Category: Spring 2018

Scholar Lunch

Come to L203 at noon. If you’re one of the first to arrive, you can have free pizza. The meal’s entertainment consists of five minute talks by representatives from majors and minors across campus. Speakers will take a single idea they learned from their major or minor coursework, explain it, explain why it’s useful or beautiful, and explain why they personally love it. Scheduled speakers:

  • Annie Anderson, Music
  • Michael Buss, Communication
  • Jessica Garner, Accounting
  • Kelsey Hansen, Psychology
  • Bri Jury, Spanish
  • Stephen Kaelin, History
  • Gabe Piechowicz, Christian Ministry
  • Laurie Salness, English

L203

Noon – 1 PM

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Oral History Film Festival

The World History class has been “capturing stories,” preserving history for the future. Students have either written or filmed Oral Histories of migrants and veterans.  This film festival presents the video documentaries. Hear these eye witness stories from Samoa, Hawaii, Nigeria, Iraq, Vietnam, etc. Contributors include:

  • Beth Barker
  • Caitlin Bowen
  • Alaina Cloer
  • Tanner Dean
  • Ciera Farias
  • Kelsie M. Hellwege
  • Ariana Henton
  • Dylan Jeffryes
  • Stephen Kaelin
  • Taylorann Matz
  • Carly Sand
  • Leah Sheets
  • Sera Tyrell
  • Jordan Weinkauf
  • Beth Willats

Ross Evans Chapel

9:30 AM – Noon

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Antonio Alcala, Kinkade Barreiro, Dre Davids, Josh Goins, Ereanna Higbee & Mikaila Riddle

Roundtable on Mexico

A conversation about the main issues in Mexican life, including jobs and the economy, crime and security, education and poverty, and corruption and violence, through the prism of the election on July 1, 2018.

HIST 440, Latin American Civilization

Ron Palmer

P103

1 – 2 PM

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Caeli Barnhart, Selina Chacon & Mikaila Riddle

CAPSIM Competition

Mission Statement

“Reliable products for low technology customers: Our brands offer value. Our stakeholders are bondholders, stockholders, customers and management.”

In order to make our company unique, we will produce reliability through our products that focus on satisfying our customer’s needs.

BUS 499, Business Strategy & Policy

Dave Quirk

L204

10 AM – Noon

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Caeli Barnhart & Courtney Robertson

Learning from Unexpected

This presentation describes how common unexpected situations can occur while traveling in another country. Although it is difficult to fully prepare for the unexpected, this presentation will share a series of steps to take while preparing for travel in order to reduce unplanned obstacles, as well as helpful key strategies to have when placed in an unexpected event. Alongside the preparation steps and useful strategies, this presentation will highlight two to three unexpected events within the presenters study abroad trip, that support the necessity for preparation and strategies. The events and key points made within the presentation will reveal how the unexpected can expectedly shape an individual’s trip, their problem solving skills, and their ability to use such skills in future career and/or life pathways.

GLST 295, Study Abroad

Lauren Riley

Banquet Room, Poster #6

1 – 3 PM

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Ryan Bates

7 Key Characteristics of Succesful Church Plants

The purpose of this paper is to provide church planters with a tool to help them do better with what they feel called to do. Close to one-third of church plants don’t make it to year 5, and the majority that do remain small and struggling, and this paper is to help church plants to continue to grow and flourish. This paper identifies seven key areas that are essential for church success, and goes into detail on how new plants can utilize them. The seven key areas are; Community Driven, Teamwork and Togetherness, Strong Vision, the Importance and Reality of the Gospel, an Evangelical Focus, Proper Marketing, and Strong Leadership. This paper goes in depth on how these seven characteristics are essential for today’s church planter, and looks at multiple different models of ministry that use these characteristics successfully.

CM 499, Capstone

Terry O’Casey

P103

11:30 AM – Noon

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Nathan Blaney

Enhancing Computing with Biologically Inspired Design

Computers as an integral part of the modern world are continuously being improved upon, and yet there is still a lot of space for advancement. With the impending end of Moore’s Law and the limits to how small components can be made, new computer designs and engineering models are needed to make further progress.

One area of inspiration that researchers and engineers have been turning to is that of the biological world. Computer architecture and design that takes a page from the structure of neurons and how they work in the brain promises great improvements in areas such as efficiency and parallel computation.

This process however of creating a biologically inspired computer is one that has required large amounts of research and study, as the vast differences between binary-based computers and biological neurons makes a fusion of the two paradigms very difficult.

This presentation will explore these topics and examine how these problems are being solved with the use of clever engineering and novel technologies.

BIOL 499, Capstone

Paul Allee

P003

1:00 – 1:30 PM

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Conner Borigo, Anthony Galindo, Chantel Hall, Ruth Meeker, De’Onte Menefee, & Luiz Munoz

NCU’s Famous Missionary: Finding a biography in the Kellenberger Archives

The History of Christianity II class has been studying the work and impact of missionaries across the globe.  Librarian Steve Silver helped them uncover the life of NCU’s most famous graduate, E. R. Moon by giving access to the NCU archives and the ‘Congo Collection’ of Kellenberger Library. The missionary, E.R.Moon, served in Congo (1908-1923) where he planted many churches and translated the Bible into the local Bantu dialect. With the financial support of Oregon churches, he transported 1200 boxes of pieces which he rebuilt into a boat in Congo and dubbed the “Oregon.” Upon return from Africa, he spent many years as a professor in College of Mission in Indianapolis and College of Religion in Butler University and six more years in Jamaica. He retired in Springfield giving over a thousand talks on life and ministry in the Congo before his death in 1962.  

