Category: Spring 2025

Annika Poet

Mammalian Pregnancy: The Placental, the Pouch, and the Peculiar

There are three main methods found in Class Mammalia to reproduce and create the next generation. These methods divide mammals into three groups: placental, marsupial, and monotreme. Most mammals, humans included, develop their young with the use of a temporary organ called the placenta. Marsupials, while still producing a placenta, utilize a different organ, the pouch, to facilitate a large portion of the development. For monotremes, reproduction involves laying a soft-shelled egg. Even throughout these diverse methods of development, there are many similarities and differences which highlights the uniqueness of each species and the connectiveness across the Earth.

BIOL 312, Human Anatomy and Physiology 2

Tammy Bovee

Womack 100

1 – 1:30 PM

Return to schedule

Annika Poet

The Wonders of the Sourdough Microbiome

Known for its contributions to bread making for many years, sourdough is a diverse and unique example of microorganisms working together in a complex microbiome. Through mixing flour, water, and the natural wild yeasts and bacteria present, a microbiome of yeast and bacteria is created. As the specific microorganisms depend on the type of flour used and environment, differences can occur that contribute to smell, speed of growth, and acidity. This presentation will summarize the test results comparing three different types of flour: all-purpose, bread flour, and whole wheat. The starters created from each flour were tested on speed of growth, mold resistance, acidity, and aroma. These results may aid future bakers when deciding the ideal flour to use for sourdough.

BIOL 330, Microbiology

Paul Allee

Womack 100

1:30 – 2 PM

Return to schedule

Caleb Premo

Effective Nonverbal Communicators in the Classroom

It is understood that for every component of intentional spoken communication, there are a plethora of unconscious, yet fundamental, aspects of nonverbal communication. While an aspect of life that is present in all interactions, the impact of nonverbal communicators on teaching is particularly relevant for student success. It is understood that good teachers have certain traits, both conscious and unconscious, that make them effective in their roles. Nonverbal immediacy, powerful presenter traits, and meaningful relationship builders are all tools in the successful teacher’s toolbox. Classrooms built on meaningful student outcomes need to have a teacher who understands what nonverbal cues look like, the strengths of each one they use, and the appropriate time to use them.

EDUC 321, Classroom Relations and Management

Brian Kaelin

Womack Lobby and Room 100

10 AM – Noon

Return to schedule

Emily Puita

Literary analysis of Las medias rojas

This literary analysis of Las medias rojas by Emilia Pardo Bazán explores the historical, religious, and social context of the story, with a focus on its central themes and the literary techniques used by the author.

SPAN 315, Introduction to Spanish Literature

Jenée Cázares

Womack Lobby and Room 100

10 AM – Noon

Return to schedule

Dulce Ramirez-Ramos

Análisis literal de “La noche boca arriba” de Julio Cortázar

Analysis of the short story “La noche boca arriba” by Julio Cortázar, including literary techniques, themes, and information about the author.

SPAN 315, Introduction to Spanish Literature

Jenée Cázares

Womack Lobby and Room 100

10 AM – Noon

Return to schedule

Lindsey Rankin & Eden Witten

NurseLink business

Imagine a place where clinics, long-term care facilities, and hospitals never have to struggle with nurse shortages. NurseLink provides a platform connecting licensed nurses with healthcare facilities. We are solving the staffing gap by giving nurses the flexibility to choose jobs that fit into their schedule. ​While also ensuring healthcare facilities have the support they need.​ Through our app, facilities can post jobs, and certified RNS, CNAs, and LPNs can accept them immediately. We operate nationwide, and cater to clinics, long-term care centers, and hospitals. We ensure that patient care is never compromised. We bridge the gap anytime, anywhere, ​whether it’s last-minute coverage or​ long-term staffing needs. With NurseLink, healthcare needs can run smoother, reduce burnout in nurses, patients can receive quality care, and nurses can have more control. 

