DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY

Analytical Papers and Analyses

Haggerty, Nathan; Larkin, Konner. THE EFFECTS OF OCEAN GARBAGE PATCHES ON WILDLIFE AND HUMAN SOCIETY.

Konner and I researched the accumulation of manmade ocean debris and the research methods, findings, and impacts of the massive patches of garbage in the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans.
Faculty Sponsor: MARK MILLS

(Kusilek, Jason) (Reynolds, Jeremy). ADAPTATIONS OF THE COYOTE (CANIS LATRANS).

This project is about the behavioral adaptations of the coyote to urban environments, and how it has managed to thrive despite extirpation efforts.
Faculty Sponsor: CARY CHEVALIER

Kusilek, Jason. BRISTLECONE PINE.

This project is about the Bristlecone Pine tree, the longest lived tree in the world. Its ecology, morphology, and longevity will be discussed.
Faculty Sponsor: CSENGELE BARTA

Empirical Projects

Abrahamson Levi , Kimsey Hagen, Krugh Alyra, Lee Brian. CHALLENGES OF WILD HORSES .

The wild horses of the United States of America were introduced to this country over five centuries ago. Sense that time they have become the symbols that represent the west as well as an invasive species that is very capable of changing the landscape where they graze. The task of managing these animal is a very complex challenge.
Faculty Sponsor: CARY D. CHEVALIER

Anthony Antos, Kelsey Gillenwater, Chad Smith. KEY ADAPTATIONS FOR ALPINE MAMMALS .

It is necessary for animals that live in alpine region to have special adaptations tailored especially for their surroundings to increase their chances of survival.
Faculty Sponsor: DR. CARY D. CHEVALIER

Antos, Anthony. WESTERN RED CEDAR.

The Western Red Cedar is one of the most valuable softwoods in North America. Its wood has many chemical properties that make it disease and insect resistant.
Faculty Sponsor: DR. BARTA

Atkins, Kaitlyn; Copenhaver, Maggie; Schroder, Amanda . INVASIVE SPECIES: EUROPEAN RABBITS (ORYCTOLAGUS CUNICULUS) IN AUSTRALIA.

European Rabbits are considered an invasive species in many parts of the world. Though they have positive impacts in the locations that they have settled, there are more negative impacts to the land and other species than anything else. In Australia especially, they are causing major problems so many conservation efforts have been set forth to preserve the native land and wildlife.
Faculty Sponsor: DR. C.D. CHEVALIER

Megan Baker, Celeste Blakely, Jasmine Dixon, Audrey Lindsteadt. ABUNDANCE AND DIVERSITY OF BACTERIA IN UNIVERSITY BATHROOMS.

The purpose of the experiment was to determine the amount of bacteria on toilet handles. We tested restrooms on three different floors and tested both male and female bathrooms. We then incubated the swabs and grew our own bacteria colonies. Our group counted how many colonies were in each petri dish and took samples of bacteria. With the samples we killed and dyed the bacteria so that we can easily see them under a compound microscope. We discovered the samples had many unique structures. In comparison, the mens bathroom had a greater abundance of bacteria colonies than the females, but the females had a greater diversity of colonies.
Faculty Sponsor: DR CSENGELE BARTA

Burriss, Jay, Shoemaker, Hannah, and Rodney, Malory. THE WORLD'S MOST TRAFFICKED MAMMAL THAT YOU'VE NEVER HEARD OF.

We will present about the endangered mammal the pangolin and the conservation methods being attempted in order to save it.
Faculty Sponsor: DR. ROY

Jordan Catherall, Kaleb Peters, Collin Wyatt, Hunter Sloan. EFFECTS OF WI-FI ON THE HEART RATE OF DAPHNIA MAGNA .

The purpose of this project was to determine if Wi-Fi has an effect on the heart rate of daphnia magna. The daphnia were placed in three different locations for one hour, one group next to a router, another next working cellular devices, and another alone in a room away from phones and the router. The conclusion was that it cannot be determined due too many exterior interferences.
Faculty Sponsor: DR CSENGELE BARTA

Whitney Davidson, Jasmine Sanders, Tommi Stanton. E.COLI GROWTH WHEN EXPOSED TO DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENTS.

The purpose of this experiment was to determine the general effect that temperature has on the growth of E. coli. The amount of cell growth within the samples was recorded at four different temperatures. The samples were placed in different environments: freezer (-20C), fridge (5C), and in a heated box (57C). The control sample was cultured at (37C). It was concluded that extreme temperatures such as the freezer and heated box will denature the E. Coli cells and that the cells grew most efficiently in the control sample.
Faculty Sponsor: DR CSENGELE BARTA

Lauren Garrett, Tiffani Ledford,Drake Blanchard, and Erica Fleckal. EFFECT OF ALCOHOL ON EGG PROTEIN DENATURATION .

The purpose of this experiment was to determine how different concentrations of isopropyl alcohol denatured protein. The protein samples used in the experiment were egg whites. The different solutions used were mixtures of water and alcohol equaling 500 microliters. The egg whites and solutions of water and alcohol were put into tubes and centrifuged to separate the protein left (egg white) and solution. The protein was then put into different tubes, and dye was used to detect the amount of protein left in the sample. The more blue the sample was, the more more protein left. One tube was simply water and dye to show that if no protein was added, the sample remained a red-orange color. The samples were then run through a machine used to detect the amount of light that passed through each sample, measuring their concentration.
Faculty Sponsor: DR CSENGELE BARTA

Brianna Grinnell, Dominique Morelli, Joshua Turner . PROTEIN CONCENTRATION DIFFERENCES IN MILK, STRAWBERRIES, AND SPINACH.