The History of Christianity students have prepared a PowerPoint using pictures from the archives and authentic artifacts from the Congo to share this NCU graduate’s life in ministry.  Conner Borigo will share on Moon’s family, his childhood, academic preparation, call to missions and the ministry and help of his wife Bessie. Anthony Galindo will give us the bigger picture of the geography and political history of the Congo in this era as it suffered from and then emerged from the brutal Belgian colonialization. Ruth Meeker will explain the mechanics and mission of the boat “Oregon” which provided transport on the Congo River for locals and missionaries alike.  Chantel Hall uses Moon’s book on Congo to describe Congolese dietary customs, community life, marriage, roles, and native religion. Luiz Munoz explores the spiritual impact of Moon’s ministry. De’Onte Menefee concludes the presentation by telling why Moon left Africa and how he finished strong by training others for missions and going himself again to Jamaica.

Each portion of the PowerPoint is illustrated by quotes and pictures of Moon from the NCU Kellenberger archives.  The presentation will also include a display of articles such as a beheading knife, chief’s throne, neck rings worn by chief’s wives, massive metal jewelry to display wealth, weapons, etc.  held by the NCU museum collection.

HIST 332, History of Christianity II

Kathryn Hain

P103

2 – 3 PM

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Danielle Buhler & Savanna Lassen

Snack Time

Our research question is “How does nutrition impact student achievement in the classroom?” Research shows that students perform better when they have an adequate amount of food. Our bodies and brains need the energy that food provides to power our learning. The types of foods we feed our students is also important. We need healthy snacks which are full of vitamins, nutrients, and good proteins. Foods that aren’t full of sugar are a good place to start. School breakfast programs have provided students with fuel to learn and behave well. Schools that have implemented breakfast programs have seen a jump in test scores. Students should be given the opportunity to eat healthy snacks in the classroom to power their learning as well.

EDUC 321, Classroom Relations & Management

Brian Kaelin

Banquet Room, Poster #1

10 AM – Noon

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Michael Buss

Photography and Beyond: The Vitality of Communicating Well in Client Based Photography and Videography Relationships.

More than ever, the world prefers visual and oral means of communication over written communication. As a result of technology, specifically smart phones, humans have seen a decrease in empathy and connection with one another, making interpersonal relational skills and increasingly valuable trait. Advances in digital photography technology have enabled anyone and everyone to have access to professional camera equipment and start a photography business. Anyone can master the art of exposing a photo, composing a shot, and perfecting an edit, but not everyone has the social and communicative skills to maximize the entire experience. After meeting with local experts, studying the interpersonal communication scholarship, and having personal experience at both of my internships, I have borrowed credibility and had experiences that have highlighted the vitality of communicating well for client photo and video based work.

COMM 499, Capstone

Doyle Srader

P003

2:00 – 2:30 PM

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Ruben Carmona

The Relation Between Children Raised in Foster Care and Increased Difficulties in Adulthood

Children who grow up in the foster care system typically face many adverse experiences. These adverse experiences may create complications for these children as they become young adults. In particular, growing up in the foster care system may predict an increased risk for developing mental health issues and substantial insecurity as they approach adulthood. This presentation will review four foster care research themes relating to mental health challenges and instability in young adulthood. First, placement instability in foster care may increase the chances of being diagnosed with a mental health disorder. Next, substance abuse in children within foster care may exacerbate the risk of their developing Substance Use Disorder. Additionally, children in foster care and older adolescents aging out of foster care, may experience homelessness at an increased rate compared to children who were not in foster care. Lastly, children in foster care may be at higher risk for developing comorbid mental health disorders in addition to their initial mental health diagnosis. Researchers have found that children placed in foster care often have difficulty developing relationships with their foster parents, teachers, and peers from school, due to the likelihood of their being frequently moved to different home placements. Researchers have also reported that children in foster care are more likely to use illegal drugs when compared to children who have not been in the foster care system. Future directions for research will also be discussed in the presentation, including the need to explore drug prevention programs for children in foster care and placement stability.

PSY 499, Capstone

Mary Ann Winter-Messiers

SPS 100

10 – 10:30 AM

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Riley Charlish, Bradley Harp & Kenzie Weston

Capsim Simulation

Mission Statement:

As a company we strive for the competitive advantage over our competition. We keep R&D, production and material costs to a minimum, which helps us to keep our prices at the best value. Our reputation is built on the devotion we have to help create exceptionally low-cost products for you, our customers.

Company Strategy: Broad Cost Leader

As a team we chose this to be the best strategy to follow as a guideline due to keeping costs low for our customers but not losing out on producing intermediate lines of products. Being in-between both high and low tech gives up the competitive advantage over other companies because we save costs in many areas including R&D, production and employee costs.  

