ASPIRE

Toby Lumley – Youth-Based Mentorship Programs and the Development of Social Capital (Honors; Faculty Mentor: Skip Burzumato)
This project will investigate how mentorship programs contribute to the development of bonding (strengthening of like social groups) and bridging (connections across different social groups) forms of social capital. Special emphasis will be put on the immediate community of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County due to its diverse population.

Lauren Barden – AI and E-commerce: A Comparative Analysis of Amazon, Jumia, and Alibaba (Honors; Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jeffrey H. Pierson)
This study utilizes qualitative research methods conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of how companies instilled in e-commerce have been utilizing new artificial intelligence systems for strengthening consumer trust and streamlining organizational enhancement.

Nana Montans – Overexpression of the Polyhydroxyalkanoate Depolymerase Gene of Streptomyces nymphaeiformis in Streptomyces lividans TK24 (Honors, Martin; Faculty Mentor: Dr. Stephen F. Baron)
Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), commonly known as biodegradable plastics, are polymers of hydroxyalkanoate monomers that are produced by over 75 genera of bacteria [1]. The most common PHA is polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), which is composed of 3-hydroxybutyrate (3HB) monomers. PHB is degraded to 3HB by PHB depolymerases [2]. Streptomyces nymphaeiformis is a Gram positive.

Lauren Fisher, Alisa Hart – The Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of Fresh Produce Distribution in Rockingham County and the City of Harrisonburg (TREB; Faculty Mentor: Dr. Timothy A. Kreps)
Fresh produce is essential to a balanced diet; however, many families struggle to access consistent sources of it. In 2022, about 17 million households were without access to nutritionally sound food from an easy to access source (Godoy 2023).

Jadaya Hollins – AI & HR Management (Class; Faculty Mentor: Dr. Roslyn Vargas)
The poster will explain the growing role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in HR and how it transformed the modern workforce. As organizations have adapted using AI, AI has driven tools to reshape the company recruitment, hire and training the employees.

Ashley Hamby – Chronic/Recurrent Patella Dislocation: A Case Report (Class; Faculty Mentor: Dr. Chase Hale)
This case involves a 21-year-old female softball athlete with chronic/recurrent patellar dislocations. The significance of this condition is that with each dislocation the recurrence rate increases, putting the patient at a higher risk of reinjury. This presentation will communicate the etiology, intervention and review of the literature.

Beatriz Macario Molina – When Praise Hinders: Effects of Positive Evaluation on Varsity Athletes (Class; Faculty Mentor: Dr. Randall C. Young)
Although positive evaluation is typically assumed to be beneficial, individuals high in Fear of Positive Evaluation often experience praise threateningly. This study examines how situational characteristics of praise interact with personality traits to predict responses to positive evaluation by athletes.

Meredith Scheiner – In Pursuit of Civic Betterment: Albert R. Lee’s Presidency of the Baraca-Philathea Lyceum (1920-1924) (TREB; Faculty Mentor: Dr. Vanessa Rouillon)
The Baraca-Philathea Lyceum (1910-1940) was a literary society hosted at Bethel A.M.E. church in Champaign, Illinois, for African American students and the Black community to the North of the railroad tracks. The Lyceum promoted, “live wire discussions, civic betterment, debates, enjoyable programs, and a worthwhile journal.

McKenna Doran – Bridging Ecology & Expression: A Multidisciplinary Study of Native Flora (Honors; Faculty Mentors: Dr. Edgar Lickey & Scott D. Jost)
This panel focuses on the connection between science and art by documenting the plants of the Shenandoah region through photography and painting. During field visits, species will be photographed in their natural habitats and recorded with scientific details such as their names, locations and ecological characteristics.

Seaborn King – Systems Thinking in Chemistry: Opioids (Honors; Faculty Mentor: Dr. Ellen M. Mitchell)
Scientists need to consider both the intended and unintended consequences of their work, so that, if possible, the unintended consequences can be anticipated and either avoided or mitigated. Opioids are a good example of a class of chemicals that have had both beneficial and detrimental effects on an individual.

Maria Gavriilidou – Healing the Gap (Honors; Faculty Mentor: Eric A. Kniss)
The Honors Project will be based on a study of the infrastructure of the Greek public health system. More specifically, although the Greek state system is considered public, it does not provide the necessary and appropriate infrastructure for patient care and services. Many of the hospital buildings lack basic health.

