Six students from Montreat College recently earned the opportunity to present original research at the Carolinas Psychology Conference (CPC). The students, all enrolled in the PSYC 4081 Study and Research course taught by Dr. Mark Hunter, achieved a 100 percent acceptance rate for submitted projects — an accomplishment that highlights the strength of undergraduate research opportunities at Montreat College.
The students representing Montreat College were Maggie Deviney ’26, Sidney Hartness ’26, Jaelyn Knolls ’26, Andrii Mailuta ’27, R J Manginello ’27, and Philip Riddle ’26. Hosted by Campbell University, the annual conference brings together psychology students from colleges and universities across the Carolinas to present research, exchange ideas, and engage in academic discussion.
“My experience at the CPC was wonderful,” said R J Manginello. “At first, the thought of presenting was pretty frightening, but with the reassurance of fellow classmates and support from professors and counselors, presenting my research ended up being such a cool experience.”
For Sidney, the experience deepened both research and communication skills.
“Presenting at the Carolinas Psychology Conference helped me learn to speak clearly and purposefully to an audience and engage in thoughtful discussion,” Hartness said.
Philip also reflected on the practical value of participating in the conference.
“This experience allowed me to directly apply the concepts that I had learned in my courses,” Riddle said. “It also gave me valuable research experience that will help as I apply to graduate school.”
By presenting their work alongside undergraduate researchers from across the region, these students not only showcased the strength of Montreat College’s psychology program but also gained valuable experience that will support their future academic and professional pursuits.