2024 HECBC Conference Program

25TH ANNUAL BERKS COUNTY UNDERGRADUATE

RESEARCH &

CREATIVITY CONFERENCE • SAT. APRIL 6, 2024

Opportunities: Papers, Posters, Visual Art and Performance Presentations | albright.edu/HECBC

Sponsored by the Higher Education Council of Berks County: Albright College, Alvernia University, Kutztown University, Penn State Berks, Reading Area Community College. Hosted by Albright College.

welcome Albright College is pleased to host this special 25th edition of Berks County Undergraduate Research and Creativity Conference. Hundreds of students from area institutions are on our campus today sharing a variety of projects that are a testament to your hard work and talent, as well as to the dedication of your faculty mentors. We look forward to your presentations and performances!

We recognize the enormous value of the self-exploration and innovation that arises through undergraduate research and creative work. At Albright, faculty members from every area of study work side-by-side with Albright students, answering unanswered questions, making new discoveries and creating new art and art forms.

The best academic moments are when students feel inspired and ready to engage their own questions. So we endeavor to ignite a spark within each of our students, guiding them toward meaningful futures, so that they graduate ready to make an impact on our rapidly changing world.

Doing your own research or creative work as an undergraduate is an excellent way to discover what you love, or even recognize those paths that are not for you. Whether it is doing scientific research, writing a poem, asking questions in sociology or psychology, or performing a musical work, such experiences are valuable. During such effort, many students discover the vast and interesting connections between different areas of study, and between areas of study and the real world. Indeed, by the time they graduate, more than half of Albright students take advantage of our distinctive co-major program, which enables students explore multiple interests or passions by combining programs, without taking longer to graduate.

I thank Karen A. Campbell, Ph.D., Albright’s provost and senior vice president for academic and campus life, who has mentored many students over her long career with our biology faculty team, Laura McBride, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry, for her meaningful support of this important conference and Kim Justeson, assistant dean of experiential learning and student professional development, who — in addition to organizing this conference — always seems to find the best ways to connect our students with meaningful opportunities outside of the classroom.

I hope that you enjoy your time on our campus. Best wishes on your continued success!

Sincerely, Jacquelyn S. Fetrow, Ph.D., ’82 President and Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry

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25TH

SATURDAY, APRIL 6, 2024, ALBRIGHT COLLEGE 8:00 am - 1:15 pm

Registration................Student Center, Main Lounge

8:45 am - 9:45 am

Paper Session 1 ..........Science Hall, Classrooms

8:45 am - 10:10 am

Theatre Session 1........CFA - Klein Lecture Hall

9:00 am - 10:00 am

Poster Session 1...........Student Center, Main Lounge

10:15 am -11:00 am

Keynote Speaker........Student Center, South Lounge

11:15 am - 12:15 pm

Poster Session 2 ..........Student Center, Main Lounge

11:15 am - 12:30 pm

Theatre Session 2........CFA, Klein Lecture Hall

11:30 am - 12:30 pm

Paper Session 2...........Science Hall, Classrooms

11:30 am - 1:30 pm

Lunch...........................Student Center, Dining Hall

1:15 pm - 2:15 pm

Poster Session 3...........Student Center, Main Lounge

1:15 pm - 2:15 pm

Film Session.................Student Center, South Lounge

Sponsored by the Higher Education Council of Berks County: Albright College, Alvernia University, Kutztown University, Penn State Berks, Reading Area Community College. Hosted by Albright College.

Keynote Speaker Chris Hauer Bio Christopher L. Hauer received a Bachelor of Science in biology, with a minor in Evolutionary Studies from Albright College in 2012. While attending Albright, Chris was a member of the Honor’s Program and participated in the Albright Creative Research Experience (ACRE). For his ACRE project, Chris studied the effects of wind generated power on small mammal populations and he presented his research at the Higher Education Council of Berks County (HECBC) Conference held at Penn State Berks in 2012. Chris continued his graduate studies at East Stroudsburg University where he received a Master of Science in biology in 2014. For his thesis, Chris examined the community composition and distribution of bats in the Delaware Water Gap, Pennsylvania following the emergence of white-nose syndrome. Following graduate school, Chris worked several seasonal field and laboratorybased jobs. Currently, he is a wildlife biologist with the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs at Fort Indiantown Gap, a military training installation for the Pennsylvania National Guard located in Annville, Pennsylvania.

In this role, Chris is primarily responsible for monitoring rare, threatened, and endangered species found on the installation.

Since 2015, Chris has also taught as an adjunct at Alvernia University where he teaches Human Anatomy and Physiology labs. He has also taught as an adjunct at Albright College and Delaware Valley University.

