Rose State College student Shanisty Whittington of Choctaw earned third place at the 31st Annual Research Day at the Capitol in recognition of her research excellence.
Whittington presented her project, “Prison Gerrymandering and Oklahoma Voting Districts,” and competed in the Regional University category against top undergraduate researchers from across Oklahoma.
Event organizers selected Whittington as one of just 27 finalists, and she delivered her research during a competitive, judged poster session on April 27. A panel of scientists from diverse fields evaluated the presentations and selected only seven winners statewide, placing Whittington among Oklahoma’s top student researchers.
On the following day, Whittington and the other finalists presented their work at the Oklahoma State Capitol, where they engaged directly with legislators and higher education leaders. State officials, including Chancellor Sean Burrage of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, recognized the students and learned more about their research.
For more than 30 years, Research Day at the Capitol has showcased outstanding undergraduate research in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and social sciences. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, OK EPSCoR, and the National Science Foundation sponsor the event.
Whittington’s achievement shows both her dedication and the strength of Rose State’s commitment to student research and success, while demonstrating how students address complex, real-world issues through academic inquiry.