Minds@Work 2026

CELEBRATING STUDENT RESEARCH, SCHOLARSHIP, AND CREATIVITY

APRIL 28, 2026

SCHOLARSHIP AS QUEST

MONDAY, APRIL 27 7:00pm • STEWART HALL

WITH AUTHOR, LILACE MELLIN GUIGNARD

Lilace Mellin Guignard lives with her husband and family in Wellsboro, PA. They have 11 bikes (only counting the working ones), five kayaks, two canoes, two SUPs, and too much camping gear. Her life revolves around good friends who don’t expect the house to be clean, outside play (on the rocks, under water, in the mud, on ice, up in trees), local food, campfires, community theater, music, and stories. In 2021 Guignard became associate editor and publisher at Mountain Home magazine, where she had been a freelance writer for a few years. Before that, she taught part-time at Mansfield University in Creative Writing, Outdoor Recreation Leadership, and Women’s Studies. Guignard’s poetry appeared in Poetry magazine in 2016 and her book When Everything Beyond the Walls Is Wild was published in 2019.

Sponsored by the Office of Inclusion, Belonging, and Social Equity and the Commission on Human Understanding, the English Department, and Women’s and Gender Studies.

From the President

As President of Shippensburg University, I am honored to welcome you to Minds@Work 2026.

Engagement in research and creative activities is a crucial and transformative part of the higher education experience. Shippensburg University has a rich history of providing meaningful opportunities for our student scholars to participate in faculty-led research, scholarship, and creative projects, and to showcase their work across many academic disciplines.

Minds@Work highlights the depth, quality, and diversity of scholarly activity at Shippensburg University. Through participation in this activity, students demonstrate their ability to engage thoughtfully in research and creative inquiry while developing proficiency in their fields. Preparing for Minds@Work challenges students to go beyond the classroom, bridging the gap between theory and practice through hands-on and applied experiences that reflect the expectations of graduate studies and professional careers.

This experience also enhances students’ communication and presentation skills, as they learn to clearly share their ideas, methods, and findings with a wider audience. These skills are vital not only in academic settings but also in professional and civic life. As a former undergraduate biochemistry researcher, I can personally attest to the lasting value of opportunities like Minds@Work in preparing students for advanced study and refining their ability to communicate and defend their research and scholarship.

Minds@Work is made possible by the mentorship and expertise of our dedicated faculty, whose guidance, scholarship, and commitment to teaching are central to student success. Faculty mentors support students throughout the research process, encouraging curiosity, rigor, and confidence. Students also benefit from the support of dedicated staff and campus partners who ensure a meaningful and enriching experience.

Congratulations to all Minds@Work participants, and thank you for sharing your scholarly pursuits with our community and for adding new knowledge and creative work to your fields of study.

Charles E. Patterson, PhD President,

Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania

From the Interim Provost

Welcome to Minds@Work 2026. This annual gathering reflects who we are as an institution— invested in faculty-student mentorship, collaborative discovery, and the development of scholarly identity across disciplines.

Essential to Minds@Work is the extraordinary partnership between students and faculty. Our faculty extend their expertise far beyond the classroom, inviting students into meaningful research and creative work that sparks curiosity, sharpens critical thinking, and nurtures intellectual confidence. Through intentional mentorship, students are encouraged to ask ambitious questions, pursue bold ideas, and engage thoughtfully with complex challenges. This level of student-faculty engagement and mentorship defines a truly transformative education which is a signature area of excellence for Shippensburg University.

The Minds@Work Conference offers a distinctive opportunity for students to share the outcomes of their scholarly and creative endeavors. Today’s presentations reflect not only impressive academic achievement, but also the emergence of students as confident scholar-practitioners. Working closely with faculty mentors, our students demonstrate the depth of learning that comes from sustained inquiry and collaborative problem-solving. These experiences prepare them to lead with insight, adaptability, and purpose in an increasingly complex world.

The research and creative achievements showcased here today exemplify the university’s strategic goal to “cultivate dynamic educational experiences.” At both the undergraduate and graduate levels, these projects challenge students to engage critically with evidence, apply strategic thinking, and persist through rigorous investigation. Such experiences equip our students to pursue future scholarly opportunities, including professional conferences, creative exhibitions, and peerreviewed publications.

As a campus community, we take great pride in this moment. Minds@Work is a celebration of student accomplishment and also of the dedication and generosity of faculty mentors who invest deeply in student growth. I am continually inspired by the collaborative spirit that makes this work possible, and I extend my sincere congratulations to all participants.

I offer special thanks to the Council on Student Research and Creative Activities and the Institute for Public Service and Sponsored Programs, under the direction of Margaret Light, for their leadership and stewardship. I am also grateful to the SU Foundation for its ongoing support of the Joint Faculty-Student Research Program, as well as to the alumni, friends, and employees whose generosity sustains these vital opportunities.

Together, we reaffirm our shared commitment to a vibrant culture of inquiry, creativity, and mentorship. As we celebrate the achievements on display today, I look forward to the continued growth of our students and the lasting contributions they will make to their disciplines and communities.

Nicole R. Hill, PhD Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

On Behalf of Faculty

“Data are not taken for museum purposes; they are taken as a basis for doing something. If nothing is to be done with the data, then there is no use in collecting any. The ultimate purpose of taking data is to provide a basis for action or a recommendation for action. The step intermediate between the collection of data and the action is prediction.”

—W. Edwards Deming,

On a Classification of the Problems of Statistical Inference (June 1942)

We live in a moment defined by overwhelming access to information. Data is everywhere—generated constantly, shared widely, and invoked often to justify decisions large and small. Yet the presence of data does not guarantee understanding, wisdom, or good judgment. In a world overwhelmed with information and too often lacking careful, ethical, data-driven decision making, the work showcased at this year’s Minds@Work conference is essential.

On Behalf of the SU Foundation

On behalf of the Shippensburg University Foundation Board of Directors and staff, it is a pleasure to extend our best wishes to the students and faculty participating in this year’s Minds@Work conference. For decades, the Joint Undergraduate Student–Faculty Research Program has stood as a hallmark of the SU Foundation’s commitment to academic excellence and innovation. Over the past ten years, the SU Foundation has proudly invested $575,026 in support of these collaborative research endeavors. This extraordinary level of support is made possible through the generosity of the Ship Family of donors. A presidential grant from the SU Foundation’s Unrestricted Annual Fund, together with 13 dedicated endowments established by alumni and retired faculty, reflects a shared and enduring belief in the power of undergraduate research to inspire discovery and transform lives.

Undergraduate and graduate research asks our students to slow down in a fast world: to ask meaningful questions, to examine evidence critically, to recognize limitations, and to resist easy answers. It requires intellectual courage—especially when students choose to engage with complex or uncomfortable topics. The projects presented here reflect students who are willing to grapple with uncertainty, challenge assumptions, and take responsibility for how knowledge is created. That willingness to engage deeply, rather than passively consume information, is one of the most important outcomes of higher education.

Minds@Work also highlights something equally vital: the mentorship behind the work. Meaningful research is guided, shaped, and strengthened by faculty who invest their time and expertise in helping students navigate standards, research methods, ethical questions, and the inevitable setbacks that accompany academic inquiry. Faculty mentors model what it means to think carefully, work responsibly, and communicate results with clarity and integrity. Their guidance transforms student curiosity into scholarly contribution.

Across disciplines, students at Shippensburg University engage in research that involves collecting and analyzing data, interpreting texts and artifacts, building models and prototypes, creating artistic works, and addressing real-world problems. Whether projects originate in the classroom, through capstone experiences, or in collaborative work beyond coursework, they all reflect a shared commitment to thoughtful inquiry and informed decision making.

Minds@Work is a celebration of that commitment. It recognizes students who are brave enough to ask hard questions and faculty who are generous enough to guide them through the process. Congratulations to all of this year’s participants, and thanks to the faculty mentors whose dedication makes these experiences possible. I look forward to the discoveries and insights that will emerge from this year’s conference.

Kimberly Presser, PhD Professor, Department of Mathematics

Faculty-mentored research offers undergraduate students exceptional experiential learning opportunities early in their academic journeys. Through Minds@Work, students not only showcase the depth and creativity of their scholarship but also develop the confidence and communication skills essential to academic and professional success. Many go on to present their work at competitive regional and national conferences, emerging well prepared for advanced graduate study at the master’s and doctoral levels. Participants of the program frequently credit their research experiences as instrumental in gaining admission to highly selective professional schools.

The success and impact of this program are a source of great pride and remain central to the SU Foundation’s fundraising priorities. We enthusiastically celebrate the achievements of our students, commend the extraordinary dedication of our faculty mentors, and express our deepest gratitude to the donors whose generosity continues to make these remarkable opportunities possible.

Leslie Folmer Clinton, EdD President and CEO Shippensburg

University Foundation

Minds@Work Coordinating Committee

Council on Student Research and Creative Activities (COSRACA)

Institute for Public Service and Sponsored Programs (IPSSP)

• Margaret Light, Director

Council on Student Research and Creative Activities (COSRACA) members

George Pomeroy, Geography and Earth Science

Alix Rouby, Career Center

Laurie Cella , English

Mengzhu Fu, Psychology

João Dias, Mechanical and Civil Engineering

James Sterner, Library

Pablo Delis, Biology

Shannon Shoemaker, Counseling Education

We would like to also thank the office of Student Affairs for providing refreshments for today.

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH GRANT RECIPIENTS 2025–2026

Ashley Adelgren

Kemi Adetunji

Makayla Agosto

Nicholas Albert

Jarod Albrecht

Darius Bamfo

Regan Bard

Kayla Beckner

Brianna Biddle-Johnson

Emily Boger

Cadence Brown

Caleb Christiansen

Calyn Clements

Cejay Cocco

Grace Coffman

Elijah Cohen

Mara Connolly

Ryleigh Cook

Sarah Cooper

Josh Cordoba

James Crawford

Aidan Crowder

Dan Diehl

Julia Dierwechter

Marc DiPiano

Noah Duffy

Liam Dupler

Brea Fennick

Thomas Firestine

Marissa Foor

Connor Force

Luca Galindo

Aryan Gaonkar

Lee Garman

Elaina Georgelis

Jacob Goshorn

Gavin Harris

Adelyn Hartlaub

Adam Hasan

Ryan Haskins

Tao Hassler

Matthew Hoover

Astrid Huber

Claudia Hudson

Julie Jean Baptiste

Donovan Jones

Moses Kimotho

Bennett Kindlin

Kaitlyn King

Evelyn Konyar

Luke Kramer

Ayden Kurtek

Jeron Landi

Atlantis Leonard

Robert Long

Ruben Lopez Valencia

Abby Lumadue

Maria Macri

Mette Madsen

Haiden Martz

Lyric Mayer

Jamee Mazonis

Destynn McClane

Eleanor Meckley

Jon Medina

Kaitlin Mihalik

Lizzy Minetola

Dalton Moser

Josalyn Nelligan

Emmett O’Bell

Neel Patel

Ethan Paulukow

Allison Pioli

Micah Plummer

Kyle Pritiskutch

Landon Ramsey

Madison Rausch

James Rettew

Sarah Rhoades

Kaya Rupp

Shelbi Sabo

Amelia Saggio

Angelica Sauer

Stephanie Schaer

Ethan Schick

Bailey Schwartz

Gabrielle Simpson

Emma Sokolowski

Alexis Speicher

Sean Stanley

Terrence Steele

Taylor Steininger

Alexander Stonesifer

Holden Stotler

Jack Sztobryn

Charlie Templeton

Matthew Turner

Christopher Urrunaga

Nicole Vela

Kirsten Warner

Ruth Weir

Zoe Wewer

Haylee Whitsel

Johnson Wilberforce

Allyson Wolfe

Jacklyn Woods

Cambree Yonish

Kaiden Young

*Not all Undergraduate Research Grant Recipients will be presenting their research at this year’s conference due to the timing of the conference and nature of their research.

EZRA

MEMORIAL LIBRARY RESEARCH AWARD

The Library Research Award is awarded annually by the Ezra Lehman Memorial Library in conjunction with the Institute for Public Service and Sponsored Programs and the Council on Student Research. This award recognizes the best literature review submitted by students who have received grant support for their participation in the annual Minds@Work Conference or by conducting other research with a faculty mentor. The first prize recipient receives a $1,000 cash prize and the honorable mention recipient is awarded a $500 prize.

Special thanks are owed to the late Professor Emeritus Berkley Laite ’67 and his wife Carol Laite ’65 who originally created and funded the early years of the Library Research Award. The Library Research Award is continued by the generous financial support of many friends of the library, through the SU Foundation.

This year’s winners are:

Winner: Hannah Campbell, Origins of Victorian Time-Travel Literature: A Literature Review, Dr. Christine Senecal (Faculty Advisor)

Runner-up: Caitlyn Griffin, The Effect of Age on Susceptibility in Eyewitness Testimonies, Dr. Christine Senecal (Faculty Advisor)

MINDS@WORK CONFERENCE

3:00 3:15 3:30

POSTER SESSION 3:30pm–4:30pm 3:45 4:00 4:15 4:30 4:45

5:00 5:15 5:30 5:45

CRIMINAL JUSTICE Learning to Lead: Developing Inclusive, Field-Ready Practitioners in Intimate Partner and Teen Dating Violence Response 4:45pm–6:00pm

6:00 POLITICAL SCIENCE US Domestic Public Policy 6:00pm–7:00pm 6:15 6:30 6:45 7:00 POLITICAL SCIENCE Public Policy 7:00pm–8:00pm 7:15 7:30 7:45 8:00 8:15 8:30 8:45 9:00 8:30 8:45 9:00

ENGLISH Scholarly and Creative Approaches to the Field of Creative Nonfiction 4:45pm–5:45pm

EXERCISE SCIENCE Exercise Science Department Student Research 4:45pm–5:45pm

ENGLISH Our Journey to New Dreams 5:45pm–6:45pm

EXERCISE SCIENCE Movement Science and Skill Analysis 5:45pm–7:45pm

CHEMISTRY Chemistry Undergraduate Research Symposium 4:45pm–6:45pm

3:00 3:15 3:30 3:45 4:00 4:15 4:30 4:45

5:00 5:15 5:30 5:45

COMMUNICATION STUDIES

Communication Studies Senior Seminar Presentation 4:45pm–6:15pm

GLOBAL LANGUAGES AND CULTURES

The Holocaust and its German Legacy 4:45pm–6:15pm

GLOBAL LANGUAGES AND CULTURES

La langue en mouvement: perspectives croisées sur le français 4:45pm–5:45pm

ENGLISH

The Poetics of Community: A National Poetry Month Celebration 4:45pm–7:00pm

HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHY

Identity, Nationalism, and Persecution: Perspectives in Comparative History 5:45pm–7:00pm 6:00

6:15 CIVIL AND MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

Conceptual Framework for Floating Concrete Applications Prestressed FRP in Lightweight Structural Design and Optimization 6:15pm–7:15pm

German Beer Culture: Products, Practices, Perspectives 6:15pm–7:45pm 6:30 6:45 7:00 7:15 7:30 7:45 8:00 8:15 8:30 8:45 9:00 8:30 8:45 9:00

GLOBAL LANGUAGES AND CULTURES

Faculty Research Sponsors

The Minds@Work Program and the Undergraduate Research Program are just two examples of Faculty-Student Research which enrich Shippensburg University’s academic environment. Our thanks to all faculty members who supported students during the 2025-2026 Academic Year.

Moayyad Al-Nasra, Civil Engineering

Laura Beckman, Criminal Justice

Fethi Belkhouche, Computer, Electrical, and Software Engineering

Sherri Bergsten, Biology

Emily Besecker, Biology

William Braun, Exercise Science

Bradley Bullock, Sociology

Allison Carey, Sociology

Laurie Cella, English

Dhiman Chattopadhyay, Communications, Journalism, and Media

Jacquelyn Chovanes, Educational Leadership and Special Education

Sean Cornell, Geography and Earth Science

Thomas Crochunis, English

Pablo Delis, Biology

João Dias, Civil/Mechanical Engineering

Lawrence Eppard, Sociology

Alison Fedrow, Biology

Alison Feeney, Geography and Earth Science

Matthew Fetzer, Criminal Justice

Sam Forlenza, Exercise Science

Michael Greenberg, Political Science

James Hamblin, Mathematics

Thomas Hatvany, Psychology

Timothy Hawkins, Geography and Earth Science

Russell Hedberg, Geography and Earth Science

Christopher Keyes, Teacher Education

Carrie Kerr, Exercise Science

Kim Klein, Wood Honors College

Emily Kramer, Biology

Carla Kungl, English

Sankook Lee, Computer, Electrical, and Software Engineering

Marcie Lehman, Biology

Theo Light, Biology

Michael Lyman, Social Work and Gerontology

Robin McCann, Chemistry

Melissa McNelis, Communication Studies

Benjamin Meyer, Exercise Science

Tanya Miller, Athletics

Blandine Mitaut, Global Languages and Cultures

Ana Morana, Global Languages and Cultures

June Pham, Finance and Supply Chain Management

Daniel Predecki, Chemistry and Biochemistry

Allison Predecki, Chemistry

Mohammad Rahman, Management, Marketing, and Entrepreneurship

Ahmed Rashed, Physics

Melissa Ricketts, Criminal Justice

Mark Sachleben, Political Science

Heather Sahli, Biology

Joohee Sanders, Exercise Science

Nicole Santalucia, English

Toru Sato, Psychology

Ashley Seibert, Psychology

Kathryn Shirk, Physics

Freddy Siahaan, Economics

Carrie Sipes, Communication, Journalism, and Media

Mark Spicka, History and Philosophy

Richard Stewart, Biology

Sara Swacina, Art

Nathan Thomas, Biology

Kim Weikel, Psychology

Carol Wellington, Computer, Electrical, and Software Engineering

David Wildermuth, Global Languages and Cultures

Curtis Zaleski, Chemistry and Biochemistry

DEPARTMENTAL CONFERENCE PANELS

CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY

TIME: 4:45pm–6:45pm

Chemistry Undergraduate Research Symposium

CUB 119

This symposium will focus on the research projects performed by undergraduate chemistry majors. Research projects will include topics from the disciplines of analytical chemistry, biochemistry, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, and physical chemistry.