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Paper Session 1 ______________________ 8:45 – 9:45 AM BUSINESS - SCIENCE HALL 155 Alivia McAllister, Albright College, Faculty Mentor: Huy Tran Do Digital Platform Businesses Help or Harm Small Towns? The Case of Airbnb In this study, we first investigated the fascinating business model of Airbnb. We employed the platform ecosystem framework suggested by Van Alstyne, Parker, and Choudary (2016), which depicted the interaction among four players: platform owners, producers, consumers, and providers. Second, based on an extensive literature review, we found that most studies had examined Airbnb in large metropolitan areas in the U.S. as well as around the world. Finally, we focused on understanding the effects of Airbnb on various ecosystem participants in the context of small towns or rural areas. As we researched, we discovered that Airbnb has even more profound effects in small towns and rural areas.

Karleigh Patton, Kutztown University, Faculty Mentor: Summer Doll-Myers Period Poverty: Breaking Stigmas and Providing Products through Policy, Education, & Implementation Periods; what should be seen as a normally understood and accepted concept for any given person of the population to understand, given that it impacts over half of it at all times, proves to be an often-unspoken challenge for millions. This is particularly true in regards to the stigma, economic impact, and lack of access to menstrual products for many. The consequences of period poverty are detrimental, affecting physical and emotional health, education and employment opportunities, and overall wellbeing. While the development of the idea of menstrual equity has been developed over the years, it is still in its foundational form. Through developed research and implementation of design to appeal most to those who experience period poverty, the ability to distribute necessary goods can be more easily met, particularly when collaborating with nonprofit organizations and donors like Period.org.

Viktoriia Vozharenko, Penn State Berks, Faculty Mentor: Ada Leung Research on the effect of social media on mental health.

Previous research shows a link between social media and poorer mental health among young people. Studies link the use of social media with depression, anxiety, insomnia, stress, eating disorders, fear of missing out. Social media provide rapid interaction in society, allowing us to communicate at a distance and find out news. Nevertheless, its rise is also accompanied by a higher level of mental sickness, especially among teenagers and young adults. Therefore, it is imperative to conduct a study collecting both qualitative and quantitative data about the experiences of using social media among young people in relation to mental health, including such manifestations as anxiety, unrealistic expectation, eating disorder, depression, stress, as well as physical health such as addiction, sedentary lifestyle, sleeping disorder. The project will involve in-depth interviews with college students recruited from Penn State Berks and beyond to explore thoughts, decisions, and reflections about their experiences with social media.

The study will also include a quantitative survey of participants about their experiences using social media and the perceived impact on mental health.

EDUCATION - SCIENCE HALL 255

HUMANITIES 1 - SCIENCE HALL 256

Gwenyth DiPrinzio, Kutztown University, Faculty Mentor: Christopher Bloh Let’s Try and Get my Student on Task Target behaviors, according to behaviorists, are described as specific actions of individuals that are selected for change. As educators, we can observe student target behaviors to understand the function of why these behaviors are occurring and the steps we can take to increase appropriate behaviors and decrease inappropriate ones. This study explored the behaviors of a sixth grader who demonstrated escape/ avoidance behaviors throughout the school day. An intervention was implemented to decrease the target behavior while positively reinforcing the replacement behavior of staying on task. Results of the study suggested the effectiveness of the strategies and how these tools could be used across settings for the future success of the student.

Ilaria Catania, Albright College, Faculty Mentor: Marian Wolbers Creative Writing “An Ideal Place”: Exploring Audience Perception of Different Voices.

To explore audience perception of texts, the student authored two identical narratives titled “An Ideal Place,” presenting one in the first person and the other in the second person. This project investigates how varying narrative voices influence reader engagement, empathy, and interpretation. By administering interactive surveys to college students and drawing upon the students’ insights as writers and readers, the project aims to elucidate the nuanced ways narrative voice shapes audience response. Ultimately, this investigation contributes to a deeper understanding of the interplay between linguistic choices and audience reception in creative writing and written communication, with implications for academic and practical contexts.

Sarah Henry, Kutztown University, Faculty Mentor: Christopher Bloh Examining the Effectiveness of Proximity and Verbal Prompts on a Child’s Attentiveness “Attentiveness” describes paying attention to a task. Proximity control is an intervention that physically placing oneself near another in attempt to affect his/her behavior. This intervention investigated the effectiveness of both proximity control and verbal prompts to improve the attentiveness of an elementary school student.

Results suggested that the intervention was effective by increasing attentiveness and were generalizable, as demonstrated by occurring across settings.

Saul Sanchez, Penn State Berks, Faculty Mentor: Dr. Lorena Tribe Co-presenters: Madeline Marous, Nathan Tam, Daniel Abramov Advancing Modeling Tools for Interdisciplinary Science Education An interactive web application for creating and sharing computational documents and a graphical user interface (GUI) were used to create an accessible and crosscompatible framework for undergraduate research and out-of-class experiences in computational chemistry. Amino acids, the species of choice to be modeled in this activity, are a fundamental unit in biochemistry that offer an educational opportunity to extend the topics of polarity, protonation states, and functional groups to undergraduate students. Implementing computational chemistry software early in the undergraduate curriculum provides a visual and hands-on way to engage with concepts such as molecular orbitals, spectroscopy, and other chemical principles.

