HIGH POINT, N.C., April 24, 2012 – Fifteen students from High Point University presented their hard work and research along with faculty mentors and professors at the fifth annual Big South Undergraduate Research Symposium (BigSURS), held at Winthrop University.
During the symposium, students not only presented their research in oral and poster sessions, but also had the opportunity to network with students from all over the region.
Five students won first place for their presentations. The winners are:
– Taylor Zickefoose, who presented “First in War, First in Peace, and First in the American Family: The Role and Influence of First Ladies in Modern American Politics”;
-Mary Funke, who presented “Dynamic Control of Ions by Programmable CMOS Pixels – The Critical Role of Ion Size”;
– Nikki Sanford and Mary Funke, who presented “An Analysis of the Rotation of a Hula Hoop”;
– Sterling Lund, who presented “Analysis of American Beauty using Visual Perspective and Marxist Theory”; and
– Martin Stern, who presented “Circles of Control: Security as a Public Relations Tool at a Liberal Arts University.”
Student presentations also included:
– Kelsey Fraser, who presented “The Millennial Student: The interaction Between Students and Technology in Higher Education”;
– Tiffany Byerly, who presented “Osmolyte Effects on Partitioning of Peptides into Lipid Bilayers”;
– Ryan Nolan, who presented “The Diffusion of Ammonia in a Thin Film of Cellulose Acetate Butyrate”;
– Nathan Michalewicz, who presented “An Experimental Determination of the Solubility Parameter of Rubber: If Like Dissolves Like, Does Like also Swell Like”;
– Ashlee Branch, who presented “Glamorization of Casual Sex in the Media: The Effects on Gender Roles and Sexual Behavior in Society”;
– Rachel Sniff, who presented “The Transition from Elementary to Middle School: Understanding Achievement Loss Per Student Transitional Concerns”;
– Lindsay Sugarman, who presented “A Holocaust Traumedy: Trauma and Comedy in Roberto Benigni’s ‘Life is Beautiful’ “;
– Kelsey McLaughlin, who presented “Isolation, Irony and American Influence: Towards a New Definition of Italian Neorealism”; and
– Amanda Holcomb, who presented “Portrait – Dr. Allen Goedeke.”
Students who participated in the event said they appreciated the opportunity to present their research as scholars and receive a great educational and networking experience.
Taylor Zickefoose, a senior majoring in political science and business administration who won a first-place award for her session, agrees.
“I was given the fantastic opportunity to present my own research at the Big South Undergraduate Research Symposium,” Zickefoose says. “During my time, I met many peers and scholars and had the chance to network with them. I spoke with professors about graduate school, scholarship opportunities and received feedback about how to better my research. This experience has opened up a number of opportunities for me.”
BigSURS hosts the regional undergraduate research symposium each year, which provides undergraduate scholars in all fields a forum to share the results of their work through posters, presentations, performances and works of art. In addition to HPU, participating schools in this year’s event included Campbell University, Coastal Carolina University, Gardner-Webb University, Presbyterian College, Radford University, University of North Carolina Asheville, Virginia Military Institute and Winthrop. Also attending are students from: Appalachian State University, Davidson College, College of Charleston, Mercer University, Queens University, University of North Carolina Charlotte, University of North Carolina Greensboro, Western Carolina University and Wofford College.
At High Point University, every student receives an extraordinary education in an inspiring environment with caring people.℠ HPU, located in the Piedmont Triad region of North Carolina, is a liberal arts institution with over 4,200 undergraduate and graduate students at campuses in High Point and Winston-Salem. It is ranked by US News and World Report at No. 3 among Regional Colleges in the South. Parade Magazine lists HPU in the top 25 private schools in the nation. HPU was selected in the 2010-2011 list of “Colleges of Distinction,” as well as one of the top green schools in the country by the Sierra Club. The university offers 44 undergraduate majors, 40 undergraduate minors and 10 graduate degree programs. It is a member of the NCAA, Division I and the Big South Conference. Visit High Point University on the Web at highpoint.edu.
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Pam Haynes
Communication Specialist
336-841-9055