Biology Major Finds and Studies Wetland Fowl

Biology major Olivia Widenmeyer (sponsored by Merrill Tawse, Professional Instructor of Biology) presents her investigative findings on the Virginia and Sora Rails within the Ashland University Black Fork Wetlands at the 12:45 p.m. poster/exhibition session in the Alumni Room. In her research, she located 2-3 territorial males at one pond and 2 at the other pond. The fact that these birds are listed as a species of concern by ODNR, makes this a significant find by Olivia.

Communication Students Compare 'Play 60' to 'Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act'

Public Relations/Strategic Communication & Health and Risk Communication major Kylie Shober, and Public Relations/Strategic Communication & Sport Communication major Allison Vredenburgh (sponsored by Dr. Dariela Rodriguez, Assistant Professor of Communication Studies) compare the NFL's 'Play60' campaign with Michelle Obama's 'Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act' at the 12:45 p.m. poster/exhibition URCA session in the Alumni Room on April 12.

As stated in their abstract: "Obesity in the United States is an increasing problem. According to the United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 127 million people in the country are overweight, while 60 million are obese (O'Connell, Price, Roberts, Jurs, & McKinley, 1985)."

Commercial Art Major Makes Her Designs Personal

At her 11:45 a.m. poster/exhibition session on April 12 in the Convocation Center's Alumni Room, Kaylin Henry (sponsored by Michael Bird, Assistant Professor of Art) displays and explains her commercial art designs. As she described in her URCA abstract, "In my designs I use a polished, modern and mechanical aesthetic to communicate an idea or brand creatively in a professional setting that will resonate with my clients and viewers...I then integrate an essence of eccentricity from my own personality and hand drawn elements to add a sense of uniqueness."

Psychology's Bryce McClish Reveals Study Results

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Psychology major Bryce McClish (sponsored by Dr. Curt Ickes, Associate Professor of Psychology and Dr. Christopher R. Chartier, Assistant Professor of Psychology) conducted a study titled Factors Influencing the College Choice of First-Year College Students. At the 11:45 a.m. URCA poster/exhibition session in the Alumni Room of the Convocation Center on April 12, he will reveal his results which: "indicate that the three factors most influencing choice were as follows: availability of major (M = 4.61, SD = .72), scholarship opportunities (M = 4.19, SD = 1.06) and cost of tuition (M = 4.12, SD = .95). Least influential characteristics were: number of faculty publications (M = 2.22, SD = .95), skill of athletic teams (M = 2.41, SD = 1.48) and the institution’s core curriculum (M = 3.12, SD = 1.05)."

Social Work's Stephanie Julian Studies Sexual Orientation Disclosure

Social Work major Stephanie Julian (sponsored by Dr. Michael Vimont, Director of Social Work) will share her findings of her exploratory study on the decision making process initiated by lesbian and gay older adults in disclosing their sexual orientation to external systems. Her presentation is scheduled for the 10:30 a.m. URCA session in the Faculty Room of the Convocation Center on April 12. As explained in her abstract:

Ten older adults identified as lesbian or gay were interviewed in one-on-one sessions ... The study is not meant to generalize the populations, but rather to obtain rich stories from members of this population.

Creative Writing & Religion Major Reveals His Nonfiction Essay

Photo Credit: Max Klingensmith
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At the URCA Symposium's 10:30 a.m. session in the Trustees' Room at the Convocation Center on April 12, Creative Writing and Religion major Garrison Stima (sponsored by Dr. Joe Mackall, Professor of English) reveals his nonfiction essay, "My Tree House." As he states in his abstract:

My essay explores my interior causes for depression and self-loathing..."My Tree House" is not about renouncing my psychological issues; rather it is about who I am because of them and how rectifying them unto myself has helped to open up the avenue for moving forward.

Music Education Major Opens 2016 URCA

Junior music education major Jaylynn Buchmelter (sponsored by Dr. Christina Fuhrmann, Professor of Music) will be the first oral presenter for the 2016 URCA Symposium on April 12 at 9 a.m. in the John C. Myers Convocation Center. Below is a synopsis of her abstract which is published in the URCA program.

Jaylynn's presentation titled "Acceptance of Fate in Franz Schubert's Winterreise (1827-1828)" will focus on particular songs in this song cycle which are poems by Wilhelm Müller set to music by Schubert. In the series of songs, the protagonist (the wanderer) embarks on a long journey resulting in an acceptance of his own destiny. Winterreise's wanderer moves toward his destiny throughout the cycle by relinquishing old ways of thinking and feeling, becoming self-aware, and finally embracing his fate. Jaylynn will explain how this work conveys the wanderer's discovery of and acceptance of his destiny. She will also analyze musical devices used by Schubert to represent the wanderer's internal and external journey toward his destiny.