BUS 120, Introduction to Business and Entrepreneurship

Pete Diffenderfer

Womack Lobby and Room 100

10 AM – Noon

Return to schedule

Nate Rasmussen

Anatomy is Destiny: How Anatomical Features Affect Performance in Baseball

This project deciphers how anatomy can affect baseball performance in a multitude of ways, using Bushnell University’s pitchers as my study group. While some college and most professional teams have access to high-end baseball technology that comes with a pricetag, the rest of the baseball world is left in advanced data darkness. A study was conducted using a questionnaire to determine multiple data points on pitchers. Topics such as mobility, velocity, and strength were discussed in the questionnaire to gain a full understanding of the player. Data was then correlated to find meaning behind the numbers. Regression models were also run, showing promising results for predictive metrics. The results of the study were then analyzed, revealing the important trends in the data that can be applied to an all-encompassing training regimen. The goal of this study was to create a tool, termed ‘The RasmussenProtocol’, to aid in advanced player development without the need for technology. The protocol is unique to the baseball world, as it accounts for all different types of anatomical and performance metrics. The result is a roadmap on how to develop players of all backgrounds within baseball, with accessibility at the forefront of everything.

IDS 499, Senior Capstone

James Berry

Pomajevich 114

11:30 AM – Noon

Return to schedule

Brandon Reed

Effects Of Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs on Athletic Performance and Recovery

The use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is widespread among all types of athletes seeking quick relief from pain and inflammation caused by injuries. However, this reliance on NSAIDs can lead to serious long-term health risks if not carefully managed. My capstone looks at the benefits and drawbacks of NSAID use in athletic settings. Pointing out the importance of thoughtful and limited use in our day-to-day life. I am advocating for a more holistic approach to recovery in athletics. A recovery system that emphasizes natural healing and a combination of strategies rather than routine medication use. Encouraging athletes to try a more balanced and long-term, sustainable pain management plan that can enhance performance and preserve health after they are done with their athletic careers. As the NSAID field continues to grow, more research is needed to understand the full impact of NSAIDs and discover safer, more effective options for some sports-related injuries.

BIOL 499, Senior Capstone

Paul Allee

Womack 100

2:30 – 3 PM

Return to schedule

Emma Reposa

Performance Anxiety in Secondary Education

This poster presentation examines performance anxiety for musicians at the secondary level of education and techniques to combat it. Key findings from research include cognitive processes, somatic resources, grounding, and music preparation. Cognitive processes include positive self-talk, reframing your mindset, and recognizing your feelings of nervousness. Somatic resources address the body and how your body is supporting you and responding to the nervousness. Grounding techniques including yoga, body mapping, deep breathing, and having a positive outlook on the result. Musical preparation includes muscle memory, audiation, understanding the framework, visualization, and practicing in the way you will perform it. The significance of these techniques is to lower anxiety and nervousness surrounding having to perform a task in front of people. Following these techniques will improve overall performance and lead to more positive outcomes surrounding performing.

EDUC 321, Classroom Relations and Management

Brian Kaelin

Womack Lobby and Room 100

10 AM – Noon

Return to schedule

Leah Schiewe

Routines and Expectations

This research poster will address “How can clear routines and expectations help improve student engagement and reduce disruptive behavior in middle school PE classes?” Middle school students do their best in environments that are structured, predictable, and supportive, especially in classes such as physical education. Classes like P.E are high energy and are social settings that have an increased risk of off-task behavior. The methods used for my research will include research studies, case studies, and educational TED Talks that focus on classroom management, student engagement, and behavior in physical education. I will also use my own experience of being a middle school P.E teacher, where I was able to experience and observe the implementation of consistent routines. Some examples of this would be  structured warm-ups, clear behavior expectations, and simple transition signals, mainly to improve student focus and participation. By the end of my analysis I will recommend that PE teachers prioritize clear communication, consistent procedures, and positive reinforcement strategies from the beginning until the end of the school year. These routines help build a safe and respectful learning environment  as well as help students be more confident, accountable and prepared to engage in physical activity with little to no behavioral issues. 