Sebastian Kochall – Bridgewater College in the Second World War (Honors; Faculty Mentor: Dr. Brandon D. Marsh)
Bridgewater College in the Second World War examines the effects of the Second World War on Bridgewater College. The Second World War had dramatic effects on Bridgewater College and was a watershed moment in the institution’s development. This presentation discusses numerous changes and factors including admission changes, financial struggles and more.

Kristin Rivera – Supporting Mental Health in Adolescents: A Graphic Novel Approach (Honors; Faculty Mentor: Dr Elizabeth MacDougall)
I will be doing an oral presentation on my graphic novel on adolescent mental health. The story follows a knight’s journey to well-being and learning to approach their dragon in a more helpful, effective way.

Brandy Sweigart – Women in Samurai Households from the Late Muromachi to Edo Periods of Japan: An Examination of Social Structure, Politics, and Economics (Honors; Faculty Mentor: Dr. Yuka H. Kishida)
Japan and the samurai culture has fascinated many Western countries for generations, especially in modern media like video games and movies. However, the portrayal of the samurai household in these media are inaccurate to actual historical events—with this being especially true for women. Older historical research also perpetuates these inaccuracies.

Angel Humphrey – Black Hampton Roads Community Fighting for Racial Integration in Schools (Class; Faculty Mentor: Dr. Maria Paz Esguerra)
This study examines how Black Hampton Roads community members orchestrated and collaborated with organizations, to fight for equal educational opportunities in unconstitutionally racially segregated schools. “Massive Resistance Movement” was a statewide legal policy enacted by the Virginia government to block the 1954 Supreme Court Brown v Board of Education ruling.

Dustin Veach – Evaluating the Test-Retest Reliability of Tandem Gait and Dual Task Variants in Healthy College Aged Participants (Honors; Faculty Mentor: Dr. Nicholas K. Erdman)
The tandem gait (TG) test is a commonly used clinical assessment tool for diagnosis of concussion but lacks some standardization with testing procedures. This study evaluates the test-retest reliability of TG test when administered in isolation and part of a dual-task assessment under standardized upper extremity positions in healthy, college-aged participants.

Tony Lucy – Pachisi Go!: Making a Video Game Older Than Writing (Faculty Mentor: Dr. Sam Hamilton)
This project will investigate how mentorship programs contribute to the development of bonding (strengthening of like social groups) and bridging (connections across different social groups) forms of social capital. Special emphasis will be put on the immediate community of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County due to its diverse population.

Caroline Green – The Ultimate Advertisement: Comparing the Effectiveness of Simple and Complex Designs in Instagram Reels (Honors; Faculty Mentor: Dr. Michele S. Clark)
This study investigates whether simple or complex design is more effective in portraying in short form video advertisements on social media. The purpose of this research is to inform organizations how to more effectively and efficiently create social media advertisements to best communicate their brand and products.

Ateh Nji-Tanji – Effects of NGO dependency on government efficiency especially when funding is pulled (Class)
Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) have become central actors in delivering humanitarian aid and essential public services in many developing countries. While their work often provides immediate relief in areas such as healthcare, education and food security, their long-term impact on government capacity is more complex.

Riley Corcoran – Site-Directed Mutagenesis of the hE1α Subunit of α-Ketoglutarate Dehydrogenase Complex in the TCA Cycle (Honors; Faculty Mentor: Dr. Steve F. Baron)
The citric acid cycle is dependent on mitochondrial α-keto acid dehydrogenase complexes to couple carbon metabolism with cellular energy production. Among these, the alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complex (KGDHc) catalyzes the oxidative decarboxylation of α-ketoglutarate to succinyl-CoA while generating NADH for oxidative phosphorylation.

Matthew Wheaton – Need for Speed: Why Students Walk Fast at Bridgewater (Honors; Faculty Mentor: Dr. Sandy D. Zook)
This project evaluates pedestrian walkability and safety within the physical boundaries of Bridgewater College, treating the campus as a small-scale urban environment where daily movement depends on sidewalk quality, crossing design, lighting and driver behavior.

Autumn Just – Food intake of eastern box turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina) during rehabilitation (Honors; Faculty Mentor: Dr. Tamara L. Johnstone-Yellin)
Wildlife rehabilitation centers admit Eastern box turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina) for common injuries like aural abscesses, shell damage from vehicle collisions, or from illegal possession. Once recovered, turtles can only be released when environmental conditions are favorable.

Mackenzie Buckley – 16S Metabarcoding and Nanopore Sequencing for Bacterial and Community Profiling (Honors; Faculty Mentor: Dr. Robyn A. Puffenbarger)
The objective of this project is to develop an experimental protocol for BIOL-401L that allows students to use 16S metabarcoding for microbial identification and community profiling. Collaborating with Dr. Puffenbarger in the fall of 2025, I will use the Norgen swab sampling kit and the Oxford Nanopore 16S metabarcoding kit.