BUS 499, Business Strategy & Policy

Dave Quirk

L204

10 AM – Noon

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Jenna Christenson & Savanna Lassen

Italy Study Abroad

Immersing yourself in a different culture helps you to grow in your knowledge of the world and experience the histories of people around the world. By visiting sites like the Duomo and the Duomo Museum in Florence, Italy, we were able to understand the connection between the people who helped to design some of the most well-known artifacts and places of the city. By going to churches in different countries you are able to notice the similarities and differences in worship and sermons. Visiting sites like the Mamertine Prison, where St. Paul was held in Rome, connects the history of the Bible to or understanding of Christianity today. Time management skills and understanding how to read a map helps prepare you to navigate in a different environment while you are away from home.

GLST 295, Study Abroad

Lauren Riley

Banquet Room, Poster #7

1 – 3 PM

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Angela Cusano & Katy Noel

Conflict and Listening

This study aims to determine if there is a notable correlation between listening styles, as originally researched by Bodie, Worthington, and Gearhart (2013) and conflict behavior strategies, as researched by Putnam and Wilson (1982). Bodie et al. (2013) explained that the primary purpose of listening is to connect with others and their emotions in attempt to understand them better. Therefore, it is valuable to understand the correlation between listening and conflict, as listening may be used as a powerful tool when handling conflict. We originally expected that relational listeners would be solution-oriented or non-confrontational, analytical listeners would be solution-oriented, critical listeners would be solution-oriented, and task oriented listeners would be control-oriented. We surveyed twenty-eight people through the medium of Google Forms, employing the Listening Styles Profile-Revised Instrument (LSP-R) and Organizational Communication Conflict Instrument (OCCI) in order to test the correlation between the two phenomena. Due to a limited number of participants, we were unable to draw statistically significant results through a Chi-Square. Despite statistical insignificance, the majority of participants, regardless of listening style, self-identified as solution-oriented in conflict. This study would benefit from future research with a larger number of participants.

Keywords: conflict behavior, listening styles, OCCI, LSP-R

COMM 413, Advanced Interpersonal Communication

Doyle Srader

Banquet Room, Poster #1

1 – 3 PM

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Mitchell Davis & Alec Duncan

The Church & Youth Identity Formation

At the core of any human is their self-identity. The process of identity formation happens primarily during one’s youth. The culture of our world today is damaging for youth identity formation. Social Media and the entertainment industry promote unhealthy lifestyles and cause youth to form their identities around unhealthy things. Our hope with this study is to give churches a look into what they can do to help students form their identities around God instead of the world.  First research was done in the area of identity formation, exploring different theories on how identity is formed in the human mind. Next, we studied adolescent culture in the past and present day. After identifying key influences on identity formation, we looked at how the church can answer the questions running around the minds of young students struggling to find their identity. Our main conclusions are that the Church needs to be a place where students can find their purpose in Christ, unconditional love, and relationships with older believers who can mentor them.

CM 499, Capstone

Terry O’Casey

P103

11 – 11:30 AM

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Diego Delaplane

The Art of Creative Writing

This capstone presentation is an overview of the steps it takes to write creative fiction. The presenter will present on the novel that he wrote and the process behind writing the novel. The presenter will also share about what inspired him to write, the themes of his novel, and how creative writing can influence the world around us.

ENG 499, Capstone

James Watson

P103

10:30 – 11 AM

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Fern Delgadillo & Nikole Duncan

Family: Exploring the Link Between Child and Parent Communication

This study explores the connection between communication apprehension and communication standards between children and their parents. We have collected data from twenty-two participants through a survey asking questions related to their individual relationship with their parents and family members. The survey measures the strength of their communication relationship. This paper further explores the effects of healthy communication amongst children and their parents. It discusses just how detrimental these effects can be for an individual’s identity and behavior as they transition into adulthood.

COMM 413, Advanced Interpersonal Communication

Doyle Srader

Banquet Room, Poster #2

1 – 3 PM

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Jacque Donner & Chantal Hall

What Classroom Arrangements work best for different Teaching Styles

Room arrangements can make or break how your classroom management goes. In our Ace day presentation, we will be talking about what room set ups fit with certain teaching methods.  We will have a teaching method and then some room set ups for that method . With each room set up, there will be a list of pros and cons. This will be our presentation.

EDUC 321, Classroom Relations & Management

Brian Kaelin

Banquet Room, Poster #2

10 AM – Noon

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Nikole Duncan

The Act of Listening as a Bridge to Solving Conflict

This study explores three different perspectives on the same dispute and the influence that active listening has on developing an understanding of all sides. Smith (2017) mentions that in order to develop a voice one must first develop an ear; therefore, I will be analyzing Morgan McKinney, Dr. Hain, and Halona Jackson’s viewpoints with a clear vision. After hearing all views I will reenact the positions of all three parties on Ace day through their own perceptions so that everyone can be heard and hopefully appreciated. The ultimate goal is to have the gap between three different perceptions that has led to misunderstanding filled. Smith teaches that we might not always like what we see or what is said, but in order to change it we must first see as well as hear it clearly.