Mara Connolly, Lee Garman, Lizzy Minetola, Cole Pearson, Micah Plummer, Sarah Rhoades, Kirsten Warner

Faculty Sponsor: Allison Predecki

CIVIL AND MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

TIME: 6:15pm–7:15pm

Conceptual Framework for Floating Concrete Applications: Prestressed FRP in Lightweight Structural

Design and Optimization

This project investigates multiple aspects of civil engineering through the design and analysis of a floating concrete platform capable of supporting a superstructure in an ocean environment. The primary objective was to develop a lightweight concrete slab that could achieve positive buoyancy while maintaining sufficient structural strength to withstand wave loading and environmental forces. To accomplish this, various aggregate and admixture combinations were researched and tested to produce a concrete mix that was both lightweight and structurally reliable. Compression and flexural testing were conducted to evaluate performance, leading to the development of a foam-based lightweight concrete that demonstrated practical strength-to-weight characteristics suitable for floating applications. In addition to the concrete mix design, a steel support structure was modeled and optimized to resist high wind speeds typical of open-sea conditions. Structural simulations were performed by modifying beam sizes, joint stiffness, and overall structural configuration to improve stability and performance. Damping effects from wave loading were also incorporated into the model using simulated spring-damper systems. A further focus of the project involved evaluating the use of Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) rebar as tensile reinforcement within the floating slab. Two beams were constructed and tested, one using prestressed FRP reinforcement and the other using non-prestressed FRP. Results showed that prestressing the FRP reinforcement increased both the strength and ductility of the beams. Overall, the project successfully demonstrated the feasibility of constructing a floating concrete platform reinforced with FRP rebar capable of supporting structural loads in marine environments.

Emily Calamia, Clayton Diehl, Kyler Everly, Kiara Fox, Blake Speiden

Faculty Sponsor: Moayyad Al-Nasra

COMMUNICATION STUDIES

TIME: 4:45pm–6:15pm CUB 226

Communication Studies

Senior Seminar Presentation

The Senior Seminar course surveyed approximately 200 participants for research projects under faculty supervision. This application serves as the single application of COST400 students and relevant research projects. Students are currently finishing their final literature review and are in the beginning steps of analyzing data in SPSS. Students will present their group project process, findings, and conclusions during their presentation.

Group #1 – Sports Communication

The purpose of this project is to examine conflict, leadership, or effective communication perspectives of current or past student-athletes in collegiate or club sports.

Group #2 – Romantic Relationships

The purpose of this project is to examine relational maintenance, relational satisfaction, attachment, and destructive communication (i.e., criticism, contempt, stonewalling, defensiveness) in participants who are currently or have ever been in a romantic relationship.

Group #3 – Social Media Communication

The purpose of this project is to examine social media use, addiction, uses and gratifications, and mean world syndrome symptoms in participants who engage with social media use.

Group #4 – Family Communication)

The purpose of this project is to examine depression, self-esteem, and alcohol use associated with attachment styles.

Group #5 – Gender Attitudes

The purpose of this project is to examine neo-sexism, ambivalent sexism, and attitudes toward women.

Group #6 – Communication Anxiety

The purpose of this project is to examine communication anxiety, perceived stress, and depression.

Group #1 – Sports Communication

Michael Dickson, Rilee Ehrlacher, Jaelyn Goulborne

Group #2 – Romantic Relationships

Iyanna Burton, Madisyn Culler, Chole Fulcher, Courtney Mayne

Group #3 – Social Media Communication

Alexis Calderon, Theo Campomanes, Tara Lay, Tyler Masdea

Group #4 – Family Communication

Soraya Bachard, Emily Gustafson, Larry Marley

Group #5 – Gender Attitudes

Shawna Lewis, Sarah Nicholl, Becca Schroyer

Group #6 – Communication Anxiety

Ronnie Major, Jack Robinson, Trevor Watts

Faculty Sponsor: Melissa McNelis

TIME: 4:45pm–6:00pm

Learning to Lead: Developing Inclusive, Field-Ready Practitioners in Intimate Partner and Teen Dating Violence Response

“Learning to Lead: Developing Inclusive, Field-Ready Practitioners in Intimate Partner and Teen Dating Violence Response” brings together emerging practitioners examining overlooked and marginalized experiences within the landscape of relationship violence. This panel highlights the unique needs of male victims, adolescents navigating teen dating violence, children exposed to violence in the home, and LGBTQ+ individuals whose victimization is often minimized or misunderstood. Through researchinformed analysis and insights from the field, presenters illustrate how nuanced understandings of these diverse populations can increase awareness, strengthen intervention strategies, promote trauma-responsive approaches, and prepare the next generation of professionals to lead with inclusivity and compassion. Collectively, the presentations underscore the importance of equitable service delivery and the development of future practitioners equipped to respond effectively across varied contexts of intimate partner and teen dating violence.

Lane Fraker, Starr Hoffman, Mallory Smith, Brooke Stover

Faculty Sponsor: Melissa Ricketts

Our Journey to New Dreams

In this presentation, three of us will talk about how to start over again in a new country—in a new environment, culture, people, language and traditions. One of us will talk about what it feels like to grow up with two cultures in the USA. We are going to explain how these changes impact our lives and how we develop a new perspective of life; we will describe new opportunities in our life here in the USA. We will use pictures and stories from our own experiences and challenges that we overcome with resilience.

Yajaira Aviles, Shanely Casimiro, Talyannie Lugo De Jesus, Grace Ramirez

Faculty Sponsor: Laurie Cella ENGLISH

TIME: 4:45pm–5:45pm

Scholarly and Creative Approaches to the Field of Creative Nonfiction

This panel will feature research and creative work, focused on the history and development of the field of Creative Nonfiction. Students will read from both Scholarly and Creative Pieces: memoirs, flash CNF, and analysis of CNF as a genre.

Sarah Burrows, Amelia Emswiler, Tori Genticore, Zoe Midura, Brooke Miller, Ava McWilliams

Faculty Sponsor: Laurie Cella ENGLISH

TIME: 4:45pm–7:00pm ORNDORFF THEATRE

The Poetics of Community: A National Poetry Month Celebration

This panel features original work by poets in ENGL427 Advanced Poetry Writing. Students will read poetry that speaks to the personal, the political, the natural world, the art of therapy, the art of the ordinary, ekphrasis, found language, reimagined texts, genre blending, pop culture, community building, the poetics of cooking, and the art of conversing with history through poetic lineage and trees. Students will present their National Poetry Month projects and showcase their poetry. These poets individually and collectively respond to societal pressures, politics, the environment, and the art of compassion as they explore their poetic identities and raise awareness about process, healing, and the art of listening to the world we live in.

Emily Brewer, Kye’Mani Davis, Hayley Diehl, Kate Fogg, Alex Heckman, Regan Henry, Abbygale Hockenberry, Griffyn Imes, Dez Rhoads, Caitlyn Shetter, Jenna Tecchio, Rosalyn Truax, Reed Vollrath

Faculty Sponsor: Nicole Santalucia

EXERCISE SCIENCE

TIME: 5:45pm–7:45pm

Movement Science and Skill Analysis

This panel features a selection of noteworthy student projects from the Movement Science and Skill Analysis course (EXER244). The session highlights the variety of interests of our students and includes golf, soccer, baseball, and softball. Presenters will provide background information, describe the methods used to examine the skill, and then share the results of their field-based research. The EXER244 course provides students in the Exercise Science Major and Coaching Minor with initial experiences in the research process. The presentations in this session showcase the students’ first venture into research projects in the discipline. Student presentations include: Golf Swings: Wedge, Iron, and Driver; Soccer Long Passes: Straight vs. Curved Techniques; Softball Throws: Infield vs. Outfield Techniques; Soccer Passes: Long and Short Techniques; and Softball and Baseball Hitting: Full Swing and Bunt Techniques.

Desirae Heider, Mia Kemp, Kate Mecouch, Hasan Mirasyedi, Devynne Neville, Erby Weller

Faculty Sponsor: Ben Meyer

EXERCISE SCIENCE

TIME: 4:45pm–5:45pm

Exercise Science Department Student Research

Exercise Science undergraduate students, who were enrolled in a research course during fall semester of 2025, will present and discuss their research studies. Topics of these research studies include effectiveness of ankle brace on balance, use of firefly on recovery, influence of audio/visual stimuli and music on muscle performance.

Adam Ashkettle, Darius Bamfo, Regan Bard, Nathaniel Edey, Alexis Speicher

Faculty Sponsor: Joohee Sanders

GLOBAL LANGUAGES AND CULTURES

TIME: 4:45pm–6:15pm

The Holocaust and its German Legacy

CUB 238

This panel is based upon the course GERM323: The Holocaust and its German Legacy, which investigates the evolving relationship of Germany to the Holocaust in its immediate German contextcomparative cultural studies and current cultural topics of the German-speaking world. Sustained attention will be given to oral and written expression. Six student presenters will present the most important findings of their research papers on the following aspects of the Holocaust:

Student:Research Focus:

Anna Grace Hornbuckle—The Memorialization of the Shoah in Germany (Memorials, Stolpersteine, Camps, etc.)

Ben Hostetler—The Interrelationship of the War in the East and the Shoah? How does one inform the other? (Macro-level)

Sydnee Lynch—The Doctor’s Trial in Nuremberg (1946-47) and the crimes committed against Jews revealed by the trial

Henry Moser—Defining Genocide: Beginnings and Evolution (when was it coined, how has it been used in court and codified legally, how has it evolved)

Rebecca Muthler—Comparing and contrasting extermination vs concentration camps: functionality of camps/daily systems and hierarchies

Wesley Shubert—The German Military at the Intersection of War and Genocide: what German soldiers knew and did. (Micro-level)

Anna Grace Hornbuckle, Ben Hostetler, Sydnee Lynch, Henry Moser, Rebecca Muthler, Wesley Shubert

Faculty Sponsor: David Wildermuth

GLOBAL LANGUAGES AND CULTURES

TIME: 6:15pm–7:45pm

German Beer Culture: Products, Practices, Perspectives

In this panel, we will examine the geographic, physical, cultural, and historical factors which have contributed to the development and popularity of beer in Germany. We will also contrast our understanding of German beer culture with the beer culture of the USA, especially as it relates to underage consumption. The specific topics of the four presenters are as follows:

Cole Hooper—German Beer Culture and Technology: Evolution and Revolution

Olivia Masgalas—How Stigma Influences Behavior: A Comparison of Alcohol Culture Between Germany and the USA

Wes Shubert—German Beer Culture and the Marketing/Advertising Industry in Germany

Emma Wildermuth—From Brewers to Beer Maidens: Women and German Beer Culture

Cole Hooper, Olivia Masgalas, Wesley Shubert, Emma Wildermuth

Faculty Sponsor: David Wildermuth

GLOBAL LANGUAGES AND CULTURES

TIME: 4:45pm–5:45pm

La Langue en Mouvement: Perspectives Croisées sur le Français

CUB 240

Ce panel propose trois perspectives complémentaires sur la francophonie, en explorant la manière dont la langue évolue, comment elle fonctionne au sein de systèmes de pouvoir et comment elle peut susciter le changement et la découverte de soi lorsqu’elle sert de moyen d’expression artistique. La première étude, de nature linguistique, examinera l’histoire et les usages contemporains de la négation en français, depuis ses formes anciennes en ancien français jusqu’à la structure bipartite ne…pas, puis sa transformation progressive dans l’usage moderne vernaculaire, où la particule ne est souvent omise. À partir d’exemples contemporains tirés de différents registres, l’étude analyse la façon dont le changement grammatical reflète une évolution culturelle. La deuxième étude aborde le rôle de l’enseignement du français tel qu’il est représenté dans les œuvres des écrivains francophones Maryse Condé, Mariama Bâ et Camara Laye. L’exposé explore comment l’institutionnalisation du français a façonné l’identité culturelle et la mobilité sociale à l’ère postcoloniale, et comment les écrivains se positionnent par rapport à la place qu’occupe le français dans leur société. La troisième présentation consistera en une lecture d’un texte original intitulé “Celui qui rôdait”. La lecture du texte sera suivie les réflexions de l’autrice sur l’acte d’écrire dans une langue seconde, langue qui n’est “pas la sienne”.

This panel offers three complementary perspectives on Francophonie, exploring how language evolves, how it functions within systems of power, and how it prompts change and self-discovery when used as a medium for artistic expression.

The first presentation, with its linguistics focus, examines the history and contemporary uses of negation in French, from its earlier forms in Old French to the bipartite ne…pas structure, to its gradual transformation in modern usage, where the particle ne is frequently omitted in vernacular French. Using contemporary examples from spoken and written registers, the study analyzes how grammatical change reflects cultural shifts.

The second presentation addresses the role of French-language education as it is represented in the texts of Francophone writers Maryse Condé, Mariama Bâ and Camara Laye. The paper explores how the institutionalization of French has shaped cultural identity and social mobility in the postcolonial era, and how writers have responded to the continued prominence of French.

The third presentation consists of a reading of an original piece of creative writing titled “Celui qui rôdait,” followed by the author’s remarks on the act of writing in a second language that is not “one’s own”.

Gabbie Bower, Cynthia Dodd, Paige Holgate

Faculty Sponsor: Blandine Mitaut

HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHY

TIME: 5:45pm–7:00pm CUB 240

Identity, Nationalism, and Persecution: Perspectives in Comparative History

Selena Morrow—Revolutionary Leaders and French Colonialism: Vietnam and Algeria

This presentation is a comparative study on how Ho Chi Minh and Frantz Fanon were influential in the struggle against French colonialism in Vietnam and Algeria. Both men were revolutionary leaders in the 20th century who communicated the process of independence and decolonization through four similar themes. The themes in their intellectual works include uncovering French cruelty, explaining the effects of French colonialism, exposing French hypocrisy, and questioning French identity as opposed to French colonialism. Their disillusionment with the French early in life helped form these similar themes of decolonization in their works, but the way Ho Chi Minh and Frantz Fanon formed and expressed several opinions within these themes are different, because Minh and Fanon had different political positions and held different ties to France within their respective lives and countries of influence.

JJ Miller—“Les Mardi Gras s’en vient de tout partout! A Study in Cajun and Creole Mardi Gras as a Vehicle for Social Change”

Across the decades, Mardi Gras has come to be known as a festival of indulgences and a season of excess. However, the image of Mardi Gras within Louisiana itself is quite different. Throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, Cajun and Creole Mardi Gras have changed considerably - what began as family and community affairs has now morphed into a multimillion-dollar tourist industry known globally. In addition, these celebrations have served to spur social inclusion based on race, social class, and gender, as well as perpetuating restrictions of those factors. By consulting sources such as photographs, songs, monographs, journal articles, and oral histories, one can see how both of these Mardi Gras maintain and rebel against traditions and have served as vehicles for change. From medieval France to modern Louisiana, les deux Mardi Gras truly came from all over to land in Louisiana, where they now reside.

Anna Grube—Children of Peace: The Persecutions of the Anabaptists and the Quakers

This presentation will provide a comparative perspective between the persecutions of the Anabaptists in sixteenth century Europe and seventeenth century England. Both Christian sects had emerged as more radical interpretations of the Protestant Reformation and challenged the social and political superiority of the ruling classes. The Anabaptists, whose religion focused on simple lifestyles, adult baptisms, and separatism from officially sanctioned churches labelled them as heretics under both Catholic and Protestant doctrines alike. In conjunction with the seditionist threat of the Kingdom of Munster, many Anabaptists were executed for their beliefs, their stories being memorialized in the Martyr’s Mirror. In contrast, Quakers posed more of a societal threat in England due to their vibrant public displays and their refusal to acknowledge rank distinctions so intimately woven into English society. Under the Restoration government of Charles II, Quakers were the victims of mass incarceration in notoriously unkept English prisons and faced popular hostility. This analysis of both groups demonstrated that the heart of their persecutions was not purely religious intolerance, but also due to perceived threats of defiance to both political and social authority. These two cases reveal that persecution in the early modern period was used as a form of societal control, which would push both Anabaptists and Quakers to find religious tolerance and security in the New World.

