Category: 15 Spring 2016

Taylor Medley

Under the Sea Picture Book

This is about a 5th grade class that I taught this year. The students had to research a sea creature of their choice and write a realistic fiction story based on their creature. They were given a pre-assessment before the unit and then a post-assessment once the unit was taught. They were graded on the same rubric both times. The students’ growth from the pre and post assessment is noticable.

EDUC 415, Faith Integration in Teaching Seminar

Vivian Moen

L203

1:30 – 3:00 PM

Kaitlyn Moore

Perceived Stress in Athletes, Exercisers, and Non-Exercisers

Stress, a state of mental or emotional strain or tension, affects the well-being of individuals, especially college students. Exercise, which has a positive impact on physical health, has been shown to also help relieve stress. While exercise can be used to relieve stress, exercise may be a source of stress in student-athletes. Student-athletes experience stress even though they participate in physical activity daily. In the present study, it was hypothesized that recreational athletes, as well as exercisers, would report less stress than competitive athletes and non-exercisers. For this study, traditional undergraduate students at Northwest Christian University were recruited. To measure stress levels, students filled out a combination of a Perceived Stress Survey and College Student-Athletes’ Life Stress Scale. Results will be discussed.

PSY 499, Capstone

Nani Skaggs

PFB 103

11:30 AM – Noon

Gabrielle Morales

I Am Peter

I have created an acrylic painting inspired by Matthew 14:22-27 through a prophetic vision. The artwork includes four separate canvases of different sizes. I desire each member of the audience to interpret their own meaning and apply the artwork to their own life, just as scripture serves as a means to strengthen one’s relationship with God. Therefore, I will not go into great lengths regarding my own interpretation. This is mainly due to the fact that I find my own perspective to change every time I view the piece. My interpretation of the scripture is from Peters own perspective as he views Jesus walking towards the disciples. As Jesus draws near, Peter is brought to life in the storm of his fragmented life, hence the four separate canvases. I have also included a separate portfolio of ten other artists and their rendition of the scripture. In this portfolio I have compared, contrasted, and analyzed each piece of art to my own to show different perspectives.

BTH 102, Engaging with the Bible

Terry O’Casey

L203

11:30 AM – TBA

Gabrielle Morales

The Second Life of Sylvia Plath: A Loss of Identity

Sylvia Plath was a bright young poet who grew up in a low-class household. She was a 4.0 student and received a full ride merit scholarship at Smith College, but she later committed suicide at the age of 30. At the age of 19, she experienced a deep depression after returning from a summer internship at and being rejected from a summer writing course at Cambridge. Plath wrote The Bell Jar based on her feelings and inner thoughts while finding herself while experiencing a loss of identity. During her internship she meets three women who represent the different paths of which women were most likely to pursue during this era. Betsy represents the typical 1950’s woman; She represents the mother and housewife. Jay Cee, the editor of Ladies Day Magazine, represents the career woman. Doreen represents the gorgeous party animal who takes nothing seriously. During the uproar of the postmodern era and the second wave feminist movement, women were only able to pick one of these paths. Plath centers her loss of identity towards her desire to be both a career woman and a mother, which is characterized as an identity fragmentation. The third wave feminist movement, which took place during the 90’s, enabled women to have a dual identity. Moreover, advertisements and media have come a long way since Plath’s dead. There are multiple hypersexual examples of female celebrities who embrace their inner feminist by wearing risky clothing, thus showing a control of their life and body through their choice of clothing. However, by doing so they have objectified themselves to the sexual desires of men. As a society we have progressed regarding female empowerment, mainly with their ability to be and dress how they want. But we still have a long way to go with regard what Plath refers as men seeing women as sex objects. The Bell Jar has allowed many young women to relate to one another regarding identity fragmentation and self-discovery. It also acts as a reminder of the lives that never were and what could have been.

IDS 251, Seminar On Postmodern Literature, Art, Film, and Music

Lanta Davis

L203

11:00 – 11:30 AM

Meshel Rad

Sales employee for BMW

This is my introduction to potentially being a sales employee for Bayerische Motoren Werke, more commonly known as BMW. A personal goal of mine is to work for a highline car industry. In other words, I want to work for one of the following automobile industries: BMW, Range Rover, Cadillac, or Mercedes. I have been presented with the opportunity of having a mentor in this process. I will be writing my capstone starting with the history of BMW; where the company started and how it became one of the highline automobile industries of today. I will also include what I am learning while working under my mentor at BMW. This will show me what I need to do to get in with the organization and the steps I must follow in order to become a top sales person in the industry. I hope to learn the importance of forming relationships with the people I will interact with on a day to day basis, coworkers and potential customers alike, by watching my mentor and learning from him. Hopefully, this will show me what I need to do to in order to get my life rolling in the direction that will prepare me for my chosen career path. I will be setting many goals that I will need to meet in the future. Different goals will be set for each stage of my life, to ensure that the entirety of my career goals are met throughout my lifetime. The paper will end with where the company stands today and how my time will come to an end under my mentor. By the time I complete my capstone and internship I plan on having a career path set in place. Thank you

