WHEELING, WV, April 7, 2011 — The 2011 Wheeling Jesuit University Student Research and Scholarship Symposium showcased 59 students presenting 70 original research projects on Wednesday, April 6.
Each project was presented orally and students defended their thesis, answering questions to validate their arguments. Symposium judges studied each project carefully and came up with winning presentations in each of four categories. Twenty students won cash prizes and awards at the end of the day.
Winners' names, along with the title of their research and their faculty mentor, are as follows:
SYMPOSIUM PROGRAM COVER DESIGN AWARD
Colt Street, mentor Professor Richard Cain, communications professor.
HUMANITIES ORAL PRESENTATIONS
Chris Rouhier, "World of Hurt: The Rise and Fall of the 1974-75 World Football League," mentor Dr. Joseph Laker, history professor.
ENGLISH, COMMUNICATIONS AND FINE ARTS ORAL PRESENTATIONS
Michaela Basham, "'Hierophant:' An Original Story," mentor Professor John Whitehead, director of Fine Arts.
NATURAL, PHYSICAL, HEALTH AND INFORMATION SCIENCES ORAL PRESENTATIONS
Audra Macri, "Wheeling Jesuit University Virtual Tour," mentor Professor Patrick Plunkett, computer science professor.
SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES ORAL PRESENTATIONS
Chris Rouhier, "A Limited Discourse: The Commission on Presidential Debates’ Exclusion of Minor Party and Independent Candidates," mentor Dr. Christopher Stadler, political science professor.
NATURAL AND PHYSICAL SCIENCES POSTERS
Jodi Gottardi, "Determining Antimicrobial Properties of Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide, and Magnesium Oxide Against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa," mentor Dr. Andy Cook, biology professor.
Talia Blankenship, "Delivery of Fusion Protein into cells using the cell-permeable peptide Antennapedia," Dr. Robert Shurina, biology professor.
HEALTH SCIENCES POSTERS
Michael Ludewig, "Effects of Pitching Restrictions to Reduce Injuries in Children," Dr. Dave Hanna, athletic training professor.
Lacy Greene, "Implementation of Positron Emission Mammography as an Adjunct Imaging Modality in Breast Cancer," Dr. Robert George, nuclear medicine professor.
Mike Goldsberry, "Does the Neopuff provide increased patient safety and effective tidal volume delivery to neonates when compared to standard self-inflating and flow-inflating neonate resuscitation bags?" Professor Mary Beth Emmerth, respiratory therapy professor.
SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES POSTERS
Christina Pavlik, Alaina Antoinette, Kristin Johnson, Michael Little, and Sierra Moore, " mentor Dr. Debra Hull, psychology professor.
Mark Sappington, "Influence of Artificial Sweeteners on Pain Perception," mentor Dr. Bryan Raudenbush, psychology professor.
LAUT HONORS PROGRAM SPECIAL TOPICS PRESENTATIONS
Laura Hydeman and Brittany White, "The Optical Illusions of Zombies," Dr. Daniel Weimer, social science professor.
Ryan Norman, "The Zombie Within Us: What a Pop Culture Phenomenon Tells Us about the Human Condition," Dr. Daniel Weimer, history professor.
Dr. Bryan Raudenbush coordinated the 12th Annual Student Research and Scholarship Symposium and the awards ceremony. Awards were presented by associate professor of physical therapy, Dr. Maureen McKenna.
Senior Zackary Birchard
(shown at right) won the
Clifford M. Lewis, S.J. Appalachian Institute Research Award, a special award that is reserved for students whose projects link to real life in Appalachia. Birchard's research studied metal residue in drinking water and chemistry professor Dr. Ben Stout is his mentor. The title of his research is, "The Effects of Heavy Metal Contamination on Water Under Simulated Underground Conditions."
Presented by Mary Ellen Cassidy, executive director of the Appalachian Institute, the social action award was initiated in 2005 to honor students who look for community solutions to distinctly Appalachian problems.
Five additional students, Brittany Burkhart, Laura Hydeman, Colin Jack, Michael Nestasie and Brittany White, competed for the Haig Science Award on Wednesday evening. This prestigious competition was moderated by Dr. James Coffield, chemistry professor. The winner of this competition is not revealed until commencement ceremonies. Haig recipients receive a medal along with $2,500 in prize money.
The Annual Student Research and Scholarship Symposium was made possible in part through a grant from the Council on Undergraduate Research, founded in 1978 and located in Washington, D.C.
