Thankfulness worship and devotional.
L203
9 – 9:30 AM
Category: Fall 2020
Paige Amstutz, Annelise Helbling & Madison Hoke
Vocalic qualities of Disney villains
Animated Disney movies often try to remove the idea of race and bias from their character choices, but what about movies in which there are no human or live-action characters? The following study explores whether the choices made by actors and directors show implicit bias against African American males through vocalics in nonhuman, animated Disney characters. Researchers chose eleven Disney movies in which there were no human characters and analyzed the vocalics. Researchers measured pitch, rate of speech, and volume. The results were compared to past research in order to determine whether or not the vocalic qualities matched male African American speech. The results were inconclusive as to whether implicit bias plays a role in vocalic choices made for Disney villains. However, the results determined that villains take on many vocalic characteristics of men and do not follow the average American vernacular speech.
COMM 430, Nonverbal Communication
Doyle Srader
L203
1:30 – 2 PM
Daniel Carter
Machine Learning
A machine learning model that predicts a business major’s GPA based on a number of factors such as credits, grades/class, classes taken, and more.
MATH 499
Ernest Bonat
L203
10 – 10:30 AM
Hannah Duncan
Rhythm Sections: Are They That Important?
A typical rhythm section consisting of drums, bass, guitar, piano, and horns works together to create the foundation of a song. While vocalists are usually the highlight of a musical group, the rhythm section determines the feel of a song and makes it all possible. This presentation will show that because this section is so versatile, one can use the same chord progression and instruments but different grooves to completely change a song.
CMI 210, Rhythm Section Methods
Nathan Smith
Bucher Room
11 – 11:30 AM
Flint Du Tell
Multiple Cluster of Ronald Reagan Speeches
Kenneth Burk invented Cluster criticism as a form of rhetorical criticism, where a speech is analized by identifying key terms such as, the God and Devil terms. This is done to determine just how the speaker views the world. This world view was named a terminist screen by Burk. Ronald Wilson Reagan is one of the most influential presidential speakers in modern history. Instead of applying the Cluster method of rhetorical criticism to just one of his speeches, like is standard practice, I applied it to multiple speeches of his. Included in my cluster, are his famous speeches, such as The Challenger disaster, Berlin Wall, Evil Empire,and his farewell speech after eight years of presidency. When I analyses these speeches and others, I was able to determine his terminist screen showed the most important thing to him was freedom. To counter this, the worst thing in the world to our fortieth President seemed to be communism, The soviet union, And the suppressive governmental and economic practices of the eastern bloc.
COMM 499, Senior Capstone
Doyle Srader
L203
Noon – 12:30 PM
Daniel Gerlach & Evan Zuvich
2020 Bushnell debate championship
Topic: Face-to-face interaction is healthier than digital communication.
Affirmative: Evan Zuvich
Negative: Daniel Gerlach
The winner will be decided by audience vote, and will be crowned the 2020 Bushnell debate champion.
COMM 325, Argumentation and Debate
Doyle Srader
L203
2 – 3 PM
Jesse Gerlach & Madeline Guiger
A Study on the Relation Between Model’s Postures and Dominance
Despite the prevalence of social science research on gender differences in dominance-submission cues, the topic remains understudied in the field of communication. In particular, there is very little research analyzing static images of men and women. Studies of communication through other media have supported the idea that depictions of men and women, even in recent years, are often presented in a stereotypical manner. The present study endeavored to examine differences in dominance-submission behavior according to gender in online magazine images. The hypothesis was that the images would depict men and women in a manner that is consistent with traditional gender roles. The hypothesis was tested via a content analysis of 66 images of men and women collected from two magazine websites. The data was then analyzed and interpreted through a measurement created by the researchers. The data showed support for the hypothesis. The implications of these findings and their potential impact on future research are discussed.
COMM 430, Nonverbal Communication
Doyle Srader
L203
1:30 – 2 PM
Madison Hoke
Interaction between intermediate missionaries’ and their host culture, and the missionaries perceived level of reverse culture shock.
