April 10, 2017

Celebrating Student Achievement Day Edition

April 10, 2017

Celebrate Student Achievement on April 11

Courtesy of meredith.edu Celebrating Student Achievement (CSA) Day is an opportunity for students to present and be recognized for their hard work and dedication to academic and campus success. Throughout the day, students will present research and creative projects in their areas of interest.

Meredith’s 15th Annual Celebrating Student Achievement Day is Tuesday, April 11.

At the Student Achievement in Leadership Award Ceremony, campus leaders will be recognized for their service to the college. The top 10 graduating seniors will also be acknowledged, in addition to Who’s Who’s award recipients.

The ceremony will conclude with the induction of Meredith’s 2017-18 campus leaders.

During lunch, Meredith’s Sinfonietta and Carol Finley’s Dance Improvisation class will perform. This year’s fashion show will feature the creative talents of Matilda Bliss ‘17.

The Student Academic and Leadership Award Ceremony recognizes students’ accomplishments in various academic disciplines and leadership organizations.

Celebrating Student Achievement Day is open to the public and we especially welcome all alumnae.

For additional information, please contact research@meredith.edu.

Alexandria Brinkley SMB 162, 3:00 pm

What is your research?

I will be presenting on the relationship between core strength and fine motor skills in children with developmental delays.

What inspired this topic for you?

I decided to focus on this topic because it links the two things I am passionate about: child development and occupational therapy.

Do you feel that this research or some aspect of what you’ve learned will apply to your future, whether in continuing education or in the working world?

I will be able to apply this in the future as I am planning to pursue occupational therapy and specializing in pediatrics.

Mercy Rialem SMB 118, 1:45 pm

What is your research?

This research project involved building the game logic of Mancala and implementing and analyzing minimax and monte carlo tree search algorithms. These are algorithms that strategize on how to pick the next move in this two-player game.

What inspired this topic for you? I was inspired to delve into this topic because playing Mancala was a major part of my childhood.

Do you feel that this research or some aspect of what you’ve learned will apply to your future, whether in continuing education or in the working world?

Doing this research has strengthened my software design and development skills which will be very useful in my career going on forth.

Wachiraya Poonnak

SMB 162, 2:35 pm What is your research?

My research topic is “Oral Health Knowledge and Practices among College Students” What inspired this topic for you?

I have a passion for dentistry and would like to become a dentist one day. I was interested in this topic because I wanted to know the oral health behaviors and practices of college students.

Do you feel that this research will apply to your future, whether in continuing education or in the working world?

This research has helped me better understand the oral health practices and behaviors of college students. I definitely feel that I will be able to apply what I have learned from this research when I am in dental school this fall.

Roxy McPherson Class of 2016

Jasmine Aguinaldo Harris 104, 9:20 am

What is your research?

I researched the history of the Dual Degree Engineering program at Meredith College and NC State.

What inspired this topic for you?

I was inspired to choose this because I am a graduating 5th year senior in the DDE Program. I thought it would be a great way to reflect on my collegiate experience as well as highlight our program as it has been 10 years since the first official DDE Program student began.

Do you feel that this research or some aspect of what you’ve learned will apply to your future, whether in continuing education or in the working world?

I know that this research will definitely apply to my future as this is the degree I have obtained, but I know that the history of this program will continue to build as more women go through it. The skills I have learned through this program I will take for the rest of my life, and I am honored to be able to celebrate the women who have worked to get it to where it is now and the women who have gone through it and been successful.

What was your undergraduate research at Meredith?

My undergraduate research topic was exploring the views on sexual orientation and gender identity on Meredith’s campus.

What did you conclude?

More than half of the respondents who identified as LGBTQ+ replied that faculty and staff would benefit from specific training on supporting LGBTQ+ students.

The majority of respondents stated that they would also be open to attending a training or event, such as SafeZone, that would provide more in-depth knowledge to students about how to be an ally to the LGBTQ+ community. The last conclusion was that the administration at Meredith should consider creating a policy regarding the acceptance of Trans* students, specifically for persons who identify as male-to-female Trans*.

How did your research in undergrad help or affect your later work?

I was very prepared upon entering graduate school for the more intense research classes that I had to take. As a capstone for my Master’s degree, I had to engage in a year-long research project. I would not be doing as well as I am right now on this project if not for my undergraduate research.

CSA Day Callie Davis Class of 2015

What was your undergraduate research at Meredith?