The purpose of this experiment was to measure the protein concentrations from milk, spinach, and strawberries to determine which food had the most protein. Our hypothesis is that milk will have the highest protein concentration. Through use of a spectrometer, the absorbance of each sample was measured and the average protein concentration of the strawberry, spinach, and milk averaged. Our results supported our hypothesis that the milk would have the highest protein concentration, and so our experiment was conclusive.
Faculty Sponsor: DR CSENGELE BARTA

Hunter, Sondi. GINKGO: GINKGO BILOBA.

Gingko trees are indigenous to China and Japan. They were brought over to North America are are used as ornamental trees and for shade. Parts of the Gingko trees have medicinal value.
Faculty Sponsor: DR. BARTA

Jacob Lewis, Scott Le, Jakob Palmer, and Aiden Zentz . THE CONSERVATION OF THE MARY RIVER TURTLE.

The Mary River Turtle is an Australian freshwater turtle found only in the Queensland’s Mary River. It is a short necked turtle, that begins life around 3-4 centimeters and can grow up to 40 centimeters in length. It comes equipped with some unique features, such as two feelers on its chin that help it detect objects in murky waters, and it has a tail that can grow up to 70% longer than its total body size. It is most well known for that algae that grows upon its head and its shell that resemble hair, as well as its ability to breathe through its anus. The main cause of its endangered status is the exotic animal market, its unique features made it a popular pet that was sold by the masses. This along with habitat loss makes it one of the top 25 most endangered species of turtle in the world. The conservation of this animal is important, not only because it plays a role in maintaining bivalve populations in the Mary River, but because it is a shining example of the diverse world in which we live.
Faculty Sponsor: TILOTTAMA ROY

Brooke Kaderly, Aubree Haddock, Erykah White. SPINACH LEAF PHOTOSYNTHESIS RATE UNDER DIFFERENT COLORED LIGHTS.

The purpose of this experiment was to determine the effect that different colored light sources had on the rate of photosynthesis of a spinach leaf. Four different colored lights were used: red, blue, white, and green. Hypothesis: The red and blue colored lights will be the most effective in increasing the rate of photosynthesis, chlorophyll pigment absorbs those light wavelengths most effectively.
Faculty Sponsor: DR CSENGELE BARTA

Kiyah Blake, Hanna Moore, Caleb Schreiner, Trevor Mull Jada Hopkins. HISPANIOLAN SOLENODON.

Our group's poster is going to be over the Hispaniolan Solenodon and will focus mainly on its habitat, reproductive and eating habits, and what threats humans and other species pose towards this living fossil. We will also be really focusing on how important it is that we conserve the venom-injecting mammal and while we may not have copious amounts of data, we must work towards helping to preserve this organism's unique characteristics so we can learn more about the history of mammals and potentially the Earth.
Faculty Sponsor: TILOTTAMA ROY

(Kusilek, Jason) (Goerlitz, Carson). CONSERVATION OF THE BELUGA STURGEON.

This project is about the Beluga Sturgeon and its conservation status according to the IUCN. Its range, diet, habitat, threats to survival, and history will be discussed.
Faculty Sponsor: MARK MILLS

Logan Hovey, Titus Brumit, Thomas Moore, Ciarra Baker. SAVING THE ORANGUTANS.

The orangutan is one of the most commonly known \r\nprimates and also the most endangered. These primates \r\ncan be found on various islands in Indonesia and Malaysia, \r\nOrangutans serve numerous purposes in their ecosystem, \r\nsuch as the distribution of seeds. This helps contribute to \r\nthe rich vegetation the rainforests are known for. Orangutan \r\npopulations have declined 82% over the last 75 years with \r\nthe leading causes being hunting and deforestation. One of \r\nthe main causes of deforestation and the decline in \r\norangutan population is the manufacture and harvesting of \r\nPalm oil. There have been some conservation efforts in \r\nplace to help the orangutans such as awareness groups like \r\nthe Orangutan Foundation International.
Faculty Sponsor: TILOTTAMA ROY

Christian, Jacob. THE CONSERVATION OF THE BALD EAGLE.

We will present about general information about America\'s mascot, \r\nthe bald eagle, and the success story of the Bald Eagle\'s \r\nconservation attempts.
Faculty Sponsor: DR. MILLS

Emily Niec, Elizabeth Everly, Zach Hanlan, Taylor Robinson. THE EFFECTS OF MICROWAVED WATER ON BRYOPHYLLUM DAIGREMONTIANUM.

The purpose of this experiment was to examine the effect of microwave radiation transfer through water on Bryophyllum daigremontianum plantlet growth. One control plantlet was watered with normal water across a two-week period, while 16 plantlets were exposed to microwave radiation transferred through water that sat at one of four different time intervals before being added to the plant (directly after, 5 minutes after, 15 minutes after, or 30 minutes after). It was concluded that plants that received microwave radiation through water added directly after removal from the microwave grow at a slower rate on average than plants that receive water that has sat for varying periods of time (before being added to the plant) after removal from the microwave.
Faculty Sponsor: DR CSENGELE BARTA

Madison Peisert, Johnathan Hoecker, Malory Rodney, Jordon Colner. THE EFFECT OF PH OF HOUSEHOLD DISINFECTANTS ON E.COLI GROWTH.

Cleaning agents are common household items and important to be used for control bacterial growth. However, the effectiveness of these cleaners can be deceiving and is interesting to observe in a controlled environment. Clorox bleach, Green works (a natural cleaning product) and Dawn dish soap are among the most popular cleaning agents. This study was performed to evaluate the effectiveness of household disinfectants on bacterial growth, in particular E.coli cultures, and compare the degree of pH on the remaining bacterial percentage. In addition, a study was conducted to measure and investigate the control of bacterial growth in sterile water, which later served as a basis for comparison. The results of the investigation illustrated that E.coli bacteria is a neutrophil, meaning it prefers to grow in an environment with a pH of 7 (neutral). This explained the extreme growth in the control, sterile water, test tubes, and the lack of growth in the cleaning agents. In particular, Clorox bleach with the highest pH 11 had very little bacterial growth and proved to be the most effective disinfectant agent. The investigation was conclusive that as the pH varied between disinfectant agents, either more basic or acidic, the bacterial growth decreased.
Faculty Sponsor: DR CSENGELE BARTA

Kayla Raley, Dawson Schmutzler, Daniel Karns. COMPARING BACTERIA ON CELL PHONES VS. TOILET SEATS.

