The Kentucky Economic Association is encouraging undergraduate research by supporting two to three sessions for undergraduate papers during the 2025 KEA conference (October 24, 2025). This year’s conference will be held at Western Kentucky University. Please encourage your students to submit their papers and present them. All students are encouraged to submit a full-length paper or a working paper with substantial progress. For working papers, we ask that students consult a faculty advisor prior to submission. Abstract paper submissions will not be accepted. Submissions will open on August 1, 2025, at 11:59pm EST and close on October 7, 2025, at 11:59pm EST.
- Undergraduate papers must have been completed during the 2024-2025 academic year or a working paper for the 2025-2026 academic year.
- Faculty-student research is not eligible for the student paper competition, but submissions are welcome for presentations at the conference.
- Co-authored undergraduate papers are welcome.
- Paper submissions must qualify under one of the following:
- Research about Kentucky and/or related regions,
- Written by a Kentucky student,
- Written by a student in a bordering state (Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, or Missouri).
- If selected to present at the Conference, at least one author must be present, in-person at the event.
- Attached is the rubric that will be used to review submissions and determine which papers are accepted. Access the rubric here.
- Submissions must be in the form of a PDF or Word Doc.
- It is recommended that the body of the work to be submitted be between 15-25 pages.
- The best paper will receive a financial reward sponsored by a supporter to be announced.
Submissions can be made through the KEA website (Kentucky Economic Association). To submit a paper, go to the “KEA Conference” link on the KEA website, select “Call for Undergraduate Papers” and fill out the online form.
Any questions can be directed to Dr. Abdullah Al Bahrani (albahrania1@nku.edu), Dr. Sarthak Behera (Sarthak.behera@centre.edu), or Lilly Rice (ricel2@berea.edu).
Information to include on the submission form:
- Student
- First and Last Name
- School
- Expected Graduation Month and Year
- Major(s)
- Minor(s)
- School Email
- Faculty Advisor
- First and Last Name
- Attach Paper Submission as an Upload
Access the information on this page as a pdf
Access a pdf of opportunities for undergraduate economics students