We developed a basic orthodontics spreadsheet model that enabled us to study the mechanical properties of the PDL (Periodontal Ligament) in response to the force system of an orthodontics treatment.

Young’s elastic modulus of the PDL was the most important determinant for tooth displacement. There was difficulty in directly obtaining PDL data because tooth movement greatly depends on tooth size/ shape and, likely as with similar tissues, on strain rate. Our model had a visual output showing a typical arrangement of upper teeth. The model had a series of inter-related equations for each tooth, including estimates of the elastic modulus that calculate displacement and rotation in response to a force system. This allowed us to quantify an amount of movement of each tooth for a given force system, and to compare our results with experimental values from similar studies.

What did you conclude?

We developed a spreadsheet graphical model of position of the upper teeth, using an estimation of their actual size and placement. The model contained a series of inter-related equations for each tooth, including estimates of the strength and elastic modulus of the PDL. This allowed us to calculate displacement and rotation in response to a force system. It provided a greater insight into the response of the PDL, and respectively would enable the design of a more predictable, and therefore more efficacious, orthodontic appliances.

How did the experience of presenting at CSA Day affect you or your later path?

At my current job, I am required to do indepth research, take initiative, and present to a large group of people weekly. Being able to get creative and do independent research has been very beneficial. Also, being able to present in front of a group of people and clearly relay information is highly valued in my job. Professional schools find this research and presenting at CSA Day as something that puts me ahead of other students that are applying.

Addie Kirkland Harris 104, 9:45 am

What is your research?

I am presenting on Resegregation in Wake County Public Schools.

What inspired this topic for you? I started this project to learn how diverse Wake County’s schools are and if some schools have resegregated, ending us up right where we started with unequal segregated schools.

Do you feel that this research will apply to your future, whether in continuing education or in the working world?

I will use this research and my passion for civil rights to change our society so it is equal for all.

Katrina Thomas SMB 162, 10:10 am

What is your research?

My project entitled “Turtle Nest Predation at Meredith College” involves setting up fake turtle nests at different habitats and trying to figure out what predators came by. Last semester, this meant checking for acorns, dug-up burrows, broken eggs, etc. This semester, I’m also using wildlife cameras.

What inspired this topic for you?

As an Animal Biology and Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy student, I helped trap turtles a couple of times, which got me interested in researching them. Later, when working on my lit review, I found several interesting papers about urbanization’s effects on turtle/turtle nest predation, especially by raccoons, which ecology students had found on campus with a wildlife camera. This fall, I was fortunate enough that my research advisor had heard about a nest predation study at Elizabethtown College, so my project was based on that.

Do you feel that this research will apply to your future?

Absolutely! I want to either work in a museum or be a science journalist, and what better way to explain biology to the general public than by sharing first-hand knowledge and personal experiences about a popular animal?

Maggie Liston

Kresge Auditorium, 10:35 am What is your research?

My research is on the use of genderinclusive language for God as a means of addressing patriarchy within the church.

To collect data I read books and articles, interviewed clergy and lay people, and studied biblical passages/historical context.

What inspired this topic for you?

I would say that my personal spiritual journey inspired this research topic. I was first introduced to God as both mother and father a little over a year ago, and although it felt strange it also saved my life. I was able to relate to God in a way that I never could while I was growing up, and I wanted to see if this was true for others.

Do you feel that this research will apply to your future, whether in continuing education or in the working world?

I will be going to seminary once I finish my undergraduate degree, and I have a passion for creating spaces where all people feel included.

Rachel Crawford

Ledford 111, 2:35 pm What is your research?

The research I am presenting at CSA Day is part of a paper I am working on for my honors colloquium on the music of the Civil Rights Movement. I am researching Kanye West, specifically how he has identified himself as an activist for social change and racial equality, and whether or not this identity can be reconciled with some of his problematic behavior in regards to gender, race, and capitalist materialism.

What inspired this topic for you?

I have been interested in Kanye’s personality and his portrayal in the public eye ever since the conflict between Kim Kardashian and Taylor Swift this past summer over Kanye’s controversial song and video for “Famous.” In this incident and really in every incident involving Kanye, the media has portrayed him as hostile, ignorant, and hypocritical, which are very racially loaded accusations. I wanted to explore whether or not these accusations were true (because they definitely do have a basis in his actions) or if they are just part of an oppressive structure that restricts the behavior of a black activist. I was excited to find that I had the opportunity to do this research for my class in a related topic.