Hannah England –  Boron Mediated Aldolization of Diethyl Squarates (Honors; Faculty Mentor: Dr. Barnabas Otoo)
Reactions involving activated squarate esters provide a useful strategy for synthesizing functionalized lactone-containing molecules from simple starting materials. In particular, boron-mediated nucleophilic substitution of a squarate leading to a lactone via intramolecular cyclization offers a practical pathway to cyclic products while avoiding harsh conditions or transition-metal catalysts.

Sophia Stites – The Effects of Family Meals at the Table on Child Development & How to Engage in its Benefits (Honors; Faculty Mentor: Dr. Donna H. Hoskins)
This project explores the effects of families sharing meals around the table on their child’s development. The potential to reap the unifying benefits a table presents will be encouraged through a pamphlet with research-based suggestions on how to healthily engage at the table. Biases surrounding the ability to gather as a family around a table will be exposed and attempted to be accounted for, making “the table” experience a universal one.

Safalta Shrestha – Use of Volunteerism in the Development of Mental Health Network (Class; Faculty Mentor: Dr. Daniel Finseth)
The purpose of this study is to create a new system where volunteers who have been trained in mental health fields come and visit rural areas of Nepal to destigmatize mental health superstitions and biases. To accomplish this there needs to be a deep understanding of the intersection of culture.

Skyler Parks – Structure-function analysis of the human mitochondrial alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase complexes: Mutations of clinical relevance in neurological diseases (Martin; Faculty Mentor: Dr. Rippa Sehgal)
The α-Ketoglutarate Dehydrogenase Complex (KGDHc) is a key mitochondrial enzyme in the Krebs cycle, playing a pivotal role in cellular metabolism and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Dysregulation of KGDHc has been implicated in various neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, as well as ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Jordan Mongold – Competing for Power in Postwar Europe: The Marshall Plan, COMECON, and Authoritarian Strategies of Control in Eastern Europe (Honors; Faculty Mentor: Dr. Brandon Marsh)
This presentation will examine the authoritarian tactics used by Joseph Stalin and the Soviet Union to consolidate control over Eastern Europe between 1945 and 1955. Case studies on Czechoslovakia, Poland and Romania are used to explore how Stalin weakened political and social systems in these states.

Jewels Jenkins – What Lies Underneath the Surface (Honors; Faculty Mentor: Dr. Stanley A. Galloway)

Elizabeth Hipp – Effects of water immersion on skeletal muscle activation, fatigue, and whole-body gas exchange (Honors; Faculty Mentor: Dr. Robert J. Shute)
Enhancing exercise performance and reducing fatigue are ongoing pursuits in sport and fitness. Temperature, a critical determinant of physiological stress, has been linked to fatigue onset. Purpose: This study explores the effects of whole-body pre-heating and pre-cooling with water immersion on muscle activation and oxygen cost during cycling exercise.

Madelyn Judson – Hormonal Contraceptives May Influence Clinical Presentation at Baseline and Following Concussion, But Not Clinical Recovery (TREB; Faculty Mentor: Dr. Nicholas K. Erdman)
Female athletes are more likely to suffer a concussion and experience longer clinical recovery when compared to males in sex-comparable sports. Hormonal contraceptives (HCs), such as oral contraceptive pills or long-acting reversible contraceptives which are commonly used by females between 15-29 years of age, may influence performance on concussion assessments.

Chair: Ronald L. Alabanza
In 2022, I introduced ART 202 [Non-Western Graphic Design] to my college’s academic catalog. I wanted to introduce students to visual design from areas outside North America and Western Europe. As a practitioner of graphic design, my training was almost entirely taught through a Western lens [i.e., Swiss/ German design].

Amir Suboh (TREB) – Non–Western Graphic Design: Cultural Identity and Visual Language

Kiya Whitaker (TREB) – Design Beyond the Western Canon: Global Graphic Design Traditions

Tess Dean (TREB)– Teaching and Studying Non–Western Graphic Design

Students from ART 202 examine graphic design traditions from regions outside North America and Western Europe. Through research and visual analysis, the presenters explore how cultural history, symbolism, typography, and visual storytelling shape design practices in different global contexts. The discussion highlights how studying non–Western design expands creative approaches and challenges dominant Western design conventions

Brock Zorn – Limit of Detection Variations in Polyphenol Mixtures Using PARAFAC–FEEM Spectroscopy (Honors; Faculty Mentor: Dr. Kenneth S. Overway)
Polyphenols are chemical compounds commonly found in food products like olive oil and wine. Research suggests that their presence in such foods conveys positive cardiovascular and cognitive health benefits. This group of compounds is often difficult to quantify in such samples due to an overlap in the chemical signals.

