Research – Page 2 – The Gatton Academy News

Summer 5Q: Emily Gordon creates computational experiments at the WKU Applied Physics Institute

August 1, 2012 | 5Q, Research, Summer, Uncategorized | No Comments

Since 2010, the Gatton Academy has offered students the ability to pursue summer research experiences through the Gatton Research Internships Grants (RIG) program. Made possible through the generous support of Mr. Carol Martin “Bill” Gatton, the program offers competitive grants to Gatton Academy students between their junior and senior years to support summertime research internships across the Commonwealth and the world. By providing a funding mechanism, the program directly creates new avenues for growth and exploration. Throughout the summer, we’re sharing insights from students who are the recipients of our 2012 grants. Today we resume the series and check in with Emily Gordon.

Emily Gordon of Paducah has spent her summer at the Applied Physics Institute located at the Western Kentucky University Center for Research and Development under the mentorship of Dr. Ivan Novikov. Emily’s research is in the preparation and execution of computational simulations using the Monte Carlo approach to study P-violation in neutron scattering.

1. What part of your summer experience are you enjoying most?

What I most enjoy about this summer experience is the chance to dedicate all of my time to research. During the school year, I have to scramble for time to work on my research between classes and homework. The summer allows for complete immersion into a problem, which is very rewarding.

2. Will you use this research experience as a launching point for any particular applications, competitions, or scholarships?

This fall, I will use my research experience to enter the Siemens Competition and Intel Science Talent Search. I will also apply for the SMART Scholarship.

3. What does research mean to you as a young person interested in STEM?

To me, research is a way of making some part of the science world better known. Research is taking mystery out of science and replacing it with wonder and awe.

4. What are you looking forward to the most about your second year at the Academy?

I am most looking forward to ushering in a new group of students to take over the junior class. I can’t wait to see what these new students will add to the Academy culture!

5. What do you love most about the Gatton Academy?

Typical high schools have a very set curriculum that all students must follow. There is a formula for everything from lunch schedules to taking the bus home. Gatton is the opposite: the Academy experience is different for every student, and tailored to their STEM interests.

By Gatton Academy

Summer 5Q: William Roach-Barrette spends summer writing code for pocket-sized satellite

July 16, 2012 | 5Q, Research, Summer, Uncategorized | No Comments

Since 2010, the Gatton Academy has offered students the ability to pursue summer research experiences through the Gatton Research Internships Grants (RIG) program. Made possible through the generous support of Mr. Carol Martin “Bill” Gatton, the program offers competitive grants to Gatton Academy students between their junior and senior years to support summertime research internships across the Commonwealth and the world. By providing a funding mechanism, the program directly creates new avenues for growth and exploration. This summer, we’re sharing first-hand student experiences in a series we call Summer 5Q.

This summer, William Roach-Barrette of Frenchburg is working in the Morehead State University Space Science Center designing code for a nanosatelltite. The project he is working on is called MicroLogo Project: An electronic design and software environment to control tiny satellites and their science packages.

1. What is the part of the summer experience you are enjoying most?

I love working in an aerospace lab with other students that share my interests. By working in these labs I not only have access to professionals who share my interests, but to the tools I need to preform my required research.

2. How is this different from the way you think most high school students spend their summers?

A majority of my friends spend their summers working at day jobs or watching television, not building and coding satellites. This scholarship has provided me an opportunity to work in my scientific field of interest, something I don’t think other students get the opportunity to do.

3. Will you be using this research experience as a launching point for any particular applications, competitions, or scholarships?

The end goal of my research is to develop a computer language that is usable by high school, or younger, students as a learning tool designed to teach the basics of satellite programing. If successful I would like to use it to apply for such competitions as the Siemens Competition and the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair.

4. How does this research experience or internship fit into your educational and professional goals?

I love being able to incorporate my love for space science with my love for computer science, and this internship does just that. I first have to design a working part for a satellite, and then write code that takes advantage of that particular part. This helps incorporate both my interests into one.

5. What are you looking forward to the most about your second year at the Academy?

I can’t wait to get back to the Academy to start my second year. Not only do I get to pursue new sciences, such as chemistry and physics, I also will start taking more advanced courses in areas like computer science and logic.