There has been a buzz going around social media claiming your cell phone harbors 6-10 times more bacteria than a toilet. With this information, we arrive with a hypothesis that our cell phone screens would have more bacteria growth, compared to toilet seats. We decided to test our hypothesis by creating a wet swab sample and swab the entirety of our screens and edges of our cases, as well as swabbing the fronts of different toilet seats (male and female bathrooms). With these swabs, we created various agar petri dishes and placed in an undisturbed, warm location for 2 days. Our results were that Phone B harbored more bacteria as they had a larger colony scale, as well as contained fungi. While the toilets had more colonies, but not as much surface area.
Faculty Sponsor: DR CSENGELE BARTA

Romaker, Bailee Harrold, Trevor. SONG BIRD DECLINES.

This poster is about general song bird declines, reasons for decline, and what students can do to help.
Faculty Sponsor: DR. MILLS

Smith, Chad. OVERVIEW OF THE AMERICAN CHESTNUT TREE.

For centuries there was a tree that held together the fabric of the Eastern United States hardwood forest and spoke life into the Appalachian Mountains, this now functionally extinct tree is the American chestnut (Castanea dentata). No other tree had such an impact on its environment as the American chestnut. One in every four trees were American chestnuts in the Appalachian Mountains. Then in 1905 a fungal disease was found on various chestnut trees through New York, which then made its way to the rest of the American chestnut population in the Eastern hardwood forest.
Faculty Sponsor: DR. CSENGELE BARTA

Jessie Wright, Nayeli Romo, Kennedy Childers, Jalynn Reeter, Jacob Kuy. BACTERIA ON SMOOTH CASE VS. TEXTURED CASE.

Bacteria grows everywhere, though miniscule it is important to acknowledge that we encounter bacteria everyday of our lives. With this in mind, we picked an object that almost everyone has now, their cellphone. Our hypothesis was based upon the idea that we constantly touch our phones, which could affect bacterial growth without us noticing. We tested our hypothesis by doing a bacterial swab test, with the bacteria being from our specified phone case, one being completely smooth, and the other being textured. Our results showed that the textured phone case had significantly more bacteria, over the smooth phone case.
Faculty Sponsor: DR CSENGELE BARTA

Internship/Practicum Experience

Abrahamson, Levi. RANGELAND MANAGEMENT INTERNSHIP:.

This past summer I was an intern for Simplot:Land and Livestock. During this internship I participated in Rangeland monitoring, Rangeland management, and Riparian restoration. In this I discuss my experience throughout the summer, somethings that I encountered, as well as what I have learned from this whole experience.
Faculty Sponsor: DR. CARY CHEVALIER

Davis, Sarah. CONDUCTING WILDLIFE CONSERVATION AS A ZOOLOGICAL TECHNICIAN.

The poster goes over my experience interning at the Omaha Zoo during the summer of 2019. The poster goes over what we did daily and some of the animals I got hands on experience with
Faculty Sponsor: DR. CARY CHEVALIER

Whitman, Isaac. APPLIED LEARNING PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE NATURE CONSERVANCY AND MISSOURI WESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY.

This poster is a review of my BIO425 internship, which was conducted at The Nature Conservancy in Nebraska under the supervision of Chris Helzer, Director of Science. Throughout the internship, I often worked alongside The Nature Conservancy staff and other conservation professionals and learned vast amounts of information related to prairie restoration and management from them. My internship was focused on data collection for research projects involving small mammals surveys and flowering plant counts along transects, invasive species control specifically trees invading remnant and restored prairies using hack and squirt and foliar spraying, and native prairie species seed harvest. In addition to these opportunities, I also had the opportunity to explore prairie restoration and management in many other areas from other angles including upper-level management establishing new management methods and implementing experimental management techniques.
Faculty Sponsor: DR. CARY D. CHEVALIER

Literature Reviews

Boothe, Josiah, Romaker, Bailee, Bremer, Robert. AYE-AYE (DAUBENTONIA MADAGASCARIENSIS) CONSERVATION.

Overview of the conservation efforts being made to help aye-ayes in Madagascar. Also overview of anatomy and physiology of aye-ayes.
Faculty Sponsor: DR. CARY D. CHEVALIER

(Burns,Mitchell)(Davis,Sarah)(Herron,Jackie). AFRICAN PAINTED DOG.

Information about the African Painted Dog. It goes over the animal's conservation status/ how to preserve the species, diet, habitat, social structure, and threats to its survival.
Faculty Sponsor: DR. CARY CHEVALIER

Davis,Sarah. COMMON PRODUCE THAT CONTAIN HARMFUL TOXINS AND POISONS.

The poster goes over common produce items that people consume or use as cooking ingredients that have chemical compounds that create toxins within the body and have negative side effects to humans.
Faculty Sponsor: DR. CSENGELE BARTA

Gruetze, Marissa. HELIANTHUS ANNUUS.

With this poster I talk about the importance and \r\nuses of the common sunflower.This was an \r\nassignment for the Plant Morphology course, \r\nBIO307.
Faculty Sponsor: DR. BARTA

Kimsey, Hagen. ECOLOGY OF HERBS.