Ifeatu Udokwu, Jimena Garcia Nunez – HECK–COUPLING OF α–VINYL β–LACTONES (Honors; Faculty Mentor: Dr. Barnabas Otoo)
Antibiotic resistance remains a critical global health challenge, underscoring the urgent need for novel antibiotics with unique structural frameworks. β-Lactones represent a promising class of bioactive molecules with significant therapeutic potential. Interestingly, most β-lactone-based antibiotics reported to date share a common structural feature: relatively long α-side chains.

Kayla Stanley – Mark Henry’s Retirement: Breaking Genres and John Cena (TREB; Faculty Mentor: Dr. Steve Ingham)
This project explores Mark Henry’s 2013 “retirement” speech in WWE as an example of how genre expectations can be used, or broken, for rhetorical impact. Professional wrestling blends athletic competition with theatrical storytelling through kayfabe, where scripted storylines are presented as real.

Brianna Morgan – Beyond the Label Power, History, and the Meaning of Branding (TREB; Faculty Mentor: Dr. Steve Ingham)
This poster explores the history and evolution of branding and how its meaning has changed over time. Today, branding is often associated with company logos, marketing and social media identity. However, the concept of branding has a much deeper and more complex history connected to power, ownership, and identity.

Peyton Randall – The Effects of Food Insecurity and Child Health on Educational Achievement in Virginia Counties (Honors; Faculty Mentor: Dr. David C. Huffman)
This study examines the relationship between county-level socioeconomic and demographic factors and student performance on Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) math and reading assessments in 2023. Using data from 127 of Virginia’s 133 independent counties and cities, this study conducts an ordinary least squares (OLS) regression.

Olivia Daniels – AI Assisted Evaluation of Fungicide Efficacy in Acorn Squash (Honors; Faculty Mentor: Dr. Timothy A. Kreps)
For this project specifically, I will be working with Acorn Squash and evaluating the efficacy of different fungicides. Then I will be using common AI programs such as ChatGPT or Copilot to see if they can effectively evaluate the same set of data points that I was able to evaluate.

Mackenzie Strong – Affordable Meals: Educating Youth Through Nutritious Recipes (Honors; Faculty Mentor: Skip Burzumato)
This honors project, Affordable Meals: Educating Youth Through Nutritional Recipes, examines the structural and economic barriers that prevent families from accessing affordable, healthy food while highlighting the active roles children often assume in food-insecure households.

Shyanne Jackson – Overexpression and Purification of Wild-Type and Pathogenic Mutant Variants of the E2 subunit of Branched Chain a-Keto Acid Dehydrogenase Complex (Class)
Mitochondrial α-keto acid dehydrogenase complexes are multisubunit enzymes that play central roles in cellular metabolism by catalyzing the irreversible oxidative decarboxylation of α-keto acids. This enzyme family includes the pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDHc), α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase (KGDHc), branched-chain α-keto acid dehydrogenase (BCKDHc), and α-ketoadipate dehydrogenase (KADHc) complexes.

Emelyn Buttercup Koene Three Poems

Dawn Patterson A Poem About…

Luca Gallo “Falter of Flesh” and “Royal Blue Steps

Ethan Fetterman – Three Poems

Allaynah Jackson Tres Leches

Jewels Jenkins What Lies Underneath the Surface

Angel Humphrey “Differences of Opinion” & “Poetic Dating”

Lillian Hayden “Hayden” & “What’s in the Garden”

Amari Presley Four Poems

Tony Lucy Three Poems

Calvin Hulleman – Using Machine Learning to Measure Axolotl Growth (Martin; Faculty Mentor: Dr. Moshe Khurgel)
Begin with a discussion of the human task (manual measurement of Axolotls). Discuss theory of how we can automate and improve the process with machine learning (maybe discuss past applications in fish). Discuss machine learning infrastructure and a layman’s explanation of how it works.

Skyler Parks – Biochemical and Structural Characterization of 12α–Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase: A key enzyme for gut health involved in bile acid (Honors; Faculty Mentor: Dr. Rippa Sehgal)
12α-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (12α-HSDH) is a short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase enzyme involved in the interconversion of bile acids, with implications for gut microbiota function, cholesterol metabolism and potential therapeutic applications. Despite its biological importance, detailed structural and kinetic characterization of 12α-HSDH remains limited.