By Gatton Academy

Summer 5Q: Sibi Rajendran spends summer at University of Kentucky’s Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center

July 13, 2012 | 5Q, Research, Summer, Uncategorized | No Comments

Since 2010, the Gatton Academy has offered students the ability to pursue summer research experiences through the Gatton Research Internships Grants (RIG) program. Made possible through the generous support of Mr. Carol Martin “Bill” Gatton, the program offers competitive grants to Gatton Academy students between their junior and senior years to support summertime research internships across the Commonwealth and the world. By providing a funding mechanism, the program directly creates new avenues for growth and exploration. This summer we are catching up with the 12 recipients of this year’s grants to hear their insights on research and education at the Academy.

Rising senior Sibi Rajendran of Frankfort is spending this summer at the University of Kentucky’s Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center working with Dr. James Geddes. Sibi is contributing research to studies being done to determine the involvement of calpain 7 in cell death following elevations in intracellular calcium.

1. What does research mean to you as a young person interested in STEM?

Research in my opinion is a pivotal component in education. We accumulate mountains of knowledge during lectures and seminars, but without the practical understanding of doing hands on research, the message relayed during lectures is only partially received. As a young person interested in the STEM field, doing research in a subject that I love makes me feel whole or complete, finishing the puzzle that ordinary education leaves behind.

2. What is the part of the summer experience you are enjoying most?

I am most enjoying the hands-on experience of my research laboratory that I would not normally receive in high school or even undergraduate courses. Working with cutting edge research equipment in a high-tech laboratory is something that I honestly did not picture myself doing at such a young age, and this general laboratory environment is by far the most enjoyable part of my summer experience.

3. How does this research experience or internship fit into your educational and professional goals?

As a student looking forward to a career in the health field, there is no better way to start research than in the field of neurobiology and medicine. Research experiences like the one I am currently involved in will guide me closer to my career path and strengthen my applications to various educational opportunities and into a profession that I am closely looking forward to joining.

4. What are you looking forward to the most about your second year at the Academy?

While there are a thousand different reasons as to why I am looking forward to my second year at the Gatton Academy, the one that sums all of them up is because of the infinite opportunities that I have as an academy student. The opportunities like study abroad, research, tutoring, volunteering, and learning allow me to do things that a normal high school student could not even dream of.

5. How does the Gatton Academy help Kentucky from your point of view?

In a state where education is not nationally recognized, I feel that the Gatton Academy is working miracles by promoting high levels of learning and encouragement for education that is not usually present in the traditional educational system. The early drive for success is pushing more and more students to apply, causing students to develop high levels of education at a younger age.

By Gatton Academy

Summer 5Q: Matthew Gonzalez’s Chemistry Research has Future Pharmaceutical Tie-in.

July 10, 2012 | 5Q, Research, Summer, Uncategorized | No Comments

Since 2010, the Gatton Academy has offered students the ability to pursue summer research experiences through the Gatton Research Internships Grants (RIG) program. Made possible through the generous support of Mr. Carol Martin “Bill” Gatton, the program offers competitive grants to Gatton Academy students between their junior and senior years to support summertime research internships across the Commonwealth and the world. By providing a funding mechanism, the program directly creates new avenues for growth and exploration. Throughout the summer, we’re sharing insights from students who are the recipients of our 2012 grants. Matthew Gonzalez is the third spotlight in this summer’s series.

Matthew Gonzalez of Brodhead is continuing research this summer with Dr. Rajalingam Dakshinamurthy of the WKU Department of Chemistry. Matt is studying the interaction of Fibroblast Growth Factors with the drug myo-Inositol. Earlier this summer, we caught up with Matt on summer research and his thoughts on the Gatton Academy.

1. Will you be using your summer research as a launching point for any applications, competitions, or scholarships?

My research experience will definitely help me with future goals. I plan on using my research to enter into competitions, apply for scholarships, and attend research conferences to increase my experience. The Research Internship Grant has facilitated my research to an extent that wouldn’t have been possible if I was only performing research during the fall and spring semesters.

2. What do you aspire to achieve in the next ten years?

In the next ten years I can see myself completing medical school and finally having a real job. I aspire to be an MD for many different reasons but the Academy has put me on an express lane to help me get there.

3. What are you looking forward to the most about your second year at the Academy?

During my second year at the Academy I can’t wait to be back with my friends. It’s odd to go from having your friends next door and seeing them every few hours to having almost no contact with them at all. I just can’t wait to get back and be with the lifelong friends that I’ve made.