This Poster is about the Ecology of Herbs. This poster will talk about the habitat, herbal medicine, uses of herbs, variety of herbs, and cooking.
Faculty Sponsor: DR CSENGELE BARTA

Klingseis, Caleb., Davenport, Nathan., Marks, Zachary. CONSERVATION AND ECOLOGY OF THE GREY WOLF (CANIS LUPUS).

This informative poster goes into the genetic and adaptive values that have shaped the overall ecology of the Grey wolf.
Faculty Sponsor: DR. CARY CHEVALIER

Larkin, Konner. DEVIL'S CLUB (OPLOPANAX HORRIDUS).

This poster is an overview of the plant Devil's Club. I will explain its morphology, ecology, distribution, and importance.
Faculty Sponsor: DR. CSENGELE BARTA

Privett, Rose, Hunter, Sondi, & Thompson, Tatum. MEMBERS OF PANTHERA GENUS IN ASIA.

We discuss the natural history and conservation status of the Amur Leopard, Snow Leopard, Asiatic Lion, and Siberian Tiger.
Faculty Sponsor: DR. C. D. CHEVALIER

Rocha, Rylee; Nierman, Valerie; Eisen, Bre. DANGERS TO THE RED PANDAS.

Discuss the various conservation concerns regarding the Red Panda such as habitat destruction, food source destruction, and predation. It also briefly discusses current conservation efforts in place to help the Red Panda as a species.
Faculty Sponsor: DR. C. D. CHEVALIER

Smith, Megan; Peterson, Andy; Slater-Pinnick, Grace. ADAPTATIONS OF TIGERS.

We researched various adaptations tigers (Panthera tigris) have developed and use in the wild. These adaptations span across the different subspecies and include the aspects of hunting, communication, and morphological changes of the skull.
Faculty Sponsor: C.D. CHEVALIER

(Weber, Samuel) (Flowers, Tyler) (Kremer, Daniel). THE EVOLUTION OF MARSUPIALS.

This poster focuses on the evolution and phylogeny of marsupials as they have adapted and dispersed around the world throughout history. The uniqueness of marsupials as they are the only group to have a pouch used to carry around their young. The unique skull structures that only marsupials have is also talked about in this poster. Details on how marsupials got located to where they now thrive is also talked about and shown.
Faculty Sponsor: DR. CARY CHEVALIER

Ziebarth, Guthre, Bremer, Robert, and Thorne, Chase. NATURAL HISTORY & CONSERVATION OF WHITE-TAILED DEER.

We look at the natural history and current conservation methods of the white-tailed deer. We focus primarily on the population of these deer in the state of Missouri.
Faculty Sponsor: DR. CHEVALIER

DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATION STUDIES AND JOURNALISM

Empirical Projects

Aggus, Drew; Baker, Breanna; Houghton, Landon; Gomez, Lindsay. SOCIAL SUPPORT AMONG COLLEGE CLASSMATES: AN EXPLORATORY STUDY.

The purpose of this study was to examine students’ communication of social support among classmates. This qualitative investigation asked 120 undergraduate students to complete an open-ended questionnaire explaining their experience with giving and receiving the four types of social support: informational, instrumental, emotional, and appraisal. Overall, students reported either giving or receiving all four types of social support. As a new avenue of study, the results of this research provide insight about student communication of support with their classmates.
Faculty Sponsor: DR. JORDAN ATKINSON

Bilby, Nicole; Deatherage, Joy. EXPLORING STUDENT MOTIVES FOR COMMUNICATING WITH CLASSMATES.

The purpose of this study was to examine students’ motives for communicating with their classmates. This qualitative investigation asked 139 undergraduate students to complete an open-ended questionnaire explaining their motives to communicate with classmates. Overall, two categories of motives were discovered: class-specific motives and relational motives. Class-specific motives included asking questions or getting help on homework or assignments, asking questions or getting clarification about lecture material, forming study groups, engaging in group projects, sharing notes or resources, in-class group activities, asking questions about a missed class, and comparing grades. Students engage in relational motives when they want to get to know someone or make a friend, share common interests, complain about the instructor or class, engage in small talk, are attracted to a classmate, gossip, and offer support or make a classmate feel better. Overall, this study provides a new area of exploration for instructional communication scholars and can provide insight about student communication dynamics with their classmates.
Faculty Sponsor: DR. JORDAN ATKINSON

DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE MATH AND PHYSICS

Empirical Projects

Randles, Charles. CURRICULUM WEB APP.

This application allows faculty to develop syllabi and class schedules and provides data to assess curriculum. XML and version control are deployed to track changes to syllabi over time. These are ensured to hold valid information due to inclusion of XML schemas. The syllabi, available through the app, hold the learning outcomes for each course. These learning outcomes can be compared to student test scores that are linked to curriculum standards. Thus, using the app, we can get an understanding of what learning outcomes the curriculum is not meeting and improve the alignment of the curriculum with ACM guidelines.
Faculty Sponsor: JOSEPH KENDALL-MORWICK

DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE/LEGAL STUDIES/SOCIAL WORK

Analytical Papers and Analyses

Bond, Victoria. COMPARING CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND SOCIAL WORK ALUMNI FIELD LIFESPAN.

This study examined the vocational outcomes of alumni within the Criminal Justice and Social Work programs. Those eligible for the survey either graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice between the years of 2015-2018, or graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work between the years 2013-2018. 63 (49.6% response rate) alumni responded to the Criminal Justice survey, while 92 (65% response rate) responded to the Social Work survey. A mixed methodology was used to conduct both the Criminal Justice (web-based) and Social Work (telephone interviews) surveys. These data showed that the Criminal Justice alumni was employed in the field at a rate of 68% while the Social Work alumni was employed in the field at a rate of 83%. Overall, both the quantitative and qualitative data show that a majority of the alumni are not only satisfied with their job, but they are continuing employment within their chosen field. These data will be presented to the departments and suggest that the Criminal Justice program add a more intensive internship requirement to better prepare students for the field, therefore increasing the rate of employment in the field.
Faculty Sponsor: DR. LINDSTEADT

Bonnett, Alyssa. FACTORS INFLUENCING MWSU CRIMINAL JUSTICE ALUMNI TOWARDS SECONDARY HIGHER EDUCATION.