Josh Payne – The Legend of Emanuel Loewner “Cap” Klingstein: “The Al Capone of the Shenandoah Valley?” (Honors; Faculty Mentor: Dr. Scott H. Suter)
Emanuel Loewner “Cap” Klingstein (1894-1971) was a notable Jewish entrepreneur in the area, owning multiple businesses and real estate between the 1920s and 1970s.

Allie Jansen – Book Bans in U.S. Prisons: The Legacy of the Prisoners’ Rights Movement (Honors; Faculty Mentor: Dr. Maria Paz Esguerra)
The 1950s-1970s saw an unprecedented spike in organized resistance by American prisoners. This long era of rebellion, along with thousands of judicial appeals, made up the “prisoners’ rights movement” — a political, legal, and social struggle that challenged the conditions of American incarceration and its penological paradigm.

Emelyn Buttercup Koene (Honors) “Melodramatic”

This collection of poetry is meant to cycle through emotions and show how confusing they are and how often they overlap or conflict with one another. It is meant to reflect on how we go through seasons of different emotions in our lives as well as how we use some emotions to shield other ones.

Juliana Trist, Skyler Parks – Kinetic and Structural Characterization of Wild–Type 12α–Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase from Methanospheara Stadtmanae (Honors; Faculty Mentor: Dr. Rippa Sehgal)
12α-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (12α-HSDH) is a short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase enzyme involved in the interconversion of bile acids, with implications for gut microbiota function, cholesterol metabolism and potential therapeutic applications. Despite its biological importance, detailed structural and kinetic characterization of 12α-HSDH remains limited.

Emmanuel Acherefi – Investigating the airflow around a NACA 0012 (Martin; Faculty Mentor: Dr. Mohammad Nasim Uddin)
In this study, the airflow around the NACA 0012 airfoil was analyzed using computer simulations in both ANSYS and OpenFOAM. The objective was to understand how lift, drag and flow behavior changes with the angle of attack (AOA). The results showed that lift increases steadily with AOA until stall occurs.

Laura Narby – Purification of Protoporphyrin IX using the FPLC (Honors; Faculty Mentor: Dr. Kenneth S. Overway)
Protoporphyrin IX (PPIX) is the main pigment in brown eggshells, and it is embedded in the shell gland of hens during the final stages of the egg-making process. This natural dye can be used as a substitute for organic sensitizers in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs).

Dani Fellner – Chemometric Analysis of Dissolved Organic Matter Using Fluorescence (Honors; Faculty Mentor: Dr. Kenneth S. Overway)
Univariate spectroscopic techniques have been utilized to measure dissolve organic matter (DOM), the level and diversity of organic nutrients within a body of water, to understand the environment as a whole. Univariate techniques involve a one-component approach, which becomes difficult to achieve with DOM samples.

Godfred Abotar–Aidoo, Isaac Plange – Improving the Efficiency of Wells Turbines in Wave Energy Harvesting Using Computer Simulations (Martin; Faculty Mentor: Dr. Mohammad Nasim Uddin)
Oscillating Water Columns (OWCs) are among the most promising wave energy converters for harnessing renewable power from ocean waves. These systems use a bi-directional airflow to drive a Wells turbine connected to a generator. However, the turbine’s efficiency is limited by flow separation and stall at high angles of attack.

Megan Huffstickler – How does protein and fat–enriched diet influence axolotl metabolism and growth? (Honors; Faculty Mentor: Dr. Moshe Khurgel)
Previous experiments in Dr. Khurgel’s laboratory demonstrated that axolotls maintain on a standard diet exhibited lower metabolic rates compared to those fed a higher-protein diet. Additionally, axolotls raised in cooler water (10°C) were shown to grow larger than individuals raised at warmer temperatures (20°C).

Ryan Perry, Brock Zorn – Optimization of His–Tagged Protein Purification Protocol and Development of Strep–Tagged Protein Purification Protocol using Fast Protein Liquid Chromatography (Honors)
Our group has been working on purifying enzymes (dehydrogenases) for the research projects advancing knowledge in gut and neurological health. Previous work saw the development of a protocol for purification of a protein (12-alpha hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase) with a Histidine tag on a Fast Protein Liquid Chromatography instrument using Unicorn software.

Kaelyn Ramsey – AI–Driven Sustainability: Examining Consumer Behavior, Ethical Frameworks, Government Practices and Policies toward Smart Cities (TREB; Faculty Mentor: Dr. Sevinj Iskandarova)
The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into sustainable urban practices has emerged as a crucial catalyst for advancing smart city initiatives. This research explores the interplay between consumer attitudes and the adoption of AI technologies for sustainability within urban environments.

