Special Citations Given for Best-in-Class, President's Choice, Best Student-Faculty Collaboration and Coaches' Choice
No basketballs were bouncing or volleyballs set for spikes or wrestlers scoring points on takedowns and escapes, yet Fred Raizk Arena was buzzing with activity Thursday (May 4) as Wilmington College staged its 12th annual Student and Faculty Research Forum.
PICTURED: Logan Frazier explains his research, "Coordination Polymers of Metal Complexes with Ligands Containing Hydroxy Acetate and Pyridine Groups," to Dr. Monte Anderson, emeritus professor of agriculture.
Nearly 70 individuals and teams displayed their research via posters and other presentation media while transforming the normally athletics-oriented venue into a strictly academic setting. Their research projects spanned across academic disciplines as faculty, staff and students took time to peruse the presentations and learn first-hand from student researchers.
Co-organizer Deanna Vatan, associate vice present for retention and student success, is a champion for the student research experience, which “really puts the College’s ‘hands-on learning’ into practice.” She was especially pleased that, for the first time ever, the Research Showcase included high school students with eight from Miamisburg High School on hand to participate with their Wilmington College peers.
Best-in-Class awards included: Agriculture — Madelyn Topp, whose faculty co-researcher was Dr. Daryl Nash, associate professor of agriculture, for "A2 Beta-Casein Effects in Milk in Beef Cattle"; Business Administration/ Accounting — the team of David Wahl, Peyton Mullins, Addy Stalder and Dr. Sara Myers, assistant professor of economics, "MT Stock Farms"; Education (High School) — Aiden Sizemore (Miamisburg High School) with his teacher, Lisa White, "Analyzing Preferred Methods of Stress Relief for High School Students Involved in Extracurricular Activities"; Art/Communication Arts/Theatre/Music — Lizz Hadley with Interim President Dr. Corey Cockerill, professor of communication arts and agriculture, " What Kind of Skill Can You Learn from Video Games?"
Also, English/History/Religion and Philosophy/Modern Language — Shannon Browning with Dr. Keith Orejel, "Our Forgotten Founder"; Biology/Chemistry/ Mathematics/Physics —Joseph Gerone Sta Ana with Dr. Kendra Cipollini, professor of biology/environmental science, "Comparing Insect Diversity and Abundance of Different Habitats Within Palo Verde National Park, Costa Rica"; Social Sciences — Lexi Grice with Dr. Audrey Wagstaff, professor of social sciences and communication arts, "'Fake It 'Till You Make It': The Mental Health of Collegiate Athletes: Accessibility, Social Stigma, and Coaching Styles."
Also, Sport Sciences — Lexi Grice with Dr. Chris Silette, assistant professor of exercise science, "'Nothing Tastes as Good As Skinny Feels': A Look at Disordered Eating and the Rise of Disordered Eating Habits Among Division Three College
Athletes"; Graduate Programs — Allison Harlow with Dr. Audrey Wagstaff, professor of social sciences and communication arts, and Jennifer Walker, associate professor of athletic training, "Usage and Influence of Dietary Supplementation Amongst Adolescent Athletes"; and Lauren Linn with Dr. Audrey Wagstaff, professor of social sciences and communication arts, and Jennifer Walker, associate professor of athletic training, " Rates of Burnout Among Collegiate Athletic Trainers During the COVID-19 Pandemic."
Interim President Corey Cockerill spent several hours reviewing research projects and tagged these as "Interim President's Choice" award winners: Social Sciences — Milena Wahl with Dr. Audrey Wagstaff, professor of social sciences and communication arts, "A Crime Against Our Future: Clinton County Ohio’s Divestment in Child and Youth Health, the Community Health Outcomes, and Possible Resolutions"; and Social Sciences (High School) — Marissa Johnson (Miamisburg High School) with her teacher, Lisa White, " Education's Impact on Gen Z's Fast Fashion Consumption."
Selected for the "Best Student/Faculty Collaboration Award" in Biology/Chemistry/ Mathematics/Physics — Joseph Gerone Sta Ana with Dr. Kendra Cipollini, professor of biology/environmental science, "Comparing Insect Diversity and Abundance of Different Habitats Within Palo Verde National Park, Costa Rica"; and Gabriel Swaisgood with Dr. Kendra Cipollini, professor of biology/environmental science, "Testing the Effectiveness of Three Commercially Available 'Green' Disinfectants in a Field and Laboratory Setting."
Gabriel Swaisgood with Cipollini also won the "Coaches' Choice Award" in the Biology/Chemistry/ Mathematics/Physics area along with the team of Lee Browning, Whitney Johnson, Emily Fox and Molly Hafer for their research in the Business Administration/ Accounting area titled " Raised for Success?"
Research abstracts are available at: https://www.wilmington.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/2023-WC-Research-Showcase-Abstracts.pdf
COMING MAY 12 — Repository site featuring this year’s Student Research Showcase. https://2023wilmingtoncollegeresearchshowcase.omeka.net/