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ConferenceSchedule

OralpresentationsaregroupedintoSessions A–L,asshowninTable 1.Withineachsession,individualpresentationsare identifiedbythesessionletterfollowedbyanumber,forexample,A1andA2.Thetopicscorrespondingtotheoralsession codesarelistedinTable 2.

Posterpresentationsfollowadifferentformat.Presentersareexpectedtobeattheirpostersduringtheassignedposter sessionlistedinTable 1.Inthemorning,odd-numberedpostersfromP001toP051arescheduledfrom10:00to10:55,and even-numberedpostersfromP002toP050arescheduledfrom11:00to11:55.Intheafternoon,odd-numberedpostersfrom P053toP101arescheduledfrom13:00to13:55,andeven-numberedpostersfromP052toP102arescheduledfrom14:00 to14:55.Forexample,posterP008isscheduledforthemorningeven-numberedsession,whileposterP097isscheduledfor theafternoonodd-numberedsession.Posterswillremainondisplaythroughoutthefullmorningorafternoonblock,and presentersarewelcometobepresentduringbothsessionsintheirassignedblock.

StartEndLobbyWestFloorCentralFloorEastFloor216113115

8:009:00RegistrationBreakfastBreakfastHangPostersP001–P051–––9:009:50RegistrationKeynoteKeynoteHangPostersP001–P051–––10:0010:55RegistrationZ01–Z05V01–V05P001–P051(odd)ABC 11:0011:55RegistrationZ06–Z10V01–V05P002–P050(even)DEF 12:0012:55RegistrationLunchLunchHangPostersP052–P102–––13:0013:55–Z11–Z15V06–V09P053–P101(odd)GHJ 14:0014:55–Z16–Z19V06–V09P052–P102(even)KL–

Table1. ConferenceSchedule

Sessions

SessionDescription

AAppliedEngineeringDesignandInnovation

BSciencefromFieldStudiestotheCosmos

CGlobalPolitics,Migration,andWar

DHealthLiteracy,Medicine,andPatient-CenteredCare

EHistory,Culture,andInheritedNarratives

FCreativeWritingandIdentity

GEducation,MentalHealth,andCommunityWell-Being

HMedia,Technology,andPublicKnowledge

JSpecialTopicsandIndependentProjects

KPower,Justice,andPublicSafety

LEnvironment,Sustainability,andEverydayChoices

PPoster

VVisualArt

ZPerformance

Table2. SessionCodesandDescriptions

KeynoteSpeaker

Mr.AlexanderKabrich

AlverniaUniversity

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexander-kabrich-4299481a7/

About

AlexanderKabrichearnedaBachelorofScienceinEnvironmentalSciencefromAlverniaUniversityin2024andhascenteredhis undergraduateworkonfield-basedresearchandappliedconservationscience.ThroughAlvernia’sundergraduateresearchandexperientiallearningopportunities,hebuilthands-onskillsinfield sampling,researchcollaboration,andscientificcommunication.

Insummer2023,AlexanderjoinedAlverniaAssociateProfessorofBiologyJamieBecker,Ph.D.,onaresearchexpeditionto theSucusariregionofthePeruvianAmazon.Workingwithpartnerorganizationsandaninternationalteam,hehelpedpilotmethodsforcapturingandsequencingenvironmentalDNA(eDNA) fromsoilandwater.Thisapproachusesgenetictracesleftbehindbyorganismstostrengthen biodiversitymonitoringandsupportconservationfieldwork.TheexperiencealsoincludedcollaborationwiththeMaijunacommunityandexposuretotraditionalecologicalknowledgethat informsresponsible,place-basedresearch.

AlexandercurrentlyservesasSustainabilityOperationsCoordinatorinAlverniaUniversity’sOfficeofInstitutionalSustainabilityattheEcoHouse,supportingstudentsustainability initiativesandcampusoperations.Hisbroaderappliedresearchinterestsincludesustainability projectsconnectedtohemp-basedregenerativebuildingmaterialsandrelatedlife-cycleassessmentefforts.

Abstract

Thiskeynotehighlightsthetransformativeroleofundergraduateresearchinshapingemergingenvironmentalscientiststhroughhands-oninquiry,interdisciplinarycollaboration,andrealworldapplication.DrawingfromexperiencesatAlverniaUniversityandinthePeruvianAmazon,thepresentationwillexplorearangeofprojectsspanningregenerativebuildingmaterials, waterqualitymonitoring,andbiodiversityassessmentinunderstudiedenvironments.

Particularattentionwillbegiventofield-basedconservationresearchintheSucusariregion ofPeru,wherebiodiversitymonitoringincorporatedsoilsampling,cameratrapping,andenvironmentalDNA(eDNA)sequencingtobetterunderstandecologicalcommunitiesinahighly diverseyetunderdocumentedlandscape.Thepresentationwillalsoreflectonthevalueofcommunityengagementandplace-basedresearch,includingcollaborationwithlocalpartnersand theMaijunacommunity.

Bysharingboththescientificoutcomesandthepersonalandprofessionalgrowththat emergedfromtheseexperiences,thistalkunderscoresthelastingimpactofundergraduateresearchinpreparingstudentsformeaningfulcareersinenvironmentalscience,sustainability,and conservation.

Presentations

SessionA:AppliedEngineeringDesignandInnovation

A1:AData-DrivenApproachtoOptimizingGolfCoursePaceofPlayUsinga Real-TimeMobileApplication

PresentingAuthor: LaneyHudson

SchoolandYear: Alvernia,2ndYear

FacultySponsor: KushalAdhikari

AdditionalAuthors: Ask,Sikke

Animproperpaceofplayonagolfcourseincreasesthedurationofaround,resultingina lessefficientandlessenjoyableexperienceforgolfers.Theobjectiveofthisprojectistocreate amoreconsistentpaceofplayinordertoreducebottlenecksandimproveoverallcourseflow. Toachievethis,amobileappwillbedevelopedforbothgolfersandcoursestafftoidentify areasofslowplayandprovidereal-timeassistance.Theappwillofferdata-driveninsightsand communicationtoolstohelpmaintainanappropriatepacethroughoutthecourse.Inaddition tooptimizingpaceofplay,theappwillenhanceoveralloperationsbyintegratingfeaturessuch asdigitalcheck-in,cartcheckout,andfoodordering,creatingamoreconvenientandstreamlined experience.Theexpectedresultsincludereducedplayingtime,improvedefficiency,andamore consistentflowofgolfers.WithincreasedgolfparticipationfollowingtheCOVID-19pandemic, efficientcoursemanagementhasbecomemorecritical,makinganapp-basedsolutionessential forimprovingcourseutilizationandoverallgolfersatisfaction.

A2:Eco-Parking:HarvestingVehicleKineticEnergyforSustainableWinterInfrastructure

PresentingAuthor: RaymundoGutarra

SchoolandYear: Alvernia,4thYear

FacultySponsor: FarahMneimneh

Universitycampusesrequiresignificantresourcesforwintermaintenanceandchemicaldeicing. Eco-Parkingisanenergy-harvestingsystemdesignedtoimprovesustainabilitybyconverting vehiclemovementintoelectricalenergy.Thesystemutilizespiezoelectric(PZT)materials embeddedbeneathparkingsurfacestocapturemechanicalpressurefromcars.Thisharvested energyisstoredandrepurposedtopoweranundergroundresistiveheatingnetworkinstalled beneathcampussidewalksforsnowandicemitigation.Atransientheattransfermodelusingthe semi-infiniteplanewallapproximationwasdevelopedtodeterminethetimerequiredtoreach safewalkingtemperatures.Experimentalvalidationwasconductedviaalab-scaleprototype, whereresultsshowedcompletesnowmeltingwithin2hoursand16minutes.Aparametricstudy furtheranalyzedtherelationshipbetweenheatingelementdensityandsurfacetemperature. PreliminarycostestimatessuggestthatEco-Parkingcouldreduceseasonalexpensescomparedto conventionalplowingandsaltingwhileeliminatingchemicalrunoff.Thisprojectdemonstratesa self-sustainingsolutionthatintegratesrenewableenergygenerationwithessentialinfrastructure toimprovepedestriansafety.

A3:SnapoToys-SprueSeparationSystem

PresentingAuthor: PerlaMatista

SchoolandYear: Alvernia,1stYear

FacultySponsor: KushalAdhikari

AdditionalAuthors: Stewart,Zion;Mokosso,Shelny

Inmanufacturingenvironments,themanualseparationofproductsfromspruesisacommon sourceofinefficiency,astheprocessistime-consuming,labor-intensive,andofteninconsistent. Thisprojectaimstodesignamechanicalsystemthatguidesandpositionsindividualcomponents toenableclean,efficient,andorganizedseparationfromthesprue.Theproposeddesignfocuses onimprovingconsistencywhilereducingprocessingtimeandoperatoreffort.Byintroducinga simpleyeteffectivemechanicalsolution,thesystemhasthepotentialtoenhanceproductivity andsupportpartialautomationwithinthemanufacturingworkflow.Thisprojecthighlights howpractical,low-complexityengineeringdesigncanaddressreal-worldindustrialchallenges andcontributetoimprovedoperationalefficiency.

A4:EconomicRouteforGreenWasteDisposal

PresentingAuthor: KevinLaRue

SchoolandYear: Alvernia,1stYear

FacultySponsor: KushalAdhikari

AdditionalAuthors: Grubb,LiamM;Stefko,AnthonyJ;Wernick,BenjaminT

Thisprojectaddressesthecompany’sneedtoidentifyacleanerandmoresustainabledisposal routeforitspolyesterwaste.Theprimaryobjectiveistoengineeraneconomicallyviable processthatisbothgreenerandmoreefficientthanthecompany’scurrentdisposalmethod.To accomplishthis,ourteamanalyzedtheexistingeconomicpathwayusedtoproducepolyester, withthegoalofidentifyingkeystageswhererecyclingormaterialreusecanbeintegrated.This mayinvolvecreatingaPughmatrixtodeterminethebestdisposalmethodforthewaste.We willusethestakeholders’valuestohelpusweightheconstraintsandneedsoftheeconomicroute. Theexpectedresultswilldemonstratethatasustainabledisposalmethodcanbeimplemented withinthecurrenteconomicframeworkofpolyesterproductionanddistribution.Ultimately, thisworkissignificantbecauseithasthepotentialtoreducethecompany’senvironmental footprint,minimizewastesenttolandfills,andpromotemoreresponsibleresourcemanagement practices.

SessionB:SciencefromFieldStudiestotheCosmos

B1:ExploringZoonoticPathogensinAmazonianMineralLicks

PresentingAuthor: IsaacPeterson

SchoolandYear: Alvernia,3rdYear

FacultySponsor: JamieBecker

Minerallicksarenaturalsiteswhereanimalsfrequentlyconsumemineral-richsoilthrough geophagy.Thisconcentratedactivitybringsdiversewildlifeintorepeatedcontact,creatinga potentialhotspotforzoonoticpathogentransmission.Thisstudyexaminedwhethersoilin

minerallicksintheSucusariRiverbasinofthePeruvianAmazonRainforestharborszoonotic pathogensandcouldserveashotspotsfordiseasetransfer.Duringtheexpedition,wecollected 83samplesfrom20minerallicksandassociatedcontrolsites.EnvironmentalDNA(eDNA)was extracted,purified,andanalyzedusingshort-readIlluminasequencingandlong-readnanopore technology.Minerallicksoilsharboruniquemicrobiomesdistinctfromsurroundingforestsoil withanincreasedprevalenceofpotentialpathogenictaxa,includingSalmonella,E.coli,and Legionella.Speciesrichnessvariedconsiderablybetweenandwithinlicks,rangingfromapproximately400toover2,500taxa.Thesefindingssuggestthatminerallicksharborunique microbiomesthatmayfunctionasenvironmentalreservoirsforzoonoticpathogens,highlighting theirpotentialroleasdiseasehotspotsinthePeruvianAmazon.

B2:IUCNRedListAssessmentoftheSeaSlugElysiatimida

PresentingAuthor: MorganHerb

SchoolandYear: Kutztown,4thYear

FacultySponsor: AndrewMashintonio

AdditionalAuthors: Gregory,SetliffP

TheIUCNRedListspeciesassessmentisapublicaccesswebsitethatusescollectiveinput fromacrosstheglobetocategorizeandlabeltheextinctionriskofallspecies.IUCNRed Listassessorsevaluatesaspeciesrange,populationsize,habitatandecology,useand/ortrade, threats,andconservationactionstodeterminethelevelofrisk.Formyindependentresearch,I assessedElysiatimida(E.timida)fortheIUCNRedList.E.timidaaremarineinvertebrates morecommonlyknownas“seaslugs”thatareusedforavarietyofassessmentsandexperiments duetotheiruniqueabilitytocontinuetoutilizechloroplast’sphotosyntheticpropertiesafter consumption.Thisprocess,betterknownaskleptoplasty,isthoughttobeastrategytoalleviate theeffectsofannualseasonalchangesinfoodavailabilityduetoalgalcalcification.Duetothis, theyareoftenutilizedinresearchtotryandbetterunderstandthisprocess.Withtherising globaltemperatures,these“seaslugs”facethreatsduetoincreasedfoodaccesslimitations causedbyalgalcalcificationaswellasmuscularfunctionconcernsatthesehighertemperatures. HereIdiscussthemanyextinctionrisksandconcernsforthisimportantresearchspecies,Elysia timida,andtheiruniquekleptoplasyabilities.

B3:CRISPR-CasastheNewFrontierofMedicine

PresentingAuthor: BenPaul

SchoolandYear: Alvernia,4thYear

FacultySponsor: JamieBecker

Variousgeneticallybaseddiseasesareseenasdeathsentencesduetotheinabilitytodevelop curativetreatments.ThiscomprehensiveliteraturereviewexaminestheuseoftheCRISPR-Cas systemasasolutiontotheseillnesses.TheCRISPR-Cassystemisagene-editingsystemisolated frombacteriathatcanbeusedforavarietyofgene-editingfunctions.Thenumerouspossible usesofCRISPRaredetailedintheliteraturereview,alongwithageneralexplanationofthe mechanismsunderlyingthesystemandtheethical,legal,andsocietalconsiderationswhenusing thistechnology.ThesummativeconclusionofthisliteraturereviewisthatCRISPRtechnology

hassomeissuesthatneedtobeaddressed,butitpresentsapromisingfutureinthewayof dealingwithgeneticallybaseddiseases.

B4:TuningthePropertiesofBase-AppendedRadicalCations

PresentingAuthor: NickReiter

SchoolandYear: Albright,4thYear

FacultySponsor: IanRhile

Wehavebeenexploringthechemistryofbase-appendedradicalcations,appendingpyridylrings tophenothiaziniumradicalcations.Thesecompoundscanacceptaprotonandanelectron, actingashydrogen-atomacceptorcompounds.Thereactivityisunusualinthattheprotonand electronaretransferredinonestep.Thisreactivity,calledconcertedprotonelectrontransfer, occursinmanycontexts,particularlyinbiochemicalsystemssuchasenzymes.Ourcurrentwork iscenteredonmodifyingtheelectron-andproton-transferpropertiesbyaddingsubstituents tothephenothiaziniumandpyridylrings,respectively.Wewilldiscussthesynthesisofone compoundandthecharacterizationoftwocompounds,focusingonpKatitrations.Combining thesemeasurementswithreductionpotentialsallowsustocalculatebonddissociationenergies. Futureworkwillincludecompletinganine-compoundseries.

B5:TheIrreducible,Rotational,andSpinMassComponentsMeasuredforStellarMassandSupermassiveBlackHoles

PresentingAuthor: NathanSt.Clair

SchoolandYear: PennStateBerks,1stYear

FacultySponsor: RuthDaly

Ablackholethatisrotatingactuallyhasafewdifferentmasscomponents.Thetotalblack holemass,M,thatwillbemeasuredhascontributionsfromtherotationalkineticenergyof theblackhole,M rot,andtheblackholeirreduciblemass,M irr,whichcannotbedecreased exceptbyHawkingradiation,whichisnotimportantforblackholesobservedinouruniverse. Inaddition,themass-energythatisavailabletobeextractedfromtheblackholeandisalikely energysourcethatcouldpowerjettedoutflowsassociatedwithblackholes,M spin,isyetathird quantitythatisimportanttomeasureandstudyforblackholesinouruniverse.Thesemass componentswillbediscussedandpresentedforsamplesofblackholesmeasuredinthenearand distantuniverse.

SessionC:GlobalPolitics,Migration,andWar

C1:CanAmericaBetheWorldWarIIJewishPeoplesSafeHaven?

PresentingAuthor: JordanMissimer

SchoolandYear: ReadingAreaCommunityCollege,2ndYear

FacultySponsor: DianeConrad

Myessay“CanAmericaBetheWorldWarIIJewishPeoplesSafeHaven?”spansacross fivepagestotalintheChicagofootnotewritingstyle-myfirstChicagofootnotestyleessay too.ItstartsoutexpressingtheUnitedStateswasknownas“thelandofthefree”;however,

immigrationtherewasnotsoeasilyachievedduetostrictvisaquotasintheU.S.,theU.S. governmentpolicies,andthecurrenteventstakingplaceinimmigrants’nativecountries.I useseventotalsourcesrangingfromlettersanddirectiveswritteninthe1940’stoscholarly journalsasnewasAugust2025.Theessaygivesexampleswiththespecificnumbersinsteadof simplysaying“alargeamount”.ItmentionsRuthGruberwhotookoneofthebiggeststeps towardJewishimmigrationawayfromWWIIEuropethatendedupopeningtheeyesofthe highestrankinggovernmentofficials,includingthePresidenthimself.Therearedirectquotes fromindividualsduringthosetimes.Theessayisquiteagoodreadforthehistoryenthusiasts outthereduetoallthepointsexpressedandthenbackedupthroughmultiplesources.

C2:ImmigrantInclusivePoliciesandthePoliticsofDrivingintheUnitedStates

PresentingAuthor: JesseniaEscobar-Jimenez

SchoolandYear: Alvernia,4thYear

FacultySponsor: VictoriaWilliams

Thisthesisexaminesimmigrant-inclusivedriver’slicensepoliciesinTexasandCaliforniaas instrumentsofrecognitionandsocialintegration.Whileimmigrationpolicyisestablishedon thefederallevel,statesretainauthorityoverlicensing,creatingafragmentedpolicylandscape shapedbycompetingpoliticalandnormativevisionsofbelonging.Throughacomparative analysisofstatepoliciesinTexasandCalifornia,thisstudyarguesthataccesstodriver’slicenses functionsasaformofeverydaymembership,expandingparticipationineconomicandciviclife evenintheabsenceofformallegalstatus.Thisresearchwillalsodemonstratehowstatepolicies arequietlyreshapingtheideasofinclusioninAmerica.

C3:TRIPS-DrivenIntellectualPropertyReform:FDIInflowsinIndiaandThailand

PresentingAuthor: NicholasColletti

SchoolandYear: Alvernia,4thYear

FacultySponsor: VictoriaWilliams

Overthelastseveralyears,therehasbeennotablediscussiononthedisparityinintellectual property(IP)protectionsbetweenthedevelopedanddevelopingworld.Thefirstextensive internationalstandardforintellectualpropertyprotectionsandrights(IPRs)emergedwith theWorldTradeOrganization’s(WTO)AgreementonTrade-RelatedAspectsofIntellectual PropertyRights(TRIPS).IPRsareacknowledgedasacentralfactorinamplifyinggrowthfor domesticeconomies.Foreigndirectinvestment(FDI)inflowsandeconomicgrowththusserve astwosupplementalvariablesrelevanttotheTRIPSagreement.Analyzingthesemeasures,in relationtoTRIPS,raisesthequestion:howdoIPlawreformsaffectFDIinflowsindeveloping nations?Inthisstudy,Iutilizeacasestudyanalysistocomparepre-existingIPlawswithIP lawreforms,includingTRIPSimplementation,inThailandandIndia.Additionally,Idiscuss amodificationofJanjuaandSamad’s(2007)equationtofurtherexaminetheeffectsofFDI inflowsinThailandandIndiaandprovideavenuesforfutureresearch.

C4:ChinainSouthAmerica:BetweenStrategicDevelopmentandDependency

PresentingAuthor: OwenStarner

SchoolandYear: Kutztown,4thYear

FacultySponsor: ChristineNunez

ThisresearchexaminesChina’sgrowingeconomicengagementinSouthAmericathroughtrade andfinancialagreementslinkedtonaturalresources.AlthoughChina’sgrowingtradeandfinancialinvolvementinSouthAmericanresource-exportingeconomieshasgeneratedshort-term economicbenefits,itincreasinglyreinforcespatternsofstructuraldependencybyconcentrating growthinrawmaterialextractionandexpandingrelianceonChineseinvestmentandcredit. Usingeconomicdata,financialstrategies,andregionalcomparisons,thisresearchanalyzesthe implicationsofChina’seconomicengagementinSouthAmericafordevelopment,sustainability, andlong-termeconomicindependence.PreliminaryfindingssuggestthatChineseinvestment hasstrengthenedtradenetworksandexpandedinfrastructure,particularlyinindustriesrelated tominingandresourceextraction.Whiletheseinvestmentsprovideimportantopportunities foreconomicgrowth,theymayalsobindSouthAmericaneconomiestoexport-orientedresourcesectorsandincreasedrelianceonexternalfinancing.Ultimately,thesecountriesbecome increasilyvulnerabletoeconomicdependencyduetounsustainablelong-termgrowth.Thisresearchcontributestoongoingdebateabouteconomicdevelopmentandgeopoliticalinfluence. Understandingthestructuraldynamicsisessentialforevaluatingthevariousimplicationsfor thefutureofSouthAmerica.

C5:ThePriceofWar

PresentingAuthor: AlexAvram

SchoolandYear: Alvernia,2ndYear

FacultySponsor: CarolineFitzpatrick

Inthefirstquarterof2026,suddenglobalconflictsescalatedintochaos.From“OperationEpic Fury”andthewarinIrantotheongoing1,000-dayhumanitariancrisisinSudan,millionsof peoplehavebeenaffectedbythesewars.Around250millionpeoplehavebeeneitherkilled orareinneedofaidduetoeitherviolenceorhavingtofleetheirhomes(UnitedNations OCHA,2026).Trillionsofdollarsarebeingspentaroundtheworldbreakingrecordsonthe amountspentonmilitaries.Thepurposeofthisstudyistoquestionthepriceofwaragainst itspotentialbenefits.Todoso,theeconomicgrowthinmilitariesandthedeclineinhealthcare andsocialinfrastructurewillbeanalyzed.Thispresentationismeanttobringawarenessand offeradvocacyoptions.UnitedNationsOCHA.(2026).Globalhumanitarianoverview2026: Trendsandneeds.UNOfficefortheCoordinationofHumanitarianAffairs.

SessionD:HealthLiteracy,Medicine,andPatient-CenteredCare

D1:TheAuthorityProblem:MisinformationandtheErosionofTrustinMedical Expertise

PresentingAuthor: AlexisBonte

SchoolandYear: Alvernia,4thYear

FacultySponsor: VictoriaWilliams

Inthemoderntechnologicalera,whereinformationisinstantlyaccessible,misinformation anddisinformationhavereshapedthepublic’srelationshipwithscientificandmedicalexpertise.Socialmediaplatforms,influencers,andonlinecommunitieshaveacceleratedthespreadof misleadinghealthandscientificclaims.Asfalseinformationspreads,non-expertsincreasingly influencepublicopinion,particularlyinenvironmentswheretrustinscientificinstitutionsand healthcareprofessionalshaseroded.Thisliteraturereviewexaminesthedistinctionbetween misinformationanddisinformation,thefactorscontributingtodecliningtrustinscientificand medicalexpertise,andthemechanismsthroughwhichhigh-profilepublicfiguresgainperceived authoritydespitelackingscientificcredentials.Italsoexploreshowdiminishedinstitutional trustallowsmisleadingclaimstoundermineevidence-basedhealthcareguidance.Acasestudy ofvaccine-relatedclaimspromotedbytheU.S.HealthSecretaryRobertF.KennedyJr.illustrateshowinfluentialfigurescanchallengeestablishedscientificconsensusandreshapepublic perceptionsofmedicalrecommendations.Decliningtrustinscientificinstitutionsenablesmisinformationanddisinformationtocompetewithevidence-basedmedicine,posingsignificantrisks topublichealth,particularlyinthecontextofchildhoodvaccination.

D2:AdvocatingforWidespreadKnowledgeofHIV

PresentingAuthor: ChristopherGrilli

SchoolandYear: Alvernia,2ndYear

FacultySponsor: VictoriaWilliams

AdditionalAuthors: Purcell,DavidW;Thrasher,StevenW;Nessouli,Afeef;Cohen,Joshua TheHIVpandemicisnotjustadiseaseofthepast,butanongoingglobalcrisis.LikeCOVID19,itaffectedandcontinuestoaffectpeopleacrossthecountryandtheworld.HIVaffects over40millionpeopleandhasademographicofindividualsaffectedacrossthecountryandthe world.Amongstgaymen,whoaredisproportionatelyaffectedbyHIV,peopleofcolorfollow closebehindinstatisticaldataofwhoisgloballythemostaffected.Inadditiontopeopleof colorandgaymen,manychildrenacrosstheworldareaffectedbyHIVduetotheabilityofthe diseasetotransmitfrommothertooffspring.Thispieceisimportant,asknowingthiscanhelp decreasestigma.WemustendstigmaandallowHIVinformationtobewidespreadknowledge, notjustsomethingwelearnaboutifitpersonallyaffectsusoralovedone.Theimportantthing torememberisthatthisisallpreventable,andit’stimewewakeuptorecognizethis.

D3:ThePillExplained:HowItWorks,WhyItMatters,andWhereIt’sHeaded

PresentingAuthor: MeganGerloff

SchoolandYear: Alvernia,3rdYear

FacultySponsor: CharlesReed

OralcontraceptivesarethemostcommonlyprescribedformofcontraceptionintheUnited States,yetmostoftheinformationregardingoralcontraceptionisoftenunknownoroverlooked. Thetalkwillbeginwiththebackgroundofbirthcontrol,suchasitscomponentsandfailurerate. Thehistoryofthepillwillalsobereviewedfromthebeginningofthe1930stonewmethods andformulations.Besidespreventingpregnancy,oralcontraceptivescanbeusedtotreata

widerangeofotherconditionssuchasendometriosis,acne,andanemia.Thetalkwillconclude withdiscussionoffuturedirections,likeincreasededucation,andmalebirthcontrol.These futuredirectionsareallbeingconsideredtocreatemethodsthataresafe,reversible,convenient, effective,andalsoacceptedbyusersandsociety.

D4:EmpoweringLupusPatientsthroughRehabilitation

PresentingAuthor: ArianaWright

SchoolandYear: Alvernia,3rdYear

FacultySponsor: VictoriaWilliams

Systemiclupuserythematosus(SLE)isachronicautoimmunediseasecharacterizedbyimmunedysregulation,systemicinflammation,musculoskeletaldeterioration,organinvolvement, fatigue,andprofoundpsychosocialburden.Lupusappearsinvariousforms,eachaffectingthe bodydifferently.ThispapercentersonSystemicLupusErythematosus(SLE),theformmost commonlyassociatedwithwidespreadinflammationandfunctionallimitations.Manypatients experiencepain,exhaustion,andadecreasingamountofphysicalfunctionandevenmovement, whichinterfereswithday-to-dayactivitiesdespiteimprovementsinmedicalcare.Thisthesis examineshowintegratingpatient-centeredphysicaltherapyandrehabilitationstrategiesimprovestreatmentwillingnessamongindividualswithSLE.Physicaltherapyplaysakeyrolein promotingstrength,endurance,andself-efficacyamongindividualswithlupusbyanalyzingrehabilitationacrossacutecare,short-termrehabilitation,long-termmanagement,andhome-based exercisecontinuation.Drawinguponrandomizedcontrolledtrials,systematicreviews,qualitativeresearch,andcasestudies,thispaperdemonstratesthatprogressiveresistancetraining, aerobicconditioning,yoga-basedinterventions,andindividualizedtransitionalframeworksimprovebonemineraldensity(BMD),muscularstrength,cardiovascularcapacity,fatigueseverity, andfunctionalindependencewithoutincreasingdiseaseactivity.Theseimprovementsincrease willingnesstoparticipateinongoingmedicaltreatment.Rehabilitation,therefore,functionsnot merelyasadjuncttherapybutasatransformativemechanismwithinlupuscare.

D5:UniversalWheelchairActivityTray

PresentingAuthor: AndrewJamesSaadeh

SchoolandYear: Alvernia,1stYear

FacultySponsor: KushalAdhikari

AdditionalAuthors: Driscoll,Keegan;Cifarelli,Ethan

Thisprojectaddressesthelackofanaffordable,universalactivitytrayforwheelchairusersat theAllAbilitiesFitnessCenter.Thegoalofthisprojectistodesignatraythatcanbeused bymultipleusers,sinceclientsatthecenterusedifferenttypesofwheelchairstailoredtotheir individualneeds.Weaimedtomaketheactivitytraycost-effectivewhilemaintainingastrong focusondurabilityandadaptability.Toachievethis,ourteambrainstormedmultipledesign optionsandevaluatedfactorssuchascostandmanufacturingrequirementstodeterminethe bestsolutionfortheclient.Aprototypehasbeendesigned,andwewillbeginmanufacturing andthenproceedtotesting.Ourexpectedresultsarethattheactivitytrayisusableforclients atAllAbilitiesandprovidesamorestabledesignthanwhatwaspreviouslyavailable.This

projectisimportantbecauseitdemonstratesthevalueofthinkinguniversallyasengineerswhen designingsolutionsfordiverseusers.

SessionE:History,Culture,andInheritedNarratives

E1:BehindSpain’sBack:ARevisionistLookintotheOriginandConclusionof theIndependenceinGranColombia.

PresentingAuthor: ArielNunez

SchoolandYear: Kutztown,4thYear

FacultySponsor: ChristineNunez

Thisarticleanalyzesthepolitical,economic,andsocialtransitionfromtheViceroyaltyofNew Granada(present-dayEcuador,Colombia,Panama,andVenezuela)totheconsolidationofGran Colombia,challengingthetraditionalnarrativethatdefinesindependenceasaradicalrupture. Throughacomparativeanalysisoffiscalstructures,landtenure,andsocio-racialstratification, thestudyarguesthattheemancipatoryprocessconstituted,primarily,aninstitutional“facelift” ageopoliticalreconfigurationthatallowedthelocalelitetodisplacetheSpanishadministration withoutalteringthepre-existingfoundationsofexploitation.Thefindingsdemonstratethatthe adoptionofliberalandrepublicanrhetoricdidnottranslateintoademocratizationofpower.On thecontrary,thenewlyformedrepublicperpetuatedmechanismsofcolonialexclusionthrough thepreservationofslavery,themaintenanceofindigenoustribute,andtheconsolidationof debtservitude.TheresearchrevealsthattheGranColombianstatefunctionedasanoligarchic politicalprojectthatsuppressedtheprivilegesofthecommonpeople,ensuringthattheprofound socialandeconomicinequalitiesofthecolonialperiodwouldcontinuetodeterminethedaily lives,socialmobility,andeffectiverightsofitscitizens.