Liberty Ammamoo – Numerical Simulation and Analysis of Lid–Driven Cavity Flow and Flow Around a Cylinder (Martin)
This paper explores a computational investigation of two classical fluid dynamics problems-lid driven cavity flow and flow around a cylinder- simulated at varying Reynolds numbers using Ansys Fluent (AF) and OpenFOAM (OF). The primary goal is to reproduce and compare the physical flow behavior observed in both solvers under matched boundary.

Paul Bauer – Reverse Engineering a Molecular Dynamics Simulation Program (Honors; Faculty Mentor: Lorinda L. Cullip)
A rewrite of a legacy molecular dynamics simulation program first referenced by UNC professor Papanikolas in 2007. Topics touched on include UI/UX improvements, assembling code from various large scale MD programs and refining it for my use case.

Sarah Kate Tozier – Leadership in Occupational Therapy: A Qualitative Analysis (Honors; Faculty Mentor: Dr. Leah Washington)
Leadership is increasingly recognized as a crucial skill in healthcare, influencing quality of care, patient safety, staff engagement and organizational outcomes. Within occupational therapy, leadership is essential for guiding colleagues, advancing the profession and promoting sustainable change, yet research on how occupational therapists enact leadership remains limited.

Jory Cardoza – The Coast Guard’s Budget and its Impact on Operational Efficiency (Honors; Faculty Mentor: Dr. Sandy D. Zook)
The United States Coast Guard is constitutionally charged to carry out eleven core missions. The project is going to examine the impact that the Coast Guard’s budget has on its ability to perform those different missions. This is done by using the statistical software program SPSS to analyze the significance.

Gabe Miller – Civis Romanus Sum:  Lord Palmerston and the Don Pacifico Affair (Honors; Faculty Mentor: Dr. Brandon D. Marsh)
This paper evaluates the motivations behind the 1850 British blockade of Athens, dubbed the Don Pacifico Affair. While traditional historical accounts often focus on Foreign Secretary Lord Palmerston’s famous “Civis Romanus sum” speech as a defense of British subjects abroad, this project argues that a single explanation is insufficient.

Brooklyn Williams – Building Healthy Parent–Adolescent Relationships within a Religious Setting (Honors; Faculty Mentor: Dr. Donna H. Hoskins)
Religion has been found to be a protective factor for adolescence consistently in research. During the project, a family life education program was developed and implemented based on the population needs. Specifically, the developmental asset research was used to develop a program for parent and child engagement.

Amelia Corbin – An Investigation into the Correlation between Fear of Negative Evaluation and Class Participation in Bridgewater College Students (Honors; Faculty Mentor: Dr Elizabeth MacDougall)
I will be presenting a thorough plan of my Honors Project as I will not be starting until the Fall Semester 2026. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between fear of negative evaluation and classroom participation among Bridgewater College students.

Alec Carpenter – Muscle activation & testosterone production through use of rest–pause sets compared to traditional weightlifting (TREB; Faculty Mentor: Dr. Robert J. Shute)
Weightlifting is a popular activity that can help individuals maintain muscle mass or improve sports and exercise performance. However, limited research compares rest-pause (RPS) training and traditional weightlifting (TWL) sets with respect to hormonal response and neuromuscular activation.

Ryan Briggman – Abstract Recession Indicators (Honors; Faculty Mentor: Dr. Daniel Finseth)
My poster will be covering my honors project which is a paper based on researching economic indicators that could be warning signs for a recession without the government having to state that the economy is in a recession.

Meklit Worku – Synthesis of α–Ethylidene β–lactones via lactonization/1,3–H transposition of α–vinyl–β–hydroxy acids (Martin)
β-lactones are cyclic esters that can be used to synthesize a variety of medicinal or biologically active compounds. α-ethylidene β-lactones were synthesized through boron-mediated aldolization of 3-butenoic acid followed by DIC/DMAP lactonization. During lactone formation, an unexpected 1,3-hydrogen transposition converted α-vinyl β-hydroxy acid intermediates into conjugated β-lactones.

Elena Williams – Navigating the Intersection of AI and Healthcare: Building Customer Trust Through Ethical Principles and Legislative Frameworks (Honors; Faculty Mentor: Dr. Sevinj Iskandarova)
The recent proliferation of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies has fundamentally transformed numerous sectors, particularly healthcare, by enhancing decision-making, personalizing patient interactions and optimizing operational efficiencies. This research explores the dual aspects of AI in healthcare management: its operational benefits and the ethical considerations surrounding its deployment.