This study examined what factors influenced the Criminal Justice alumni to continue their education at an advanced level and how prepared they felt. Individuals graduating with a BS in Criminal Justice, between the years of 2015-2018, were eligible for this study. Alumni reported being involved in MS in CJ, Criminology, and JD programs. Of the 63 total respondents, only 10 went on to continue their education. We expected that the students who went on to continue their education at a secondary level will report higher satisfaction with the Missouri Western State University Criminal Justice program. A mixed methodology was used to conduct the survey and data from the 2010 MWSU Criminal Justice Alumni Study will be used to compare the results. Initial findings indicate those participating alumni were representative of the whole, based on: Gender, Race, Age, & GPA. The overall qualitative and quantitative results show that overtime the alumni are feeling more prepared from their bachelor’s program to continue their education in all fields except writing demands. These results will be presented to the department to re-evaluate the current criteria and suggest adding more APA research papers into the advanced level courses.
Faculty Sponsor: DR. GREGORY LINDSTEADT

Empirical Projects

Justice, Emma. THE IMPACTS OF INTERNSHIPS IN CAREERS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE.

This presentation specifically investigates internships through our program and how effective they are for students. When looking at different perspectives about internships from students, professors, and even a legal aspect, research backs up that internships are effective. Our alumni were able to corroborate that internships led to higher satisfaction and more knowledgeable in most skills. One finding was that our alumni felt they could improve on their writing. Another comment was having more opportunity for study abroad trips in our program. With Missouri Western adding initiatives such as Gold Friday’s, it allows students more freedom to go through internships.
Faculty Sponsor: DR. LINDSTEADT

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Analytical Papers and Analyses

(Gibson, Taryn) (Koelliker, Halle) (Swearingin, Alexis) (Constant, Alicia). HOW DOES INTEGRATING ARTS FOSTER DEEPER THINKING IN THE CLASSROOM?.

This research describes how integrating arts into general education fosters deeper thinking in the classroom. The research is based on information and data gathered from classrooms ranging from first to sixth grade. It was conducted over a four-week period using lessons integrated with art by four pre-service teachers. Those teachers created lessons that promote a deeper understanding and thought-process through the students modeling with various arts. The arts include visual art, music, and drama. Various constructivist strategies were used to challenge the students to reach their full potential. The research includes quotes, strategies, examples, and data to help create a deeper and more meaningful experience in any classroom.
Faculty Sponsor: RONDA CHESNEY

Empirical Projects

(Archer, Maggie), (Palmer, Maggie) (Murphy, Lauren). STRUCTURED VS. CONSTRUCTIVIST LESSON PLANNING.

In this study, we will discuss how the structure of a given assignment effects students' creativity. We will be evaluating how a structured integrated arts lesson plan compares to a constructivist integrated arts lesson plan, in regards to the student creativity expressed as a result. The targeted age range intended for this experiment is between 1st and 3rd grade. The data gained from this experiment will help shed light on student creativity based on structure.
Faculty Sponsor: RONDA CHESNEY

Literature Reviews

pulliam,Michala. HOW MUSIC THERAPY BENEFITS SPECIAL EDUCATION .

This project will outline the effects and benefits of the use of music therapy in special education classroom. This will also review activities that can be considered therapeutic but feel more naturally integrated into the classroom then other therapies used in special education. This therapy also fosters natural learning in children and can be used to help them do better in areas where they might struggle. The effects and activities will be reflected through a literature review of professional studies and academic journals of the subject.
Faculty Sponsor: CHENSEY

DEPARTMENT OF ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY

Internship/Practicum Experience

Meier, Andrew. AL J MUELLER INTERNSHIP.

Today we are always looking for bigger and better ways to operate and control a construction site. Everywhere you look you see new construction projects and people/companies expanding. With so much continual construction, someone needs to help manage and control the direction of each project. That is where a company such as Al J. Mueller comes in.
Faculty Sponsor: JINWEN ZHU

Meier, Andrew. AL J MUELLER INTERNSHIP.

Today we are always looking for bigger and better ways to operate and control a construction site. Everywhere you look you see new construction projects and people/companies expanding. With so much continual construction, someone needs to help manage and control the direction of each project. That is where a company such as Al J. Mueller comes in.
Faculty Sponsor: JINWEN ZHU

Owen, Katie and Whitmore, Shawn. HERZOG ESTIMATING INTERNSHIP .

The intent of an estimating internship with Herzog Contracting Corp. was to gain real life experience in the commercial construction industry that will help prepare us for a career in the construction field. Railroads were the most important development during the industrial revolution and the internship help develop a perception into one of the oldest construction industries in North America.
Faculty Sponsor: JINWEN ZHU

Richerson, Jared. SHOW-ME REAL ESTATE INTERNSHIP .

Working for Show-Me Real Estate was a fun and exciting internship. I learned many new things as I worked through the summer until currently. It was a great experience.
Faculty Sponsor: JINWEN ZHU

DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH MODERN LANGUAGES

Empirical Projects

Mullins, Hannah. TIED TOGETHER: IMPLEMENTING YOUTUBE INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEOS FOR SUPPLEMENTAL USE IN STUDENT LEARNING.