EDUC 321, Classroom Relations and Management

Brian Kaelin

Womack Lobby and Room 100

10 AM – Noon

Return to schedule

Harmony Simmons

The Silent Victims: Understanding the Psychological Impact of Deportation on Children

In this evidence-based synthesis paper, I reviewed findings from 16 empirical studies published between 2016 and 2025, all of which aimed to study the effects of parental deportation on their U.S. citizen children. More specifically, I focused on the prevalence of prolonged feelings of insecurity and fear in this child population that may persist into an exacerbated manner or in the form of a mental disorder. As a supplementary research tool, I utilized the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR) to draw comparisons between the unique experiences of participants of these studies and diagnostic criteria for mental disorders such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and a major depressive episode (MDE). The legality of parental deportation has been studied for decades, with the primary concern being the subsequent effects on their children’s physical and emotional well-being. More recently, the political and societal relevance of parental deportation within the U.S. and its growing complexity have driven researchers to study its effects more intensely. The difficulty in researching this topic has increased as the number of mixed-status households has risen over time. In 2022, the Pew Research Center reported that approximately 4.4 million U.S. born children under 18 lived with an unauthorized immigrant parent. Within each study, there was not enough evidence to suggest psychopathology as the result of parental deportation, which may be attributed to the lack of awareness or terminology for children to describe their experiences. However, most researchers discovered profound, negative effects of parental deportation on children. The self-report measures used in most studies served as a limitation because of their susceptibility to various forms of bias. Future research directions should aim to identify pre-existing community support systems and determine their effectiveness while simultaneously increasing the implementation of accessible mental health systems for children who have experienced parental deportation.

PSY 499, Senior Capstone

Erin Mueller

Siefke 100

2:30 – 3 PM

Return to schedule

Amanda Sisul

How Interning Changed My Perspective on the Publishing Industry

Interning at Harvest House Publishers in Eugene has given me the opportunity to directly apply concepts from my Public Relations (PR) courses in the fast-paced publishing industry. I started my internship by completing work and adapting to the rigorous publishing schedule of more than 20 books each season. Over time, I learned new skills from my supervisor and colleagues and was offered more elaborate and challenging tasks, including content creation and working directly with clients. Being at Harvest House has ultimately shown me how different teams within the same company can have different campaign strategies and tactics while still producing profitable outcomes.

For my capstone project, I have been working with an assigned author who is publishing her first book with Harvest House. My assignments for her book have included a variety of PR and marketing tasks, all while navigating real-life deadlines, schedule changes and delayed meetings. My presentation will review my time at Harvest House, showcase the work I’ve done for my assigned client, and discuss the lessons I’ve learned that I will carry with me through my career journey.

COMM 499, Senior Capstone

Kelsay Rychener

L204

1 – 1:30 PM

Return to schedule

Ariel Van Cleave

Bipolar Disorder: Continued Research and Interventions

This is an evidence-based synthesis paper I developed from 15 primary research articles from 2021 to 2024 as well as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR). Utilizing these studies, I summarized the current research and understanding of Bipolar Disorder I and II (BD I and II), and I tracked the new intervention methods used within therapy and families with high-risk youth for BD I or II. BD has been conceived as a fluctuation between mania and depression; however, based on the current research BD is found as chronic mood instability or energy dysregulation. Other aspects of research found that BD psychosis could be correlated to early childhood traumatic stress and that comorbidity greatly affects the remission progress for individuals. While there is needed future replicated research on these findings, researchers have found that BD is a spectrum of disorders. Further research on the interventions of BD has shown that the interventions that involve family-focused therapies, cognitive behavioral therapies, and mindfulness-based cognitive therapies are more effective when combined than when applied separately. Interventions that are tailored to the individuals’ needs, and that include monitoring mood cycles and testing their resilience are further ways that researchers can seek better outcomes for individuals. One of the limitations in the studies I reviewed was the lack of generalizability. The researchers were often limited by the participants in their studies; either by the WEIRD effect, by only having binary gender participants, or by lack of participants. Further research should continue in examining how the outcomes of combined interventions can reach more individuals with BD. Furthermore, there should be an emphasis on the interventions that start early in the families with high-risk youth and how there is an importance in further understanding the cycles of moods of BD.

PSY 499, Senior Capstone

Erin Mueller

Siefke 100

3 – 3:30 PM

Return to schedule

Abby Weston

El Ahogado Mas Hermoso Del Mundo

Literary analysis of El Ahogado Mas Hermoso Del Mundo by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. This includes an explanation of the themes of the short story, historical context, summary of the story, and background on the author. It will also examine the literary techniques used and highlight biblical parallels.

