Celebration of Excellence Day
Hastings College is celebrating excellence with Academic Showcase and the Celebration of Excellence Convocation!
On Wednesday, April 24, 2024, classes are cancelled for the day so the entire campus community can participate.
Academic Showcase
Each spring, members of Alpha Chi, the collegiate all-discipline national honor society, coordinate Academic Showcase.
During Academic Showcase, students, faculty, staff, parents and community members enjoy and learn from fascinating student presentations about individual research projects, experiential learning, study abroad experiences and creative endeavors.
Academic Showcase is a chance for students to share their passions and to show off their impressive work. It also gives students a chance to engage in dialogue and discussion as they answer questions about their project.
Celebration Convocation
Celebration of Excellence Convocation is at 3:30 p.m. in French Memorial Chapel.
The event will be livestreamed on our YouTube channel.
2024 Academic Showcase Schedule
The abstract book is available here.
9:00-9:25 a.m.
Morrison-Reeves 219
Revving Through Turbulence: American Muscle Cars as Icons of Power, Resilience, and Identity in the 1970s
Morrison-Reeves 148
Saturated Absorption Spectroscopy and Laser Locking for Rubidium 87
By Brody Ortmeier & Aiden Foreman
Morrison-Reeves 213
15-Minute Cities: Ideals and Inequality
By Matthew Houlihan
Morrison-Reeves 131
A Rhetorical Analysis of Missing White Woman Syndrome
By Ally Goad
9:35-10:00 a.m.
10:10-10:35 a.m.
Morrison-Reeves 148
A Rhetorical Analysis of the Sing Sing Prison Museum’s Triumph Narrative
By Meg Dedic
Morrison-Reeves 213
Edward Dando: Crime, Punishment, and Oysters in Victorian England
By Jake Levinson
Morrison-Reeves 131
A World of Play: An Adventurous Look at Multicultural Children’s Games
By Savana Kascak, Cici Velarde, & Myah Brown
10:45 -11:30 a.m.
Creative Thoughts in Action
Morrison-Reeves 216
Poetry as Identity: Purpose, Process, and Poems
By Tienna Chu
The Death of Cato Hale: An Excerpt From a Student Novela
By Cody Wilson
Morrison-Reeves 148
Ghana’s Way: A guide into herbal medicine, waterfalls, and an excessive amount of Jollof
Student who went on the Ghana trip include: Victoria Vondra, Abigail Beeck, Ikeah Cuff, Isaiah Strachan, Jaida Rowe, Josephine Parker, Julia Vilanova, Maria Garcia, Mireia del Val Fernandez, Myah Brown, Nisa Thomas, Sofie Pedersen, Tymia Thompson, Zailee Poulson, Tori Vondra
Morrison-Reeves 213
A Haunting: Black Womanhood
By Ally Banks
Kiewit, Room 116
Elevated by Resilience: The Undying Strength of Immigrant Mothers
By Citlaly Quiroz & Bri Narick
Reclaiming the Stage: Empowering Women in Performance
By Bri Narick
11:30 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
Poster Session
Morrison-Reeves Science Center Atrium
The Impact of Long COVID on the Quality of Life of Parkinson’s Disease Patients: A Mixed Methods Study of a Rural Community in the Midwestern United States — Maria Garcia
The Deception Files: Uncovering the Long-Term Consequences of Disinformation in Democracy — Citlaly Quiroz
Transposition of the Great Arteries — Sophie Stevens
Differences Between LGBTQ and non-LGBTQ Students in Perceived Stress and Coping Strategies — Sasha Richards
A Natural Battle: a comparison between war and nature through literature — Abby Harveson
Adult Onset Leukemia – Chronic Myeloid Leukemia — Jessica Strock
The neurobiology of eating behaviors: Exploring neurological and environmental factors underlying maladaptive eating — Riley Lanning
A Correlational Study of the Coach-Athlete Relationship, Deviant Overconformity to the Sport Ethic, and Athletic Perfectionism — Madison Grove
Agricultural Soil Analysis for Detection of Metal Concentration — Taylor Empfield
Quorum Sensing and the policing mechanism — Dekota Schubert
Kairomones: Nature’s Secret Universal Language — Evelyn Holmstedt