A computational study of an amino acid may also serve as an effective biophysical chemistry undergraduate research project. A GUI and a corresponding Jupyter Notebook were created to consolidate the extensive process of studying an amino acid with first-principles atomic-level computational software in detail, ranging from the basic molecular structure to a solution-specific conformational analysis, as an interactive resource for interdisciplinary education.

Kristina Hartz, Kutztown University, Faculty Mentor: Jeffrey Voccola Novel Writing For my paper presentation, I will speak about a novel I’m writing. The novel is about 21-year-old Madison and her journey discovering who she is as a young lesbian who grew up in a conservative Christian homeschool family. In the book, Madison suddenly leaves home to live with her brother soon after failing at dying from suicide.

Shortly after, she meets Nikki and develops feelings for her. Throughout getting to know Nikki, Madison discovers more of who she is as a person. The book also shows Nikki’s perspective and her struggles. Simply put, this novel is about Madison and Nikki struggling to find themselves in a world that doesn’t accept them. This work is important because many members of the LGBTQ+ community, especially from religious backgrounds, suffer from being misunderstood and unaccepted. There are not many novels that have a homeschooled protagonist, and the isolating aspects of being homeschooled are not talked about in the mainstream. This novel gives insight to a Queer person’s experience when raised in ways they can’t be themselves. For my presentation, I’ll discuss my writing process and how the book evolved after many revisions and participating in writing workshops.

Alexander Hitchens, Reading Area Community College, Faculty Mentor: Jodi Greene Life Lessons This performance will include a recitation of three poems, the first entitled “Nature’s Haven,” was written when I was going through something and recalls how reconnecting with nature helped me. The second poem, is titled “Letters of Love and Grief,” and was written after re-watching Dead Poet’s Society. The Third poem, titled “Stories in the Stars,” talks about how there’s a lot to regret, but our story is still being told.

Michael Martin, Kutztown University, Faculty Mentor: Danell MacIlwraith Redesigned Classics My capstone project focused on revamping classic short stories commonly taught in English classrooms to enhance accessibility for younger audiences. Traditional distributions of these stories in their original formats by teachers and libraries often present challenges for students. Therefore, I treated the two iconic works, “The Yellow Wallpaper” and “Sonny’s Blues,” as if they were being designed today, completely reimagining their publication. These redesigned versions feature modern layouts and formats, aiming to

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make them more engaging and approachable for secondary students and parents. The goal was to provide these redesigned prints to educators and libraries at a minimal cost.

My presentation will outline my process and accessibility goals and showcase the final designs for the publications and website prototypes that go along with them.

HUMANITIES 2 - SCIENCE HALL 251 Cormick Costello, Depaul University, Faculty Mentor: Aaron Lefkovitz “Only You Can Cool My Desire:” An Exploration of Male Limerence as a Trope in 1980’s Music Videos For some time the image of women in media has been rendered to a point of fixation and idealization. While indicating the male’s fondness for the woman, this image is not equated to any respect for them, as the male conception of women is deified to the point where they are only seen as tools for male satisfaction. This objectified imaging is commonplace in the music videos of the 1980’s, in which the emotional state of limerence is used as a storytelling trope. In this presentation I explore how this trope–in which the man develops romantic feelings for a woman to the point where he intrusively fantasizes about her reciprocation of feelings–perpetuates the objectification of women. My method of establishing the trope’s existence is through juxtaposing the lyrical content of the songs–in which it is uncertain if the woman, too, desires the man–to the stories depicted in the video–in which the man gains the reciprocation of feelings. In this analysis, the video represents the “limerent fantasy” to the reality of the situation presented in the lyrics, and thus a “limerent object” is constructed: an object which is inappropriately romanticized.

Yazmin Hernandez, Albright College, Faculty Mentor: Simone Banks The Power of Eroticism in Marjane Satrapi’s Persepolis The graphic novel Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi follows a young Iranian girl named Marji whose family lives through the Iranian revolution while witnessing her country’s internal battle and its external war with Iraq. In this paper, I argue that in spite of the violence in her home country, Marji learns to embrace her erotic power and use it to find her purpose in life and the path she shapes to achieve it. The term “Eroticism,” which most understand as the arousal behaviors between men and women, was defined by men. But Audre Lorde defines the word erotic in her essay, The Uses of the Erotic, as an empowering word for women. From an early age and throughout the novel, Marji grasps her erotic power by defying the rules by expressing her true self, leading her to eventually find her own identity. As Audre Lorde states, “But when we begin to live from within outward, in touch with the power of the erotic within ourselves and allowing that power to inform and illuminate our actions upon the world around us, then we begin to be responsible to ourselves in the deepest sense.”