Anna Grube, JJ Miller, Selena Morrow

Faculty Sponsor: Mark Spicka

POLITICAL SCIENCE

TIME: 6:00pm–7:00pm

US Domestic Public Policy

CUB 103

We have five student papers covering several areas of US domestic public policy. Two papers are looking at the US National Parks and Park System from two different methodological perspectives. One Paper is on rise of anti-intellectualism in American politics. Another looks at the impact of the decline in manufacturing in the US and it’s social impacts. Finally, we have a study of the economics of attending Law School.

Ryan Jones, Jorah Mason, Sarah Mason, Seth Runshaw, Anna Weaver

Faculty Sponsor: Michael Greenberg

POLITICAL SCIENCE

TIME: 7:00pm–8:00pm

Public Policy

CUB 103

This panel has several senior papers on public policy topics with an international aspect. We have a paper on the use of the Olympic Games by authoritarian regimes. We have a paper examining the question of “has Russian aggression increased European defense spending?” Two papers take us closer to home. One paper examines how cartel operations in Mexico shape measurable national security and public health challenges in the US. Another looks more generally at the impacts of immigration, specifically on the US labor market. Our fifth paper is on the rise of Crypto-currency, specifically as a government currency.

Marlon Aristy, Ethan Conrad, Nate Costa-Mayol, Brayden Crawford, David Newcomer

Faculty Sponsor: Michael Greenberg

HONORS SYMPOSIUM

APRIL 21–22

Wood Honors College Symposium

The Honors Symposium is the formal forum where Wood Honors College seniors present their capstone projects. The research, creative, and service-learning projects that our students present today represent the culmination of their academic experience in the Honors College. Thank you for joining us to learn about their projects and acknowledge their hard work!

BIOLOGY

TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 4:30pm–5:30pm

HRL 005

Using CRISPR Interference to Investigate the Role of the Nuclear Exosome in Degrading Hypomodified tRNAs

Transfer RNA molecules (tRNAs) function to deliver individual amino acids, the building blocks of proteins, to the site of cellular protein synthesis. tRNAs are made in the nucleus of the cell and then exported to the cytoplasm, which is the location of protein synthesis. Importantly, all mature tRNAs undergo import back to the nucleus in a process termed retrograde tRNA transport. One known function of retrograde tRNA transport is to proofread tRNAs, to help ensure that a functional pool of properly modified cytoplasmic tRNAs is available to support protein synthesis. Previous research showed that two types of aberrant tRNAs exist, suggesting that upon nuclear import, they are either degraded or repaired. One possibility is that one or both types of aberrant tRNAs are degraded by the nuclear exosome, mediated by the enzyme Rrp6. This project aims to investigate the role of the nuclear exosome in degrading one type of aberrant tRNA, tRNA lacking a dimethyl nucleotide modification.

Kayla Beckner

Faculty Sponsor: Emily Kramer

BIOLOGY

TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 4:30pm–5:30pm

Molecular Analysis of Ticks from Letterkenny Army Depot for the Prevalence of Babesia

Babesia is the causative agent of human babesiosis (Babesia spp.), known to be vectored by ticks (primarily Ixodes scapularis (deer ticks), and has emerged as a public health concern in regions of high tick activity, including Pennsylvania. Human cases of babesiosis have broad presentations, require complicated courses of treatment with both antibacterial and antiparasitic agents, and often cause chronic infection/symptoms in infected individuals. To date, no vaccine has been developed for Babesia. Ticks collected from Letterkenny Army Depot in Chambersburg, PA are being molecularly assessed (polymerase chain reaction) for the detection of Babesia. These results will contribute to greater public health measures and be the basis of surveillance studies.

Cejay Cocco

Faculty Sponsor: Alison Fedrow

BIOLOGY

TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 4:30pm–5:30pm

Quantification of Hypomodified tRNALys in Yeast

HRL 005

The proper maturation and processing of tRNA, which includes modifications to several individual nucleotides, is vital for the health of a cell. Accumulation of improperly structured and hypomodified tRNA in the cytoplasm may lead to reduced efficiency and/or fidelity of protein synthesis. Various types of aberrant tRNA have been shown to accumulate in cells in which a cytosolic tRNA decay pathway or a tRNA nuclear transport pathway are nonfunctional, which suggests that such aberrant tRNA are degraded and/or translocated to the nucleus in normal cells. We investigated the effects of inhibiting these pathways independently and simultaneously on the abundance of one type of hypomodified tRNA.

Gavin Harris

Faculty Sponsor: Emily Kramer

BUSINESS

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 12:00pm–12:45pm HRL 005

Debt Before Diploma: Rethinking Financial Education in High Schools

Student loan debt continues to present significant financial challenges for young adults, yet many students graduate from high school without understanding borrowing, repayment obligations, or long-term financial consequences. This honors capstone project examines how high schools can better prepare students for these decisions through targeted financial education. Through research in financial literacy, behavioral economics, and experiential learning, the project identifies gaps in current curricula and develops an evidence-based educational model consisting of a presentation and interactive student loan simulation framework. The designed program incorporates college cost comparisons, career salary projections, and loan repayment modeling to help students visualize long-term financial outcomes. By translating research into a practical instructional design, this project provides educators with an adaptable tool to improve financial literacy and encourage more informed borrowing decisions.

Emily Kline

Faculty Sponsor: Lauren Garrett

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 12:00pm–12:45pm HRL 005

Swimming from Pitch to Profit: Analyzing the Effectiveness of Shark Tank Investment Strategies in Entrepreneurial Enterprises, 2010–2018

This research project analyzed how the distinct investment philosophies of Shark Tank investors Mark Cuban, Lori Greiner, and Barbara Corcoran impacted the longevity and profit growth of the companies they funded from 2010 to 2018. As reality television increasingly intersects with venture capital, it is vital to understand how media-driven mentorship and funding influence long-term startup success. However, the transition from a televised pitch to sustainable scalability remains under-researched. This project utilized a case study approach, analyzing individual companies within each investor’s portfolio using sales revenue as a primary success metric. By evaluating risk tolerance and brand development strategies, the study examined the relationship between an investor’s specific approach and eventual profitability. The research concludes that while media exposure provides an initial catalyst, long-term viability depends heavily on the Shark’s operational involvement.

Kenny Tran

Faculty Sponsor: Robert Setaputra

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 1:00pm–1:45pm

Honoring Our Roots: A Marketing Plan to Engage Wood Honors College Alumni

The goal of our capstone is to create a marketing plan that educates and engages Honors alumni and encourages them to take an interest in the Wood Honors College. As we approached the 40th Anniversary Celebration in 2024-2025, it became increasingly important to target alumni in our marketing campaigns. However, communicating to this large diverse network was challenging. For our project, we collected data using interviews, surveys, and current literature. We interviewed some prominent alumni with the goal of understanding why these alumni have remained so connected to the Wood Honors College. We also distributed a survey to all the current Honors alumni. This survey assessed how our alumni view the Honors College post-graduation. We concluded that our alumni valued their time in Honors, and many of them are eager to return and participate in alumni panels and gatherings. Based on this data, we created several marketing campaign ideas to more effectively engage Honors alumni.

Megan Sawka

Faculty Sponsor: Katelyn Snare, Adam Powell

CHEMISTRY

TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 5:45pm–6:45pm HRL 005

Synthesis and Characterization of Electron Donating N-isopropylideneN-methylaniliniumb Triflate Salts

In pharmaceuticals, imines are commonly used as intermediates for drug synthesis and can be used to make biologically active molecules. In addition, imines can be used to synthesize iminium ions. The focus of this research project is to synthesize two anilinium salts where one contains an electron withdrawing group and the other contains an electron donating group. There are two steps involved in the synthesis of N-isopropylidene-N-methyl4-methoxyanilinium trifluoromethylsulfonate and N-isopropylidene-Nmethyl-4-trifluoromethylanilinium trifluoromethylsulfonate. The products will be analyzed by NMR, IR, and X-ray crystallography.

Mara Connolly

Faculty Sponsor: Daniel Predecki

CHEMISTRY

TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 5:45pm–6:45pm

Synthesis and Characterization of Electron-donating N-isopropylidene4-methylaniline Salt

Imines are a class of organic compounds characterized by a carbon–nitrogen double bond, and they act as an important intermediate in both pharmaceuticals and biological compounds. Imines are formed through an acid-catalyzed condensation reaction between a primary amine and a ketone or an aldehyde. The purpose of this research project is to create a new iminium ion with an electron-withdrawing group, 4-chloro, and then compare it with past synthesized iminium ions. Imines will be used as precursors to iminium ions and were synthesized in the first step of this study. Both the precursor imine and the final iminium ion product will be analyzed by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (NMR) and Infrared Spectroscopy. In addition, the iminium ions were characterized by X-ray crystallography.

Elizabeth Minetola

Faculty Sponsor: Daniel Predecki

CHEMISTRY

TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 5:45pm–6:45pm HRL 005

Development of a Computational Tool for Kombucha Titration Analysis

Kombucha is a fermented tea whose flavor profile arises largely from its mixture of organic acids. Brewers seek to optimize acid proportions to produce a more palatable beverage. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is the standard to identify and quantitate these acids but is costly and time-consuming. A titration of a weak acid mixture with strong base, however, is affordable and widely accessible, but traditionally only provides total acidity (TA). This work incorporates charge balance, mass balance, and aqueous electrolyte theory into a model that, when solved as an inverse parameter minimization problem via least-squares fitting, determines from a single titration curve: 1) a sample’s number of acids, 2) their identities (via equilibria constants), 3) their concentrations, and 4) their mechanistic behavior. This program is packaged into an opensource MATLAB® tool, increasing accessibility for brewers worldwide.

Cole Pearson

Faculty Sponsor: Jeb Kegerreis

EDUCATION WEDNESDAY,

Empowering Voices: The Impact of Teacher Training on Augmentative and Alternative Communication Device Use in Special Education Classrooms

The translation of augmentative and alternative communication training into classroom practice remains variable across educational settings. Grounded in sociocultural learning theory and implementation science frameworks, this study examined how differences in teacher preparation corresponded to observable instructional patterns in two special education classrooms within the same rural Pennsylvania school district. A mixed method design incorporating surveys, follow-up interviews, and structured observations during a shared instructional routine was used. A focal student participated in both classrooms, allowing within-student comparison of contextual influences on implementation. Analysis focused on prompting structure, aided language modeling, scaffold organization, and instructional capacity to examine how training exposure and structural supports shape AAC integration in authentic classroom environments.

Janaia Rohrbaugh

Faculty Sponsor: Jacquelyn Chovanes

EDUCATION

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 5:30pm–6:45pm HRL 005

Playing Through the Classroom: Comparing Functional, Symbolic, and Games with Rules Play

Elementary school teachers from pre-K through 2nd grade incorporate play-based learning into classroom instruction as it is a critical component of development. However, this often declines once students reach third grade. When students engage in play with peers, they develop important social-emotional skills and improve cognitive abilities. Throughout my research, I identified 3 primary types of play: functional, symbolic, and games with rules. Functional play involves students using objects for their intended purpose. Symbolic play occurs when students use objects or actions to represent other things. Games with rules require students to follow guidelines during play to achieve a specific goal. This capstone study will examine how these three types of play can be incorporated into a fourthgrade reading classroom. Using observations, pre- and post-assessments, the study will measure changes in students’ cognitive and social development to determine which is most effective.

Isabella Teprovich

Faculty Sponsor: Alison Mellott

EDUCATION

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 5:30pm–6:45pm HRL 005

Technology + Mathematics = Success: Visualizing Geometry for a Deeper Understanding

The use of digital technology is a growing aspect of secondary math education. This research explores the use of the digital technology, GeoGebra, an online platform used for enrichment, as a tool for visualization when teaching similar figures in geometry. Similar figures are important as they are the foundation for the ability to scale objects, a necessary skill for many careers including architecture, engineering, and design. Students benefit from seeing what they are learning, so the goal of this research is to adapt to the changing world of technology by utilizing it in the classroom. This research analyzes how GeoGebra can help students understand similar figures and the benefits of technology like this being utilized for math. This research uses pre- and post- test data along with qualitative survey data to determine the impact of the integration of GeoGebra on students’ understanding of similar figures.

Kaitlyn King

Faculty Sponsor: James Hamblin

EDUCATION

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 5:30pm–6:45pm HRL 005

The Ripple Effect: Strengthening Campers Through Counselor Social-Emotional Learning Education

This review encompasses research on social-emotional learning implementation in educational and recreational settings. It highlights the role of social-emotional learning in improving peer relationships, selfregulation, and one’s overall well-being. Evidence suggests that when adults are skilled in SEL competencies students show higher engagement. This review highlights that integrating SEL-focused training in a camp setting may influence camper behavior. It concludes that when camp counselors are equipped to model and reinforce SEL principles, there is potential to improve climate and camper development. This research adds to the broader discourse of social-emotional learning across diverse settings, reinforcing its significance in informal learning environments like summer camps.

Sage Gurski

Faculty Sponsor: Alison Mellott

ENGINEERING AND EXERCISE SCIENCE

TUESDAY, APRIL

Improvements on “Ship ’n Seek” Campus Game

Although Shippensburg University does not host a very large campus, the issue of orienting new and prospective students presents a challenge. Classes such as UNIV 101 and tour guides are tasked with helping students learn about different services and resources available to them and promoting different events held on campus. Ship ’n Seek is a mobile phone application developed by several teams over the past few years as a tool for orienting new students. The game is an augmented reality, geographically synched, site-exploration title. It is very similar to “Pokémon Go.” However, players of Ship ’n Seek collect trading cards by visiting different campus sites. For this year’s class of SWEN 420, it is our job to fix some bugs in the app and create a better tutorial for students. We are also investigating adding different mechanics, such as a mini map to help students find locations they need to visit. There is also potential that the app will be ported to other non-Ship organizations.

Joseph Kunsman

Faculty Sponsor: Carol Wellington

ENGINEERING AND EXERCISE SCIENCE

TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 3:30pm–4:30pm HRL 005

Shippensburg Tennis Team BatteryPowered Electronic Scoreboard

The Shippensburg Tennis Team requested the designing of a scoreboard to track tennis scores during tournaments. The original request was a digital scoreboard that could display the scores of each set for six different matches. However, this is beyond the scope of this project. Instead, the tennis team determined that a simpler prototype for one match would be a viable solution. This scoreboard must be seen from distances of up to four hundred feet, visible in daylight, and be able to display all scores that are possible in a single tennis match. Additionally, the tennis team would prefer this device to have no wires coming out except for charging and a straightforward way of controlling it remotely. The goal of this project is to fulfill as many of these requirements as possible with a budget of approximately five hundred dollars. To do this, each piece of the project must be analyzed to determine the best feasible way to create an inexpensive scoreboard for the tennis team.

Jaron Carl

Faculty Sponsor: Fethi Belkhouche

ENGINEERING AND EXERCISE SCIENCE

TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 3:30pm–4:30pm

The Psychological and Functional Performance Effects of Ankle Bracing in Active College Students

Semi-rigid ankle braces have shown to support movement efficiency and performance, offering athletes greater confidence during activity. This study examined both psychological and functional responses to ankle bracing in physically active college students by comparing no brace, compression sleeve, and semi-rigid ankle brace. Participants (age 19.59 ± 1.28 years) performed three functional tests: the biodex dynamic test, a single-leg vertical jump, and a four-way bounding test. They rated confidence, stability, safety, strength, and perceived protection after each condition. In vertical jump, perceived confidence was significantly higher in the braced condition, with perceived stability, safety, and protection also elevated. For bounding, bracing significantly improved perceived stability and protection. All psychological variables showed significant improvements for the biodex. In conclusion, semi-rigid ankle bracing elicited psychological benefits and enhanced functional outcomes.

Marissa Foor

Faculty Sponsor: Joohee Sanders

SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 4:00pm–5:15pm

From First to Finish: Student Involvement and the Retention of First-Generation Students at Shippensburg University, 2012-2024

This research examines how involvement in student organizations influences the retention of first-generation college students at smaller public universities, specifically Shippensburg University. First-generation students often face financial strain, limited institutional knowledge, and social isolation, which can increase the risk of departure before graduation. Guided by student development theories, this study explores how campus engagement promotes academic persistence through connection and belonging. Using quantitative analyses of enrollment and engagement data from 2012–2024 and a student survey distributed through Qualtrics, this project analyzes the relationship between involvement, belonging, and retention. Preliminary findings suggest that smaller universities, with closeknit communities and accessible leadership opportunities, may offer strong environments for supporting first-generation students’ engagement and persistence.

Kayce Cook

Faculty Sponsor: Lawrence Eppard

SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 4:00pm–5:15pm

The Power of Peer Mentoring: Exploring the Impact of Attachment Style on Mentors’

Self-Efficacy and Mentees’ Anxiety Levels

Peer mentoring programs can be beneficial for first-year students to help them adjust to the academic and social demands of college. In this study, mentors and mentees in the Wood Honors College completed pre- and post-test surveys assessing their attachment style, relationship quality, selfefficacy, and anxiety levels. Findings suggest that mentors with greater selfefficacy provide more authentic and community support while challenging their mentees, and that mentees with secure attachment report lower levels of social anxiety compared to those with anxiety and avoidant attachment.

