麻豆传媒官网 congratulates one of its senior sociology and environmental science students 鈥� Sebastian Lema 鈥� for receiving the Social Sciences Undergraduate Conference Award from the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR). Lema鈥檚 achievement highlights the value of student-faculty collaborative research experiences, which are distinctive at 麻豆传媒官网. Lema will present the research at the National CUR 2026 conference in Richmond, VA, next April.
Lema鈥檚 research project 鈥� 鈥淒ivergent Experiences? Comparing Domestic Latina/o/e and International Latin American Students at a Predominantly White Institution鈥� 鈥� is part of Dr. Rodrigo Serr茫o鈥檚 鈥淏eyond Ethnicity鈥� project. Dr. Serr茫o is an assistant professor of sociology at Hope, whose research project explores how Latinx students perceive their racial identity in relation to privilege, racism, colorism and their sense of belonging within the context of a historically white college.
鈥淭his award really validates Sebastian鈥檚 critical thinking and research skills,鈥� said Dr. Serr茫o, who said the award includes a $400 grant that will help support his research. 鈥淭his recognition also acknowledges the importance of the 鈥淏eyond Ethnicity鈥� project itself, where Sebastian joins a list of successful student collaborators who have contributed to this work throughout the years.鈥�
The Social Sciences Undergraduate Conference Award, offered by the CUR Social Sciences Division, is a competitive grant to support undergraduate students presenting original research findings at a national or international, discipline-specific meeting. Lema was one of four total recipients of this year鈥檚 award.