This study examined the responses to two sets of instructions regarding tying a necktie: video and written (which was transcribed from the video). The goal was to see if the video would further help ten college students complete the task more accurately after being shown only text and screenshots. 100% of students claimed they understood the process better with the video. This is consistent with a study that suggests supplemental visual materials can aid a professor’s curriculum, if the content has already been taught. While YouTube videos appear beneficial if used as supplemental material, they do not replace in-person teaching.
Faculty Sponsor: DR. KAYE ADKINS

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH PE AND RECREATION

Empirical Projects

Danner, Alex. AN EXAMINATION OF DIFFERENCES IN SPORT MOTIVATIONS BETWEEN MALE AND FEMALE COLLEGIATE ATHLETES.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine gender differences in sport and academic motivations in college student-athletes. Methods: Participants were 40 NCAA Division II collegiate athletes (M age=20.0, SD=1.53) and were comprised of 20 male athletes (football, men’s basketball, and baseball) and 20 female athletes (softball, soccer, women\\\\\\\'s basketball, and cross country/track and field). Participants completed a measure of academic motivation and sports motivation. Results: A t-test comparing male and female athletes on various forms of sport motivations was not significant (p>.05), although differences on identified regulation approached significance (t=-2.01, p=.051). A second t-test comparing academic motivation across gender was significant (t=-4.44, p<.001), indicating that female athletes were significantly more academically motivated (M=74.55, SD=2.79) compared to male athletes (M=64.70, SD=6.71). Conclusion: While not different on sport motivations, result support that female college athletes are more academically motivated than males. Implications: By gaining a better understanding of athletes’ motivations in the classroom and the field, college officials and coaching staff may ultimately be better able to help college student-athletes succeed.
Faculty Sponsor: WILLIAM RUSSELL

DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY PHILOSOPHY AND GEOGRAPHY

Internship/Practicum Experience

Resler, Shane. USING GPS AND GIS TO LOCATE AND MAP STORMWATER BASINS IN ST. JOSEPH.

This poster will overview the software and technology used while interning for the St. Joseph Stormwater Department during Summer 2019. Standard operating procedures and a from scratch data dictionary will also be included in the overview. The purpose of the internship was to use the Trimble R2 GPS unit to gather data vector data on stormwater basins in various locations in St. Joseph. Once the data was gathered, Integrity GIS software was used to post-correct and verify the data. By then end of the internship, 28 stormwater basins were located and mapped for future use by the St. Joseph Water Protection team.
Faculty Sponsor: DR. DRAKE

DEPARTMENT OF NURSING

Empirical Projects

Dailey, Katie; Gilbert, Chase; Whiting, Tina. THE EFFECTS OF GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION ON THE PREVALENCE OF DEPRESSION.

Abstract This paper explores thirteen published research articles containing statistical and qualitative data. Evidence has suggested that geographic location is a health determinant for the prevalence of depression. Determining the social, economic, and environmental factors contributing to depression in a specific geographic location may be helpful to physicians. From a population health perspective, increased community involvement as well as care coordination and the addressing of other health and social determinants may help limit the overall prevalence and incidence of depression for residents of both urban and rural communities.
Faculty Sponsor: FIONA SANDSONE

Harter, Kylee; Day, Slayde; Emmons, Eleana; Estes, Ashlee; Estes, Kelsey; Richardson, Kyra; Trevino, Jose; Wegenka, Kayla.. THE INFLUENCES OF COPING STRATEGIES AND USING ALCOHOL ON PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING .

The purpose of this study was to examine the influences of coping strategies and using alcohol on elderly adults’ psychological well-being and suicidal ideation. This was a cross sectional, descriptive design. There were 80 elderly adults recruited from community. The mean age was 71.44. The Multiple Regression R2 was 39.7% for psychological well-being, 25.3% of the suicidal ideation variance. Problem-Focused Disengagement coping strategies was a significant predictor of psychological well-being (ß= 0.575, p ? 0.001) and Suicidal Ideation (ß= -0.503, p ? 0.001). Emotion Focused Engagement coping strategy was a significant predictor of psychological well-being (ß= -0.186, p ? 0.05).
Faculty Sponsor: YEH, PI-MING

Rinehart, Abigail; Bradley, Morgan; Brown, Markee; Callahan, Patti; Kendall, Kelsey; Lou, Wen; Stubbs, Stacy; Yurkovich, Makenzie. THE INFLUENCES OF SPIRITUAL WELL-BEING AND PARENTS’ REARING ATTITUDE ON PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING .

The purpose of this study was to examine the influences of spiritual well-being and parents’ rearing attitude on the elderly adults’ psychological well-being and suicidal ideation. This was a cross sectional, descriptive research design. There were 80 elderly adults recruited from community. The mean age was 71.44. The Stepwise Multiple Regression variables accounted for 42.7% of the psychological well-being variance and 22.4% of the suicidal ideation variance. Life satisfaction/self-actualization, life/self-responsibility and negative parents’ rearing attitude were the significant predictors of elderly adults’ psychological well-being. Life satisfaction/self-actualization was a significant predictor of elderly adults’ suicidal ideation.
Faculty Sponsor: YEH, PI-MING

Literature Reviews

Antle, Juliann; Giseburt, Corissa; Maize, Delanie; Querry, Emily . IMPROVING POSTOPERATIVE OUTCOMES THROUGH NON-PHARMACOLOGICAL PAIN INTERVENTIONS.

Providing adequate postoperative pain management is a challenging, yet integral part of nursing care. Current research has shown that stand-alone pharmacological pain management is insufficient and can increase the risk of postoperative complications -including opioid addiction, prolonged recovery, and diminished quality of life. In order to combat this, health professionals are utilizing non-pharmacological interventions to increase positive patient outcomes, encourage early ambulation, and to decrease narcotic dependence. This integrative review of literature analyzes thirty-four articles to first identify best practices in the implementation of non- pharmacologic interventions and then ascertains concurrent pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions that positively impact postoperative pain management.
Faculty Sponsor: ALLISON ANDERSON

Blazer, Kimberly; Eddy, Kaylea; Nelson, Jenna; Rueter, Tanisha P.; Tiffany, Krystal. THE IMPORTANCE OF TRAUMA-INFORMED NURSING CARE FOR PATIENTS WITH ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES.