Elaina Georgelis

Faculty Sponsor: Ashley Seibert

SOCIAL

SCIENCES

AND HUMANITIES

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 4:00pm–5:15pm HRL 005

UN Peacekeepers’ Characteristics and the Protection of Civilians: The Role of Troops in United Nations Peacekeeping to Safeguard Civilians

Civilians are directly targeted by the warring sides in interstate and intrastate conflicts. Since the creation of the United Nations peacekeeping forces, the protection of civilians has remained a concern. The UN peacekeeping missions have specific agendas through which they engage in liaising and keeping the peace between two states. However, internal conflicts have attracted these missions’ attention over the years. Protecting civilians is not the main goal, but more missions have been mandated to do so in the past two decades. This article investigates new attributes, such as the quality of troops and the reputation of peacekeeping missions, in reducing violence against civilians. Based on an empirical study of eleven peacekeeping missions between 1999 and 2010, the deployment of a higher number of peacekeeping troops mandated to protect civilians significantly reduces the number of civilian deaths, while missions with such quality have the opposite effect.

Ali Sina Sharifi

Faculty Sponsor: Mark Sachleben

SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 4:00pm–5:15pm

Youth and Revolution in Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece

The manga One Piece is chiefly concerned with ideologies of freedom and disconnection from systems which seek to stifle a person’s dreams of a better future for themselves and others. The main characters, as pirates, are both physically and socially separated from these omnipresent systems. In their place, the main cast seek to implement social systems without hierarchy. This collectivist attitude follows the crew as they travel to islands ravaged by the institutions designed by the oppressive World Government. This research seeks to focus on the relationship between the all-consuming social and institutional power of the World Government and the pirate communities created on the open seas. Even more, by focusing on the actions of the pirates on the island of Wano, it serves as an examination of the ways in which these pirates as “outsiders” to oppressive societies can serve as a uniting force and bring about positive change to islands that have been torn apart by authoritarian rule.

Annikka Stangil

Faculty Sponsor: Cristina Rhodes

POSTERS

5:00pm–6:00pm CUB 125

Spring 2026 Intern Showcase

Created in 2019 by Grace Klinedinst (Penney), a student in the John L. Grove College of Business, the Intern Showcase provides current students in internship positions with the opportunity to create a poster presentation about their experience. Grace was inspired by the Minds@ Work poster presentation sessions she attended to use a similar format to promote the value of internships for students. After moving to a virtual format during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Intern Showcase reach was expanded in 2023 to a university wide event open to all majors. Most students understand that an internship will help position themselves competitively when looking for employment after college, but the majority of them do not fully understand what an internship experience entails. By meeting and interacting with current interns, students can ask questions directly to their peers and learn more about the benefits of integrating an internship during their time at Shippensburg University. Current interns can also offer guidance and tips on how to secure internship positions and how to make the most of the experience while working at their internship site.

Join us between 5:00pm and 6:00pm in the CUB 125 to learn more about the internship experiences of students in a variety of majors representing all of Shippensburg’s University Colleges.

Triadic Nature: Exploring Color Harmony and

Expression

in Oil Painting

Throughout this course my oil painting practice explores a unique aesthetic through texture, movement, energy, and color relationships that convey emotion. Mark making plays a central role as I create expressive brushwork that guides the viewer through the painting with bold colors, layered texture, and dynamic rhythm.

My research focuses on triadic color schemes, including primary, secondary, and muted triads. I explore how vibrant colors interact with neutral earth tones and how light and value can create depth, atmosphere, and mood. My subject matter centers on the natural world, including landscapes and close-up studies of insects and plant life inspired by my interest in traveling, hiking, and observing nature.

Influenced by Fauvism and Impressionism, and artists such as Henri Matisse, André Derain, Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and Paul Gauguin, my work investigates how altering color in naturalistic scenes can transform emotional expression and develop my own artistic voice.

Grace Larrimore

Faculty Sponsor: Sara Swacina

BIOLOGY

The Acute Effects of Caffeine on Heart Rate Variability in Undergraduate Students

Heart rate variability (HRV) reflects fluctuations in time between heartbeats and indicates autonomic nervous system balance. Higher HRV is associated with better stress resilience and autonomic regulation, while lower HRV may reflect increased sympathetic activity. Caffeine is one of the most widely consumed stimulants among college students and can influence autonomic function, but its effects on HRV in individuals aged 18–22 are not well understood. This study examined the acute effects of caffeine consumption on HRV in undergraduate students.

Undergraduate students from Shippensburg University participated in electrocardiogram (ECG) trials and were randomly assigned to receive either 200 mg caffeine gum or placebo gum. A five-minute baseline ECG was recorded before treatment. Participants then chewed the assigned gum for five minutes and rested for thirty minutes before a second five-minute ECG recording was taken. HRV was analyzed using LabChart software, focusing on RMSSD, SDNN, and LF/HF ratio.

Participants who consumed caffeine showed changes in HRV compared with the placebo group. Specifically, decreases in RMSSD and SDNN and an increase in the LF/HF ratio suggested a shift toward greater sympathetic activity following caffeine consumption.

These findings suggest that acute caffeine intake may reduce HRV and alter autonomic regulation in undergraduate students, highlighting potential short-term cardiovascular and stress-related effects of caffeine in this population.

Shelbi Sabo, Haylee Whitsel

Faculty Sponsor: Emily Besecker

BIOLOGY

Antibiotic Resistance Profiles Associated with Microbial Contaminants Isolated from Commonly Purchased Food Products

This project is aimed at investigating the contaminating microbes of various foods and the potential antibiotic resistance of the identified microbes. The One Health concept is used to describe the overlap of animal and human health. Antibiotics given to animals and/or those applied to crops become residuals in human food. Moreover, the water used in crop maintenance can be contaminated by excretions from both humans and livestock, contributing to the presence of antibiotic residues. Antibiotic resistance among bacteria with human pathogenicity (e.g. Salmonella, Campylobacter, Escherichia coli) is well documented and can make treatment of such infections challenging. In this study, several foods (green leaf lettuce, kale, spinach, tomatoes, Brussel sprouts, celery, radish, ground pork, bologna, asparagus, green onion, broccoli, hot dogs, and ground beef) were assessed for bacterial contamination using a variety of microbe-specific agars. To date, Gram positive isolates have been obtained from kale, tomato, spinach, lettuce, Brussel sprouts, bologna, ground pork, and radishes. Gram negative isolates have been obtained from ground pork and celery. Additional isolates are currently being characterized, and assessment for antibiotic resistance in the isolates is underway.

James Crawford, Matthew Turner, Zoe Wewer

Faculty Sponsor: Marcy Lehman

BIOLOGY

Assessment of Surface Microbe Populations of Produce with Recommendations for Proper Food Washing

Fresh produce is an essential component of a healthy diet, yet fruit and vegetables are common carriers of microbial populations, including bacteria, yeast, and mold. Some microbes are harmless; others may pose a potential health risk if consumed. Understanding what microbes reside on the surface of produce can be crucial for ensuring food safety and guiding proper washing and handling techniques. Ingestion of contaminated products can contribute to GI illnesses caused by pathogens such as Salmonella typhimurium, Escherichia coli, Listeria and others. The purpose of this research study is to determine the prevalence of bacterial food borne pathogens within food products purchased locally. To date, lettuce, kale, and broccoli (organic/inorganic) have undergone assessment. Samples from each type of food were plated on CHROMagar O157™, CHROMagar Salmonella Plus™, and Mannitol Salt Agar. Growth of Salmonella specific colonies were obtained from organic kale, lettuce, and inorganic lettuce. Fecal coliforms were isolated from organic lettuce only. CHROMagar O157™ and Mannitol salt media did not yield pathogen growth for any food samples tested. A mix of colonies (fecal coliform and presumptive Salmonella isolates) were isolated onto a general purpose medium (Trypticase Soy Agar) for additional characterization. To date, both gram negative and positive bacilli have been isolated from the aforementioned samples; characterization is ongoing.

Julie Jean Baptiste, Brianna Biddle-Johnson, Hannah Jones, Taylor Steininger

Faculty Sponsor: Marcie Lehman

Autophagy and Alternative Cell Death Pathways in Glioblastoma: Effects of Oxidative and Nutrient Stress in SNB19 Cells

Autophagy and programmed cell death work alternately when cells are under stress, so that damaged and diseased cells are typically repaired or eliminated. Autophagy can save a cell by recycling components and cleaning up toxins, but high levels of autophagy have been linked to autophagic cell death. Apoptosis is a well-studied and well-regulated mechanism for programmed cell death, but there are many other forms of cell death including ferroptosis, pyroptosis, necroptosis and necrosis. Dysregulation or even resistance to cell death pathways occurs in cancer cells, and effective cancer treatment depends on a better understanding of the interplay between autophagy and varying forms of cell death. Using two glioblastoma cell lines, SNB19 and a genetically-modified SNB19 line that expressed autophagic markers DsRed-LC3 and GFP-p62, we tested conditions that alternately or coordinately stimulate autophagy and different forms of cell death to determine the impact on cell survival and cell death processes. Cells were treated with menadione, a compound known to induce oxidative stress, and resveratrol, a polyphenolic compound reported to influence autophagy and apoptosis pathways. In addition, nutrient stress conditions were created using Hank’s Balanced Salt Solution (HBSS) to induce starvation-mediated autophagy, as well as HBSS supplemented with glucose to evaluate the influence of energy availability on autophagic and cell death responses.

Abdellah Jaber Raslane, Caleb Kiser, Jordan Tacas

Faculty Sponsor: Sherri Bergsten

BIOLOGY

Bone Morphology Asymmetries and Sex-Based Differences

The Anatomage Table is an advanced three-dimensional digital dissection platform widely utilized in anatomical education but less utilized for anatomical research. This study investigated sternal morphological characteristics to evaluate their utility in biological sex estimation. A secondary objective was to assess the accuracy and reliability of the Anatomage Table as a digital osteometric measurement tool. The sternum was subdivided into three anatomical regions: the manubrium, mesosternum (body), and xiphoid process. Osteometric parameters included manubrial length and width measured at standardized anatomical landmarks, mesosternal length, corpus sterni measurements at the levels of ribs 2–3 and ribs 4–5, and xiphoid process length. Qualitative morphological variations of the xiphoid process were also documented. Statistical analyses were performed to compare measurements across biological sex and ethnic groups. Statistically significant differences in multiple sternal dimensions were observed between male and female specimens. Additionally, significant variation in select measurements was identified among ethnic groups. The findings support the sternum as a reliable skeletal element for sex estimation in morphological and forensic analyses. Furthermore, the Anatomage Table demonstrated utility as a digital osteometric tool, with potential applications in forensic anthropology, anatomical research, and clinical education.

Ashtyn Daugherty, Malorie Drust

Faculty Sponsor: Emily Besecker

Determining Successful Treatment Methods of Chytridiomycosis in Amphibian Populations

The disease chytridiomycosis is caused by the pathogenic fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) and affects amphibian species worldwide. The fungus is distributed by waterborne zoospores, and side effects include skin discoloration, lethargy, skin shedding, anorexia, and eventually death. Various treatment methods have been used to eradicate the disease, but most effective methods such as antifungal solutions cannot be introduced to natural ecosystems. Testing of natural treatment methods may yield potentially safe alternatives to treating wild amphibian populations. For this study, amphibian eggs were collected from populations of Pseudacris crucifer within the region of Cumberland and Franklin County, PA. Roughly eighty eggs total were collected and divided into four testing groups stored in separate containers. The eggs were exposed to a culture of Bd, incubated, and tested for zoospores using histological staining. Once the groups tested positive for chytrid, they were then treated using one of three treatment methods including an antifungal solution, increase in ambient temperature, and herbal remedy of turmeric. Once the groups were treated, another sample was taken and the staining procedure was used to determine the experimental success. It was hypothesized that the antifungal treatment would yield the most successful results due to its direct treatment against fungus, and a heat treatment would also be successful, as Bd cannot reproduce at elevated temperatures.

Kaitlin Mihalik

Faculty Sponsor: Nathan Thomas

BIOLOGY

Diet

of

Gray Fox (Urocyon

cinereoargenteus

) and Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) in Pennsylvania During Winter

Gray foxes are small, forest dwelling carnivores native to Pennsylvania that are capable of climbing trees. The population of this species in western and northern regions of Pennsylvania appear secure, however in other regions the canine’s population is declining. The Pennsylvania Game Commission enacted a working group to better understand the basic biology of this canid so improved decisions can be made about its management. To better understand the diet of native foxes, we attended several hunts in central and western Pennsylvania in February 2025 and 2026, purchasing gray and red fox carcasses that were hunter-harvested. Red foxes are considered secure but were included in our study to compare the diet between these two allospecific species. Between 2025 and 2026, we obtained 62 gray fox stomachs and 19 red for stomachs from counties near where the hunts were conducted. Bones, fur, feathers, and other identifying macro structures were compared with keys and museum specimens contained in the Shippensburg University Museum to identify prey from the gray fox stomach contents, including mammalian species as well as avian prey with currently unidentified passerines. Many stomachs also contained vegetation and seeds that need further study for proper identification. Another stomach contained a taffy wrapper with identifiable writing, indicating that some of the ingested material was scavenged. Continued study of stomach contents will allow comparison between sexes and species.

Bennett Kindlin, Cambree Yonish

Faculty Sponsor: Richard Stewart

Distribution and Effects of Invasive New Zealand Mudsnails in Cumberland Valley Limestone Spring Creeks

The New Zealand Mudsnail (Potamopyrgus antipodarum, NZMS) is an invasive aquatic snail species that has been spreading in streams in Cumberland County since at least 2021. This snail can reach remarkably high densities in sites it invades, likely due to a lack of natural predators, resistance to chemical treatments and digestion, as well as their extremely efficient grazing habits and fast reproduction. To quantify their impact and distribution, both leaf pack and manual searching surveys of local waters were conducted, prioritizing limestone spring-fed streams, where they often thrive. Temperature, specific conductance, and pH data were recorded during manual sampling, as well as relative abundances to quantify density. Leaf pack sampling was used to assess overall benthic invertebrate community composition in previously sampled sites both with and without NZMS and to assess their effects on decomposition rates. Although none of the water quality measures were significantly correlated with NZMS density, no or very few NZMS were observed in sites with specific conductance < 300 μS/ cm, even in streams with abundant mudsnails at nearby sites. NZMS density in leaf packs was negatively correlated with overall invertebrate diversity and leaf decomposition rate. These findings will help us understand the impact of NZMS on benthic invertebrate ecosystems, as well as the conditions that are favorable and detrimental to their spread.

Donovan Jones, Robert Long

Faculty Sponsor: Theo Light

BIOLOGY

Factors Affecting Reproduction in the Pennsylvania Endangered

Dwarf Iris, Iris verna

Reproduction in plants can be influenced by many factors. Understanding which factors have the power to limit reproduction in a species is necessary for its conservation, as these limitations may prevent the growth of a population or the establishment of new ones. In 2025, research was conducted on three populations of a Pennsylvania state-endangered plant species, Iris verna var. smalliana (Dwarf Iris), to determine if they exhibited differences in reproduction. Additionally, pollination experiments examined the possibility of pollen limitation in I. verna. Select flowers from all three populations received hand-pollination treatments and were paired with control flowers to compare success in producing fruit. The numbers of flowers, fruits, and stems made by individual plants were counted and compared as measures of reproductive success. Hand pollination did not result in significantly more flowers producing fruit, indicating pollenlimitation in I. verna was not occurring in 2025. Reproduction among the three populations was found to differ. While all populations produced a similar ratio of fruits to flowers, one population produced fewer flowers than the other populations and, therefore, fewer fruits. It is currently unclear what caused reduced flower production in this population. Fruit production was also found to be lower for all populations than in past years. Our combined results suggest that some abiotic factor, rather than pollinator availability, is likely responsible.

Ashley Adelgren, Adelyn Hartlaub, Ryan Haskins, Nicole Vela

Faculty Sponsor: Heather Sahli

Genetic and Autophagic Control of Apoptosis Resistance in Glioblastoma

Apoptosis is a regulated form of programmed cell death that maintains homeostasis and prevents damage by eliminating dysfunctional cells; cancer is a key example of apoptosis dysregulation in which tumor cells survive past their lifespan, causing uncontrolled cell growth. Resistance to apoptosis can be caused by genetic mutations or altered cellular processes, making cells less susceptible to chemotherapy and radiation. In response, tumor cells may rely on survival mechanisms such as autophagy or activate other forms of cell death. This study examined responses of two glioblastoma derived cell lines to stressors that, in theory, should induce apoptosisincluding cobalt chloride, menadione, temozolomide, and ET18-OCH3. To investigate whether increased autophagy had an impact on cell survival, cells were treated with regulators that promote or block autophagy: rapamycin, chloroquine, and wortmannin. Cell survival was monitored and MDC fluorescence was used to quantitate autophagy. Extending these results, alternative death pathways were investigated including ferroptosis, necroptosis, and pyroptosis. Pathway specific inhibitors were added to cells with menadione to determine pathways contributing to treatment-induced cell death. Cell and nuclear morphology examined by fluorescent microscopy demonstrated characteristics typical of specific death pathways. Gene expression and protein analysis can be utilized to highlight mechanistic links to different forms of cell death.

