Academic Creativity and Excellence Day

10 AM – 1 PM

Gunnar Lassen, Caroline Meili & Logan Oakerman

Team Digby BUS499 Capstone Simulation

Mission Statement

The Digby Company is focused on creating a series of both high-tech and low-tech products to suit the needs of all customers.

Strategy

Digby prioritizes investment in research and development to support innovation which exceeds consumer expectations on multiple price levels.

Product Life Cycles

The starting price for our product Diesel was set at 45$ per unit, with specifications regarding performance and size set at 7.4 (performance) and 12.6 (size). The first shift capacity for Diesel was set at 350 units. The investment approach towards marketing regarding promotion and budget were moderate. We have classified Diesel as our secondary product with Daze as the primary product. Diesel would be considered closer to the high-tech end of the industry. Diesel’s positioning was placed slightly ahead on the perceptual map.

The starting price for our product Daze was set at $35 per unit. The starting first shift capacity was set at 800 units. Performance and size were set at a respective 6.4 (performance) and 13.6 (size). We maintained a similar approach as displayed for Diesel regarding our investment in marketing promo and budget. Daze has remained as our main product closer to the low-tech end of the industry. The positioning for Daze relative to the perceptual map was also slightly ahead.

Product Positioning

With the provided debrief rubric, product positioning scores started at relatively satisfactory levels for Diesel, who saw trouble in the following two rounds based on a scoring system of 0-1.5 with 0 being most desirable. Diesel’s score was brought down to a resounding 0 by the end of round five, marking maximum ideal positioning. Daze never exceeded 1.84 and reached a low of 0 in round four.

Success Measures

The Daze contribution margin was consistently exceeding expectations with a maximum of 43.7% compared to the desired 35% and never dipping below its starting rate of 26.2%. Diesel saw steady growth from 27.8% to 33.7%, staying satisfactory despite an initial loss of 4%. Additional benchmarks were stock prices, which took a hit as positioning fell to unsatisfactory levels and rose again upon product fixes.

Human Resources Findings

Our human resources plan has been consistent with gradual adjustments along the way. We began the first few years with only 20 training hours, but we increased to 60 shortly after. The employee recruitment began with $2,500 per employee while increasing to the maximum of $5,000 shortly after. Also, our company’s automation ratings began small but have increased slowly over time.

Future Projections

As we continue to move into the next two years of company development we are lowering prices to better position ourselves. In addition, we are continuing to put money into marketing and promotional budgets to better position ourselves moving forward.

BUS 499, Business Strategy and Policy
Dave Quirk

Microsoft Teams

9 – 11:30 AM

Jasmine Lay

Quiet Screams and Radio Silence

Discussion of writing style: Stream of consciousness, Quiet Screams and Radio Silence meaning, echoing of thoughts, Prose. To bring one inside someone’s head in a realistically scattered way.

Artistic influences: Music, nature, other authors, traumas. Introduce lyric examples. Nick Flynn, Iain Thomas, JD Salinger, William Faulkner

Publication “”process”” of poetry book.

Sample reading from poetry book (Poetry Slam).

Acknowledgements

ENG 499, Senior Capstone

James Watson

L203

10 – 10:30 AM

Kaylyn LeRoy

Women in Leadership in Public Relations

This project is based on women who are in positions of leadership in the public relations field and how they got to be where they are today. Although the world of PR and advertising certainly includes women, when you get up into the chain of command, women only make up 30% of leadership roles. This study is focused on women who are in the 30% and how they got to be where they are today.

COMM 499, Capstone

Kelsay Rychener

L203

12:30 – 1 PM

Christoph Mai

Injury Risk on Artificial Turf vs Gras in Soccer Players

The topic of injury risk on artificial grass in comparison to normal grass is important to soccer players as many players perceive that artificial grass leads to a higher chance of injury, greater joint and muscle soreness, and a longer recovery time. An ACL tear is the most common season-ending injury in soccer players and is therefore used as an example to show the difference between artificial grass and normal grass. There is evidence that playing on artificial grass can increase the risk of sustaining an ACL injury. Multiple studies compared the injuries sustained on artificial and normal grass in elite or college-level soccer players from the US or Europe. Those studies found different results, while more studies said that there is no difference seen in injury risk between the newest generation of artificial grass and normal grass.