COMM 499, Capstone

Doyle Srader

P003

10:30 – 11 AM

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Mackenzie Galick

Listening Styles and Receiver Apprehension

This study explores participant’s results on the Listening Style Profile and Receiver Apprehension score in an attempt to discover if there is a correlation between a participant’s listening style and the degree to which they are an anxious listener. 49 individuals participated in our survey and were categorized into listening styles based on how they attend to and process information in a conversational setting. They were also scored based on their fear of misinterpreting or inadequately processing messages sent by others.

COMM 413, Advanced Interpersonal Communication

Doyle Srader

Banquet Room, Poster #3

1 – 3 PM

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Cassidy Galindo & Taylor Irons

Parent – Teacher Communication

Parent teacher relationships is a growing conversation within the education world. Recently, many studies have been done that show the importance of positive parent teacher relationships. These relationship have been found to effect students’ academic performance, classroom behavior, and class participation. The research question at hand is “how does communication between parents and teachers effect student performance?” This study will look at supporting research, pros and cons of communication, and strategies for better classroom communication. The study that is included in this presentation focused on 6th – 9th grade classrooms in public schools within the United States. Overall, the purpose of the presentation is to show the significance of positive parent teacher relationships.

EDUC 321, Classroom Relations & Management

Brian Kaelin

Banquet Room, Poster #3

10 AM – Noon

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Kelsey Hansen

The Emotional Impact of Cancer in Adults: Diagnosis to Post-Treatment Outcomes

Cancer has affected the lives of countless Americans for many decades and continues today to substantially impact individuals and their loved ones. In addition to the physical pain that one may experience while undergoing cancer treatment, there may also be emotional pain. The intervention of chemotherapy may result in emotional, mental, and cognitive side effects in adults undergoing treatment, as well as those who are living post-treatment. This presentation will review four research themes regarding the potential emotional, mental, and cognitive side effects of chemotherapy. These themes are: the roles of a cancer diagnosis in mental health, coping throughout treatment and survivorship, emotional and psychological distress in mental health, and quality of life in post-treatment. Researchers have reported that a cancer diagnosis may be traumatic and may result in depression, anxiety, and fear. They have further noted the importance for patients of learning various methods of coping with this diagnosis throughout their cancer journey. Emotional and psychological distresses may be substantial factors in the life of a cancer patient and may result from seeing a cancer diagnosis as life-threatening. This may result in individuals who have experienced a cancer diagnosis and treatment needing frequent social support in order to develop a satisfactory quality of life. Further, future directions for research are discussed in this presentation, including the need for providing participants with information regarding resources during their participation in research studies.

PSY 499, Capstone

Mary Ann Winter-Messiers

SPS 100

10:30 – 11 AM

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Brighton Hebisen

Self-Care Practices in Response to Compassion Fatigue in Mental Health Professionals

Mental health professionals invest substantial time, energy, and resources in training and working hard to support others, but may have little to no support for themselves and may not practice regular self-care. As a result, compassion fatigue and burnout are prevalent in the mental health field. Mental health professionals who disregard the practice of self-care may experience increased compassion fatigue and burnout. This presentation will review four research themes regarding compassion fatigue and burnout in this professional population. These themes are: first, the various predictors of compassion fatigue and burnout among mental health professionals; second, the impact of service delivery location; third, self-care practices that may mitigate compassion fatigue; and finally, the ways in which compassion satisfaction may balance compassion fatigue. Researchers have found that the intense nature of mental health work requires these professionals to take part in self-care in order to lessen the risk of burnout and compassion fatigue. Individuals with more years in the field were found to be at higher risk for developing compassion fatigue or burnout. Further, researchers have reported that conducting therapy in private practice may decrease compassion fatigue in comparison to practice within the public agency. Those professionals who experienced greater compassion satisfaction from their work, decreased their risk of compassion fatigue, as well. Future directions are explored, including the need to examine gender differences, client age, and programs that can be implemented to prepare professionals for the intensity and potential risks of their work.

PSY 499, Capstone

Mary Ann Winter-Messiers

SPS 100

11 – 11:30 AM

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Zoe Herron & Jordan Norris

Connections Between General Communication Competence and Intercultural Willingness to Communicate

With little previous research conducted on the specific links between a person’s general communication competence and their actual willingness to communicate interculturally, we have chosen to explore possible connections between the two in our research. Hypothesizing that those who are more competent in their communication would be more willing to engage in intercultural communication, we surveyed participants on each instrument (Communication Competence Scale and Intercultural Willingness to Communicate) and then examined and evaluated any correlations between the results.

COMM 413, Advanced Interpersonal Communication

Doyle Srader

Banquet Room, Poster #4

1 – 3 PM

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Britnee Joaquin & Bri Jury

The Impact of Positive Teacher-Student Relationships

The sentiment, “Students don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care”, which has been attributed to both Theodore Roosevelt and John C. Maxwell, inspired the research in this presentation to examine the effect of positive teacher-student relationships on students in the classroom, and the practical strategies for building these connections. Addressing the research question, “How do positive teacher-student relationships impact classroom management?”, data shows that these relationships play a significant role in improving academic performance, reducing behavioral problems, and supporting at-risk students. According to studies, students have shown greater cooperation and motivation in the classroom when they know their teacher understands, trusts, and cares about them. Strategies to build these positive relationships with students include designing lessons with student interest in mind, introducing a year-long activity called “Letter to the Teacher”, giving students a voice through student surveys, and implementing check-ins during the school day.