4. What do you love most about the Gatton Academy?

The atmosphere is something unique to the Academy. I don’t think you could find our lifestyle anywhere else in the country. While it’s difficult to explain such a special thing I think it is my favorite part of Gatton.

5. How did you feel on your first day at the Gatton Academy? Now?

Scared is an understatement when I talk about my first day at the Academy. After a little while it felt like an extended camp. I was making all the friends I would normally and then classes came and I realized this was now my life. When I think about the Academy now, I think of home. It’s where I live and where I belong at this point in my life.

By Gatton Academy

Summer 5Q: Leah Cannady Studies Geothermal and Solar Systems at Ft. Knox

July 9, 2012 | 5Q, Research, Summer, Uncategorized | No Comments

Since 2010, the Gatton Academy has offered students the ability to pursue summer research experiences through the Gatton Research Internships Grants (RIG) program. Made possible through the generous support of Mr. Carol Martin “Bill” Gatton, the program offers competitive grants to Gatton Academy students between their junior and senior years to support summertime research internships across the Commonwealth and the world. By providing a funding mechanism, the program directly creates new avenues for growth and exploration. This is the second installment in this summer’s series where we share insights from students who are the recipients of our 2012 grants.

Leah Cannady of Brandenburg is spending her summer studying the efficiency of Geothermal Systems and Solar Panels across regions of the country. Her research is being conducted at the US Army Corps of Engineers at Ft. Knox under the guidance of engineer Thomas McQuary. We had a chance to catch up with Leah earlier this summer.

1. How does this research experience or internship fit into your educational and professional goals?

Spending my summer at the Corp of Engineers in Fort Knox, Kentucky has opened my eyes to a new field of study and expanded my interest in engineering as a career.

2. What is the part of the summer experience you are enjoying most?

The most enjoyable aspect of my research experience this summer has been meeting so many new people and making new connections with important people in the engineering field that can help me down the road. With jobs becoming so competitive, it’s important to have useful contacts in the field and I have made many of those this summer.

3. What has been the biggest change you have experienced in your first year at the Gatton Academy?

During my first year at Gatton, my biggest change has been self-reliance. I am now more self-sufficient and am capable of making important decisions and accomplishing tasks on my own.

4. How does the Gatton Academy help Kentucky from your point of view?

The Gatton Academy gives us as students the privilege of studying such a rigorous curriculum at such a young age at no cost, therefore making students want to give back—whether it’s financially or through service, benefitting Kentucky in the long run.

5. What did you learn on your first day at the Academy that a new student should look out for?

On my first day at the Academy, I was terrified and knew no one. Now, I consider it my home and have met so many great people that I know will be life-long friends.

By Gatton Academy

Summer 5Q: David Brown continues research in WKU’s Department of Chemistry

July 2, 2012 | 5Q, People, Research, Summer | No Comments

Since 2010, the Gatton Academy has offered students the ability to pursue summer research experiences through the Gatton Research Internships Grants (RIG) program. Made possible through the generous support of Mr. Carol Martin “Bill” Gatton, the program offers competitive grants to Gatton Academy students between their junior and senior years to support summertime research internships across the Commonwealth and the world. By providing a funding mechanism, the program directly creates new avenues for growth and exploration. Throughout the summer, we’ll share insights from students who are the recipients of our 2012 grants.

Rising senior David Brown is spending his summer at WKU working in the Department of Chemistry under the mentorship of Dr. Hemali Rathnayake. He is working on creating Novel Π-Conjugated Organic Macromolecules for use in electronic devices—particularly solar cells.

1. What does research mean to you as a young person interested in STEM?

Research means that I get to do what no one has ever done before and to improve upon the enormous accomplishments of those who have gone before me. It is the chance to gain new knowledge, ideas, and to hopefully make a positive contribution to the world. As a senior in high school, that is certainly an exciting way to spend my summer.

2. Will you be using this research experience as a launching point for any particular applications, competitions, or scholarships?

I plan to use my research to compete in the Intel Science Talent Search as well as the Siemens Competition. However, I am particularly interested in pursuing the Goldwater Scholarship. My current research should go a long way in helping me to be very competitive in these contests.