EXSC 425, Biomechanics of Musculoskeletal Injuries

Heike McNeil

S100

12:30 – 1 PM

Katy Matteucci

A Historical and Functional Analysis of the Smallpox and Tetanus Vaccines

Ascribed to SARS-CoV-2, the current pandemic has generated a lot of questions and concerns pertaining to not only the COVID vaccines, but also the broad spectrum of vaccination practices that exist. With this in mind, the objective of this presentation is to analysis the general safety and effectiveness of vaccines, based on an extensive historical overview and functional analysis of their mechanisms of action. In order to do this, an emphasis on the smallpox and tetanus vaccines will be rendered.

BIOL 499, Senior Capstone

Paul Allee

P114

10 – 11 AM

Kade McClaugherty

Differentiating Learning

Some of the students in my Spanish 1B class had trouble engaging in the learning and would not participate in class. I looked at ways to differentiate the learning as a way to get more students engaged in the learning and increase retention. The research gave a few great examples involving T.P.R., rhythm, games, and different ways to use context and sentence grammar to learn the meaning of words and I was able to implement a few of these strategies within the classroom.

EDUC 321, Classroom Relations & Management

Brian Kaelin

Joshua McCluskey

Skeletal Muscle Soreness and Fatigue; Causes and Treatment

High intensity training, induces muscle fatigue, increases blood lactate levels, causes an accumulation of metabolites within the muscle body, and induces sensations of pain and decreased mobility following the exercise. In an effort to mitigate the feeling of strain on the body often we turn towards different recovery modalities; cryotherapy, myofascial release, and electrical stimulation. Many times these can have a perceived benefit while being administered which may not always be truly indicative of whether the modality has any efficacy. This review was aimed at addressing the objective benefits seen with each training modality, which encompasses how they affect muscle soreness, subjective feelings of fatigue prior to the next exercise, and biological markers and indicators for inflammation levels.

BIOL 499, Senior Capstone

Paul Allee

P114

11 – 11:30 AM

Kiley McCurry

The research on and implemented solutions for lack of engagement levels through distance learning

Distance learning has caused many primary students to lose interest and lack in participation and engagement. I researched and implemented four strategies in a 4th grade classroom to see the results of these effects on 8 students who had little to no participation for the majority of class time throughout the week. These strategies included implementing task oriented curriculum, scaffolding students into a self regulated zone of educational improvement, examining predictive factors for student success in hybrid learning, and including open-ended questions throughout discussion time.

EDUC 321, Classroom Relations & Management

Brian Kaelin

Kalani Miller

The Queen Who Cared

Esther, one of only two books of the Bible that never mentions the name of God, is a historical narrative that teaches us how God works behind the scenes in our lives. While there is no historical evidence of her existence, she demonstrates a spirit of courage and a faith in God that can still be applied today.

BTM 101, Old Testament

A. J. Swoboda

L204

1:30 – 2 PM

Makenna Northern

Strategies to Encourage Participation in High School Zoom Classes

For my project for this ACE Day I focused on the question of Strategies I could use to get more participation in my online zoom class. The problem that I was having in my zoom classes was that no one would turn their cameras on and no one would answer questions when asked. I researched and found four strategies that I could implement in the future to help ensure that my students know that participation is required. I explored four strategies in my presentation and they were, giving different types of feedback, having a positive first day of class, monitoring student participation and a virtual reality option.

EDUC 321, Classroom Relations & Management

Brian Kaelin

Ethan Pentony, Rachel Rhoads, Brevin Russnogle & Nico Wolff

Team Erie Final Presentation

Our research will showcase our findings from decision based data we’ve collected the past seven weeks. Topics addressed will not only go over how our company did from year to year, but it will also be accompanied by comparative data of other teams in the class. Our research also shows the extent of change needed throughout the weekly decisions that would positively and negatively affect our company and the changes made in efforts to make company more successful week to week. This can be seen throughout topics such as Human Resource findings, success measures, product life cycles, and product positioning where we analyze how our decisions affected the company overall.

