Five SFSU students were recently honored at the 16th annual California State University Student Research Competition. The students won awards in four categories, the most of any CSU campus.

About 170 students from throughout the statewide system presented 146 academic research papers. A panel of CSU faculty served as judges. First and second place winners received cash prizes.

Laura Norelius, a graduate student in biomedical laboratory science, won first place in the health, nutrition and clinical sciences category for her presentation on "Techniques Affecting the Success of Mircobroth Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing of Anaerobic Bacteria."

David Backman, a graduate student in business, and Lauri Kanerva, a graduate student in kinesiology, won first place in the business, economics and public administration category for their presentation on "Using Regression Analysis to Determine the Relationship Between Organizational Culture, Firm Reputation and Financial Performance."

Ivor Francis, a graduate student in music, won second place in the creative arts and design category for his presentation titled "Flashback on 'Fifty Second Street': A Contemporary Reinterpretation of the Traditional Techniques."

Sandra Larkin, a graduate student in biomedical laboratory science, received honorable mention in the biological and agricultural sciences (molecular and cellular) category for her presentation titled "Secretory Phospholipase A2 is a Key Player in Acute Chest Syndrome in Sickle Cell Disease."

The competition was held last month at CSU Long Beach.