Download Scholars Day Program 2016

Scholars Day
Program
Wesley College
Dover, Delaware
April 14, 2016
1
Schedule of Events
College Center 206C
12:15
Registration
College Center 206A/B
1:00 – 1:55
Welcome, Opening, and Reception
Session I
2:00-2:40
Musical Performances
Oral Presentations
Session II
2:50-3:30
Musical Performances
Oral Presentations
Poster Presentations
Session III
3:40-4:20
Art Exhibition
Oral Presentations
Session IV
4:30-5:10
Oral Presentations
Poster Presentations
Art Presentation/Exhibition is in Longwood 101
and will be up for the day in addition to Session III
Musical Performances are held in the Chapel
Poster Presentations are around the outside of the College Center
(In the event of rain, the presentations will be held at the College Center lobby)
Oral Presentations in Wells Auditorium (Slaybaugh Hall 107),
Slaybaugh 104, Cannon Hall 7, and Cannon Hall 110
2
Musical Performances: Session I
2:00 – 2:40
Chapel
Ensemble Performances: Emily Dickinson Poems set to music
Kia Smith
Wesley College Choir
Still I Rise: a Maya Angelou Poem set to music
Emily Bentz
Wesley College Choir
Oral Presentations: Session I
2:00 – 2:40
Panel 1: Cannon Hall 7
Moderator: Dr. Agashi Nwogbaga
Assessor: Dr. Kathy Curran
The Solvolytic Study of Cyclohexyl Chloroformate
Laura Malinowski
Solvolytic mechanisms of common β-keto carbonyl compounds
Ariel Bilbrough
Panel 2: Wells Auditorium (Slaybaugh) 107
Moderator: Dr. Cynthia Newton
Assessor: Dr. Angela D’Antonio
Wesley College Institutional Grants for Students vs Student Loans
1987-2012
Summer Stone and Christina Hubert
Wesley College Six-Year Graduation Rate 1987-2012
Andreanna Jeffries, Samantha Weber, and Dionne Williams
3
Musical Performances: Session II
2:50 – 3:30
Chapel
Musical Composition:
Alyssa Moat
Presentation Singer: Elizabeth Hazlett
Ensemble Performances: Original Composition
Nicholas Oakley
Pianists: Sherry Roscoe and Dr. James Wilson
Members of the Wesley College Choir
Tiffany Allen-James
Emily Bentz
Benjamin Bishop
Alexa Cherico
Garrett Doak
Joy Gordy-Stith
Asia Harmon
Elizabeth Hazlett
Rebecca Herrera
Amara Hill
Sara Miller
Massiel Napolitano
Sarah Pulling
Jacob Sasso
Aiyannah Sosa
Lakeisha Thompson
Doris Tremble
Alana Walker
4
Oral Presentations: Session II
2:50-3:30
Panel 1: Wells Auditorium (Slaybaugh Hall 107)
Moderator: Professor Victor Greto
Assessor: Dr. Stephanie Holyfield
How Are College Students Abusing "Legal" Substances?
Glenn Aruta
Uplifting Guatemala: A Changing World
Hannah Veasey
Panel 2: Cannon Hall 110
Moderator: Dr. Albee Mendoza
Assessor: Professor Susan Redington Bobby
Mood Disorders and Substance Abuse among Wesley College Students
Natalie Trujillo
The Band of Brothers, World War II’s Vanguard
Zachary Prescott
Poster Presentations Session II
2:50-3:30 p.m.
The Outside of the College Center
(In the event of rain, the presentations will be held at the College Center
Lobby
Dying in Delaware – Impact of obesity, county of residence, income,
gender, education, and race
Riza Bautista
Solvolysis of Lauryl Cloroflormate
Momina Toseef
Using Dendrochronology to Assess the Effects of Sea level Rise and
Storm Inundation on Coastal Forests
Lihoshimar Gonzalez
5
The Chemical Process of a Latex Allergy
Katelynn Russomanno
Location, Race, and the Transgender Community: How it all Ties Together.
Jennifer Jankowski
Vernal Pond Ecosystems at the Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve
Hannah Small
Waterways of Dover, Delaware
Christian Rodriguez
Pediatric Root Cause Analysis
Ashten Bodofsky, Ruth Ann Elston, Frank Fiorella, John Needles, and Lauryn
Hamil
Invasive Species Control at a Restoration Project along the St. Jones River
Savanah Love
Isolation and Characterization of Antibiotic Compounds from the
Soil Bacteria Streptomyces.
Mark Shaw and Christina Baughan
Using Nano-tags to explore Temporal Movements of Red Knots throughout the
Tide Cycle-Is Aquaculture a threat to a Critical Staging Area (Delaware Bay)?
Josh Barth
6
Art Exhibition: Session III
3:40 – 4:20
Longwood 101
An Autobiography Through Art
Courtney Gross
3-D Charcoal Shapes
Sarah Holt
Black History
Jasmine Jackson
Self Portrait
Brian Moore
Guidance through Origami
Lily Neff
Selected Paintings
Emily Temple
Charcoal Drawings
Amanda Svehla
Still Life
Dionne Williams
Put A Cap On Waste
Betty Grace Lee, Marquita Dickerson-Frisby, Stephanie Dobyns,
Brooke Thompson, Juliana Tedder, Alyssa Watson, Kenny Ciccoli, Lauren Gray,
Sharnice Williams
7
Oral Presentations: Session III
3:40 – 4:20
Panel 1: Wells Auditorium (Slaybaugh 107)
Moderator: Dr. Jack Barnhardt
Assessor: Dr. Nancy Rubino
The Dimensions of Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANEs)
Alysia Welsh
Anatomy of a College Newspaper
Kristen Griffith and Brittany Wilson
Panel 2: Canon 110
Moderator: Dr. Malcolm D’Souza
Assessor: Professor Tamala Paxton
Isolation and Characterization of Phage from Soil Using
Mycobacterium
Summer Stone
Annie Jump Cannon: Local History and the Historian’s Craft
Valerie Shorter
Panel 3: Slaybaugh Hall 104
Moderator: Dr. Jeffery Mask
Assessor: Professor Darla Davidson
Wesley College Graduation Indicators
Riza Bautista and Rahel Mandara
Money in Delaware State Politics
Savannah Durham
8
Oral Presentations: Session IV
4:30-5:10
Panel 1: Wells Auditorium (Slaybaugh 107)
Moderator: Dr. Rebecca Benson
Assessor: Dr. Varleisha Gibbs
The Relationship between Homelessness and Hopelessness in Aging
Adults
Alexis Jones
SPEAK Presents: Convergence "A spoken word showcase"
Kevin Johnson, Evan Le’Mon, Dominic McAnulty, Mercedes Myrick, Patrick
Schlosser, Mavin Willis, Morgan Williams, Sherie Butler and Austin Kind
Panel 2: Cannon Hall 110
Moderator: Dr. Julie Fisher
Assessor: Professor Dianitza Runser
Wesley College Tuition 1987-2012
Benjamin Miller, Zach Huk, and Vincent Wu
The Demon King and the End of Honor
Nicholas Oakley
Panel 3: Slaybaugh Hall 104
Moderator: Dr. John O’Neil
Assessor: Professor Margaret McElligott
Comparative Analyses of the Reaction Rates of Seven Alkyl
Chloroformates
Robert Dina
9
Poster Presentations Session IV
4:30-5:10
The Outside of the College Center
(In the event of rain, Presentations will be held in the College Center Lobby
Your Hand in Hand Hygiene
Stacion Jones and Vickie Cox
Characterization of the Pseudomonas fluorescens BW6L
Mary Williams
Wetlands
Olivia Gulledge
Breakdown of Toxic Chemicals by Microoganisms
Samantha Weber
Exercise Science Internship
Kayla Fromal
An Investigation of the Living Shoreline Project located near the mouth of the
Mispillion River, Cedar Creek and the Delaware Bay
Jessica Small
The Role of APP in Early-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease
Dionne Williams