Mackenzie Cauthorn – Mitigating Renewal Risk in Banks: An Analysis of AI Adoption, Customer Loyalty and Macroeconomic Conditions (Honors; Faculty Mentor: Dr. Sevinj Iskandarova)
Renewal risk, the uncertainty surrounding whether customers will continue existing financial relationships such as loans, deposits, credit lines, or insurance products, poses a growing challenge for modern banks because customer retention is critical for revenue stability, cross-selling opportunities and long-term profitability.

Beth Patterson – Don’t Compliment Me: Effects of Positive Evaluation on College Students (Class; Faculty Mentor: Dr. Randall C. Young)
Although positive evaluation is typically assumed to be beneficial, individuals high in Fear of Positive Evaluation often experience praise threateningly. This study examines how situational characteristics of praise interact with personality traits to predict responses to positive evaluation.

Grace Warren – Abstraction, Installation, and the Emphasis of Emotion (Honors; Faculty Mentor: Eric A. Kniss)
For this project, I created an art installation spanning across multiple rooms using several art forms I had little to no experience with. I used acrylic paint to create abstract pieces of work on the walls, created a sculpture in the middle of the room and used lights.

Catherine Amaya-Requeno, Gracy Bustillo, Jeferson Contreras, Andrew Delgado, Daniel Hernandez Montoya, Wendy Lagunas, Ricardo Lopez Reyes, Darien Molina, Dominic Rodriguez and Aracely Santiago Benito – Turning Latino Roots into Leadership Excellence (Advisor Dr. Alma P Ramirez Trujillo)
This poster presentation examines how exposure to leadership initiatives can inspire Latino students to advocate for greater representation, access to resources, and stronger support systems on campus. We emphasize how Latino students’ cultural roots serve as a foundation for developing leadership skills and fostering a strong sense of belonging within the academic community. Key findings incorporate insights gained from participation in the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute (USHLI) in February 2026.

Summer Wallace – Social Emotional Learning for Secondary English Language Learners (Honors; Faculty Mentor: Dr. Grace A. Martin)
This presentation will share an analysis of Social Emotional Learning (SEL) compiled from educational researchers as well as interviews with school personnel. It will discuss the importance of SEL and how to implement it more fully in the classroom, with an emphasis on the English Language Learner (ELL).

Jordan Wise – Stress, Anxiety, Personality Factors, and Coping Strategies of Collegiate Students and Student–Athletes (Honors, faculty research grant; Faculty Mentor: Dr. Nicholas K. Erdman)

Collin Nicholson – A Legal Review on History and Tradition (Honors; Faculty Mentor: Dr. James S. Josefson)
The History and Tradition Standard in the Supreme Court has dramatically shifted how the justices decide fundamental rights cases. Notably, in recent years, a conservative Supreme Court has given more deference to history and tradition in determining cases on gun rights, abortion, and Establishment Clause cases.

Caleb Early – UMM (Ultimate Memory Manager): A Note–Taking App Built From Scratch (Honors; Faculty Mentor: Dr. Eric McGregor)
For my honors project, I’m building UMM, an advanced note-taking application built entirely from scratch. I’m someone who takes many notes and primarily uses OneNote and Notion, but over time I have found myself wanting something faster and more flexible than any note-taking application I could find.

Philipa Effah – Ghana’s Anti–LGBTQ+ Act: A Legal Cross–Examination (Honors; Faculty Mentor: Dr. James S. Josefson)
Most African countries consider same-sex relationships a crime and Ghana is no exception. On February 28, 2024, the Ghanaian parliament unanimously passed the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, which now awaits presidential assent to become law.

Presentation Titles:

• Jory Cardoza, “Duncan v. Kahanamoku: The Zeitgeist of Hawaiian Martial Law”
• Jeferson Contreras, “The Birth of Rap: West Coast Rap’s Development Against All Odds in the 1980s–1990s”
• Grace Elder, “Western United States Marriage Advertisements: Breaking Gender Barriers in the 1870s”
• Shelby Herrold, “‘For the Benefit and Enjoyment of the People’: America’s Relationship with Yellowstone in the Late 19th Century”
• Dominic Lancey, “The Lewis and Clark Expedition: Success or Failure for American Trade”
• Gabe Miller, “‘There Will I Also Be’: John Neal’s Forgotten Perspective on American Indians”

Session Description:
Students in HIST 423 examine the evolving meaning of the American West through interdisciplinary case studies spanning exploration narratives, legal history, cultural production, and environmental policy. From Lewis and Clark and 19th–century literary voices to the institutionalization of Yellowstone and the rise of West Coast hip hop, the panel explores how the “Frontier” has been constructed and contested. Emphasizing intersections of race, gender, and power, the session highlights the West as both a site of national mythology and a space of resistance and redefinition.