Calyn Clements, Ethan Schick

Faculty Sponsor: Sherri Bergsten

BIOLOGY

Genetic Investigation Into the Dependence on GCN4 of the Induction of Autophagy by Rapamycin

Bulk autophagy is a cellular degradation process that degrades damaged organelles and cellular components, including proteins. Autophagy is induced in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae under cellular stress conditions, including nitrogen and amino acid starvation, as well as treatment with the drug rapamycin. Nutrient starvation and rapamycin treatment have been shown to result in increased translation of the transcription factor Gcn4 in yeast, and induction of autophagy during amino acid starvation has been shown to depend on Gcn4. We are therefore investigating whether the induction of autophagy by rapamycin treatment in yeast requires derepression and increased translation of GCN4.

Nicholas Albert

Faculty Sponsor: Emily Kramer

Karyotype of Iris verna

Biodiversity loss is a major environmental issue that is accelerating globally. Increasing evidence links reductions in population size, habitat fragmentation, and climate change to declining genetic diversity, referred to as genetic erosion. Understanding the mechanisms underlying these declines is essential not only for conserving individual species but also for maintaining ecological stability within ecosystems. Iris verna, commonly known as the “Dwarf Violet Iris”, is a perennial native to the eastern United States and known for its zygomorphic violet flowers with a gold nectar guide. The species thrives in partially shaded woodland habitats, where it forms colonies through shallow rhizomes. Its ecological importance is largely associated with its role as a food source for pollinators as well its functions as groundcover in woodlands. Iris verna populations in Pennsylvania, located at the northern edge of the species’ range, have experienced declines in sexual reproduction. Previous research suggests that shifts in ploidy level, the number of complete chromosome sets within a cell, can occur during range expansion and may influence stress tolerance and adaptation in plants. This research aims to conduct a chromosomal analysis of Iris verna cells to visualize chromosomes and investigate potential variation in ploidy level that may contribute to observed reproductive decline. Methods are adapted from established protocols with assistance from Dr. William Patrie.

Robert Long, Bailey Schwartz

Faculty Sponsor: Heather Sahli

BIOLOGY

Molecular Analysis of Ticks from Letterkenny Army Depot for the Prevalence of Babesia

Babesia is the causative agent of human babesiosis (Babesia spp.), known to be vectored by ticks (primarily Ixodes scapularis (deer ticks)), and has emerged as a public health concern in regions of high tick activity (including Pennsylvania). Human cases of babesiosis have broad presentations, require complicated courses of treatment with both antibacterial and antiparasitic agents, and often cause chronic infection/symptoms in infected individuals. To date, no vaccine has been developed for Babesia. Ticks collected from Letterkenny Army Depot in Chambersburg, PA are being molecularly assessed (polymerase chain reaction) for the detection of Babesia. These results will contribute to greater public health measures and be the basis of surveillance studies.

Cejay Cocco, Adam Hasan, Lyric Mayer, Neel Patel

Faculty Sponsor: Allison Fedrow

BIOLOGY

Orientia Tsutsugamushi in Pennsylvania

Scrub typhus is a vector-borne infectious disease, caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi. Historically believed to be confined to the Tsutsigamushi Triangle in East Asia, serological and molecular evidence demonstrated that Orientia species can occur well beyond this region, including Africa, South America, and most recently the United States. Detection of Orientia DNA in chiggers collected in North Carolina suggests the potential for broader distribution within North America, eliciting the need for expanded surveillance. Our study aimed to evaluate the presence of Orientia species in Pennsylvania through molecular analysis of archived ectoparasite and small mammal tissue samples. Samples are currently being assessed via molecular analysis using previously validated Orientia- specific assays. Orientiapositive samples will be subjected to DNA sequencing.

Allison Pioli, Stephanie Schaer

Faculty Sponsor: Richard Stewart

BIOLOGY

Quantification of Hypomodified tRNALys in Yeast

The proper maturation and processing of tRNA, which includes modifications to several individual nucleotides, is vital for the health of a cell. Accumulation of improperly structured and hypomodified tRNA in the cytoplasm may lead to reduced efficiency and/or fidelity of protein synthesis. Various types of aberrant tRNA have been shown to accumulate in cells in which a cytosolic tRNA decay pathway or a tRNA nuclear transport pathway are nonfunctional, which suggests that such aberrant tRNA are degraded and/or translocated to the nucleus in normal cells. We investigated the effects of inhibiting these pathways independently and simultaneously on the abundance of one type of hypomodified tRNA.

Gavin Harris, Destynn McClane, Ava Whysong

Faculty Sponsor: Emily Kramer

BIOLOGY

Rickettsia Surveillance in Ectoparasites Collected in Pennsylvania

This project investigates the prevalence of the spotted fever group (SFG) and typhus group (TG) Rickettsia in Pennsylvania. Rickettsial diseases are significant zoonoses transmitted by arthropods like ticks, fleas and lice, causing symptoms ranging from flu-like illness to severe morbidity and mortality. Notable rickettsial agents in Pennsylvania include the causative agents Rocky Mountain spotted fever and sylvatic epidemic typhus, in which the latter has been linked to flying squirrel populations. Using historical ectoparasite collections in the Department of Biology, previously validated molecular assays to detect Rickettsia-specific genes are being employed for the surveillance of Rickettsia. Selected Rickettsia-positive samples will be subjected to DNA sequencing. This surveillance aims to generate public health data regarding the prevalence of rickettsial agents in central Pennsylvania.

Brea Fennick, Kyle Pritiskutch, Kaiden Young

Faculty Sponsor: Alison Fedrow

Role of Autophagy in Senescence and Cell Migration during Chemotherapy

Cellular recycling through autophagy has been linked to both suppression and promotion of senescence. Senescent cells exhibit cell cycle arrest, but they can promote tumorigenesis in other cells or can be reactivated themselves. A senescence associated secretory phenotype (SASP) further influences cell migration relevant to cancer metastasis. Chemotherapy drugs aim to prevent cancer cell division but the intersection of senescence with autophagy and cell migration impact their effectiveness. From our previous studies in an SNB19 glioblastoma cell line, Palbociclib, which directly inhibits the G1-S transition in the cell cycle, greatly stimulates cell migration. While Vinblastine, blocking microtubule synthesis during later stages of mitosis, does not show the same effect on cell migration. Our current project investigates how the stage of cell division arrest alters connections between autophagy, senescence, and cell migration. Additional chemotherapy drugs are being used such as Topotecan which disrupts DNA synthesis in S phase, and Temozolomide which causes DNA damage and G2-M arrest. Cell migration is assessed in a wound healing assay, with simultaneous measurement of autophagy and senescence in migrating versus non-migrating cells. Our cell line carries fluorescent markers to allow visualization of autophagy. To evaluate senescence and recovery from senescence, we are measuring cell proliferation and quantitating senescent cells with a B-galactosidase assay.

Aryan

Gaonkar, Ruben Lopez Valencia, Jamee Mazonis, Aubrey Mcbride

Faculty Sponsor: Sherri Bergsten

BIOLOGY

Snake Population Dynamics and Responses to Agricultural Practices at Simms Farm, Pennsylvania

In recent years, reptiles have been recognized as one of the most vulnerable groups of terrestrial vertebrates. Due to their relatively low metabolic rates and reclusive behavior, reptiles remain an understudied group, thus the impacts of anthropogenic activity, especially agriculture, on taxa such as snakes are relatively unknown. Given that farmland represents approximately 25% of land-use in Pennsylvania and 48.6% and 54.5% of land-area in Cumberland and Franklin Counties, respectively, it is important to continue monitoring snake population demographics and responses to agricultural activity at Simms Farm, a farmland on the border of Cumberland and Franklin Counties in which snake population data has been collected since 2022. Cover boards on the periphery of deciduous forest on Simms Farm will be checked for snakes on two separate dates in April 2026. Captured snakes will be identified to species level, scanned for PIT tags, sexed, measured, and examined for injuries, ingested food, and reproductive status. Data will be compared to previously collected data from surveys of Simms Farm and nearby Letterkenny Army Depot. Based on previous surveys, two species will likely be identified at Simms Farm, Eastern Gartersnakes (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis) and Northern Watersnake (Nerodia sipedon sipedon), as these species were most commonly collected at the farm previously and T. s. sirtalis becomes active earlier than other snakes in Pennsylvania.

Jarod Albrecht, Sean Kiley, Ruby Tilder

Faculty Sponsor: Pablo Delis

BIOLOGY

Surveillance for Echinococcus in Pennsylvania Gray Foxes

Intestinal parasites found within wild canids hold a potential zoonotic health crisis for rural communities as many of the parasite eggs can survive extremely harsh conditions and infect domestic animals and humans. Of the many parasites capable of infecting human, the most threatening is caused by the Echinococcus genera of tapeworms, which can cause hydatidosis, a severe and difficult to treat parasitic infection. To better understand the potential zoonotic threat posed by native gray foxes in Pennsylvania we collected and conducted standard fecal flotations on the stool remaining collected from 42 gray foxes at hunts in February 2025. Thus far, our analysis demonstrated that at least 26% (11/42) of gray fox stool samples had parasite eggs, however, continued analysis of photographs taken during examination may yield higher results. Of the 11 foxes observed thus far, 5 are roundworms: Capillaria aerophia, Crenosoma vulpis, Strongiloides sp., Toxocara canis, and Trichuris vulpis. We identified 2 flatworms: one tapeworm,Taenia sp. or Echinococcus sp. and one digenean fluke, Metorchis conjunctus. We also identified 2 protists from their oocysts including Sarcocystis sp. and Isospora sp. Of most concern is the observation of Taenia sp. or Echinococcus sp. eggs within the stool, as infection of intermediate hosts results in hydatid cyst development. Genetic identification may be required to confirm the identity of the tapeworms.

Houmed Ali, Luca Galindo

Faculty Sponsor: Richard Stewart

BIOLOGY

Using CRISPR Interference

to

Investigate the Role of the Nuclear Exosome in Degrading Hypomodified tRNAs

Transfer RNA molecules (tRNAs) function to deliver individual amino acids, the building blocks of proteins, to the site of cellular protein synthesis. tRNAs are made in the nucleus of the cell and then exported to the cytoplasm, which is the location of protein synthesis. Importantly, all mature tRNAs undergo import back to the nucleus in a process termed retrograde tRNA transport. One known function of retrograde tRNA transport is to proofread tRNAs, to help ensure that a functional pool of properly modified cytoplasmic tRNAs is available to support protein synthesis. Previous research showed that two types of aberrant tRNAs exist, suggesting that upon nuclear import, they are either degraded or repaired. One possibility is that one or both types of aberrant tRNAs are degraded by the nuclear exosome, mediated by the enzyme Rrp6. This project aims to investigate the role of the nuclear exosome in degrading one type of aberrant tRNA, tRNA lacking a dimethyl nucleotide modification.

Kayla Beckner, Sarah Cooper

Faculty Sponsor: Emily Kramer

CIVIL AND MECHANICAL

Conceptual Framework for Floating Concrete Applications: Prestressed FRP in Lightweight Structural Design and Optimization

Our research project is a deep dive into many advanced aspects of civil engineering. The greatest portion of our project is based on a floating concrete slab in the ocean, which has many applications. In order to maximize the efficiency of this slab, we designed it to be lightweight, environmentally friendly, and incorporate the newest technologies in the construction world by including fiber reinforced polymers (FRP) as our rebar, which has very limited research in the United States. We conducted a prestressing experiment on this rebar, which provided the tensile strength our concrete lacks. Additionally, we worked on a lightweight concrete (“foamcrete”) mix design to support floating structures, completed complex structural design and analysis, and incorporated the FRP rebar. Our research makes leaps in the civil engineering world, and allows the opportunity for future improvements to make life on water feasible.

Emily Calamia, Clayton Diehl, Kyler Everly, Kiara Fox, Blake Speiden

Faculty Sponsor: Moayyad Al-Nasra

CIVIL AND MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

Design and Fabrication of a Custom, Low-Impedance Suspension System for the Ship SAE BAJA Vehicle

To create a comprehensive, completely revised suspension system that gives the team unparalleled dynamic control over the vehicle over various terrain improving on many aspects of the previous iteration.

The project focuses on refining the suspension system to improve handling, steering capability, and course-specific performance. Planned upgrades include selecting coilovers tailored to the vehicle’s actual weight, redesigning the front suspension to increase steering angle and reduce turning radius, and lengthening the rear suspension arms to widen the track and enhance stability. These changes will require new custom-fabricated front A-arms and broader rear trailing arms, developed in coordination with the steering sub-team to ensure cohesive system performance.

Moses Kimotho, Mette Madsen

Faculty Sponsor: João Dias

CIVIL AND MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

Design and Fabrication of the 2026 Steering System for the SAE BAJA Vehicle

One of the key requirements of a successful BAJA vehicle for the SAE BAJA competition is a well tuned steering system that produces a tight turning radius and can withstand stresses experienced during a race. Last year the Shippensburg BAJA steering team designed and fabricated a custom steering system designed specifically for the new buggy. While the turning radius was greatly improved some non optimized junctions led to unintended play in the steering system. Additionally the weight of the system was not designed around leading to an unintentionally heavy steering box. This year the steering column was redesigned using computer simulation software to test linkages and connectors under estimated loads. With this data, new connections that would withstand the simulated loads were chosen to keep the steering tight and eliminate unintended play in the system. To reduce weight in the system the size of the steering box was reduced and the main plates were manufactured with aluminum. The steering system along with the rest of the BAJA vehicle will be put to the test during the SAE BAJA New York competition in June.

Connor Force

Faculty Sponsor: João Dias

CIVIL AND MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

Design and Manufacturing of an Integrated Vehicle Control System

The Vehicle Control Systems sub-team for the Ship BAJA team was tasked with improving multiple key systems in the buggy. First, a redesign of the electrical system including a custom GPS-based speedometer to gather acceleration data and a fuel sensor to keep the driver in the know at all times. Second, improving the throttle setup by creating a smoother and more reliable pedal interface, with an upgraded throttle cable for a more responsive interface. Finally, a complete overhaul of the brake system, utilizing a racinggrade pedal with dual-cylinders pushing out hardlines to increase pressure efficiency with custom manufactured splitters. This project is about taking these complex and interwoven systems from the design phase all the way through to a fully functional off-road vehicle.

Caleb Christensen, Elijah Cohen, Dan Diehl, Dalton Moser, Holden Stotler

Faculty Sponsor: João Dias

CIVIL AND MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

Weld Breaker

This research project combines principles of mechanical design with an understanding of material properties to develop a tool that is both effective and reliable. By analyzing how different materials respond to applied forces, the project ensures that the weld breaker can handle a range of welded joints commonly encountered in industrial applications. In particular, this design will be focused on applications involving 1-inch tubing, a common material size in fabrication and structural assemblies, ensuring that the tool is optimized for practical and widely used scenarios. The outcome of this study has the potential to enhance student understanding of material properties, and manufacturing methods.

Dan Diehl, Marc DiPiano, James Rettew

Faculty Sponsor: João Dias

COMMUNICATION, JOURNALISM, AND MEDIA

A World Apart: Depiction of Women in Global Media

This poster will focus media portrayal of women in different parts of the world, especially how sub-groups such as working women, older or younger women, and others are framed in news and other forms of mass media (e.g., depiction of working women in Pakistan vs USA).

Abby Shygelski

Faculty Sponsor: Dhiman Chattopadhyay

COMMUNICATION, JOURNALISM, AND MEDIA

Exploring a Healthy Sense of Belonging, Anxiety, and Insecurity, and their Relationship with Parasocial Relationships

Influenced by external emotional factors like insecurity, loneliness, and a lack of a healthy sense of belonging, young adults are putting themselves out there online to find their purpose or sense of belonging. By putting themselves online, they expect such transparency and honesty from different social media personalities in return. College students, fueled by the fear of missing out, which is a natural inclination stemming from anxiety, seek constant connection through online communities. Survey research of students at a mid-sized university in the Northeast measures students’ sense of belonging as well as their daily/weekly media habits. The second part of the survey assesses the individual’s interactions with social media personalities online. Data from the surveys will show the relationships among screen time, loneliness, sense of belonging, fear of missing out, and engagement with influencers. Implications for offline and online relationships are explored.

Jenna Bachman

Faculty Sponsor: Carrie Sipes

COMMUNICATION, JOURNALISM, AND MEDIA

From Shame to Power: Women’s Sexual Expression in Music

This poster will focus on the rise in female music artists creating music about sexual empowerment vs how historically women have been shamed by the public and the music industry for sexual expression.

Kai Patterson

Faculty Sponsor: Dhiman Chattopadhyay

COMMUNICATION, JOURNALISM, AND MEDIA

Mis-framed: East European Immigrants in US Media

This poster will focus on the media framing early East-European immigrants in United States. Specifically, this poster will demonstrate how different forms of media portrayed and stereotyped the immigrants from Eastern Europe. The poster will also show how diverse and unique the different people and cultures of the region are to show the inaccuracy of many of these stereotypes.

Ian Wood

Faculty Sponsor: Dhiman Chattopadhyay

COMMUNICATION, JOURNALISM, AND MEDIA

Sport, Disability, and Media Frames

This poster will depict how disabled sportspersons are portrayed in the media. Specifically the poster will do a comparative analysis of the framing of disabled athletes across diverse mass media platforms (e.g., news, social media, TV, movies, advertisements etc.) in the late 1990s/early 2000s and in more recent years (the past 10 years).