3. What do you love most about the Gatton Academy?

My favorite part about the Academy has to be the general acceptance and tolerance we all have. There are students from all different socio-economic backgrounds, Democrats and Republicans, deeply religious and those who claim no beliefs, and yet we still go out and play Frisbee together or ask each other for help on difficult assignments. Don’t get me wrong, we still argue and have our disagreements, but there is a sense of community here that is hard to find elsewhere.

4. What did you learn in your first year at the Academy that you think first-year students should know?

I felt somewhat overwhelmed my first day at the Academy. I wasn’t sure what to expect and was a little scared of the idea of attending college two years early, leaving friends, and sacrificing many opportunities at home. I still miss my friends very much and I am frightened when test day rolls around, but I know what to expect and feel even more determined to show the world what I can do.

5. What are you looking forward to the most about your second year at the Academy?

In my second year at the Academy, I am looking forward to delving even deeper into my own personal interests. I completed most of my graduation requirements last year, meaning I get even more freedom in my class selections over the coming year. I will certainly be taking plenty of Chemistry, but there are a few other fields I would like to try my hand at as well.

By Gatton Academy

Gatton Academy Students Contribute to Global STEM Discussions through Summer Experiences

June 15, 2012 | Academics, Alumni, News, People, Research, Students, Summer, WKU | No Comments

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Educational opportunities for students at the Carol Martin Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky do not stop when classes let out for the summer. Two-thirds of recent graduates and students returning for the fall semester will participate in some form of learning through the school’s summer research and internship program.

Highlights of the summer 2012 program include seven participants in Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) programs, 35 students studying abroad focusing on research and culture, and unique public and private industry partnerships via ten-week research internships in some of the nation’s most premier programs.

The Gatton Academy’s program begins in late November each preceding year with faculty and staff members promoting summer programs. Students prepare applications as early as the winter break for some of the most competitive STEM-based summer programs available not only to high school students, but undergraduates as well.

Derick Strode, assistant director for academic services at the Gatton Academy, coordinates the school’s research and internship programs. He explained the variety and depth of these experiences distinguish these students from their peers at both the high school and undergraduate level.

“This summer, our students are pursuing answers to research questions across STEM fields,” Strode said. “They are active participants in cultures on four continents. They are in their own hometowns shadowing the doctors and engineers they looked up to as children. Our summer program encourages students to follow their passions for science, math, and learning, and get a taste of what it means to be a contributing citizen and professional in the broad STEM community.”

One such student is Lydia Brothers, a class of 2012 graduate from Madisonville. Brothers is interning at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, this summer in missions operations. She will focus on crew operations and training for the International Space Station (ISS).

“I’m working with the people who create the procedures that the astronauts actually execute,” Brothers explained. “We ultimately use the procedures to train the astronauts to carry out tasks and experiments while they are on mission.”

Brothers’ internship at NASA is combines features of her coursework at the Gatton Academy in engineering, physics, and computer science.

“In my work, not only do you have to have a good understanding of how all the machinery works but also provide the information in the same format that an astronaut sees it in, which is computer programming,” Brothers said.

Brothers’ first experience at the Marshall Space Flight Center came as a middle school student when she went to space camp.

“I would have never thought that sitting around learning about the ISS that one day I would be working with people on a daily basis who help run it,” she said. “It’s like a dream come true.”

Strode noted that the success in students’ summer exploits can be drawn directly back to the preparation students receive at WKU.

“Lydia is a perfect example of a student who embraced the rich research opportunities available at WKU and applied hard work to her passions,” Strode said.

Brothers participated in research during the entirety of her two years at the Gatton Academy with WKU’s Department of Physics and Astronomy under the mentorship of Drs. Louis Strolger and Edward Kintzel. Additionally, she interned in summer 2011 at the University of Tennessee’s Space Institute. Her research for that experience was recognized by the Siemens Competition.

“Many of the summer research programs that our students apply to accept only five to ten percent of their total applicants,” Strode said. “In such competitive programs, the Gatton Academy students compete so well for coveted spots because they engage in research that goes far above and beyond their coursework.”

91% of the students who graduated in the Gatton Academy’s class of 2012 had participated in a mentored research project while studying at the school—almost entirely under the tutelage of a WKU faculty member.

“These are students that love to learn. Whether it’s the middle of the semester or the middle of summer, these are curious students,” Strode said.

Contact: Derick Strode, (270) 745-6565.