BUS 499, Business Strategy and Policy

Dave Quirk

Microsoft Teams

9 – 11:30 AM

Alyssa Perovich

Light & Honey Ministries: Strategic Plan

Light & Honey Ministries is a web-based ministry outreach focused on using biblical backing to address current issues that young women face today. Our topics will range from friendship and community to grief and sin. From a background of leadership and vulnerability, I have been inspired to begin L&H to offer a bible study in a format that reaches an audience immersed in a media-centered society. Presented in a blog format, L&H will create content using the Word to teach lessons, lead discussions, and inspire further conversations. As Psalm 119:103-105 reflects, the Word is a light to our path and honey from our lips.

COMM 499, Senior Capstone

Kelsay Rychener

L203

1:30 – 2 PM

Brittany Ralston

Ankle Taping vs Ankle Bracing in the Athletic Community

Introduction: The lateral ankle sprain (LAS) is one of the most common injures of the lower extremity with nearly 2 million people affected annually by LAS in the United States alone. Research needs to be done in order to determine whether ankle taping or ankle bracing is better for an individual who has sustained a LAS injury.

Hypothesis: Before any research was conducted, it was hypothesized that ankle taping would be more beneficial to the athlete after sustaining a lateral ankle sprain. On the other hand, the assumption that the soft ankle brace would be more advantageous to the active individual when used as a prophylactic measure was also hypothesized.

Methods: Systematic review of the lateral ankle sprain with a focus on ankle bracing and ankle taping.

Results: Braces may have a detrimental effect on lower extremity’s ability to attenuate vertical ground reaction forces during a landing exercise (2). Individuals with chronic ankle instability displayed motor control instability bilaterally (7). Low hip abductor strength increased the risk of future injury within athletes (10). The application of the semi-rigid brace led to reductions in inversion angles during injury relevant movements (3). Collegiate athletes with previous history of ankle sprains have a greater predisposition to LAS (8). Tape and lace-up braces provided equal range of motion and stability (12).

Conclusion: Range of motion within the ankle joint is limited through both ankles taping and ankle bracing tactics. Personal preference of the athlete should be held in high regard when choosing between methods of ankle stabilization.

EXSC 425, Biomechanics of Musculoskeletal Injuries

Heike McNeil

S100

1 – 1:30 PM

Sarah Reinecker

Public Relations campaign for Incline Basketball Academy

The following presentation is an overview of a Public Relations Campaign for Incline Basketball Academy. This is a non-profit AAU basketball organization that is built on “character, love, and loyalty.” The objective was to assist their Director of Basketball Operations in promoting their organization in the community of Eugene, while planning and hosting a grand opening event for their new basketball arena, “The Five”.

COMM 499, Capstone

Kelsay Rychener

Noon – 12:30

L204

Alessia Righi

Brexit: a precarious step toward de-globalization

In 2016, to the astonishment of Great Britain and the rest of the world, the UK became the first country to leave the European Union. This study analyzes the motives behind the revolutionary decision known as “Brexit”, examining the economic impacts on the different stakeholders involved. Moreover, this study builds on previous research, presenting a new approach to understanding Brexit from the resource-based and institution-based views. With use of data from economic prospects and government documents, the researcher surveyed the benefits and challenges of Brexit for Great Britain as a whole, for its businesses, and for its citizens. The findings reveal that Britain will survive the exit from the union, but it will be economically worse-off and a more inward-looking place. The study concludes that this event perfectly aligns with the forecast that the world is heading toward de-globalization.

BUS 219, Global Business

Timothy Veach

1 – 2 PM

P114

1 – 2 PM

Alessia Righi

Leadership Under Attack: Iraq as an Unnecessary War

How would you feel if you were told that the Iraq War was unnecessary? Would you be shocked if the person making this statement was President Bush’s own press secretary? The following paper analyzes whether the Iraq war could have been avoided. Previous studies have examined the success of the war; however, little research was conducted in regard to the necessity of this military intervention. To tackle this question, the leadership of presidents Roosevelt and Bush in the aftermath of two attacks on US soil, respectively Pearl Harbor and 9/11, is scrutinized. Using information from both academic journals and governmental documents, this paper investigates if the decision of going to war was justified in these two different occasions. Three main factors were used in coming to a conclusion: the attack on US soil, the threat that the country was posing, and the public opinion. The findings uncovered by this research reveal that the Iraq war was unnecessary. We conclude that this military intervention could have been avoided and more than four thousand lives saved.

