Saints present at annual Scholars at the Capitol event

The Minnesota State Capitol Rotunda hummed with excitement the morning of Wednesday, Feb. 26, as The College of St. Scholastica participated in the annual Scholars at the Capitol event. Organized by the Minnesota Private College Council, this prestigious event highlighted the scholarship of 38 students from various institutions, allowing them to share their research with lawmakers and the public. Among the participants were two talented students from St. Scholastica: Allie Lopez ’26 and Hiba Harrari ’26.

Lopez and Harrari collaborated on a project titled “Voice User Interfaces Error Rates Across Languages & the Impact of Integrating Alexa with Large Language Models.” Their research explores the comprehensibility of the voice assistant Alexa, particularly for users with speech impediments and disfluencies. By testing commands in multiple languages, they aim to reduce error rates and improve communication technology, enhancing the user experience for diverse populations.

The Scholars at the Capitol event allows students to engage with lawmakers and demonstrate the impactful research taking place at Minnesota private colleges, including St. Scholastica. The event also showcases the vast array of learning opportunities available to students and the importance of undergraduate research in shaping future careers and educational paths.