IDS 499, Capstone

Mick Bollenbaugh

Banquet Room

1:00 – 3:00 PM

Steven Ray

Classroom Design

Classroom Management can be effected by how the classroom is designed. This can be as simple as how the desks are arranged in the room which effects the proximity or movement of the teacher as well as changes the red, green, and yellow zones in the room. These all can contribute to the overall behavior of students in the classroom. My research follows the question ‘How does the design of a classroom affects the overall behavior of students?’ and references different designs that are listed in Fred Jones’ book Tools For ‘Teaching: Discipline, Instruction, and Motivation’. Jones will also be referenced in regards to proximity as well as red, green, and yellow zones.

EDUC 321, Classroom Management

Brian Kaelin

Banquet Room

10 AM – Noon

Sherry Reeder

Clip Chart- Incentive

This poster is a presentation about incentives in an elementary school classroom. My research question is: Is the clip chart a beneficial behavioral tracking tool. This presentation will describe what a clip chart is, how it is used, and provide research for both the positive and the negative side of this behavioral tracking tool. You will hear ways the clip chart is being implemented in schools around Eugene and will get a look at how I plan to use a clip chart in my own classroom. You will hear how the clip chart can lead into other incentives for students in the classroom, and how it helps students be self-monitors. 

EDUC 321, Classroom Management

Brian Kaelin

Banquet Room

10 AM – Noon

Karen D. Reynolds

Capstone Presentation

Optimism plays a significant role in a person’s overall health and well-being. This presentation will review four major themes focusing on the value of having an optimistic outlook on life. The themes include the power of optimism to heal, the incorporation of optimism into one’s life, the development of a healthy life balance, and the genetic factors that play a role in one’s happiness baseline. Researchers identified important findings regarding optimism. For example, scientists reported that optimism may improve performance, increase longevity and ward off adverse effects of stress. Further, optimism may assist in constructive future planning as well as augmenting improvement of activities of daily living. Moreover, scientists found that when prompted to think optimistically about stressors, participants with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder may have experienced the mitigation of negative symptoms. Conversely, researchers reported that having an extreme preference for optimism may be linked to Bipolar Disorder, and they observed that excessively optimistic people often engage in overly risky behaviors. 

Keywords: Optimism, well-being, happiness, positive thinking, health, stress, cortisol.

PSY 499, Capstone

Mary Ann Winter-Messiers

PFB 114

12:30 – 1:00 PM

Hannah Roddy

Self-Disclosure and Co-Rumination at NCU Night Chapel

This senior capstone project evaluates the effectiveness and impact of an event regarding self-disclosure and co-rumination. The event was held on Northwest Christian University campus as a Night Chapel event. Students were encouraged and given the opportunity to verbally share their struggles and experiences as others listened. Attendees were counted, self-disclosure participants were counted, and each participant was anonymously rated with regards to how personal or deep his or her response was, in order to measure the effectiveness of this event. 

COMM 499, Capstone

Doyle Srader

PFB 003

10:30 – 11:00 AM

Candace Rodgers

A Rhetorical Criticism of Mother”Hood”

The rhetorical method of fantasy-theme criticism is designed to offer insights into the shared worldview of groups. I use this method to analyze the Simlac video Mother “Hood.” The video is a satirical look at the groups with which parents self-identify. These groups are formed around parenting methods. There is a tension created between the individual’s convergence with these groups and divergence from the overarching worldview of motherhood. Simlac uses the symbolic convergence of the reality that “we are parents first” as a marketing strategy to sell baby formula. 

COMM 441, Rhetorical Criticism

Doyle Srader

Banquet Room

1:00 – 3:00 PM

Candace Rodgers

Language, Feelings, and Hidden Biases 

This Capstone project is modeled after the method of Anna Deavere Smith. Through conducting interviews with students, faculty, and staff at NCU I sought out people who had stories within a similar theme. I will perform portions from each interview, weaving together the different perspectives on the power of language and our hidden biases. 