This paper discusses adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and how this trauma results in long-term neuro-biological changes. In the healthcare setting these patients are at risk for further trauma and inadequate care due to a lack of knowledge and training of healthcare employees. A review of literature was done to examine the impacts of childhood trauma and to identify nursing interventions that ensure each patient is provided individualized care. This research is guided by Erikson’s theory of Modeling and Role Modeling, which emphasizes the importance of holistic care and acknowledging the unique needs of every patient (Erickson et al., 2009). It was found that nursing interventions that provide trauma-informed care are centered around the themes of promoting safety, respect, and trust.
Faculty Sponsor: LATHA VARGHESE

Britt, Raegan; Gunther, Preslee; Jones, Alyssa; Sparks, Kelsy; Stallbaumer, Julie; Sunderman, Jordan. THE EFFECT OF BODY MASS INDEX ON BREAST CANCER RATES IN POST-MENOPAUSAL WOMEN.

The purpose of this literature review was to research various studies and determine whether or not there is a connection between having a BMI greater than 30 and the likelihood of developing breast cancer in post-menopausal women. The 18 articles used for this review studied and investigated the connection of obesity to breast cancer rates in post-menopausal women. This literature review specifically looked at articles which studied women who were ages 40-80 and looked at BMI over 30. The results concluded that there is a significant connection between a BMI >30 and the incidence of breast cancer in post-menopausal women.
Faculty Sponsor: DANA MCDANIEL

Nathan Byous, Claire Doolan, Paige Downey, Jolie Hammond, Reilly King, Samantha Miller. THE EFFECT OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA ON TREATING PAIN.

One of the most controversial topics in our world today is the legalization of marijuana. The biggest debate being weather the claimed benefits of medical marijuana are realistic or not. This literature review is going to specifically focus on the benefit that medical marijuana may have on pain. The purpose of this literature review is to analyze several studies in order to conclude whether the claimed benefits have substantial evidence. Our findings show that there is not enough evidence to come to one definitive conclusion. Many studies revealed that there was a positive impact on treating pain, but there were too many inconsistent variables to determine the exact effect that medical marijuana can have on all types of pain. Keywords: Medical Marijuana, Pain
Faculty Sponsor: CRISTI CAMPBELL

Anderson, Cailyn Nelson, Allysa Carrigan, MacKenzie. PARENTAL EDUCATION ON VACCINATION RATES.

Evidence demonstrates that vaccinating children is beneficial to their health outcomes. Providing vaccination education to parents with children from newborn to age eight has shown strong evidence of increasing vaccination rates. This paper explores ten published articles that examine research on the impact of parental education to decide whether to vaccinate their child. Vaccinations are important in the prevention of diseases; because of vaccinations, the number of cases of measles and other preventable diseases have decreased significantly. Parental perceptions that vaccinations lead to Autism, have become more common, however this is not demonstrated as true in the literature. According to one article, maternal education is inversely related to the vaccination delay among infants and toddlers. The study suggests that education can be regarded as an important positive component of the overall disease prevention planning at national and global levels (MCHC, 2019). Multiple studies identified that education is positively associated with disease prevention planning and vaccinations. The Population Health Model was utilized in this review. In the population health specialist role, we can collaborate with providers and educational programs to implement evidence based education for the population of focus.
Faculty Sponsor: FIONA SANSONE

DaSilva, Alison; Bentley, Kristy; Bevan, Tiffanie; Bree, Brutsman. USE OF AN EARLY WARNING TOOL TO IDENTIFY MATERNAL SEPSIS.

Common physiologic changes in pregnancy mask symptoms of maternal sepsis causing late detection and leading to maternal death. Early identification and management of maternal infections can reduce the burden of morbidity and mortality related to sepsis, and investigation is needed regarding maternal sepsis identification. The changes causing difficult identification also cause pregnancy to be exclusion criteria in most sepsis trials. To bring awareness to the importance of early identification, some organizations have implemented maternal sepsis early warning systems. The purpose of this study is to research best evidence regarding the use of early warning systems to identify maternal sepsis.
Faculty Sponsor: ELISSA ZORN

Gooding, Kaitlyn; Holoubek, Ashley;Hunziger, Ashley; Punzo, Haley. THE IMPACT OF UNSUCCESSFUL BREASTFEEDING .

Many women struggle with breastfeeding and stop breastfeeding before meeting their goals. A literature review was conducted to determine the emotional and physical impact of unsuccessful breastfeeding. There are many reasons these mothers struggle with breastfeeding such as lack of social support and possible physical barriers. When they decide to quit breastfeeding they face public scrutiny along with guilt that they were not able to feed their baby how they had planned. Healthcare professionals can be instrumental in assisting and supporting a mother to continue breastfeeding. They can also be supportive when a mother decides to end her breastfeeding journey.
Faculty Sponsor: KARMAN ROMERO BSN, PHD CANDIDATE, IBCLC

Hart, Grace and Svec, Emily. CULTURAL COMPETENCE IN INTERNATIONAL SERVICE LEARNING PROGRAMS.

Does participation in international service learning programs lead to increased cultural competency? The authors of this project participated in a service learning program in Central America and this experience inspired the project question. The ACE STAR Model of Knowledge Transformation was utilized to evaluate current evidence and literature surrounding this line of scholarly inquiry. This project was most significantly focused on those in nursing/healthcare related fields.
Faculty Sponsor: DR. JULIE BALDWIN

Heumader, Kristal, Kneib, Amanda, Larison, Dalton, Murphy, Bailey. WHAT DO NURSES KNOW ABOUT MEDICATIONS FOR PEOPLE WITH PARKINSON'S?.