The following research explored the relationship between intermediate missionaries and their immersion into a host culture and their level of perceived reverse culture shock upon their arrival back to their home culture. The participants of the study were 22 intermediate missionaries from the organizations of Village Schools International and the Navigators. Each participant had to of participated in a mission trip abroad that lasted from two months to five years. Researchers created the Immersion in the Host Culture Scale, which was a six-part open ended questionnaire to determine the amount of immersion a missionary took part in during their mission. Researchers also used the Reentry Shock Scale that consists of sixteen-point true false statements that help record a missionary’s perceived level of reverse culture shock. Researchers determined cultural immersion from decoding for six different themes: Curiosity, involvement, cooking, desire, contentment, and relational. The results of this study theorized that there is a positive relationship between the amount of cultural immersion and perceived re-entry shock with intermediate missionaries. Unfortunately, the limitations of the study prevent researchers from drawing definitive conclusions about a possible cause of re-entry shock.
COMM 499, Senior Capstone
Doyle Srader
L203
12:30 – 1 PM
Payton Martin
Portfolio Management
In this presentation, we will explore vital concepts that are the building blocks of quantitative portfolio management. We will discuss the mathematical expression of expected return and risk on an investment and how they are used. We will examine weights within a portfolio and how risk is minimized while compromising as little as possible on expected return. Building blocks of the several-security model will direct us towards multiple interesting insights as well as lay the foundation for the beta factor and the Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM).
MATH 499, Senior Capstone
Connie Wilmarth
L203
10:30 – 11 AM
Kade McClaugherty
Learning Through Experiences
In this presentation I will discuss my time abroad in Cusco, Peru. I will present on where I stayed, the school I attended, my volunteering projects, and the different excursions/hikes I went on and how they all taught me different things.
GLST 295, Study Abroad
Lauren Riley
Bucher Room
1 – 1:30 PM
Kalani Miller
The Covid Letter
My presentation will cover the main points of 1 Peter. First, who wrote 1 Peter, then where the letter was written to. This leads into an explanation of two main parts of the letter – suffering as a Christian and the Household Codes. Finally, it is wrapped up with how this actually applies to our everyday lives.
BTM 102, Engaging With the Bible: How to Read the Bible in the 21st Century
Brian Mills
Bucher Room
10:30 – 11 AM
Kirsten Mueller
Comfortable Being Uncomfortable
I hope to reveal the beautiful differences of the United States and Spain, but in particular Barcelona. Participating in a different culture and language is both eye-opening and fascinating, not to mention a little daunting. Fortunately, I have been able to experience international travel from an earlier age. My previous experiences could not have fully prepped me an experience like this, but prior research and inquiry was essential for success in my host country. The aim of this presentation is to show the rewards of traveling and living in a host country. Though a lot of learning happens within the classroom, it is my belief that most of the life experiences and education happens outside of the classroom. Meeting people from all over the world and sharing experiences with them has shown the importance of human relationships and connectedness. Working through the difficulties of the pandemic, I have discovered that experiences like studying abroad are even more precious than we know.
GLST 295, Study Abroad
Lauren Riley
Bucher Room
1:30 – 2 PM
Nicholas Rodriguez
Fly High: A Fantasy Theme Criticism of Kendrick Lamar
Fantasy theme analysis explores how a specific artifact calls a group into existence. I analyzed four songs from Kendrick Lamar using this method and found that the group he is calling into existence are people who have experienced housing discrimination. By breaking down the setting, character, and action themes within the songs FEAR, Ronald Reagan Era, Black Boy Fly, and Cut You Off (to grow closer), I was able to outline how Kendrick connects with an audience of people that reaches beyond Compton.
COMM 499, Senior Capstone
Doyle Srader
L203
1 – 1:30 PM
Emmalee Rusk
Charlotte Ray and the History of Females in the Courtroom
The sexism and racism women faced for generations in a court of law is heartbreaking and sickening. If it was not for brave women who stood up for their rights, women would have never been given true agency in the courtroom. An agency that did not rely only on a man’s perception of the law. Nor would women have an opportunity to make a difference in legal matters today. The first female African American lawyer in the United States, Charlotte Ray, adds to the narrative of how women gained their agency in the courtroom and rights in the United States of America. Charlotte Ray shows the fight for agency in the courtroom by fighting the social sexist and racist expectations of her time. Her actions and legacy would trigger the uproar of the feminist movements and the first successes of women in the courtroom which rippled through American history into the continually influential legislation passed by women for the people. The progressions and backslides of the allowance of women in the courtroom is important to our appreciation of women in the courtroom today.