Title: Wesley College brings the chemistry of color to Delaware's family
science adventure
Austin Luna
Water Quality Comparison Between Input and Output of Silver Lake
Brooke Thompson
Plaque psoriasis: The Mechanism of Etanercept Immunotherapy
Ariel Bilbrough
Classic Hemochromatosis
Summer Stone
Nitrous Oxide: An Alternative to Epidural Anesthesia? A Literature Review
10
Glenn Aruta, Michael Ditore, Mark Stinsmani, Stephanie
Malakuskie, Hannah Veasey
The Chemistry of Anti-Anxiety Medications on the Brain
Laura Malinowski
Prudent Practices in the Storage, Handling, and Disposal of Laboratory
Chemicals
Lily Neff
11
Abstracts
The Demon King and the End of Honor
Nicholas Oakley
Mentor: Dr. Stpehanie Holyfield
Nobunaga Oda, a dyaimo (warlord) who lived from the mid to late 1500s, changed warfare in
Japan forever. His revolutionary use of the musket in the battle of Nagashino (1575) revealed the
musket’s tremendous potential as a weapon that could turn the tides of battle. This new weapons
technology caused warfare in Japan to change drastically. The days of massive Calvary, and
noble warriors honorably testing their ability against one another had ended. The musket forced
the samurai to fight as a foot solider, and a warrior who had trained for years to master the
sword, could now be killed by a farmer who had a week’s training with the musket. The famed
Demon King had brought an end to honor, and changed warfare in Japan forever.
Isolation and Characterization of Phage from Soil Using Mycobacterium
Summer Stone
Mentor: Dr. William Kroen & Professor John Kidd
The goal of this proposal project is to isolate phage from soil using mycobacterium. The
questions being asked during the project are “Can we isolate phage from soil using
mycobacterium?” and if so, can we identify and characterize the phage?” This project will start
by taking soil samples and then soil extracts will be made with an appropriate host to put on
agar. If plaques appear on the agar we would then try to get pure samples of the plaques. From
there we would try to isolate the phage making the plaques. Studying phage is important because
some phage can be used to cure bacterial infections, by phage therapy, which is useful when
antibiotic resistance occurs. Bacteriophage are virus particles that infect and replicate within
bacteria. Phage can be found anywhere. Phage can control bacterial populations by killing
‘sensitive’ bacteria causing an increase in the amount of genetically resistant bacteria.
Annie Jump Cannon: Local History and the Historian’s Craft
Valarie Shorter
Mentors: Dr. Stephanie Holyfield, Wesley College, Marian Carpenter & Edward McWilliam,
Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs
Annie Jump Cannon’s long career as an astronomer remains relatively unexplored despite her
many academic and scientific achievements. She ultimately became the Curator of Astronomical
Photographs and an important member of the Harvard University Observatory and gained many
honors from world-renowned institutions. The panels of this exhibit intend to educate the public
about this important figure and her significance to Dover, Delaware. A life-long passion for
education and the pursuit of knowledge drove Annie to achieve and push the boundaries of what
was acceptable for women between the Civil War and World War II. The exhibit is based on
archival material from Harvard University, Wesley College, and the Delaware Division of
Historic and Cultural Affairs as well as published primary and secondary sources The Delaware
Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs, CARE Team fabricated the exhibit and provided
guidance throughout the process of research, writing, and design.
12
Uplifting Guatemala: A Changing World
Hannah Veasey
Mentor: Professor Margaret McElligott
Upon researching life in Guatemala I found that it is one of many poverty stricken countries.
Most published, peer reviewed articles focused research on rural farms and native populations
adjusting to modern conveniences, including healthcare. During my visit to Guatemala with the
nursing program we were able to see the impact of an adapting culture. While visiting Santo
Tomas, we educated children at Saber y Gracia School on health factors including dental
hygiene, nutrition, and fetal development. I will determine how our teaching impacted their lives.
I will be interviewing the students and school administrators to determine the impact of our
teaching on the students’ knowledge of health and lifestyle choices, and how the school impacts
Guatemala’s future. Afterwards, I will compare the outcomes of students who attend public
schools in Guatemala to the students of Saber y Gracia.
The Dimensions of Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANEs)
Alysia E. Welsh
Mentor: Dr. Julie Fisher
The presentation will explore the physical and emotional dimensions of being a Sexual Assault
Nurse Examiner (SANE). My research involved the role conflicts SANEs face with law
enforcement as caregivers and patient advocates, the importance of SANEs, and the emotional
impact of the specialty. The presentation will discuss the basics of what SANEs do regarding
physical exams, patient teaching, legal and ethical dilemmas, along with how SANEs balance
their patient advocate role with their involvement with law enforcement. The presentation will
include the extreme physical and mental efforts SANEs struggle with to provide high quality
medical care, to maintain the quality of forensic evidence, and to attend to survivors’ emotional
needs.
Solvolytic mechanisms of common β-keto carbonyl compounds
Ariel K. Bilbrough
Mentor: Dr. Malcolm D’Souza
β-keto carbonyl compounds are pharmaceutically relevant biomaterials. The preparation of such
useful β-keto ester enolates, carboxylic acids and amides, is often accomplished with substituted
ethyl chloroformate esters and strong bases. Hence, studies on carbonyl substitution chemistry to
understand the influence of aqueous solvents on chemical reactivity of substituted ethyl
chloroformates are pertinent. This undergraduate project analyzed (in detail) the solvent effects
on ethyl-, 1-chloroethyl-, 2-fluoroethyl- and 2-benzyloxyethyl- chloroformates through acid-base
titrations at exactly 25.0 degrees Celsius. Inductive effects due to the positioning of the
substituent are shown to play crucial roles in the reaction chemistry of these esters. The solvent
hydrogen-bonding ability also determines substrate reactivity and major reaction pathway.
13
The Band of Brothers, World War II’s Vanguard
Zachary Tyler Prescott
Mentor: Dr. Stephanie Holyfield
World War II saw young men taken from school or work and thrust into the crucible of combat.