A full listing of Gatton Academy students’ summer plans are listed after the jump.

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By Corey Alderdice

Gatton Academy Students Present Research Findings at National Conference for Undergraduate Research

April 23, 2012 | Academics, News, People, Research, Students, WKU | No Comments

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Four second-year students at The Carol Martin Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky recently shared research findings at The National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR).

Lydia Brothers, from Madisonville, Andrea Eastes, from Mayfield, Keaton Smith, from Alexandria, and Erin Walch, also from Alexandria, presented at the annual conference, held March 29-31, 2012, at Weber State University in Ogden, Utah.

NCUR promotes undergraduate research, scholarship, and creative activity in all disciplines. The conference provided undergraduate scholars in all fields and from all types of institutions of higher learning a forum to share the results of their work through posters, presentations, performances and works of art.

Derick Strode, the Gatton Academy’s assistant director for academic services explained that the conference was a new venue with a diverse audience for students to share their research.

“What we found is an open-minded forum that welcomes quality student projects from a wide-array of disciplines,” Strode said. “This is important because it allows our students a chance to collaborate with others who think about problems in very different ways than scientists or mathematicians.”

Established in 1987, the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) has consistently been one of the largest national conferences for promoting undergraduate research, creative, and scholastic achievement. This two to three-day annual event draws hundreds of talented students representing over 400 colleges and universities nationally.

For Brothers, the variety of backgrounds and viewpoints can lead to interdisciplinary thought and discovery.

“I think the greatest value of NCUR to a student researcher was the availability of so many people who were involved in such a wide range of fields,” Brothers said. “Having researchers from such varied backgrounds who are truly interested and willing to challenge you with questions or provide you with alternate methods to improve your conclusions really gives you something positive to take back to the lab.”

An additional portion of NCUR includes plenary sessions led by nationally prominent speakers sharing their perspectives on educational policy, various programs and initiatives, funding opportunities for undergraduate research efforts, and career development.

Four out of five Gatton Academy graduates participate in a faculty-sponsored research project during their time at the Academy. The Gatton Academy supports students in such endeavors not only as a means of academic growth but also extending the program’s mission of providing rigorous learning experiences.

Keep reading to learn more about students’ research and comments from their faculty mentors.

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By Corey Alderdice

Gatton Academy Students, Alumna Honored in Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship Program

April 12, 2012 | Academics, Alumni, News, People, Research, Student Success, Students, WKU | No Comments

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Since 2006, WKU has led the state in recognition by the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Program. This year, WKU placed among the top producers of Goldwater Scholars in the nation.

Michael Crocker, a second-year student in the Carol Martin Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science from Bowling Green,; and Clarice Esch, an agriculture major and Gatton Academy alumna from Somerset, received scholarships to continue original research.

Lukas Missik, also a second-year student in the Gatton Academy from Danville, received an Honorable Mention in the national competition. Charles “Chadd” Coomer, a biology and chemistry double-major from Louisville, was WKU’s third award winner this year. Universities may nominate up to four students each year.

The students’ success stems from the emphasis placed on undergraduate research at WKU and in the Gatton Academy. Goldwater Scholars are selected based on their academic performance and potential for a research career.

“These students should be commended for demonstrating their future potential effectively through their outstanding research essays and research productivity to date,” said Dr. Kevin Williams, Goldwater faculty representative and associate professor of chemistry.

Each of the students worked closely with their mentors and the Office of Scholar Development to develop cogent applications, submitting numerous drafts over the course of several weeks. “The faculty who have effectively mentored these students in research and the classroom should be applauded for their efforts,” Dr. Williams said.

Established by the U.S. Congress in 1986 to recognize the former senator from Arizona, the scholarship program identifies and honors students who excel in and are pursuing research careers in the sciences, mathematics and engineering. Winners receive $7,500 annually with which they can pay for undergraduate tuition, fees, books and room and board.

WKU is one of 24 institutions where each scholar nominated was recognized by the program. Out of more than 1,100 applicants nationwide, only 282 were selected as scholars and fewer than 200 others received Honorable Mention recognition.

WKU President Gary A. Ransdell commended the students on their willingness to take on ambitious research projects.

“The success these students demonstrate through this recognition shows what can happen when you pair excellent students with a caring, wonderful faculty and the support system available at WKU,” he said. “This is a tribute to their hard work and determination and the guidance and support of their faculty mentors.”

