Fort Lewis College celebrated student scholarship, creativity, and community during the annual Undergraduate Research Spring Symposium & Awards Gala on Thursday, April 24. The event spanned the campus throughout the day and culminated with the Awards Gala at the FLC Theatre. Approximately 160 students presented posters, and 35 students delivered oral presentations.
The Awards Gala honored the deep intellectual and personal investment students bring to their work, highlighting the impact of place-based, student-driven research. Twelve students received Scholar Awards.
The event opened with a land acknowledgement and introduction by Undergraduate Research Coordinator Christine Smith, followed by remarks from Associate Provost Kris Greer.
“Together as a community, we are working to reconcile with our past and to move into the future with grace, generosity, and hope,” Smith said.
The program included TED-style presentations by two FLC undergraduates, one of whom was a Scholar Award recipient, and a video featuring four additional honorees.
Senior Sylas Toledo, a Political Science major and Navajo Nation member, presented “Treaty Violations and Health Disparities,” examining uranium contamination and federal inaction on cleanup promises. “This isn’t just history,” Toledo told the audience. “This is an ongoing system of harm.” A video of his presentation is available .
Junior Alyssia Begay, a Native American & Indigenous Studies and Public Health double major, explored a variant of the alcohol dehydrogenase enzyme. Her work reframes addiction in Native communities as a public health issue. “Understanding the science,” she said, “is part of understanding ourselves—and how we move forward.” A video of her presentation is available .
The Scholars video then showcased four awardees, each highlighting a unique intersection of identity, discipline, and research impact.
Deanna Overby: Giving voice to emotion through music
Music Education major Deanna Overby’s research explores how historical context, emotional nuance, and composer intent shape vocal performance. She will present her work alongside pieces from her senior recital, including “Un bel d矛 vedremo” and Spanish-language works by Granados—a first in her college career.
Overby traces her musical journey to childhood moments with her father in northern New Mexico.
Her research reflects the belief that every performance is rooted in scholarship, emotion, and narrative.
James Johanntoberns: Rebuilding knowledge, restoring environments
Environmental Science major James Johanntoberns merges ecology, culture, and community in his research. During a Nature Conservancy internship, he worked with Native tribes across the Four Corners, deepening his understanding of land stewardship.
A desert hike sparked his research on how ant colonies affect biocrusts—living groundcover crucial to arid ecosystems. He found that while new colonies can harm soil, established ones improve stability.
Now, he’s working with Strategic Initiatives Director Alana Romans to establish an Indigenous Garden on campus—integrating scientific restoration with cultural revitalization through collaboration with tribal elders and experts.
Kenny Drbohlav: Lighting the way to renewable energy
Senior Chemistry major Kenny Drbohlav designs nanocrystals that split water into hydrogen fuel using sunlight—a project funded by a multi-university grant.
He credits FLC’s hands-on mentorship and collaboration with CU Boulder graduate students for his decision to pursue a Ph.D. in synthetic chemistry. His love of research is fueled by challenge, iteration, and the pursuit of cleaner energy solutions.
Zachary Goldsmith: Reexamining history to illuminate the present
Public History major Zachary Goldsmith’s micro-historical study of a 1921 lynching in Rincon, Georgia, reconsiders romanticized Southern narratives. Through archival research, he reconstructs events to explore the legacy of racial violence.
His aim is not to assign guilt, but to foster reckoning through acknowledgement. “We inherit a historical legacy... but with a legacy, we also have the choice to change it, right?” he said.
This year’s awardees included:
- Danika Brabec
- Lacy Miller
- Olivia Perea
- James Johanntoberns
- Mikayla Leighton
- Macey Henley
- Sylas Toledo
- Deanna Overby
- Alexa Antonsen-Newman
- Kenny Drbohlav
- Zach Goldberg
- Lincoln Scheer