Do you feel that this research will apply to your future, whether in continuing education or in the working world?

This research has allowed me to explore different methods of research in the humanities than I am used to. I have had the opportunity through this project to examine many types of media, while previously I have only looked at print sources and almost exclusively ones from the professional academic realm.

Looking at popular songs, music videos, live performances, radio interviews, and non-academic web sources has been eyeopening because it has showed me how relevant research can be.

Andie Joyce Belle Woodson

SMB 162, 8:55 am What is your research?

My research is focused on environmental surveillance of zoonotic pathogens. My partners and I collect samples from public parks to assess the prevalence of zoonotic parasites in Wake County, NC. What inspired this topic for you?

My love of public health, biology, and parasitology are what inspired me to pursue this topic. The parasites that we are looking for can be extremely harmful to humans, so my goal is to help and educate people in our community. In the future, I hope to pursue a Ph.D. in epidemiology and eventually work as a research epidemiologist for the CDC, so this kind of research is extremely relevant to my future goals.

Do you feel that this research will apply to your future, whether in continuing education or in the working world?

It has also opened a number of doors for me including giving me the opportunity to share my research at conferences in 3 different states, which have been absolutely incredible experiences for me.

Kayla Terry

CSA Day

Ledford 111, 8:30 am What is your research?

I am looking at the effects of assessment choice on science performance for upper elementary aged students with AttentionDeficit/Hyperactivity-Disorder.

What inspired this topic for you?

I was inspired to research this topic while watching my nephew and boyfriend, now fiancé, struggle through the NC public school system; both were diagnosed with AD/HD at an early age and received very little help or services to support their learning in school. Research shows that students with AD/HD and other learning disorders learn differently (Solanto, 2007).

I wanted to mesh my two fields of study, psychology and education to look at this issue further, through the lens of testing.

Do you feel that this research will apply to your future, whether in continuing education or in the working world?

I absolutely feel that my research will apply to my career as a teacher. My research showed me that every student is different and while we don’t want to teach the same to all students, we need to understand that students learn differently and show what they know differently. Therefore, as a teacher I need to be receptive to these individual learning needs that my students will have. I plan to structure my testing as much as I can around the findings in my research.

Elizabeth Leon

Avonee’ Latriece Simmons

Kresge Auditorium, 2:10 pm What is your research? My research is African Folklore Inspirations: Creative Project Using Natural Dyes. I used African folktales as my inspiration and explored using Indigo dye to see if it was an effective source to use with the batik dyeing process and to see if a variation of tones would be produced. Two garments were created from the dyed fabric.

What inspired this topic for you? I first experienced natural dyeing as my undergraduate summer research and wanted to continue that somehow for this project. My second inspiration was African folktales. I used to read these stories as a little girl and I was always inspired by traditions and their costumes. I was able to use that and explore African dyeing techniques.

Do you feel that this research or some aspect of what you’ve learned will apply to your future, whether in continuing education or in the working world?

I really enjoyed learning about dyeing techniques in other cultures and being able to test and find my own colors for dyeing my fabrics. I think these aspects will be applied in my career and if I decide to continue in education.

Caroline Carter

Megan Outten ‘17, Caroline Carter ‘18, Kristin Eiffert ‘19, and Hayleigh Young ‘20; Kresge Auditorium, 2:30pm

Ledford 101, 1:45 pm

What is your research?

The research that my partner Alexandria and I conducted was a Need Based Assessment on a Raleigh Latino Community. Initially, I worked on this research project over the summer with Dielle McMillan and the Wake Young Women’s Leadership Academy. We interviewed 34 undocumented individuals in Spanish or English. We asked them a series of five questions about what their strengths, greatest resources, greatest challenges, goals and hopes were and how they think Meredith College can assist them.

What inspired this topic for you?

I was really excited to conduct this research because I am also a Latina and I am really interested to learn more about what is going on in the community and how I can help. I am really interested in becoming a macro social worker. I am not completely sure if I will lean towards immigration or the education system, but I really appreciate these opportunities because they have helped me understand more about what is going on in our community every day.

Do you feel that this research will apply to your future?

I absolutely believe that this research has helped me so much in identifying with my major, social work. I am a huge advocate for social justice and I wish to work at a macro level. I wish to apply to graduate school and continue my education. I have grown a passion for advocating for immigrants and I have learned a lot about the school system.