E2:PreservingTradition:TheCulturalandEconomicRoleofBullfightinginSpain

PresentingAuthor: KatelynShearer

SchoolandYear: Kutztown,3rdYear

FacultySponsor: ChristineNunez

BullfightinghasbeenintertwinedwithSpain’snationalidentityforcenturies,shapingitsfestivals,artisticexpression,andinternationalimage.Asdebatesoverbullfightingintensify,the futureofthistraditionhasbecomeincreasinglycontested.Examiningbullfighting’shistorical roleisessentialtounderstandingitsbroaderculturalsignificance.Thisresearcharguesthat bullfightingshouldremainlegalinSpainbecauseitrepresentsafoundationalculturaltradition andcontributessignificantlytothenation’seconomicandregionalidentity.Thisstudydraws onhistoricalanalysis,festivalandtraditionstudies,andeconomicdatarelatedtotourismand employment.Areviewofscholarlyliteratureandculturalrecordssupportstheevaluationofits symbolicandfinancialimpact.Findingsindicatethatbullfightingevolvedthroughkeyhistorical periodsintoanationalsymbolandsustainsregionaleconomiesthroughtourismandfestivals. Preservingbullfightingmaintainsculturalcontinuityandeconomicstability,contributingto broaderdiscussionsaboutsafeguardingheritagetraditionsinmodernsocieties.

E3:TheArtifactsofCatholicism:RelicsasPresent-DayArtHistoryWithinthe Church

PresentingAuthor: JuliaSweeney

SchoolandYear: Kutztown,4thYear

FacultySponsor: DanielHaxall

Whatisarelic?Thedefinitionof“relic”inCatholicismisintrinsicallytiedtoarthistoryandto themuseumsthathouseobjectsoriginatinginCatholictradition.Relics—fragmentsofsaints’ bodiesorobjectsassociatedwiththem—areveneratedwithintheCatholicChurchandoften enshrinedinornate,gildedreliquaries.Forcenturies,membersoftheclergyworkedasskilled silversmithsandgoldsmiths,prayerfullycraftingfiligreedcontainers,jewel-encrustedshrines,and evenbeadedtextilestohousethesesacredobjects.Thispaperexaminesarthistory’sdefinitionof thereliquaryandforegroundsacompellingcollectionfromKutztownUniversity’sPennsylvania GermanCulturalHeritageCenterasafocalpointforabroadercomparativeanalysis.

E4:Freedom,Beauty,andtheGreatAmericanFiction:TheFormationofGenerationalTraumainToniMorrison’sTheBluestEye

PresentingAuthor: ElsaWeaver

SchoolandYear: Albright,3rdYear

FacultySponsor: TeresaGilliams

ToniMorrison’sfirstnovel,TheBluestEye,setin1940sLorain,Ohio,tellstheforgottenstory ofayoungAfricanAmericangirl,PecolaBreedlove.Pecola’slifeisdefinedbyparentalneglect, communityrejection,andself-hatred.Thisessayseekstoexaminetheeffectofculturalgender andbeautystandardsonmarginalizedidentitiesandhowthetraumacreatedispassedbetween generations.ByexaminingthehistoriesofChollyBreedloveandPaulineBreedlove,thisessay illuminatestheprocessbywhichtheyinternalizeself-hatredandhowthisidentitymanifestsin theirviolentabuseandneglectoftheirdaughter,Pecola.

E5:RacializedNarrativesofViolence:AContentAnalysisof19th-CenturyNewspaperReportingonWomenandRace

PresentingAuthor: SageDunkleberger

SchoolandYear: Kutztown,3rdYear

FacultySponsor: JenniferSchlegel

Thisstudyexamineshowraceshapedthereportingofviolenceagainstwomenin19th-century UnitedStatesnewspapersthroughacontent-analysisofarticlespublishedbythePittsburgh Post-Gazettebetween1845-1899.Drawingonkeyword-baseddatacollection,theprojectanalyzesthelanguageusedtodescribeandidentifyvictimsandtheactsofviolencerepresented inthesepublications.Further,thisstudyseekstoexaminetheracialidentifiersusedtoreporttheracesofthefemalevictims,suchas“white”and“mulatto”,includingmanyracist butcommonlyusedtermsatthetime.Additionally,manyarticlesomittedracialidentifiers ofthevictimsaltogether,suggestingimplicitassociationbetweenbeinglabeledasa“woman” andbeingconsidered“white”.Byhighlightingthesepatternsanddrawingonlate19thcentury legislation,thisresearchaimstodemonstratehowhistoricalmedianarrativescontributedto

theracializationofvictimhood,aswellaspresentdayinequalitiessurroundingviolenceagainst women.

SessionF:CreativeWritingandIdentity

F1:ExploringShortFiction:Inspiration,Guidance,andProcess

PresentingAuthor: JosephineEbersole

SchoolandYear: Kutztown,4thYear

FacultySponsor: ToddDodson

Thisprojectexploredandcriticallyanalyzedthewritingstyles,subjects,topics,andelementsin contemporary,women-writtenshortfiction.Thisliteraryanalysiswasusedtoinform,develop, anddefineapersonalcreativewritingstyleandprocessthroughthewritingofshortfiction. Asthiswritingprocesswasdeveloped,theshortstorieswrittenwerecuratedintoacomplete collection.Thisprojectexaminescreativewritingasaskillthatcontinuallyseeksinspiration andisimprovedthroughconsistentpractice,revision,andinternalexamination.

F2:TheCatinMyBackyard:AnExplorationofMourning

PresentingAuthor: NeveahRothar

SchoolandYear: ReadingAreaCommunityCollege,1stYear

FacultySponsor: JoeyFlammCostello

“TheCatsinMyBackyard,”apersonalnarrativethatconnects,throughapast-reflectivevoice, theexperienceofburyingadeadkittenfoundinmybackyardtoatime,laterinmylife,when Iexperiencedsuicidalideation.Forthispresentation,Iwillbereadingfrom,andtalkingabout thevariousstagesofwritingthisstory,onethat,inmanyways,wasinspiredbyhow,bywatching thekittensinmypresentlifegrowandthinkingaboutboththedeadkittenIfoundandmy suicidalideation,Icametounderstandthecomplexrelationshipofgrievingbothlifeanddeath. Ultimately,thisstoryexplores,andcommentson,howmourning,andthedesiretobemourned, affectstheliving’srelationshipwiththedead.

F3:Blackheart:TheIntersectionofMusicandLiteratureinaSearchforIdentity

PresentingAuthor: AbigailMarthaWalker

SchoolandYear: ReadingAreaCommunityCollege,2ndYear

FacultySponsor: JoeyFlammCostello

BLACKHEARTisanoriginalnovelthatalternatesbetweentheperspectivesofprotagonists AstorHeart–pop-punkleadsingerofthebandBlackheart–andWillowMae–theband’snew photographer.Forthispresentation,Iwillbereadingfromthenovelandtalkingaboutthe connectionbetweentwoartforms,musicandliterature,whichIhadpreviouslythoughttobe separate.Throughthewritingofthisromantictale,onethatwasinspiredbymyfascination withthemusicindustryandmyattractiontoheavymusic,Iallowedmyselftoexploretheart ofsongwritingandtoseemusicasanintegralpartofmywritingprocess.Thisconnectionis reflectedinthestory’splotline,setinPhiladelphia,whereAstorhasmovedforafinalshotto workthroughhiswriter’sblockandsavehiscareer.There,heunexpectedlymeetsWillowMae,

whobreatheslightsintohisdarknessandservesasasourceofinspiration.Threatenedbyher needforcontrol,WillowMaetriestosuppressherfeelingsforAstor,whileshedoubtswhoshe isandwantstobecome.Seeingtheirlivesintertwine,thereaderistakendownapathoflove, identity,andpassionformusic.

F4:Carroll:AnEmpatheticApproachtotheLossofIdentity

PresentingAuthor: FabianSanchez

SchoolandYear: ReadingAreaCommunityCollege,2ndYear

FacultySponsor: JoeyFlammCostello

Oneofthestrongest,andperhapsmostdifficult,emotionsonecanfeelforanotherisempathy, acomplextoneIwantedtoachieveinCarroll,ashort,fictionalpsychologicalthriller,which, althoughexternally,focusesonafirst-person,unreliablenarratorwhobelievessheisexperiencing paranormalevents,internallyexplores,andcommentson,thelossofidentity.Tosomedegree, thisstoryisaproductofmyaffinitytowardspeople-watching,and,asanextension,tryingtoput myselfinothers’shoes,whichmeansattemptingtofigureoutwhysomeoneactsthewaytheydo andwhatchoicesleadthemtotheseactions.Onthesurface,asa33-year-old,newlywedman,I amacompletelydifferentpersonthanmyprotagonist,awomaninher60swhohasbeendefined bybeingawifeandmother,andisnowawidow.However,intheprocessofresearchingand writingthisshortstory,Ifoundmyselfnotonlyabletosympathizewith,butalsounderstand, theconsequencesoftheuniversalandtimelessfearthatcomeswithlosingone’sidentity.

F5:HamartiaHubrisPitchbook

PresentingAuthor: TerryBresnahan

SchoolandYear: Kutztown,3rdYear

FacultySponsor: LizVanVerth

IampresentingmypassionprojectthatIhavecreatedoverthepastthreeyears,atrilogytitled HamartiaHubris,ateen/youngadultfantasyadventuretrilogytakingplaceinaworldakintoa steampunkancientRome.Whenaprophecyspeaksofavanquishedtitanisforetoldtodestroy theworld,anoutcastedpriestessandadishonorablegladiatormustjointogethertogettothe bottomofthemysteryoftheprophecyandstoptheendtimes.Iplantodemonstrateitasa pitchbibleasthoughIwerepitchingittoastudioexecutivetomakeitintoashow.Although I’mnotreallytryingtosellittosomeone,Ienjoythepitchbookformatsinceitcommunicates thestory,process,anddetailsinanefficientway.Inmypitchbible,Iincludeastorysynopsis, characterdescriptionsandroles,andworldbuilding,aswellasacompilationofillustrationsand conceptdesignsIhavecreatedovertheyears.Ialsowanttoexplainmycreativeprocessand howmyideasforcharacterandplothavechanged,whatIhavelearnedfromexploringtechnical aspectsofstorytelling,andsharingwhatIbelievemakesastorysuccessful.

SessionG:Education,MentalHealth,andCommunityWell-Being

G1:TheFirstTeachers:ParentalInfluencesonBilingualLanguageDevelopment inChildren

PresentingAuthor: TamaraHolmes

SchoolandYear: Kutztown,4thYear

FacultySponsor: ChristineNunez

Languagedevelopmentinbilingualchildrenisshapedbymanydifferentsocialandenvironmentalfactors;however,theenvironmentofthehomeisthemostcriticalfactorofachild’s languagedevelopment.Parentsplayacriticalroleinbilingualchildrenlanguagedevelopment, astheamountofexposuretolanguage,parentalbeliefstowardsbilingualism,andhowmultiple factorswithinthehomeheavilyinfluencesachild’slevelofproficiencyandmaintenanceofboth languages.Drawingfrompsychologicalresearch,scholarlyarticlesandsociallyscientificstudies, thisresearchdemonstrateshowparents’perceptiontheimportanceofbilingualismtranslates intotheleveloflanguageproficiencythechilddevelopsbetweenbothlanguages.Inaddition,it wasshownthatdifferentstressorsaffectedparentingstyles,whichindirectlyinfluencedthehome environmentachildgrowsupin.Thispresentationhighlightstheimportanceofhowparents playacrucialroleinhowbilingualchildrendeveloplanguage,sheddinglightoncreatingricher environmentsthatsupportbilingualchildren’slanguagedevelopment.

G2:SchoolStartTimes:WhatDoWeReallyValue?

PresentingAuthor: TinoBermudez

SchoolandYear: Alvernia,2ndYear

FacultySponsor: CarolineFitzpatrick

Thisessaystudiestheeffectsofalaterschooltimeanditsbiologicalandacademiceffects onstudentsgrades6-12.Multiplecasestudieswereobservedthatimplementedlaterschool starttimesindifferentschooldistricts.(Boergers,2015;Heissel&Norris,2018).Inaddition, thebiologicalneedsofstudents6-12werealsoinvestigated.Researchindicatesthatpubescent studentshaveinternalclocksthatareoffsetduringthisdevelopmentalstage,whichalterstheir sleeppatternsfromthetraditionalnight-and-daycycle.Inaddition,laterschoolstarttimes havebeenshowntoimproveacademictestscores.Theseresultsimplythatlaterstarttimes playanimportantroleintheadaptationofgrowingstudentsandintheefficiencyofacademic activities.Presentationofprioritiesandimplementationmethodsarealsodiscussed.

G3:Men’sMentalHealth&ItsImportanceinSociety

PresentingAuthor: DaltonCleveland

SchoolandYear: Alvernia,2ndYear

FacultySponsor: CarolineFitzpatrick

AdditionalAuthors: Landers,Kayla

Men’smentalhealthisasignificantpublichealthconcern,mainlyduetohighsuiciderates (King,Kylieetal.).Thispaperexaminessocial,cultural,andpsychologicalfactorscontributing tomen’sunwillingnesstoseekmentalhealthsupport,includingstereotypessurroundingmas-

culinity,emotionalsuppression,andself-reliance.AccordingtotheCentersforDiseaseControl andPrevention,menaccountforthree-quartersofsuicidedeaths,highlightinganurgencyto addressthecrisis.Drawingonscholarlyresearch,thisessayexplorespeersupport,professional therapy,andself-careinimprovingmentalwell-being.Maslow’sHierarchyofNeedsisusedas aframeworktoshowhowunmetbasic,emotional,andesteemneedscanworsenanxietyand depression.Thepaperincorporatesapersonalnarrativetoillustratethelong-termpsychological impactoftrauma,familyconflict,institutionalization,andmedicationonmalementalhealth. Thisessayarguesthatincreasingawareness,reducingstigma,andencouragingemotionalvulnerabilityareessentialstepsinsupportingmen’smentalhealthandpreventingsuicide.

G4:TheCareinMentalHealth

PresentingAuthor: MackenzieCronan

SchoolandYear: ReadingAreaCommunityCollege,1stYear

FacultySponsor: DavidLeight

ThelackofmentalhealthprovidersinBerksCountyhasinfluencedtheexponentialgrowthof suiciderates.Accessibilitytomentalhealthcareiscrucialforsocietalgrowth,andthepositive effectsextendbeyond“just”suiciderates.Thelackofaccessibilitytocareforthosewhoare mentallyillhasresultedinhighermortalityrates,financialdebt,andcrime.Thesolutionof mandatedregulationswithininstitutionsandfacilitieswouldbebeneficialthroughitsestablishmentofastandardexpectationofaccountabilityandresponsibility.Theseregulationswould bemostbeneficialwhenviewedwithanengineeringmindset.Thisapproachwoulddefinitively provideuswithproblemsandsolutionswhileholdingthepartiesinvolvedaccountable;engineers areheldaccountableeverydayandmanylivesareintheirhands,justastheyarewithmental healthprofessionals.

G5:EducationandtheOpioidCrisisinRuralAmerica:APolicyApproachto HealthEquity

PresentingAuthor: LizmarieVega

SchoolandYear: Alvernia,2ndYear

FacultySponsor: VictoriaWilliams

TheU.S.opioidcrisisisasignificantpublichealthemergency,withover100,000overdosedeaths reportedin2021.Whileoftenframedasamatterofindividualchoice,thiscrisisisdeeplyrooted insocialdeterminantsofhealth,particularlyeducation.Thispaperexamineshoweducation influenceshealthoutcomesinruralcommunities.ResearchbyModestinoetal.(2025)indicates thatruralpatientsaresignificantlymorelikelytoreceivehigherquantitiesofopioidprescriptions thanurbanpatients.Thistrendislinkedtotheprevalenceofphysicallydemandingjobs,such asminingandconstruction,resultingfromlimitededucationalopportunities.Furthermore, disparitiesineducationalfundingandhealthliteracyexacerbaterisksforyouth.Iarguethat addressingsubstanceabuserequirestargetedpolicyreform.Iproposeimplementingmandatory, school-basedhealthliteracyandpreventionprogramsinunderfundedruraldistrictstoimprove long-termhealthequityandreducedependencyratesattheirsource.Modestino,Alicia,Garry Young,MdHasan,JieshengShi,andMdNoorAlam.2025.“WhyAreOpioidPrescribingRates

HigherinRuralversusUrbanAreas?”SSRNElectronicJournal.

SessionH:Media,Technology,andPublicKnowledge

H1:ClassicComputerCreatorCulture

PresentingAuthor: EmilySchneider

SchoolandYear: Kutztown,4thYear

FacultySponsor: BohdanJacklitsch

Retrocomputergraphicshavefascinatedpopularculture,buttheyarerarelydiscussedina scholarlycontext.Thiscapstoneisanexplorationoftechniquesusedinearlydigitalartand videogamedevelopment.Technicalandcreativeresearchinformsthefinalproject:anoriginal side-scrollerpuzzlegamethatcanrunonanactualGameBoy,designedusingGBStudio.The needtoworkwithintheconstraintsofthegameengineshapesgameplayandartdirection.The processofdevelopingapuzzlegameforoldhardwarebecomesapuzzleinandofitself.

H2:ToServeandPreserve:PublicLibrariesandtheValueofPhysicalMedia

PresentingAuthor: KatherineCamilli

SchoolandYear: Kutztown,4thYear

FacultySponsor: RoseannePerkins

Asmediabecomesincreasinglydigital,publiclibrariesareoneoffewremainingplacesto accessphysicalmediasuchasbooks,CDs,andDVDs.Thispaperexplorestheconnection betweenpubliclibrariesandthecontinuedexistenceofphysicalmedia.Datawasgatheredfrom semi-structuredinterviewswith13publiclibrariansacrossPennsylvaniawhoserveavariety ofcommunities.Theseinterviewswerethentranscribedandcodedtoseethesimilaritiesand differencesintheanswersprovided.Themesthatseemtobeemergingincludethecontinued popularityofphysicalmediaamongpatrons,theimportanceofaccessibility,theincreasedcost ofdigitalmaterials,andthelibrary’sroleasacommunitycenter.Anothernotablefindingis thatmanylibrariansdidsaythattheyseepreservationasanimportantfunctionofthepublic library,butthattheydonothavethefundingtosupportpreservationpolicies.Thispaperasks readerstoconsiderhowtheyinteractwiththemediaintheirlife,whetherthey’reusingthe librarytoitsfullestpotential,andhowtheycansupporttheirlocallibrary.

H3:MediaFragmentationandAffectivePoliticalPolarizationintheUnitedStates.

PresentingAuthor: EllaWood

SchoolandYear: Alvernia,3rdYear

FacultySponsor: VictoriaWilliams

Thispresentationexaminesmyresearchproject“HowDoesMediaFragmentationReinforce AffectivePoliticalPolarizationintheUnitedStates?”PoliticalpolarizationhasescalatedinrecentdecadesandbecomeadefiningfeatureofAmericanpolitics.Overthesameperiod,theU.S. mediaenvironmenthasundergonesignificantfragmentation,withahugeincreaseinpartisan newsoutlets.Thispaperexplorestherelationshipbetweenthesetwodevelopments,focusing

onwhethertheconsumptionofpartisanmediaisassociatedwithgreateraffectivepoliticalpolarizationwithinAmericansociety.Drawingonexistingtheoriesofselectiveexposure,social identity,andechochambers,theprojectanalyseshowfragmentedmediamayreinforceemotive partisanidentitiesandhostilitytowardspoliticalout-groups.UsingANESdata,thestudywill employcorrelationandregressionanalysestoexaminetherelationshipbetweenpartisanmediaconsumptionandaffectivepolarization.Preliminaryfindingssuggestthatgreaterreliance onpartisanmediaispositivelyassociatedwithhigherlevelsofaffectivepoliticalpolarization. Whiletheanalysisdoesn’testablishcausation,theresultshighlighttheimportanceofmedia consumptionpatternsinshapingcontemporaryaffectivepoliticaldivisions.

H4:ACloserLookat“Doom-Scrolling”:HowSocialMediaandPoliticsManufactureTerror

PresentingAuthor: BenjaminWykle

SchoolandYear: Kutztown,4thYear

FacultySponsor: ThomasRobinson

Thispsychologicalstudyexplorestheassociationbetweencollegestudents’shorttermengagementwithsocialmediaandindividualchangesinone’sawarenessofdeath,ormortalitysalience (MS).Participantswillbeaskedtocompletesurveysdesignedtomeasuretheir“politicalefficacy”(irrespectiveofone’spoliticalaffiliation),aswellastheirpretestandposttestMS. Participantswillthenberandomlyassignedtooneofthreegroups(onecontrol,twoexperimentalgroups)andexposedtovaryingincrementsofpredeterminedmediaclipsgatheredfrom varioussocialmediaplatformscontainingpotentiallyemotionallyarousingstimuli.AnANCOVAanalysis,usingparticipants’weeklyscreentime(viareportsavailableonallmajorsmart phones)asthecovariateinordertoaccountforpre-testdifferencesinsocialmediausage,willbe usedtotestfortheinteractioneffectofshort-termsocialmediausageandpoliticalefficacyon changeinMS.Resultsfromthisstudyareexpectedtoillustratehowmodernmethodsofsocial mediausageinconjunctionwithindividualpoliticalattitudesareassociatedwithincreasing psychologicalterroramongcollegestudents.

SessionJ:SpecialTopicsandIndependentProjects

J1:HowMyInternshipHasPreparedMefortheFuture

PresentingAuthor: AmeliaFortunato

SchoolandYear: Alvernia,3rdYear

FacultySponsor: JodiRadosh

AsaninternatEnsembleEntertainment,Ihavegainedimmeasurableexperiencedoingscript coverage.Forthoseunaware,scriptcoverageiswhenyouwriteasummaryofafilmscreenplay andthenanalyzeitsquality,determiningwhetherornotacompanyshouldmoveforwardwith it.Asanintern,sofar,Ihaveread5plusscripts,whichforcedmetoevaluateavarietyof aspectsofthescript,includingpacing,characterization,formatting,andmore.Thisinternship haschallengedmebutalsogivenmetheopportunitytogrow.Thisexperienceissomuchmore thanjustasectiononaresume.Itispreparingmeforeventuallyworkinginthefilmindustryby

givingmeinsightonwhatworksinascriptandwhatdoesn’t.Assomeonewhowouldeventually liketoworkinscriptwriting,thisopportunityhasmademeabetterwriter.

J2:WhyDoEarly-Stage,NonprofitsFail,andWhatDoesThisRevealAboutthe DriversofNonprofitSuccess?

PresentingAuthor: GraceWanner

SchoolandYear: Alvernia,4thYear

FacultySponsor: JodiRadosh

Thestudyexamineswhetherwidelyciteddriversofnonprofitsuccesssuchasdonormotivation, emotionappealandtransparentcommunicationaresufficienttosustainearly-stagenonprofitinitiativesinpractice.Whileexistingliteratureemphasizedthesefactors,lessattentionisplacedon whetherthesevariablesaresufficienttosustainearly-stagenonprofitinitiativesinpractice.This studyexaminestheresearchsurroundingevidence-basedfundraisingandengagementstrategies andevaluatestheirabilitiestoleadtosustainedoutcomes.

J3:TakeABite

PresentingAuthor: KhalifCarter

SchoolandYear: Kutztown,4thYear

FacultySponsor: WhitneyWalters

Thisfilmisbasedontheideaoffateandwhatif.I’musingtheBiblestoryaboutAdamand EveintheGardenofEdenandputtingatwistonthestory.whereEvedoesn’teattheapple andisstillfatedtodamnation,bythedevil,whoistryingtogethertoeattheapple.

J4:NicePackofPre-Rolls

PresentingAuthor: MitchelNevryanskiy

SchoolandYear: PennStateBerks,4thYear

FacultySponsor: JamesBrown

Itisashortcomedicplayaboutafamilydealingwithgriefanddrugaddiction.Jack,the youngestbrother,hasbecomeoverreliantondrugs.Hisoldersisterandbrotherattemptto convincehimtogototheirmother’sfuneral.

SessionK:Power,Justice,andPublicSafety

K1:BarrierstoPoliticalDiversity:ThirdPartiesinAmerica

PresentingAuthor: JamieDiaz

SchoolandYear: ReadingAreaCommunityCollege,2ndYear

FacultySponsor: JodiGreene

Despitetheexistenceofmorethan50politicalpartiesintheUnitedStates,theDemocratic andRepublicanpartiescontinuetodominateelections,limitingpoliticaldiversity.Thispaper examinesthesystemicbarriersthatpreventthirdpartiesfrombreakingthrough,includingmedia bias,exclusionfromdebates,publicperceptionof“wastedvotes,”restrictiveballotaccesslaws, andwinner-takes-allelectoralsystems.Throughtheuseofhistoricalrecords,electiondata,and

analysisofmediapractices,thestudydemonstrateshowthesefactorssystematicallymarginalize third-partycandidatesandreinforcethetwo-partysystem.Theresearchhighlightshowthese obstacleslimitpoliticaldiversityandvoterrepresentation.

K2:MinorGratuitiesinLawEnforcement:ConflictofInterests

PresentingAuthor: RocioRosarioCastillo

SchoolandYear: ReadingAreaCommunityCollege,2ndYear

FacultySponsor: ChristineAnderton

Thisresearchpaperpresentsandexploresthequestionofwhetherminorgratuitiesshouldbe acceptedbylawenforcementofficers.Itexplorestheoriesandargumentsagainsttheacceptance ofminorgratuitiesbypolice,suchastheSlipperySlopeTheory,theTheoryofReciprocity, andthepotentialnegativeimpactontheprofessionalimageoflawenforcement.Incontrast, thisresearchpaperalsoexploresargumentsinfavoroftheacceptanceofgratuities,including communitypolicingfactors,andappropriateuseofpolicediscretionwhenfacedwithsuchaccommodations.Overall,thefindingsindicatealackofevidencesupportingtheoreticalconcerns andopinionsontheacceptanceofgratuities,demonstratingthattheargumentsagainstthe acceptanceofminorgratuitiesarelargelybasedontheorieswithoutfactualfoundationThis highlightstheneedforempiricalandsubstantialresearchonthetopictoformobjectiveconclusionsandpotentialdevelopmentacrossmodernlawenforcementpractices.

K3:FirearmConversionDevicesandGunViolence:AStudyofGlockSwitchesin theU.S.

PresentingAuthor: JoeCanterino

SchoolandYear: Alvernia,4thYear

FacultySponsor: MalgorzataZuber

ThisstudyexplorestheriseofGlockswitchdevicesandtheirimpactongunviolenceand firearmpolicy.Thisresearchseekstoidentifytrendsinoffenderdemographics,legaloutcomes, andenforcementchallenges.FindingsidentifylinksbetweenGlockswitches,stolenfirearms,and drug-relatedoffenses.Thisresearchemphasizestheneedforstrongerlegislation,interagency collaboration,andclearerpolicyframeworkstoaddressthegrowingthreatoffirearmconversion devices.

K4:LegalFrameworkstoEnhanceLawEnforcementCapabilitiesinDetectingAIGeneratedChildSexualAbuseMaterial(CSAM)

PresentingAuthor: GracynneSmith

SchoolandYear: Alvernia,3rdYear

FacultySponsor: MalgorzataZuber

AdditionalAuthors: Evans,Gillian IntheUnitedStates,childrenaretakenadvantageofdailyontheinternet.Theinternet createsaspaceforoffenderstoextortchildrenandmanipulatechildsexualabusematerialto possess,create,anddistributethismaterialtoabroaderaudience.Artificialintelligencehas createdanewchallengeforlawenforcementandcourtofficialsinchargingandprosecutingthese

offenderstothefullestextentofthelaw.Byexaminingthecurrentstateandfederalpolicies, prosecutorscanusetheinformationtoensuretheyprosecuteoffenderstothefullestextent, holdingthemaccountablefortheircrimes.Byofferingpossiblechallengesthatprosecutorsmay comeintocontactwith,theycanbebetterpreparedforcourtwhenfacingtheseoffenderswho takeadvantageofchildren.Thosewhoinvestigatethesecrimesadvocateforvictimsandwork toeliminatethementirely.Byraisingawarenessofonlinedangers,asaferinternetenvironment canbecreatedforchildrenandlawenforcementmovingforward.

K5:TheInequityofFightingforEquityinWomen’sSports

PresentingAuthor: AmandaReed

SchoolandYear: PennStateBerks,4thYear

FacultySponsor: ColleenEnglish

Womenhavelonghadtofightforequityinsport.Historically,BillieJeanKingledtheOriginal 9inprotestingunequalprizemoneyatmajortournaments.Thefightforpayequityintennis tournamentscontinuedwithVenusWilliamsandWimbledon,andtheUnitedStatesWomen’s National[Soccer]TeampursuedlegalactiontogainequalpayfromtheUSSoccerFederation. Thesefightsforequityrepresentprogressforwomen’ssport—nationalteamsoccerplayersreceive equalpaywiththeirmalecounterparts,andwomentennisplayerswinequalprizemoneyatall fourGrandSlamtournaments.However,theyalsosignifyaninherentinequitythatwomenface preciselybecausetheymustfightforequality,whilemenrarelymuststriveforequalityinsport. Achievingequityinsportrequiresthatwomenathletestakeontheadditionalburdenoffighting forthisequity.Thispresentationwillexplorethewaysthatthisadditionalburdeninwomen’s sportsharessimilaritieswithotherfightsforsocialjustice,specificallytheburnoutrelatedto activism.

SessionL:Environment,Sustainability,andEverydayChoices

L1:HowAreYourCarEmissionsImpacttheWorldaroundYou

PresentingAuthor: StephanyMedina

SchoolandYear: Alvernia,4thYear

FacultySponsor: AnaRuiz

Carsreleasegreenhousegaseslikecarbondioxide,whichtrapheatintheatmosphereliketrees andoceanswhichleadtoclimatechange.Thisnotonlyharmstheenvironmentbutalsoimpacts peopleindifferentways.Forexample,changesinclimatecanincreasestress,anxiety,andfeelings ofuncertaintyaboutthefuture.Fromapsychologicalpointofview,humanbehaviorplaysa keyroleinbothcausingandhelpingfixthisproblem.Manypeoplerelyoncarsbecausetheyare convenientorwhattheyareusedto,evenwhentheyknowtheyareharmful.Changingthese habitsischallengingduetolowmotivationorthebeliefthatindividualactionsdonotmatter. Atthesametime,emotionslikeguiltorconcernabouttheenvironmentcanpushpeopleto makebetterchoices.Inapersonalchangeproject,Ichosetoevaluatehowmycaremissions affecttheenvironmentaroundme,bymeasuringthemilesIdrove.Ifoundthattherearemany waysIcanreducemycarbonemissionsandIwillprovidesomeexamplesofhowotherpeople canchangetherebehaviorsto.