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By Corey Alderdice

Gatton Academy Students, Alumni Honored at 42nd Annual WKU Student Research Conference

March 26, 2012 | Academics, Alumni, News, People, Research, Students, WKU | No Comments

With 269 presentations, the 42nd annual WKU Student Research Conferencewas the biggest in the event’s history as Saturday’s event at Gary A. Ransdell Hall featured 146 papers, 111 posters/exhibits, six performances/videos and six spotlight presentations.

A total of 184 undergraduate students and 85 graduate students were primary authors this year, and an additional 151 students were co-authors. A total of 154 faculty members served as mentors, providing expert instruction and guidance to student researchers and artists.

Among the undergraduate participants in the conference were 69 Honors College students and 32 students in the Carol Martin Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky. Among the students honored, 9 current Academy students were recognized and 4 alumni saluted for their findings.

Student participants represented 33 departments and programs from all colleges: Agriculture; Architectural and Manufacturing Sciences; Art; Biology; Business; Chemistry; Communication; Communication Disorders; Computer Science; Consumer and Family Sciences; Economics; Educational Administration, Leadership, and Research; Engineering; English; Folk Studies and Anthropology; Gender and Women’s Studies; Geography and Geology; History; Interdisciplinary Studies; Management; Mathematics and Computer Science; Modern Languages; Music; Nursing; Philosophy and Religion; Physics and Astronomy; Political Science; Popular Culture Studies; Psychology; Public Health; Social Work; Sociology; and Theatre and Dance.

Award recipients included the following students noted below (faculty mentor in parenthesis). Current Gatton Academy students’ names are listed in green. Academy alumni are marked with an asterisk (*).