HIST 430, History of American International Relations

Melisa Ortiz Berry

10 AM – 1 PM

Brooklyn Rodriguez

Compassion and the Restoration of Worthiness

Homelessness is a reality that deeply effects the city of Eugene. As a part of this community, what does it look like to engage with and relate to the unhoused? Many of us carry misconceptions that limit us from truly being able to do so, or, in other cases maybe the crisis feels so overwhelming that paralysis takes over and it feels too big to do anything at all. In this vital conversation, I want to guide people through challenging their own thoughts around homelessness. It is by the power of others experiences and stories that we often soften and find a deep care for the world around us. So, how do we look through the lens of seeing ALL as image bearers and treating the most vulnerable in our city with dignity, love, compassion, and care?

COMM 499, Senior Capstone

Kelsay Rychener

L203

1 – 1:30 PM

Emmalee Rusk

“Danton”

History of Western Civilization II outlines a large and complex portion of history. In the conclusion of this class, a Reacting To The Past (RTTP) role-playing game was integrated into this course. In this specific Reacting To The Past game, “Rousseau, Burke and Revolution in France, 1791” the character elected to me by my professor was Georges-Jacques Danton. The use of this RTTP game in History of Western Civilization II allowed me to connect and understand Danton and his place in history better. Reacting To The Past provides a deeper dive into the understanding of history and to the understanding of crucial members of history.

HIST 152, History of Western Civilization II

Melisa Ortiz Berry

10 AM – 1 PM

Emmalee Rusk

World Wars handled with Realism Vs. Liberalism

“How many World War I or World War II documentaries did I have to watch in high school?” If you went to a high school anything like mine those documentaries were drawn from the shelf at least twice a year. In those documentaries, there was endless mention of the Fourteen Points and the dropping of the Atomic Bomb. The United States’ involvement in both World Wars was influential. However, did one U.S. President handle the conflict better than the other? Woodrow Wilson, Franklin Roosevelt, and Harry Truman handled international conflict with liberalism, realism, or both. In the United States involvement in the World Wars, the use of realist thinking of former Presidents Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman in World War II was more efficient than former President Woodrow Wilson’s liberal thinking used in World War I, which is shown in the actions’ correlation to civilian casualties, sensitivity, and understanding of the severity of the conflict and involvement in ending the wars successfully.

HIST 430, History of American International Relations

Melisa Ortiz Berry

10 AM – 1 PM

Emmalee Rusk

Racial Representation in Children’s Books – A Case Study

Diverse racial representation in illustrated children’s books falls devastatingly short of what it should be. In this Case Study, a comparison of several books will be analyzed to show this fact with the backing of other studies and polls taken about diversity in illustrated children’s books. The lack of diverse character illustrations in children’s books is detrimental to a multicultural societal perspective, not only for the children but for those introducing and reading these books to the younger and more susceptible audiences.

SOC 410, Global Issues: Race in America

Melisa Ortiz Berry

10 AM – 1 PM

Jordan Strehlow

The Power Behind Smiling

A smile has the power to change lives. Multiple studies demonstrate how smiling will improve a persons physical as well as mental health and smiling consistently will bring the biggest results. The benefits that come from smiling are needed now more than ever because of all the isolation and depression brought on by COVID-19. Each person can make a difference in their own life as well as others by intentionally smiling at the right times. Smiling is a powerful tool and can improve a person’s life when done correctly.

COMM 312, Advanced Public Speaking

Doyle Srader

L204

12:30 – 1 PM

Sucao Wang

How to support a student with ADHD to engage

A student called Noah diagnosed with ADHD. He is in my 3rd-grade practicum class. He has difficulty focusing during a lecture, and he is not interested in doing any schoolwork. He doesn’t finish his bell works, morning work, or any assignments. He makes noises and chats with his neighbors during a lecture. When he is asked to finish his assignments, he finishes his work sloppily and I can tell that he just wants his work to be done. He only takes participant in some science activity. I will talk about some strategies based on the research to support Noah to succeed at school.

