14/04/2026
๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ | CSS student-researchers garner top honors at URSP Research Congress '26
Demonstrating academic rigor and scholarly depth, three groups of student-researchers from the College of Social Sciences (CSS) dominated the recently held 2026 URSP Studentsโ Research Congress, themed โURSP Researchers: Leading with Excellence as Future-Ready Professionals,โ held on April 14, at the Audio-Visual Room (AVR).
Together with other campusโ student-researchers, the event highlighted the scholarly competence of each group across descriptive, developmental, and feasibility research categories.
Leading the charge for the Bachelor of Arts in English Language Studies (AB ELS), the research team of Desiree Marie Juan, John Dharly Lacaba, and Maxine Montealegre, under the mentorship of Dr. Jocelyn Gagalang, secured the Best Research in the Descriptive category with their study title, โLiterary Analysis Skills of Bachelor of Arts in English Language Studies First Year Students."
Reflecting on the achievement, Juan expressed her delight, underscoring that the URSP Research Congress opened essential doors for the study to be heard while allowing the team to share their findings with a broader audience.
โIt is such an honor and a privilege to win Best Research in the Descriptive Research Category. Not only does it bring me joy, but I am also grateful for the experience. The URS Research Congress opened doors for our study to be presented and heard, allowing us to share the results of our study,โ Juan exclaimed.
Close behind in the same category, the Bachelor of Science in Psychology (BS PSYCH)team comprising Nicole Masinsin, Alyssa Cayte Gaylican, Deniese Elizabeth Malaluan, and Mary Joyce Olivar, advised by Prof. Liezel Francisco, earned a distinguished second-place finish for their research titled โLago sa Laro: Off-Field Behavior and Team Identification Among Student-Athletes of the University of Rizal System.โ
Masinsin highlighted the social contribution of their work, noting that by uncovering "hidden" behavioral patterns, the study serves as a tool to create better community programs and support systems that build team spirit and leadership skills beyond the court.
โWe discovered "hidden" details about their behavior that usually get ignored. And because we now understand these patterns, we can create better school projects and community programs that build their team spirit and leadership skills.โ she explained.
Masinsin also added, โItโs about making sure that being a student-athlete at URS helps them become better people, not just better players.โ
Meanwhile, AB ELS continued its winning streak in the Developmental category as researchers, by Noelle Mechilina, Jerry Max Jesuitas, and Alyza Joy Mawili, also guided by Dr. Gagalang, claimed the Best Research title for their work, โLanguage Inquiry and Research Knowledge (LInK): A Worktext in Language Research for Bachelor of Arts in English Language Studies Studentsโ
In an interview, Jesuitas discussed the practical implications of their truimph, emphasizing the project's ultimate goal was to ameliorate the academic experience by providing a comprehensive, student-friendly worktext designed tostreamline the often-daunting language research process for the future researchers.
โThe primary goal of our research is to develop a comprehensive and student-friendly worktext [which] aims to guide learners through the entire language research process,โ he shared.
Via Micael Cerbito
Photos by: Angelica Amorin