What is your research?

My presentation is a discussion of how four different music majors focusing in business, performance, education, and therapy were impacted by Meredith College’s Music Department’s Chorale Tour in March 2017.

What inspired this topic for you?

Beginning in August 2016, I helped Dr. Shannon Gravelle, Director of Choral Activities at Meredith College, plan tour because I am the Choral Assistant for all Meredith Ensembles. Presenting on CSA day will be beneficial for all students to get tips on how to time manage, collaborate with people in your “field,” understand that having a “business” background in the Arts in invaluable, and how students should strive to participate in every opportunity presented.

Do you feel that this research will apply to your future, whether in continuing education or in the working world?

Planning Chorale Tour was extremely beneficial to my future, because it showed me that I have the skills to be a wonderful arts manager for myself as a performer, and for other performers and large companies.

Miranda Daughtry

SMB 162, 8:55 am What is your research?

My research is a project involving several other students in the Environmental Zoonotic Pathogens group, including those presenting with me Tuesday, Anderson Woodson, Nishi Jindal, and Kimberly Worley. Our goal is to survey public parks across Wake County using soil sampling to examine the prevalence of zoonotic pathogens in the area. More specifically, we focus on Baylisascaris procyonis and Toxocara sp. This is a project centered around projecting prevalence and risk of infection for the public.

What inspired this topic for you?

Initially, I was just looking to get my foot in the door and learn what the concept of “doing research” actually entailed, so the EZP group was nice enough to welcome me and get me up to speed. After doing a literature review about B. procyonis and learning so much about the disease and prevalence that I was previously unaware of, I wanted to expand my involvement in the project to get a more hands on experience in the field. I think that’s often an unspoken beauty of research. It opens a door and invites you into a whole other part of the world that you didn’t know existed. All you have to do is follow the clues it shows you.

Do you feel that this research or some aspect of what you’ve learned will apply to your future, whether in continuing education or in the working world?

I think our research has helped me improve many skills, particularly my professionalism with new colleagues, my ability to do background research for more information, and my proficiency with collection and processing skills that we use with soil samples. Because I want to continue my education and one day do research as a career, these opportunities and skills will be really valuable and necessary for me in graduate school and later in the working world. To me, that really speaks to the importance of the undergraduate research program and how fortunate we as students are to have faculty here that help make these projects and goals more feasible for the students.

Shannon Stancu-Goldberg

Carlyle Campbell Library, 7:30 am; Harris 104, 2:30 pm What is your research?

I am conducting research on the effects of study abroad on resilience in undergraduate college students.

What inspired this topic for you?

I was able to study abroad through the Meredith in Italy program in the Spring 2016 semester and when I returned, I wanted to give back to the program and Meredith college. I loved my study abroad experience and I wanted to know how study abroad effected me and others.

Do you feel that this research will apply to your future?

I changed my degree from psychology and biology to psychology and public health after studying abroad. I plan to obtain a masters in global health and a doctorate in psychology.

CSA Day Elizabeth Schlieper Class of 2014

What was your undergraduate research at Meredith?

Solving Kenken Puzzles.

What inspired you to research your topic?

Loving puzzles and logical solutions is the mindset that pulled me toward computer science in the first place, so when I started looking into options for my honors thesis, I was really drawn to seeing how far I could get from a programmatic standpoint.

What did you conclude?

While I didn’t solve every kind of Kenken puzzle, at the end I had a working program that solved puzzles across a range of sizes and difficulties very quickly.

How did your research in undergrad help or affect your later work?

Writing code that wasn’t based on an assignment or rubric except what I wanted to accomplish with it really expanded my abilities and knowledge in all areas of software development. I had to figure out what the requirements were and how they ought to be implemented. When an algorithm or idea didn’t work the way I anticipated, I had to learn how I could adapt it or work around it to get the right results.

All of the code I’ve worked on since then has relied and built upon those same skills.

Aly Mann

Ledford 101, 10:10 am What is your research?

My research is a continuation of the Meredith Emerging Adulthood Longitudinal Study (MEALS) that began in 2002.

Concentrating on the unique life-stage of college students, my research focuses on attachment type, strength, and patterns and their effects on stress levels and resiliency.

What inspired this topic for you?

I was inspired to investigate the role of attachment after reading an article about the strength of family increasing resiliency.

