Texas Tech University

Sparked by TrUE

Sometimes, all that it takes to launch a transformative experience is a spark! TrUE Spark Awards provide unique opportunities for TTU faculty and TrUE staff to collaborate in co-creating new transformative experiences. TrUE Spark Awards prioritize support for projects with the potential to rapidly scale up the number of opportunities available to TTU students and to continue beyond the initial funding period.

Have an idea for a new TrUE Spark? Let's chat!

Note: * indicates project is a college-level partnership supporting additional faculty-led projects.

2022-2023 TrUE Spark Awards

  • Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources
    • CASNR Undergraduate Research Award Program, Dr. Christy Bratcher*
    • Undergraduate Journal Publication, Dr. Scott Collins
  • College of Arts & Sciences
    • Undergraduate Research Experience Program, Dr. Nural Akchurin*
  • College of Human Sciences
    • COHS Undergraduate Research Program, Dr. Malinda Colwell*
  • Campus Access & Engagement
    • McNair Explorers Program, Dr. Jon Crider
  • J.T. & Margaret Talkington College of Visiual & Performing Arts
    • Student Research and Creative Activity Awards, Dr. Peter Martens*
  • Rawls College of Business
    • Rawls Undergraduate Research Program, Archie Pitsilides, MBA, MA*
  • College of Media & Communications
    • Media & Comm Undergraduate Research Club, Dr. Narissara Punyanunt-Carter*

2021-2022 TrUE Spark Awards

  • Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources
    • CASNR Undergraduate Research Award Program, Dr. Christy Bratcher*
    • Picador Student Marketing Partnership, Dr. Erica Irlbeck
  • College of Arts & Sciences
    • Undergraduate Research Support, Dr. Karin Ardon-Dryer
    • Undergraduate Research Support and Transformative Experience Communication Pilot, Dr. Marc Lochbaum
  • College of Human Sciences
    • COHS Undergraduate Research Program, Dr. Malinda Colwell*
  • Campus Access & Engagement
  • J.T. & Margaret Talkington College of Visual & Performing Arts
    • Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Awards (RCAA) & Trombone Choir, Dr. Peter Martens*
    • Tethered: An Interdisciplinary Arts Exploration of Family Dynamics and Conflict, Dr. Ali Duffy
    • Sounding History Podcast, Dr. Christopher Smith
    • BFA Acting and Musical Theatre Senior Showcase New York City, Dr. Dean Nolen
    • Texas Tech / Amarillo Opera Studio, Dr. Rebecca Hays
  • Rawls College of Business
  • School of Veterinary Medicine
    • Undergraduate Research Support, Dr. Arlene Garcia-Marquez
  • Education
    • Quantitative Education Policy Research Lab, Dr. Jacob Kirksey

2020-2021 TrUE Spark Awards

Thanks to support from the Office of the Provost, we awarded more than $70,000 in Spark Awards!

  • College of Arts & Sciences
    • Undergraduate Research Support, Dr. Karin Ardon-Dryer
    • Virtual Undergraduate Research Training + The Science & Mathematics of COVID-19, Dr. Jaclyn Cañas-Carrell
    • Transformative Undergraduate Course Experience Pilot, Dr. Sydnor Roy
    • The Contzen Project (Undergraduate Research Support), Dr. Sydnor Roy
    • International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) Supply Funding, Dr. Michael San Francisco
  • College of Education
    • Undergraduate Community-Engaged 3D Printing Curriculum Development, Dr. Daniel Kelly & Dr. Jill White
    • Education Policy Undergraduate Research Lab Pilot, Dr. J. Jacob Kirksey
    • TTU CAMP Grant Student Internship Support, Dr. Fernando Valle, Dr. Irma Almager, Dr. Delia Carrizales, Dr. Mihwa Park & Dr. Jill White
  • College of Human Sciences
    • Undergraduate Research Project Funding, Dr. Michael O'Boyle*
  • College of Media & Communications
    • Undergraduate Research Club, Dr. Jaime Banks
    • Field-Based Adventure Gaming Course Pilot, Dr. Bobby Schweizer & Dr. Jerod Foster
  • Edward E. Whitacre Jr. College of Engineering
    • Undergraduate Research Support, Dr. Michelle Pantoya
  • Teaching, Learning & Professional Development Center
    • Virtual Undergraduate Research Training + The Science & Mathematics of COVID-19, Dr. Ken Griffith
  • School of Veterinary Medicine
    • Undergraduate Research Support, Dr. Arlene Garcia-Marquez
  • Campus Access & Engagement
  • Office of the Vice President for Research & Innovation

2019-2020 TrUE Spark Awards

Congratulations to our inaugural cohort of TrUE Spark Award Recipients! Thanks to support from the Office of the Provost, we awarded more than $40,000!

  • College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources
    • Digital Herbarium, Dr. Robert Cox
    • Assessing the presence and assimilation of microplastics in urban stream food webs, Dr. Scott F. Collins
  • College of Arts & Sciences
    • 2020 LEAP Texas Conference Travel Support, Dr. David Roach
    • STEP Learning Assistants, Dr. Brock Williams
  • College of Human Sciences
    • Undergraduate Research Experience Program, Dr. Michael O'Boyle*
  • College of Education
    • East Lubbock Mentoring (ELM) Program, Dr. Joshua Cruz
    • HIP Research Project: STEP Learning Assistants, Dr. Rebecca Hite
  • Teaching, Learning & Professional Development Center
    • STEP Learning Assistants, Dr. Ken Griffith