L2:StepsThatMatter:FromCarKeystoWalkingShoes

PresentingAuthor: ViviannaHeath

SchoolandYear: Alvernia,4thYear

FacultySponsor: AnaRuiz

Driving-relatedstressisanincreasinglysignificantissuewithmoderntransportationsystems, affectingbothmentalhealthandenvironmentaloutcomes.Asrelianceonpersonalvehicleshas grown,sohavetraffic,congestion,commutetimes,andexposuretopoorairquality.Research indicatesthatstressfuldrivingconditions,suchasheavytraffic,pressure,andenvironmental discomfort,areassociatedwithnegativepsychologicaleffects,includingincreasedstress,anxiety, andfatigue.Furthermore,systematicreviewsoftransportationresearchconsistentlyfindthat longandunreliablecommutesareassociatedwithreducedmentalhealth.Fromanenvironmental psychologyperspective,convenienceoftenoverridesenvironmentalawareness,reinforcinghabits thatincreaseemissions.Mypersonalchangeproject,whichusedasmallNdesign,focusedon choosingtowalkoverdriving,andreducedmyperceivedstresslevelsandenvironmentalimpact bydecreasingrelianceonmypersonalvehiclefortendays.Throughtheproject,Itrackedmood levels.Promotingalternativetransportationoptions,flexibleschedules,andstressmanagement strategiesfordrivingmaysupportimprovementsinbothindividualwell-beingandenvironmental outcomes.Overall,thisprojecthighlightsthepotentialthatsmallbehavioralchangescanlead tolastingbenefitsformentalhealthandtheenvironment.

L3:CoffeeorTea:WhichOneIsMoreSustainable?

PresentingAuthor: MarinaMcLaughlin

SchoolandYear: Alvernia,2ndYear

FacultySponsor: AnaRuiz

Coffeeandteaareverycommonandwidelyconsumedbeverages,butmanyconsumersare unawareoftheenvironmentalandhealthimpactsofthesebeveragesandthecaffeinethatthey contain.Thecultivationprocess,transportation,processing,packaging,andconsumeruseof coffeeandteaisanextensiveandlengthyprocess.Duetothenatureofthisprocess,thereare manysustainabilityimpactsfromfarms,companies,andconsumersalike.Additionally,since thesebeveragescontaincaffeine,therearenumerousbenefitsandpotentialseriousnegative healtheffectsfromconsumingcaffeine.Inasmall-ndesign,asapersonalchangeproject,I measuredmyconsumptionofcaffeine.Asaresultofthisexperience,myconsumptionofthese caffeinatedbeverageshasbeensignificantlyreduced,whichhasalsosavedmesomemoney. Overall,toreducetheharmfulenvironmentalandhealtheffectsofthecoffeeandteaindustries, therearesmallchangeswecanmake—asconsumers—tominimizeconsumerimpact;although therearebiggerchangesthathavetocomefromthefarmsandcompanies.

L4:AnEconomicAnalysisoftheTrueImpactofDrivingGreen

PresentingAuthor: OlandoAlvarado

SchoolandYear: Albright,3rdYear

FacultySponsor: SomaGhosh

AdditionalAuthors: Alvarado,Orlando;Dupree,Phanique

AnEconomicAnalysisoftheTrueImpactofDrivingGreenElectricvehicles(EVs)arewidely promotedasacleaneralternativetogasoline-poweredcarsduetotheirpotentialtoreducecarbon emissionsandimproveairquality.Transportationisamajorcontributortogreenhousegas emissions,andEVadoptioncansignificantlylowertheseemissions,particularlywhenpowered bycleanerenergysources.However,therapidgrowthofEVusagealsointroducesnewchallenges. Thisstudyexaminesboththeenvironmentalbenefitsandenergy-relateddrawbacksofEVs.It compareslifecyclecarbonemissionsofEVsandgasolinevehicleswhileanalyzingtheincreased electricitydemandassociatedwithwidespreadEVadoption.Particularattentionisgiventothe strainonpowergrids,charginginfrastructure,andenergyresources.Thestudyalsoevaluates negativeexternalities,includingupstreamenergyproductionandresourceuse.Usingcurrent dataandcaseexamples,thisresearchexplorespolicyandtechnologicalstrategiesintheUnited Statesandabroad—suchasgridmodernizationandrenewableenergyintegration—tosupport sustainableEVadoption.Byassessingbothadvantagesandlimitations,thisstudyaimsto exploreimprovementsandstrategiesthatcanhelpreduceenergyconsumptionandsupport moresustainableEVadoptioninthefuture.

L5:Aminals:TurningRoadTripsintoWildlifeAdventures

PresentingAuthor: IanBull

SchoolandYear: Kutztown,4thYear

FacultySponsor: DylanSchwesinger

AminalsisaneducationalmobileapplicationdevelopedasaseniorcapstoneprojectatKutztown University.Theapptransformsroadtripsintointeractivelearningexperiencesbyencouraging childrenandfamiliestoobservewildlifeandtheirsurroundings.Usingaregion-basedsystem, usersearnpointsbyspottinganimalscommonlyfoundindifferentgeographicareas,promotingengagementandenvironmentalawareness.Thisprojectexplorestheintersectionofmobile developmentandeducationalgamedesign,emphasizinguserengagementandaccessibilityfor awideagerange.Itfollowsthefullsoftwaredevelopmentlifecycle,includingconceptdesign, implementation,andtesting.Theappisdesignedtoencouragereal-worldinteractionrather thanpassivescreenuse,fosteringcuriosityandobservation.Aminalsdemonstrateshowtechnologycansupportexperientiallearningbyblendingentertainmentwitheducation.Thisproject highlightshowcomputersciencecanbeappliedtocreatemeaningful,real-worldimpactwhile introducinguserstobothwildlifeandinteractiveproblem-solving.

SessionP:Poster

P001:FromRosietoRehabilitation:RepresentationsofWomenandIndividuals withDisabilitiesinWartimeandPostwarMedia

PresentingAuthor: SierraCheesman

SchoolandYear: Kutztown,4thYear

FacultySponsor: AndrewArnold

Whiletheiconicfigureof“RosietheRiveter”iswidelyrememberedasasymbolofempowerment,herimagesimultaneouslyobscuredtherealitiesofwomen’swartimelabor—includingthe hazardousconditionsthatcreatednewdisabilities—anderaseddisabledwomenfromthevisual

narrativeentirely.Atthesametime,wartimeandpostwarmediadevelopedcompetingportrayalsofindividualswithdisabilities,particularlydisabledveterans,whowereelevatedaspatriotic heroeswhiledisabledciviliansweremarginalizedorrenderedinvisible.Thesecontrastingnarrativesilluminatehowgender,productivity,andbodilyabilitybecamecentraltodefinitions ofcitizenshipandnationalidentityduringandafterWWII.Mediadepictionsofwomenworkersoftencelebratedfeminineresiliencewhilesimultaneouslyreinforcinglimitedgenderroles, depictingwomenastemporarycontributorsratherthanpermanentmembersoftheindustrial workforce.Meanwhile,postwarrehabilitationfilmsandadvertisementsframeddisabledveteransasinspirationalsuccessstories,emphasizingassimilationintoproductivityratherthanacknowledgingstructuralbarriersorlong-termdisabilityrights.Byplacingwomenwar-industry workers—particularlywomenwhobecamedisabledthroughindustriallabor—inconversation withdisabledveteransanddisabledcivilians,thisprojectrevealshowmediaupheldhierarchies ofgenderandability,shapingpublicmemoryandinfluencingearlydisabilitypolicy.

P002:TheCatholicChurch&TheTroubles(1968-1998)inNorthernIreland

PresentingAuthor: TimothyMurphy

SchoolandYear: Alvernia,3rdYear

FacultySponsor: CoreyHarris

ThemoralteachingsoftheRomanCatholicChurchplayedadefiningroleintheTroublesin NorthernIreland.ManyoftheIrishnationalistswhosupportedtheactionsofparamilitary groupssuchastheIRAwereRomanCatholic.WhiletheCatholicChurchformallycondemned violence,itsmoralteachings,includinginterpretationsofjustwartheoryandsocialjustice,were ambiguouslyappliedorselectivelyappropriatedbyvariousCatholiccommunitiesandparamilitarygroups,inadvertentlyfosteringorfailingtoadequatelycountersectarianattitudesduring TheTroubles.AftertheGoodFridayAgreement(apeacedealthatsawunionistsandnationalistsworkingtogether),westillseemanydisagreementswiththechurch’sactionsduringthis period.

P003:FromDreamstoRights:WaterAccessandJusticeforNativeAmerican Tribes

PresentingAuthor: EvelinaMorilloMonegro

SchoolandYear: ReadingAreaCommunityCollege,2ndYear

FacultySponsor: JodiGreene

Accesstocleanwaterisafundamentalhumanrightessentialforhealth,safety,andcommunity development.YetmanyNativeAmericantribesintheUnitedStatescontinuetofacesevere waterinsecuritydespitelegalprotectionsandfederaltrustresponsibilities.TheFederalIndian TrustResponsibilityobligatesthegovernmenttoprotecttriballandsandresources,including water.TheWintersDoctrinefurtherrecognizedtribalwaterrightsbygrantingseniorrightsto tribes.However,manycommunitiesstilllackbasicwaterinfrastructureandmustwaityears forsettlementsornegotiateaccesstowaterthatislegallytheirs.Environmentalhazards,includingcontaminationfromabandoneduraniumminesanddeterioratinginfrastructure,have contributedtoserioushealthissuessuchascancerandrespiratoryillnessesinNativecom-

munities.Beyonditsphysicalnecessity,waterholdsdeepculturalandspiritualsignificance, symbolizinghealing,identity,andresilience.DatafromtheU.S.WaterAllianceshowthatNativeAmericanhouseholdsarefarmorelikelythanwhitehouseholdstolackindoorplumbing, highlightingpersistentdisparities.NativeAmericanwaterinsecurityreflectsbroaderissuesof justice,equity,andrespectfortribalsovereignty.Addressingthiscrisisrequirescoordinated legalenforcement,environmentalremediation,andinfrastructureinvestmenttohonortreaty obligationsandpromotesustainabledevelopment.

P004:TheLostIdentityandSocialOrganizationofaHistoricTownHiddenBehind ClayPipes

PresentingAuthor: AlfredoMontesinosCastillo

SchoolandYear: Kutztown,4thYear

FacultySponsor: KhoriNewlander

EvensmallfragmentsofclaytobaccopipesdiscoveredfromhistoricsitesacrossAmericacan revealvaluableinformation.Inthisstudy,Ianalyzepiecesofpipebowlsandstemsrecovered duringarchaeologicalfieldworkatStoddartsville,anineteenthcenturymillingvillageinnortheastPennsylvania.Specifically,ItestedtheapplicabilityofpipestemdatingatStoddartsville, lookingforanypatternsbetweentheclaypipesandthestratigraphicprofile.Ialsoexamined howthedesignsmightreflectthesocialgroups(e.g.,classes,ethnicities)formerlypresentat Stoddartsville.Ifoundapreferencefor“fluted”pipesamongtheworking-classcommunity,consistentwiththepredominantlyEnglishidentityofthevillageresidents.Ultimately,myresearch contributestowardthesitechronology,whilealsoprovidinginsightintothesocialorganization atStoddartsville.

P005:TheModernMythofFrankenstein

PresentingAuthor: AvaWerner

SchoolandYear: Alvernia,3rdYear

FacultySponsor: JessicaHamlet

InthecenturiessinceFrankensteinbyMaryShelleywasfirstpublished,manyadaptations oftheworkhavebeencreatedandpublishedintheirownright.Throughouttheseseveral works,thecharactersofVictorFrankensteinandhismonsterhavebeenmanipulatedandgreatly changedfromtheirintendedcharacterization.Inmanyoftheseadaptations,thecharacters, especiallythatofthemonster,havebeenseverelydegradedfromtheiroriginalformandareno longerrecognizableasthecharactersMaryShelleycreated.Examiningtheseadaptations,like Frankenstein(1931)directedbyJamesWhale,againstMaryShelley’stextcanallowustohave amorecompleteandcomplexunderstandingofwhyhercharactershavebeensothoroughly changedanddegradedfromtheiroriginalform.

P006:AnExaminationoftheRelationshipBetweenSpiritualityandMentalHealth

PresentingAuthor: MarinaMcLaughlin

SchoolandYear: Alvernia,2ndYear

FacultySponsor: AnaRuiz

Thisstudyexaminestherelationshipbetweenspiritualgrowthandimprovedmentalhealth forfirst-yearstudentsinaChristianuniversity.Inrecentyears,theNewYorkPostreported thatthenumberofpeopleconvertingtoChristianityhasincreasedsignificantly,andstudies byAggarwaletal.(2023),Creteetal.(2025),andReyes-Perezetal.(2025)identified howreligionandspiritualitycanpositivelyimpactmentalwell-being.Alocaluniversityhad doneasurveyofitsfirst-yearstudentsin2021and2023,andgiventhisstudyaccesstothe secondarydata.Twoquestionsrelatedtospiritualgrowthandtwoquestionsrelatedtomental health/well-beingwereanalyzedtomitigateresponsebias.Theseresultswerethencompared toeachothertoinvestigatetherelationshipbetweenspiritualgrowthandimprovedmental well-being.AChi-Squaretesthighlightedthatthesevariablesaresignificantlyrelated,anda correlationtestnotedthattherelationshipwasmoderatelypositive.Overall,theresultssupport theconceptthatreligion/spiritualityandmentalwell-beingarepositivelyrelatedforfirst-year collegestudents.

P007:EffectofthePoliticsinGenZ.

PresentingAuthor: RenishaAdhikari

SchoolandYear: Alvernia,1stYear

FacultySponsor: KrisLowrey PoliticsplaysanimportantroleinshapingthebehaviorandsocialidentityofGenerationZ. Nowadays,socialmediaisusedbyactivistsasatooltoshareinformation,andbecauseof thatGenZismoreexposedtoandengagedinpoliticsthanpreviousgenerations.Thisstudy exploresboththepositiveeffectssuchasincreasedpoliticalawarenessandcivicparticipation, andnegativeeffectssuchasmisinformation,polarization,andmentalhealthstress.Akey exampleofGenZ’spoliticalimpactcanbeseeninNepal’s2025youth-ledprotests.These protestswerelargelydrivenbyfrustrationovergovernmentcorruption,unemployment,and lackofaccountability.TheprotestssignificantlyinfluencedNepal’s2026generalelection.This casehighlightshowpoliticsnotonlyaffectsGenZbutisalsobeingreshapedbythem.The NepalexampleillustratesthatGenZisnolongerapassiveobserverbutanactiveforcecapable ofinfluencingnationalpoliticaloutcomes.Therefore,understandingtherelationshipbetween politicsandGenZisessentialforanalyzingthefutureofdemocraticparticipationworldwide.

P008:HasDobbsv.JacksonandPoliticalRhetoricImpactedStress,Anxiety,and DepressioninYoungAmericanWomen?

PresentingAuthor: LolaFolk

SchoolandYear: Alvernia,3rdYear

FacultySponsor: VictoriaWilliams

Theanalysisexamineswhethertherearementalhealthimpacts,suchasdepression,anxiety, andstress,foryoungwomeninAmericasincethedecisiononDobbsv.Jackson,aswellasthe genderedpoliticalrhetoricemployedinpoliticalconversationsandlanguage.Shiftsinthesociopoliticalatmospherehaveincreasedpoliticalpolarization,withimplicationsformentalhealth. ResearchstudiesconcerningtheimpactofDobbspresentapatternofincreasedpsychological distresswhendeniedabortiveservicesandrequiredtocarryapregnancytoterm.Sociopolitical

healthdeterminantsofthisissuemaymakespecificpopulationsmorevulnerabletoadverse impacts,includingwomenofcolor,individualsoflowsocioeconomicstatus,orthoseinparticular geographicallocations.Gender-basedpoliticalrhetoricreflectssimilarpatternsinmentalhealth associatedwithlanguagediscussingissuessurroundingwomen’srights,marginalizedwomen, andbodilyautonomy.Understandingthesesociopoliticalandsystematiceffectsisessentialfor psychologicalresearchandtreatment,aspatternsacrossthisanalysismaysuggestincreased symptomsofstress,anxiety,anddepressioninyoungwomenrequiringprofessionalawareness andcompetence.

P009:TheArchitectureofControl:AComprehensiveAnalysisofManipulationin Cults

PresentingAuthor: GracynneSmith

SchoolandYear: Alvernia,3rdYear

FacultySponsor: VictoriaWilliams

Destructivecults,alsosometimesreferredtoashigh-controlgroups,arepresentworldwide, allofwhichcreateseriousissuesformembers,society,andlawenforcement.Thesecultsmay differintheirbeliefs,butallemploymanipulationtacticstorecruitfollowers,gaintheirtrust, andkeepthemundercontrol.Thispaperexaminesmultiplefacetsofculticmanipulation, includingleadershipqualities,recruitmentstrategies,andmethodsthatkeepmembersunder control,physicalandpsychological.Thispaperwillalsoexaminehowthiscontrolcanescalate intomasssuicideormassmurder,aswellascriminality,whenleadersarepushedtotheirlimits fromexternalorinternalpressures.Byexaminingculticmanipulationasaprocessratherthan isolatedincidents,manipulationintheseenvironmentscanbebetterunderstood,andwarning signscanbenoticed.

P010:Neuropsychology,Law,andDefense:AdvancingaMoreProportionaland InformedJusticeSystem

PresentingAuthor: ColinHogan

SchoolandYear: Kutztown,4thYear

FacultySponsor: RuthMcLeod

ThislegalbrieffocusesonthecaseofKevinLongandchallengesacentralissuewithinthe justicesystem:theassumptionthatturningeighteenautomaticallyreflectsfullmaturityand culpability.WhilethelawtreatsKevinasanadult,scientificevidencepresentsadifferent reality.Researchshowsthatbraindevelopment,particularlyinareasresponsibleforimpulse control,decision-making,andriskevaluation,continuesintothemid-twenties.InKevin’scase, thisgapissupportedbyclinicalevaluationshowingafunctionalbrainageclosertosixteen.At thesametime,behaviorcannotbeseparatedfromenvironment.Kevin’supbringing,shapedby poverty,instability,andexposuretoviolence,reinforcedsurvival-baseddecision-makingrather thanlong-termreasoning.Whenplacedinahigh-pressureganginitiation,hisresponsereflects thisinteractionbetweendevelopmentalimmaturityandenvironmentalinfluence.Thisbrief arguesthathisactionsreflectatemporarydevelopmentalstateratherthanfixedcriminalintent. ApplyingprinciplesofproportionalityundertheEighthAmendmentandTennesseelaw,it

supportsarehabilitativesentencethatbalancesaccountabilitywiththepotentialforchange. Morebroadly,thiscasehighlightstheneedtomovebeyondrigidagethresholdsandevaluate culpabilitybasedondevelopmentalevidence.

P011:MasculineHonorBeliefs,Empathy,andJudgmentsofPoliceUseofForce

PresentingAuthor: LaurenRowe

SchoolandYear: Albright,4thYear

FacultySponsor: SvyatoslavProkhorets

Inthisstudy,weinvestigatedwhethermasculinehonorbeliefs(MHBs;assertsthataggression inmenasaresponsetoinsultisjustifiable)predictgreaterperceivedjustificationforpoliceuse offorcewhenasuspectdisplaysdisrespect,andwhetherempathybuffersthisrelationship.130 participantstookaMasculineHonorBeliefsScale(MHBS)andanEmpathyscaleandthen readavignetteaboutanofficertalkingtoasuspect.Participantswererandomlyassignedto adisrespectful(i.e.,manrespondedwithinsults)orrespectfulcondition(i.e.,manresponded politely).Participantsthenansweredquestionsabouttheuseofforceandperceptionsofthe officerandthesuspect.TheresultsshowasignificantinteractionbetweenMHBsandthe suspect’sbehaviorontheparticipants’justificationofpoliceuseofforce.Whenthesuspect wasdisrespectful,participantswithhigherMHBsweremorelikelytojustifytheofficers’useof forceandhadmorepositiveperceptionsoftheofficer.However,therelationshipwasnotpresent whenthesuspectwasrespectful.Consistentwithpreviousresearch,endorsementofMHBsis positivelyrelatedtosupportforaggression.Ourresearchextendspreviousfindingsbyshowing thatMHBsmayalsoplayaroleinhowpeopleperceiveaggressiveactionsbylawenforcement.

P012:CompetenceEvaluationsBasedonLeaderGender

PresentingAuthor: MasonSouchak

SchoolandYear: PennStateBerks,4thYear

FacultySponsor: CatherineMello

AdditionalAuthors: Greenauer,Nathan;Constein,Madison;Pelker,Keira

Thepresentstudyinvestigatedperceptionsofleadereffectivenessthroughthelensofgender rolecongruence.Participantsratedleadersinstereotypicallygenderedjobswhodisplayedassertiveorcollaborativeleadershipbehaviors.Contrarytopredictions,assertiveleadersofboth genderswereratedlessfavorablythancollaborativeleaders;thedifferencesintargetgender werenegligible.Exposuretonon-normativegenderrolesdidnotpredictgenderdifferentials inleadershipratings,howeverolderparticipantsperceivedmorebarriersforassertivefemale leaders.

P013:YouKnowWhatIDidLastSummer:MoralSelf-ImageandDelinquentActs.

PresentingAuthor: AlexanderRomero

SchoolandYear: PennStateBerks,4thYear

FacultySponsor: NathanGreenauer

AdditionalAuthors: Tolani,Eshaan;Nguyen,Nolan;Mello,Catherine

Moralself-image,definedasthedegreetowhichindividualsviewthemselvesasgoodandmoral,

isacentralcomponentofmoralidentityandinfluencesfuturebehavior,prosocialintentions,and psychologicalwell-being.Thepresentstudyexamineswhetherreportingdelinquentactslowers moralself-imageandwhetherperceivedanonymitymoderatesthiseffect.Participantscompleted delinquencyandmoralself-imagemeasureseitheronlineorin-personasamanipulationof perceivedanonymityandsomewereinstructedtonotreportdelinquentact.Wehypothesized thatreportingdelinquentactslowersmoralself-imagerelativetonotreporting,evenwhen groupsaredrawnfromthesamepopulationandareexpectedtohavesimilarunderlyingrates ofdelinquency.Preliminaryresultsshowednosignificantdifferencesbetweenreportingand non-reportinggroups,likelyinpartbecauseofalimitedsamplesize.Continueddatacollection willclarifywhetherdisclosingdelinquentbehaviormeaningfullyimpactsmoralself-imageand contributestoidentity-relatedoutcomes.Suchafindingwouldhaveseriousimplicationsfor educational,clinical,andcriminaljusticecontexts,whereindividualsarefrequentlyrequired toreportpastwrongdoing.Labelingindividualsas“delinquent”orpromptingthemtolabel themselvesmayhaveunintendednegativeconsequencesformoralidentity,potentiallyincreasing disengagementorrecidivism.

P014:PennStateBerkStudentsPercpetionofanActive-Attacker

PresentingAuthor: DanyelleTripp-Lumley

SchoolandYear: PennStateBerks,4thYear

FacultySponsor: JenniferMurphy

ThisstudyexaminesPennStateBerksstudents’perceptionsofactive-attackerpreparedness, focusingonawareness,fear,andself-efficacy.UsingananonymousQualtricssurveywithLikertscalequestions,itmeasuresstudents’knowledgeofsafetyprocedures,confidenceinresponding, andconcernsaboutgunviolence.Thegoalistoidentifygapsinpreparednessandimprove campussafetyefforts.

P015:UnderstandingBurnoutinHigherEducation

PresentingAuthor: NolanNguyen

SchoolandYear: PennStateBerks,4thYear

FacultySponsor: NathanGreenauer

Thisstudyexaminedhowworkloadquantity,perceivedworkquality,andeffort–rewardimbalancerelatestoburnoutamonguniversitystudents.Participantscompletedvalidatedself-report measuresassessingworkhours,work-lifequality,resilience,andburnoutrisk.Regressionanalysesindicatedthatresiliencewastheonlysignificantpredictorofburnout,althoughburnoutcorrelatedstronglywithwork-lifequalityandeffort–rewardimbalance.Findingssuggestresilience playsacentralroleinburnoutriskdespitesubstantialoverlapamongwork-relatedpredictors.

P016:TheTransitionfromHighSchooltoFirstYearofCollegeandtheImpacts onGPA

PresentingAuthor: CalliePalerino

SchoolandYear: Alvernia,2ndYear

FacultySponsor: AnaRuiz

Howdoesstudents’performanceinhighschooltransitiontocollege?Whatotherdemographic variablesrelatetothesuccessoffirst-yearcollegestudents?PreviousresearchbyKarwacinski (2018)andSnyder(2022)foundgradestobesignificant,whereasMartin(2023)foundthat gradesandotherdemographicfactorswerenotsignificant.Iexaminedquestionsfromalocal university’s2023first-yearstudentsurvey.Fourhundredandfiftystudentsreceivedthesurvey viaemail,and92returnedresponses.Iselectedquestionsthatasked,“Howoftendoyoufeel overwhelmedwithtoomuchworkduringyourfirstyearofcollege,”“Whatisyourgender identity,”“DoyouconsideryourselftobeHispanic/Latino,”“Whatisyourrace,”“Whatwas yourgradepointaverage(GPA)ofyourfirstsemesterofcollege,”and“Whatwasyourgrade pointaverage(GPA)inhighschool.”SecondarydatawasanalyzedusingJASP.Theresults showedthatstudentswhoexcelledinhighschooltypicallytransitionedwellintotheirfirstyear ofcollege,whilethosewhoperformedpoorlyinhighschooldidnot.Theresultsalsoshowed thatotherdemographics,suchasgender,race,andethnicity,hadaweakeffectonstudents’ gradesandontheirtransitionintocollege.

P017:AssociationBetweenEmotionalFacialExpressionsandEvolutionaryVersus ModernStimuli

PresentingAuthor: JocelynMcLaughlin

SchoolandYear: Albright,3rdYear

FacultySponsor: SusanHughes

Thisstudyexaminedwhethervisualtriggers,representingevolutionary-relevantormoderndaystimuli,areassociatedwithexpressionsoffear,disgust,anger,andhappiness,considering participantandstimulusgender,andempathy.Participantswereshownexpressionswithone evolutionary-relevantandonemodern-daystimulusandselectedtheimagetheybelievedwould elicittheexpression.Evolutionarily-relevantstimuliweremorefrequentlyselectedforfearand disgust,whereasmodern-daystimuliwereselectedforhappiness,andselectionsforangerdid notdiffer.Femalefaceswerestronglyassociatedwithevolutionarystimuli,particularlyforfear anddisgustexpressions.Participantgenderandempathy,measuredusingtheTorontoEmpathy QuestionnaireandInterpersonalReactivityIndex,didnotsignificantlyinfluenceselections.Participantswithcourseworkinevolutionarytheoryweremorelikelytoselectevolutionarystimuli, andthiseffectdidnotvarybyemotion.Thesefindingssuggestthatemotion-basedperception supportstheviewthatcertainemotions,suchasfearanddisgust,arelikelyhardwiredtosignal orcommunicatethreatstosurvival,linkingthemtoancestraltriggersthatfunctionasinnate cuesfordetectingdangerorelicitingprotectiveresponses.Incontrast,happinessappearsinfluencedbymoreimmediatecontemporaryrewardcues,whileangermayreflectgeneralsocial conflictsorgoalfrustration,makingitlesstiedtospecificstimulustypes.

P018:MoreThanWords:EmotionalResponsestoComplimentsAcrossContent andGender

PresentingAuthor: AlajaeBurdine

SchoolandYear: PennStateBerks,4thYear

FacultySponsor: CatherineMello

Thepresentstudyexaminedhowyoungadultsemotionallyrespondtocomplimentsandwhether genderorcomplimenttypeinfluencesreactions.Fortyparticipantsweregivenarandomly assignedappearanceorpersonality-basedcomplimentbyaconfederateandinvitedtocompletea surveyabouttheiremotionalresponse.Resultsshowedwomentendedtorespondmorepositively overall,whilemenrespondedneutrally.Personalityversusappearancecomplimentsdidnot producestrongdifferences.Thesefindingssuggestgendermayinfluenceemotionalreactionsto compliments.

P019:PerformanceandCompetition:HowResponsesDifferWhenAnsweredIndividuallyandCompetitively

PresentingAuthor: EshaanTolani

SchoolandYear: PennStateBerks,3rdYear

FacultySponsor: NathanGreenauer

Previousliteraturesuggeststhatcompetitivesituationscreateanxiety,worseningbothcognition andoverallperformanceincomparisontonon-competitivesituations.Thisexperimentassessed whetherthenumberofcorrectresponsesontwosimilaracademicsurveyswoulddifferamong thesameparticipantswhenonewastakenindividuallyandtheotherwastakenincompetition withanotherparticipant.Overallcompetitivenesswasalsoinvestigatedasamoderatingfactor. Awithin-participantmultivariaterepeatedmeasuresanalysisofvariance(MANCOVA)was usedtoanalyzedifferencesinbothscoreandresponsetimebetweenforbothsurveys.The resultsindicatedthatparticipantsansweredsignificantlymorequestionscorrectlyandtookmore timeduringthecompetitivesituationandthatoverallcompetitivenesswasnotapredicting factorbehindtheseoutcomes.Thesefindingssuggestthatcompetitivesettingscanimprove performanceoncertaintasksduetothemprovidingasenseofoptimalarousalandmotivation.

P020:SomaticExperiencing:HealingfromtheBodyUp.

PresentingAuthor: NathanielDent

SchoolandYear: Kutztown,2ndYear

FacultySponsor: RuthMcLeod

SomaticExperiencingisa“bottomup”approachtotherapythatinvolveshealingthebody aswellasthemind.Traumaticexperiencesmayleavetracesofbuiltuptensionandstressin boththemindandbody.Mypresentationwillgoovermultiplepeerreviewedjournalarticles andstudiesregardingwhatsomaticexperiencingisandhowithealsbothmindandbodywhile givinganoutletforbuilt-uppainwhetherthepain.

P021:CryptidCurriculum

PresentingAuthor: RebekahEhrhart

SchoolandYear: Kutztown,4thYear

FacultySponsor: RoseannePerkins

Criticalthinkingandtextualanalysisskillsaremoreimportantthanever,yetlearningand developingtheseskillscanoftenfeelboringtolearners.Intheageofmisinformation,students shouldlearnandpracticemethodstodifferentiateprimaryandsecondarysources,choosereliable

articles,andultimatelydeterminewhatistrueandwhatisunfounded.Cryptozoologyisafun yetrelativelyharmlesstopictouseasaconduittodeveloptheseabilities.CryptidCurriculum isamultimediaprojectofbothcreatedandcollectedmaterialsthataimstomakelearningand developingmedialiteracyskillsfun.Whetherlearnerswanttobelieveorareavidskeptics,they cantakeawayvaluableinformationaboutassessingsourcesandfunfactsaboutofthethings thatgobumpinthenight.