Parkinson’s Disease is a devastating disease with life-altering side effects and no current cure. There has been a lot of effort put forth to further understand this debilitating disease and hopefully finding a cure. This text explores the pathophysiology, signs and symptoms, pharmaceutical interventions, and contraindicated medications related to Parkinson's disease. Evidence based articles were found in regards to each topic listed previously and surveys were distributed to nurses from five different locations to understand what nurses know about medications for those with Parkinson’s. A total of 26 questionnaires were collected and analyzed. According to these questionnaires, a similar drug routine emerged when it came to certain side effects associated with Parkinson’s Disease. Currently, it appears that there are drugs being utilized to help control the side effects, but future research may show different drugs working better.
Faculty Sponsor: STEPHANIE STEWART

King, Rachel . THE RACE AGAINST DEMENTIA .

More and more people each year are being diagnosed with dementia. With the diagnosis come side effects and difficulties in everyday life. This paper's purpose is to review the effect of exercise on cognitive function in people with dementia. Obtained by many single studies, I researched the differences between the types of exercises used in certain studies and the outcomes that were found. The goal is to decrease or prevent the decline of cognitive function using exercise. I found that aerobic exercise had the greatest impact on working memory when compared to anaerobic exercise. Most studies used exercise programs, which helped the regularity of participation. Keywords: cognitive function, exercise, dementia
Faculty Sponsor: STEPHANIE STEWART

Nevins, Kayla Kellogg, Annaka Frye, Kaylea. EDUCATING PHYSICIANS ON PRESCRIBING MEDICAL MARIJUANA FOR CHRONIC PAIN.

The increasing prevalence of medical marijuana (MM) is revolutionizing health care. Early studies endorse MM’s efficacy and safety in treating chronic pain. However, medical students and professionals feel unprepared to recommend medical marijuana to patients, citing a lack of education. Ten articles were reviewed to cultivate a better understanding of medical marijuana; the focus was placed upon understanding current MM users, the costs and benefits of MM and current education surrounding MM. Recommendations are identified to aid in educating physicians on medical marijuana. With this knowledge, physicians and prescribers can better support patients who are managing chronic pain.
Faculty Sponsor: FIONA SANSONE

Pickett, Alexis; Antle, Juliann; Giseburt, Corissa; Maize, Delanie; Querry, Emily . . IMPROVING POSTOPERATIVE OUTCOMES THROUGH NON-PHARMACOLOGICAL PAIN INTERVENTIONS..

Providing adequate postoperative pain management is a challenging, yet integral part of nursing care. Current research has shown that stand-alone pharmacological pain management is insufficient and can increase the risk of postoperative complications -including opioid addiction, prolonged recovery, and diminished quality of life. In order to combat this, health professionals are utilizing non-pharmacological interventions to increase positive patient outcomes, encourage early ambulation, and to decrease narcotic dependence. This integrative review of literature analyzes thirty-four articles to first identify best practices in the implementation of non- pharmacologic interventions and then ascertains concurrent pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions that positively impact postoperative pain management.
Faculty Sponsor: ALLISON ANDERSON

DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY

Empirical Projects

Bowman, Emily, Bright, Alissa, Rhinehart, Kaitlynn, Rickel, Sherry, Shavnore, Sydney, Wyss, Sara. THE EFFECTS OF PRIMING FOR SOCIAL CLASS ON ETHICAL DECISION MAKING.

This study explores priming for social class on ethical behavior. Undergraduates (n = 180) will complete a sentence task priming for upper and lower class, then unethical decision-making and moral disengagement questionnaires. Preliminary data suggest priming for upper class reduces ethical decision-making, similar to research on actual social class.
Faculty Sponsor: DR. TEDDI DEKA

Gilmore, Ciarra; Turner, Reggie. TRAINING CONSCIOUS DISCIPLINE: RETHINKING COMMON SENSE.

Conscious discipline is an early childhood learning program with the goal of creating safe, connected, problem-solving, emotionally secure environment for children. It comprises the following skills areas: composure, assertiveness, encouragement, and choices. Local agencies offered training in conscious discipline which we evaluated for effectiveness. The training targeted areas of composure and assertiveness. An instrument was designed to measure knowledge in both trained areas (composure/assertiveness) as well as untrained areas (encouragement/choices). A student sample completed the instrument a single time. A group of trainee participants also completed the instrument two times: once prior to training and once after. Results suggest that the training targeted the areas of conscious discipline that the student sample was least knowledgeable about. However, the trainee sample was most knowledgeable about the trained content before the training occurred. Further, no significant differences were observed in pre- vs. post-training scores on any of the Conscious Discipline material. Additional research should examine behavioral indicators of learning beyond those measured by the instrument used here.
Faculty Sponsor: KELLY BOUAS HENRY

Guyton, Alexis; Jennings, Jordan; Whitaker, Sydnie; Chance, Taylor. UNDERSTANDING SUICIDALITY AMONG COLLEGE STUDENT ATHLETES.

We examined whether suicide ideation and behavior, interpersonal hopelessness, depression, and stress differed between college student athletes and college student non-athletes. Participants completed the survey online, and were recruited from the MWSU Psychology Department's Sona pool (non-athletes, n=126) as well as during scheduled weight-training sessions (athletes; n=119). Results of an Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) indicated statistically significant mean differences for all four measures, with college student athletes having lower levels of all four constructs than the college student non-athletes. These findings may indicate that the student athlete experience may be a protective factors against negative mental health experiences.
Faculty Sponsor: JON MANDRACCHIA