Kennesaw State University

After her grandmother was diagnosed with dementia, Kennesaw State University psychology student Maria Fata became interested in understanding whether the kind of work people do throughout their lives could affect their brain health as they age. Surprisingly, Fata said her study found no significant link between shift work and cognitive decline.

Kennesaw State University juniors Cecilia Le and Lily Schwartz met in a biochemistry lab and a partnership flourished - as did a friendship. They presented research into the effectiveness of certain peptides in mitigating COVID-19 twice at the Symposium of Student Scholars, and have continued to make their way as undergraduate researchers.

Can the outfit a celebrity wears to court influence how the jury or public perceive them? Emily Lesmes and Alaina Jean, students in Kennesaw State University's First-Year Scholars Program, are exploring whether courtroom fashion shapes how the public perceives someone's guilt, remorse, or sincerity.

Kennesaw State research suggests that mental health challenges like depression, anxiety, and insomnia may significantly impact how well first responders can do their jobs. Mahita Polineni, a third-year psychology student, is studying how these factors affect cognitive functioning including memory, concentration, and decision-making among emergency medical responders.

KSU's Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers chapter earned national recognition as co-winners of the Future Supply Chain Innovators video competition. The team of Ricardo Aguilar, Lucas Nel, Camden Holsapple, Milana Yemilbekova, and Michael Luhofet developed a project focused on strengthening supply chain resilience in the face of disruptions.

With the mind of a scientist and the heart of an animal lover, Kaylee Stone combined her two loves at Kennesaw State. She is graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry after four years full of curiosity and achievement. "The opportunities I've had for research at KSU all happened because I applied myself and took advantage of them," Stone said.

Just a few weeks after her 63rd birthday, Mattie Frascella will receive her Bachelor of Arts in English with minors in professional writing and language and literary studies. With a 4.0 GPA and as a member of the KSU Journey Honors College, she follows in the footsteps of three of her children, becoming the fourth Kennesaw State alum in her immediate family.

Ella Goode is the Spring 2026 recipient of the Kennesaw State University President's Award of Distinction - the university's highest undergraduate honor. Graduating summa cum laude, Goode is completing a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, with minors in management and software engineering, as a member of the KSU Journey Honors College.

Hunter Quarles has faced more than his share of obstacles on the road to graduation, but the Kennesaw State University mechatronics engineering major refused to let those moments define him. "I've definitely pushed through a lot of things," Quarles said. "You can't let difficult situations win. You have to keep going."

Deontae Nelson is earning his Bachelor of Arts in Dance with a concentration in modern dance, culminating one journey and commencing another. "Between graduating high school in 2017, enlisting in the Army National Guard, having a few setbacks, and finally graduating, I'm happy for what I've achieved and where I've come from and where I'm going," Nelson said.

Preston Brantley, a double major in mechanical engineering and nursing, is trying to reduce the time that patients spend waiting for a cancer diagnosis. A KSU Journey Honors College student, Brantley is developing an artificial intelligence tool designed to help pathologists detect cancer cells more quickly and efficiently.

Kennesaw State University senior Ariana Mitchell is exploring what's lurking inside everyday scented products. An aspiring forensics scientist, Mitchell is using a technique known as gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to identify and measure allergen quantities in products like perfumes and plug-in room fragrances.

In a showcase of student innovators from across the state, Kennesaw State biology major SueAnn Hollowell earned second place in the inaugural University System of Georgia Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition. Hollowell credits the entrepreneurship community on campus for helping develop her business proposal ahead of the competition.

Kennesaw State student Darrius Knight was in the middle of giving a campus tour when he received a call from the office of U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock, letting him know he had been selected from more than 300 applicants for a spring internship in Washington, D.C. It was the kind of moment Knight had been working toward for years.

English major Anna Green never imagined that her love for video games would lead to a trip to San Francisco to present her work to one of the world's largest gatherings of game developers. Green was named a Platinum Winner, the highest distinction in the Game Narrative Review competition affiliated with the Game Developers Conference (GDC).