P022:SmartphoneSocialMediaUsageAsaModernAddiction

PresentingAuthor: OzdenAlpKaradeniz

SchoolandYear: PennStateBerks,3rdYear

FacultySponsor: AdaLeung

AdditionalAuthors: Vozharenko,Viktoriia

Thisresearchlooksattheconnectionbetweensmartphonesocialmediausageandpsychological healthamongyoungadults.Theresearchusedamixed-methodresearchmethodology,qualitativeinterviews(Study1)anddetoxintervention(Study2).Study1investigatedthereasons, attitudes,andemotionalexperiencesassociatedwithsocialmediausethroughqualitativeinterviewswith29participants,ages18to25.Theresultsshowthatmanyindividualsunderestimate howmuchtimetheyspendonsocialmediaandthatboredomtypicallycausesrepetitivecheckingbehaviorsandexcessiveusageofsocialmediaplatforms.Additionally,socialcomparison, exposuretoidealizedinformation,andoccasionalencounterswithonlineantagonismwerelinked tonegativeemotionalresponses.Study2assessedthebeneficialeffectsofa48-hoursocialmediadetoxintervention.Thefindingssuggestedthatsignificantdecreaseinsocialmediausage improvedsubjectivewell-beingandsleepquality,andreducedinsocialcomparisontendencies, asshowninpaired-samplet-tests.Inconclusion,reducingsocialmediausageislikelytoimprovepsychologicalwell-being.Somepotentialsocialmediadetoxstrategiesincludeencouraging youngadultstoengageinmindfulactivties,e.g.,reading,goingforahike,doingartandcraft, playingmusicalinstruments,meetingwithfriendsandfamilyfacetoface.

P023:LearningPromptDesign:AIUsageandItsEffectsonCognitiveThinking

PresentingAuthor: JeilynTineo

SchoolandYear: PennStateBerks,2ndYear

FacultySponsor: AdaLeung

AdditionalAuthors: Hartman-Caverly,Sarah;Ruiz,Janet 78%ofcollegestudentsreportedusingAItoolsatleastonceamonth,with29%reporting dailyuse(Copyleaks2025AIinEducationTrendsReport).Therefore,itisimperativefor studentstolearneffectivepromptengineeringtechniquestobesuccessfulacademicallyandin theircareersupongraduation.TheresearchinvestigatestheeffectivenessofPROPMTDesign Frameworkinhelpingstudentsgetusefulandrelevantinformationfromgenerative-AItool. ThePROMPTframeworkhasthefollowingstructure:(P)assigningtheAIapersona/role fortheoutput,(R)definingwhatrequirementstheoutputneedstohave,(O)requestinga specificorganizationmethodorstructurefortheoutput,(M)thespecificformattheoutput needstobein,(P)specifyingthepurposefortherequestedoutput,,and(T)thetoneneeded

fromtheoutput.Findingssuggestedthatoncestudentswereintroducedtotheframeworkand taskedwithacquiringinformation,theyshowedanincreaseuseoftheframeworkelementswithin theirqueries.ThePROMPTframeworkhelpsstudentsretrieverelevantinformationefficiently, reducebiasfromthegenerativeAItooloutput,andenablethemtoreducethenumberof promptsneededtogetthedesirableoutputs.

P024:Tuna:ARecommenderSystemforPersonalizedMusicStreaming

PresentingAuthor: EmmaPhillips

SchoolandYear: Kutztown,4thYear

FacultySponsor: DylanSchwesinger

MusicstreamingplatformslikeSpotifyandAppleMusicuserecommendersystemstocurate musicforusers,thoughtheirsuggestionscansometimeslackaccuracy.Thiscapstoneexplores recommendersystemswithinmusicstreamingbydevelopingawebapplicationcalledTuna. Tunaanalyzesuserpreferencesalongsidesongfeaturessuchasgenre,popularity,andtrack attributestogeneratepersonalizedplaylists.Theapplicationemployscontent-basedfiltering, similarityalgorithms,andfeaturescalingtomodelusertasteandidentifyrelationshipsbetween songs.Thisprojectdemonstratesthepracticalapplicationofrecommendersystemprinciples whileprovidingafoundationforfutureimprovementsandenhancedrecommendationaccuracy.

P025:GenderDifferencesofPerceivedBarriersofParticipatinginInnovationCompetitionPrograms(ICPs)

PresentingAuthor: JanetRuiz

SchoolandYear: PennStateBerks,2ndYear

FacultySponsor: AdaLeung

ThisstudyexaminesgenderdifferencesinperceivedbarrierstoparticipationinInnovation CompetitionPrograms(ICPs)amongundergraduatestudents.Datawascollectedfromeight focusgroups(4femaleand4male)tobetterunderstandstudents’perceptionstowardsICPs. Underrepresentationoffemalestudentswerelikelyduetostructural,systematic,andpsychologicalfactors,e.g.,accesstoresources,mentorship,andperceivedself-competence.Compared totheirmalecounterparts,femaleswerefoundtoexperiencemoreself-doubtintheirskillset, havefewerprofessionalnetworkingopportunities,andlesslikelytoengageinco-curricularactivities.Thesebarriersmaydiscouragefemalesfrompursuingininnovation-relatedopportunities. Additionally,existingprogramstructuresmayunintentionallyfavormalewhitestudentswho havemoreextensivesupportsystems,furtherwideningthegap.Thesefindingshighlightthe importanceofaddressingbothstructuralandsystemicbarrierstoimproveparticipationintentionamongfemalestudents.ThestudyfindingswillhelpICPorganizerscreateamoreinclusive environmentthatwelcomesdiversity.

P026:GamingforGood:EvaluatingVideoGamesandTheirImpactonEnvironmentalBehaviorinAdolescents

PresentingAuthor: LuciusDrake

SchoolandYear: Albright,4thYear

FacultySponsor: SomaGhosh

AdditionalAuthors: Grim,Zackerry

Asglobalenvironmentalchallengessuchasclimatechange,deforestation,andpollutionintensify,innovativeapproachestopromotingenvironmentallyresponsiblebehaviorareincreasingly important.Thisstudyexaminesthepotentialofvideogamesasatoolforencouragingsustainablebehavioramongadolescents.PopulargamessuchasMinecraftandTheSims4simulate activitieslikesustainableliving,gardening,andresponsibleresourcemanagement,potentially shapingplayers’environmentalattitudesandactions.Accordingtoasurveyconductedby Play2Act,79%ofrespondentsreportedthatplayinggameswithenvironmentalmessagesmotivatedthemtoadoptatleastonepro-environmentalbehavior;usingpublictransportationor makinggreenerconsumptionchoices.Thisstudyfocusesonindividualsaged16–24toevaluatewhetherexposuretoenvironmentallythemedgameplayinfluencesreal-worldbehaviorsand decision-making.Inaddition,researchconsiderstheenvironmentalcostsassociatedwithvideo gameproductionanddigitalinfrastructure,includingenergyuseandemissions,andcompares thesecostswiththepotentialpositivebehavioralimpactsonplayers.Byexaminingbothbehavioraloutcomesandenvironmentaltrade-offs,thestudyaimstoassesswhetherenvironmentally themedvideogamescanserveaseffectivetoolsforpromotingsustainability.Thefindingswill offerrecommendationsforgamedevelopersandconsumersonhowthegamingindustrycan contributetoenvironmentalawarenessandgreenerpractices.

P027:ThirstyServers:TheHiddenWaterCostsofIndustrialAIExpansion

PresentingAuthor: WalterStarling

SchoolandYear: Albright,3rdYear

FacultySponsor: SomaGhosh

Asartificialintelligencerapidlyexpandsacrosstheglobaleconomy,thehiddenenvironmental costofthedigitalinfrastructurepoweringit—particularlywaterconsumptionindatacenters— hasbecomeanurgentsustainabilityconcern.Therapidexpansionofdatacentershascreated growingconcernsabouttheirenvironmentalimpacts,particularlytheirsignificantconsumption ofwaterforcoolingsystems.Manyfacilitiesrelyonpotablewatertopreventsedimentand contaminantsfromdamagingsensitivecomputerequipment.Thisstudyexamineshowwater usagebydatacentersaffectslocalcommunities,especiallyinwater-stressedregions.TheanalysisfocusesonfacilitiesoperatedbymajortechnologycompaniessuchasGoogle,Microsoft,and MetaPlatforms,whilealsoexploringemergingefficiencysolutionsimplementedbyfirmslike NVIDIA.ParticularattentionisgiventoregionssuchasArizonaandCalifornia,wherewater resourcesarelimited,anddatacenterdevelopmenthasincreasedpressureonlocalsupplies.Usingsustainabilityreportsandcasestudies,thestudyevaluatestheextentofwaterconsumption andexplorespotentialpolicyresponses,includingalternativecoolingtechnologiesandwater recyclingstrategies.Thefindingshighlighttheneedformoresustainablewatermanagement practicestobalancetechnologicalgrowthwithlong-termcommunityandenvironmentalneeds.

P028:Nature’sPharmacy:ExploringMicrobialDiversityinSearchofNovelAntibiotics

PresentingAuthor: OwenWeiss

SchoolandYear: Alvernia,4thYear

FacultySponsor: JamieBecker

Novelantibioticdiscoveryremainscritical,asmanypathogenicmicrobes,suchasStaphylococcusaureus,areevolvingresistancetocurrentantibiotics.Isolatingmicroorganismsfromlocal environmentsinReading,Pennsylvaniathatarecapableofproducingpotentialnovelantibioticcompoundscanleadtothedevelopmentofnewtreatments.Environmentalisolateswere screenedusingspread–patchassaystoobservezonesofinhibitionagainstsafeESKAPEindicatorstrains.TheuseofsafeESKAPEorganismsallowsantibioticactivitytobestudiedagainst clinicallyrelevantbacterialpathogensinasafelaboratoryenvironment.Zonesofinhibition weremeasuredandquantifiedtoevaluateantimicrobialactivity.Isolateswerealsoidentified bysequencingtheir16SrRNAgene.Quantifyingzonesofinhibitionandidentifyingisolates enablesthegenerationofnewhypothesesregardingthepotentialofthesemicrobestoproduce novelantibioticcompounds.Thisstudymaycontributetothediscoveryofnewantibioticsand helpaddressthegrowinghealthchallengessurroundingantimicrobialresistance.

P029:MarketingInnovationorManipulation?EvaluatingtheEthicsofNFTPromotion

PresentingAuthor: AshleyMusante

SchoolandYear: PennStateBerks,4thYear

FacultySponsor: AdaLeung

Non-fungibletokens(NFTs)rapidlygainedpopularityduringtheearly2020s,transforming digitalcollectiblesintoabillion-dollarmarket.WhileNFTswerepromotedasatechnological innovationenablingverifiabledigitalownershipthroughblockchaintechnology,theirwidespread adoptionwasheavilyinfluencedbyaggressivemarketingstrategies,suchassocialmediahype, celebrityendorsements,scarcitytactics,andsoon.DrawingonexistingresearchaboutNFT’s digitalmarketingpracticestowardsgullibleconsumers,thisprojectexploreshowscarcitymessaging,influencerpromotion,andspeculativeinvestmentnarrativesshapedthepurchaseand sellingofNFTs.Attentionisgiventocelebrity-drivenmarketingcampaigns,includingcontroversiesassociatedwithpromotionsbyfiguressuchasLoganPaul,wherehighlypublicized NFTsrapidlydeclinedinvalueafterlaunch.Thesemarketingpracticesraisequestionsabout transparency,responsibility,andtheethicalboundariesofmarketingdigitalassetsthatcarry substantialfinancialrisk.Inconclusion,myresearchshowsthatNFTmarketingtacticsare unethical,astheyheavilytargetrisk-tolerantandfinancially-naiveconsumers.

P030:VisualIdentificationofInsectsUnderPoorVisualConditions

PresentingAuthor: GabrielBragitikos

SchoolandYear: Kutztown,4thYear

FacultySponsor: CeyhunSunsay

Anthropologicaltheoriesdemonstratealinkbetweenevolutionarypressuretovisuallydiscrim-

inatepotentiallylife-threateningstimulifromacomplexbackground,suchassnakesingrass, andtherefinementofprimatevisualsystems.Previousstudiesdemonstratingthevalidityof thesetheorieswereconcernedwithidentificationofthreateningmammalsandreptiles,suchas snakes,asopposedtononthreateningones.However,asinsectshavebeenamongtheprimary causesofdeaththroughouthistory,wehypothesizethatasimilarphenomenoncanbeobserved betweenthreateningandnonthreateninginsects,inwhichpeoplewillpositivelyidentifythreateninginsectsthroughworsevisualconditionsthannonthreateningones,andattemptedtoverify thisthroughapilotstudy.

P031:OwnYourLoans:StudentLoanBreakdown

PresentingAuthor: EmilieLongenberger

SchoolandYear: PennStateBerks,3rdYear

FacultySponsor: AdaLeung

RisingstudentloandebtintheUnitedStateshasbecomeamajorfinancialchallengeforcollegestudents,andresearchalsoshowsthatmanyindividualsinthisagegrouphavelowlevelsof financialliteracy.Asaresult,manystudentsborrowmoneyforhighereducationwithoutfully understandingstudentloantopicsandthelong-termfinancialimplicationsoftheirborrowing decision.Thislackofunderstandingcancontributetofinancialstressanduncertaintyabout managingdebtaftergraduation.Therefore,itisimportanttoexaminehowfinancialinformationaboutstudentloansiscommunicatedtocollegestudentsandwhethercurrentapproaches effectivelysupporttheirunderstanding.Thepurposeofthisstudyistoevaluatehowdifferent methodsofpresentingstudentloaninformation,suchaswrittentextorvideo-basedexplanations,influencecollegestudents’awarenessandunderstandingofstudentloans.Theresearch designisbefore-afterwithacontrolgroup,inwhichparticipantswillbeexposedtodifferent formatsoffinancialinformationandwillcompleteashortsurveymeasuringcomprehension andperceptionsofstudentloans.Bycomparingstudents’subjectiveandobjectiveknowledge before/afterinterventions(videosvs.textvs.control),thisstudywillidentifywhichcommunicationmethodsaremoreeffectiveinimprovingfinancialknowledgeamongyoungadults.

P032:WhenPlasticIsn’tFree:AnEconomicAnalysisofRetailStrategyand ConsumerBehavior

PresentingAuthor: MichelleBui

SchoolandYear: Albright,4thYear

FacultySponsor: SomaGhosh

AdditionalAuthors: Tacuri,Stewart

Single-useplasticbagsgeneratesignificantenvironmentalharmthatisnotreflectedintheir marketprice,representingaclassicexampleofanegativeexternality.Governmentsandretailers haveincreasinglyimplementedpoliciesdesignedtoreduceplasticbagconsumption,including bagfees,bans,andincentivesforreusablealternatives.Theseinitiativesarecloselyconnected toglobalsustainabilityprioritiessuchasSDGs12,13and14.Fromaneconomicperspective, plasticbagfeesoperatesimilarlytoPigouvianTaxpoliciesbyattemptingtointernalizeenvironmentalcostsandalterconsumerincentivesatthepointofpurchase.Thisstudyanalyzeshow

plastic-reductionstrategiesinfluenceretailercoststructuresandconsumerbehaviorthrougha comparativecasestudyofLidlandRedner’sMarkets.Themethodologycombineseconomiccost analysisandqualitativepolicyreview,drawingonstorepolicies,publicsustainabilityreports, regionalbagregulations,andsecondaryconsumerbehaviorresearch.Theanalysisconsidershow thesepoliciesaffectmarginalcostsforretailers,includingbagpurchasingexpenses,labortime atcheckout,wastemanagement,andpotentialsubstitutiontowardpaperbags.Thefindings contributetoabroaderunderstandingofhowmarket-basedenvironmentalpoliciescanreshape bothretailcoststructuresandconsumerhabitswhilesupportingsustainabilityobjectives.

P033:TruthandLiesBehindtheLabels:SustainabilityClaimsandConsumer TrustintheCosmeticsIndustry

PresentingAuthor: PaigeBarrineau

SchoolandYear: Albright,4thYear

FacultySponsor: SomaGhosh

AdditionalAuthors: Jones,Tai

Sustainabilityhasbecomeacentralfocusinthecosmeticsindustryasconsumersincreasinglydemandenvironmentallyresponsibleproducts,packaging,andproductionpractices.Inresponse, manybeautybrandshaveintroducedsustainabilityinitiativesintendedtoreduceenvironmental impactsandimprovetransparency.Thisstudyexamineshowsustainabilitypracticeswithin thecosmeticsindustryinfluenceconsumertrustandbrandreputation.Focusingoncompanies suchasLush,LaRoche-Posay,andRMSBeauty,theresearchevaluatestheextenttowhich thesebrandsimplementmeaningfulsustainabilityinitiativesversusmarketing-drivenclaims. TheanalysisalsoconnectstheseinitiativestotheUnitedNationsSustainableDevelopment Goals,particularlySDG9(Industry,InnovationandInfrastructure)andSDG12(Responsible ConsumptionandProduction).Usingcompanysustainabilityreports,officialwebsitedata,and independentanalysisarticles,thisstudyinvestigateshowcorporatesustainabilityeffortsare communicatedandwhethertheyreflectmeasurableenvironmentalprogress.Theresearchalso considerstheroleofgreenwashing—misleadingorexaggeratedenvironmentalclaims—anditspotentialimpactonconsumerperceptions.Bycomparingstatedsustainabilitycommitmentswith publiclyavailableevidence,thisstudyaimstobetterunderstandthecredibilityofsustainability practicesinthecosmeticsindustryandtheirimplicationsforconsumertrust,environmental outcomes,andcorporatereputation.

P034:ThreadsofImpact:TheHiddenEnvironmentalCostsofFastFashion

PresentingAuthor: SaraiSimmons

SchoolandYear: Albright,4thYear

FacultySponsor: SomaGhosh

Fastfashionhasrapidlytransformedglobalclothingmarketsbydeliveringinexpensive,trenddrivenapparelatunprecedentedspeed.Whilethismodelbenefitsconsumersthroughlower prices,greatervariety,andexpandedemploymentopportunities,italsogeneratessignificant negativeenvironmentalexternalities.Intensiveproductionprocessesincreasewaterconsumption,chemicaluse,andcarbonemissions,disproportionatelyaffectingmajorgarment-producing

regions.Theseenvironmentalcostsarenotreflectedinmarketprices,contributingtooverproductionandoverconsumption.Thisstudyanalyzesthreemajorfashionbrands—H&M,Primark, andShein—toshowhowtheirproductionpracticescreateenvironmentalcosts.Usingexamplesfrommajormanufacturingregions,itexplainswheretheseimpactsoccur,whoisaffected, andhowpoliciescanhelpreducetheseharms.Bylinkingproductionpracticestoenvironmentalconsequencesandpolicysolutions,thisstudyaimstocontributetoongoingdiscussionson sustainabilityandaccountabilitywithintheglobalfashionindustry.

P035:TheMediterraneanDiet:LifespanandEnvironmentalSustainability

PresentingAuthor: KatiaBotelho

SchoolandYear: Alvernia,2ndYear

FacultySponsor: AnaRuiz

ThisstudyexamineshowtheMediterraneandietmayincreaselifelongevity,whilesimultaneouslysupportingenvironmentalsustainability.TheMediterraneandietprioritizesplant-based foodssuchasfruits,vegetables,legumes,wholegrains,andotherminimallyprocessedingredients,whilelimitinghighlyprocessedfoodsandredmeat.Previousresearchhaslinkedadherence totheMediterraneandietwithreducedriskofchronicdiseasesandimprovedlong-termhealth outcomes.Throughthisstudy,itwillbeexaminedifachoiceassmallasadietchangecanreally impacttheenvironmentandincreaseahealthierqualityoflife.Datawerecollectedthrougha small-ndesign,overatendayperiodincludingabaselinephase,interventionphase,andafollowupphase.Duringthebaselinephase,typicalWestern-stylemealsapproximatedabout15-19kg ofCO$ 2$ perday(5-7metrictonsannually).AftertransitioningtotheMediterraneandiet, emphasizingnutrientdense,plant-basedmeals,theaveragedailyemissionsdecreasedtoapproximately3-4kgCO$ 2$ (1metrictonannually).ThesefindingssuggestthattheMediterranean dietisaneffectiveeatingpatternthatcanreduceanindividual’scarbonfootprintsignificantly, whilecontributingtolong-termhealthandlongevity.

P036:TheImplementationofSustainableStadiumsAcrossContinents:Comparing EnvironmentalStrategiesintheU.S.andEurope

PresentingAuthor: JulienMoll

SchoolandYear: Albright,2ndYear

FacultySponsor: SomaGhosh

Sustainablesportsstadiumshavebecomeincreasinglyimportanttotheathleticworldbecause organizationsseektoreducetheirenvironmentalimpactandoperatingcosts.Thisstudyexplores howmodernstadiumdesignscanaddressenvironmentalexternalitiessuchashighenergyconsumption,substantialwastegeneration,andwateruse.Thepurposeofthisstudyistocompare twoofthemostsustainableandenvironmentallyadvancedstadiumsintheworld,Tottenham HotspurStadiuminLondonandtheMercedes-BenzStadiuminAtlanta,toseehowsustainable sportsstadiumsdifferbetweenEuropeanandAmericansportsorganizations.Dataforthestudy aredrawnfrompubliclyavailablesustainabilityreports,officialstadiumdocumentation,andenvironmentalcertificationssuchasLEEDCertification.Keyareasofanalysisincluderenewable energyuse,waterconservationsystems,wastemanagementpractices,andtransportationac-

cessibility.Byevaluatingtheenvironmentalinitiativesadoptedbythesestadiums,theresearch aimstoidentifywhichsustainabilitystrategiesaremosteffectiveinreducingenvironmentalimpactwhilesupportinglong-termoperationalefficiency.Thefindingscontributetoabroader understandingofhowsportsinfrastructurecanintegratesustainabledesignpracticesandserve asmodelsforfuturestadiumdevelopment.

P037:GreenProfits:HowSustainabilityCreatesCompetitiveAdvantageinthe GlobalSportswearIndustry

PresentingAuthor: ChrisSchoemer

SchoolandYear: Albright,4thYear

FacultySponsor: SomaGhosh

AdditionalAuthors: Kapschull,Tyler

Sustainabilityhasbecomeastrategicpriorityformanyglobalsportswearcompaniesastheyface increasingregulatorypressureandgrowingconsumerdemandforenvironmentallyresponsible products.Thisstudyexamineswhethercorporatesustainabilityinitiativesgeneratemeasurable economicvalueforthreeleadingathleisurefirms—Nike,Adidas,andUnderArmour.Theanalysisapplieskeyeconomicconcepts,includingenvironmentalexternalities,marketincentives, andregulatoryrisk,toevaluatehowsustainabilitystrategiesinfluencecorporatecoststructures andcompetitivepositioning.Forexample,investmentsinlife-cycleassessmentsandcircular economyinitiativesbyNikedemonstratelinksbetweenemissionsreductionandoperationalefficiency.Adidas’sintegrationofrecycledmaterialsillustrateshowsupplychainrestructuringcan offsetproductioncostswhilereducingnegativeexternalities.UnderArmourhasmadesignificantinvestmentsinenergy-efficientmanufacturingandmaintainedtransparencyinitssupplier networkstoproactivelymitigateregulatoryrisksassociatedwithitsoperations.Thestudyfinds thatsustainabilitystrategiesgenerateeconomicvaluethroughtwochannels:reducinglong-term inputandcompliancecostsandstrengtheningbrandequityinanincreasinglyenvironmentally consciousconsumermarket.Thesefindingssuggestthatcorporateenvironmentalresponsibility isamaterialforceofcompetitiveadvantage,andthatathleisurefirmstreatingsustainabilityas acorebusinessstrategyarebetterpositionedforlong-termprofitabilityandresilience.

P038:AreElectricVehicleSubsidiesWorththeCost?EvaluatingTheirEconomic EfficiencyinReducingCarbonEmissions

PresentingAuthor: JackRiffle

SchoolandYear: Albright,2ndYear

FacultySponsor: SomaGhosh

AdditionalAuthors: Charles,Jamall Governmentsaroundtheworldhaveintroducedsubsidiesforelectricvehicles(EVs)toreduce greenhousegasemissionsandacceleratethetransitionawayfromfossil-fuel-poweredtransportation.IntheUnitedStates,forexample,federalEVtaxcreditscanreachupto $7,500pervehicle, withadditionalstateincentivesrangingfrom $1,000to $5,000,representingasignificantpublic investment.Whiletheseincentivesaimtoaddressthenegativeenvironmentalexternalitiesassociatedwithcarbonemissions,theiroveralleconomicefficiencyremainsdebated.Thisstudy

evaluateswhetherEVsubsidiesrepresentacost-effectivepolicyforreducingcarbonemissions. Usingprinciplesfromenvironmentaleconomics,theresearchconductsacost–benefitanalysis thatcomparestheenvironmentalandsocialbenefitsofincreasedEVadoptionwiththefiscalcostsofgovernmentsubsidyprograms.ThestudydrawsonEVadoptiontrends,policy data,andexistingeconomicresearchtoexaminehowsubsidiesinfluenceconsumerbehavior andmarketoutcomes.Italsoconsidersdistributionaleffects,includingwhetherEVincentives disproportionatelybenefithigher-incomehouseholds.Thefindingsarediscussedinrelationto alternativepolicyinstruments,suchascarbonpricingmechanisms,thatmayachieveemissions reductionsmoreefficiently.Overall,thestudyassesseswhetherEVsubsidiesprovideapractical andeconomicallysoundapproachtoclimatepolicy.

P040:SurgicalandGeneticInfluencesinPediatricCleftLipandPalate:ALiteratureReview

PresentingAuthor: BriannaPascal

SchoolandYear: Alvernia,4thYear

FacultySponsor: VictoriaWilliams

Cleftlipandpalate(CLP)representsoneofthemostcommoncongenitalorofacialanomalies, affecting17outofevery10,000birthsintheUnitedStates.Occurringduringembryonicdevelopment,CLPisaverycomplexprocessinvolvinganydisruptionoflipfusionandpalatogenesis. CLPinvolvesmultiplelevelsofseverityandcanpresentasunilateralorbilateral,withthecleft palatebeingaffectedorunaffected.Thecurrentliteratureexplainshowbothhereditaryand environmentalfactorsstronglyinfluencethedevelopmentofCLPinutero.Geneticfactorsincludechromosomalabnormalitiesandgeneticmutations,whereasenvironmentalfactorsinclude maternalmalnutrition,drugexposure,andhormonalimbalances.AllthesefactorsgreatlyinfluenceandcouldleadtoadisruptionresultinginapediatricpatientwithaCLPcondition.Not onlydoesCLPdisruptstructuraldeformity,buttheindividual’sspeech,hearing,feeding,and socialinteractions.Theseotherissuescauseandleadtootherhealth-relatedproblems.CLP canonlyberesolvedusinginvasivesurgicalinterventions,whichusuallybeginduringinfancy. Thesesurgicalinterventionsvaryfromcasetocase,andthelong-termoutcomesdependonthe severityoftheCLP,timingoftherepair,andotheretiologicalfactors.

P041:IdentifyingtheMostEffectiveSolutiontoImproveFeedingOutcomesin ChildrenAged0-3YearswithTongue-Tie

PresentingAuthor: JakeShirey

SchoolandYear: Alvernia,GraduateStudent

FacultySponsor: CatherineEmenheiser

AdditionalAuthors: Dinoto,Gabriella;Luzeckyj,Stephanie;Mattern,Kelly Youngchildren(age0-3)withatongue-tiecommonlyexperiencefeedingdifficulties.Tongue-tie isacongenitaloraldeformitycharacterizedbythelingualfrenulumbeingofinsufficientlengthat birth.Thisstudycomparedtheeffectivenessofcurrentusualcarefortongue-tiestooccupational therapyinterventionsthroughanextensiveliteraturereview.Occupationaltherapyinterventions suchascraniosacraltherapy,orofacialexercise,andutilizinganoccupation-basedapproach

wereidentifiedasuniquebenefitsofoccupationaltherapy.Theresultsofthisliteraturereview suggestthatoccupationaltherapy,whencombinedwithcollaborationwithotherhealthcare professionssuchasspeech-languagepathologistsandphysicians,providessignificantlygreater interventioninthetreatmentoftongue-tiesthantraditionalmedicinealone.Toaddresslatch difficulties,poormilktransfer,andsometimes,laterissueswithspeechortransitioningtosolid foodsinchildrenaged0-3,occupationaltherapistsshouldbeincludedintreatmentteamsof thesechildren.Thesefindingssupportexpandingoccupationaltherapyinclusionintreatment teamsforchildrendiagnosedwithtonguetie.

P042:SplintingasanEffectiveTreatmentOptionUsingaMultidisciplinaryApproachwithChildrenwithSpasticCerebralPalsy

PresentingAuthor: SavannahMaGee

SchoolandYear: Alvernia,GraduateStudent

FacultySponsor: CatherineEmenheiser

AdditionalAuthors: Slear,TravisE;Symington,SariahA

SpasticCerebralPalsyinvolvesneurologicalandmechanicalconstraintsthatlimitachild’s participation.Thisstudyexaminestheeffectivenessofsplintingmethodscomparedtomore invasivetreatments,suchasmedication,surgery,andinjections,forchildrenwithcerebralpalsy, focusingonreductionsinspasticity,improvementsinrangeofmotion,andincreasesinfunctionalindependence.Uponinvestigation,splintingwasfoundtobebeneficialfortreatment; however,combiningtreatments,suchassplinting,BoNT-Ainjection,andoccupationaltherapy, furtherreducedspasticityandimprovedbiomechanicalfunction.Recommendationssuggesta multidisciplinaryapproachtoachievebetteroutcomesforchildrenwithspasticcerebralpalsy.