EDUC 321, Classroom Relations & Management

Brian Kaelin

Kaleea Washington

Encountering Wonder, Informing Creation

This presentation is about the biblical theme of “wonder” as it relates to the created world. This brief capstone will research both primary and secondary sources and will explore the concept of wonder as has been defined continuously as the act of “marvel” or “amaze” in the Greek and Hebrew translations found in Strong’s concordance. The following work will explore in particular the complexities pertaining to the experience of encountering wonder in creation. These complexities are more often than not measured by the qualitative and intimate experiences of modern authors and those who partook in the establishment of Holy Scripture. Moreover, this exploration of wonder will seek to beg the question—how does wonder impact us? To that end, I will utilize and describe the concept of “informing creation” as a way of speaking to our responsibility to care for God’s creation which includes all God has created, his all-encompassing workmanship, the animal kingdom, humanity, and Earth.

Keywords: Scripture, Wonder, Creation, Experience, Decay

BTM 499, Senior Capstone

A. J. Swoboda

L204

2 – 2:30 PM

Carrington Waylett

The Beginning of Life

Covered in this research paper is the journey of the secondary oocyte and the sperm to unite to form a zygote. From there the zygote then begins its journey of replication. In this paper the subject of female and male gamete production will take place. As well as the fertilization of the secondary oocyte and implantation into the uterus. Despite this paper only covering a small portion of development it does cover events that have a high level of failure. The goal of this paper is to explore the beauty of reproduction and the miracle that it is.

BIOL 499, Senior Capstone

Paul Allee

P114

11:30 AM – Noon

Amber Whitehead

Fidgeting in the Classroom

In both of my placements this year, I witnessed student’s fidgeting in the classroom which caused a distraction for themselves, their classmates and the teachers. For this research project, I researched how a teacher can better meet the needs of the students who fidget in the classroom. The results of this exploration were that if students were given the correct fidgeting technics and tools, if helps themselves and other in the classroom.

EDUC 321, Classroom Relations & Management

Brian Kaelin

Magie Woginrich

Prevention of Shoulder Injuries Among Track & Field Throwers

The glenohumeral joint, also known as the shoulder, is one of the most important factors in a javelin throw. The shoulder is one of the most mobile joints in the body and also one of the most unstable. Because of the shoulder instability, shoulder injuries are one of the most common in the javelin athlete. This project is going to be looking for different exercises or physical training an athlete can do to minimize their risk for shoulder injury. Numerous research articles were reviewed to determine the best possible way to prevent these types of injuries. Strengthening the rotator cuff muscles and monitoring external and internal rotation range of motion are the main findings of this research.

EXSC 425, Biomechanics of Musculoskeletal Injury

Heike McNeil

S100

1:30 – 2:00 PM

Anthony Wurst

Convincing Convincability

What is the purpose of message delivery? When we make the effort to communicate a message, we are hoping to produce some sort of change in the recipient(s). In this presentation, we summarize three articles that discuss the results of studies involving the Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM) of persuasion as they attempted to affect change in their targets. We then discuss a common theme that all three shared as they attempted to focus on ELM’s central route of message elaboration in their message targets. The theme will then be applied to the articles and we shall make an application of our findings using George Washington’s (1796) farewell address.