EDUC 321, Classroom Relations & Management

Brian Kaelin

Banquet Room, Poster #4

10 AM – Noon

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Myranda Johnson & Keri Schwarz

Effective Classroom Arrangements

Within every classroom there is a science behind the way that each classroom is arranged. Certain classrooms are arranged according to size of classroom, amount of students, or the effectiveness to learn in certain arrangements. Each arrangement will have its own strengths and weaknesses and our research will help find more effective ways to benefit students in the classroom based on the classroom arrangement.

EDUC 321, Classroom Relations & Management

Brian Kaelin

Banquet Room, Poster #5

10 AM – Noon

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Sammy Johnson

Sammy Johnson

Italy Study Abroad

Italy can not be wrapped up into one presentation done by one senior education major but we can start to tackle a single part of the Italian culiture. The mamertime prison is something that is profoundly important for the Christian culture and the Italian culture and being a part of both of those cultures personally I think there’s no better thing to present on.

GLST 295, Study Abroad

Lauren Riley

Banquet Room, Poster #8

1 – 3 PM

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Allison Keeney

Grammar Instruction in High School

In many of today’s high schools, grammar instruction is not a part of the English Language Arts curriculum. Much of the focus is placed on expanding reading and writing skills in preparation for college, rather than readdressing or expanding grammar skills. The main reason for this focus is that school authorities believe that most students should have learned about grammar while in elementary school or possibly middle school. Regardless of what the previous model of the public education system looks like, is grammar instruction at the high school level conducive for high school and college success? If it is, then there should be no question on whether it should be implemented at the high school level or not. If it is not, then we may keep to our old ways. This question can be answered by looking at what research says about grammar instruction and adolescent learning, some case studies, two grammar instruction surveys, and a few interviews with students and teachers.

Honors Thesis

James Watson

P103

10 AM – Noon

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Phoenix Lacque & Aaron McFadden

Business Capstone Presentation

Premium products for mainstream customers: Our brands withstand the test of time. Our stakeholders are customers, stockholders, management and employees.

Our company strives to keep our cot low enough that they are desirable for customers, while keeping the products durable enough to withstand the constant use. We will continue to make products in the low and high tech market for sensors, in order to meet the demands of the most people possible.

BUS 499, Business Strategy & Policy

Dave Quirk

L204

10 AM – Noon

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Michael Loomis

Business Capstone Presentation

Premium products for mainstream customers: Our brands withstand the test of time. Our stakeholders are customers, stockholders, management and employees. We are going to make premium products for both the high and low tech markets. We will continue to provide the best quality items and will strive to keep our customers happy.

BUS 499, Business Strategy & Policy

Dave Quirk

L204

10 AM – Noon

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E Caireen T Lounsbury

Why Should You Use CPS in Your Classroom?

Collaborative Problem Solving model with developed at Massachusetts General Hospital under the direction Dr. Stuart Eblon and Dr. Ross Greene and is the basis of the 1998 book the The Explosive Child: A New Approach for Understanding and Parenting Easily Frustrated, Chronically Inflexible Children. An entire generation of parents and mental health therapists have used the CPS Method for children with developmental and mental health challenges including Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and Oppositional Defiance Disorder and other disorders in The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. The method relies on behavioral modification and increased communication to solve problems instead of relying solely on pharmaceuticals which can cause adverse side effects, withdrawal symptoms, stunt growth, and inhibit neuropathways from being formed. CPS creates neuropathways that help a person to react in an appropriate manner when in crisis. The CPS Model looks at lagging skills and finds innovative ways to help the students to develop those skills Collaboratively

In 2008, Dr. Ross Greene wrote the book Lost at School: Why Our Kids with Behavioral Challenges are Falling Through the Cracks and How We Can Help Them. A program for educators to use the CPS Model. Greene also renamed his side of the model Collaborative and Proactive Solutions and started the Non-Profit Lives in the Balance with the website livesinthebalance.org due to copywrite laws. In 2016, Dr. Ross Greene wrote the follow up book; Lost and Found: Helping Behaviorally Challenging Students. Both programs can be used together and I refer to both as CPS for simplicity.

This presentation is about the implementation of the CPS Model with Ashland School District. I have compared the statistics with our local Springfield School District. I’ve analyzed the both the academic and behavioral responses to the inclusion of the CPS Model in their middle schools.

EDUC 321, Classroom Relations & Management

Brian Kaelin

Banquet Room, Poster #10

10 AM – Noon

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Spencer Mattox

The Quality of the Mentor-Mentee Relationship and Its Impact on Youth

For decades, US communities have dealt with the issues of drugs, violence, and substance abuse. Countless children in these communities grow up without any positive adult figures to protect and support them in choosing appropriate behaviors and discouraging them from engaging in criminal activity. Whether at-risk youth are able to envision a positive future may be determined by the quality of the mentor-mentee relationship. This presentation will review four themes in which researchers explore the impact of the mentor-mentee relationship in building a positive future for at-risk youth. First, the duration of the mentor-mentee relationship is a key element in positively or negatively impacting the at-risk youth’s life. Second, the characteristics the mentor possesses may enable his or her mentee to achieve the mentee’s goals. Third, increased ethnic diversity in the mentor community may benefit the mentor and the mentee. Finally, the role the informal mentor plays in the life of his or her mentee is vital. Researchers have found that, it is essential for mentors to possess positive attributes in order to establish trust with their mentees. This, in turn, will augment the mentees’ self-esteem. Researchers noted that when the mentor and mentee spend time together, positive results are observed in the behaviors of the mentee. Future directions for research will also be discussed in the presentation, including the need to conduct studies in communities heavily populated with at-risk youth.