Many infantry units quickly became exceptional in conventional warfare; however, the men of
the 101st Airborne's 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment became the best of the best due to
outstanding performances in near impossible situations. The Band of Brothers became the best
unit of World War II due to victories on D-Day, Operation Market Garden, and during the Battle
of the Bulge. Using battle maps from the Army Academy, simple analysis will show how the
101st Airborne preformed far above traditional infantry units. The ultra-light weapons and
equipment carried by the American paratroopers prove how effective these units were by
overcoming the battle-hardened Germans, as the German army was typically the best armed,
with the most technologically advanced weapons of the war.
Pediatric Root Cause Analysis
Ashten T. Bodofsky
Mentor: Dr. Nancy Rubino
The pediatric root cause analysis identified inconsistencies and noncompliance with infection
control measures. The objective of this project is to improve compliance and consistency in
infection control measures on the pediatric floor. The researchers’ method was observing staff
and family compliance with infection control measures. Quality control indicators were
analyzed. Rooms were audited for hygiene protective equipment. The unit was audited for
measures such as signs. The Joint Commission and CDC promote competency education in the
health care arena and stress that equipment must be available and appropriate. No current
research is available for family compliance with isolation precautions, so further research is
indicated. A culture of infection prevention must come from top down, starting with senior
management to effectively provide a positive example to staff. The researchers found
inconsistencies and lack of available equipment to be leading contributors to low quality
indicator rates.
Dover YMCA Member Satisfaction Survey
Kayla Fromal
Mentor: Dr. Barb Abbott
This study was conducted as a part of the Exercise Science Internship through Wesley College at
the Dover YMCA and required 400 hours. In addition to attending and teaching classes and
learning how to work in the fitness industry, I completed a qualitative member satisfaction
survey. This paper survey was distributed to members of morning classes who volunteered to
complete the survey between March 14 and March 18. Over 60 surveys have been
collected. The data will be analyzed for age, gender, length of membership, gym usage, areas of
dissatisfaction, and areas of satisfaction. The results of this study could be useful to YMCA staff
members to assess gym usage and areas needing improvement.
14
Location, Race, and the Transgender Community: How it all Ties Together
Jennifer Jankowski
Mentor: Chelsey Vest, Dr. Cynthia Newton
The subject that I am aiming to address is how a transgendered persons regional location affects
the treatment they receive, as well as how race factors into the behavior towards them. I plan to
compare how the treatment differs from the east coast and the west coast, and in the northern and
southern states too. I also plan on discussing how race ties into the tolerance of transgendered
persons. The tolerance of a certain race has some regional aspects to it, such as if the rate of
violence towards a transgendered person of color increases if they reside in more southern states,
and vice versa. I will be using a combination of scholarly literature, statistical databases and
information from local LGBT organizations including, but not limited to, the Delaware
Renaissance organization, Glaad.org, and Transgenderlawcenter.org. Finally, I plan to raise
awareness for the transgender community with this presentation.
The Chemistry of Anti-Anxiety Medications on the Brain
Laura Claire Malinowski
Mentor: Dr. William Kroen
Clinical anxiety disorders such as obsessive compulsive disorder and generalized anxiety
disorder can be caused by the brain having incorrect levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid
(GABA). GABA inhibits, or slows, the chemical messages responsible for nerve activity in the
brain. If GABA levels are too low, neurons will fire too often and cause anxiety.
Benzodiazepines are a family of drugs that include Valium and Xanax, and are used to treat
anxiety disorders by increasing GABA amounts in the brain, thus slowing down nerve
transmission. While this family of drugs acts quickly to calm anxiety symptoms, there are many
negative side effects to long term usage. The excessive inhibition of neuron transmission can
affect the ability to create memories and could even cause depression. The effects of
benzodiazepines on the brain and the long-term chemical changes caused by them will be
researched and described in this review project.
Prudent Practices in the Storage, Handling, and Disposal of Laboratory Chemicals
Lily Neff, Katrina A. Mitchell, Kristopher Roeske
Mentor: Malcolm J. D’Souza
This project encourages faculty, students, and administrators to support quality, safety, and
environmental measures in our undergraduate chemistry laboratories. Through standardization
using the commercial Quartzy platform, sustainable systems are implemented to streamline the
management of chemicals, their documentation and the ordering process. Solutions, including
material reduction, strategies to reduce chemical wastes, increased recycling capacity, life cycle
impacts of various waste management strategies and revised risk assessment approaches are
developed. Chemicals are inventoried on Quartzy according to the suggested storage patterns
obtained from flinnscience.com. It states chemicals are to be separated into inorganic and
organic then further separated into compatible families. Acids and flammables are placed in
isolated units with proper ventilation. Chemicals are given an alphanumeric label that
corresponds to their placement in the storage unit. For example, OR2D04 is the second organic
storage unit, shelf D, since shelves are assigned a letter, and the fourth row on that shelf.
15
Vernal Pond Ecosystems at the Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve
Hannah Small
Mentor: Independent Project
Vernal ponds are complex systems in which environmental parameters such as total surface area,
salinity levels, temperature, rainfall and amphibian presence play important roles. These
parameters were measured at four ponds throughout the Delaware National Estuarine Research
Reserve to observe any significant correlations. At each reserve site, Blackbird Creek and St.
Jones, two ponds were monitored. Preliminary results show an inverse correlation between
rainfall and surface area using weather history provided by Delaware Environmental Observation
Systems and a Trimble Nomad GPS. Surface area was lower when the amount of days increased
without rainfall. Linear regression results showed the amount of frog calls identified and overall
presence was greater at ponds with larger surface areas. Along the Mid-Atlantic, Delaware
specifically, there are no regulations or state ordinances to protect vernal ponds. A state-wide
mapping inventory and knowledge of their importance could make the difference between
survival and extinction for these systems.
Wesley College Brings the Chemistry of Color to Delaware’s Family Science Adventure
Program
Austin Luna and Andre Jones
Mentors: Dr. Derald Wentzien and Dr. Malcolm J. D'Souza
Every year, the Wesley College organic chemistry class participates in a four-hour, DE-ACS
sponsored, Family Science Adventure program. Our volunteers develop and bring interactive
chemistry concepts and activities that engage over 250 elementary and middle school students.
This year, chemistry was further demystified using creative experiments and colorful hands-on
activities. A questionnaire were used to measured student interest and engagement in science
before and after the event. We asked on both questionnaire, pre and post, two questions I think
science is fun/exciting and I would like a job that involves science so we could see if there is an
increased interest in STEM programs. With a total 53 questionnaires, we tested the claim that
there is an increased interest in STEM programs. We ran a Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test and 95%
confidence interval on the two questions asked used. Results helped support the claim that the
students have an increased interest in STEM programs.
Comparative Analyses of the Reaction Rates of Seven Alkyl Chloroformates
Robert Dina
Mentor: Dr. Malcom D’Souza
Primary alkyl chloroformates (ROCOCl) are synthetically useful in the production of carbonates
and amino acids. The solution chemistry can be studied through acid-base titrations.
