UW-Whitewater’s Alissa Santana and Benjamin Stuckey were recognized for excellence in research communication during the WiSys Quick Pitch on March 3.

The student “pitch” competition inspires UW System students to consider the impact of their research and effectively communicate it to the public via three-minute presentations.

Santana, a business management student, took first place and a $300 prize for the presentation “The Distinctiveness of Marketing and Fundraising to Latinx Arts Organizations.”

The first place finish makes Santana eligible to advance to the virtual WiSys Quick Pitch State Final on May 26 to compete against student researchers from across the UW System.

Stuckey, a biochemistry student, took second place and a $100 prize for the presentation “Gene Expression of Antibiotic Bacteria.”

“Congratulations to Alissa Santana and Benjamin Stuckey for their excellent presentations,” said WiSys President Arjun Sanga. “Their succinct presentations quickly delivered the importance and impact of the excellent student research taking place at UW-Whitewater and at the other UW System regional schools.”

This year’s campus-level WiSys Quick Pitches are taking place virtually due to continued concerns about the pandemic. The UW-Whitewater competitors presented during the same showcase as students at three other UW System schools—UW-La Crosse, UW-Superior and UW Oshkosh. Winners were selected from each campus.

For more information about the WiSys Quick Pitch Program or to watch the student presentations, 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.