PSY 499, Capstone

Mary Ann Winter-Messiers

SPS 100

11:30 AM – Noon

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Joshua McCluskey

CRISPR

Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats, Crispr for short is a dna sequence that can be used by the cas9 system of rna guided nucleases that effectively cleaves the section of dna containing a specific genome to repair or alter that specified genome. The crispr system is an adaptive immune system that is used and regulated by microbes and cells to defend against foreign substances and viruses by recognizing and eliminating the specific dna sequence associated with that virus. Most crispr systems contain 20-24 regularly spaced palindromic bases separated by spacers. The crispr cassettes are found in almost every archeon and almost half of bacteria studied. This provides a wide range of uses for the cas9 system and adds to the versatility of the system. We can use this system to replicate and code for specific genomes in animals and further understand how their traits are coded and replicated, we can create complex models for human inherited diseases or cancers, it can also be used to pinpoint the cause for underlying genetic processes by genome wide screening of the dna in any human cell. The origin of crispr however is the most intriguing aspect of the system. Being a biological system that was discovered and not a human engineered system, the origin is not entirely clear.

BIOL 200, General Biology

Paul Allee

P003

1:30 – 2:00 PM

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Joshua McCluskey

Applied Calculus in Medicine

Medicine utilizes calculus in many ways, through the use of derivatives we can optimize uses of material as well as calculate the effect of a surgery. angioplasty uses calculus to calculate the effect of widening an artery to increase blood flow. Calculus lets us know definitively to what extent the blood flow will increase. we can also use calculus in a crime scene. determining the time of death.

MATH 251, Calculus I

Connie Wilmarth

Banquet Room, Poster #8

10 AM – Noon

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Jonathan Messiers

A Bridge to Space: The Mechanics and Design Considerations for a Space Elevator

Achieving orbit is currently an extremely expensive and resource-heavy venture. Current rockets cost anywhere from $10,000 to $20,000 to lift a single kilogram of payload to low earth orbit. A space elevator may be able to lift a kilogram to orbit for as little as $200. A space elevator is a cable anchored at the equator that extends into space past geostationary orbit, using the centrifugal force of Earth’s rotation to hold itself upright under tension. Such a cable may be constructed using materials with extremely high strength-to-weight ratios. The overall design of a space elevator consists of the cable itself, a counterweight to suspend the cable via centrifugal force, climbers to deliver payload to and from orbit, and a base station anchoring the cable to the Earth somewhere along the equator. Craft released from the space elevator at a height of 53,000 kilometers would be at escape velocity, allowing them to reach other celestial bodies without the thousands of tons of fuel and stages conventional rockets require for the same velocity. Challenges faced include weather conditions within the atmosphere, the effects of solar radiation on the cable, collisions with orbital debris, cable oscillations, research and development costs, and political complications.

MATH 499, Capstone

Brian Carrigan

SPS 100

2:30 – 3 PM

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Kayla Miller

The Roman Roads Became The Classroom

Through studying abroad, I gained a vast amount of knowledge that can be applied academically, spiritually, and culturally. I feel that the church history class, art history class, and a ministry named “Il Soggiorno” that I volunteered are the three things taught me the most. The church history class taught me a more in depth history of the early church and expanded by Biblical knowledge. This was beneficial to learn about in Rome because many of the sights/history we were studying are places that can still be visited today. My art history class was an onsite class that visited multiple churches around Rome. The class focused heavily on examining the iconography and design of churches. This new academic knowledge allowed me to have a greater appreciation for the all of the churches I visited. Lastly, during my time at Il Soggiorno I was working with Iraq/Afghan men. I learned much more about the refugee crisis that is taking place around the world, specifically in Rome, and also about the Middle Eastern culture. This knowledge grew my cultural understanding to better help me serve the Kingdom. All of these experiences taught me many lessons, and further advanced my knowledge that I am now able to apply in the classroom, ministry and day to day life.

GLST 295, Study Abroad

Lauren Riley

P003

11:30 – Noon

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Kayla Miller & Abby Spencer

Individualism/Collectivism and The Willingness To Communicate Inter-culturally

We conducted a study to examine people’s willingness to communicate inter-culturally among individualistic versus collectivist cultures. We wondered if people were more likely to communicate inter-culturally in an individualist culture or a collectivist culture. Accordingly, we predicted the outcome to be that collectivist cultures will be less likely to communicate inter-culturally. Fourteen people participated in two surveys that tested the relationship between intercultural willingness to communicate and individualism or collectivism. The Auckland Individualism and Collectivism Scale (AICS), and the Intercultural Willingness to Communicate scale were the two survey’s they were presented. In the Intercultural Willingness to Communicate, participants were given twelve situations in which a person might choose to communicate or not communicate, and were asked to indicate the percentage of times he/she would choose to do so. In the AICS, 30 statements were listed to measure where he/she lies on the individualist or collectivist spectrum. Participants had the option to choose from never, rarely, sometimes, usually, often, or always when filling out the survey. The study found a .39(39%) correlation between the two instruments. This study did not produce a high enough percentage to confirm our hypothesis to be true.