Chloroformates produce hydrochloric acid (HCl) in solution, coupled with sodium methoxide
(NaOMe) as the base and a lacmoid-acetone mixture as an indicator, acid-base titrations can be
performed. From the titrations the rate of reactions can be analyzed and compared to show trends
in the electron pushing carbon groups. The measured kinetics of reaction in solutions widely
ranging in nucleophilicity and ionizing power are reported for ethyl, propyl, iso-propyl, 2ethylhexyl, octyl, nonyl, and decyl chloroformates. Quantitative analysis of experimental data is
performed using multiple correlation analysis with the dual parameter Grunwald-Winstein
equation. The coefficients obtained govern the interactions between solute and solvent associated
with hydrophobicity of substrates.
16
Music Composition Presentation
Alyssa Moat
Mentor:
The purpose of this presentation is to show people the production side to music and to get people
interested in the music production class. The song is about envious people. The song was
recorded here in the recording studio at Wesley Chapel.
Wesley Sonata
Nicholas Oakley
Mentor: Dr. David Langanella
The Premiere of the second movement from this three movement piece. During the premiere, the
audience will be given an insight into the compositional process.
A Work in Progress: The path of creating a tune through poetry
Kia Smith
Mentor: Dr. David Langanella
This presentation is about the process of putting poetry to music through trial and error. I will be
describing my view on the process of putting poetry to music and how I turned each poetry work
chosen into a piece of vocal music. I will be accepting questions after the presentation for anyone
who wants to know more. The Presentation will also include excerpts of my latest works
performed by the Wesley College Choir.
Still I Rise
Emily Bentz
Mentor: Dr. David Langanella and Dr. James Wilson
My four-part choral composition of Maya Angelou’s poem, “Still I Rise” was inspired by a
composition I wrote last spring using the same poetry. This choral version not only uses more
voices, but gives Angelou’s words a different attitude— one of strength and confidence. The
piece was written and entered into the Delaware Collegiate Composer Competition and won
second place. During my presentation, I will explain my reasoning behind the harmonic
progressions and rhythmic ideas I chose to write.
Put A Cap On Waste
Betty Grace Lee, Marquita Dickerson-Frisby, Stephanie Dobyns, Brooke Thompson, Juliana
Tedder, Alyssa Watson, Kenny Ciccoli, Lauren Gray, Sharnice Williams
Mentor: Student Group Project
Sustainable Wesley is creating a large art piece. We are collecting bottle caps of all sizes (water
bottle, gatorade, milk jug, ect.) from our peers, and painting them blue and white. We are then
assembling the caps into the Wolverine Logo on a clear backing to create a mosaic out of the
water bottle caps. The purpose of this art piece to talk about what more we can do with the waste
we create. Sustainable Wesley is hoping to create a greener campus, and talking about how to do
this is pertinent in making this happen. By displaying a creative way to reuse waste, we are
hoping to inspire our peers to do the same. We are also going to have a display with the art piece
talking about how we can "Put a cap on waste."
17
3-D Charcoal Shapes
Sarah Holt
Mentor: Professor Sarah Hardesty
This still life drawing focuses on the value and shading created by using charcoal, and various
drawing tools. Some of these tools include a smudge rag, erasers, and my fingers. In doing this it
helped emphasize the form and volume created.
In this drawing class I had the opportunity to create this charcoal drawing from my own
viewpoint in the classroom. The still life is from a variety of different foam shapes, with a light
shinning down on it. This gave each viewpoint from every student in the class, including myself
a unique advantage of the shading depending upon where you were standing.
Charcoal has been around for centuries, so its nothing new to the world, yet for me it was. I
found this way of drawing to be so fun, and interesting. This being that I had the ability to
control the drawing.
Black History
Jasmine Jackson
Mentor: Professor Sarah Hardesty
This piece is called Black History. I created something that symbolized African Americans and
Black History month, because the project was due in February. That is why I chose the black
power fist. To me the black power fist represents unity, strength, and pride. I figured with all the
unjustified violence that had been recurring in the last few years, that it would be nice to show
that African Americans can rise above it. I put pieces of tape around the fist to symbolize how
African Americans are unique in each individual way and all come together to for one common
goal. I chose red, black, and green because these are the Black History month colors. The red
represents the blood that unites all people of Black ancestry, the black represents all the black
people that exist as a nation, and finally the green represents the natural wealth of Africa.
Charcoal Drawings
Amanda Svehla
Mentor: Professor Sarah Hardesty
I am submitting two charcoal drawings from the Fall 2015 Drawing I class for the Scholar's Day
art exhibition. The first piece is a self-portrait that focuses on defining facial features through
value and depth. The second piece is a still life that was based on white Styrofoam shapes with
different light sources.
18
Guidance through Origami
Lily Soon Neff
Mentor: Professor Sarah Hardesty
My artist inspiration came from Jo Nakashima. His artwork incorporates many kinetic and
geometric origami figures which inspired me to create and focus on kusudamas that I used to
make when I was younger. Each kusudama is made of six individual origami pieces stapled and
glued together by the four end folds. This represents my personal challenge of organic chemistry
as a whole. The way to succeed in this course is to practice and practice each step over and over
again. Each kusudama is created step by step, repeated five more times, to make the whole.
Likewise, organic chemistry is completed step by step to figure out the final answer. In my
installation project, two types of molecules are represented, CO2 and O2. The CO2 is
represented by two light green kusudamas, which symbolize oxygen, and one dark green
kusudama which represents carbon, attached to each other by hidden wire. The other, O2, is
represented by two light blue kusudamas attached to each other by hidden wire. The two
different molecules are different colors, instead of a solitary color for each element, to symbolize
their importance and relation to each of us. The green CO2 molecules represent our long lasting
greenhouse gas effect. The O2 molecules are a light blue color to represent their pure necessity
to sustain our life. When a person sits on the chair surrounded by the kusudamas, the light blue
O2 molecules are both on the left and the right at relatively the brain, heart, and lung level to
emphasize this, and the CO2 molecules are up above to represent in the surrounding atmosphere.
The artwork overall, represents multiple obstacles, from personal to environmental in an
interactive way with the viewer.
Selected Paintings
Emily Temple
Mentor: Independent Project
These are a few of the paintings I've worked on independently over the past year. My characters
are typically women in a fantasy setting, but I work to consciously oppose the typical, narrow
cliches of the fantasy genre regarding its female characters. My medium is digital; my paintings
are composed in Clip Studio Paint with a Wacom tablet. It is a medium I have practiced for the
past several years, and one I strive to improve in with each piece.
Still Life
Dionne Williams
Mentor: Professor Sarah Hardesty
In the Drawing I course, drawing skills were developed to make inanimate objects look realistic
with use of line and shading techniques. Charcoal and shading techniques were utilized to create
drawing of non-living objects. With the skills developed from the course, a still life drawing was
created using harsh to light shading of charcoal to create contrast in shading along with white
charcoal pencil and an eraser to create highlights. From this artwork, I learned the importance of
contrast and blending to craft a realistic image.