P043:IncreasingOccupationalPerformanceofSchoolStudents:ATrauma-Informed Approach

PresentingAuthor: KelseyBrinckman

SchoolandYear: Alvernia,GraduateStudent

FacultySponsor: CatherineEmenheiser

AdditionalAuthors: Herbein,Alexa;McCloud,Al’Liyah;Lawson,Julia

Exposuretotraumaticeventsisaworldwideoccurrencetoindividualsofallages.Theeffects canbeparticularlydetrimentalwhenexposureoccursinchildhoodduringvitaldevelopmental periods.Akeyopportunityforaccesstothesechildrenfortreatmentoccursintheschoolsystem,specificallythroughthelensofoccupationaltherapy.Thispaperoutlinesthebenefitsof traumainformedcareintheschoolsettingtodecreaselimitingbehaviorsandimproveoccupationalperformance.Asystematicreviewincluding20scholarlyarticleswasconductedtoattain researchontrauma-informedcarestrategiesandinterventions,essentialareasofperformancein school-basedoccupationaltherapypractice,behavioreffectsresultingfromexposuretotrauma inchildhood,andtrauma-informedtrainingandeducation.Thepaperarguesthatafoundationalunderstandingoftraumaandhowtobestengagewithandsupportstudentswithadverse childhoodexperiencesalongwiththeclinicalexpertiseofoccupationaltherapymaybeeffective indecreasingbehaviorstomaximizeoccupationalperformance.Thesefindingssupportanew

wayofthinkingthatwillultimatelyfostersupport,trust,andempowermentforthesestudents aswellassupportoccupationaltherapyasaprofessioninthissetting.

P044:EffectivenessofSensory-BasedStrategiesinImprovingEngagement,Attention,andOccupationalPerformanceforChildren

PresentingAuthor: MadisonHouck

SchoolandYear: Alvernia,GraduateStudent

FacultySponsor: CatherineEmenheiser

AdditionalAuthors: Border,Katelynn;Kao,Andrew;Molnar,Alina

Thepurposeofthisinvestigationistoevaluatetheeffectivenessofsensory-basedstrategies inimprovingattention,engagement,andoccupationalperformanceinchildrenandadolescents withsensoryprocessingdifficulties,leadingtothedevelopmentofthePIOquestion:Forindividuals(ages2to21years)withsensory-processingdifficulties,howeffectivearesensory-based strategiesinimprovingengagement,attention,andoccupationalperformance?Thegoalofthis criticalappraisalistoreviewcurrentevidence,evaluatestudies,anddeterminewhichsensorybasedstrategiesaresupported,limited,ornoteffectiveforcurrentpractice.Occupational therapistsneedtobeawareandinformedontheimpactsofsensory-basedstrategiesinrelationtotheoutcomesachievedfortheiryoungclientstobeabletofullyprovidecomprehensive, client-centeredcaretochildrenwithsensoryprocessingdifficulties.Byincreasingeducation surroundingtheimportanceandeffectivenessofsensory-basedstrategies,bothchildren,families,andoccupationaltherapistscanbenefitfromcontinuedgrowthofevidence-informedclinical reasoning.

P045:ComparisonofCommunityExercisestoTraditionalInterventioninFunctionalManagementandOutcomesinParkinsonDisease

PresentingAuthor: PatriciaFalar

SchoolandYear: Alvernia,GraduateStudent

FacultySponsor: CatherineEmenheiser

AdditionalAuthors: Gorner,JillianM;Jones,GraceN;Laughman,JillianA ParkinsonDiseaseisaprogressiveneurodegenerativedisorderthataffectsmotorfunction, non-motorsymptoms,andindependenceinactivitiesofdailyliving.Thisprojectinvestigates thePICOquestion:“Howdodifferentcommunity-basedexerciseprograminterventionsaffect symptomsofParkinsonDiseaseandindependenceofActivitiesofDailyLivingincomparison toatraditionallystructuredintervention?”AfterareviewofCriticallyAppraisedPapers,four themesweredeveloped:boxing,yoga,TaiChi,andLee-SilvermanVoiceTreatmentBIG.Across thestudies,bothcommunity-basedexerciseprogramsandstructuredinterventionsdemonstrated significantimprovementsinPDsymptomsandsupportedindependenceinactivitiesofdailyliving.Asaresult,usingcommunity-basedexerciseprogramsasacomplementaryintervention alongsidetraditionallystructuredinterventionshasbeenassociatedwiththebestpatientoutcomes.

P046:TheEffectivenessofHigh-TechnologyToolsonOccupationalPerformancein StrokeRehabilitation

PresentingAuthor: McKennaLengle

SchoolandYear: Alvernia,GraduateStudent

FacultySponsor: CatherineEmenheiser

AdditionalAuthors: Pillsbury,Theresa;Smith,Karlee;Stoltzfus,Nate

High-technologydevicesareusedinstrokerehabilitationduetotheirpositiveimpactsonmotor recovery.Fromanoccupationaltherapyperspective,thereislimitedevidenceonwhetherthese toolsimproveperformanceindailyactivitiesafterstroke.Thisinvestigationaimedtodetermine theeffectivenessofhigh-technologyrehabilitationtoolsinimprovingoccupationalperformance inindividualswhohavehadastrokebyanalyzingtheliteratureonfunctionalelectricalstimulation,wearablesensors,virtualreality,androbotics.Thefindingsacross20criticalappraisals indicatethathigh-technologyrehabilitationtoolsimproveoccupationalperformancefollowinga strokewhenpairedwithconventionalrehabilitation.Occupationaltherapistsshouldcontinueto usethesetoolsasasupplementalintervention.However,furtherresearchisneededtodetermine thenecessityofthesetoolsandthebestpracticesbeforeanysignificantchangesintheiruseare made.

P047:HowEffectiveIsUtilizingVirtualRealityinImprovingOccupationalPerformanceinAdultsWhoHaveaTBI?

PresentingAuthor: MackenzieSt.Pierre

SchoolandYear: Alvernia,GraduateStudent

FacultySponsor: CatherineEmenheiser

AdditionalAuthors: Albert,Alessandra;McGinley,Abigail;Sjoberg,Rachael

Thiscriticallyappraisedtopicexaminedtheeffectivenessofvirtualreality(VR)interventionsinimprovingoccupationalperformanceamongadultswithtraumaticbraininjury(TBI). TheguidingPIOquestionaskedwhetherVRenhancesoccupationalperformanceoutcomesin thispopulation.Acomprehensiveliteraturesearchwasconductedusingdatabasesincluding PubMed,EBSCO,JSTOR,andBioMedCentral,withinclusioncriteriafocusingonadultTBI populations,VRinterventions,andoccupationalperformanceoutcomes.Findingsacross20reviewedstudiessuggestthatVRisapromisinginterventionthatcanimprovecognitivefunctions suchasexecutivefunctioning,processingspeed,attention,andreactiontime,allofwhichare essentialforsuccessfulengagementindailyoccupations.Additionally,VR-basedinterventions demonstratedbenefitsinbalance,coordination,andengagementthroughsimulatedreal-world tasks.Despitethesepositivefindings,limitationsincludesmallsamplesizes,variabilityininterventionprotocols,andlimitedoccupationaltherapy-specificresearch.Overall,VRshows potentialasaneffectiveinterventiontoenhanceoccupationalperformanceoutcomesinadults withTBI.However,furtherresearchusingrigorousdesignsandstandardizedprotocolsisneeded tosupportitsintegrationintoclinicalpractice.

P048:SensorimotorInterventiononPost-StrokeAdultsforUpperLimbRecovery andOccupationalPerformance

PresentingAuthor: JillianEverett

SchoolandYear: Alvernia,GraduateStudent

FacultySponsor: CatherineEmenheiser

AdditionalAuthors: Golden,Cecilia;Hayes,Kellyanne;Kleintop,Gabriella

Sensorimotorinterventionshaveemergedasapromisingapproachtoimprovingupperlimb functionandoccupationalperformanceinadultspoststroke.Bytargetingtheintersection ofsensoryinputandmotoroutput,occupationaltherapycanaddressimpairedmotorcontrol, proprioception,andsensoryprocessing,whichlimitfunctionaluseoftheaffectedupperextremity.Currentevidenceindicatesthatsensorimotortrainingpromotesneuroplasticity,driving impairmentsinmotorcoordination,strength,anddexterity.Thiscriticalappraisalinvestigates theimpactofsensorimotorinterventiontechniquesonupperlimbrecoveryandoccupational performanceinstrokesurvivors,withfindingssummarizedtoinformclinicalpractice.Unlike purelymotor-focusedrehabilitation,sensorimotorcombinestask-specifictrainingwithsensory stimulation,suchastexturediscriminationorproprioceptiveexercises,facilitatingcorticalreorganization.Combinedtechniqueshaveshownsuccessinincreasingindependenceinactivities ofdailyliving(ADL)andoverallqualityoflife.Researchsuggeststhatintegratingsomatosensorytrainingwithmotorpracticeismoreeffectivethanconventionalrehabilitationalonefor enhancingpareticlimbfunction.Sensorimotorinterventionsplayacriticalroleinholisticstroke rehabilitation,addressingbothsensorydeficitsandmotorimpairments.Whilefurtherresearch isneededtodetermineoptimaldosageandlong-termretention,currentevidencesupportsthe applicationoftheseinterventionstoimproveupperlimbfunctionandpromoteoccupational performance.

P049:WirelessLesionDeviceforMedicalTrainingApplications

PresentingAuthor: MarcusRidley

SchoolandYear: Alvernia,2ndYear

FacultySponsor: KushalAdhikari

AdditionalAuthors: Dejesus,Elizabeth;Gonzalez,Yair;Hernandez,Arizaidith TheAlverniaUniversity(AU)nursingdepartmentutilizessimulationlabstoprovidestudents withrealisticscenariosusingmannequinstohonetheirskills.Thesemannequinscurrently lacktheabilitytosimulateapatientwhoisbleeding,leavingthestudentswithoutvaluable experience.Theprojectaimstodevelopawirelessprostheticwoundtosimulateapatient bleeding.Thisprojectusesamicrocontrollertooperateapump,simulatingbloodflowtoour prostheticwound.WeareusingPython,acommoncodinglanguage,tofacilitatewirelesscontrol ofthepumpviaawebinterface.Ourdevicehasthepotentialtobeaflexibleuser-friendly learningtoolforstudentsandinstructorsinthemedicalfield.Theversatilityofthedevice allowsforcompatibilitywithalmostanymannequin.Thedevicehasapplicationsintraining militarymedicalpersonnel,personaltrainingforemergencyscenarios,medicalacademics,etc. ThisprojectwasacollaborationbetweenAUNursingandAUEngineering.

P050:MicronutrientEffectsonRecoveryandPerformance

PresentingAuthor: BridgetDonachie

SchoolandYear: Alvernia,GraduateStudent

FacultySponsor: ThomasFranek

ClinicalScenario:Foodcreatesfuelforourbodiesbyproducingenergy,whichiscrucial,especiallyforathletes.Vitaminsandmineralscanbenefitathletesandshowhowtomaximize mealsbystrategicallyusingthemforintensephysicalactivityandrecovery.ClinicalQuestion: Howdoesadequatemicronutrientintakeaffectperformanceandrecoveryinphysicallyactive individuals?SummaryofBestEvidence/KeyFindings:Ensuringthatyouhaveabalanced dietincludingmicronutrientsisthekeytoachievingoptimalperformance.1VitaminChasbeen showntoincreasecollagenproductionandneutralizereactiveoxygenspeciestodecreaseinflammation.1,2VitaminD3,4canregulatecalciumaswellassupportandincreasesATP.Vitamin Aincreasesmusclerecoverybyincreasingproteinsynthesisandconnectivetissueformation,1 whilevitaminKcanincreaseboneformation.1,5VitaminBcomplexescanimprovemelatoninregulation,1,5providingaconnectiontoovernightrecovery.Lastly,mineralssupportall sortsofphysiologicalfunctions,likeoxygentransportation,andelectrolytebalance.Clinical BottomLine:Vitaminsandmineralscanhelpimprovemusculoskeletalrecoveryandregeneration,cognitivefunction,sleepquality,andreducestress.Ensuringmicronutrientsufficiency canboostmusculoskeletalperformanceandrecoverybyincreasingmetabolism,collagen,and proteinsynthesis.

P051:AltitudeTrainingandEffectsonAthleticPerformance:ACriticallyAppraisedTopic

PresentingAuthor: JacksonHoovler

SchoolandYear: Alvernia,GraduateStudent

FacultySponsor: AshleyGray

AdditionalAuthors: Franek,Thomas

ClinicalScenario:Altitudetrainingisaperformanceenhancementmethodusedbyathletesat manycompetitivelevelstoincreasephysiologicalcapacitiesthroughexposuretohypoxicenvironments.Bytraininginenvironmentswithreducedoxygenavailability,athletesaimtoincrease redbloodcellmass(erythropoiesis)andenhanceoxygen-carryingcapacity,ultimatelyimprovingaerobicperformance.1ClinicalQuestion:Inendurance-trainedathletes,doestraditional altitudetrainingcomparedtoartificialsimulationmethodsimproveVO2maxandcompetition performance?ClinicalBottomLine:Currentevidencesuggeststhatneithermodelhasaclear anddistinctadvantage,andthattraditionalaltitudetrainingandartificialsimulation(Elevation TrainingMasksor[ETM])bothyieldrobustimprovementswhenappropriatelyimplementedin endurance-trainedathletes.SummaryofBestEvidence:ThecombinationofHigh-Intensity IntervalTrainingandElevationTrainingMasksguaranteedmoderatepositiveimprovementsin VO2maxandphysiologicaladaptations.1Accordingtoresearch,livingandexercisingatmoderateelevations(2,000–2,500meters)promoteserythropoiesis,raisinghemoglobinlevelsand enhancingoxygentransport.2IncreasedVO2maxcouldleadtobetterphysicalenduranceand competitiveperformance,buteachathleteisdifferent;therefore,resultsmayvaryacrosspopulationgroups.Keywords:VO2max,elevationtrainingmasks,hypoxia,anderythropoietin/

erythropoiesis(EPO).

P052:BloodFlowRestrictionTherapy:ApplicationsandProtocols

PresentingAuthor: ElisabethSchwarz

SchoolandYear: Alvernia,GraduateStudent

FacultySponsor: ThomasFranek

AdditionalAuthors: Gray,A

ClinicalScenario:Bloodflowrestrictiontherapy(BFRT)isaformoftreatmentthatoccludes bloodflowtotheextremitiesusingapressurizedcuff.Ithasbeenshowninrecentliterature tobeeffectiveinrehabilitation.However,applicationprotocolsandspecificoutcomesremain unclear.ClinicalQuestion:Theclinicalquestionistwofold.Inpatientswithmusculoskeletal injury,howdoesBFRTcomparedtostandardrehabilitationaffectfunctionalityandpain?Key

Findings:BFRThasempiricalsupportformanyoutcomesandconditions.Protocolsappliedin literaturevarywidelyforrehabilitationapplications.Bestsupportedprotocolsforrehabilitation includea1x30,3x15set-repscheme,an80%occlusionpercentage,30%ofonerepetitionmaximumload,andafrequencyofthreetimesperweek.Severalmoderatingfactorsincludingsex, trainingstatus,andocclusionmethodsmustbeconsideredwhendevelopingprotocols.Conclusion:BFRTiseffectivecomparedtotraditionaltrainingmethodsforrehabilitation.Research protocols,thoughvaried,canproviderecommendationsfortheuseofBFRTinclinicalpractice. Keywords:Bloodflowrestrictiontherapy,performanceenhancement,rehabilitation,protocols.

P053:InternalMotivatingFactorsInfluenceaPatient’sAdherencetoRehabilitationofMusculoskeletalPathology

PresentingAuthor: BaileyBodien

SchoolandYear: Alvernia,GraduateStudent

FacultySponsor: AshleyGray

Clinicalscenario:Musculoskeletalinjuriesarebecominganationalhealthproblem.In2024, theUStreatmentcostformusculoskeletalinjuriesexceeded $213billion.Researchrevealsthat adheringtotherecommendedtrainingregimenimprovesthelikelihoodthattheinjuredlimb willheal,therebyboostingthechanceofasuccessfulrecovery.Thereareover200factorsthat correlatewithadherencetomedicaladvice.Clinicalquestion:Whichinternalmotivatingfactors influenceapatient’sadherencetotherehabilitationofaMusculoskeletalinjury?KeyFindings: Theresearchexaminesdifferentinternalfactorsthatinfluenceapatient’sadherencetorehabfor theirmusculoskeletalinjuries.Patientfactorsincludeself-motivation,prioradherencebehaviors, perceptionsofrehabilitation,andnegativeeffects.Acliniciancanhelppatientsadheretorehabilitationthroughsocialfactors.ClinicalBottomLine:Theliteratureindicatesthatinternal motivatingfactorsincludeapositiveattitude,self-motivation,andconfidenceintheclinician’s expertiseandintherehabilitationprocess.Therearewaystoenhanceadherenceoutsideof patientfactors.Inturn,patientsaremorelikelytoadheretothetreatmentprotocolsestablishedbytheirhealthcareprovider,leadingtobetterhealthoutcomes.KeyWords:Adherence, Musculoskeletalinjuries,Self-motivation,Rehabilitation.

P054:NeurodivergenceintheClinicalSportsMedicineSetting

PresentingAuthor: MylinaCastillo

SchoolandYear: Alvernia,GraduateStudent

FacultySponsor: AshleyGray

AdditionalAuthors: Franek,Thomas

NeurodivergenceincludesarangeofneurodevelopmentaldifferencessuchasAutismSpectrum Disorder(ASD),Attention-Deficit/HyperactivityDisorder(ADHD),andintellectualanddevelopmentaldisabilities.Approximately15–20%oftheglobalpopulationisconsideredneurodivergent,andemergingevidencesuggestsanotablepresenceofneurodivergentindividualsin athleticpopulations.However,sportsmedicineprofessionalsoftenreceivelimitededucationon howtoappropriatelyrecognizeandaccommodatetheuniquecognitive,sensory,andcommunicationneedsoftheseathletes.Dosportsmedicineprofessionalsrecognizetheuniqueneeds ofneurodivergentpatientswithintheclinicalsetting?Acomprehensiveliteraturesearchwas conductedusingPubMedandEBSCOHostdatabases.Currentliteratureaffirmsthatneurodivergentathletesmayhaveindividualizedneedsrelatedtosensoryprocessing,communication, executivefunctioning,andproprioceptionthatinfluenceinjuryrisk,evaluation,andtreatment. Evidencesuggeststhatwhiletheuniqueneedsofneurodivergentathletesareincreasinglyrecognized,theyarenotconsistentlyaddressedinclinicalpractice.Improvingeducation,awareness, andimplementationofindividualizedaccommodationsmayenhanceclinicianpreparednessand improvepatientoutcomesandsatisfactionwithinsportsmedicinesettings.

P055:PsychologicalEffectsinRelationtoUCLSurgery

PresentingAuthor: JakeUmans

SchoolandYear: Alvernia,GraduateStudent

FacultySponsor: ThomasFranek

AdditionalAuthors: Gray,Ashley

Ulnarcollateralligamentsurgeryisacommonpathologyamongbaseballplayers.Typical timelineforrehabilitationaftersurgeryisaround12-18months.Duringtherecoveryprocess, athletestendtoexperiencepsychologicalchallengessuchasfearofreinjury,decreasedconfidence, anxiety,andreducedmotivation.Thesesymptomscandelayorharmrecoverybyaffectingthe athlete’shead,furtherdelayingrecovery.7,19,20,21,22Althoughthephysicalrehabilitationprogramhasbeenestablished,structuredpsychologicalsupporthasdrawnmoreattentiontohelp aidintheoutcomes,althoughresearchspecificallyonthepsychologicalaspectinUCLpopulationsislimited.Doestheinclusionofstructuredpsychologicalsupportinrehabilitation, comparedtotraditionalrehabilitation,facilitatementalresilienceinbaseballpitcherswithUCL repairorreconstruction?PsychologicalfactorssupportgoalsduringrehabilitationinUCLpopulations.Psychologicalsymptomshaveaffectedthetimelineforrecoveryduringrehabilitation. Somesupplementaltools,suchassocialsupport,copingstrategies,positivereinforcement,and mentalskills,canimproveresilienceandconfidence.20,22Psychologicalfactorshaveshowna significantimpactonrehabilitationafterUCLsurgery.Researchshowsstructuredinterventions arelimited.Implementingsupportalongsiderehabilitationcanimprovetheathlete’sconfidence, resilience,andtheirreturntothefield.

P056:DegenerativeOrthopedicChangesinFormerTripleJumpers&Endurance Runners

PresentingAuthor: ElisiahJerome

SchoolandYear: Alvernia,GraduateStudent

FacultySponsor: AshleyGray

DegenerativeOrthopedicChangesinFormerTripleJumpers&EnduranceRunnersAuthors: ElisiahJerome,AshleyGray(FacultyAdvisor),ThomasFranek(FacultyAdvisor)Abstract: Degenerativeorthopedicchangesareacommondisorderthatisseenmostlyinanolderdemographic.Dependingonthesportaformerathleteplays,thatriskmayincreaseordecrease.The purposeofthisstudywastodeterminewhetherahigh-impact,low-durationsporthasahigheror lowerriskofdevelopingdegenerativeorthopedicchangesthanlow-impact,high-durationsports, specificallyTripleJumpandEnduranceRunning.Case-control,cohort,andpatient-reported outcomeswereusedinthepatientpopulationtoanalyzeformerathleteswhodevelopedjoint degeneration.TrackandFieldasacollectivewascomparedtoEndurancerunningandreported highercasesofOsteoarthritisoverall.ThestudiessuggestthatEndurancerunningislesslikely tocausejointdegenerationthantriplejump,butmorestudiesareneededtoconfirmthis.

P057:RunningVolumeandStrollerUse:TheirCombinedEffectonInjuryRisk

PresentingAuthor: TeresaReed

SchoolandYear: PennStateBerks,4thYear

FacultySponsor: AllisonAltman-Singles

AdditionalAuthors: Mahoney,JosephM;Kim,HounG;Zaprozny,Julia;Mueller,Amanda; Friesen,AndrewP

Runningwithastrollerenablesparentstomaintainphysicalactivitypostpartumbutmay influenceinjuryriskduetoalteredrunningmechanics.Thisstudyexaminedhowstrolleruse andmileagerelatetooveruseinjuryinparentrunners.Parentrunnerscompletedaretrospective surveyofrunninghabitsfromchildbirthtothreeyearspostpartum.Weeklymileage,percentage ofstrollerrunning,andinjuryhistorywereanalyzedusingbinarylogisticregression.Atotal of188respondentswereincluded.Participantsaveraged18.6 ± 19.6milesperweek,with 48.1% ± 31.0%ofmilesrunwithastroller.Highertotalmileagesignificantlyincreasedinjury odds(OR=1.02permile,p=0.039),indicatinga2%increaseinriskforeachadditional mile.Incontrast,agreaterproportionofstrollerrunningwasassociatedwithlowerinjury odds(OR=0.62),thoughthiseffectwasnotstatisticallysignificant(p=0.45).Theseresults reinforcetotaltrainingvolumeastheprimarydriverofoveruseinjuryriskinparentrunners.The non-significantcorrelationbetweenstrollerandreducedinjuryalignswithpriorbiomechanical evidencesuggestingreducedloadingduringstrollerrunning.Collectively,thefindingssupport thesafetyofstrollerrunningwhileemphasizingtheimportanceofmanagingmileagetomitigate injuryrisk.

P058:4SeasonPipingProject

PresentingAuthor: SherryHeckman

SchoolandYear: PennStateBerks,4thYear

FacultySponsor: RungunNathan

AdditionalAuthors: Fuglie,Chris;Reed,Teresa;Keovilay,Sunny

Thisprojectpresentstwoimprovedfreeze-resistantoutdoorfaucetsdesignedtopreventpipe burstingincoldenvironments.Outdoorfaucetsarehighlysusceptibletofreezingconditions, whichcanleadtointernalpipeexpansionandeventualbursting.Traditionalfrost-prooffaucet designs,suchastheWoodfordmodel,attempttomitigatethisissuebypositioningthevalve deeperwithinthebuildingenvelope;however,theystillpresentlimitationsinwaterdrainage efficiencyandstructuralresilience.Thisprojectintroducestwoinnovativesolutionstoimprove freezeresistanceandreliability.Thefirstdesignincorporatesaconicalinsertmechanismthat allowsresidualwatertodrainfromtheexteriorportionofthepipewhenthefaucetisturnedoff, whilemaintainingapropersealduringoperation.Thisensuresthatnostagnantwaterremains invulnerableregionswithoutcompromisingflowperformance.Theseconddesignfeaturesan expandablepipesectionthataccommodatesthevolumetricexpansionofwaterduringfreezing,reducinginternalstressesandpreventingstructuralfailure.Theseenhancementsprovide robustanduser-friendlysolutionsthatimproveuponexistingfrost-prooffaucetdesigns,offeringincreaseddurability,reducedmaintenancerisk,andimprovedperformanceincoldweather environments.

P059:SustainabilityAmbassadorProgram

PresentingAuthor: GenevieveWeikel

SchoolandYear: Alvernia,3rdYear

FacultySponsor: AliciaSprow

AdditionalAuthors: Hornbuckle,Nicholas;Castillo,Mylina;Buch,Logan;Dynesko,Kathryn; Deloretta,Lillyanne

Sustainabilityistheabilitytomeetpresentneedswithoutcompromisingfuturegenerations. AlverniaUniversity,withsupportfromTheAllstateFoundationandtheCenterforExpanding Leadership&Opportunity(CELO),launchedtheSustainabilityAmbassadorProgramtoempowerstudentstoleadaction-orientedsustainabilityprojectsaddressingreal-worldchallenges. ThroughthisprogramandcollaborationwithAlvernia’sOfficeofInstitutionalSustainability,studentsgainhands-onexperienceexploringsustainabilitypracticesthatbenefitboththe campusandthesurroundingcommunity.Currentprojectsfocusondiversetopics,including monitoringthehealthoflocalstreams,improvinggrowingconditionsatalocaluniversity’s non-profitfarm,andrecycling,withspecificprojectsonpubliceducationofrecyclingpractices, batteryrecycling,andtextilerecycling.Theseinitiativesnotonlypromotesustainablehabits butalsodrivelong-terminstitutionalchange,fosteringacultureofenvironmentalstewardship atAlvernia.

P060:EvolutionoftheUCYN-AandItsPotentialApplicationsinAgroecology

PresentingAuthor: IsabellaBoadu

SchoolandYear: ReadingAreaCommunityCollege,2ndYear

FacultySponsor: RobertHopkins

ThisscientificreviewpresentstheevolutionarytransitionofthecyanobacteriumUCYN-A

withinthealgalspecies,Braarudosphaerabigelowii,fromacommoncosymbiontintoanitrogenfixingorganelle,commonlyreferredtoasthenitroplast.InAprilof2024,scientistsconfirmed theexistenceofanorganellecapableofconvertingatmosphericnitrogenintoammonia.Primaryevidenceforthisendosymbiosiseventevolvestheerosionofgeneticquantitywithinthe nitroplast,aswellastheapparentrelianceonitshostforsurvival.Thesekeycharacteristics mirrorthebehaviorofpreviousendosymbiosiseventsthatledtotheriseofthemitochondriaand chloroplast.Integrationofnitroplastsintoagricultureandammoniamanufacturingprocesses, maypotentiallyleadtonotonlyarelieffromgreenhousegasesduringindustrialHaber-Bosch synthesis,economicalalternativesforfarmers,andthesubsequentfoodsurplusforhumanson aglobalscale.Theexistenceofthenitroplastorganellesuggestspossibleabandonmentoffossil fuelusagewithinsyntheticfertilizerproduction.

P061:Nitrogen’sEffectonCellWallPhysiologyofSalixpurpurea

PresentingAuthor: AriSolano

SchoolandYear: Alvernia,4thYear

FacultySponsor: MichelleSerapiglia

Nitrogenisoneofthemostcrucialelementsneededforplantgrowthanddevelopment,especially inrelationtocellwallandtissuesdevelopment.Changesinnitrogenlevelscanaltergrowth patternsandbiomasswithinplantstructures.Theamountofnitrogenneededinplantsvaries witheachspecies,withsomeplantsneedinglargerconcentrationsofnitrates/nitritestoflourish, whileothersmayrequireminimalconcentrationofnitrogen.Nitrogencanimpactthegrowth ofplantsbyalteringcarbonallocationthroughouttheplant.Shrubwillow(Salixspp.)canbe usedasariparian/agriculturalbufferreducingnitrogenloadsintoourstreamsandwaterways. Limitedresearchhasbeenconductedinthisarea,andasourclimatechangesandouragricultural practicesadapt,knowinghownutrientloads,specificallynitrogen,affectcarbonallocationinto thecellwallisimportantinoptimizinglandusepractices.CuttingsofSalixpurpureaweregrown inhydroponicsolutionswithalterednitrogenlevels.After7weeks,tissueswereharvestedand steminternodeswerecollectedforfluorescentimagingofxylemvesselelements.Growthdata andfluorescentmicroscopywillbepresented.Inaddition,soilnutrientdatafromawillowfield sitealongtheTulpehockencreekwillalsobepresented.

P062:TrackingAntibioticResistanceintheChesapeakeWatershedinCarlisle, Pennsylvania

PresentingAuthor: KaelynBalbirer

SchoolandYear: PennStateBerks,4thYear

FacultySponsor: TamiMysliwiec

AdditionalAuthors: Stuart,Dior;Khalili,Paria;Sindhar,Ashmeen;Bye,Savannah;Savage, Jada;Qiu,Angela;Liu,Lucy;Cao,Qinhai;Felker,Jill

Theincreasingprevalenceofdrug-resistantbacteriainfreshwaterecosystemsposesapotential seriouspublichealthconcern.Bacterialinfectionsbecomemoredifficulttotreatasresistance towithcommonlyprescribedantibioticsincreases.Emergingcontaminants,suchaschemical pollutantswithinwaterresources,cancreateselectivepressureonmicroorganisms,allowingan-

tibioticresistance.Thisenablesbacteriatosurvive,reproduce,andspreadmorereadily.As resistantbacteriaemerge,theriskofsevereanduntreatableinfectionsgrows,posingincreased threatstohumanhealth.TheEnvironmentalProtectionAgency(EPA)usesEnterococcus spp.andEscherichiacoli(E.coli)asindicatorspeciesfordetectingpotentialpathogensin drinkingwatersupplies.ThisstudyassessedthepresenceofEnterococciandE.colibacteria withintheChesapeakeWatershed.Watersampleswerecollectedoverfivemonthsfrom7sites alongLetortSpring,asourcewithintheChesapeakeWatershedlocatedinCarlisle,Cumberland County,Pennsylvania.Eachsitealongthetributaryrepresentsdifferentlevelsofanthropogenic activity.EnterococciandE.coliwereisolatedfromwatersamplesusingEPAstandardmembranefiltrationprotocolsforrecreationalwaters.EnterococciandE.coliisolatesweresubjected toantibioticsensitivityprofilingofsixcommonantibiotics.Antibioticprofilingresultsreveal thepresenceofmultidrugresistantbacteriawithintheChesapeakeWatershed.