Undergraduate Students

Jessica Williams, Department of Theatre and Dance; Best Undergraduate Performance in the Humanities, Session 1 (tie) — Rhythm of My Sole (Professor Amanda Clark)
Kyle MacDonald, Department of Music; Best Undergraduate Performance in the Humanities, Session 1 (tie) — Olympia, a Musical Composition for Wind Ensemble (Dr. Michael Kallstrom)
Victoria Gilkison*, Department of Biology; Best Undergraduate Paper in the Natural Sciences, Session 1 – Stable Isotopic Analysis of the Upper Green River in Hart County, Kentucky (Dr. Albert Meier)
Leah Frazier*, Department of Biology; Best Undergraduate Paper in the Natural Sciences, Session 2 — Stimulation of Cell Migration in Corneal Endothelial Cells (Dr. Ken Crawford)
Ashley Coulter, Department of English; Best Undergraduate Paper in the Humanities, Session 3 — Pale in Comparison: Dissent within Alice Walker’s In Search of Our Mothers’ Gardens (Dr. Sandra Hughes)
Cody Nimmo, Department of Art; Best Undergraduate Paper in the Humanities, Session 4 — Change: Altering How We Perceive an Environment through Sculpture (Professor David Marquez)
John “Jack” LeSieur, Department of Folk Studies and Anthropology; Best Undergraduate Paper in the Social Sciences/Services, Session 5 —Cultural Resources at Kyrock, Kentucky: An Initial Assessment (Dr. Darlene Applegate)
Brenna Tinsley, Department of Biology; Best Undergraduate Paper in the Natural Sciences, Session 6 — The Ecological Roles of Podostemum ceratophyllum and Cladophora in the Habitat and Dietary Preferences of the Riverine Caddisfly Hydropsyche simulans (Dr. Scott Grubbs)
Rebecca Crouch, Department of Mathematics and Computer Science; Best Undergraduate Paper in the Natural Sciences, Session 7 — Chutes and Ladders with Markov Chains (Dr. Melanie Autin)
Shelby Rader*, Department of Geography and Geology; Best Undergraduate Paper in the Natural Sciences, Session 8 — Ion Selectivity Studies on Umbite (Dr. Aaron Celestian)
Anne Walsh, Department of Art; Best Undergraduate Paper in the Humanities, Session 9 — Call Me Ishmael? The Subject of Jackson Pollock’s Portrait of H.M. (Dr. Guy Jordan)
Nathan Bishop, Department of History; Best Undergraduate Paper in the Humanities, Session 10 — Willis v. Walker: Good Faith Alone Is Not the Test (Dr. Patricia Minter)
Taylor Sang, Department of English; Best Undergraduate Paper in the Humanities, Session 11 — Crusader for Transparency (Dr. Sandra Hughes)
Armando Sanchez, Department of Interdisciplinary Studies; Best Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Paper, Session 12 — Truth and Photography (Dr. Sara Northerner)
Shelby Overstreet, Department of Psychology; Best Undergraduate Paper in the Social Sciences/Services, Session 13 — STEM Career Switchers: Why Education? (Dr. Lisa Duffin)
Steven Calhoun, Department of Chemistry; Best Undergraduate Paper in the Natural Sciences, Session 14 — Synthesis, Structure, and Characterization of Two Polyoxometalate-Photosensitizer Hybrid Materials (Dr. Bangbo Yan)
Henry Uradu, Department of Biology; Best Undergraduate Paper in the Natural Sciences, Session 15 — The Winter-Active Dung Beetle Fauna of a Costa Rican Cloud Forest (Dr. Keith Phillips)
Jarrod Connally, Department of Economics; Best Undergraduate Business/Interdisciplinary Poster, Session 1 — Managerial Turnover in the English Premiership and the Subsequent Results (Dr. Dennis Wilson)
Ann-Alan Callahan, Department of Consumer and Family Sciences; Best Undergraduate Poster in the Humanities, Session 2 — Beading ’til They’re Cured (Ms. Sheila Flener)
Jesse Hazel, Department of Art; Best Undergraduate Poster in the Humanities, Session 3 — Humbling (Professor Laurin Notheisen)
Wesley Miller, Department of Art; Best Undergraduate Poster in the Humanities, Session 4 — Secular Nativity in Print – Exploring Origin(Professor Laurin Notheisen)
Akhil Ghanta, Shane Masuda, and Duncan Wood, Department of Physics and Astronomy; Best Undergraduate Poster in the Natural Sciences, Session 5 — Dynamical Field Equations That Couple a Morris-Thorne Wormhole to an Expanding Cosmology (Dr. Keith Andrew)
Elizabeth Gatten, Department of Biology; Best Undergraduate Poster in the Natural Sciences, Session 6 — Isolation and Characterization of Bacteriophage Magnolia (Dr. Rodney King)
Cynthia Tope*, Department of Chemistry; Best Undergraduate Poster in the Natural Sciences, Session 7 (tie) — Reactions of the Amino Acid Cysteine with Analogs of the Anticancer Drug Cisplatin (Dr. Kevin Williams)
Lori Lovell, Department of Biology; Best Undergraduate Poster in the Natural Sciences, Session 7 (tie) — Land Use and E. Coli / Fecal Coliform Violations in the Upper Green Watershed (Dr. Ouida Meier)
David Brown, Department of Chemistry; Best Undergraduate Poster in the Natural Sciences, Session 8 — Novel Î-Conjugated Organic Macromolecules for Electronic Devices (Dr. Hemali Rathnayake)
Andrea Eastes and Erin Walch, Department of Biology; Best Undergraduate Poster in the Natural Sciences, Session 9 — Nitric Oxide Synthase 3 Gene Regulation in Pulmonary Myofibroblasts (Dr. Nancy Rice)
Charles Coomer, Department of Biology; Best Undergraduate Poster in the Natural Sciences, Session 10 — Bacteriophage Classification Via PCR Analysis: An Alternative to Complete Genome Sequencing (Dr. Rodney King)
Brittany Crowley, Department of Psychology; Best Undergraduate Poster in the Social Sciences/Services, Session 11 — Examination of Self-Regulation Constructs as Explanatory Variables for Attendance and Performance (Dr. Steven Wininger)
Cortney Scott, Department of Agriculture; Best Undergraduate Poster in the Social Sciences/Services, Session 12 — Student Influences to Become an Agriculture Major at Western Kentucky University (Professor Thomas Kingery)
Kristin Wallace, Department of Consumer and Family Sciences; Best Undergraduate Poster in the Social Sciences/Services, Session 13 —Sephora: Men: A Pop-up Marketing Concept (Kristina Goff)
Caitlin Reyes, Department of Modern Languages; Best Undergraduate Poster in the Social Sciences/Services, Session 14 — Hispanic Outreach in Bowling Green, Kentucky: Defining the Needs of the Hispanic Community(Dr. Sonia Lenk)

By Corey Alderdice

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