19
An Autobiography Through Art
Courtney D. Gross
Mentor: Professor Sarah Hardesty
This collection of prints was created for a printmaking class, and each print represents a piece of
who I am. I looked back into my childhood for inspiration for these pieces, carefully selecting
images that could summarize a life of cherished memories. The images in this collection are
symbols of my life story and the people in it, combining to create an autobiography through art. I
hope to use my artwork and the mark making in my prints as a vehicle to share my story.
Everyone has a story; this one is mine.
Self Portrait
Brian H. Moore
Mentor: Professor Sarah Hardesty
The artwork presented is a self-portrait in charcoal. It is entirely done by looking in the mirror,
not based on a photograph. I made this in Drawing 1 with Professor Sarah Hardesty. I used white
pencil in certain areas to accentuate the highlight on my face. This contributed to the volume and
realism of the drawing.
SPEAK Presents: Convergence "A spoken word showcase"
Kevin Charles Johnson, Evan Le'Mon, Dominic McAnulty, Mercedes Myrick, Patrick Schlosser,
Mavin Willis, Morgan Williams, Sherie Butler and Austin Kind
Mentor: Dr. Harry Maxson
SPEAK returns this year to present original Spoken Word from various perspectives. The goal of
the performance is to show how subjective the art of poetry is to poets and listeners. Expect to
hear topics from everywhere.
Isolation and Characterization of Antibiotic Compounds from the Soil Bacteria Streptomyces
Mark Shaw and Christina R. Baughan
Mentor: Dr. Virginia Balke
Streptomyces are soil dwelling bacteria that naturally produce antibiotics and release them to
their immediate surroundings. The genus is responsible for producing over half of the antibiotics
used today to treat bacterial infections in humans. Pathogenic bacteria rapidly develop resistance
to commonly used antibiotics, underscoring the need for the discovery of new antibiotic
compounds with different mechanisms of action. In this study, we are investigating the structures
of antibiotics from Streptomyces cultured from various soils. The Streptomyces isolates were
classified using 16S rRNA gene sequences. Antibiotic production was demonstrated by coculturing the Streptomyces isolates with representative Gram-positive and Gram-negative
bacteria and observing growth inhibition. Antibiotic compounds were extracted from solid
growth media and separated by thin layer chromatography (TLC). TLC stains were utilized to
identify the general structure of antibiotic compounds found in the extract. Further structure
determination will be done using LC-MS and NMR.
20
Characterization of the Pseudomonas fluorescens BW6L FruR Transcriptional Regulator
Mary “Molly” C. Williams
Mentor: Dr. Virginia Balke
FruR (cra) is a well-characterized fructose utilization regulator in Gram-negative bacteria E. coli
and Pseudomonas putida. Studies indicate that the regulation of fructose utilization genes differs
extensively between the two species reflecting their differing natural niches. With the genome
sequencing of P. fluorescens BW6L, a comparison of P. fluorescens FruR function with E. coli
and P. putida can be studied using genome annotation and cloning techniques. To accomplish
this, the P. fluorescens FruR gene was cloned into pET expression vector, protein expressed, and
purified. An upstream region containing the putative binding sequence was PCR amplified.
Studies investigating the binding of the P. fluorescens FruR will be conducted to confirm the
function of this protein in P. fluorescens. These results will be compared to published studies on
the function of FruR in P. putida and E. coli.
Classic Hemochromatosis
Summer L. Stone
Mentor: Dr. William Kroen
Classic Hemochromatosis (HHC) is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder where the body
absorbs too much iron (as much as four times the normal) from a person’s diet. Too much iron in
the body increases the risk for diseases such as arthritis, depression, infertility, and some cancers.
If left untreated, the iron builds up in joints and organs, eventually turning fatal. HHC is caused
by mutations (C282Y usually) in alleles of the HFE gene located on chromosome six; this gene
is involved in iron uptake from food. DNA tests are able to detect HHC. There are more than 1
million Americans with the genes for this disorder. Caucasians are most at risk for HHC. One
treatment includes drawing blood in order to lower iron levels. This review will cover the
genetics of the mutations of the HFE gene as well as the results of this disorder.
Your Hand in Hand Hygiene
Stacion R. Jones and Vickie Cox
Mentor: Chris Jarrell and Dr. Denise Morris
Focus of the Abstract: The literature reports a 1.7 million healthcare-associated infections
(HAI’s) occurring annually. Effective hand hygiene has been directly associated with a reduction
in these costs (WHO, 2015). A brief training session was conducted on the impact of hand
hygiene in the prevention of HAI’s. Does an effective educational offering improve hand
hygiene practices among undergraduate nurses? Method: A convenience sampling of students
participated in the training session. Multiple evaluation methods identified knowledge deficits at
each level of the training session. Results: Post test scores increased by 10.4%, and return
demonstration was effective in 75% of participants. Recommendations: Based upon the findings
of this research study and the recommendation from the literature, it is recommended that
ongoing hand hygiene education be implemented as an approach to preventing HAI’s.
Conclusion: Participants were responsive to the educational session and acknowledged that
proper hand hygiene contributes to the reduction of HAI’s. Keywords: hand hygiene, healthcareassociated infections
21
Invasive Species Control at a Restoration Project along the St. Jones River
Savanah Star Love
Mentor: Dr. Stephanie Stotts
Sections of the riparian zone along the St. Jones River were restored through the St. Jones River
Revitalization project. However, the restoration project has not been well maintained and
invasive species have begun taking over the area. This project is an examination of the research
design for controlling the invasive species and the preliminary steps that have begun. The
research design includes the removal of invasive species through a control group, spraying, and
hand removal. While less labor intensive, spraying can kill off desirable species, causing long
term problems. Invasive species were removed by hand in the fall of 2015, and spraying will
begin in late spring 2016. The results of this project will be important because they will lead to
land management decisions.
Breakdown of Toxic Chemicals by Microoganisms
Samantha J. Weber
Mentor: Dr. William Kroen
BTEX is the group of chemicals including benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene, which are
toxic aromatic compounds in the environment. They are toxic because of their carcinogenic and
mutagenic potential on humans. These chemicals are also pollutants because they enter the
environment from an outside source such as oil spills. They build up on the surface of water,
blocking the sunlight from penetrating through to the aquatic plants and organisms. This
diminishes the ability for these organisms to effectively undergo photosynthesis. Interfering with
photosynthesis causes a decrease in the oxygen available to aquatic organisms, and many could
die. Bioremediation is a process of “cleaning” the environment using natural mechanisms. The
bioremediation of BTEX can be done by microorganisms that produce compounds called
biosurfactants, key components to the breakdown of BTEX compounds. This literature-based
review will describe the mechanisms by which the BTEX compounds are degraded.