COMM 499, Capstone

Doyle Srader

PFB 003

11:30 AM – Noon

Danielle Schneider

Humans’ Effect on Waterbody Quality and the Impact on Fish Health

Since the dawn of time, humans have used rivers and lakes as a natural resource; utilizing the abundant life found there as a source of food. For the last two hundred years, however, the health of these waterbodies has dropped dramatically. As we have put in dams and changed the flow of the rivers, we have also inadvertently blocked fish off from their natural habitats and spawning grounds. The number of fish, as a result, has decreased dramatically with some species classified as endangered. Numerous restoration projects have focused on returning our lakes and streams to their former glory. Some projects have had resounding success; for example the Oregon Chub is the first fish to be delisted from the endangered species list. This presentation will be a look at rivers and how their healthy vs unhealthy environment affects fish, as well as restoration attempts and the possible benefits. 

BIOL 499, Capstone

Allee

L204

2:00 – 2:30 PM

Darcy Snyder

Multiple Trauma Exposure: How First Responders Survive

When an emergency medical event, fire, or police intervention occurs, first responders may experience trauma. They are the first trained professionals to respond to emergencies and may turn chaotic and potentially life threatening situations into ones that are structured and life saving. The ability to do this, however, comes at a steep price for firefighters, police officers, and emergency medical personnel. This presentation explores research focused on the ways in which firefighters, police officers, and emergency medical personnel may cope with repeated trauma through both internal and external mechanisms. These mechanisms include length of professional service, which may predict individuals’ levels of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder; neurobiological and biological markers, which may also predict Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder; and resiliency, which may be key to long term survival in first responder professions. 

PSY 499, Capstone

Mary Ann Winter-Messiers

PFB 114

2:30 – 3:00 PM

Barry Sommer

The Eschatology of the Rifleman

Despite the fact that Newton Minow, chairman of the FCC in 1961 called the newly exploited medium of television “a vast wasteland,” as we know today that wasteland has turned into something completely different than what Newton saw back then. However, growing up in the 1950s meant being able to choose from a plethora of TV programming that not only reflected the current social conditions, they also spoke deeply of the morals, ethics, religiosity and the humanity of man. Okay, they can be seen by some, through the lense of 21st century mores as nothing more than simplistic and shallow tales of struggle, pain and victory, yet there lies within much to ponder and much to learn of how man’s perspective on life doesn’t really change, and what those lessons really mean. The Rifleman, aired between 1958 and 1963 and starring Chuck Conners and Johnny Crawford, embodies the historic philosophical and religious bedrock of what Western, but more importantly American values and morals many people held dear. The Western in TV lore was meant to impart important lessons on life, glamorized for sure to attract the widest viewing audience yet in the end, the Western gave us the simple and timely tale of struggle, redemption, sacrifice and hope that humans have always wrestled with, yet in a form easily identifiable and digestible. The Rifleman, in my opinion has all the elements that make it not just a true TV classic, but also a philosophical and spiritual exodus that reinforces what makes man a noble animal. 

What about The Rifleman strikes a deep chord with our inner honor? Why was the relationship between Lucas and his son Mark so deep and loving, and how did Lucas overcome his obstacles as a single father? What philosophical and theological underpinnings are at work here, both with Lucas and Mark but also between Lucas, Mark and the folks of North Fork? I will attempt to answer these questions and give a deeper perspective on the lessons presented, whether they encompass understanding and acceptance, or a blast from the Rifleman’s Winchester. 

IDS 499, Capstone

Mick Bollenbaugh

L203

10:30 – 11:00 AM

Emily Svendsen-McLean

Prevelance of Eating Disorders

Feeding and Eating disorders (FED) are aptly defined as chronic diseases. The two most studied and well known forms of eating disorders are Anorexia and Bulimia Nervosa (Kontic et al., 2012). High mortality and morbidity rates, as well as the spread of the disorders into new areas that previously had not dealt with the condition, make for increased research efforts (Kontic et al., 2012). The characteristics of eating disorders include intentionally restricting food to an extreme degree, overeating, self-induced vomiting, excessive exercise habits, and misusing laxatives and diuretics in an effort to maintain or reduce body weight (Kontic et al., 2012). Two key factors that may increase the propensity for developing feeding and eating disorders are gender and involvement with athletics. The purpose of this paper is to define FED, determine the correlation of gender and FED, and to what extent athletics play in the development of FED. 

This capstone will concentrate on the different types of feeding and eating disorders. Seeking to find if and what makes an individual more “prone” to suffering from these disorders such as sex, athletics, personality type. It will also try to explain what these particular individuals seek when experiencing these types of disorders. 

