for changing the world while connecting with others who are just as passionate about education issues as me. As I continue to dive deeper into my studies, I look forward to seeing how I can use the 3M competition to build upon my previous pitch-- or maybe to explore an entirely different challenge in education altogether!" 

Donovan Nichols

Spring 2023 Graduate Early Track 2nd Place 

"Participating in the THInC 3MT competition was really beneficial in helping me to think deeper about the purpose of my dissertation research and why it is important to study. As a doctoral student, writing dozens of pages isn’t the hard part for me. Synthesizing those dozens of pages into a few impactful words is the real challenge. The THInC 3MT competition pushed me in the right direction and stimulated me to be more thoughtful and purposeful as I conduct my research." 

Christopher Wojciechowski

Spring 2023 Graduate Early-Track 1st Place, Fall 2023 Graduate Late-Track 1st Place 

"Participating in the THInC 3MT competition provided me with an opportunity to view my own research through the perspective of an outsider, paring down jargon and focusing on plain language. I believe that participation in the Early Track competition had a positive impact on the quality of my dissertation’s Chapter 1."

Angelica Johnson

Fall 2022 Graduate Early-Track 1st Place, Fall 2023 Graduate Early-Track 1st Place 

"I benefited from participating in the THInC 3MT competition by having the opportunity to present my study in front of my peers, faculty, and staff. This helped prepare me for my research proposal and eventual dissertation defense. I also benefited from seeing others' research and knowing that one day I would reach that level of scholarship."