P063:ImpactofTropicalStormDebbyonMicroplastic-AssociatedBacterialCommunitiesinBlueMarshLake

PresentingAuthor: JadaSavage

SchoolandYear: PennStateBerks,4thYear

FacultySponsor: TamiMysliwiec

AdditionalAuthors: Ferron,Deika;Read,Laura;Bausher,Madilyn;Salce,Kaidalyn;Cao, Deanna;Heckard,Kiera;Biggs,Emily;Blanchfield,Elijah;Bollman,Kai;Grant,Cecelia;Canelo Santana,Arianna;GuerreroRincon,Joraida;Mehta,Sakshi;Felker,JillM

Theglobalincreaseintheutilizationandproductionofplastic-basedproductshasledto widespreadmicroplasticcontaminationofaquaticecosystems.Microplastics,definedasplastic particleslessthan5mmindiameter,originatefromthedegradationoflargermanufactured plasticsandvaryinsize,shape,andchemicalcomposition.Theseparticlesarepervasivein aquaticenvironmentsandposeecologicalandhumanhealthconcerns,includingbioaccumulationinaquaticfoodwebsanddisruptionofgastrointestinalandendocrinefunctioninhumans. Additionally,microplasticsactassurfacesformicroorganisms,promotingthetransportand persistenceofmicrobialcommunitiesthroughoutfreshwatersystems.Thisstudyexaminedthe effectsofprecipitationeventsassociatedwithTropicalStormDebby(August5–8,2024)on microplasticcontaminationandassociatedbacterialcommunitieswithinBlueMarshLake,a tributaryoftheDelawareRiverWatershed.DuringAugust2024,foursamplingeventswere conducted,duringwhich400Lofwaterwerecollectedfromshorelineanddownstreamlocations usingamodifiedNOAAmicroplasticcollectionprotocol.Atotalof147microplasticparticles wererecoveredandclassified.Fiberscomprised96%ofidentifiedmicroplastics.Microorganisms werecultivatedusingR2Amediatoassessbacterialpresence.Thesefindingssuggeststormdrivenrunoffmayenhancemicroplasticandmicrobialtransport,potentiallyimpactingwater quality.

P064:FromLabtoField:GeneticSexDeterminationforCommonTerns(Sterna hirundo)

PresentingAuthor: JadaSavage

SchoolandYear: PennStateBerks,4thYear

FacultySponsor: JenniferArnold

AdditionalAuthors: Stofko,AmandaR;McHugh,LilithJ;Pearsall,MeaganR;Oswald, StephenA;Mysliwiec,TamiH

Commonterns(Sternahirundo)arewaterbirdsthatbreedinfreshandsaltwaterenvironments inNorthAmerica.Inlandpopulationshavebeenexperiencingprecipitousdeclines.Identifying causesandcurbingthesedeclinesrequiresidentifyingindividualsbasedonsex.Whilethis speciesillustratessizesexualdimorphism,individualvariationshowssizeoverlapmakingit difficulttoaccuratelysexbirdsbasedonthis.Ternshavebeensexedusinggenetictechniquesin alaboratorysettingfor˜25years,butsamplesareoftencollectedinremoteareasandshort-term knowledgeofsexisusefulforimmediateassistanceinfieldstudies.Thus,weaimtosimplify thelaboratorytechnologyanddevelopageneticmethodforsexinginthefield.Asaninitial step,wehaveadaptedcurrentmethods(DNAextraction,polymerasechainreaction(PCR) andgelelectrophoresis)toourlaboratory.Resultsfrom54bloodsamplesshowthatmaleand femaleCommonTernsaredistinguishableusingbloodsamplesandthatresultsarerepeatable. MalesexhibitabandrepresentingtwoZchromosomesat˜450basepairsandfemalesexhibita Z-bandat˜450basepairsandaW-bandat˜650basepairs.Avarietyoftechniquesarebeing testedtosimplifyourmethodologyforthefield,butstillobtainaccurateresults.

P065:InfraredSpectralAnalysisofMicroplasticsintheBlueMarshWatershedof Reading,Pennsylvania

PresentingAuthor: LauraRead

SchoolandYear: PennStateBerks,3rdYear

FacultySponsor: TamiMysliwiec

AdditionalAuthors: Aurentz,DavidJ;Felker,JillM

Avarietyofproducts,fromfoodcontainerstoclothing,aremadeofplastic,whichcandegradeintominuteparticlesknownasmicroplastics.Microplasticsvaryinshape,size,color,and composition,andtheysignificantlyimpactaquaticecosystemsthroughbioaccumulationand habitatcontamination.Microplasticscanalsoharmhumansby,amongotherthings,damaging thegastrointestinaltractandactingasendocrinedisruptors.Thisstudyclassified,quantified, andassessedthechemicalcompositionofmicroplasticsintheDelawareRiverWatershed,amajordrinkingwatersourceforPhiladelphia.Watersampleswerecollectedatashorelocationof BlueMarshLakeusingamodifiedNOAAmicroplasticcollectionprotocol.Samplesweredried atroomtemperatureandexaminedunderadissectingmicroscope,wheremicroplasticswere countedandcategorizedasfibers,nurdles,orfragments.Resultssuggestahighpresenceof microplasticsinBlueMarshLake.Samplesona100 µmscalearecollectedundermagnificationandgroupedforanalysis.UsingadiamondATRcrystalonaniS20FTIRspectrometer, microfiberspectraarecomparedtopolymerspectrallibrariesandstandardssuchaspolyamide 6,6.Identificationofspecificmicrofiberpolymersmayaidinidentifyingbacterialpreferences foradherence.

P067:EffectsofMicroplasticsonMammalianColonCells

PresentingAuthor: AllisonMoore

SchoolandYear: Alvernia,4thYear

FacultySponsor: OndraKielbasa

Microplasticsareanincreasinglyprevalentenvironmentalcontaminant,raisingconcernsabout theirpotentialeffectsoncellularhealth.Despitegrowingawareness,theimpactofmicroplasticexposureatthecellularlevelremainsincompletelyunderstood.Thisstudyinvestigatesthe effectsofmicroplasticbeadexposureonCT26.WTcoloncarcinomacellsinvitro.Cellswere culturedundercontrolledlaboratoryconditionsandexposedtovaryingconcentrationsofmicroplasticbeads.Cellviabilitywasassessedusingatrypanblueexclusionassayincombination withhemocytometer-basedcellcounting,allowingfordifferentiationbetweenviableandnonviablecellsbasedonmembraneintegrity.Inaddition,DNAintegritywasevaluatedusinggel electrophoresistoassesspotentialfragmentationordamageassociatedwithmicroplasticexposure.Itwashypothesizedthatexposuretomicroplasticbeadswouldresultinanincreasein celldeathcomparedtountreatedcontrolcells.Thisstudyaimstocontributetoabetterunderstandingofhowmicroplasticsinteractwithmammaliancellsandtheirpotentialimplications forcellularhealth.

P069:GrapplingMatCleanersandDisinfectantsEffectsonTrichophytonrubrum AgarPlateCultures

PresentingAuthor: PierceKasting

SchoolandYear: Alvernia,4thYear

FacultySponsor: JamieBecker

RingwormisacommondermatologicalinfectioncausedbythefungalpathogenTrichophyton rubrum.Transmissionisespeciallycommoninsportssuchaswrestling,mixedmartialarts (MMA),andjiujitsuduetoextendedclosecontact,andtheopportunityforfungalgrowthon matsinthesefacilitieswithhighhumidity.ThisstudyfocusedonthegrowthofthedermatophyteT.rubrumATCC28188underdifferentconditionstoexaminetheeffectsofcommonand inexpensiveoptionsfrequentlyusedinathleticfacilitiestodisinfectmatsandlimitthegrowth ofT.rubrum.T.rubrumwasculturedonSabourauddextroseagarplates(SDA)withpaper patchessaturatedwithDefensesoapbrandmatandsurfacecleaner,70%isopropylalcohol, bleachdilution,teatreeoil,andDollamur’sMatattackplus,alongwithcontrols,toquantify zonesofinhibitioncausedbythedisinfectants.

P070:DetectionandAnalysisofBacterialEsteraseActivity[BB1.1]onPolyethylene Terephthalate

PresentingAuthor: BenjaminPaul

SchoolandYear: Alvernia,4thYear

FacultySponsor: BradBauer

AdditionalAuthors: Bellacima,Meryn;Boumrah,Aryam Plasticpollutionisaprevalentanthropogenicissue,asalargepercentageofconsumergoods havesomeplasticcomponent.Toidentifypotentialsolutionsforbioremediation,bacterialstrains

isolatedfromlocalenvironmentsweretestedforesterasecapabilitiesviatributyrinandspectroscopicassays.Zonesofclearinginthetributyrinassaydemonstratethepresenceofesterase and/orlipaseactivity.ThespectroscopicassayutilizedFourier-transforminfraredspectroscopy tomeasurepiecesofpolyethyleneterephthalate(PET)plasticbeforeandafterincubationwith possibleesterase-exhibitingbacteria.Byanalyzingkeyspectralfeaturesbeforeandafterincubation,thepossiblecleavageofesterbondswithintheplasticwasexaminedtodirectlydemonstrate theabilityofthesebacteriatodegradePETplastic.

P071:Non-AntibioticEliminationofBacteriaviaInductionofanIntroducedRNase

PresentingAuthor: AngelLeon

SchoolandYear: Albright,3rdYear

FacultySponsor: AndrewSamuelsen

Antibioticresistanceisanincreasingconcern,Wearedevelopinganalternativemethodto controlbacterialgrowth.Thisstudyinvestigatesanon-antibioticapproachusingtheBarnase gene,whichencodesatoxicribonuclease(RNase)thatdegradesRNAanddisruptsessential cellularprocesses.DuetopromoterleakinessthisgeneneedstobekeptincheckbyBarstar. Asafirststep,BarstarwasengineeredtohaveaTacPromotercontrollingitanditwascloned intoapUC19plasmidandintroducedintoE.coliundercontrolledconditionstoregulateits expression.Plasmidconstructionwasperformedusingrestrictionenzymes(HindIIIandKpn I)digestion,followedbyligationandtransformation,andalsoPCRamplification.Successful cloningofTacBarStarintopUC19wasverifiedbyrestrictionanalysis;theseresultssupport thepotentialofRNase-basedsystemsasanalternativeantimicrobialstrategy.Withfurther research,thisapproachcouldprovideamethodforcontrollingbacterialpopulationswithout relyingontraditionalantibiotics,contributingtoeffortstoaddressantibioticresistance.The nextstepswillincludeinducingBarstarproductionviaadditionofIPTGtothemedium,followed byWesternBlotdetectionusingananti-Barstarantibody.Thiswillsetthestageforadditional workinvolvingBarnase.

P072:ABehavioralAnalysisofLeopardFrog’sPreferentialAttractiontoSpecific BlueLightWavelengths

PresentingAuthor: BellaBlundetto

SchoolandYear: Alvernia,4thYear

FacultySponsor: EricRecktenwald

AdditionalAuthors: Emrich,Russell

Artificialbluelightpollutionisincreasinginmanyecosystemsandmaydisruptvisuallyguided behaviorsoffrogssuchasnavigation,mating,andpreycapture.Previousstudieshaveshown thatfrogsarepreferentiallyattractedtobluelight.Additionally,physiologicalstudieshave shownpreferentialresponsesofthalamicneuronstobluelight.However,priorresearchhasnot investigatedwhichwavelengthswithinthebluespectrumaremostattractivetofrogs.Tobetterunderstandthisattraction,thisstudytestswhetherfrogspreferentiallyrespondtospecific wavelengthswithinthebluespectrum.Preliminarytrialswereconductedusingblueandgreen lighttoconfirmearlierfindings.Theresultssupportedpreviousresearchshowingthatfrogs

aremoreattractedtobluelight.Tofurtherinvestigatewavelength-specificresponses,fiveadult northernleopardfrogs(Ranapipiens)willbeindividuallytestedinachoiceexperimentwhere twodifferentbluewavelengthsarepresentedsimultaneouslywithinanenclosure.Fourwavelengthsofbluelightwillbecompared:425nm,450nm,475nm,and500nm.Wehypothesize thatfrogswillshowapreferenceforonewavelengthwithinthebluespectrumoverothers.Identifyingwavelength-specificattractionmayimproveourunderstandingofhowartificiallighting influencesfrogbehaviorandhelpdecreasenegativeeffectsofbluelightpollution.

P073:AReviewofLatentFingerprintAnalysisinForensics

PresentingAuthor: SadiyaAli

SchoolandYear: PennStateBerks,2ndYear

FacultySponsor: JamesKarlinsey

AdditionalAuthors: CaneloSantana,Arianna;Khalili,Paria

Fingerprintsareimpressionsresultingfromcontactwithridgesofanindividual’sfingertips, andlatentprintsareofteninvisibleandleftunintentionally,suchasthosefoundatacrime scene.Latentfingerprintscancontainnaturaloilsandsweatthatcanbemanipulatedfor chemical-basedanalysis,withapproachesrangingfromstainstospectralcharacterization.This workrepresentsareviewofcurrentmethodologiesusedbyforensicscientiststoperformlatent fingerprintanalysis,withanalyticalbackgroundandexperimentaldataprovidedtohighlight challengesandsuccessesinthefield.

P074:AnEvaluationofHomogeneousPrecipitationReactions

PresentingAuthor: RyanHigh

SchoolandYear: PennStateBerks,2ndYear

FacultySponsor: JamesKarlinsey

AdditionalAuthors: Alexander,Evan

Inaprecipitationreaction,solubleionsinteracttoformaninsolublesolidprecipitate.This isusefulingravimetricanalysis,wherethemassofprecipitateformedcanbeusedtocalculate thequantityoforiginalanalytepresent.Therearemanytypesofprecipitants–organicand inorganic–usedingravimetricanalysis,andtheidealprecipitateshouldbepureandeasily filterable.Largercrystalsarethereforepreferred,withthedecreasedsurfacearea-to-volume ratioresultinginfewerimpuritiesattached.Thetwostepsinvolvedincrystallizationarenucleationandparticlegrowth,andslowprecipitationpromotesgrowthovernucleationtoproduce larger,purer,moreeasilyfilteredparticles.Inhomogeneousprecipitation,precipitantisgeneratedslowlyfromwithinaninitiallyhomogeneoussolutionbyachemicalreaction.Thiswork presentsacomparisonofcrystalsobtainedthroughheterogeneousandhomogeneousprecipitation,differenthomogeneousprecipitantsforthegravimetricanalysisofthesameelement(e.g., calciumusingsulfamicacidvs.dimethyloxalate),andtheimpactofexperimentalvariableslike temperatureandthepresenceofanelectrolyteoncrystalgrowth.

P075:SynthesisofaNetHydrogenAtomDonorThatCanReactbyConcerted Proton-ElectronTransfer(CPET)

PresentingAuthor: EvanFink

SchoolandYear: Albright,4thYear

FacultySponsor: IanRhile

Protonandelectrontransfersarefundamentalmechanismsinorganicchemistryandareinvolvedinmanybiological,environmental,andindustrialprocesses.Inconcertedproton-electron transfer(CPET),theprotonandelectronbothmoveinonemechanisticstep,toorfromdifferentsitesinthemolecule.Mostmodelcompoundsinthisfieldarenethydrogenatomacceptors, combininganoxidantandabase.Inthiswork,thetargetcompoundisproposedtobeanet hydrogenatomdonor,combiningareductantandanacid,andworkthusfarhasbeendirected towardsynthesisofthiscompound.Athree-stepsynthesisstartingfrommethylenebluewas attempted;thesynthesisconsistsofareductionwithsodiumborohydridefollowedbyacetylation;deacetylationwithacid;andaBuchwald-Hartwigreaction.Thefinalreactionresulted inacomplexreactionmixture.Analternativeone-potsynthesispathway,involvingatandem redox/Buchwald-Hartwigreactionisbeinginvestigated.Futureworkincludesreactionsofthe synthesizedcompoundwithhydrogenatomacceptorstotesttoseeiftheproposednethydrogenatomtransferoccursandinvestigatingtheprotonandelectronthermodynamicswithpKa measurementsandcyclicvoltammetry,respectively.

P076:ModelingUVReflection,Transmission,andBathingSuitMaterialEffects onEdge-BasedSkinPigmentation

PresentingAuthor: IsabellaVenezian

SchoolandYear: Kutztown,3rdYear

FacultySponsor: DanielleSeier

Thispresentationaimstodeterminewhetherreflectedandredirectedultraviolet(UV)radiationincreasesskinpigmentationneartheedgesofbathingsuits.Whiledirectsunlightis knowntocausetanningthroughmelaninproduction,thisstudyfocusesonwhetherindirect UVexposurecanintensifypigmentationinlocalizedareas.Usingacomputationalmodeling approach,theprojectanalyzeshowUVradiationinteractsacrossthreemainpathways:from thesuntotheskin,fromthesuntothebathingsuit,andfromthebathingsuittoadjacentskin. CurrentprogressincludessixcodedsimulationsthatcalculateUVintensityvalues,reflection percentages,andtransmissionratesforeachpathway.Thesemodelsallowforcomparisonbetweendirectexposureandtheinfluenceoffabricinteraction.ByexamininghowUVradiationis reflectedorredirectedfrombathingsuitmaterialsontoadjacentskin,theprojectwilldetermine whethertheseeffectsaresufficienttoaccountforthedarkertanlinescommonlyobservedalong fabricedges.ThefindingsareexpectedtoshowthatsmallincreasesinreflectedortransmittedUVradiationcancontributetounevenpigmentation.Thisprojectwillprovideaclearer understandingofhowindirectUVexposureaffectstheskinandwhetherfabric-relatedlight interactionsplayameasurableroleintanningpatterns.

P077:TheFinalSpin:FateoftheEarthMoonSystem

PresentingAuthor: IlariaCatania

SchoolandYear: Albright,3rdYear

FacultySponsor: BrianBuerke

Thisprojectinvestigatesthelong-termtidalevolutionoftheEarth–Moonsystemthrougha combinationofanalyticalandcomputationalmodelinggroundedinclassicalmechanics.The Earth–Moonsystemisanaccessiblelaboratoryforexploringtidaldissipation,angularmomentumtransfer,androtational–orbitalcoupling.Usingconservationoftotalangularmomentum, theprojectaimstodeterminethefinalequilibriumseparationandsynchronizedangularvelocity associatedwithmutualtidallocking.Time-dependenttidalevolutionismodeledbynumerically integratingtorqueequations,withparticularattentiontosensitivitytothetidalqualityfactor andLovenumber.Additionalconsiderationsincludetheimpactofsolarevolutionandocean evaporationonlong-termdissipationrates,whichmayultimatelylimitthesystem’sabilityto reachfullsynchronization.Byalsoapplyingthefoundformulatowhathasoccurrdinthe past,themodelwillbevalidatedagainstgeologicalevidenceofpastEarthrotationratesand lunardistances.Theresultsareexpectedtoshowthat,whileanidealfinaltidallockingwill likelynotoccurduetosolarconstraints,theEarth–Moonsystemwillasymptoticallyapproach asynchronizedstateatasignificantlygreaterseparationthanitspresentvalue.

P078:AStudyofApplicationsofPhysics-InformedNeuralNetworks

PresentingAuthor: TalanNguyen

SchoolandYear: PennStateBerks,2ndYear

FacultySponsor: AlexeyProkudin

AdditionalAuthors: Rathman,Haley;Falbo,Antonio;Menjivar,Agustin;Oberrender,Ava; Jacobs,Ryan;Kuwadia,Sahil;Sato,Nobuo

Machinelearningmethodsareincreasinglyusedinhadronicphysicstoextractphysicalquantitiesfromexperimentaldata.Neuralnetworksprovideflexibleparametrizationsoffunctions extractedfromexperimentaldata,suchaspartondistributionfunctionsthatdescribetheinternalstructureofthenucleon.However,theirflexibilitycanleadtounreliableextrapolations inunmeasuredregionswhenphysicalconstraintsarenotimposed.Inthiswork,weinvestigate theselimitationsandexplorePhysics-InformedNeuralNetworks(PINNs),whichincorporate governingdifferentialequationsdirectlyintothetrainingprocess.Wefirstdemonstratetheextrapolationchallengesoftraditionalneuralnetworksusingsyntheticdatabasedonthefunction sin(x).WethenconstructPINNmodelsthatenforcetheunderlyingdifferentialequationsand examinetheirbehaviorunderconditionsincludingnoisyboundarydataandpotentialoverfitting.Tobetterunderstandmodelperformance,wealsotestandcompareseveralactivation functionsandanalyzetheirimpactonconvergenceandphysicalconsistencywithinandoutside thetrainingdomain.Thesemethodsarefurtherappliedtophysics-basedexamples,including solutionstoMaxwell’sequations,asasteptowardmorecomplexphysicsapplications.Ultimately,thisframeworkaimstoaddressinverseproblemsinhadronicphysics,suchassolving theDGLAPequationsgoverningthescaledependenceofpartondistributionfunctions.

P079:Thermorph:EngineeringSelf-TransformingStructuresThroughProgrammable MaterialActuation

PresentingAuthor: TalanNguyen

SchoolandYear: PennStateBerks,2ndYear

FacultySponsor: MariettaScanlon

AdditionalAuthors: Evelyn,Thomas

Withtheriseofadditivemanufacturing,3Dprintingcomplexstructuresremainschallenging duetomodelingdifficulties,slowprintspeeds,andfrequentfailures.Thermorphprinting,or 4Dprinting,offersapromisingalternativebyembeddingshape-morphingbehaviorintoflat printstotransformintocomplex3Dformswhenheated.Thisapproachreducestheneedfor supports,shortensprinttimes,andenablescomplexstructureswhilemaintainingsimplicity.We investigatedseveralvariablesinfluencingtheshape-morphingprocessandfoundthatincreasing actuatorlengthandreducingactivelayersledtogreaterfoldingangles.Usinganon-heated printbedandmoreflexiblepolymersfurtherenhancedfoldingperformance.Leveragingthese insights,wecreatedthreefunctionalself-foldingprototypes:asmall-scaletable,ahand-held glider,andabloomingspiderlily.Thermorphprintingbroadensadditivemanufacturingby enablingefficient,adaptive,andreliablestructuresfordiversereal-worldapplications.

P080:MathematicalModelofaMid-PowerRocket

PresentingAuthor: RafaelUhle

SchoolandYear: PennStateBerks,3rdYear

FacultySponsor: CesarMartinez-Garza

Arockethasthreestagesofflightdynamics:poweredascent,unpoweredascent,andrecovery. Thisprojectwasfocusedondevelopingadifferentialequationmodelofthepoweredascent phaseofflight,specificallyverticalvelocity.Thismathematicalmodelisthencomparedto experimentaldataobtainedfromflightsusingtwodifferentmotorswiththesamerocket.The modelwillbeexpandedtoencompasstheentireflightenvelopeoftherocket.Oncethemodelis validated,itcanbeusedtodeterminespecificinformationoftherocketlike,dragcoefficientsand motorburn-outtime.Thisinformationisanalyticallyelusivebecauseofviscousandnonlinear effects.ThisdatawillthenmadeavailabletoSIMIODE,aneducationalorganizationthat promotesteachingdifferentialequationsbyusingmodeling.

P083:OptimizationofVertical-AxisWindTurbinesThroughActiveFlowControl UsingtheVenturiPrinciple

PresentingAuthor: FabianGonzalez

SchoolandYear: PennStateUniversityPark,3rdYear

FacultySponsor: DimitriKaragiannis

Thisstudyevaluatestheenhancementoftheaerodynamicefficiencyofavertical-axiswind turbine(VAWT)throughtheintegrationofanactiveexternalcontrolmechanismgrounded intheVenturiprinciple.Theproposedmechanismintroducesthecapabilityofdynamically modifyingtheinletandoutletgeometryinresponsetovaryingwindconditions,whichenables enhancedperformanceacrossabroaderoperatingrange.Anumericalframeworkwasdeveloped

usinghigh-fidelityCFDsimulationsinAnsysFluent,replicatingexperimentallydocumented baselineconfigurationsfromtheliterature.Parametricstudieswerethenconductedtoevaluate theisolatedeffectsofinletandoutletgeometriesonflowacceleration.Resultsshowthatreduced inletareassignificantlyincreasethelocalflowvelocitiesatlowwindspeeds.Incontrast,larger openingsproducealowervelocityincreaseunderidenticalinflowconditions,helpingtomitigate thenegativeperformanceeffectscausedbyexcessiveacceleration.Thesefindingssuggestthat theoptimalconfigurationisstronglydependentontheinitialwindconditions.Buildingonthese results,closed-loopcontrolstrategiesareproposedtodynamicallyorienttheexternalstructure tofacetheincomingwind,improvinginflowconditionsbasedonreal-timeinputs.Thiscontrol frameworkextendsthefixed-geometrysolutiontounsteadyenvironments,suchasurbanwind conditions.

P084:WaterTemperatureShowerController

PresentingAuthor: AndrewLinaresLinares

SchoolandYear: PennStateBerks,6thYear

FacultySponsor: TerrySpeicher

AdditionalAuthors: Brito,De;Vinicius,Alexandre;Cook,AndrewDillon Oldresidentialhousesandbuildings(i.e.,apartmentcomplexes)utilizeatrunk-and-branch plumbingsystem.Thesesystemswerecost-effectiveandcommonlyutilizedasaresult.However,aproblemcausedbythisplumbingsystemisthatwhenaplumbingfixtureisactive(i.e., atoilet,shower,orsink),apersonusingtheshowermayreceiveaninfluxofhotwaterthrough theirshowerhead,resultinginscaldingtotheirexposedskin.Essentially,thetrunk-and-branch plumbingsystemcausestemperaturefluctuationswhenmultipleplumbingfixturesareinuse. ThisproblemservedasthebasisforourCapstoneProject.Thus,theteamassembledaplumbing/electronicsystemutilizingLabVIEWtoprogramthatwouldallowuserstosettheshower temperaturetoadesiredlevelandcompensateforanywaterpressureloss,preventingscalding.

TheteamdecidedtonameourCapstoneProject,theWaterTemperatureShowerController. Thegoalofthecontrolleristocombatthetemperaturefluctuationproblemcausedbythe trunk-and-branchplumbingsysteminolderresidentialhousesandbuildings.

P085:EnergyOptimizationofaDoorLockBatteryPackUsingSimulationMethods

PresentingAuthor: KelseyDeAcosta

SchoolandYear: PennStateBerks,Graduate

FacultySponsor: DaleLitwhiler

Battery-powereddoorlocksrequireshort,high-currentactuationeventstomovethelatch. Sincetheseeventsarebriefandmechanicallyconstrained,batterylifeandbehavioraredriven bywhathappensduringtheevent.Theresearchfocusesononekeyquestion,canpulsedcurrent reducetheelectricaldemandduringoperation,andhowmanypulsesareactuallyneededtomake upanyenergyloss?

P086:BatteryTeardown

PresentingAuthor: AnthonyNguyen

SchoolandYear: PennStateBerks,4thYear

FacultySponsor: RungunNathan

AdditionalAuthors: N,Kuczala;T,Ebeling

Thepurposeofthisprojectwastoimprovethesmallandauxiliarybatteryteardownprocesses thatEastPenntechnicianscurrentlyperform.Theircurrentprocessisstrenuousandmanually intense,whichleadstoworkrelatedinjuries.Theinitialteam’sscopefocusedontheauxiliary (AUX14)battery,andbasedonitssuccess,theteamwillreplicateitforothersmallbatteries. Thefirststepinthisprojectwasinterviewingthetechnicianswhowereextremelyopento sharingabouttheirpainpointsandtheirwishes.Withthegatheredinformation,theteam brainstormedandnarrowedideasdowntothosethatcouldbetested.Thedesignfocusedon cuttingthepartitionwallsthatseparatedtheindividualcellswithinthebattery.Doingsohelped removingthebatterycovereasily.TheteamdesignedajigtofitontotheAUX14batteryand aguideplatetofitontothecircularsaw.Thispermittedthetechniciantoeasilyguidethesaw overthepartitionsinaquickandefficientmanner.Easeofuse,durability,andsafetywerekey elementswhentheteamcameupwiththedesign.

P087:ASTATCOMforPowerFactorImprovementofanIntegratedPowerSystem

PresentingAuthor: EliCurran

SchoolandYear: Alvernia,2ndYear

FacultySponsor: SalemElsaiah

Reactivepowerplaysasignificantroleinmaintainingvoltageboundsofpowersystemswithin predeterminedoperationallimits.Maintainingbusvoltageswithinthepermittedboundsnot onlyvitaltoretainoperationalstatusofagivenpowersystem,butalsoensuresthatreliability andpowerqualityconstraintsareconsideredwhileperformingoptimalpowersystemsstudies. Thisworkpresentsamethodtocompensateforthereactivepowerconsumedbyinductiveloads intheelectricalpowersystem.ThismethodisdevelopedbasedonStaticCompensators(STATCOM),whichareinstalledatthemostvulnerablebusesinthepowersystem.ASTATCOMis adynamicallycontrolledcapacitorbankthatinjectsreactivepowertothepowernetwork,and therebyrevampsthereactivepowerandtheoverallpowerfactorofthepowersystem.Modeling aspectsofthepowernetwork,limitations,andthemethodofrealizationhaveallbeenpresented anddiscussedinthiswork.Theproposedmethodhasbeendemonstratedonapracticalbenchmarksystemandallfindingsarepresentedandanalyzed.Testresultshaveshownthatthe presentedmethodisapplicableforreactivepowercompensationandimprovedtheoverallpower factoratloadcenters.

P088:DesignofARegulatedDCPowerSupplyforHouseholdApplications

PresentingAuthor: AidenSwann

SchoolandYear: Alvernia,3rdYear

FacultySponsor: SalemElsaiah

AdditionalAuthors: Romanchik,Adam;Koch,Daniel

ThemainobjectiveofthisprojectistodesignaDCpowersupply.ADCpowersupplyisan essentialelectronicdevicethatconvertsastandardalternatingcurrent(AC)intoastableand controlleddirectcurrent(DC).Thissteadyvoltageiscriticalforreliablypoweringeverything frombasicelectroniccomponentsandprototypestocomplexindustrialsystems.Thisproject detailstheprocessofthedesignandusesacontrolled-bridgerectifiercircuitwithsmoothing capacitorstoregulateandsmoothouttheoutputvoltage.Thisprojecthastwocomponents: simulationandhardwareimplementation.However,selectedresultsfromsimulationarereported anddiscussedinthisproject.

P089:AnalysisandImplementationofaSwitchedReluctanceMotorDriveSystem

PresentingAuthor: AdamRomanchik

SchoolandYear: Alvernia,3rdYear

FacultySponsor: SalemElsaiah

ASwitchedReluctanceMotor(SRM)isanefficient,reliable,andruggedelectricmotorthat generatestorquethroughmagneticattractionbetweenthestatorrotorparts.SRMsaresuitable candidatesfornumerousapplicationsinnowadaystechnologyduetotheirbasicconstruction thatdoesnotinvolvepermanentmagnetsnorrotorwindings.Therefoe,SRMdrivefeatures simpleconstruction,high-speedcapability,andhightorquedensity,makingitidealforelectric vehicleshigh-speedapplications.Thisprojectintroducesthebasicsof6/4SRMandanalyzesits applicationsthroughexamples.Inthisproject,anH-bridgeconvertercircuitisusedtotrigger andcontrolthemotor.Furthermore,astrategytodetecttherotorpositionisintroducedand usedtocontrolthemotorperformance.Implementationoftheentiredrivesystemiscarriedout inMATLAB/Simulinkenvironmentandfindingsaredisseminatedandthoroughlydiscussedin thispresentation.