Dissimilatory Reduction in S. oneidensis — Lauren Hauser
Addiction: a Disease — Hannah Stromer
Tuberculosis: Information and Prevention — Bemnet Tesfa
Asthma Unpacked: Insights and Solutions — Miriam Miller
Toxic shock syndrome: A form of septic shock caused by the toxins of Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes — Sara Pedroza
Crohn’s Disease: A Comprehensive Look at Symptoms, Treatments, and Research — Hannah Wenske
Ancient Baggage: The Impact of Prehistoric Admixture on Modern European Genetic Diversity — Kierra Spurgeon
Prebiotics are a Therapeutic Intervention for Autism Spectrum Disorder — Andi Collins
Investigating 1,3-Diethylimidazolium Iodide Ionic Liquid on Nucleic Acid Melting Temperatures — Katie Heller
Amyloid Precursor Protein Regulates c-fos Expression in Zika Virus Mediated Paralysis — Tori Vondra
Glaucoma: A Traditional Approach to Assist Westernized Medicine — Nisa Thomas
Brittle Bones: Postmenopausal, Senile, and Diabetic Osteoporosis — Cadence Stenger
Antibiotic Resistance of Staphylococcus aureus — Kailee Lunzer
Effects of global warming on the carbon cycle — Gunnar Ogle
Effects of Polychlorinated Biphenyls on Immune Systems of Aquatic Animals — Dulce Lopez
Comparative Analysis of Angling Strategies and Post-Catch Treatment for Black Bass and Walleye — Bryce Ryker
Ascorbic Acid in Vitamin Supplements — Sienna Torres
Monogamy and Extra Pair Paternity In Animals — Turner Griffin
Is PRIME Hydration More Efficacious for Rehydration than Plain Water for the General Population? — Alyse Anderson & Rylee Reid
A Comparison of the Effectiveness of Foam Rolling versus Stretching on Muscle Soreness and Recovery — Makenna Asher & Majesta Valasek
The Impact of Music on the Reaction Time of Elite NAIA Male and Female Sprinters from a Sprint Block — Ayriel Brown-Love & Ikeah Cuff
Dehydration and Its Impact on the Anaerobic Threshold — Jayden Gonzalez & Joe Vokins
Assessing the Validity of the Apple Watch Series 9 on Energy Expenditure During Aerobic Exercise — Maddie Grove & Sofia Gomez-Garcia
Reaction Time in Front Row Versus Back Row Volleyball Players — Laura Hyde & Morgan Carver
Rheumatoid Arthritis: The Incurable Disease — Lindsi Loos
Post-Activation Potentiation: Squat Load Impact on Vertical Countermovement Jump Height — Eli Nappe & DJ Schroeder
1-RM OR 3-5-RM, Which Do College Coaches Prefer More: A Survey — Trystan Soby & Benjamin Garrett
Preserving Kemp’s Ridley: Best Management Practices for the Conservation of a Critically Endangered Species — Lacy Bonifas
Dual Inoculation with B. subtilis and B. megaterium vs Single Inoculation — Madyson Ludwig
Botulism — MaraMay Stone
Diabetes: Exploring the Two Types — Jermaine Francis
What is Osteomyelitis? — Olivia Gilbert
Synthesis and Characterization of Imidazolium-Based Thiones — Emma Severson & Christopher Sedmak
Circular mRNA in Vaccine Research — Kailey Bruha
A Deeper Look Into Psoriasis — Baylee Evarts
Oral Cancer — Diana Kollars
2:10-2:35 p.m.
Morrison-Reeves 219
John Lewis’ March: The Future Under Attack
By Stephanie Bloyer
Morrison-Reeves 148
Uncovering New Truths: An Ethnographic Project to Learn More About My Dad
By Megan Lampe
Morrison-Reeves 213
Visual Learning in Action – A New Twist on a Microbiology Lab Manual
By Alena John
Morrison-Reeves 131
Laughing Through the War: The Use of Comedy Films in World War II
By Emma Morelli
2:45-3:10 p.m.
Morrison-Reeves 219
The Experiences of College Athletes in One-on-One Off-the-Field Conversations with their Coaches
By Vincent Byrne
Morrison-Reeves 148
Does Type of Information Presentation Influence POTS Knowledge?
By Alyssa Kimmer-Steffen
Morrison-Reeves 213
Green Shadows Seventy Years Later: My experiences following Ray Bradbury’s footsteps in Ireland
By Emily Nevins
Morrison-Reeves 131
Consistent Calibration of Compasses, and the Importance of Hard Iron
By Owen DeBoer