Keira Knedeisen

Faculty Sponsor: Dhiman Chattopadhyay

COMPUTER ENGINEERING

Shippensburg Robotics Club

The NASA Lunabotics Challenge is an annual collegiate engineering competition in which universities all over the United States design and build a robotic excavator that is able to operate in simulated Lunar conditions.

The Shippensburg 2026 Lunabotics Team is currently in the process of developing a semi-autonomous robot capable of operating in lunar environments. The team is split into three groups: Mechanical, Electrical, and Software. The Mechanical team is responsible for developing the frame and the digging mechanism of the robot.

The goal for the mechanical team is to design a frame that protects the internal components of the robot while also effectively collecting and transporting lunar materials.

The Electrical team is responsible for developing an electrical circuit that powers the robot. The robots need to be able to run at 100% power for longer than 30 minutes. Allowing the robot to perform at peak conditions for the duration of the challenge.

The Software team is responsible for the programming aspect of the robot. They handle the moving and controlling aspect of the robot while also experimenting with the autonomous field. They are also responsible for the network side of the robot. Since we will be controlling the robot in a different room, the robot needs to be controlled via WIFI.

Adolfo Alvarez Jr., Liam Dupler, Will Morrison, Terrence Steele, Jacklyn Wood

Faculty Sponsor: Fethi Belkhouche

COMPUTER, ELECTRICAL, AND SOFTWARE ENGINEERING Design Patterns in Rust

This project focuses on building a 2D video game entirely in Rust, with an emphasis on scalable software architecture and best practices. The project applies design patterns to support maintainable and extensible code, while also using a modular structure for controllers and game logic. Data handling is managed through JSON for configuration and SQL databases for persistent storage of player progress, scores, and game states. In addition, the project explores Rust crates for web server integration, allowing the game to be hosted online. The overall goal is to develop a large-scale 2D video game hosted on a Rust web server while examining design patterns, anti-patterns, and best practices in modular software design.

Arianna Mekovich

Faculty Sponsor: Carol Wellington

RhythmicAI

This project presents RhythmicAI; a Java based AI system that is designed to independently generate song lyrics and musical notation based on user specified parameters which include genre, mood, tempo, musical key, song duration, and prompts. The system uses an N-gram statistical model that is trained on a music dataset from Kaggle. To evaluate the system’s performance, comprehensive testing was conducted across component functionality, integration scenarios, edge cases, and performance metrics, along with a user study involving 30 participants who generated tracks and provided feedback through a structured google survey. RhythmicAI utilizes a web interface that allows users to generate their own unique music tracks, view any previously generated content, and convert generated lyrics into audio files using Suno AI’s free API. User feedback validated the interface’s usability while identifying areas of improvement in lyrical depth and musical complexity. Thorough testing validates the system’s functionality across all components, integrations, and performances. Though the project demonstrates the possibilities of AI-generated musical composition, further research reveals its limitations, including a lack of deeper theme, and musical notations that remain relatively simplistic compared to human compositions.

Connor Skiles

Faculty Sponsor: Carol Wellington

CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Offense Type and the Likelihood of Recidivism Among Centre County Juveniles

Prior research in juvenile justice has examined the impact of offense type on recidivism, such as sexual, violent, or substance use offenses. The results have been conflicting on whether offense type matters. The current study builds on prior research by including the following offense types: violent offenses, sexual offenses, substance use offenses, property offenses, and other offenses. The research completed in this project is significant to the juvenile justice system since research on offense type has been sparse with conflicting results. Accordingly, it provides an additional study in the context of Centre County Pennsylvania juvenile probation. Using data from the Pennsylvania Juvenile Case Management System (JCMS), the current study aimed to investigate the relationship between offense type and the likelihood of reoffending in Centre County. Univariate, bivariate, and multivariate analyses were conducted on a sample of juveniles in Centre County who received a written allegation (N = 336). The findings revealed that property offenders were the most likely to recidivate. Implications for future research, policy, and practice will be discussed.

Mattea Dunn

Faculty Sponsor: Laura Beckman

CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Patterns and Trends of Hate Crime 2020-2024

For this presentation I will be showing the patterns and trends of hate crime within a five year difference from 2020-2024. The trends are focused upon targeted groups within the 7 types of groups; race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, disability. Along with that providing information on the Hate Crime Statistics Act and how it has evolved in order for us to find this data today. Going into detail about the top offenses which are vandalism, intimidation, simple assault, aggravated assault and how they stay consistent. Dividing the studies and statistics into various groups over the 5 year period such as specific biases in bar charts and offenses into a graph, as well as showing a pie chart for the bias motivations or general bias.

Zoe Holden

Faculty Sponsor: Matthew Fetzer

ECONOMICS

Egyptian Fiscal Policy

This research examines the issues that Egypt’s economy faces through previous works and an empirical analysis based on time series data collected from fiscal years 2013/14 to 2024/25. A thorough analysis of other scholarly work is paired with data analysis to draw connections between different trends in Egypt’s fiscal policy history and steps that can be taken to improve the economic stability in the country. The findings show that Egypt’s economy can only be sustained through real effective fiscal policy under the conditions that political stability is achieved and long-term goals are prioritized. Fiscal and monetary policy should be used in careful coordination to ensure proper and efficient results, especially considering Egypt’s large informal economy, high debt, and widening fiscal deficit.

Haneen Hussein

Faculty Sponsor: Freddy Siahaan

ECONOMICS

Target vs. Walmart: How PR Statements Affect Total Revenue and Price of Stock

This paper analyzes how Target Corporation (TGT) and Walmart Inc. (WMT) press releases may affect their revenues and stock prices. Data was examined from February 2024, continuing up to November 2025 for both companies. Sales and revenue data were collected from 10-Q documents for each quarter since February 2024. Closed stock prices for each company came from Yahoo Finance. Public relations campaign data was gathered from press releases and corporate websites of each company. Results show that the changes in the stock prices and total revenues were somewhat connected to the press releases, showing that major changes took place after a significant traditional event, such as a holiday, when the stock prices and total revenues increased for both companies.

Karen Duffy

Faculty Sponsor: Freddy Siahaan

Beyond “I’m Fine”: Using Emoji Check-Ins to Support Middle School Students

This presentation examines the implementation of daily emoji-based emotional check-ins in a 6th grade homeroom at Shippensburg Area Middle School. Designed as a proactive Tier 1 social-emotional learning (SEL) support, this initiative provides students with a structured, choicedriven opportunity to identify and communicate their emotions at the start of each school day.

Each morning, students complete a brief survey during homeroom by selecting an emoji from an Emoji Emotions Wheel that best represents how they are feeling. The survey begins with a normalization statement affirming that all emotions are valid. Based on their selection, students receive developmentally appropriate follow-up questions. Sharing the reason behind their emotion is optional, and students may choose whether they would like to speak with a teacher about their emotions.

The goal is to identify students who consistently report negative or atypical emotions and provide targeted support. Students indicating challenging emotions receive individualized notes of encouragement highlighting their strengths, along with intentional monitoring throughout the day.

After one month, trends in reported emotions will be analyzed to determine whether consistent validation and support lead to more positive morning emotions. This poster shares the survey structure, sample prompts, and early outcomes of integrating meaningful emotional check-ins into middle school routines.

Hayley Marsh

Faculty Sponsor: Thomas Crochunis

ENGLISH

Conservation Communication Co’s Technical Writing Deliverables for South Mountain Partnership

South Mountain Partnership is a regional conservation project located in south-central Pennsylvania. In 2023, they launched their State of the Region Report, which showcases the region’s land growth and how resources are affected by both growth and change. Our ENGL438: Advanced Technical Writing course has partnered with South Mountain Partnership to condense and revise their State of the Region report to an updated and accessible document over the course of the class period. To do this, we split the class into two groups, and our group is specifically working on condensing and streamlining the report using the skills taught in both Technical Writing and Advanced Technical Writing. The deliverables we will be presenting to South Mountain Partnership are two condensed versions of their chapter five, one for print and one for their website, a condensed model of chapter six of the report, and finally two executive summaries, one for printing and one for their website. To create these condensed versions of their report, as a group, we will be interviewing the project leaders about their visions for an updated report, researching other State of the Region reports, and what worked successfully in their reports, creating graphs to reflect the data found in the report, and providing graphics to enhance the readability of the document as a whole.

Emily Brewer, Kyemani Davis, John Devlin, Katelyn Mader

Faculty Sponsor: Carla Kungl

ENGLISH

Elevating the Marketing Presence of the South Mountain Partnership Conservation Network

For my Advanced Technical Writing class my group, Elevate Marketing Solutions, had to help the South Mountain Partnership Conservation Network reach out to a wider audience. It was a fun lesson in marketing and document design. This was an exciting opportunity to help out a great company with an important mission.

Emily Boyer, Candace Braddok, Carmela Caracotche, Charles Herrick, Matthew Hoover

Faculty Sponsor: Carla Kungl

ENGLISH

Incorporating Young Adult Literature to Create Belonging in the Classroom

Young adult literature (YAL) has been a celebrated genre that is defined as, “literature written and marked for teenagers” (Illuminating Discourses 47), and has grown and grown in popularity. However, it seems prevalent that there is some difficulty or apprehension regarding whether or not to implement young adult literature into ELA instruction. A large aspect of this apprehension seems to come from teachers and preservice teachers not knowing what YA literature to teach, as well as approaching adolescences from societal stereotypes and not knowing how to approach discourses about adolescence with students. These issues and challenges regarding implementing YAL into ELA classrooms are important to understand, and once they are understood teachers can work towards implementing YAL, which research suggests that engaging students with YAL can create a safe and belonging environment and culture in the classroom.

Lauren Pool

Faculty Sponsor: Tom Crochunis

ENGLISH

Integrating Creative Writing to Show Understanding

When secondary schools emphasize performance on standardized tests of expository writing, the repetitive writing tasks can make student stressed, bored, and ultimately disengaged as they practice repeating the same patterns of writing over and over. Creative writing can break this cycle while still testing the students on their understanding of key concepts the state standards emphasize without limiting students’ creativity and engagement.

Alcinda Burchill

Faculty Sponsor: Thomas Crochunis

The Integration of Vocabulary and Silent Sustained Reading in ELA Classrooms

In the English Education Methods course, my cohort and I investigated evidence-based strategies for enhancing vocabulary acquisition and longterm retention. Additionally, we analyzed the value of Sustained Silent Reading (SSR) and its essential role in the modern secondary curriculum.

Faith Sprecher, Kiersten Wade

Faculty Sponsor: Thomas Crochunis

ENGLISH

Raising Writing Skills: Using Low-Stakes Writing to Support Student Growth

During the Fall 2025 semester, I read Reading with Presence by Marilyn Pryle. In this book she discusses how Reader Responses help students to practice and improve upon a variety of skills (close reading, metacognition, citing, voice). During my student teaching in Spring 2026, I have had students complete several Reader Responses and have seen great growth in their writing skills. In my project I will summarize the research I did on lowstakes writing assignments, as well as provide the data I collected on how students writing improved after completing several Reader Responses.

Tomi May

Faculty Sponsor: Thomas Crochunis

ENGLISH

Using Literature to Help Students Reach Beyond Themselves

There is currently an empathy deficit. Many struggle to imagine the lives of others who come from different backgrounds. This can lead to intolerance and polarization. Additionally, some traditional English curricula emphasizes literary analysis over emotional connection or awareness. Drawing on research analyzing various aspects of empathy, I explored how literature can challenge students to decenter their lived experiences. Through close reading of YA literary texts, pedagogical research, and curriculum design, I created a framework for an empathy-driven curriculum that educators can integrate flexibly in their secondary level English classrooms. During student teaching, I integrated aspects of this curriculum into the classroom. The importance of historical and cultural understanding, or empathy, was highlighted throughout this process. As the students’ empathetic skills rooted in historical and cultural understanding grew, their engagement with and understanding of the literature deepened as well. This understanding was demonstrated through polls, written responses, class discussion, and group work. Continuous research is being done on the positive correlation between textual empathy and real-world empathy over the course of student teaching through surveys and observations.

Kylie Saar

Faculty Sponsor: Thomas Crochunis

Effects of Acute Refueling on Anaerobic Power Test Performance During Pre-Season Soccer Training

Refueling following acute exercise may be instrumental in supporting recovery during intensified training. The purpose was to compare the effects of two isocaloric solutions on anaerobic power test performance prior to and following one week of pre-season soccer training. Fourteen, collegiate soccer players were recruited for the study. Following each soccer training session, participants were supplied a 250ml beverage containing 20g whey protein and 40g CHO (HP) or a beverage containing 5g whey protein and 55g CHO (LP). Subjects completed anaerobic pre and post testing as a determinant of power maintenance and recovery capabilities. It was found that refueling solution composition did not elicit any treatment or time treatment effects. We were able to conclude that Post-exercise refueling drink composition (HP vs. LP) did not differently affect anaerobic performance test markers over the course of pre-season training. Postexercise refueling strategies should be explored further.

Drew Williams

Faculty Sponsor: William Braun

EXERCISE SCIENCE

Effects of Reflexive Performance Reset (RPR) on Vertical Jump, Broad Jump, and Pro Agility

Reflexive Performance Reset (RPR) is a neuromuscular warm-up technique that employs a breathing technique and tactile stimulation of trigger points to enhance performance and reduce injury risk. By influencing the balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, RPR presents an approach to optimize athletic function. Purpose: To evaluate the effects of RPR alone, a dynamic warm-up, and a combined RPR and dynamic warm-up protocol on power and agility outcomes while performing the vertical jump (VJ), broad jump (BJ), and a Pro Agility test (PA).

Methods: Twenty division II male football athletes (age 19.5±1.0 yrs, height 1.86±0.07 m, mass 103.3±20.1kg), with no current injuries, were recruited to participate. Each participant completed three separate test sessions, each utilizing a different warm-up protocol tailored to the condition in which they are placed in: RPR, dynamic, and combined. Each test session was performed over three separate days, in a randomized order. Results: Performance data was recorded and analyzed to determine the effectiveness of each warm-up condition. There were no significant differences between RPR, dynamic and combined warm up protocols in VJ (25.8±3.8 in (RPR) vs. 25.8±3.6 in (Dynamic) vs. 27.15±3.7 in (Combined); p=0.06), although the combined protocol produced highest outcome. Conclusion: According to the study’s findings, the best results on athletic performance may be obtained by combined dynamic warm-up with RPR present.

Lena Lewis

Faculty Sponsor: Joohee Sanders

The Effects of Screen Time on Response Times, Cognitive Function, and Physical Performance

The purpose of this study was to investigate how response time, cognitive function, and physical performance are affected by different types of electronic device screen time. 12 females and 9 males completed a baseline day of testing followed by separate days for each experimental condition (control, negative, and positive stimuli). Following 20 minutes of monitored screen exposure, each participant performed four tests: Stroop Task, Biopac reaction time, Fitlight response time, and vertical jump power. The ANOVA revealed that there were statistically significant improvements in Stroop, Biopac, and Fitlight task performances (p < 0.05) relative to baseline. For the Stroop task, there were significant differences in the number of errors between baseline (4.2 ± 1.9) to control (3.1 ± 2.2), baseline to negative (2.9 ± 2.5), and baseline to positive (2.4 ± 2.1) screen conditions. For the Biopac task, there were significant differences in reaction times (sec) between baseline (0.226 ± 0.029) to control (0.215 ± 0.025), baseline to negative (0.212 ± 0.021), and baseline to positive (0.208 ± 0.030) screen conditions. For the Fitlight task, there were significant differences in response times (sec) between baseline (0.631 ± 0.148) to control (0.550 ± 0.135), baseline to negative (0.528 ± 0.103), and baseline to positive (0.540 ± 0.121) screen conditions. No significant differences were found in vertical jump performances (58 ± 3 cm) across conditions (p = 0.11).

Dakota Ebert

Faculty Sponsor: Benjamin Meyer

EXERCISE SCIENCE

No Effects of Acute Refueling Composition on Soccer Athlete Motivation Measures During Pre-Season Training

PURPOSE: Post-training refueling supports recovery especially during high-volume training such as pre-season, but its effects on sport motivation are unclear. This study compares two isocaloric carbohydrate/protein (CHO/ PRO) beverages on motivational factors.

METHODS: Fourteen collegiate soccer players (8 male, 6 female) completed baseline testing, including the Sport Motivation Scale (SMS-28) and a visual soreness analog scale. During one week of pre-season training, athletes consumed either a high protein beverage (20g whey, 40g CHO) or a low protein beverage (5g whey, 55g CHO) after each session. Post-testing followed the same protocol after the week of pre-season training.

RESULTS: No treatment or interaction effects were found between the high protein and low protein beverages. Intrinsic motivation toward accomplishment significantly decreased from PRE to POST (23.4±1.3 to 21.2±1.4 a.u., p=0.016). Trends were observed for reduced intrinsic motivation to experience stimulation (p=0.087), reduced amotivation (p=0.083), and decreased muscle soreness (p=0.08).

CONCLUSION: Post-exercise refueling drink composition (high protein vs. low protein) had no impact on motivational indices or on muscle soreness symptomology over the course of pre-season training.