P090:GuidedAutonomousIndoorGuestEscortPrototype(GAIGEtheGuidebot)

PresentingAuthor: EricColangelo

SchoolandYear: PennStateBerks,4thYear

FacultySponsor: TerrySpeicher

AdditionalAuthors: Bizzaro,Anthony;Hill,Nicholas;Myers,Jonathan Newvisitorstocollegecampusescaneasilybecomelostorstruggletofindtheircorrect destination.GAIGEisanautonomousnavigationassistantdesignedtoaidnewvisitorsinfinding theirwayaround.Thiscapstoneteambuiltaprototypethatfocusesonprovidingalower-cost solutionofassistantrobot.Thesystemincorporatesmainlyoff-the-shelfelectronicsandstock materialforthemechanicalcomponents.Themechanicalpartswerepersonallymanufactured andassembledbytheteamastoavoidadditionalcost.Thesystemwasprogrammedtoperform intwomodes,idleandactive.Theguidebotmovesalongaspecifiedpathinaloopduringidle modeandmovesascloseasitcangettoaspecifiedlocationduringactivemode.Userproximity totheguidebotcausesittostopandallowstheusertoprogramadestination.Movementand sensortestingevaluatedfunctionalityandrepeatabilityofthesetwomodes.Thefinaldesign encouragesfurtherdiscussionintotheeffectivenessoflow-budgetsolutionsandhowtheycan efficientlyimprovehumanexperience.

P091:Bartendo:NextGenAutomatedDrinkDispensingSystem

PresentingAuthor: WadeKaminski

SchoolandYear: PennStateBerks,4thYear

FacultySponsor: TerrySpeicher

AdditionalAuthors: Sanger,Josiah;Hawkins,Nate;Enge,Tyler Automateddrinksystemscanimproveconsistencyandspeed,butmanylackflexibilityand usercontrol.Bartendo:NextGenisanautomatedbeveragedispensingprototypedesignedto createcustomizabledrinkswithreliableaccuracy.ThesystemisbuiltaroundaPLC-based controlsystemthatmanageselectronicallyactuatedvalves,pumps,andmotorstoregulatehow liquidsaremixedanddispensed.Userscancreatetheirownthroughasimpleinterfaceof buttons,switches,andLEDs.Thedesignfocusesonrepeatability,aimingtodeliverconsistent volumeswhileminimizingwaste.Testingwillfocusonevaluatinghowconsistentlythesystem candispensesetvolumesoverrepeatedtrials.Plannedevaluationincludescomparingtargetand actualoutputstoassessaccuracyandrepeatability.ThisprojectdemonstrateshowPLC-based automationcanbeappliedtoimproveeverydayprocesses.Futureimprovementscouldinclude additionalsensors,moreadvancedHMI,andexpandeddrinkoptions.

P092:ChickenCoopManagementSystem

PresentingAuthor: TomKogan

SchoolandYear: PennStateBerks,4thYear

FacultySponsor: TerrySpeicher

AdditionalAuthors: Mazurkiewicz,Tyler Owningchickensisgreat,caringforthechickencoop,notsomuch.Chickensrequireaconstant supplyofcleanwater,lightingandcoopdoor(temperature)operation.Leavingthecoopalone foravacationoranemergencymaycausestress,sicknessordeathtothechickens.Predators outsidemayalsoharmyourchickensiftheyhaveawaytoenterthecoopwhenitisunsupervised. TheCCMS,orChickenCoopManagementSystemcanautomateallthesetasksandreportthe currentsituationremotelyviatheinternet.Freshwatercanbeconstantlyfilledintoheated bowls,andlightingcanturnonattheidealtimetoincreaseeggproductionduringshortdays. AdoorandrudimentaryRFIDsystemcancontrolwhogetsinsidethecoopwhilealsoadjusting ventilationduringthesummerheatorwintercold.TheCCMSispoweredbyanArduino ControllerwhichisalwaysreadytoassistanyonewhoownschickensfromanywhereusingIOT integration.TheCCMSturnsanychickencoopintoaselfsufficientsystem,allowingextended periodsofunsupervisedoperation,reducingthedifficultyofowningpoultryandallowingpeople totakeadvantageoftheirfieldsandpastures.

P093:ChipMonster

PresentingAuthor: TylerZook

SchoolandYear: PennStateBerks,4thYear

FacultySponsor: RungunNathan

AdditionalAuthors: Dechristopher,Mark;Longenberger,Mark;Reinhart,Warren

TheChipMonsterisaseniordesignprojectcompletedbyPennStateBerksMechanicalEngi-

neeringstudents.Thisisacost-effectivedeviceforremovingmetalchipsinlargemachineshop environments.ApogeeManufacturingSolutionsidentifiedthatchipsfrombedmillsaccumulate quickly,whileexistingtoolslikebrooms,consumervacuums,andindustrialsystemsareeither ineffectiveortooexpensive.TheChipMonsterprovidesasolutionthatimprovescleanlinessand reducesoperatorcleanuptime.Theprojectbeganbyconductingresearchforexistingcleaning technologies,followedbythedevelopmentofuserneeds,designrequirements,andfunctional objectives.Multipleconceptswereevaluatedthroughtestingfocusedonairflowandcontainer capacity.Thefinaldesigncombinesarotatingbrushtoloosenchipswithavacuumsystem thatcollectsthemintoalargebin.Testingshowedthatthiscombinedmethodoutperformed traditionalsweepingtoolsineffectiveness,easeofuse,andpowerdemand.Thefinaldesign featuresoptimizedbrushgeometry,improvedairflow,andacontainerholdingover1,000cubic inchesofchips.TheChipMonsteroffersasolutionthatenhancesefficiencyandpromotesa cleaner,safershopenvironment.

P094:ProjectOozlum

PresentingAuthor: EvanGreusel

SchoolandYear: PennStateBerks,4thYear

FacultySponsor: RungunNathan

AdditionalAuthors: Dicesare,Nicholas;Knox,Brady;Palmer,Harry ProjectOozlumisarotarytestbedforornithoptersandotherflyingvehicles.Themaingoalof theprojectistocollectdatafromaflyingornithopterwithminimalinterferenceforthepurpose ofaerodynamicresearch.Whentestingtheaerodynamicsofflapping-wing-vehicles,attaching thevehiclerigidlytoabaseinawindtunnelordinarilydoesnotworkwell,asthisallows forturbulencefromwingbeatstobuildupinonelocationanddoesnotmimicnaturalflight. Havingaflapping-wing-vehicleflyinalinearpathunimpededeliminatesthisissue;however,it requiresextensivespaceanddoesnotlenditselfwelltodatacollectionbysensorattachment. ProjectOozlumworksbysecuringanornithoptertoanarmthatrotatesaroundacentralaxis. Astheornithopterflies,itispulledinacircularmotionthatkeepstheornithopterbound withinacertaincontrolvolume.Dataisthencollectedbyvarioussensorsattachedthrough thearm.Comparedtoothermethods,thissavesspace,mimicsnaturalflight,andallowsfor easysensorattachment.ThegoalforProjectOozlumisthattheapparatuswillonedayserve asacommonbaseforscientificresearchregardingflapping-wing-aircraft,andpossiblyeven static-wing-aircraftaswell.

P095:RosinDepositor

PresentingAuthor: BryanArcentales

SchoolandYear: PennStateBerks,4thYear

FacultySponsor: RungunNathan

AdditionalAuthors: Small,Dylan;Millar,Teagan Rosinisaviscousnon-Newtonianfluid.Theteamdesignedandbuiltaprototypedispenserto assistdispensariesinaccuratelydispensinganexactmeasureofrosinintocosmeticcontainers forretailsales.Thedesignemploysaverticallymountedlinearactuatorwithfeedbackcontrol

todispenseanexactpredeterminedquantityfromthebulkquantitystoredinthetube.This rosiniscutfromthebulkinthetubeusingahorizontallymountedactuatorwithacutting wireanddispensedintoacosmeticjarforretailsales.Thedispensingprocessiscontrolledbya microcontrollerwithatouchscreenLCD.Theusercanselectvaryingquantitiesfromthetouch panel.Aprogramhasbeenwrittentodispensetheselectedquantityofrosinthatiscalculated usingthedensityoftherosin,exitareaofthetubedispenser,andthedistancemovedbythe linearactuator.Severaltestswereperformedtodeterminethedispensingaccuracyofthedevice. Testswerealsoconductedtotesttheeaseofcleaning.

P096:DynamicPuzzleBox

PresentingAuthor: DeaconHearing

SchoolandYear: PennStateBerks,4thYear

FacultySponsor: RungunNathan

AdditionalAuthors: Gordon,Atticus;Hall,Lucas;Peterson,Nathaniel ThroughouttheFallandSpringsemesters,theP101DynamicPuzzleBoxteamdesignedand preparedapuzzleboxtoserveasateachingaidforME380MachineDynamics.Thisproject presentsthedesignandconstructionofamultistagemechanicalpuzzleboxthatintegratesphysicalmechanismswithconceptualproblemsolving.Thesystemcombinesanordinarygeartrain forceanalysispuzzle,afour-barlinkagepuzzle,andaseriesoffourconceptualquestionstocreate alayeredandprogressivelychallenginguserexperience.Theseelementsareimbeddedwithin aninteractivestructurefeaturingdoors,slidingdoors,secretcompartments,andafinalprize chamber.Theresultingpuzzleboxoffersanimmersiveescaperoomstyleexperiencethatassists inthefinalreviewoftheME380MachineDynamicsclass.Thefinalreviewcurrentlydoesnot haveawaytoshowcasethephysicalmovementsandabilitiesofthesystemstaughtintheclass. Theboxcanhelpbridgethegapforsomestudentswhohavenotmadeacompleteconnection betweentheconceptualpartofeachsystemandtheactualphysicaluseandmovements.

P097:ExperimentalDesignfortheValidationofaBeamVibrationObserver

PresentingAuthor: PabloChiu

SchoolandYear: PennStateBerks,2ndYear

FacultySponsor: DimitriKaragiannis

AdditionalAuthors: Nathan,Rungun

Knowingthefullvibrationstateofaflexiblestructureateverypointalongitslengthisvaluableforbothstructuralmonitoringandcontrolsystemdesign,butplacingsensorseverywhere isimpractical.Thisprojectbuildsandtestsanexperimentalsystemaimedatvalidatinga distributedparameterobserverforabeam:amethodthatestimatesthecompletevibration stateusingmeasurementstakenonlyatthebeam’sboundary.Thedesignedexperimentuses straingaugeswiredinWheatstonebridgeconfigurations,acustom-builtvoltageamplifier,laser displacementsensors,andadataacquisitionsystemforsignalcapture.Theselectionofthe sensorsandequipmentrequirestheoreticalcalculationsrelatedtothegeometryofthebeam, itsmodeshapesandnaturalfrequencies,andtheexpectedstrainandvoltageoutputfromthe straingaugesindifferentmodes.Experimentalresultsarethencomparedagainstanalytical

predictionsfrombeamtheory.

P098:PumpImpellerModelingandTesting

PresentingAuthor: AbigailMoll

SchoolandYear: PennStateBerks,4thYear

FacultySponsor: RungunNathan

AdditionalAuthors: Bracy,Allison;Mohn,Lillie

Thepurposeofthiscapstoneprojectwastodesignapumpimpellertomatchtheperformance characteristicsofawaterreturnpumpduetosourcingconstraintswiththecurrentwaterreturn pump.TheteampartneredwithSomat,awastereductionsolutionscompany.Intheinitial phases,researchwasconductedonwaterreturnpumps,slurrypumps,andimpellerdesign. Additionally,3DscanswereperformedonimpellersandvolutesprovidedbySomat,andaccurate 3Dmodelswereproduced.Thesecondaryphasesoftheprojectinvolveddesigning,3Dmodeling, andbuildingapumptestingrig.Instrumentation,piping,andmountingwereallconsideredto produceafinanciallyadvantageousandaccuratedesign.Theintentofthetestingrigwasto allowSomattoensurethatanyimpellerdesignsproducedmettheirrequiredspecifications. Additionally,thiswouldallowSomattoproducenewcurvesforexistingimpellerstoexpand theirdatabaseandupdatetheirdocumentation.Inthefinalphasesoftheproject,3Dmodels ofimpellerswereproducedandtestedusingComputationalFluidDynamics(CFD)inorderto findanimpellerdesignthatmetthespecifiedcriteria.

P099:StationaryDieDesignandTesting

PresentingAuthor: AlexDeNardo

SchoolandYear: PennStateBerks,4thYear

FacultySponsor: RungunNathan

AdditionalAuthors: Lafferty,JacksonH;Moore,EdwardN;Mahoney,GarretR ReadingBakerySystems(RBS)currentlyreliesonrotatingextrusiondiestoformtwisted doughproducts,amethodthatincreasesmechanicalcomplexity,sanitationdemands,andmaintenancefrequency.Thiscapstoneprojectinvestigateswhetherastationaryextrusiondiecan generatetwistedprofileswhileaddressingtheoperationalchallengesoutlinedabove.Theteam beganbydefiningcustomerrequirementsandreviewingdoughrheologytounderstandhow shear,pressure,andflowbehaviorinfluencetwistformation.Multiplestationarydieconcepts weredevelopedindependentlytoavoidearlydesignconvergence,exploringhelicalchannels, modularinserts,andmultistagetwistingstrategies.Amodulardieconceptemergedasthe mostpromisingduetoitsadaptabilityandmanufacturability.Aninitialtestingrigconceptwas alsocreatedtosupportinterchangeablediesandmaintainconsistentextrusionconditions.By theendofthesemester,theteamestablishedavalidatedproblemdefinition,keyperformance specifications,andacleardirectionforprototypingandtesting.Thenextphasewillevaluate twistquality,extrusionforces,andcleanabilitytodeterminewhetherastationarydiecanmeet RBSperformancerequirementswhilereducingsystemcomplexity.

P100:PressForce:SFPManufacturingSolution

PresentingAuthor: RyanLynch

SchoolandYear: PennStateBerks,4thYear

FacultySponsor: RungunNathan

AdditionalAuthors: Cler,Joshua;Moutran,Michel;Pugh,Gavin

ThegoalofthisprojectistodevelopimprovedtoolingtohelpwithNovaTechAutomation’s manufacturingprocess.Duringmanufacturing,SFP(SmallFormPluggable)cagesarepressed ontoPCB’s(printedcircuitboards)whichmayresultinSFPcagestobedamaged.This capstoneteamdesignedandbuiltalow-costassemblyfixturetosuitsingleanddoubleSFP casesthatavoidsbucklingofthesethinmetalcages.Thedesignensuresthattheapplied forcewasdistributedacrossthewholecross-sectionoftheSFPcagetominimizedamageand ensuresuccessfulelectricalconnectiontothePCB.Thedesignwastestedsuccessfullytosatisfy NovaTech’sneedforamorereliable,repeatableandergonomicfixturetoeasethemanufacturing process.

P101:MagicMagnets

PresentingAuthor: AmandaReed

SchoolandYear: PennStateBerks,4thYear

FacultySponsor: RungunNathan

AdditionalAuthors: Cantello,Joe;Hall,Lauren;Kanike,Ethan

ThisprojectisaboutimprovingthecurrentdesignedclampthatSFSGroupUSAusesfor inductionweldingbylimitingtheamountoftimeitneedstobeonaweldtocoolitdown,and loweringthecostofthemagnet(s)neededfortheclamp,whilestillkeepingthesamecompressive capability.Theteamcameupwithanewdesignthatchangesthebottommaterialoftheclamp fromaluminumtocoppertoincreaseheattransferandhaschangedthetypeofmagnetbeing usedtoacheaperradialmagnet.Forthisdesign,theteamalsochosetokeepaheatsinkin theclamp,thattheteamdesigned.Therestofthepartsutilizedinthedesignarethesameas partsusedinSFSGroupUSA’scurrentdesign.Thisincludesthethreadedrod,thespringin thecenterofthedesign,andthehandleattachedtotherod.Thermalandpulltestsweredone ontheupdateddesignandcomparedtothecurrentdesignSFSutilizes.

P102:Prop-erPitch:DesignandValidationofaMorphable-PitchPropellerforAir andWater

PresentingAuthor: MichaelRandall

SchoolandYear: PennStateBerks,4thYear

FacultySponsor: RungunNathan

AdditionalAuthors: Hanson,RyanJ;Weber,DanielJ

TheProp-erPitchprojectfocusedondevelopingapropellercapableofadjustingitspitchto operateefficientlyinbothairandwater.Sincemostpropellersareoptimizedforasingleenvironment,theyoftenloseefficiencywhenconditionschange.Theprimaryobjectivewastodesign andvalidateaproof-of-conceptdemonstratinghowbladepitchvariationdirectlyaffectsthrust. Maintainingasimplemechanicaldesignallowedforclearanalysisbeforeintegratingelectronics

orautomation.Followinginitialtesting,adjustmentsweremadetobladegeometryandmaterial selectiontoimprovedurabilityandconsistencyinpitchdeformation.Throughoutthesemester, researchwasconductedonpitch-changingmechanismsinmarineandaerospacesystems,along withtheinfluenceoffluiddensityandviscosityonthrust.Earlyconceptsincludedgear-driven andcam-basedsystems,aswellasmorphing-inspireddesigns.Basedonfeasibilityandresource constraints,thedesignevolvedintoamorphablebladecapableoftwistingalongitslengthwhile remainingfixedatthetip.ThisapproachwasrefinedthroughiterativeCADupdatesandbasic simulations.Bytheconclusionoftheproject,afunctionalprototypewasmanufacturedand testedinbothairandwater.Resultsconfirmedthatadjustablepitchsignificantlyimpacts thrust,validatingthedesignandsupportingfutureimprovements.

SessionV:VisualArt

V01:ArtandMentalHealth

PresentingAuthor: CatherinePyrrhus

SchoolandYear: Alvernia,3rdYear

FacultySponsor: KrisLowrey

Differentformsofarthavebeenshowntohelpimprovebothmentalandphysicalhealth.The creativeprocessasawholecanbebeneficialforaperson’smoodthroughgrowth,healing,and self-discovery.Thepresenteditemsserveasanexampleofthedifferentformsofartthata personcancreateinanefforttoimprovetheirhealth.Thefirstpieceisapaperquilledrabbit; therepetitiveprocessofquillingcanserveasagroundinghabitforthosewhostrugglewith anxiety.Thesecondpieceisaceramichouse;theprocessofsculptingcanhelppatientstobe physicallyactiveinawaythatisbothappealingandnottoophysicallytaxing.Thethirdpiece isapaintingofapeach;thepaintingprocesscanserveasamoreproductiveandpositiveway tospendtimeratherthansomethingsuchasgoingonsocialmedia.

V02:AGentleReach

PresentingAuthor: SkyThrower

SchoolandYear: ReadingAreaCommunityCollege,4thYear

FacultySponsor: ChristinaPinkerton

V03:Resilience

PresentingAuthor: SkyThrower

SchoolandYear: ReadingAreaCommunityCollege,4thYear

FacultySponsor: ChristinaPinkerton

Resilienceshowsagirlresemblingmewholookslikeshehasbeenthroughalot,butsheis stillstandingstrong.Thewateronherfacefeelssymbolic,likeitrepresentstears,rain,orthe weightofhardmomentsshehasfaced.Eventhoughthelightingisdarkanddramatic,sheis lookingupward,whichmakesitfeellikeshestillhashope.Tome,thispaintingisaboutpushing

throughstrugglesinsteadoflettingthemdefineyou.Itshowsthatresilienceisaboutfeeling everythingdeeply,butchoosingtokeepgoinganyway.

V04:DrenchedinDetermination

PresentingAuthor: MadelynRismiller

SchoolandYear: ReadingAreaCommunityCollege,HighSchool

FacultySponsor: ChristinaPinkerton

“DrenchedinDetermination”isanoilpaintingthatshowsbrightorangeflowersgrowingand thrivinginthemiddleofheavyrain.Thecontrastbetweenthebackgroundandthewarm, vibrantflowersrepresentsresilienceandstrengthduringdifficulttimes.Myinspirationcame frommyownexperienceswithsportsinjuriesandhavingtoovercomechallenges.Insteadof bendingorwilting,theflowersremainupright,symbolizingtheabilitytoendurechallengesand continuegrowing.Thetextureandmovementoftherainaddenergytothepiece,whilethebold useoforangedrawsattentiontothelifewithinthescene.Thispaintingreflectstheideathat strugglescanhelpusgrowratherthanholdusback,showingthateveninharshconditions,it ispossibletostaystrongandkeepmovingforward.

V05:VibrantBeneathTheBlue

PresentingAuthor: SkyThrower

SchoolandYear: ReadingAreaCommunityCollege,4thYear

FacultySponsor: ChristinaPinkerton

VibrantBeneaththeBluefeelsreallypersonaltome.Eventhoughshe’sunderwater,she doesn’tlookscaredortrapped,shelooksstrongandalive.Thebrightbluesandgreensmake everythingfeelintenseandemotional,likethere’ssomuchhappeningaroundher,butshe’s stillgroundedinherself.Thebubblesalmostlookchaotic,butinsteadoffightingit,sheseems tobeembracingit.Tome,thispaintingisaboutfindingconfidenceandlightevenwhenyou feeloverwhelmed.Itshowsthatnomatterhowdeepthewatergets,youcanstillbevibrant underneathitall.

V06:PBandJ

PresentingAuthor: MonicaStratton

SchoolandYear: ReadingAreaCommunityCollege,4thYear

FacultySponsor: ChristinaPinkerton

ThisdrawingshowcasestheopposingtexturesandcolorspresentinanAmericanstaple:the PBandJ.Thissandwichishighlyaccessible,enjoyedbyrichandpooralike.Eachperson hasapreferredmethodofmakingone-certainbreadsorcutswhichtheyprefer.YetIseeit asasymbolofunity.Thesweetnessofjellyandthesaltinessofpeanutbutterarepractically oppositesinflavor,butwhencombined,theyformsomethingthatworksinperfectharmony. Creatingsomethingthatisbothdeliciousandbeautifultolookat.

V07:Shoes

PresentingAuthor: MonicaStratton

SchoolandYear: ReadingAreaCommunityCollege,4thYear

FacultySponsor: ChristinaPinkerton

Thisdrawingdepictsbluefabric,astringofpearlsandtwoshoes.Eachofthesematerialsare thingswhichapersonmaydressthemselvesintoappearprettier,andeachitemhadacertain beautyallonitsown.However,thecornerofthedrawingrevealsthatthefabriciscoveringa backgroundwhichisbarrenandlifeless.

V08:LettingItLinger

PresentingAuthor: NonaHolland

SchoolandYear: Kutztown,4thYear

FacultySponsor: LeslieFriedman

Thepurposeofprintsinceitsbirthinthethirdcenturyisbasedontheneedtocommunicate. Printhassupportedsomeofhistory’smostprofoundrevolutions.Icontinuetouseittodayfor thesamepurpose.Myinteractiveetchingsandsilkscreenprintsengagethesenses,andbring allegoriesfromtheEarlyModernperiodintoacontemporaryperspective.Itisimperativeinour timeofuncertaintytorevisitourpastandtherepeatingpatternsofsocialinjustice,asrecorded throughprintmedia.Wecanlearnfromourhistorytocreateasafeworldforeveryone.Aswell asabodyoffineart,mybi-monthlypublicationSmokin’DogMagazineisaplatformforlove, positivity,andsocialawareness.Iusethezinetoexhibitfellowartists,expressmythoughts, andsharemyacademicresearchwithothers.Inturn,thezinemotivatesmyfinearttobea deeperreflectionofthewordsonthepage,askinghowprintcanbecomearecordofourhistory inthemaking.Together,thetwobodiesofworkbecomeatangiblerepresentationof“theself” andtherelationshipswesharewitheachother.

V09:ToxicTides

PresentingAuthor: RachelDonnachie

SchoolandYear: ReadingAreaCommunityCollege,HighSchool

FacultySponsor: ChristinaPinkerton

Picturingtheeffectsofhumanpollution,thisoilpaintingresembleshowinnocent,gorgeous creaturesarefacingtragicenvironmentsbecauseofman-madewaste.Ittakesastandtowards bettercareofourworldandhonoringallspecieswithinit.

SessionZ:Performance

Z01:TheSureThing

PresentingAuthor: JanineCarrion

SchoolandYear: ReadingAreaCommunityCollege,2ndYear

FacultySponsor: EllenWalter

AdditionalAuthors: Ives,David

Ashortplayabout2collegestudentswhojustmetinacafewhoaregettingtoknoweach

other.Thetwististheirconversationmustbeperfect.Astheyarespeakingabuzzer/bellrings everytimetheirconversationinimperfect.Thedirectorchosethisplayasawaytodisplayhow socialmediaimpactsoursocializationandhowwewishwecoulderasethingswesayaswedo throughtextmessagesandsocialmedia.

Z02:ChristmasPresentbyAmyHerzog

PresentingAuthor: NaylaWansley

SchoolandYear: ReadingAreaCommunityCollege,2ndYear

FacultySponsor: EllenWalter

AdditionalAuthors: Kamau,Sifa;Noah,Hannah;Tolan,RJ ChristmasPresentbyAmyHerzog,directedbyRjTolan,isaplaythatrevolvesaroundaone nightstandandisverycomedic.ThetwocharactersBenjiandJesshaveabitofanawkward timetogetherwhengettingintoconversationaboutpossiblediseasesandrandomtopics.The piecetakesontheconnectionoftwopeoplethatjustmetandinaveryrealisticandcarefree way.Thispiecereallyshowsthehumanconnectionthesecharacterstalkabouttheirpersonal lives,allbecauseJesswantedBenji’semail.Itshowsthatsomethingsillyorrandomcanturn outevenbetterinlife.There’sconnectionsdoesn’tmeanthey’lllastforeverbutit’ssomething torememberandlookbackon.INaylaWansleywanttodirectthisandshowtheconnection ofhumansandthecomedyaspectsofitall.

Z03:TheScaryQuestion

PresentingAuthor: EmilyTemplin

SchoolandYear: ReadingAreaCommunityCollege,1stYear

FacultySponsor: EllenWalter

AdditionalAuthors: Morrow,Jack;Geddio,Joey

BrianlovesLinda,LindalovesBrian,butwhenBrianhasaseriousquestiontoask,itisnot quiteoneLindaexpectsittobe.Nowafterthequestionisasked,LindaandBrianhaveaserious andscarydiscussionabouttheirrelationship,andwhattheywoulddoinaZombieApocalypse? TheScaryQuestion,WrittenbyWayneRawleydivesintotherelationshipbetweenBrianand LindaandwhattheywilldoiffacedwithaZombieApocalypse.

Z04:FreakyFriday’sMonologue

PresentingAuthor: MarleneOseguera

SchoolandYear: ReadingAreaCommunityCollege,3rdYear

FacultySponsor: EllenWalter

ThepieceIwillbeusingisfromthemovieFreakyFridaywrittenbyHeatherHatch&Leslie Dixon.ThewholepremiseisaboutadaughterAnnaandmotherTessswitchingbodiesand tryingtonavigatetheotherperson’slife.InthisscenarioTessisAnnawhohasalreadyswitched bodiesandTessasAnnatakesatestandfailsandthatiswhensherealizesherdaughterwas semiright.Tessisabsolutelyupsetaboutfailingamathtestwhensheknowsthematerial. Ipickedthisscenesincetherangeofactingthattheperformercoulddovaries.Iwantthe audiencetoenjoythemselvesandlaughduringandafterthescene.

Z05:H.R

PresentingAuthor: HannahNoah

SchoolandYear: ReadingAreaCommunityCollege,2ndYear

FacultySponsor: EllenWalter

AdditionalAuthors: Reynoso,Emily;Templin,Emily;Pineiro,Samantha;Nguyen,Andre; Coble,Eric

H.RbyEricCobleisasatiricalcomedyaboutacompanydepartmentthatisterrifiedoftheir impendingH.Rvisit.Duringtheirpanic,theyadmittothehiddensecretsthatwoulddefinitely getthemfiredfromthecompany.Asadirector,HannahNoahaimstobringhumorandpoke funatthehiddentruthsthatareoftenbehindcloseddoorsinoureverydaylives.Hannah’s mainintendedimpactissimplytogivetheaudienceagoodlaughandtakethemoutofthe tensionofeverydaylifeforamoment.

Z06:ThankYouSoMuchForStopping

PresentingAuthor: JuanStevenRamirez-Albino

SchoolandYear: ReadingAreaCommunityCollege,2ndYear

FacultySponsor: EllenWalter

AdditionalAuthors: Feifer,Halley

“Thankyousomuchforstopping”isdirectedbyJuanStevenRamirez-Albinoandcentered onanuncomfortablesocialinteractionthat’ssurprisinglydarkyetawkward.Thisplaypresents acharacterplayedbyKayshaRiveragoingbyhereverydaysituationthatquicklyturned180. Theplayhasdarkhumoredelementsthatstemofffromamiscommunicatedsituation.How thingsareplayedoutitletstheaudiencelaughathowunsettlingbutstillsomewhatrelatable feelingfromhowthingsarespokenthroughouttheplay.It’saridiculoussituationthatIwanted tohighlighttheawkwardconversationswegetinourdailylivesbutwithanexaggerated, unbelievablescenariotobein.Ihopeyouenjoy“Thankyousomuchforstopping”.

Z07:FromFracturetoFoundation

PresentingAuthor: MadisonMayor

SchoolandYear: Alvernia,3rdYear

FacultySponsor: AnthonyCalafaty

Iwasnotraisedinsoftness,butinsurvival—withinachildhoodwheretrustwasrepeatedly brokenbythosemeanttoprotectme.TheabuseIenduredwasnotmomentary;itextended acrossyears,shapingmyidentitythroughdepression,post-traumaticstress,andperiodswhere IquestionedwhetherIcouldcontinueatall.Traumaalteredmyunderstandingofsafety,connection,andself-worth.Foralongtime,trustfeltinaccessible—somethingthatbelongedto others,butnottome.Healingwasnotimmediateorlinear;itrequiredtime,resilience,and thepresenceofonepersonwhoshowedmethatcarecouldexistwithoutharm.Throughthat relationship,Ibegantorelearntrust,rediscovermyworth,andunderstandwhatitmeansto beloved.Theseexperiencesarenotseparatefrommyfuture—theydefineit.Iampursuing socialworknotdespitemypast,butbecauseofit.Icarryadeepunderstandingofthesilence, fear,andisolationthatmanychildrenandadolescentsendure.Mystoryisnotdefinedbywhat

happenedtome,butbywhatIchoosetobecome:avoice,anadvocate,andasourceofhealing forothers.

