WiSys Manager of Intellectual Property and Licensing Tony Hanson, left, congratulates Christine Starshak and Kennedy Bussan for their first and second place finishes in the WiSys Quick Pitch @ UW-La Crosse.

LA CROSSE—UW-La Crosse first-year student Christine Starshak won first place in the WiSys Quick Pitch @ UW-La Crosse research communication competition on Nov 11.

The student “pitch” competition inspires UW System students to consider the impact of their research and effectively communicate it to the public. Each campus hosts its own Quick Pitch event, and the winners are eligible to compete in the WiSys Quick Pitch State Final.

PHOTOS: WiSys Quick Pitch @ UW-La Crosse

Starshak, a biomedical science student, gave a presentation titled, “Utilizing Excess Donor Skin For Grafts.” The first-place win comes with a $300 prize and a spot in the state final.

Kennedy Bussan, a senior chemistry education student, took second place in the competition for the presentation “Use of Microwave-assisted Esterification to Build Research Projects in Organic Chemistry Laboratory Course.” Bussan received a $125 prize.

Therapeutic recreation graduate student Julia Daugherty’s presentation “Follow My Groove: An Evidence-based Dance Curriculum” was recognized with the event’s People’s Choice Award. The prize, voted on by those in attendance, was sponsored by UW-La Crosse’s Undergraduate Research and Creativity Program.

Overall, seven students participated in this year’s competition, which asks students to “pitch” their research to a panel of judges in 3 minutes or less. The students receive training and support to help craft their presentations prior to the event.

For more information about the WiSys Quick Pitch Program, visit wisys.org/quickpitch.

WiSys is a nonprofit organization that works with faculty, staff, students and alumni of the UW System to facilitate cutting-edge research programs, develop and commercialize discoveries and foster a spirit of innovative and entrepreneurial thinking across the state.