Nora Braun

Faculty Sponsor: William Braun

EXERCISE SCIENCE

Testing the Validity of Smartwatches at Measuring Heart Rate and Distance on a Treadmill

Smartwatch technology has grown rapidly, yet concerns remain regarding its validity during treadmill exercise.

PURPOSE: To measure the validity of heart rate (HR) and distance measurements of different consumer smartwatches at increasing exercise intensities on a treadmill.

METHODS: Thirty participants (13M, 17F; 20.03±1.85 years) wore three smartwatches and a chest strap during a modified Bruce Treadmill Protocol with speed and incline increasing every three minutes. HR and distance were recorded each minute. Chest strap HR and treadmill distance served as criterion measures. Pearson correlations and percent difference assessed validity.

RESULTS: Compared to chest strap HR (171.27±2.35 bpm), Smartwatch A (170.00±10.03 bpm, r=.35, p=.060, 99.25% accuracy) showed a moderately weak correlation with very high accuracy; Smartwatch B (156.93±22.83 bpm, r=.06, p=.768, 91.64% accuracy) and Smartwatch C (159.07±15.26 bpm, r=.08, p=.692, 92.88% accuracy) showed very weak correlations despite high accuracies. Compared to treadmill distance (0.80±0.23 km), Smartwatch A (0.68±0.27 km, r=.92, p<.001, 83.77% accuracy) and Smartwatch C (0.68±0.24 km, r=.94, p<.001, 84.05% accuracy) demonstrated very strong correlations, while Smartwatch B (0.40±0.25 km, r=.77, p<.001, 46.49% accuracy) showed strong correlation but poor accuracy.

CONCLUSION: Smartwatch A and C performed best. Accuracy varied by device and measure, indicating that smartwatch validity may be suspect during treadmill exercise.

Josalyn Nelligan

Faculty Sponsor: Sam Forlenza

FINANCE AND SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT

Wisman Fund Portfolio Management

The Investment Portfolio (Wisman Fund) Management requires students to use their analytical skills with a data-driven mindset to gain handson experience in investments. Students make all decisions involving the management of the investment portfolio. They analyze holdings in the portfolio and propose changes based on the objectives they set. Students are also required to give presentations and research investment opportunities, the economy, and securities from an expectation and predictive perspective.

Jack McCann

Faculty Sponsor: June Pham

GEOGRAPHY AND EARTH SCIENCE

Developing and Testing of a Biochar Water Filter for the Shippensburg University Campus Farm’s Groundwater Well

The campus farm has a shallow limestone-hosted groundwater well (depth to 49' below the surface) that intersected two different water-producing zones. Given other studies and land use in the Shippensburg area, the groundwater could be contaminated by human activity through the surrounding karst/cave systems. My goal is to build a water filter that uses multiple filtration steps and media, including biochar (activated carbon), to effectively remove major contaminants, so the water is safe for irrigation and other farm needs. A secondary goal is to test for the presence of known and unknown pollutants in the local area of the Campus Farm. This includes various nutrients and PFAS, or forever chemicals, in Burd Run. The big question is whether these are present, and if so, is the filter capable of removing them?

Matthew Hoover

Faculty Sponsor: Sean Cornell

GEOGRAPHY AND EARTH SCIENCE

The Evolution of Beers Economic Impact in Germany

This study analyzes the economic impact of beer in Germany and how that impact has evolved over time. Although beer consumption in Germany has gradually declined in recent decades, the industry remains an important contributor to the national economy. Brewing, distribution, retail sales, and related sectors such as hospitality and tourism continue to generate employment, tax revenue, and regional economic activity. At the same time, competition among retailers has created notable variations in beer prices across locations and throughout the year. Seasonal demand, promotional strategies, and regional preferences all contribute to price differences between brands and retail outlets. Given these dynamics, this study asks the question: How does beer influence Germany’s economy at both the microeconomic and macroeconomic levels?

Kaleb Henry

Faculty Sponsor: Alison Feeney

GEOGRAPHY

AND EARTH SCIENCE

Exploring the Potential of Fungi for Remediation of Motor-Oil-Contaminated Soil in the Burd Run Riparian Buffer Forest

In May 2025, 250 gallons of waste motor oil and other petroleum compounds were discharged into a storm drain connected to Burd Run, a Class A trout stream along the Shippensburg University campus. Emergency services contained the worst impacts, but oil residues remain in stream sediments and riparian soils near the Campus Farm. Fall fieldwork revealed oily residues, odors, and sediment clots, indicating incomplete remediation. Waste oil contains hydrocarbons, metals (Fe, Cu, Pb), lubricant breakdown products (S, Zn), and carcinogenic PAHs. This student-led project will test fungal-based remediation (mycoremediation) as a low-cost, eco-friendly solution. Field sampling, soil testing, and controlled treatments using native oyster (Pleurotus sp.) and wine-cap mushrooms (Stropharia rugosoannulata) will assess effectiveness in breaking down petroleum residues and improving soil health. The study addresses a local environmental problem while giving undergraduates research experience.

Jarod Albrecht, Esther Brown, Astrid Huber, Haiden Martz, Emma Sokolowski

Faculty Sponsor: Sean Cornell

GEOGRAPHY AND EARTH SCIENCE

GEO490 in Beer Cultures

Germany has always had a unique culture. From Bavaria to Saxony the culture has always been undeniable: specifically, within the area’s beer culture. Many Germans tend to hold many of their cultural appropriation to beer. Beersteins, beer houses, even Oktoberfest all have a special place to Germany and its culture—raising the question if beer was purposely invested in for economic purposes.

Due to the geographical location of Germany many areas have had water quality issues. It is questionable why German government chose to continue to pour money into beer factories rather than facilities for water purification. It is always important to question all forms of power, especially power of Government in the current times. I find it important to question the intentions of the German government. It is my belief that Germany purposely ensured quality beer before quality water in order to maintain high tourism amounts and economic development.

I will examine my hypothesis by researching data associated with the beer boom and tourism within Germany, whilst creating a comparison analysis within the timeline of beer quality and water quality. I will not only use data analysis from peer reviewed journals but I will also travel to Germany to interview brewers and locals.

Alexa Johnson

Faculty Sponsor: Alison Feeney

GEOGRAPHY AND EARTH SCIENCE

Geophysical Imaging of a Limestone Cave: Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) investigations in Black Coffee Caverns, Franklin County, PA

During 2023 and 2025, PASSHE Geology Field Course students used GPR to map subsurface karst architecture at two cave systems in southcentral PA: Carnegie Cave (CC) and Black Coffey Caverns (BCC). Surveys were conducted using a MALA X3M with 250- and 100-MHz antennas. The primary goal was to determine whether GPR could resolve known cave levels and identify voids beneath karst depressions. Initial surveys at CC demonstrated the ability of GPR to image at least four discrete cave levels, two of which have been mapped previously. These results guided more targeted investigations at BCC during the 2025 field season. At BCC, data was collected from the surface and from within cave passages. Surface GPR profiles were collected parallel and perpendicular to the strike of nearly vertical limestone units, and underground transects totaling 138.5m were collected along cave passages at two cave levels. T17 begins in the upper cave level at ~530ft elevation and extends southward beneath the central sinkhole to ~524ft; surface GPR data reveals it is ~6m below ground. T20 was collected within the second conduit level at ~502ft and reveals deeper anomalies/voids down to ~482ft. The elevation of Conococheague Creek is at ~469ft, where other cave passages have been noted (i.e a 4th cave level). Our mapping reveals that BCC is a complex, vertically integrated karst conduit system and demonstrates the effectiveness of GPR for mapping multi-level karst systems.

Nicole O’Connor

Faculty Sponsor: Sean Cornell

GEOGRAPHY AND EARTH SCIENCE

GIS Analysis of Yellow Creek in Bedford County, Pennsylvania: Evaluating Fishing Accessibility

Stream access to trout-stocked waterways is vital in promoting inclusiveness and recreational engagement in rural communities. Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS), this study evaluates trout ecology, recreational fishing, and accessibility along Yellow Creek in Bedford County, Pennsylvania. Spatial analyses were used to identify public access points, pull-off zones, and other hospitality categories within proximity of Yellow Creek. This data was used to declare how accessible the stream would be for all demographics and what service industries are in the surrounding area. Results showed that accessibility improvements may be necessary to promote inclusivity better. These findings provide important information for anglers, community planners, and conservation agencies.

Emilee Sherlock

Faculty Sponsor: Alison Feeney

GEOGRAPHY AND EARTH SCIENCE

The Impact of Bavarian Geology on Brewing Water Composition

Historically, beer was often safer to consume than untreated local water, which made it a daily staple in many regions of Bavaria. Over time, distinct regional beer styles emerged that were shaped by cultural preference and brewing traditions. A big influence on the development of these styles, that is often overlooked in current literature, is the composition of local water sources. Water chemistry, particularly mineral contents such as calcium, magnesium, bicarbonate, and sulfate, is strongly influenced by the surrounding geology. As groundwater moves through different geologic units, minerals dissolve from bedrock and sediment which create unique chemical profiles that affect pH, enzyme activity, hop expression, and overall flavor in beer.

This study examines the relationship between Bavarian geologic formations and regional water chemistry to explore how these conditions influenced the development of historical beer styles. By analyzing major geologic units and their associated hydrochemical characteristics, this research seeks to better understand how geology indirectly shaped Bavaria’s brewing traditions and regional beer identities. As part of a Beer Culture course, field testing will be conducted during travel to Bavaria and will include sampling local water sources to support this analysis.

Lauren Wolford

Faculty Sponsor: Alison Feeney

GEOGRAPHY AND EARTH SCIENCE

Mapping Via Ferrata for Sustainable Adventure Tourism with Drone-Based GIS

This project had two primary goals: to obtain an FAA Part 107 certification and to lay the groundwork for comparing via ferrata sites in the Eastern and Western United States and Europe. Drones are increasingly becoming important in mapping and geospatial careers. As such, this project primarily serves as a way to showcase the benefits of earning a part 107 certification and the capabilities of drone work. Briefly, via ferrata sites serve as extreme adventure tourism. They are characterized by iron rungs and cables bolted to vertical rock faces that tourists navigate through a mixture of rock climbing and hiking. By obtaining a drone pilot license, comparative work of these sites is aimed to start at Nelson Rocks in West Virginia. Results will provide data into slope stability, erosion risks, and accessibility points. Additionally, results will include tourism characteristics and comparative infrastructure. These data will be compared to a via ferrata site in Colorado and possibly to several sites across Europe.

Grace Coffman

Faculty Sponsor: Alison Feeney

GEOGRAPHY AND EARTH

The Overall Risk Posed by Non-State Actors Using Open-Source Data to Target Critical Electrical Infrastructure in South Central Pennsylvania.

Open-source data can become a significant risk to the public in the wrong hands depending on how sensitive the data are. With new and constant threats arising around the world, and the number of individuals trained in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) increasing, the threat to the overall public increases. Non-state actors are a considerable threat to the United States based on past attacks against the nation. This study looks at using and acquiring only public, open-source data electronically in an analysis of electrical infrastructure critical to day-to-day lives of people residing within Southcentral Pennsylvania. A vulnerability model is generated from publicly accessed data to determine which electrical substations are most vulnerable to attack using specific factors to quantify the risks. Only publicly available data are used from data distribution websites, papers, and street imagery to better determine the overall risks. A rating scheme is developed as proof of concept to determine a rough level of risk of attack against substations within the study area. Determining what areas are under the greatest risk can provide lawmakers, utilities and emergency responders proof of concept to help identify strategies to better protect sensitive data and infrastructure.

Raymond Lazar

Faculty Sponsor: Timothy Hawkins

GEOGRAPHY AND EARTH SCIENCE

Sustainability and Adaptations in the Beer Industry

The beer industry is global, with a rich history spanning from Neolithic to present times. As the industry has evolved, many changes have been made to the production process to become more sustainable in favor of the environment and brewer profit. This study explores the different variations and adaptations that are becoming available within the beer industry to support sustainability. As carbon dioxide concentrations have become an increasingly large global issue, many adaptations have focused on reducing climate impact and carbon footprint. Reducing waste and promoting recycled materials are also a growing method between brewers. According to research, there are many changes that can be implemented within the brewing process, as well as other aspects, such as packaging, between the brewer and consumers. While many of these changes are not yet widely known or used, they indicate that the brewing industry is heading towards more sustainable efforts and can pave the way for other industries.

Samantha Perkins

Faculty Sponsor: Alison Feeney

GEOENVIRONMENTAL

A Geological and Hydrological Analysis of Karst Features in the Shippensburg Region (Cumberland Valley)

Karst can be defined as terrain in which soluble rock, such as limestone or dolomite, above or below ground, is altered primarily by the dissolving action of water. This process results in unique characteristics of topographic relief as well as drainage. Southampton Township, Pennsylvania overlies carbonate bedrock units, including limestone and dolomite, that possess excessive sinkhole development as well as integrated subsurface drainage networks. Dye-trace experiments conducted by Dr. Todd Hurd and others (2010) showcased rapid hydraulic connectivity between major upland recharge zones and springs discharging to Big Spring Creek as well as Middle Spring Creek. This connectivity makes regional hydrology sensitive to changes in land-use. This study utilizes LiDAR-based karst feature mapping, sinkhole density analysis, geologic field assessments, and tracer data to identify, investigate, and evaluate the geologic and hydrologic risks associated with the development of data centers within the region. With increasing amounts of impervious area and concentrated stormwater flow, infiltration into these flow systems may amplify the transport of contaminants such as PFASs, often associated with data centers, as well as potentially increase the risk of subsidence. The results of the study will demonstrate the importance and necessity of incorporating geological and hydrological assessments of carbonate terrain into the region’s infrastructure and land-use decisionmaking process.

Robert Kurtz

Faculty Sponsor: Sean Cornell

GEOENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

Michaux State Forest— Southern Trails Assessment

This project is a collaboration between Michaux State Forest staff, the Center for Land Use and Sustainability, and the South Mountain Partnership to support the formalization of sustainable recreation infrastructure in the southern portion of Michaux State Forest. A GISbased suitability model was developed using variables such as vegetation, slope, road proximity, and sensitive species habitat. Public input from the Southern Trails User Survey also provided additional insight into user priorities, concerns, and desired trail characteristics. These survey responses were qualitatively coded and assessed alongside spatial mapping to identify major themes, aspects to maintain, and recommendations for a sustainable, formalized trail system. The project outputs include a suitability model, a qualitative assessment of user feedback, and a public StoryMap summarizing the findings.

Johanna Baker, Sean David

Faculty Sponsor: Russell Hedberg

GLOBAL LANGUAGES AND CULTURES

La lucha por la voz femenina en la literatura latinoamericana/The Challenges to Find Their Own Voice as Female Poets in Latin America

This presentation studies the poetic work of several female poets from Latin America. The presentation will show the challenges that women poets faced to find their own voices and to express their own identities through the Spanish language. This presentation was written in Spanish as an assignment for SPAN 361 Masterpieces of Latin American Literature course, but the presentation will be in English.

Sydnee Lynch

Faculty Sponsor: Ana Morana

GLOBAL LANGUAGES AND CULTURES

Le football, facteur d’unité et révélateur de conflits au sein de la

société française

(Abstract French) En France, le football est plus qu’un simple sport: c’est un élément important de la culture et de l’identité nationales. Cette étude analyse comment le football a uni et révélé les conflits au sein de la société française entre 1998 et 2018. Ce sport a souvent été présenté comme un symbole d’unité et de fierté nationale. Cependant, le football reflète également les tensions sociales. Nous étudierons la façon dont le foot reflète et se positionne par rapport au débat sur les questions d’immigration, d’identité nationale, de racisme et d’inégalité.

(Abstract English) This study analyzes how soccer has both served as a factor of unity and revealed conflicts within French society. In France, soccer is more than just a sport, it is a major element of culture and national identity. While the sport has often been presented as a symbol of national pride and unity, it also reflects social tensions present in French society, such as debates surrounding immigration,

Chris Jeune

Faculty Sponsor: Blandine Mitaut

MATHEMATICS

Technology + Mathematics = Success: Visualizing Geometry for a Deeper Understanding

The use of digital technology is a growing aspect of secondary math education. This research explores the use of the digital technology, GeoGebra, an online platform used for enrichment, as a tool for visualization when teaching similar figures in geometry. Similar figures are important as they are the foundation for the ability to scale objects, a necessary skill for many careers including architecture, engineering, and design. Students benefit from seeing what they are learning, so the goal of this research is to adapt to the changing world of technology by utilizing it in the classroom. This research analyzes how GeoGebra can help students understand similar figures and the benefits of technology like this being utilized for math. This research uses pre- and post- test data along with qualitative survey data to determine the impact of the integration of GeoGebra on students’ understanding of similar figures.

Kaitlyn King

Faculty Sponsor: James Hamblin

MECHANICAL AND CIVIL ENGINEERING

Shippensburg University Pedestrian Bridge

The project aims to design a pedestrian bridge connecting N Queen St. and Dauphin Dr. The pedestrian bridge is designed to take pedestrians over the rail trail and Adams Dr. to reduce the pedestrian:car ratio at the Adams Dr. and Dauphin Dr. intersection. The bridge will also serve as a focal point in the Shippensburg University community. The visual design will be reminiscent of Shippensburg University’s current architecture. Furthermore, as a main route onto campus, the bridge will also serve as an introduction to the community and will be equipped with banners, logos, etc. to welcome residents, faculty, and visitors.