COMM 342, Survey of Communication Theory

Kelsay Rychener

Bucher Room

2 – 2:30 PM

Anthony Wurst

May The Strong Protect The Innocent

In his inaugural address, president John F. Kennedy promoted, “creating a new endeavor, not a new balance of power, but a new world of law, where the strong are just and the weak secure and the peace preserved.” The protection of indigenous peoples is a key measure by which the progress of modern society should be judged. Non-Industrialized, indigenous peoples cannot defend themselves against the industrial military machines of modern society. Therefore, by means of constructivist mechanisms, the popular morals and ethics of advanced military societies decide upon the protection of the rights of indigenous peoples. Constructivist approaches to international relations assert the power of groups to socialize the international community to new norms. Recent scholarship states that constructivist “[b]eliefs about [c]hange” in the international community are that change is “[p]ossible through socialization, diffusion of ideas, or internationalization of norms.” Before it reaches the international level, this change begins in the hearts of the people. The genesis of absolute, universally beneficial change is revealed to humankind by the Holy Spirit as taught by the scriptures in Romans 2:14,15 . Has this mechanism of socialization provided enduring protection for the indigenous peoples whose rights have been infringed by the world’s greatest military machine, the USA? In this essay, three court cases will be used to compare constructivist socializing of new norms between 1824 and 2017 with realist counterpoints. We hope to prove that, though constructivism has yielded inconsistent results in protecting the rights of indigenous peoples, it has provided significant protection. While current academic literature suggests constructivist mechanisms are effective in socializing groups to new norms, a comparison of three court cases involving the US and indigenous peoples reveals constructivism has provided significant yet inconsistent protection, as seen through an examination of Johnson v. M’Intosh, Worcester v. Georgia and Republic of Marshall v. USA.

HIST 430, History of American International Relations

Melisa Ortiz Berry

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

Join the Zoom meeting here

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

Join the Zoom meeting here

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

Join the Zoom meeting here.

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

Thankfulness worship and devotional

Moriah Duenich & Isaac Johnston

9:30 – 10:00 AM

Afterward, view some messages of appreciation for the staff and faculty here.

Click here to view the convocation at noon!

Honors Convocation

Welcome & Devotion: Dennis R. Lindsay

Arts & Sciences

Outstanding Psychology Major: Mary Ann Winter-Messiers
Outstanding Speaker Award: Doyle Srader
Gardiepy-Peloquin Communication Scholar Award: Kelsay (Gardiepy) Rychener
Outstanding Graduating Exercise Science Student: Heike McNeil
CLIO History Award: Melisa Ortiz Berry

Library

Library Research Award: Steve Silver

Music & Performing Arts

NCU University Choir & Orchestra: “Amazing Grace”
Outstanding Music Graduate Award: Karen De Young
Outstanding Christian Worship Graduate Award: Karen De Young

Christian Ministry

The William T. Siefke Evangelism & Church Growth Award: Troy Dean
The Siefke Preaching Scholarship Award: AJ Swoboda
The Siefke Potential for Preaching Scholarship Award: Doyle Srader
Stone Campbell Journal Promising Scholar Award: Agam Iheanyi-Igwe
Zondervan Biblical Language Award: Melisa Ortiz Berry
Robert Sullivan Family Award for Creativity in Ministry: Keith Potter

Teacher Education

Excellence in Teaching: Kathy Owen
Outstanding Teacher Leadership: Kathy Owen
Excellence in Master of Teaching: Kathy Owen
Outstanding Master of Teaching Leadership: Kathy Owen
Excellence in School Counseling: Kathy Owen
Outstanding School Leadership: Kathy Owen

Student Development

Chi Alpha Sigma Initiates: Sarah Freeman
Student Leader of the Year: Michael Fuller
ASNCU Senior of the Year: Katia Burke
ASNCU Faculty of the Year: Katia Burke
ASNCU Staff Member of the Year: Katia Burke

Closing Words and Benediction: President Womack

Noon – 1 PM

Verbal Aggressiveness and Humor

Paige Amstutz & Annelise Helbling

The purpose of this study was to identify the correlation between verbal aggressiveness and humor. The hypothesis was that individuals who utilize a greater level of humor while communicating are less verbally aggressive and individuals that use less humor are more verbally aggressive. This study consisted of seventy-five people participating in a survey that was made up of two questionnaires. The questionnaires measured humor and verbal aggression. The participants’ sense of humor was measured as it related to the situation, level of detail, prior planning, and number of different humor behavior types. Verbal aggression was measured based on how individuals influenced others to do what they wanted. After we applied a Pearson correlation test, a minimal negative correlation resulted. However, the study did not support the hypothesis to a significant extent.