Z08:HamletandIdentity

PresentingAuthor: AliyahDaniels

SchoolandYear: Alvernia,4thYear

FacultySponsor: NathanThomas

Theconceptofindividualizedidentityincorporatesthecharacteristicsthatmakeuswhowe are.Thesecharacteristicsshapeourthoughts,beliefs,ideas,andhowwegoaboutourlives. Thesecharacteristicscanalsoshapehowanactorgoesaboutportrayingacharacter.What choicesdoestheactormake?Whydotheymakethesechoices?Howwilltheaudienceperceive thesechoices?Thispresentationaimstoexplorethedifferentinterpretationsandperceptions ofplays,specifically,Shakespeare’sHamlet.

Z09:TheRental

PresentingAuthor: SifaKamau

SchoolandYear: ReadingAreaCommunityCollege,2ndYear

FacultySponsor: EllenWalter

TheRentalistheplaythatIamdirectingthisyeartotheHECBC,thestoryfollowsthetwo “couples”whodateformoney.Iwantedtodothispieceasitisafunnyenjoyableplay.The charactersintheplayareHadenplayedbyHannahNoahSonyaplayedbyEmilyTemplin.

Z10:TheRomanticYoungLady

PresentingAuthor: AleishanyAviles

SchoolandYear: ReadingAreaCommunityCollege,1stYear FacultySponsor: EllenWalter

IwillbeperformingamonologuefromtheplaySuenodeunaNochedeAgusto(adreamof anaugustnight)byG.MartinezSierra.Inthismonologue,IplayacharacternamedDona Barbarita.Shereminiscesbackonhermemoriesofherpasthusbands,includingherhusband’s grandpa.Thegoalofthismonologueistoplayagentle,kindbutsecretlyjealouswomen.In myperspective,expressinglanguageandtopicsofthismonologuegivesaromanticcharmand empathytoDona.Myactingtechniquesaretoempathizewiththecharacterbyactingoutthe character.Actingattheendofthedayisaformofchangingemotions.

Z11:ARaisinInTheSunMonologuebyLorraineHansberry

PresentingAuthor: EmilyReynoso

SchoolandYear: ReadingAreaCommunityCollege,1stYear

FacultySponsor: EllenWalter

IwillbeperformingamonologueasBeneathafromaRaisinintheSun.Thismonologue presentsherambitiontobecomeadoctor.TheroleofBeneathachallengesgendernormsand racialstereotypes.Hercharacterrepresentsadesireforindependenceandself-expressionshe

embodiesthefightagainstsystemicracismandeconomicinequality.Emily’sinterpretationwill showamoreemotionalandmotivatedsideofthecharacter.

Z12:Monologues

SchoolandYear: ReadingAreaCommunityCollege

FacultySponsor: EllenWalter

AdditionalAuthors: Correll,Kaitlyn;Day,Kristy;Geddio,Joseph;Ortiz,Gazielina;Payne, Jahree

Acollectionofshortmonologues

Z13:AMonologuefrom“ItCan’tHappenHere”bySinclairLewisandJohnC. Moffitt

PresentingAuthor: NathanRein

SchoolandYear: ReadingAreaCommunityCollege,Graduate FacultySponsor: EllenWalter

ThismonologuefromtheplayItCan’tHappenHerebySinclairLewisandJohnC.Moffitt, basedoffthenovelofthesamename,waschosentobeperformedbecauseitstillresonatesinthe currenttimeperiod.Thechoicehasthepotentialtomoveaudiencesinatimeofchange,chaos, anddisruption.Asanactor,thismonologuegavemeanopportunitytodrawuponpersonal experienceandmixitwiththeexperiencesofapersonalcharacter.Iwillalsobeincorporatingactors’beats,andthemonologuewillbeenhancedthroughtheuseofstagebusinessand motivatedmovement.Iappreciatethechancetoworkonmychallengeswithstagefright,by performinginfrontofasafeaudience.

Z14:MonologuefromtheFilmStrangelove

PresentingAuthor: IanChandler

SchoolandYear: ReadingAreaCommunityCollege,1stYear FacultySponsor: EllenWalter

Ichosethismonologuebecauseofhowrelevantitis,eventothisdayweliveunderconstant threatofnuclearwarandwhatthatcouldmeanfornotjustthecountriesthatarehitbutfor theentireworld.Ilookforwardtodoingthisbecausetherearequiteafewchallengeswhenit comestothismonologuespecifically,namelythefactthatitisaonesidedphoneconversation atadeskthatonecan’teasilymovein.ToworkaroundthisIwillbeusingprimarilyactor’s beatstogivethemonologuearealsenseofhumorandtogiveenoughtimeforthepersonon theline.Aswellasusingstagebusinesstocompensateforthelackofmovement.

Z15:NormAnonbyWarrenLeight(Play)

PresentingAuthor: MadisonDJFields

SchoolandYear: ReadingAreaCommunityCollege,2ndYear

FacultySponsor: EllenWalter

NormAnonbyWarrenLeightisashowthatMadisonDJFields(thedirector)interpreted

asmaskingdepressionandbeingfakehappythroughoutlife.Depressionisarealissuethat changespeople’slivesfortheworst.Thereisastigmaarounddepressionandthisplayseeksto breakthesilencesurroundingit.Theplayhasitscomedicelementsanditsdepressingelements aswell,sotheaudiencewillgetthebestofbothworlds.Theaudienceshouldwalkawaywith abetterunderstandingthatwemayneverknowwhatsomeoneisgoingthroughandthatwe shouldalwaysbekindtooneanother.WehopeyouenjoyNormAnon.

Z16:AsaFamily.

PresentingAuthor: JaclynMorrow

SchoolandYear: ReadingAreaCommunityCollege,1stYear

FacultySponsor: EllenWalter

IwillbepresentingSusanStorm’smonologuefromthefilmTheFantasticFour:FirstSteps (ScreenplaywrittenbyJoshFriedmanandEricPearson).Thismomentinthescriptfocuseson Susan’sstrength,notonlyasanindividual,butasthematriarchoftheFantasticFour.Susan exploresthemesoffamilyandthestrengththatbondscanwield.Thisperformanceismotivated bytherelevancethathermessageholdsintoday’ssocio-politicalclimate,andshouldresonate wellwiththeaudienceofmypeers.Iwillbeusingmotivatedmovements,sensememory,and actors’beatstobringthecharactertolife.

Z17:TheWeightWeCarry

PresentingAuthor: KimberlyDoyle

SchoolandYear: ReadingAreaCommunityCollege,2ndYear

FacultySponsor: EllenWalter

Iinterviewedseveralhighschoolstudentsaskingthemaboutlifeasateenager,howthey feelbeinginhighschool,howtheyfeelabouttheirfutures,theirparents,friendsandtheworld aroundthem.Iwantedtoencapsulatethelifeofourcurrentyouthintheirrawform.Allowthem totelltheirstorybutIhavewrittenmyinterpretationintheformofspokenwordperformative art.Lifegetssobusythatweforgettopayattentiontothepeoplearoundus.Sometimesothers aroundusarelivingsoloudlybuttheirwordsaremuffledamongstthenoisewecreateinour lives.Wemissmoments;importantmomentsbothbigandsmall.Oftentimesonceit’sallin therearviewweseewhatweshould’veseenallalongandnowit’stoolate.Iwrotethisplayto remindusalltowakeup,lookup,listenup,andspeakup.Ifwealljustpaidattentiontoone anotherwewouldseeweallhaveaweightthatwecarry.

Z18:ASurvivorsAwakening

PresentingAuthor: KimberlyDoyle

SchoolandYear: ReadingAreaCommunityCollege,2ndYear

FacultySponsor: EllenWalter

InthepieceIchosetosingI’mHere,fromtheColorPurplewrittenbyBrendaRussell,Allee Willis&StephenBray.Iamadomesticviolenceabusesurvivor.IttookGod,theater,acting, singingandtheartstohelpmehealfromyearsofbeingbeatdownemotionallyandphysically. IhavehadwoundshealthatweresodeepIdidn’trecognizehowdeepthedarknessaroundme

trulywas.IhaveastrengthandresiliencythatIneverthoughtIwouldhave.IseewhatIdo haveandnotwhatIdonothave.TheyearsthatwerestolenfrommebuiltmeintowhoIam todayandasthesongsays“Gotmyeyesthoughtheydon’tseeasfarnow.Theyseemore’bout howthingsreallyarenow.Iamnolongeravictimbutavictor.IAMHERE!”

PresentersbySchool

Albright

PresentersFacultySponsors

AngelLeon

ChrisSchoemer

ElsaWeaver

EvanFink

IlariaCatania

JackRiffle

JocelynMcLaughlin

JulienMoll

LaurenRowe

LuciusDrake

MichelleBui

NickReiter

OlandoAlvarado

PaigeBarrineau

SaraiSimmons

WalterStarling

AndrewSamuelsen

BrianBuerke

IanRhile

SomaGhosh

SusanHughes

SvyatoslavProkhorets

TeresaGilliams

Alvernia

PresentersFacultySponsors

AdamRomanchik

AidenSwann

AlexAvram

AlexisBonte

AliyahDaniels

AllisonMoore

AmeliaFortunato

AndrewJamesSaadeh

AriSolano

ArianaWright

AvaWerner

BaileyBodien

BellaBlundetto

BenPaul

BenjaminPaul

BriannaPascal

BridgetDonachie

CalliePalerino

CatherinePyrrhus

ChristopherGrilli

DaltonCleveland

EliCurran

ElisabethSchwarz

ElisiahJerome

EllaWood

GenevieveWeikel

GraceWanner

GracynneSmith

IsaacPeterson

JacksonHoovler

JakeShirey

JakeUmans

JesseniaEscobar-Jimenez

JillianEverett

JoeCanterino

KatiaBotelho

KelseyBrinckman

KevinLaRue

LaneyHudson

LizmarieVega

LolaFolk

MackenzieSt.Pierre

MadisonHouck

MadisonMayor

MarcusRidley

MarinaMcLaughlin

McKennaLengle

MeganGerloff

MylinaCastillo

NicholasColletti

OwenWeiss

PatriciaFalar

PerlaMatista

PierceKasting

RaymundoGutarra

RenishaAdhikari

SavannahMaGee

StephanyMedina

TimothyMurphy

TinoBermudez

ViviannaHeath

AliciaSprow

AnaRuiz

AnthonyCalafaty

AshleyGray

BradBauer

CarolineFitzpatrick

CatherineEmenheiser

CharlesReed

CoreyHarris

EricRecktenwald

FarahMneimneh

JamieBecker

JessicaHamlet

JodiRadosh

KrisLowrey

KushalAdhikari

MalgorzataZuber

MichelleSerapiglia

NathanThomas

OndraKielbasa

SalemElsaiah

ThomasFranek

VictoriaWilliams

Kutztown

PresentersFacultySponsors

AlfredoMontesinosCastillo

ArielNunez

BenjaminWykle

ColinHogan

EmilySchneider

EmmaPhillips

GabrielBragitikos

IanBull

IsabellaVenezian

JosephineEbersole

JuliaSweeney

KatelynShearer

KatherineCamilli

KhalifCarter

MorganHerb

NathanielDent

NonaHolland

OwenStarner

RebekahEhrhart

SageDunkleberger

SierraCheesman

TamaraHolmes

TerryBresnahan

AndrewArnold

AndrewMashintonio

BohdanJacklitsch

CeyhunSunsay

ChristineNunez

DanielHaxall

DanielleSeier

DylanSchwesinger

JenniferSchlegel

KhoriNewlander

LeslieFriedman

LizVanVerth

RoseannePerkins

RuthMcLeod

ThomasRobinson

ToddDodson

WhitneyWalters

PennStateBerks

PresentersFacultySponsors

AbigailMoll

AlajaeBurdine

AlexDeNardo

AlexanderRomero

AmandaReed

AndrewLinaresLinares

AnthonyNguyen

AshleyMusante

BryanArcentales

DanyelleTripp-Lumley

DeaconHearing

EmilieLongenberger

EricColangelo

EshaanTolani

EvanGreusel

FabianGonzalez

JadaSavage

JanetRuiz

JeilynTineo

KaelynBalbirer

KelseyDeAcosta

LauraRead

MasonSouchak

MichaelRandall

MitchelNevryanskiy

NathanSt.Clair

NolanNguyen

OzdenAlpKaradeniz

PabloChiu

RafaelUhle

RyanHigh

RyanLynch

SadiyaAli

SherryHeckman

TalanNguyen

TeresaReed

TomKogan

TylerZook

WadeKaminski

AdaLeung

AlexeyProkudin

AllisonAltman-Singles

CatherineMello

CesarMartinez-Garza

ColleenEnglish

DaleLitwhiler

DimitriKaragiannis

JamesBrown

JamesKarlinsey

JenniferArnold

JenniferMurphy

MariettaScanlon

NathanGreenauer

RungunNathan

RuthDaly

TamiMysliwiec

TerrySpeicher

ReadingAreaCommunityCollege

PresentersFacultySponsors

AbigailMarthaWalker

AleishanyAviles

EmilyReynoso

EmilyTemplin

EvelinaMorilloMonegro

FabianSanchez

HannahNoah

IanChandler

IsabellaBoadu

JaclynMorrow

JamieDiaz

JanineCarrion

JordanMissimer

JuanStevenRamirez-Albino

KimberlyDoyle

MackenzieCronan

MadelynRismiller

MadisonDJFields

MarleneOseguera

MonicaStratton

NathanRein

NaylaWansley

NeveahRothar

RachelDonnachie

RocioRosarioCastillo

SifaKamau

SkyThrower

ChristinaPinkerton

ChristineAnderton

DavidLeight

DianeConrad

EllenWalter

JodiGreene

JoeyFlammCostello

RobertHopkins

Index

Adhikari,Kushal, 8, 9, 15, 49

Adhikari,Renisha, 31

Albert,Alessandra, 48

Alexander,Evan, 60

Ali,Sadiya, 60

Altman-Singles,Allison, 53

Alvarado,Olando, 27

Alvarado,Orlando, 28

Anderton,Christine, 25

Arcentales,Bryan, 68

Arnold,Andrew, 28 Arnold,Jennifer, 57

Ask,Sikke, 8

Aurentz,DavidJ, 57

Aviles,Aleishany, 77

Avram,Alex, 13

Balbirer,Kaelyn, 55

Barrineau,Paige, 42

Bauer,Brad, 58

Bausher,Madilyn, 56

Becker,Jamie, 9, 10, 40, 58

Bellacima,Meryn, 58

Bermudez,Tino, 20

Biggs,Emily, 56

Bizzaro,Anthony, 66

Blanchfield,Elijah, 56

Blundetto,Bella, 59

Boadu,Isabella, 54

Bodien,Bailey, 51

Bollman,Kai, 56

Bonte,Alexis, 13

Border,Katelynn, 47

Botelho,Katia, 43

Boumrah,Aryam, 58

Bracy,Allison, 70

Bragitikos,Gabriel, 40

Bresnahan,Terry, 19

Brinckman,Kelsey, 46

Brito,De, 64

Brown,James, 24

Buch,Logan, 54

Buerke,Brian, 62 Bui,Michelle, 41 Bull,Ian, 28

Burdine,Alajae, 35 Bye,Savannah, 55

Calafaty,Anthony, 76 Camilli,Katherine, 22 CaneloSantana,Arianna, 56, 60

Cantello,Joe, 71 Canterino,Joe, 25 Cao,Deanna, 56 Cao,Qinhai, 55 Carrion,Janine, 74 Carter,Khalif, 24 Castillo,Mylina, 52, 54 Catania,Ilaria, 62 Chandler,Ian, 78 Charles,Jamall, 44 Cheesman,Sierra, 28 Chiu,Pablo, 69 Cifarelli,Ethan, 15 Cler,Joshua, 71 Cleveland,Dalton, 20 Coble,Eric, 76 Cohen,Joshua, 14 Colangelo,Eric, 66 Colletti,Nicholas, 12 Conrad,Diane, 11 Constein,Madison, 33 Cook,AndrewDillon, 64 Correll,Kaitlyn, 78 Cronan,Mackenzie, 21 Curran,Eli, 65

Daly,Ruth, 11 Daniels,Aliyah, 77 Day,Kristy, 78 DeAcosta,Kelsey, 64

Dechristopher,Mark, 67 Dejesus,Elizabeth, 49

Deloretta,Lillyanne, 54

DeNardo,Alex, 70

Dent,Nathaniel, 36

Diaz,Jamie, 24

Dicesare,Nicholas, 68

Dinoto,Gabriella, 45

Dodson,Todd, 18

Donachie,Bridget, 50

Donnachie,Rachel, 74

Doyle,Kimberly, 79

Drake,Lucius, 38

Driscoll,Keegan, 15

Dunkleberger,Sage, 17

Dupree,Phanique, 28

Dynesko,Kathryn, 54

Ebersole,Josephine, 18

Ehrhart,Rebekah, 36

Elsaiah,Salem, 65, 66

Emenheiser,Catherine, 45–49

Emrich,Russell, 59

Enge,Tyler, 67

English,Colleen, 26

Escobar-Jimenez,Jessenia, 12

Evans,Gillian, 25

Evelyn,Thomas, 63

Everett,Jillian, 49

Falar,Patricia, 47

Falbo,Antonio, 62

Feifer,Halley, 76

Felker,Jill, 55

Felker,JillM, 56, 57

Ferron,Deika, 56

Fields,MadisonDJ, 78

Fink,Evan, 61

Fitzpatrick,Caroline, 13, 20

FlammCostello,Joey, 18, 19

Folk,Lola, 31

Fortunato,Amelia, 23

Franek,Thomas, 50–52

Friedman,Leslie, 74

Friesen,AndrewP, 53

Fuglie,Chris, 54

Geddio,Joey, 75 Geddio,Joseph, 78 Gerloff,Megan, 14 Ghosh,Soma, 27, 39, 41–44

Gilliams,Teresa, 17 Golden,Cecilia, 49 Gonzalez,Fabian, 63 Gonzalez,Yair, 49 Gordon,Atticus, 69 Gorner,JillianM, 47 Grant,Cecelia, 56 Gray,A, 51

Gray,Ashley, 50–53

Greenauer,Nathan, 33, 34, 36 Greene,Jodi, 24, 29 Gregory,SetliffP, 10 Greusel,Evan, 68 Grilli,Christopher, 14 Grim,Zackerry, 39 Grubb,LiamM, 9 GuerreroRincon,Joraida, 56 Gutarra,Raymundo, 8 Hall,Lauren, 71 Hall,Lucas, 69 Hamlet,Jessica, 30 Hanson,RyanJ, 71 Harris,Corey, 29 Hartman-Caverly,Sarah, 37 Hawkins,Nate, 67 Haxall,Daniel, 17 Hayes,Kellyanne, 49 Hearing,Deacon, 69 Heath,Vivianna, 27 Heckard,Kiera, 56 Heckman,Sherry, 53 Herb,Morgan, 10 Herbein,Alexa, 46 Hernandez,Arizaidith, 49 High,Ryan, 60 Hill,Nicholas, 66 Hogan,Colin, 32 Holland,Nona, 74 Holmes,Tamara, 20

Hoovler,Jackson, 50 Hopkins,Robert, 54 Hornbuckle,Nicholas, 54

Houck,Madison, 47 Hudson,Laney, 8 Hughes,Susan, 35

Ives,David, 74

Jacklitsch,Bohdan, 22 Jacobs,Ryan, 62 Jerome,Elisiah, 53 Jones,GraceN, 47 Jones,Tai, 42

Kamau,Sifa, 75, 77 Kaminski,Wade, 67 Kanike,Ethan, 71 Kao,Andrew, 47 Kapschull,Tyler, 44 Karadeniz,OzdenAlp, 37 Karagiannis,Dimitri, 63, 69

Karlinsey,James, 60 Kasting,Pierce, 58 Keovilay,Sunny, 54 Khalili,Paria, 55, 60 Kielbasa,Ondra, 58 Kim,HounG, 53 Kleintop,Gabriella, 49 Knox,Brady, 68 Koch,Daniel, 66 Kogan,Tom, 67 Kuwadia,Sahil, 62

Lafferty,JacksonH, 70 Landers,Kayla, 20 LaRue,Kevin, 9 Laughman,JillianA, 47 Lawson,Julia, 46 Leight,David, 21 Lengle,McKenna, 48 Leon,Angel, 59

Leung,Ada, 37, 38, 40, 41

Linares,AndrewLinares, 64 Litwhiler,Dale, 64

Liu,Lucy, 55 Longenberger,Emilie, 41 Longenberger,Mark, 67 Lowrey,Kris, 31, 72 Luzeckyj,Stephanie, 45 Lynch,Ryan, 71

MaGee,Savannah, 46 Mahoney,GarretR, 70 Mahoney,JosephM, 53 Martinez-Garza,Cesar, 63 Mashintonio,Andrew, 10 Matista,Perla, 9 Mattern,Kelly, 45 Mayor,Madison, 76 Mazurkiewicz,Tyler, 67 McCloud,Al’Liyah, 46 McGinley,Abigail, 48 McHugh,LilithJ, 57 McLaughlin,Jocelyn, 35 McLaughlin,Marina, 27, 30 McLeod,Ruth, 32, 36 Medina,Stephany, 26 Mehta,Sakshi, 56 Mello,Catherine, 33, 36 Menjivar,Agustin, 62 Millar,Teagan, 68 Missimer,Jordan, 11 Mneimneh,Farah, 8 Mohn,Lillie, 70 Mokosso,Shelny, 9 Moll,Abigail, 70 Moll,Julien, 43 Molnar,Alina, 47 MontesinosCastillo,Alfredo, 30 Moore,Allison, 58 Moore,EdwardN, 70 MorilloMonegro,Evelina, 29 Morrow,Jack, 75 Morrow,Jaclyn, 79 Moutran,Michel, 71 Mueller,Amanda, 53 Murphy,Jennifer, 34 Murphy,Timothy, 29

Musante,Ashley, 40

Myers,Jonathan, 66

Mysliwiec,Tami, 55–57

Mysliwiec,TamiH, 57

N,Kuczala, 65

Nathan,Rungun, 54, 65, 67–71

Nessouli,Afeef, 14

Nevryanskiy,Mitchel, 24

Newlander,Khori, 30 Nguyen,Andre, 76 Nguyen,Anthony, 65 Nguyen,Nolan, 33, 34

Nguyen,Talan, 62, 63

Noah,Hannah, 75, 76

Nunez,Ariel, 16

Nunez,Christine, 13, 16, 20

Oberrender,Ava, 62 Ortiz,Gazielina, 78

Oseguera,Marlene, 75 Oswald,StephenA, 57

Palerino,Callie, 34 Palmer,Harry, 68

Pascal,Brianna, 45 Paul,Ben, 10

Paul,Benjamin, 58 Payne,Jahree, 78

Pearsall,MeaganR, 57

Pelker,Keira, 33 Perkins,Roseanne, 22, 36 Peterson,Isaac, 9 Peterson,Nathaniel, 69 Phillips,Emma, 38

Pillsbury,Theresa, 48 Pineiro,Samantha, 76

Pinkerton,Christina, 72–74

Prokhorets,Svyatoslav, 33

Prokudin,Alexey, 62

Pugh,Gavin, 71

Purcell,DavidW, 14 Pyrrhus,Catherine, 72

Qiu,Angela, 55

Radosh,Jodi, 23, 24 Ramirez-Albino,JuanSteven, 76 Randall,Michael, 71 Rathman,Haley, 62 Read,Laura, 56, 57 Recktenwald,Eric, 59 Reed,Amanda, 26, 71 Reed,Charles, 14 Reed,Teresa, 53, 54 Rein,Nathan, 78 Reinhart,Warren, 67 Reiter,Nick, 11 Reynoso,Emily, 76, 77 Rhile,Ian, 11, 61 Ridley,Marcus, 49 Riffle,Jack, 44 Rismiller,Madelyn, 73 Robinson,Thomas, 23 Romanchik,Adam, 66 Romero,Alexander, 33 RosarioCastillo,Rocio, 25 Rothar,Neveah, 18 Rowe,Lauren, 33 Ruiz,Ana, 26, 27, 31, 35, 43 Ruiz,Janet, 37, 38

Saadeh,AndrewJames, 15 Salce,Kaidalyn, 56 Samuelsen,Andrew, 59 Sanchez,Fabian, 19 Sanger,Josiah, 67 Sato,Nobuo, 62 Savage,Jada, 55–57 Scanlon,Marietta, 63 Schlegel,Jennifer, 17 Schneider,Emily, 22 Schoemer,Chris, 44 Schwarz,Elisabeth, 51 Schwesinger,Dylan, 28, 38 Seier,Danielle, 61 Serapiglia,Michelle, 55 Shearer,Katelyn, 16

Shirey,Jake, 45 Simmons,Sarai, 42

Sindhar,Ashmeen, 55

Sjoberg,Rachael, 48

Slear,TravisE, 46

Small,Dylan, 68

Smith,Gracynne, 25, 32

Smith,Karlee, 48

Solano,Ari, 55

Souchak,Mason, 33

Speicher,Terry, 64, 66, 67

Sprow,Alicia, 54

St.Clair,Nathan, 11

St.Pierre,Mackenzie, 48

Starling,Walter, 39

Starner,Owen, 13

Stefko,AnthonyJ, 9

Stewart,Zion, 9

Stofko,AmandaR, 57

Stoltzfus,Nate, 48 Stratton,Monica, 73, 74

Stuart,Dior, 55

Sunsay,Ceyhun, 40

Swann,Aiden, 65

Sweeney,Julia, 17

Symington,SariahA, 46

T,Ebeling, 65

Tacuri,Stewart, 41 Templin,Emily, 75, 76

Thomas,Nathan, 77

Thrasher,StevenW, 14

Thrower,Sky, 72, 73

Tineo,Jeilyn, 37

Tolan,RJ, 75

Tolani,Eshaan, 33, 36

Tripp-Lumley,Danyelle, 34

Uhle,Rafael, 63

Umans,Jake, 52

VanVerth,Liz, 19

Vega,Lizmarie, 21

Venezian,Isabella, 61

Vinicius,Alexandre, 64

Vozharenko,Viktoriia, 37

Walker,AbigailMartha, 18 Walter,Ellen, 74–79 Walters,Whitney, 24 Wanner,Grace, 24

Wansley,Nayla, 75 Weaver,Elsa, 17 Weber,DanielJ, 71 Weikel,Genevieve, 54

Weiss,Owen, 40 Werner,Ava, 30 Wernick,BenjaminT, 9 Williams,Victoria, 12, 14, 15, 21, 22, 31, 32, 45

Wood,Ella, 22 Wright,Ariana, 15 Wykle,Benjamin, 23

Zaprozny,Julia, 53 Zook,Tyler, 67 Zuber,Malgorzata, 25

HECBC 2026 Program

ANNUAL

Minds in Motion

RESEARCH, REFLECTION, AND INSIGHT

ConferenceSchedule

Presentations

A3:SnapoToys-SprueSeparationSystem

A4:EconomicRouteforGreenWasteDisposal

SessionB:SciencefromFieldStudiestotheCosmos

B1:ExploringZoonoticPathogensinAmazonianMineralLicks

B2:IUCNRedListAssessmentoftheSeaSlugElysiatimida

B3:CRISPR-CasastheNewFrontierofMedicine

B4:TuningthePropertiesofBase-AppendedRadicalCations

SessionC:GlobalPolitics,Migration,andWar

C5:ThePriceofWar

D2:AdvocatingforWidespreadKnowledgeofHIV

D4:EmpoweringLupusPatientsthroughRehabilitation

D5:UniversalWheelchairActivityTray

E2:PreservingTradition:TheCulturalandEconomicRoleofBullfightinginSpain

SessionF:CreativeWritingandIdentity

F2:TheCatinMyBackyard:AnExplorationofMourning

SessionG:Education,MentalHealth,andCommunityWell-Being

G2:SchoolStartTimes:WhatDoWeReallyValue?

G3:Men’sMentalHealth&ItsImportanceinSociety

G4:TheCareinMentalHealth

H2:ToServeandPreserve:PublicLibrariesandtheValueofPhysicalMedia

SessionJ:SpecialTopicsandIndependentProjects

L5:Aminals:TurningRoadTripsintoWildlifeAdventures

SessionP:Poster

P005:TheModernMythofFrankenstein

P006:AnExaminationoftheRelationshipBetweenSpiritualityandMentalHealth

P011:MasculineHonorBeliefs,Empathy,andJudgmentsofPoliceUseofForce

P012:CompetenceEvaluationsBasedonLeaderGender

P013:YouKnowWhatIDidLastSummer:MoralSelf-ImageandDelinquentActs.

P014:PennStateBerkStudentsPercpetionofanActive-Attacker

P015:UnderstandingBurnoutinHigherEducation

P017:AssociationBetweenEmotionalFacialExpressionsandEvolutionaryVersus ModernStimuli

P021:CryptidCurriculum

P022:SmartphoneSocialMediaUsageAsaModernAddiction

P027:ThirstyServers:TheHiddenWaterCostsofIndustrialAIExpansion

P034:ThreadsofImpact:TheHiddenEnvironmentalCostsofFastFashion

P035:TheMediterraneanDiet:LifespanandEnvironmentalSustainability

P049:WirelessLesionDeviceforMedicalTrainingApplications

P054:NeurodivergenceintheClinicalSportsMedicineSetting

P055:PsychologicalEffectsinRelationtoUCLSurgery

P059:SustainabilityAmbassadorProgram

P061:Nitrogen’sEffectonCellWallPhysiologyofSalixpurpurea

P067:EffectsofMicroplasticsonMammalianColonCells

P073:AReviewofLatentFingerprintAnalysisinForensics

P074:AnEvaluationofHomogeneousPrecipitationReactions

P077:TheFinalSpin:FateoftheEarthMoonSystem

P078:AStudyofApplicationsofPhysics-InformedNeuralNetworks

P084:WaterTemperatureShowerController

P086:BatteryTeardown

P087:ASTATCOMforPowerFactorImprovementofanIntegratedPowerSystem

P088:DesignofARegulatedDCPowerSupplyforHouseholdApplications

P091:Bartendo:NextGenAutomatedDrinkDispensingSystem

P092:ChickenCoopManagementSystem

P094:ProjectOozlum

P096:DynamicPuzzleBox

P097:ExperimentalDesignfortheValidationofaBeamVibrationObserver

P098:PumpImpellerModelingandTesting

P099:StationaryDieDesignandTesting

P100:PressForce:SFPManufacturingSolution

P101:MagicMagnets

SessionV:VisualArt

V02:AGentleReach

V03:Resilience

V04:DrenchedinDetermination

V07:Shoes

V08:LettingItLinger

V09:ToxicTides

SessionZ:Performance

Z04:FreakyFriday’sMonologue

Z05:H.R

Z06:ThankYouSoMuchForStopping

Z07:FromFracturetoFoundation

Z08:HamletandIdentity

Z09:TheRental

Z10:TheRomanticYoungLady