PSY 499, Capstone

Nani Skaggs

PFB 103

11:00 – 11:30 AM

Megan Temple

Pre and Post Assessments of 9th Grade English Students

In this presentation I will be exploring the assessments I gave my 9th grade students during their Romeo and Juliet Unit. I will explore the benefits of having a quick write as a form of assessment, and the level of improvement my students experienced from their pre and post assessments. 

EDUC 415, Faith Integration in Teaching Seminar

Vivian Moen

L203

1:30 – 3:00 PM

Jaime Terwiliger

Sex Trafficking and it’s Pathways 

Sex trafficking occurs all over the world including in the United States where people would least expect it. This paper focuses on different pathways that may lead young women into being involved with sex trafficking. Some different ways girls can be set up into sex trafficking may be by a family member, boyfriend, gangs, from seeing advertisements, by being kidnapped, or just for survival. People experiencing this could be raped, beaten, abused physically or mentally, and put through hard intense labor. This paper also focuses not just on the victims, but the perpetrator as well. It mentions the different ways pimps lure young girls in, where the most common places pimps traffic girls, and focuses on who exactly the pimps are and why they are trafficking girls. This paper will also describe my personal experience and what I directly witnessed on a mission’s trip to Cambodia in 2015. Further, my internship in Eugene Oregon brought me into direct contact with young women who had been trafficked recently. This paper concludes with what people can do to help to bring awareness to others about the subject, as well as protect young girls, and fight against the perpetrator.

IDS 499, Capstone

Mick Bollenbaugh

L204

11:00 – 11:30 AM

Miriham Walle

Planting and Growing Flowers

My objective for this unit was “What steps can someone follow to plant and grow flowers?” I taught this unit to 26 kindergarteners. I asked students this question before I taught the unit and after I taught it to see if they understood the unit. Students knew the steps in planting and growing flowers by the end of the week. 

EDUC 415, Faith Integration in Teaching Seminar

Vivian Moen

L203

1:30 – 3:00 PM

Colleen Walsh

Assessments: 7th Grade

This presentation will be a detailed overview of the summative and formative assessments administered during the Water Quality Unit of the 7th grade Language Arts class at Arts and Technology Academy. The presentation will highlight the importance of technology, creativity and hands on work. These assessments were performed during the presenter’s Student Teaching and serve as the basis for her licensure.

EDUC 415, Faith Integration in Teaching Seminar

Vivian Moen

L203

1:30 – 3:00 PM

Jacob Wathen

Same-Sex Parents: Think of the Children

Same-sex relationships have become more commonplace in today’s society. In 2012, 110,000 US same-sex couples reported that they were raising children. That number has since grown exponentially and researchers have attempted to understand the implications of same-sex parenting for children. One aspect of same-sex parenting that may indirectly damage children is the stigma associated with same gender parents. Although the effects of this discrimination are prevalent in the children of same-sex couples, researchers have indicated that the overall wellbeing of these children may be more robust than that of children of mixed-gender parents. Another common concern with same-sex parenting is that children are inherently in danger due to the parents’ sexual orientation. Researchers have determined, however, that laws prohibiting same-sex parenting may be more damaging to children than same-sex parental relationships themselves. Further, researchers have found that the home environment of children with same-sex parents may be similar to or stronger than that of heterosexual parents. This may be due to researchers’ finding that same-sex parents may spend a more balanced amount of time with their children compared to heterosexual couples, which may contribute to healthy social development in children and foster parental satisfaction. Finally, researchers determined that when children of homosexual individuals perceived stronger bonding with their parents, they may reflect positively on their experiences. Presently, researchers in the field of same-sex parenting have found that children of same-gender couples face no more risks than those prevalent among children of heterosexual parents. 

PSY 499, Capstone

Mary Ann Winter-Messiers

PFB 114

1:00 – 1:30 PM

Madison Womack

Psalm 139:13-16: A Theology of God as Creative Weaver, Artistic Sculpture, or Protective Guardian

At first, Psalm 139:13-16 reads as a nice devotional text, and that is good. Reading the Bible is always enriching, but one should not be satisfied only with devotional reading of Scripture. More can be understood by digging deeper into the text. The goal of this paper is to understand Psalm 139, particularly verses 13-16, by understanding how they fit into the context of the chapter as well as the ways in which the original Hebrew and later Greek, Latin, and English translations communicated the ideas. Also, reviewing how theologians have viewed the ideas over time, including how the ideas are used in the New Testament, will add to this understanding. The purpose of this understanding is to grow closer to God through the study of His Word and, in doing so, become a better teacher of His Word.

BTH 499, Capstone

Dennis Lindsay

PFB 114

10:00 – 10:30 AM