A presentation on the development of Global Eagles, a Special Collections exhibit celebrating Bridgewater College’s international students past and present. Gardner discusses best practices for interpreting cultural histories and exhibit design, Kochall explains the exhibit’s research and inspiration, and Hollins highlights efforts to amplify the voices of today’s international students.

Dr. Kenneth Overway,  “Fluorescence Detection of Polyphenols in Wine”
Polyphenols are naturally occurring compounds in wine that contribute to flavor, color and potential health benefits. This research examines the use of fluorescence spectroscopy to detect and measure polyphenols in wine samples. The study evaluates how fluorescence techniques can improve the identification and quantification of complex polyphenol mixtures.

Dr. Maria Paz Esguerra, & Allie Jansen “Merchants, Neighbors, and Mulberry Street: Mapping Baltimore’s Chinese Enclave in the Early 20th Century”
This research examines the development of Baltimore’s early Chinese community through spatial and historical analysis. By mapping residences, businesses and social institutions, the project explores how Chinese immigrants established economic networks and community identity while navigating racial barriers in the early twentieth century.

Dr. Nuraddeen Nuhu, “Entrepreneurship in Poverty: How Weekly Market Ecosystems Enable Livelihood Ventures in Resource–Constrained Communities”
This presentation explores how informal weekly markets function as economic ecosystems that support small-scale entrepreneurship in resource-constrained communities. Through field observation and analysis, the study highlights how these markets enable innovation, income generation and resilience among individuals operating outside formal economic structures.

Dr. Kevin Pallister, winner of the 2025 Faculty Scholarship Award, “The Role of Elections in Guatemala’s Democratic Erosion”
This paper explores the role that elections have played in Guatemala’s process of democratic erosion since 2015. I evaluate the declining integrity of recent Guatemalan elections and show how Guatemala’s 2023 election upset illustrates the mechanisms by which democratic backsliding can be halted.

Dr. Kenneth Overway,  “Fluorescence Detection of Polyphenols in Wine”
Polyphenols are naturally occurring compounds in wine that contribute to flavor, color and potential health benefits. This research examines the use of fluorescence spectroscopy to detect and measure polyphenols in wine samples. The study evaluates how fluorescence techniques can improve the identification and quantification of complex polyphenol mixtures.

Dr. Maria Paz Esguerra, & Allie Jansen “Merchants, Neighbors, and Mulberry Street: Mapping Baltimore’s Chinese Enclave in the Early 20th Century”
This research examines the development of Baltimore’s early Chinese community through spatial and historical analysis. By mapping residences, businesses and social institutions, the project explores how Chinese immigrants established economic networks and community identity while navigating racial barriers in the early twentieth century.

Dr. Nuraddeen Nuhu, “Entrepreneurship in Poverty: How Weekly Market Ecosystems Enable Livelihood Ventures in Resource–Constrained Communities”
This presentation explores how informal weekly markets function as economic ecosystems that support small-scale entrepreneurship in resource-constrained communities. Through field observation and analysis, the study highlights how these markets enable innovation, income generation and resilience among individuals operating outside formal economic structures.

Dr. Kevin Pallister, winner of the 2025 Faculty Scholarship Award, “The Role of Elections in Guatemala’s Democratic Erosion”
This paper explores the role that elections have played in Guatemala’s process of democratic erosion since 2015. I evaluate the declining integrity of recent Guatemalan elections and show how Guatemala’s 2023 election upset illustrates the mechanisms by which democratic backsliding can be halted.

Kolliding Scopes The senior art exhibitions open at various locations around campus including the Perdue Gallery in the FLC.
Note: The oral presentation from Thesis students will occur starting at 5pm on Wednesday, April 15 in Bowman 101 The students who are participating this year are as follows:

Kailyn Atchison
Lauren Barden
Sebastian Bandell
Cierra Cannon
Joshua Christian
Rosie Clark
Brook Conwell
Tess Dean
Maria Gavriilidou
Caroline Green
Haley Gsell
Brand Hagerman
June Holm
Lillian Hayden
Lauren Henderson
Isaiah Huff
Andrew Lam
Stephen Layton
Gontse Motsheko
Tyler Ramos
Amir Suboh
Grace Warren
Charlotte Weaver