SPAN 315, Introduction to Spanish Literature

Jenée Cázares

Womack Lobby and Room 100

10 AM – Noon

Return to schedule

Abby Weston

Principles of Counting in Mathematical Proofs

This presentation introduces the Principles of Counting in Proofs, which is commonly referred to as Combinatorics. Combinatorics is the study of counting, arranging, and analyzing finite sets. The presentation will begin with a brief conceptual overview that answers the following questions: What is a set? What does it mean for sets to be disjointed? What is a tombstone in the context of a proof? The core concepts will include the Principle of Inclusion and Exclusion, the Permutation Rule, and the Combination Rule. For each concept, I will provide an explanation followed by a formal proof. This presentation is designed for an audience with some background in combinatorics or mathematical reasoning, though anyone with an interest in how counting and logic intersect is welcome to attend.

MATH 460, Mathematical Proofs and Reasoning

Connie Wilmarth

Pomajevich 103

1 – 1:30 PM

Return to schedule

Grace Wetherup

Women’s Golf Apparel

A business that create comfortable, functional stylish golf clothing that female golfers at every level can feel comfortable and be confident will allow them succeed in their sport.

BUS 120, Introduction to Business and Entrepreneurship

Pete Diffenderfer

Womack Lobby and Room 100

10 AM – Noon

Return to schedule

Matthew Wilhite

Exploring How the Complex Relationship of the Individual, Culture, and the Workplace Environment Inform Job Satisfaction

In this evidence-based synthesis paper, I reviewed 15 research articles regarding information about job satisfaction from 2020 to 2025. Job satisfaction is a complex measure that reports an individual’s current feelings, position, and understandings with what they receive and contribute to in their line of work. When researching job satisfaction, adopting a cross-cultural lens was crucial and resulted in 10 different countries being represented in the 15 research articles used. The 10 countries represented are Belgium, China, Ethiopia, Italy, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, and the United States. Millions of people work across the globe and utilizing a cross-cultural lens deepens our understanding of how job satisfaction is determined in a particular culture. To summarize this research, I divided the components of job satisfaction into three categories: the individual, culture, and the workplace environment. These three categories join together to influence how a person determines their own job satisfaction status. The majority of this research implied that there are various factors that influence job satisfaction rates in a positive or negative manner such as work autonomy, compensation, leadership styles, work schedules, et cetera. A few of the studies emphasized how measuring job satisfaction in a longitudinal method can reveal important job satisfaction trends in the workplace. An important conclusion I made was related to how job satisfaction can be utilized to enhance organizational productivity. Enhancing organizational productivity is essential for companies to thrive which will help them succeed because of the positive influence from the employees reporting a positive job satisfaction status. However, there are limitations found in the components used to determine job satisfaction. As we live in a dynamic world where people depend on their job to help them stay afloat in society, it is important to measure their job satisfaction as we all strive to live an enjoyable life.

PSY 499, Senior Capstone

Siefke 100

3:30 – 4 PM

Return to schedule

Brenna Wilson

Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

Active involvement by parents is linked to improved academic and personal outcomes across grade levels. Studies have shown that students from elementary to high school age demonstrate that school based engagement, high parental expectations, academic socialization, and open parent child communication are there to enhance achievement measures such as reading scores and overall academic performance while boosting motivation. “Fan and Williams (2010)” demonstrate that increased parental support significantly enhances students’ self-beliefs and engagement, promoting deeper motivation to learn. “El Nokali et al. (2010)” establish that early parental involvement correlates with both academic and social development in elementary school children. “Froiland, Peterson, and Davison (2013)” highlight the long-term benefits of early parental expectations and involvement, particularly in sustaining academic achievement. “Hill and Tyson (2009)”, through meta-analytic review, identify effective middle school strategies, emphasizing the shift from direct homework help to academic socialization. “Jaiswal and Choudhuri (2017)” reinforce the consistent positive relationship between parental involvement and academic performance across contexts. “Weldon (2011)” further supports these claims through a critical review of existing parental engagement frameworks. “Kovács et al. (2024)” extends the discussion to extracurricular domains, showing that parental support also contributes to athletic achievement. “Nye, Turner, and Schwartz (2006)” present empirical evidence for the effectiveness of structured involvement programs in improving elementary students’ performance. All of these studies show us  the enduring and diverse role of parental involvement in shaping students’ academics.

EDUC 321, Classroom Relations and Management

Brian Kaelin

Womack Lobby and Room 100

10 AM – Noon

Return to schedule