Dying in Delaware – Impact of obesity, county of residence, income, gender, education, and race
Riza C. Bautista
Mentor: Dr. Derald Wentzien and Dr. Malcolm D’Souza
To uncover the existence of obesity-related health disparities present in Delaware’s New Castle,
Kent, and Sussex counties, we analyzed the 2000-2010 mortality tables published by the
Delaware Division of Public Health, Delaware Health Statistics Center (DHSC). Prior work
showed that the prevalent obesity-trend was Kent > Sussex > New Castle. Using the 2000-2010
tables, we show a considerable variation in the obesity-related mortality rates with Kent >>
Sussex > New Castle. Furthermore, the obesity-related deaths were found to be inversely
proportional to personal income. Due to a 2006 discrepancy in the DHSC educational attainment
data, we used polynomial interpolations to estimate the deceased’s educational attainment.
Incorporating this interpolated value into our 2000-2010 analyses, we show that the fluctuation
in obesity-related death rates was greater for those with less than 12 years of education. Also,
there is a disproportionate racial disparity in obesity-related death rates between blacks and
whites.
22
Wetlands
Olivia Gulledge
Mentor: Independent Project
Wetlands provide a wealth of ecosystem services. However, the anthropogenic destruction of
wetlands can be a common occurrence. The destruction of these natural sanctuaries over the last
century has resulted in biodiversity loss and can contribute to increased flooding. To mitigate
these issues, humans engineer man-made wetlands. In Carroll County, MD, Lehigh Cement is
expanding their quarry operations into a wetland area (Five Daughters Run). Federal regulations
require Lehigh to offset the wetland destruction by constructing a man-made wetland. The
constructed wetland centers on Haines Branch, a local stream. This project focuses on the design
of the engineered wetland through field observations of the wetland construction and interviews
with engineers. The construction of the wetland began in November 2015 and is expected to be
completed by the end of 2017. This project provides background for future research on studying
and monitoring the progress of this wetland over the next decade.
Solvolysis of Lauryl Cloroflormate
Momina Toseef
Mentor: Dr. Malcolm D'Souza
Lauryl Chloroformate incorporates a 12-carbon chain-link as its alkyl component. It is a
fundamental chemical that is needed for the production of pesticides, perfumes, dyes and fuel
additives. However, in general, chloroformates (ROCOCl) are known to cause physiological
damage. Hence discerning their physicochemical solvent properties is important to chemical
industries. In this project, the solvent chemistry of lauryl chloroformate was studied at 25.0
Celsius in several binary aqueous-organic mixture in ethanol (EtOH), methanol (MeOH),
acetone, and 2, 2, 2-trifluoroethanol (TFE). In all these solvent reactions, the resultant product is
hydrochloric acid (HCl). As a result, acid base titrations are utilized as the core of the methods
for the reaction analyses. A mixture of sodium methoxide (methylate) in methanol is used as the
base that is paired with a lacmoid-acetone mixture to identify the neutralization end-point. In this
poster, we present the pseudo first-order rates of reaction that were obtained.
Using Dendrochronology to Assess the Effects of Sea level Rise and Storm Inundation on
Coastal Forests.
Lihoshimar Pamir Gonzalez
Mentor: Dr. Stephanie Stotts
Dendrochronology is the scientific method of dating based on the analyses of patterns of tree
rings. The goal of this project is to create a difference chronology between upland and lowland
eastern red cedars (Juniperus virginiana) in the St. Jones River Reserve Dover, DE. This
chronology will allow us to assess the impact of sea level rise and storm inundation on coastal
forests. The upland chronology consists of trees located at least a half-meter above sea level, and
the lowland chronology consists of trees below this level. The chronologies were developed
through skeleton plotting the data, measuring rings with a liner encoder, quality control and
assurance with COFECHA, and detrending with ARSTAN. This poster is a presentation of the
upland chronology.
23
The Chemical Process of a Latex Allergy
Katelynn A. Russomanno
Mentor: Dr. William Kroen
Latex is a natural protein that is present in many foods and everyday items. People react in many
different ways; while some reactions are instant, others present with symptoms days after
exposure. I will focus on how the body’s immune system responds to this allergen, what
antibodies (immunoglobulins) the body produces when contact occurs, and how these antibodies
release chemicals that cause the symptoms that we see and feel. When overexposure to the latex
protein occurs, the immune system starts to recognize the protein as an invader and sends the
antibodies to eliminate the protein, causing the symptoms such as rash at the point of contact or
inflammation in the lungs. This review will also explore hypotheses about what causes one to
acquire an allergy to the latex protein, such as excess exposure and birth defects, since this
allergy is usually acquired during childhood.
An Investigation of the Living Shoreline Project located near the mouth of the Mispillion River,
Cedar Creek and the Delaware Bay
Jessica P. Small
Mentor: Dr. Stephanie Stotts
This investigation takes a closer look at a Living Shoreline Project that is located on the
shorelines and the surrounding marshlands of the DuPont Nature Center in Milford, Delaware.
As a seasonal environmental educator at the DNC I have been monitoring this site since the
summer of 2015. The Delaware Estuary Living Shoreline Initiative addresses the increased loss
of tidal salt marshes and coastlines in the Delaware Estuary. To carry out the project, the team
used a combination of native wetland plants and grasses, natural structures, and intertidal
shellfish to trap sediment to prevent banks and shorelines from eroding. The project provides an
economically and naturally friendly tactic in order to maintain and promote life to our estuaries.
This research was conducted as part of an internship for Wesley College.
Nitrous Oxide: An Alternative to Epidural Anesthesia? A Literature Review
Glenn P Aruta, Michael DiTore, Mark Stinsman, Stephanie Malakuskie, Hannah Veasey
Mentor: Professor Darla Davidson
Mothers who are seeking pain management during labor currently have limited options. The use
of epidural anesthesia poses multiple risks to both the mother and baby. A lesser known,
alternative option for pain management during labor is nitrous oxide. Historically, nitrous oxide
has been used as an anesthetic. However, when used in modified concentrations, it has been
shown to provide effective analgesia. Recent studies have supported the use of nitrous oxide for
pain management in the laboring patient. The aim of this presentation is to identify how health
care organizations have successfully implemented the use of nitrous oxide in their facilities.
24
The Role of APP in Early-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease
Dionne Williams
Mentor: Dr. William Kroen
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative brain disease influenced by genetic
factors. The genetic mutation of the abnormal amyloid precursor protein (APP) on chromosome
21 leads to the development of amyloid plaques in the brain. The role of membrane-bound
protein APP in the brain is not fully understood. Studies show that the breakdown of APP by
enzymes generates smaller fragments of the protein called amyloid beta (Aβ) polypeptides. The
formation of Aβ is a primary component in the abnormal deposits of amyloid plaques in the
brain. The amyloid plaques causes neurons in the brain to stop functioning and lose connection
with other neurons, resulting in a decline of cognitive brain function. This review will investigate
the breakdown of APP which develops amyloid plaques in the brain occurring in patients with
early-onset AD.
Waterways of Dover, Delaware
Christian A. Rodriguez
Mentor: Dr. Stephanie Stotts
The stream network in Delaware has been substantially altered since European settlement. The
main waterways in Dover, Delaware include the St. Jones Creek and a tributary, Meeting House
Branch. Through land development, streams and river ways were dammed or drained.