COMM 413, Advanced Interpersonal Communication

Doyle Srader

Banquet Room, Poster #5

1 – 3 PM

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Kayla Miller & Courtney Robertson

Changing The World One Project At A Time

This presentation serves to answer the research question of, “How does Project Based Learning (PBL) positively influence social and academic development in adolescent aged students?. While answering this question, we will define Project Based Learning, discuss how it differentiates between a traditional classroom, and address the research behind how Project Based Learning increases social and academic growth for students. The methods used for this study were examination of two main studies on Project-Based Learning in Mathematics Education conducted by Homes (2016), and a recent study from Erik Rahman at al. (2017), that examined the levels of problem solving skills in students that were in a traditional classroom versus a PBL classroom. The finding of this research demonstrated that Project Based Learning strengthens a students’ organization skill, communication skill, and problem-solving skill up to 75% higher than students from traditional classrooms because of the amount of planning and collaboration they have during Project Based Learning. Overall, the purpose of this presentation serves to provide reasoning for the importance of having Project Based Learning in the classroom. The limitations of this study were that the presenters did not have the opportunity to test the implementation and effects of Project Based Learning in their own classroom.

EDUC 321, Classroom Relations & Management

Brian Kaelin

Banquet Room, Poster #11

10 AM – Noon

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Gabrielle Morales

Dickens, the Tube, and Mac & Cheese in a Can: Abroad in London

“Sir, when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford.” –Samuel Johnson

The English culture and history is so rich; one cannot help but grow fond of this lovely city. In this presentation, there will be discussion on the education system in London, including lectures, assignments, and grading. More importantly, there we will explore literary England, including but not limited to the blue plaques, C.S. Lewis’ place of worship, Shakespeare’s birthplace and grave, and the Dickens museum. I will also go into the major cultural differences, such as living arrangements and food. My own personal development “whilst” abroad in London will also be discussed.

GLST 295, Study Abroad

Lauren Riley

P003

11 – 11:30 AM

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Gabrielle Morales

‘I’m Tired of Not Being Home’: A Rhetorical Fantasy-Theme Analysis of Huerta’s Speech on PTSD

It is common knowledge that many veterans hold symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD); however, as active soldiers, most neglect to acknowledge the early symptoms.  Chaplain Carlos Huerta (2012) explores this in his speech. While the speech may read as an autobiography or personal account of his experiences battling with PTSD, the artifact embodies the experiences of all military members who struggle with the condition.  When Ernest Bormann’s fantasy-theme criticism is applied to analyze Huerta’s speech, it is made clear that Huerta is creating a shared worldview of soldiers, both past and present, who are in constant battle with PTSD both on and off the physical war battlefield.

COMM 441, Rhetorical Criticism

Doyle Srader

Banquet Room, Poster #10

1 – 3 PM

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Selena Portillo Barrera

Pre- and Post-Flight Traumatization Factors in Refugee Populations

The current refugee crisis worldwide is a phenomenon that has arisen due to unforeseen circumstances such as natural disasters, political unrest, and human devastation. Refugee populations face a preponderance of internal and external challenges in their nomadic search toward safety and resettlement in the new society of a host country. Pre- and post-flight resettlement status in the refugee population may predict traumatization in the form of physical and mental ill health, sexual assault, and diverse socio-economic and cultural acclimation challenges. This presentation will focus on four areas in which refugee populations demonstrate traumatization: prevalence of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder amongst pre-flight refugees, sexual assault and gender-based violence perpetrated against pre-flight female refugees, mental and physical ill-health challenges faced by post-flight refugees, socio-economic and acclimation challenges in a post-flight society. Researchers have found Post-traumatic Stress Disorder to be especially prevalent in culturally diverse refugee populations, but also that war-affected refugees are most impacted. Lack of access to mental and medical health services hinders the refugee resettlement process in the host society, along with cultural barriers such as preconceived attitudes, language, and mistrust of “other.” Future directions for research are discussed, such as the need to access multicultural mental health services and trauma counseling at an earlier stage of the refugee immigration process.

PSY 499, Capstone

Mary Ann Winter-Messiers

SPS 100

1 – 1:30 PM

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Gianna Rains

Give Extra, Get Extra’: A Narrative Criticism of Wrigley’s Extra Gum Commercial “The Story of Sarah & Juan”

Wrigley’s Extra gum commercial became popular immediately after being aired. Commercials strive to associate their product with positivity, and Wrigley took this goal to the next level. They created a love story that consisted of a young couple, events of their love story, creative settings, and an organized timeline. The audience gets to see how Sarah and Juan’s love story unfolds, as well as how they commemorate their history of love with giving the other a piece of gum. A narrative criticism looks for key characteristics: character(s), events, and setting(s). These three features help determine what the objective of the commercial is. In this commercial ad, Wrigley’s primary objective is to sell their gum. The secondary objective is to have the audience associate Extra gum with Sarah and Juan’s history and commemoration of their love story. Their unique story also reveals that gender roles and racial norms are challenged, while the tradition of a proposal and marriage remains the same. Therefore, their objectives are effective because of the supporting characteristics of the ad.

