Highlander Highlights: Week of Feb. 23, 2026
Highlander Highlights shares with readers some of the extraordinary research and accomplishments happening on and off campus through the tireless work and curiosity of our students, staff, alumni and faculty.
Radford University hosts regional FBLA conference
On Friday, Feb. 20, Radford University hosted over 200 high school students across the Roanoke and New River valleys at the Blue Ridge Regional Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Spring Conference.
Students had the opportunity to experience career, academic and leadership development through competitions in areas such as economics, entrepreneurship, graphic design, data science, artificial intelligence, healthcare administration and event planning.
Donna McCloskey, dean of Davis College of Business and Economics, kicked off the event by welcoming students to Radford University. She shared valuable insights on achieving success, emphasizing that it is not about being constantly available to everyone but about wisely using time.
Following the competitions, students toured campus before using a meal card to grab lunch at various dining establishments, including Chick-fil-A and Dalton Hall.
The awards ceremony, held in the Bonnie Hurlburt Student Center Auditorium, celebrated students who placed first, second, and third in their areas of testing and presentation. Winners smiled for photos as they accepted their medals. The regional event also serves as qualifying rounds for the Virginia State Leadership Conference in Reston on April 10.
Nichole Hair, director of Economic Development and Community Engagement, was honored to host the event. “To engage with these bright high school students and share in their anticipation for moving forward to the state competition was exciting,” she said.
Before concluding the event, membership officers for the 2026 and 2027 terms were appointed.
Undergraduate researchers present at NURVa
Three Radford University undergraduates were selected to present their scholarship at the second Undergraduate Research Showcase hosted by The Network for Undergraduate Research in Virginia (NURVa) at the Virginia State Capitol in Richmond last month – an honor awarded to just 28 projects statewide.
Kayla Fields, a senior from Yorktown, Virginia, represented the Department of Geospatial and Earth Sciences with her project, “Assessing the Impact of Land Use and Precipitation on Water Quality in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.” Mentored by Assistant Professor Naveen Joseph, Fields examined how land use patterns and precipitation influence water quality across the watershed. Using geospatial analysis and statistical modeling, she analyzed large environmental datasets to identify spatial and temporal trends.
“She has demonstrated advanced skills in machine learning, spatial analysis using ArcGIS, MATLAB programming and statistical analysis,” Joseph said, noting her growth over the past three years as both a scholar and communicator. “This showcase reflected her dedication, intellectual curiosity and readiness for advanced research.”
Sophomore Therese Root and senior Kristina Wagner, both of Fairfax, Virginia, presented applied sociological research conducted with Morgan Montañez, assistant professor of sociology and director of the Center for Social and Cultural Research (CSCR). Their project analyzed Virginia 211 data for the Council of Community Services, examining patterns in community needs and service access across rural localities. The goal: to inform regional planning and improve how resources are targeted and delivered.
Montañez said the work reflects CSCR’s broader mission of supporting community partners
with sociological insight while providing undergraduates with high-impact, hands-on
research experience. Following NURVa, Root and Wagner will present their findings
at the Southwest Social Science Association conference in Nashville, Tennessee, in
April.
Esports team scores upset victory at Orange Jam
Radford University’s esports Counter-Strike 2 team claimed first place at the 2026 Orange Jam Invitational, hosted by Syracuse University Jan. 31 through Feb. 1.
With competitors that included teams from Ohio State, Carnegie Mellon, Northeastern, Drexel and the Rochester Institute of Technology, Radford entered the LAN tournament as the second-lowest-seeded squad. However, Highlanders battled through group play and playoffs to upset higher-ranked programs and take home the championship.
Radford’s victory marked a milestone for the university’s esports program, showcasing the competitive growth of the Highlander squad at the highest levels of collegiate competition. The team’s strong performance included a decisive final match against Syracuse that capped a weekend of intense play.
Joya Garris contributed to this report.