HIST 317, Women in US History
Melisa Ortiz Berry
Bushnell History Symposium, P114
10 – 11:30 AM
Emmalee Rusk
Historiography of Manifest Destiny on the Oregon Trail
The historiography of the Oregon Trail has been inaccurate as it has been speckled with the doctrine of Manifest destiny. The Oregon trail needs to be understood in its entirety, recognizing some cause for the Manifest Destiny application, but also keeping historians accountable, as Edward Dickenson Baker did even in his time, for providing the more abundant collective of pioneers who went for other reasons. To understand the Oregon Trail in full it is unacceptable to use the Manifest Destiny narrative so un-proportionately to the truth. This ignores the vast majority of pioneers who had little to no interest in what would become the Manifest Destiny doctrine. The Oregon Trail has been over-romanticized with the doctrine of Manifest Destiny past its historical accuracy which is shown by the writings of the Oregon Trail pioneers themselves, the contradictions of Edward Dickenson Baker, and the political and moral context of the Oregon Trail time period.
HIST 490, Historical Methods and Research
Melisa Ortiz Berry
Bushnell History Symposium, P114
10 – 11:30 AM
Claire Salness
Can the Promotion of HSPs Enhance Performance and Recovery/Therapy in and of Exercise?
This presentation covers the role of heat shock proteins in the cytoprotection of the cell and discusses their ability to enhance efficiency in cellular processes when considering exercise specifically. It includes an analysis of the cellular stressors that are biproducts of exercise and how the heat shock response contributes to cellular survival and recovery from said insults. Research has shown that induction of the heat shock proteins has protected and prevented cell death or other damage from a lethal exposure to a stress. My research scope queries if we can induce the heat shock protein response in order to enhance the efficiency and extend the duration of exercise and if this family of proteins can have a role in exercise recovery and adaptation.
BIOL 499, Senior Capstone
Paul Allee
L203
11 – 11:30 AM
Curtis Smith
The Military’s role on the Oregon Trail
In 1846, The United States Congress authorized funds for military posts along the Oregon Trail. The 1847 Whitman massacre showed the Army’s inability to handle complex matters. In 1849, the first military expedition set out and was plagued with problems including desertion. Attention from settling the West was further complicated by skirmishes with Indian tribes and later the Civil War.
HIST 499, Senior Capstone
Melisa Ortiz Berry
Bushnell History Symposium, P114
10 – 11:30 AM
Madeline Thompson
Costa Rica 2020
Studying abroad in Costa Rica spring of 2020, nothing would’ve prepared me for what I learned and experienced. Cultural differences taught me more about the world, myself, and my faith. My Spanish speaking abilities greatly improved as well. Living with a host family, I learned a lot about how family should be honored and put first. Volunteering teaching English in a nearby town, I was challenged. Making the decision to leave early from the program, I learned so much about putting my own mental health first. Overall, if I had the chance to do it all over again, I 100% would.
GLST 295, Study Abroad
Lauren Riley
Bucher Room
2 – 2:30 PM
Haley Voorhees
Free radicals, oxidative stress and antioxidants
For many years, there have been two main theories proposed for the process of aging: (1) The rate of living theory, which states that the lifespan of an individual is dependent on its rate of energy utilization and on a genetically determined amount of energy consumed during adult life, and (2) The oxidative stress theory of aging, based on the hypothesis that age-associated functional losses are due to the accumulation of free radical damages. The following research explores what causes humans to experience oxidative stress leading to aging, how antioxidants help to defend the body and prevent degenerative diseases, and the damages that may be caused by extensive free radical damage.
BIOL 499, Senior Capstone
Paul Allee
L203
11:30 AM – Noon
Joseph Washburn
The United States and Conflict: How Embracing Struggle Can Make Us Better
Does the United States need war or conflict? This survey examines qualitative and quantitative research on the effects of war on soldiers, civilians, culture, and societies. In evaluating data from many sources, the author concludes that while violent acts are harmful to the human experience there are in fact many individual and collective benefits to social conflict and social struggles. A pronounced benefit is the unifying effect of social conflict in contradiction to the assumed divisive nature of social struggles. This evaluation and explanation have significant implications for a culturally, socio-economically, ethnically, and politically diverse nation such as the United States of America.
IDS 251, Ideas Matter: Engaging American Thought & Culture
Brian Mills
Bucher Room
10 – 10:30 AM