PRD students sweep design category at 2025 Oswald Research and Creativity Awards

The University of Kentucky Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) recently announced the 21 undergraduate winners of the 61st annual Oswald Research and Creativity Awards. Chad Risko, Ph.D., faculty director of the Office of Undergraduate Research, and Research Ambassadors, presented the awards.

Founded in 1964 by UK President John Oswald, the Oswald Research and Creativity Competition promotes undergraduate research and creative endeavors across all academic disciplines.

The competition spans various categories, including biological sciences, design (architecture, landscape architecture and interior design), fine arts (film, music, photography, painting and sculpture), humanities (both creative and critical research approaches), physical and engineering sciences and social sciences. Faculty in relevant fields anonymously review each submission using a set rubric.

Awards in each category are: first place $350 and second place $200. Entries are judged based on originality, clarity, scholarly or artistic contribution and the depth, scope and validity of the research.

This year’s Oswald student award winners in the design category are:

Design

• First place: Conner Sinewe, product design senior; Kiefer Howland, product design senior; Jackson Deye, product design senior; mentor: SK O’Brien, College of Design; “A-frame Pin-Up System”
• Second place: Apirada Chetawatee, product design senior; mentor: Kristi Bartlett, College of Design; “Closing the Loop: A Second Life for Rice Bag Packaging”

Learn more about the OUR Oswald Competition here.

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For the purposes of this College website, this story has been modified to feature only the award winners related to the UK College of Design. This story originally featured all 21 winners and can be found here.