GURC Award Press Release

bluestone Receives the GURC 2023 Undergraduate Research First Place Award

Samantha Edetanlen ‘24 

The University of West Georgia’s student-run public relations firm, bluestone was awarded the 2023 Undergraduate Research Award at the Georgia Undergraduate Research Conference (GURC).

bluestone’s award-winning project was centered on revitalizing secondary study spaces by conducting extensive research into the aspects of a study environment students value most. Recognizing that a significant number of current college students had only experienced study spaces during the COVID-19 pandemic, the team was determined to discover strategies to restore the experience of secondary study spaces before the pandemic.

“Many present college students including most of our research team arrived at college during the beginning stages of the pandemic,” said Kelli Breed, the 2023 firm director of bluestone. “For this research project, we set out to find ways to restore the pre-pandemic ‘college spaces’ we heard about from older students.”

A key part of bluestone's GURC presentation highlighted a client project focused on improving the communication between UWG Ingram Library and UWG students to enhance the overall quality of the student experience. This project proposed the implementation of the now revitalized third floor in an attempt to improve the study spaces at the University of West Georgia, resulting in a significant increase in student traffic at the Ingram Library.

“The bluestone client project showcases the commitment of providing effective solutions that positively impact the learning environment at the University of West Georgia.” said Taylor Bryant, associate professor and faculty advisor of bluestone. “ I am pleased to see bluestone’s work recognized by the Georgia Undergraduate Research Conference.”

The Georgia Undergraduate Research Conference (GURC) provides a platform for undergraduate institutions to showcase innovative projects. The 2023 conference was hosted at Valdosta State University and included over 100 submissions.

bluestone accepts new clients each semester, if interested visit bluestone | UWG for more information.