COMM 413, Advanced Interpersonal Communication

Doyle Srader

10 AM – Noon

Non-Religiousness and Compassion: Correlation of the Religiousness Commitment Inventory and the Lovingkindness-Compassion Scale

Mental health has become a more prevalent topic in societal discussions. People are constantly searching for ways to improve their mental health. Religious commitment and lovingkindness-compassion both have a positive correlation to mental health. We wanted to ask the question, is there a correlation between religious commitment and lovingkindness-compassion? We thought that one did not have to have high religious commitment to have lovingkindness-compassion and vice versa. To test this hypothesis, we created a Google form that listed all the statements used in the religious commitment inventory and lovingkindness-compassion scale in which participants rated how true or untrue the statements were to them. After performing a Pearson test on the participant’s scores, the results showed that there is no correlation between religious commitment and lovingkindness-compassion.

COMM 413, Advanced Interpersonal Communication

Doyle Srader

10 AM – Noon

Portrayals of Feminism Through the Novels of Jane Austen

Caitlin Bowen

Jane Austen is one of the most well-known British-English authors that lived the 18th century. While her novels and writings are often praised for their portrayal of day-to-day living in the English countryside, she also portrays the restrictions that were put on women during this time. In her novels Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, and Persuasion, Austen uses her female characters not only to illustrate the rigid expectations that society had for them but also to illustrate the different degrees of feminism available to these women while they still, for the most part, followed society’s rules. Her other novels, Emma, Mansfield Park, and Northanger Abbey provide other relevant examples of feminism in 18th century England; however, they do so in a different manner. This presentation will look at what feminism is and how it differed in the 18th century. It will also analyze the different women found in Austen’s novels and their situations in life, and try to understand what possible ideas, regarding feminism, Austen was trying to get her readers to comprehend.

ENG 499, Capstone

James Watson

1 – 1:30 PM

Join the Zoom discussion afterward. The presenter and faculty advisor both have the password.

Capstone Final Presentation Team Digby

Arthur Breidenbach, Logan Davis, Blake Doran, Zachary Drach & Luis Diaz Menendaz

For our presentation we will explain the mission statement and strategy we chose to use and why we chose them for our organization/simulation. We will also discuss our three products and how they fit into our strategy, their product life, and whether they were a successful product or not. We will also discuss the troubling times we went through and how we are going to reinvent our business to be more successful. In addition, we will cover the struggles we encountered in our business. For several weeks, unfortunately, we took out several emergency loans in order to stay open. Finally, we will discuss the measures we took in order to turn Digby into a profitable firm.

BUS 499, Business Strategy and Policy

Dave Quirk

Collectivism in Connection to Child-Parent Communication Apprehension

Katia Burke & Maddy Guiger

Previous research has examined the correlation between collectivism and communication apprehension. This research has suggested a link between individuals who score higher in collectivism and the experience of communication apprehension. The present study sought to build upon this research and explore if a similar correlation exists between collectivism and child-parent communication apprehension. The hypothesis for this study was that participants who scored higher in collectivism would also score high in child-parent communication apprehension. This hypothesis was tested via a survey which collected participants’ measures on the Auckland Individualism Collectivism Scale and the Child-Parent Communication Apprehension Scale. The data was then coded and compared through a Pearson correlation test. The data showed a weak correlation between collectivism and child-parent communication apprehension. The significance of these findings and implications for future research are discussed.

COMM 413, Advanced Interpersonal Communication

Doyle Srader

10 AM – Noon

Do Individualistic People Experience Lower Communication Apprehension Than Collectivists? An Advanced Interpersonal Research Study

A great deal of research has been conducted regarding communicator apprehension (CA) and individualism/collectivism as separate topics. However, little research has been done to analyze connections they have with each other. Based on prior research regarding CA and individualism/collectivism, we hypothesize that participants who identify as individualistic will also report lesser amounts of CA. We propose that the opposite is also true: participants who report identifying as collective will report higher CA. Results of the study found that there was little to no correlation.