Jack Burkhart, Bea Fridinger, Tyler Kline, Ethan Rutkowski, Noah Stern

Faculty Sponsor: Moayyad Al-Nasra

PSYCHOLOGY

Attachment Quality and Technology: Associations with Emotion Regulation and Peer Relationships

This study examined links between attachment and technology use while assessing peer relationships and emotion regulation as potential mediators. Fifty-six undergraduates completed measures of attachment, coping, friendship, and technology behaviors. Secure attachment correlated with positive friendship qualities and engagement coping, whereas anxious and avoidant attachment predicted disengagement coping and self-defeating technology use. Survey limitations may have reduced attachment–technology associations. Future research should further test whether friendship quality mediates links between attachment and digital behavior.

Elaina Georgelis, Amelia Saggio

Faculty Sponsor: Ashley Seibert

PSYCHOLOGY

Exploratory Factor Analysis of the Attachment Style Questionnaire

This study examined the factor structure of the Attachment Style Questionnaire, ASQ (Feeney et al., 1994) from a sample of 482 undergraduate students at Shippensburg University. An exploratory factor analysis was conducted to see if the original five-factor structure was supported. The results suggested a five-factor solution that was mostly consistent with Feeney et al., (1994) and the coefficient alphas for each factor were comparable to the original study.

Amanda Holmes, Chloe Lightner

Faculty Sponsor: Toru Sato

Satisfaction with Supportive Living Services Among Individuals with Serious Mental Illness

Satisfaction with both supportive housing services and clubhouse services for individuals with serious mental illness was investigated using a 5-subscale survey. Alphas indicated acceptable internal consistency and intercorrelations indicated some distinction between the subscales as well as distinction between the subscales and an item measuring satisfaction with housing. This study provides support for the helpfulness of a multiple-scale survey assessing distinct aspects of support services and for assessing support services separately from satisfaction with housing.

Cadence Brown, Jon Medina, Angelica Sauer

Faculty Sponsor: Kim Weikel

SOCIAL WORK AND GERONTOLOGY

Analyzing the Relationship Between Academic Performance and Screen Time of Students at Shippensburg University

This study will examine potential relationships between daily screen time and the overall academic performance among college students at Shippensburg University. With the increasing use of technology, students are spending a greater amount of time on technology for both academic and personal purposes. The purpose of this research project is to explore any correlation between students’ screen time and different aspects of their academic performance. Data will be collected through a survey, asking participants about their screen time and then various questions relating to academic performance and success. This study should enable us to analyze any correlational patterns between screen time and overall academic performance. Accumulating data pertaining to this relationship will give us valuable insight to how these two variables are related to each other among students at Shippensburg University.

Sofia Baldwin, Kaden Emerick, Aaliyah Gutierrez, Carlie Holloway, Laiken Lomax

Faculty Sponsor: Michael Lyman

SOCIAL WORK AND GERONTOLOGY

Bridging the Gap: How Accessibility Services Support Veteran Success in Higher Education

Student veterans with disabilities represent a vulnerable and growing population in higher education, navigating the complex transition from military service to academic life while managing service-connected conditions such as PTSD, traumatic brain injury, and physical impairments. Despite federal mandates requiring institutions to provide reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, a significant gap has persisted in empirically measuring whether actual utilization of these support services translates into measurable academic outcomes. Existing literature has thoroughly documented barriers including reintegration difficulties, identity conflict between military self-reliance and help-seeking, and stigma surrounding disability disclosure. However, most studies have remained descriptive or qualitative, leaving unanswered whether formal engagement with accessibility services makes a quantifiable difference in academic success. This study directly addresses that gap by investigating the relationship between utilization of Office of Accessibility Resources (OAR) services and two key metrics of academic achievement: cumulative grade point average (GPA) and persistence rates among student veterans with documented disabilities at a public university.

Travis Hutchinson

Faculty Sponsor: Michael Lyman

SOCIAL WORK AND GERONTOLOGY

Evaluation of the Impact of an Anti-Racism Social Work Teach-In

This project evaluates the impact of the Fall 2025 racial justice teach-in at Shippensburg University, held by the Department of Social Work and Gerontology. The event was centered around the sustained dialogue process, aiming to increase students’ skills in having difficult conversations. A post test survey was conducted to determine what students got out of the teach in. Survey results indicate that while students felt more comfortable in discussing diversity-related topics, they felt less confident in conversations on politics and religion.

Belle Bakner, Christela Juene, Loren Suomel

Faculty Sponsor: Michael Lyman

Got Tested? The Misconceptions of HIV and AIDS

This research project looks at the many misconceptions students at Shippensburg University hold about HIV and if they have an effect on testing. This project is essential to discovering better ways to educate students who are at risk of contracting HIV. While collecting data we learned that a majority of Students on campus have never been tested for STDs/STIs. We collected this data by creating a survey on Google Forms that asked True/False questions regarding common misconceptions, follow up questions that asked about the participant’s confidence in their answer, and demographic questions that included HIV testing habits. While some of our findings were not statistically significant there was a correlation between the amount of misconceptions a person held and if they had been tested for HIV before. This project not only serves to improve HIV prevention measures on campus but also reminds students that HIV and AIDS are distinct risks to consider when having sexual experiences on campus.

Karmen Alicea

Faculty Sponsor: Michael Lyman

SOCIAL WORK AND GERONTOLOGY

The Impact of Personal Conflict on Academic Performance

Personal conflicts are common among college students and can influence both emotional well-being and academic success. Many students must balance academic responsibilities with personal challenges such as family issues, relationship problems, or financial stress. These situations can create emotional strain that makes it harder for students to focus on coursework, stay motivated, and maintain strong academic performance. Academic success is often measured through factors such as grade point average (GPA), attendance, and participation, all of which can influence students’ future educational and career opportunities.

Research shows that high levels of stress can negatively affect students’ motivation, concentration, and overall academic achievement. Reports from the American College Health Association indicate that many college students experience overwhelming stress that interferes with their academic performance. While previous studies have examined academic stress and student mental health, fewer studies focus specifically on how personal conflicts directly affect academic outcomes.

The purpose of this study is to examine how personal conflicts influence academic performance among college students. Understanding this relationship may help educators, counselors, and social workers better support students who are managing personal challenges while pursuing their education.

David Holloman, Christela Jeune, Eli Rivera, Taneejah Shuler

Faculty Sponsor: Michael Lyman

SOCIAL WORK AND GERONTOLOGY

Stress Impact on Students caused by ICE

Our research project is to figure out the level of stress students experience when they are asked about how they feel about ICE being present in their hometown or around the area.

Zoe Barahona, Katie Resendiz, Metzly Rivera, Kaylee Smith, Josh Woods

Faculty Sponsor: Michael Lyman

SOCIAL

WORK AND GERONTOLOGY

To What Extent Does Idleness Aversion Play a Role in Burnout Among Different Demographics of College Students?

Student burnout has become an increasing concern in educational settings. Many students report feeling emotionally exhausted, overwhelmed, and disengaged from their academic work. While heavy workloads and academic pressure are commonly blamed, less attention has been given to psychological factors that may contribute to burnout. One such factor is idleness aversion, a concept which suggests that people prefer to stay busy and often choose activity over inactivity, even when the activity has little purpose. Students who feel uncomfortable being idle may overcommit to tasks, constantly seek productivity, or struggle to rest without guilt. This persistent drive to remain busy may increase stress levels and reduce opportunities for recovery, ultimately contributing to burnout. However, the specific role idleness aversion plays in student burnout has not been fully examined. Understanding this relationship is important in order to develop more effective strategies for preventing burnout and promoting healthier academic habits among students.

Cassidy Albright, Zakarai Coble, Tess Naylor, Shaun Sampson, Imyree Teal, Zianna Whigham

Faculty Sponsor: Michael Lyman

SOCIOLOGY

Does the Type of Work Affect Job Stress

This study addresses the association between how workers are paid (wage vs salary) and job stressors. I will be measuring job stress with both physical and mental health indicators using the 2018 GSS data.

Kyle Ditolvo

Faculty Sponsor: Bradley Bullock

Campus Involvement and a Sense of Belonging in College

This research explores how involvement in student organizations impacts the retention of first-generation college students at smaller public universities. First-generation students face unique challenges, such as financial strain, limited institutional familiarity, and social isolation. Each of these challenges can increase their likelihood of departure before graduation. Drawing on Alexander Astin’s Student Involvement Theory, George Kuh’s Student Engagement Theory, and Terrell Strayhorn’s Sense of Belonging Theory, this project investigates how engagement fosters academic persistence by cultivating belonging and connection within the university environment.

Using a student survey distributed through Qualtrics, this study examines the relationship between campus involvement, belonging, and retention. Preliminary findings suggest that smaller universities, characterized by close-knit communities and accessible leadership opportunities, may provide particularly strong environments for fostering engagement and belonging among first-generation students.

Kayce Cook

Faculty Sponsor: Lawrence Eppard

SOCIOLOGY

Education and Job Stability Among Economically Vulnerable Workers

This study examines how educational attainment influences job stability among workers living near or below the poverty line in the United States. Previous research suggests that education plays an important role in shaping employment outcomes, including job satisfaction, job security, and long-term employment stability. This study tests whether higher levels of education are associated with greater employment stability among low-income workers.

Using data from the 2018 General Social Survey (GSS), this study conducts a quantitative analysis examining the relationship between educational attainment and multiple indicators of job stability. Educational attainment (EDUC) is treated as the independent variable, while respondent income (RINCOME) is used to identify workers living near or below the poverty line. Job stability is measured through several dependent variables, including years with current employer (YEARSJOB), experience with layoffs (LAIDOFF), perceived job security (JOBSECOK), confidence in finding comparable employment (JOBFIND), and overall job satisfaction (SATJOB1).

Kayce Cook

Faculty Sponsor: Brad Bullock

“Standing

on my Titanium Legs”: Representations of Disability Among Disabled Politicians

Although one in four Americans reports having a disability (CDC, 2018), disabled Americans lack political representation. Few politicians have disabilities, and, among those who do, a personal experience of impairment does not necessarily lead to a disability identity or a commitment to advancing disability rights or the wellbeing of this population (Reher, 2021). Although scholarly attention to politicians with disabilities is increasing, few studies examine the relationship between disabled politicians and the disability community (Friedman & Scotch, 2017). Our study identified nine politicians with impairments elected at a federal level and serving in office 2025-2026. With this sample, we explore narratives of disability identity and disability politics across varied media forms including: biographies from their campaign websites, biographies from their official website, and tweets from an 8-week period which covered, among other events, the lead up to and passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill and the annual ADA anniversary. Controlling the data sources and time period enabled a comparative study of the rhetorical use (or lack of use) of disability. The study indicates that politicians were more likely to invoke disability in emotionally charged language in their campaign biographies primarily to show resilience, as compared to their government biographies which tended to downplay or erase disability. In contrast with biographies, tweets offer short-form commentary on daily political events.

David Boatwright Faculty Sponsor: Allison Carey

SOCIOLOGY

When Family and Work Collide: Examining the Consequences of Family-to-Work Interference

Research on work–family balance often focuses on how work interferes with family life, emphasizing how long hours, job demands, and workplace stress spill over into personal relationships. While this direction is important, it leaves less attention on the reverse process: how family responsibilities interfere with work and shape a person’s experience on the job. Sociologically, work–family institutions can be understood as a mutually influential relationship that both make competing demands on individuals. A person’s work and family do not operate or exist independently of one another. Instead, they operate as linked social systems that compete for individuals’ time, energy, and emotional capacity. Although understood as part of a larger set of social institutions, the analysis operationalizes interference using the GSS indicator of family demands affecting work. The purpose of this project is to examine whether family demands interfering with work are associated with lower job satisfaction, poorer physical health, poorer mental health, increased experiences of workplace harassment, and participation in stress-reduction programs. H1: Employees reporting familyto-work interference will also report poorer workplace experiences and health, with impacts intensified for economically disadvantaged employees. H2: Women who report high family to work interference will report higher job dissatisfaction compared to men who also reported high family to work interference.

David Boatwright

Faculty Sponsor: Brad Bullock

Workplace Quality on Race and Social Class

My research topic will investigate the relationship between race and the poor vs non-poor. Specifically, is there a racial discrepancy between white vs non-white employees and work environment? The reason I decided to research this topic is because although, poverty afflicts Americans of all racial backgrounds, this does not render centuries of systemic white supremacy obsolete in the face class mobility. The kinds of jobs an individual has access to and how they are perceived in the workplace could be manipulated by the way they look, and my central thesis for this argument will suggest on a macro-level that low-income workers will experience a lower quality of workplace that is further deepened when accounting for racial dynamics. (RACE) in the GSS codebook represents the variable for Race of Respondent that will be measured as a dichotomous independent variable against five dependent variables. For the five variables I have chosen each measure a different component of workplace quality that indicates desirable job traits like: job security, career progression, mutual respectability, positive work-life balance and fair compensation to illustrate a portrait of how racial dynamics are integrated into the workplace. (HRSRELAX, RESPECT, PROMTEOK, JOBSECOK and FAIREARN)

Jocelyn Heredia

Faculty Sponsor: Brad Bullock

TEACHER EDUCATION

Integrating Social Emotional Learning into Teacher-Family Partnerships for Student Success

Social and emotional learning is a severely under researched topic in the Dominican Republic. The importance of teaching young students proper social and emotional skills has been studied in developed countries around the globe, but in underdeveloped regions such as the Dominican Republic, research into social and emotional learning has only just started. In May of 2025, we traveled to the Pathways of Learning Schools in the Dominican Republic to gather data via observations and teacher interviews on the current social and emotional practices taught to the students or exhibited by them at school. From the information gathered on their current social and emotional learning practices, a curriculum manual was created to find social and emotional learning strategies that teachers and families of students at the Pathways of Learning School can use daily to help their students develop beneficial social and emotional skills. The manual provides teachers with a variety of evidence-based activities to use with their students in the schools. The manual also has a section dedicated to resources and activities that families can use to implement social and emotional learning practice in their spaces as well. In May of 2026, this manual will be taken to the Pathways of Learning school and will be taught to the students by a team of travelers. Additionally, the parent resources will be presented to families from this school as well as from a local public school at a “family night” event.

Sherelyn Martinez, Kyleigh Ochs

Faculty Sponsor: Christopher Keyes

NOTES

Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania, in compliance with federal and state laws and university policy, is committed to human understanding and provides equal educational, employment, and economic opportunities for all persons without regard to age, color, national origin, race, religion, disability, veteran status, sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Direct requests for reasonable accommodations and other inquiries to the Office of Accessibility Resources, Shippensburg University, 1871 Old Main Drive, Shippensburg, PA 172572299, (717) 477-1364, oar@ship.edu.

SU Student Juried Art Exhibition

MAY 2–MAY 9 KAUFFMAN ART GALLERY

(ONLINE MAY X, 2026–FEBRUARY X, 2027)

This juried exhibit is selected by jurors “outside” of the SU community. SU undergraduate students submit up to five pieces of their finest art for a “real world” competition. Jurors select both the exhibit and the award winners. Media found in this exhibit includes: Ceramics, Digital Fine Art Printing, Drawing, Graphic Design, Mixed Media, Painting, Photography, Printmaking, and Sculpture.

2026 EXHIBITION JUDGES:

Linda Johnson, PhD in American Studies and Art History from Michigan State and is the current Agnita M. Stine Schreiber Curator at the Hagerstown Museum of Fine Art.

Jordan Cannon, MFA in Illustration from the Maryland Institute College of Art and is an artist, writer/illustrator, and educator specializing in experimental and interdisciplinary Narrative work.

OPENING RECEPTION

MAY 2 1:00–3:00pm Kauffman Art Gallery

Free Public Opening Awards presented at 1:30pm

THANK YOU

Thank you to alumni, parents, friends, and our campus community for supporting Joint Undergraduate Student/Faculty Research by making unrestricted contributions to the Shippensburg University Foundation. Many of the student projects you see were funded by benefactors to the SU Foundation.

A special thank you is extended to the following donors who have established Joint Undergraduate Student/Faculty Research endowments that will fund, in perpetuity, this valuable Ship student experience.

• Dr. James Beres and Merry Beres Student/Faculty Research Endowment for the Department of Chemistry

• Jack and Diana Brenizer Undergraduate Research Endowment for the College of Arts and Sciences

• Reber Offner Research Endowment for the Wood Honors College

• Anita E. (May) Weiss Joint Undergraduate Student/Faculty Research Endowment for Education

• Raymond and Suzanne Adams Educational Undergraduate Student/Faculty Research Fund for Education

• David A. and Suzanne B. Atkinson Research Endowment for the College of Arts and Sciences

In 2025-2026, the Shippensburg University Foundation made available over $72,000 for this high-impact program through a grant from the Unrestricted Annual Fund and endowed research funds.

500 Newburg Road, Shippensburg, PA 17257 Phone: (717) 477-1377 • Fax: (717) 477-4060

Visit us on the web at SUFoundation.org. Like us on G e The SU Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, is the official gift-receiving entity for Shippensburg University.