Undergraduate student wins campus-wide competition with "Number Ball"

Third-year undergraduate student Jessica P. Lopez Perez placed first at the university-wide Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) Project Pitch Challenge at the 29th annual Undergraduate Research Symposium in May.

​Her project, “Students’ Engagement and Motivation in Number Ball” focused on her work with second-grade teachers to create a playful learning landscape using Number Ball, a school yard game where students learn math through playing basketball (read the abstract). Lopez advanced through several rounds of the competition and concluded with a live presentation.

“Jessica conceptualized a very rigorous study, showed initiative by connecting with leading scholars in the area of motivation for support, and collected her own data,” Lopez’s faculty mentor and assistant professor Andres Bustamante said.

“She also presented her work in a very accessible and compelling way. I cannot imagine a more deserving student for this kind of recognition."

Pitch challenge winner Jessica P. Lopez Perez presents
“Students’ Engagement and Motivation in Number Ball”

“As I finish my third year at UCI and first academic year as an education major, I have made a lot of connections and met great mentors that inspire me to succeed,” Lopez said. “I am grateful to have an excellent school and research team that has helped and supported me throughout this opportunity to lead my own research study.

“I am excited to continue as an education major and take on other great opportunities."