Emerging adulthood (18-25) is a time full of transitions, and I wanted to know who was providing this indispensable social support to Meredith women.

Do you feel that this research or some aspect of what you’ve learned will apply to your future, whether in continuing education or in the working world?

Beginning research is a daunting task, but the process requires you to take ownership of your learning and develop your passion as you contribute to a base of knowledge. My knowledge was expanded when I transitioned from being a classroom student to an active researcher, and I know that self-direction will be useful in both higher education and the workplace.

Miranda Ameen

Carlyle Campbell, 7:30 pm; Harris 110, 9:45 am Hair of the Dog...well Fungus: Identifying Fungal Primers What is your research?

The purpose of my research was to identify primer sets that could be used to identify a wide diversity of fungi from dog skin. In the future, scientists will be able to use the primer sets to identify fungal microbes found on a dog’s skin before an “injury” and during the healing process in order to look for a correlation between the rate of healing and the presence of certain fungi at the site of the wound.

What inspired this topic for you?

I pursued this research as part of my internship with the Genomics and Microbiology Research Lab at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences.

Do you feel that this research or some aspect of what you’ve learned will apply to your future, whether in continuing education or in the working world?

Through this research, I learned various microbial techniques as well as experience working in a research lab setting. I hope to pursue a masters degree in microbial biotechnology and believe this experience will be relevant to future courses.

Pixar and the Princess: Evolution of Gender Roles in Disney Films What is your research?

The purpose of my research was to explore how Disney characters conform to and rebel against gender roles.

What inspired this topic for you?

I pursued this research as part of my communication thesis. I have always loved Disney films and been fascinated by how gender is portrayed through the various characters.

Do you feel that this research or some aspect of what you’ve learned will apply to your future, whether in continuing education or in the working world?

I do not believe this research will have any direct correlation with my future education or work, but it was a lot of fun.

Sarah Spencer SMB 118, 2:35 pm

What is your research?

My research involves root multiplicities for the Kac-Moody Lie Algebra HD4(3). KacMoody Lie Algebras are special algebras that satisfy a variety of properties.

What inspired this topic for you?

This topic (Kac-Moody Lie Algebras) is my thesis adviser, Dr. Hontz’s, specialty area.

She introduced me to them and sparked my interest.

Do you feel that this research or some aspect of what you’ve learned will apply to your future, whether in continuing education or in the working world?

As I will be continuing my education as a Mathematics Ph.D. student (at the same program as Dr. Hontz), I feel that there is a very high likelihood that this research could continue into my graduate career, even potentially as a dissertation topic.

Kirby Jones Kresge, 9:45 am

What is your research?

My research is entitled “En la Lucha: Pain, Suffering, and Feminist Liberation Theology in Two Novels by Ana Castillo.” It explores the theology of suffering through a feminist lens, drawing from the stories of characters in two works written by a Latina author.

What inspired this topic for you?

Three of my favorite things in this world are literature, theology, and social justice.

This project allowed me to combine these passions in a fresh and interesting way. I am always questioning my own spiritual beliefs in an attempt to orient them towards a theology that centers justice and the experiences of marginalized groups. The research I did for this paper enabled me to delve into the insights of theologians who have been doing this work for decades, and I truly feel I grew as a reader, writer, and person of faith as a result of my study.

Do you feel that this research or some aspect of what you’ve learned will apply to your future, whether in continuing education or in the working world?

Regardless of one’s career path, I think that the ability to question mainstream ideas and engage varied sources is a crucial skill. Personally, however, I am hoping to pursue divinity school at some point, and this project helped me clarify some of my academic interests within the field of religious studies as well as some of my vocational goals.

Molly Smerko

Kresge, 11:00 am What is your research? My presentation is called: “Somewhere in Between:” An Examination of Jesus’ Relationships with Women. I’m exploring how Jesus is portrayed with his relationships with women by examining two biblical stories and the implications of these stories.

What inspired this topic for you? I am applying to seminary after college, and as a woman seeking ordination as a minister, I am constantly thinking about these questions. What does it mean to be a woman in ministry, specifically ordained ministry? How did Jesus’ words and actions towards women pave the way for the inclusion of women in ministry?

Do you feel that this research or some aspect of what you’ve learned will apply to your future, whether in continuing education or in the working world?

Yes; I will start applying for seminary next year and begin school after I graduate from Meredith. This research process and the skills will definitely be useful in seminary as I continue exploring these questions.