Unfortunately, building structures and roads were constructed in the location of former stream
beds, creating modern day flooding issues with heavy rain. This project includes a stream
network comparison between a compilation of maps from the early 18th century present-day
maps. All historic maps were collected from the Delaware Public Archives. The results of this
project indicate that Water Street, North Street, High Street, and Main Street were built upon
natural waterways, increasing the risk of flooding at these locations.
Water Quality Comparison Between Input and Output of Silver Lake
Brooke T. Thompson
Mentor: Dr. Stephanie Stotts
Elevated nutrient levels within Silver Lake of Dover, Delaware often lead to blue green algae
blooms, eutrophication, and low oxygen levels, but the source of these nutrients has not yet been
definitely identified. These pollutants could originate from upstream agriculture land use or from
runoff within Dover. In an attempt to pinpoint the nutrient source, weekly grab samples were
collected from the input and at the output of the lake between June 2 and November 23, 2015.
The samples were filtered and tested for the nutrients ammonia, phosphorus, nitrate, and nitrite
using a spectrophotometer. To better understand nutrient flows we also estimated the lake’s
residence time through a rough survey. The results indicate a two month water residence time in
the lake and variable sources for nutrient levels. This research is essential to the quality of Silver
Lake because it allows land managers to focus their efforts on nutrient management.
25
Plaque psoriasis: The Mechanism of Etanercept Immunotherapy
Ariel K. Bilbrough
Mentor: Dr. William Kroen
Chronic plaque psoriasis can be described as a complex inflammatory autoimmune skin disorder
in which one’s immune system attacks its own epidermal tissue. Plaque psoriasis can potentially
affect up to 5% of individuals within the United States. The pathogenesis of psoriasis includes a
cell-mediated autoimmune response, in which an environmental antigen signals for the
production of various types of immune cells and skin cells, more commonly referred to as T-cells
and keratinocytes. This begins the cycle of extensive production (proliferation) of the T-cells and
keratinocytes. To counteract this hyperproliferation, common medications are used to suppress
the immune system. More specifically, Enbrel (etanercept) is utilized to inhibit the signaling
mechanisms of cytokine tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). This literature-based review
focuses on the specific biochemical mechanism of Enbrel, within the immune system.
Wesley College Institutional Grants for Students vs. Student Loans 1987-2012
Summer L. Stone and Christina Hubert
Mentor: Dr. Frank Fiedler
Small, private colleges such as Wesley College rely on tuition to pay the bills. One way of
making college affordable for individual students is institutional aid. We use the Delta Cost
Project Database from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) to analyze
how Wesley College students pay for college. The Statistical Analysis System software (SAS)
lets us compare institutional grants and student loans as a percentage of tuition to those at similar
peer institutions. We discuss how Wesley College fares in comparison to its peers when making
college more affordable.
Money in Delaware State Politics
Savannah L. Durham
Mentor: Dr. Cynthia Newton
Research Question: Do the monies donated by individuals, PAC’s, and lobbying firms during
political campaigns influence policies passed in Delaware’s General Assembly? Justification:
Political influence derived from money has become a controversial topic in the United States.
The political influence gap between those in the top 5% and bottom 5% is at an all time high and
is the cause for many Campaign Finance Reform policies in both the United States legislature
and many state legislatures. The objective of my thesis is to determine the amount of influence
money has in the State of Delaware’s Legislature.
26
Mood Disorders and Substance Abuse among Wesley College Students
Natalie Trujillo
Mentor: Dr. Rebecca Benson
Alcohol consumption remains a significant issue among college students in the United States.
Studies indicate that depressed college students often turn to binge drinking as a form of coping.
A descriptive study looked at mood and anxiety symptoms in correlation with alcohol use among
Wesley College students in 2014 and in 2015. Convenience samples of 243 students in 2014 and
463 students in 2015 were used. Students were asked to complete surveys, which asked for data
including age, class, gender, major, depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms, drug use, and
alcohol use. Limitations of the study include the majority of the sample being twenty years old or
younger, and the use of the convenience sample. Results were tabulated for alcohol use and
symptoms among majors, classes, age groups, and the samples as a whole.
Wesley College Graduation Indicators
Morgan A. Williams, Riza Bautisa, Rahel Mandara
Mentor: Dr. Frank Fiedler
A key measure the U.S. Department of Education highlights on their College Navigator is the 6year graduation rate. It is the rate of first-time, full-time undergraduate students who start a
bachelor's degree at a 4-year institution and finish within six years. The national 6-year
graduation rate is about 60%.There are different reasons why a student may not finish a
bachelor’s degree at the same institution within six years: The student may be struggling
academically and quit college, the financial burden may be too high, or a student may decide to
transfer to another institution.Identifying early indicators for the first two types of students can
help colleges like Wesley College to intervene and support struggling students so that they
succeed. We use anonymized Wesley College data to find indicators such as high school GPA or
major upon acceptance that correlated with failure to graduate within six years.
The Solvolytic Study of Cyclohexyl Chloroformate
Laura C. Malinowski
Mentor: Dr. Malcolm D'Souza and Dr. Kathleen Curran
Secondary choloroformate esters are organic compounds where one side of an ester contains a
secondary carbon and the other contains a chloride. These compounds are used as an
intermediate compound in areas ranging from the food industry to pharmacy. Cyclohexyl
chloroformate is used in steroid production. In this research Cyclohexyl chloroformate was
introduced to solutions of ethanol, methanol, acetone, and aqueous mixtures of ethanol and 2-2-2
trifluoroethanol (TFE), aqueous TFE, and aqueous 1,1,1,3,3,3 hexafluoro-iso-propanol (HFIP) to
see how it broke down and reacted with each different environment. Previously cyclohexyl
chloroformate was thought to follow the addition-elimination reaction common for secondary
chloroformate esters but this research has supported the hypothesis that it undergoes a solvolysis
decomposition mechanism where carbon dioxide leaves before new bonds can be made similar
to that of another secondary chloroformate ester, isopropyl chloroformate. This presentation will
describe the methods used and the results in further detail.
27
Anatomy of a College Newspaper
Kristen Janae Griffith and Brittany Wilson
Mentor: Professor Victor Greto
Brittany Wilson and Kristen Griffith are editors of The Whetstone, Wesley’s independent student
newspaper. We will present and spark discussion about the role of the independent journalists at
our college. Our mission for this presentation is to educate the audience about journalism’s role
to inform students. We will breakdown what goes into reporting and writing journalistically.
We’ll refer back to previous Whetstone articles such as, “CFO Tries to Eliminate Student Fees,”
“Security Accused of Acting Unprofessionally,” and “Security Refuses to Release Investigation
Results,” as examples to explain how and why we did those stories. We will also explain the
rules of journalism and clear up any preconceptions people may have of the mission of
journalism. Our goal is for the audience to leave with a better understanding of journalism, and
to appreciate the purpose and importance of The Whetstone.
How Are College Students Abusing "Legal" Substances?