Environmental science major Nelly Koz recently accepted a lucrative internship at Freiburg University in Germany, where she will help with data collection and recording observations on a section of the Black Forest that serves as a living laboratory. Koz was one of 350 recipients selected from more than 3,000 applicants.

Kennesaw State University congratulates the more than 9,600 students named to the Dean's List in recognition of their academic achievement during the Fall 2025 semester. Undergraduate students enrolled in at least nine credit hours and with a term grade point average of 3.5 or higher were named to the list.

Kennesaw State University has named more than 6,900 students to the President's List in recognition of their academic excellence for the Fall 2025 semester. To achieve this honor, each undergraduate student must have completed at least nine credit hours with a term grade point average of 4.0.

Having been a peer mentor for students with special needs while she was in high school, Toni-Ann McKenzie understood firsthand the barriers and challenges that can occur during learning. As a KSU student, McKenzie co-founded Totally Tutoring, a company to support students with autism through specialized virtual tutoring and the use of emojis.

Managing the pace of athletics and engineering required careful planning and communication by KSU mechanical engineering major and distance runner Grant Crabtree. Morning practices were followed by classes, labs, and long study sessions. Crabtree regularly met with professors before traveling for meets in order to stay on track academically.

December graduate Essix Moser has earned his bachelor's degree in biology and applied to doctoral programs in the hope of a better understanding of how neurological developments go wrong. He also made lifelong friends in the lab and on the rink as a member of professor Martin Hudson's lab, along with KSU's ice and roller hockey clubs.

Kennesaw State senior Kaitlyn Sennett came back to school after a major motorcycle accident in 2024 left her bedridden and unable to walk. Intense perseverance, overwhelming curiosity, and a relentless pursuit of excellence brought Sennett to where she is today - earning her bachelor's degree in biology from KSU.

Kennesaw State running back Coleman Bennett had an electrifying season on the field, helping the Owls to the Conference USA championship and the program's first postseason bowl game. In the classroom, he was named to the CUSA Football All-Academic Team. Bennett is graduating with his Master of Public Administration with a perfect 4.0 GPA.

A year before they would officially graduate from KSU with psychology degrees, identical twin sisters Analisa and Alyssa Rhymer donned their caps and gowns for an early graduation celebration. They walked the hallways and into the room of the hospital where their father was spending the last days of his battle with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer.

Before she became a construction management graduate, Zaida Bustamante was balancing life by working full-time while raising three sons with her husband. "I had never pictured myself going to college," she said. "As a first-generation student, I didn't know how to apply or what steps to take, but I knew I wanted more for myself and for my kids."

Psychology major Emily Martinez is examining the connection between instinctive fear reactions - fight, flight, freeze and fawn - and the moral principles people rely on when faced with high-stress situations. A participant in KSU's Sophomore Scholars program, Martinez presented her research at the American Society of Criminology Conference in Washington, D.C.

Kennesaw State University senior biology major Ari Schwartz has been recognized with the President's Award of Distinction and has the resume one would associate with such an honor. The award is given at fall and spring commencements to a graduate "who serves as an inspiration to their peers, their community, and the entirety of Owl Nation."

Kennesaw State students presented their research findings during the Symposium of Student Scholars, with a pair of award-winning projects discovering potential solutions to environmental challenges. Deep eutenic solvents, an alternative to harmful organic solvents, appeared in both first-place winners at Symposium, hosted by the Office of Undergraduate Research.

Inspired by her grandfather's struggle with memory loss, Kennesaw State University computer science student Dina Xu Callaway is now turning her passion for technology into purpose. Through Assistant Professor of Computer Science Chen Zhao's lab, she is helping advance Alzheimer's disease research using artificial intelligence.

KSU senior Nahomy Limon is spending her final semester of college in the heart of Washington, D.C., interning on Capitol Hill and gaining a front-row seat to how policies are made. A political science and international affairs double major, Limon is one of just 25 students nationwide selected for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute internship program.