5-Minute Fast Track Oral Research Competition Presentation Opportunity & Cash Prizes

• September 1, 2026  Registration Opens 

• October 1, 2026  Registration Deadline

• October 7, 2026  (MANDATORY) 5-Minute Fast Track Student Presentation and Slide Workshop; 5:00 PM  

  • Mandatory for all students competing in the 5-Minute Fast Track. Failure to attend the entire workshop will result in dismissal from the competition. 

  • Learn from previous 5-Minute Fast Track winners and finalists about creating a powerful 5-minute lightning talk and designing an engaging and informative competition slide.  

• October 18, 2026 - Preliminary competition slide must be uploaded by 11:55 PM EDT

• October 22, 2026 - 5MT Fast Track Competition - Preliminary Round  5 PM - 8 PM; Healthy Kentucky Research Building (HKRB) Atrium - live student presentations with Q&A from judges

**** TOP 10 student finalists from the Preliminary Round advance to the Final Round****

• October 25, 2026 - Final competition slide must be uploaded by 11:55 PM EDT

• October 28, 2026 - 5MT Fast Track Competition - Final Championship Round; 5 PM - 8 PM; Healthy Kentucky Research Building (HKRB) Atrium.  Top 10 finalists will present live in front of a panel of judges. 

** ONLY 20 STUDENT REGISTRATIONS AVAILABLE **

The competition will include a preliminary round on October 22, 2026, with the Top 10 students from the preliminary round advancing to the Final Championship Round on October 28, 2026.

Undergraduate student competitors will present their research in five minutes, using only one static slide, in front of a panel of faculty judges and the audience. The goal of this competition is to improve students’ abilities to communicate their undergraduate research effectively to a general audience while creating a compelling story about their scholarly work.

• Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026 - 5MT Fast Track Competition - Preliminary Round   5:00 - 8:00 PM; Healthy Kentucky Research Building (HKRB) Atrium - live student presentations with Q&A from judges. 

** TOP 10 student finalists from the Preliminary Round will advance to the Final Round ** Students will be notified via email after the Preliminary Round is completed. 

• Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026 - 5MT Fast Track Competition - Final Championship Round; 5 PM - 7:30 PM; Healthy Kentucky Research Building (HKRB) Atrium.  The TOP 10 finalists will present live in front of a panel of judges.  The event will be live-streamed and recorded by UK Event Productions.  Presentations will be recorded by UK Event Production team.

• Participants must be enrolled full-time and have a Sophomore, Junior, or Senior enrollment status

• University of Kentucky undergraduates who have completed two full terms of faculty-mentored research in any major are eligible to compete.

• Participants must have a Sophomore, Junior, or Senior enrollment status

• Participants MUST BE available to participate in the preliminary rounds AND the Championship Final Round

Mark your calendars now for September 1, 2026 at 12:00am (registration opens).  NOTE: There are only 20 student registrations available. Register early!

Confirmations will be sent to the students who successfully register for the competition.

REGISTER ONLINE HERE  

** Workshop is mandatory for all competitors

Online registration will require the following:

• Topic Summary (300 words maximum) - this summary is only for registration purposes and is not considered for judging

• Presentation Title

• Faculty Mentor Information

RULES

1. Only 1 single static PowerPoint slide is permitted. No slide transitions, animations or "movement" of any description. The slide is to be presented from the beginning of the oration.
2. No additional electronic media, sound, or video files are permitted
3. No additional props - costumes, musical instruments, laboratory equipment - are permitted
4. Presentations are limited to 5 minutes maximum. Competitors exceeding 5 minutes will be disqualified.
5. Presentations are to be spoken word - no poems, rap, or songs
6. Presentations are to commence from the front of the WT Young Auditorium
7. Presentations are considered to have commenced when a presenter starts their presentation through movement or speech
8. The decision of the adjudicating panel is final. The Top 10 presenters from the preliminary round will advance to the final championship round

COMPREHENSION

• Did the presentation provide an understanding of the background to the research question being addressed and its significance?
• Did the presentation clearly describe the key results of the research including conclusions and outcomes?
• Did the presentation follow a clear and logical sequence?

ENGAGEMENT & COMMUNICATION STYLE

• Did the oration make the audience want to know more?
• Was the presenter careful not to trivialize or generalize their research?
• Did the presenter convey enthusiasm for their research?
• Did the presenter capture and maintain their audience's attention?
• Was the research topic, key results and research significance and outcomes communicated in language appropriate for a non-specialist audience?
• Did the speaker avoid scientific jargon, explain terminology and provide adequate background information to illustrate points?
• Did the speaker have sufficient stage presence, eye contact and vocal range, maintain a steady pace, and have a confident stance?
• Did the presenter spend adequate time on each element of their presentation - or did they elaborate for too long on one aspect or was the presentation rushed?
• Did the PowerPoint slide enhance the presentation - was it clear, legible, and concise?

1st place: Lily Smith

2nd place: Katherine Neglia

3rd place: Sofia Gomez Gallo

1st place: Julianne Sharpe

2nd place: Nikitha Dharanipragada

3rd place: Katie Christensen

1st place: Abigail Knoy

2nd place: Ashbey Manning

3rd place: Jordan Colella

1st place: Kayli Bolton

2nd place: Tanner Durst

3rd place: Patrick Bidros

1st place: Laiken Griffith

2nd place: Courtney Martin

3rd place: Emma Olmstead

1st place: Oscar Istas

2nd place: Courtney Martin

3rd place: Halle Shannon

1st place: Frannie Salisbury

2nd place: Malik Appleton

3rd place: Emily Keaton

1st place: Christopher Kositzke

2nd place: Alyssa Mertka

3rd place: Natalie Hawes