The 17th annual Choose Ohio First (COF) Scholar Showcase, held April 2 in Columbus, celebrated the remarkable achievements of student presenters, offering a platform for students to showcase their research, academic projects and work-based learning experiences in STEM fields.
Representing Heidelberg were two students: senior Biochemistry major Mikayla Sage and junior Biochemistry major Riley Elliott. Both students were mentored by Dr. Brandon Van Ness.
Sweet and sticky science
Mikayla’s project, “Characterizing Honey Samples from Ohio,” focused on examining the color of honey using the pFund scale, the industry standard for honey color classification. Her research also explored the amount of free acidity found within honey, determined through a titration method used to neutralize weak acids. The goal of the project was to determine a potential correlation between honey color and its free acid content.
Mikayla shares, “This research was an excellent opportunity for me to get hands-on experience in a laboratory setting.” She adds, “Through this research project, I was able to learn more about myself and my passions, such as I now know that I want to work in a lab for my career.”
The COF Scholar Showcase was an impactful experience for Mikayla, one that can open doors to competitive career paths. She shares, “The experience sparked a fire within me to pursue a career in industrial chemistry and ultimately landed me a job after graduation in a very competitive field.
From hive to lab
Riley’s research focused on the biological and chemical properties of honey, including pollen presence, hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) levels and moisture content. Riley and her group collected honey samples from across Ohio, analyzing them to determine the unique biological and chemical compositions based on their region of origin. Her analysis included testing for color, pH, free acidity, reducing sugars, moisture content, and HMF.
Looking ahead to the future, Riley reflects on the experience: “This experience has helped me sharpen and improve my skills in the lab,” Riley says. “I also learned how to troubleshoot and problem solve when experiments don’t go fully as planned.”
One of Riley’s favorite memories from the COF Showcase was interacting with people in leadership roles. “It was really cool to present in front of the Department of Higher Education and see how impressed they were with our work,” Riley shares.
The COF Showcase was a sweet success, providing a platform for students like Mikayla and Riley to share their research and build meaningful connections in the STEM community.
– by Kami Stanfield ’25