Glenn P. Aruta
Mentor: Professor Jerry Mench
College students today participate in many activities that can be seen as risky or dangerous to
their health. The most commonly associated habit of college students is binge or excessive
drinking. While this has been known for decades, it is not the only known habit. Prescription
stimulant misuse and abuse amongst college students is growing at an increasingly and
alarmingly noticeable rate. This presentation analyzes various different articles and research
studies based on the misuse and abuse of prescription stimulant drugs and alcohol by college
students. This presentation explores why college students drink alcohol or take stimulants, as
well as the potential harmful effects that can result.
Wesley College Tuition 1987-2012
Benjamin David Miller, Zach Huk, Vincent Wu
Mentor: Dr. Frank Fiedler
Paying for college can be a daunting task. Since the 1980s, average college tuition has risen
much faster than inflation. Data on tuition and other characteristics of institutions of higher
education is collected by the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education
Statistics (NCES) in their Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). We utilize
the Delta Cost Project Database from IPEDS together with the Statistical Analysis System
software (SAS) to analyze Wesley College tuition 1987 – 2012 in particular. This database
contains a total of 215,613 self-reported observations and 974 variables derived from the
institutional characteristics. We discuss the correlation of gross and net tuition, both total and per
student, to comment on the price of Wesley College compared to the average cost of a list of
similar peer institutions.
28
Wesley College Six-Year Graduation Rate 1987-2012
Andreanna Tatyana Jeffries, Samantha Weber, Dionne Williams
Mentor: Dr. Frank Fiedler
More and more colleges rely on the federal financial aid their students receive to attract a large
enough number of students able to afford college. In turn, many education reform groups
advocate linking this financial aid to high graduation rates, low student debt, and good job
placement as outcomes. We use the Statistical Analysis System software (SAS) to analyze sixyear graduation rates for Wesley College students 1987-2012. We discuss possible reasons for
Wesley College students' performance compared to students at similar peer institutions. The data
we used was obtained from the Delta Cost Project Databases, which is part of the Integrated
Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).
The Relationship between Homelessness and Hopelessness in Aging Adults
Alexis D. Jones
Mentor: Dr. Albee Mendoza
In 2010, the Homeless Planning Council of Delaware estimated that the state of Delaware has
consistently about 6,000 homeless individuals. As an intern for a men's homeless shelter, it
became clear to me that Dover has an overwhelming number of middle-aged homeless men
compared to younger homeless men. Previous research shows that in recent years the number of
middle-aged men who are homeless increased by 11% (Kushel, 2011). It was also found that
older age was a high indication of longer durations of homelessness (Caton, Dominguez,
Schanzer, & Hasin, 2005). Thus, the purpose of this study is to determine the association
between hopelessness depression by using the Hopelessness Depression Symptom Questionnaire
(HDSQ; Metalsky & Joiner, 1997) and age in a population of homeless men. The study has
received IRB approval and data collection is underway. Results will inform possible
interventions for the aging male homeless population in Dover. The ultimate goal is to improve
the lives of all homeless men through advocacy efforts.
Using Nano-tags to Explore Temporal Movements of Red Knots throughout the Tide Cycle - Is
Aquaculture a Threat to a Critical Staging Area (Delaware Bay)?
Josh Barth
Mentor: Dr. Stephanie Stotts
The rufa population of Red Knots (Calidris canutus) has declined substantially in the past two
decades, and was recently listed as a threatened species on the endangered species list. Research
has shown this decrease to correlate directly with the overharvesting of horseshoe crabs (Limulus
polyphemus). However, gaps in the research prevent a comprehensive understanding of all
limiting factors affecting the recovery of the species. This project proposal investigates how Red
Knots interact with the tide cycle by comparing bird presence/absence using nanotags. It is
important to study these habitat areas because they are shared with aquaculture plots. This
research can impact the recovery of the species and has implications for the nearly 30,000 acres
of aquaculture plots in the Delaware Bay.
29
Mentors
Dr. Barb Abbott
Dr. Rebecca Benson
Professor Darla Davidson
Dr. Frank Fiedler
Professor Victor Greto
Dr. Stephanie Holyfield
Dr. William Kroen
Dr. Harry Maxson
Professor Jerry Mench
Dr. Denise Morris
Dr. Nancy Rubino
Chelsey Vest
Dr. James Wilson
Dr. Virginia Balke
Dr. Kathleen Curran
Dr. Malcolm D’Souza
Dr. Julie Fisher
Professor Sarah Hardesty
Chris Jarrell
Dr. David Laganella
Professor Margaret McElligott
Dr. Albee Mendoza
Dr. Cynthia Newton
Dr. Stephanie Stotts
Dr. Derald Wentzien
Professor John Kidd
Moderators
Dr. Jack Barnhardt
Dr. Malcolm D’Souza
Professor Victor Greto
Dr. Albee Mendoza
Dr. Agashi Nwogbaga
Dr. Rebecca Benson
Dr. Julie Fisher
Dr. Jeffery Mask
Dr. Cynthia Newton
Dr. John O’Neil
Assessors
Dr. Kathy Curran
Professor Darla Davidson
Dr. Stephanie Holyfield
Professor Susan Redington Bobby
Professor Dianitza Runser
Dr. Angela D’Antonio
Dr. Varleisha Gibbs
Professor Tamala Paxton
Dr. Nancy Rubino
Professor Margaret McElligott
Volunteers
John Needles
Samantha Roberts
Alexis Branca
Elvie Domond
Shellby Bowman
Meisha Reeves
Lauren Gray
Yuly Rodrigues
Leah Lowery
Ashley Delserro
Chaoying Feng
Sharron Goss
Renee Bazil
Darojanae Jacobs
Mark Stinsman
Samantha Zimmaro
Archael Daniels
Ashley Langley
Jennifer Carey
Rachel Harmon
Brittany Wynne
Susan Hagelman
Leslie Alston
Katherine Nettles
Emily Kinsey
Patricia Anderson-Henry
Adeline Cheyson
Da’neara Henry
Briana Milliner
Chelsea Marriner
Kathleen Cene
Patrick Aruta
Frank Fiorella
Erik Quick
Markita Jones
30
Special Thanks
April Mahoney
Tina Heesh-Mosley
Dr. Jeffery Gibson
Dr. Cynthia Newton
Kevin Shuman
Nancy McCoury
Wesley College SGA
Virginia Balke
Kris McGlothlin
Malcolm D’Souza
Emily Wood
Mary Ellen Wood
Jessica Cook
Abdul Hameed
Kristopher Roeske
Anh Gibson
Scholars Day Committee
Dr. Brantley Craig
Prof. Charlisa Edelin
Prof. Sarah Hardesty
Prof. Margie McElligott
Dr. Gwen Pursell
Dr. Stephanie Stotts
Scholars Fellows
Ariel Bilbrough
John Dougherty
Joshua Freeze
Kristen Griffith
Kandace Higman
Emily Temple
Brooke Thompson
Hannah Veasey
31
Scholars Day is sponsored in part by the DE-INBRE and the DE-EPSCoR grants
32