Back-to-Back Wins: Student earns top research honors at international conference

Nora Simondet, a standout business student, campus leader and former Minnesota Collegiate DECA president, earned the Best Paper Award in Undergraduate Student Research at the Tourism, Hospitality, and Event Conference for Researchers, Educators, Practitioners, and Students (THEREPS) for the second year in a row.

Nora credits Minnesota State Moorhead's hands-on learning environment and community support for shaping her academic journey.

"MSUM gave me more than a degree. It gave me mentors who helped me grow, friendships that feel like family, and experiences I'll talk about for the rest of my life," she says.

Last year, Nora partnered with fellow student Annisa Wilke and faculty mentor Wooyang Kim to research tipping behaviors. Their paper, "Gratuities at a Crossroads: The Unseen Toll of Tipping on Economic Stability, Growth, and Employee Worth," examined the economic implications of tipping and the factors that influence when and why consumers tip. The project earned top honors at the 2024 THEREPS conference.

From left to right, Nora Simondet, Annisa Wilke, Wooyang Kim at the THEREPS conference in 2024

Building on that momentum, Nora returned to the 2025 conference in New York with new research focused on cross-border education. She and Dr. Kim co-authored "Exploring Motivators, Challenges, and Institutional Support for Students' Short-Term Study Abroad Program Engagement," which once again earned the Best Paper Award in the Undergraduate Student Research category.

"One of the professors who oversees a study abroad program told me he wants to use my research in his next trip," Nora says.

Nora's passion for global learning is personal; she has participated in three short-term study abroad programs through Moorhead. The Paseka School of Business offers annual experiences titled "Doing Business in Europe," and "Doing Business in Asia", which expose students to real-world international markets and business culture.

Nora visited Germany, France, Austria, Japan and South Korea while studying abroad.

"Doing Business in Europe," group picture

"Thanks to my study abroad experiences, I discovered how much I enjoy working with different countries and cultures," she says. "It's become a huge passion of mine and something I hope to keep doing after graduation."

Beyond classes, Nora has held several student leadership positions on campus, including student senate secretary and president, and Minnesota Collegiate DECA president, where she supported chapters across the state and helped shape the organization's strategic goals. These experiences helped her develop public speaking, leadership, and time management skills.

"I used to not be able to stand on a stage or speak in front of big crowds and now it's hard to stop talking," Nora remembers.

Throughout her time at Moorhead, Nora was guided by mentors like Kim Wooyang and Layne Anderson who encouraged her to challenge herself academically and professionally.

"Dr. Kim is super passionate and protects his students no matter what," she says. "Layne helped me through my journey as a student senate president by guiding me to know how to lead with my heart."

Nora also completed an internship with the City of Moorhead, where she worked in communications, marketing, and governmental affairs.

With multiple awards, leadership roles, and global experiences, Nora is set to graduate with a well-rounded, real-world perspective that will shape her future in international business.