COMM 441, Rhetorical Criticism

Doyle Srader

Banquet Room, Poster #12

1 – 3 PM

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Rory Rice

Feminist Criticism

Taking  the speech by Chamamanda Adichie “Everyone should be a Feminist” and, then learn the theory of feminist criticism so that we can dig into the different ways a feminist critic will dissect the artifact and then we can come up with the conclusion of what the speaker is saying.

COMM 441, Rhetorical Criticism

Doyle Srader

Banquet Room, Poster #14

1 – 3 PM

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Sarah Rooks

How can teachers be successful at reducing at-risk misbehavior in elementary schools?

My research question is this: How can teachers be successful at reducing at-risk misbehavior in elementary schools? I will be looking at how to minimize disruptions during class time. I will place focus on 2-3 methods that work best. This topic may be applied to non-at-risk students as well. The Locus of Control Theory is part of the foundation for achieving classroom success. I am using four peer-reviewed sources to conduct my presentation. The article covers the factors of at risk students and methods to improve the classroom experience with teachers having proper training in handling misbehavior. Family management strategies, peer interactions, neighborhood context, and individual-level characteristics are investigated to see which one has the most effect on the students. Family management strategies has the largest influence on the student’s misbehavior. A model called the Professional Development Classroom Management Model (PDCMM), is used to determine the success of reducing at-risk elementary school students’ misbehavior. One of the findings is that teachers trained using management skills had more of a structured classroom with less disruptions due to misbehavior.

EDUC 321, Classroom Relations & Management

Brian Kaelin

Banquet Room, Poster #12

10 AM – Noon

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Kimberly Snyder

Women, Religiosity, and Intimate Partner Violence

Intimate partner violence has long been a pervasive issue for women, occurring across all ethnicities, socioeconomic status, religions, and races. A wide variety of survival skills are employed by these women to help cope with the abuse they are experiencing. Despite the breadth of personal differences, these victims commonly utilize religion. Personal religious devotion may strengthen their capacity to survive intimate partner violence and post relationship trauma. This presentation reviews four research trends in personal religious beliefs as a coping strategy. First, women may reach out to clergy members or religious leaders for support and counseling. Moreover, prayer may be a particularly common coping mechanism. In addition, religious coping may be particularly prevalent among African-American and other Black women. In contrast, some researchers argue that personal religious devotion may be an ineffective coping technique, causing barriers to healing. Researchers have found women who rely on their religious beliefs to survive the violence credit a myriad of ways religion helped them. The violence perpetrated by intimate partners leaves lasting psychological trauma for victims. Researchers report that the coping strategies used may help strengthen women’s resilience in these relationships, and help provide additional support in post-traumatic healing. Future directions for research will also be discussed in this presentation, including resources for these victims at religious communities.

PSY 499, Capstone

Mary Ann Winter-Messiers

SPS 100

1:30 – 2 PM

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Sonja Towner

Adverse Effects of Child Abuse in Adult Females

Childhood abuse creates a substantial and long-lasting impact that may follow women into adulthood. Abusive events of girlhood may traumatize young girls, leaving them vulnerable to myriad post-traumatic outcomes mentally, physically, and emotionally. Women abused prior to the age of 11 may be at greater risk for mental illness and substance abuse through self-medication in adulthood. This presentation will review four areas which researchers have identified as possible adverse effects of girlhood abuse. First, women use substances to self-medicate to avoid the negative affect associated with girlhood abuse and learned negative reinforcement. Second, substance abuse may intensify girlhood maltreatment-induced mental illness. Third, women who have been exposed to adverse girlhood experiences may be at greater risk for diverse negative outcomes in adulthood. Finally, exposure to multiple adverse experiences in girlhood may lead to comorbid disorders in adulthood, further exacerbating other negative symptoms. Researchers have found that the effects of abuse in girlhood may be clinically significant. Moreover, researchers found that women experienced outcomes including substance abuse, mental illness, and incarceration. Researchers have reported a potential link between girlhood maltreatment and the traumatic events that may follow girls into adulthood. Future directions will also be discussed in this presentation, including the need for a longitudinal study that explores the impact of each type of adverse event in mental illness and substance abuse. Furthermore, researchers should also study why some women demonstrate resilience to girlhood abuse while others remain deeply impacted over their lifetimes.

PSY 499, Capstone

Mary Ann Winter-Messiers

SPS 100

2 – 2:30 PM

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Emma Trusty

Differentiating Token Economies

How can we better support our students within a token economy? We will start by looking at how token economies have been used in lunchroom settings across kindergarten through 6th grade, as well as specifically a 3rd grade class with special needs students and emotionally disturbed students. Not all students react to the same types of tokens especially if they have some sort of disability. There are different types of token economies and they all can be adapted to fit the needs of the students in your classroom.

EDUC 321, Classroom Relations & Management

Brian Kaelin

Banquet Room, Poster #13

10 AM – Noon

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