COMM 413, Advanced Interpersonal Communication

Doyle Srader

10 AM – Noon

Bushnell Apparel Analysis

Jesse Gerlach

The following examination is based on the visual analytical tool designed and described by Paul Martin Lester in his book Visual Communications: Images With Messages. This tool thoroughly deconstructs each component of a visual text so that its content and context are effectively comprehended and synthesized. This analysis was done on the 2020 Bushnell University attire. The first portion of the research was to analyze the apparel with the aforementioned analytical tool. It was concluded by the researcher that the products of Bushnell University are primarily informative in nature, in that they are designed to communicate a simple message of a group membership. Additionally, the minimalist style of the products, including the logo of the beacon and name, adds to the emphasis on the community rather than to extraneous details that a more complex design might include. In this way, given the intended function of the merchandise, it was concluded that the message communicated by the apparel’s design was effective. The second portion was, based upon the results of the instrument, to offer additional apparel designs that address the critiques of the original designs as well as provide a more diverse range of options for the university. Two possible applications to increase product diversity are the use of nontraditional text placements and nontraditional textile styles. For the nontraditional text placements, the university’s mission statement could be both plain-texted on the back and inverse-texted on the back. For nontraditional textile styles, a long sleeve, extra long, curved hem, shirt is an excellent example of more modern styles that could be adopted for product diversity.

Keywords: Bushnell University, Apparel, Designs,

COMM 407, Special Topics: Visual Communication

Doyle Srader

10 AM – Noon

A Study on the Relation Between Nonverbal Knowledge and Touch Avoidance

Jesse Gerlach & Madison Hoke

The following study looked to compare the relationship between an individual’s knowledge of nonverbal cues and their level of touch avoidance. The study was conducted online with a total of 33 participants. Participants were asked to complete the Test of Nonverbal Cue Knowledge (TONCK) and Touch Avoidant Measure (TAM). For the Touch Avoidant Measure, both section one and two were included, testing an individual’s level of touch avoidance in same-sex and opposite-sex social interactions. Prior to conducting the study, the experimenters examined the past research done in each of these areas. The studies found that Touch Avoidance is more common with individuals who suffer from Social Anxiety (SA). In particular, SA was discovered to be most prominent with women who were being approached by men they did not originally know. Therefore, the researchers wanted to focus on touch avoidance within the same-sex and opposite-sex spectrum. This was designed so that a thorough understanding of which instances people may feel Touch Avoidant, and whether or not their knowledge of nonverbals is attributed to that avoidance may be reached. The results of the research found that there was little to no correlation between an individual’s knowledge of nonverbal cues, and their level of touch avoidance with both people of the same and opposite sex. Limitations of the study are centered around both the small participant number and the absence of male and female categories for the results. Future research can, therefore, look into both other variables relating to Touch Avoidance and the implications of gender as they relate to Touch Avoidance.

COMM 413, Advanced Interpersonal Communication

Doyle Srader

10 AM – Noon

Exploring the formative nature of liturgical actions: Eucharist, Word, song, and prayer

Matthew Geronimo

We live in a world that is prideful, individualistic, and unjust. God calls all people, through the redemption of Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit, to participate with God through liturgical actions: Eucharist, Word, song, and prayer. Based on biblical, historical, and theological research, this paper will propose the aforementioned liturgical actions to form worshipers to be holy and living sacrifices.

CW 499, Capstone

Karen De Young

2:30 – 3 PM

Join the Zoom discussion afterward. The presenter and faculty advisor both have the password.

Capstone: Generosity Feeds

Maya Jenkins

In September of 2019, I chose to take part of an organization committed to addressing childhood food insecurity. I saw Generosity Feeds as a great way to practice what I had learned in my COMM 450 Persuasion class. I saw an opportunity to be a persuader and to practice organizing events. I created a strategic plan composed of persuasive strategies consisting of four conditions: potential donors, volunteers, broadcasting, and a one-on-one condition. In each of these conditions, persuasive strategies were implemented that would have ideally influenced the likelihood that people were to donate, volunteer, and buy into the message of Generosity Feeds. In this presentation, I will be reflecting on the work that I got to complete for this project before it was cancelled.

COMM 499, Capstone

Doyle Srader

2:30 – 3 PM

Join the Zoom discussion afterward. The presenter and faculty advisor both have the password.