Shannon Peale, Kutztown University, Faculty Mentor: Michael Gabriel The Life of a Pennsylvania Dutch Soldier During the Revolutionary War The Pennsylvania Germans have a long and colorful culture, but what about one individual’s time during the Revolutionary War? What did they experience? John Slonecker is one of those men. Slonecker was in minor skirmishes in the Reading area. Slonecker could not read or write in English, so he had someone write down his experiences. During my research I have found his regiment, pension records, a will, a family tree, and even the grave belonging to John Slonecker. During my original research, I have transcribed and wrote down his experiences, from living in Reading and marching through Kutztown to moving to Cumberland County.

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Variah Ward, Albright College, Faculty Mentor: Kami Fletcher Psychology of Slavery in Antebellum Autobiographies Although slavery has been eradicated, discriminatory practices against African Americans are still in place. I was curious to know how this discrimination affected the parenting practices of African Americans. I, then, spent 10 weeks reading and analyzing The Kidnapped and the Ransom and Incident in the Life of a Slave Girl.

What I learned was that during the institution of slavery, being a parent was difficult, if not impossible, but rewarding for enslaved parents. For example, having a child gave Peter and Vina Still and Harriet Jacob a purpose, a reason to live, a reason to get up and keep going. Children gave those who were enslaved a change of perspective.

They were now thinking not only of themselves but of the lives of their children as well. Ultimately, in this project, I studied the psychology of slavery in children and parents. I applied Cultural Trauma Theory to the slave narratives and discovered that black parents have authoritarian parenting styles because they’re still living in a white supremacy environment. Therefore, in this paper presentation, I will show childrearing similarities between the Antebellum period and today, i.e., African Americans are still on guard when protecting themselves and their offspring.

NATURAL SCIENCE - SCIENCE HALL 351 Camille Griffith, Albright College, Faculty Mentor: Bethanne Bruninga-Socolar Using an Elevation Gradient to Explore Temperature and Precipitation as Predictors of Hymenoptera Community Composition and Phenology Dr. Bruninga-Socolar and I conducted research on wasp specimens in our project, ““Using an Elevation Gradient to Explore Temperature and Precipitation as Predictors of Hymenoptera Community Composition and Phenology.” We studied wasp populations along various elevations in the northern Rocky Mountains. After identifying and classifying roughly 1,000 wasp specimens, we analyzed the data between individual specimens and the elevation where they were found. The four most abundant wasp families identified were Sphecidae, Vespidae, Crabronidae, and Ichneumonidae. A pattern was identified for elevation points, which noted lowermiddle elevations contained slightly higher numbers of specimens.

Brian Pan, Albright College, Faculty Mentor: Brian Buerke Quantum Advantage in the Modified Penny Flip Game As humanity attempts to keep up with Moore’s Law, computer chips are getting smaller and smaller to increase the speed of information processing. But chips are now approaching a limit in size, or else they will be affected by quantum mechanics. If the transistors of computers get small enough, a particle’s wavefunction (in this case, electrons) can tunnel though, also known as quantum tunneling. This will cause our logic gates to register a one instead of a zero, causing errors. The effects of quantum tunneling will render the memory storage of our computers ineffective. One can use an electron’s spin up and down state as an analog to the ones and zeroes of binary code. However, quantum objects can be in multiple states simultaneously, thereby an increase in computational power. So, perhaps, embracing the strange effects of quantum mechanics may be a solution to this information conundrum. My research with Dr. Buerke investigated the potential advantages of quantizing information through game theory as a medium.

Punnya Pramod, Penn State Berks, Faculty Mentor: Ruth Daly Restoration of stability and spontaneous supersymmetry of evaporating blackholes by Higgs potential Classic Statistical model of mechanics predict the existence of Boltzmann (thermal) fluctuations which are time dependent due to its hidden evolving microstate.

Quantum mechanics define particles in a state that fluctuate relatively less due to its independence of a time variable. Taking into consideration that inflations can cause fluctuations in a quantum state due to reheating, this is still observed to be relatively lower that the former categorization. According to quantum mechanical effects, a blackhole emits Hawking radiation if they were hot bodies of temperature hk/2πk≈10^(-6) (M_o/M)oK, where k is surface gravity of a blackhole. This will lead to an eventual decrease in mass of the blackhole which results in creating an instability at the event horizon. This study combines concepts of Higgs potential and quantum field theory to establish a relationship between fluctuations and stability of a blackhole using a two-point correlation function 2. The results provide insights to a prediction and correlation of Higgs field potential to the restoration of supersymmetry of an evaporating blackhole, reincorporating stability.

SOCIAL SCIENCE - STUDENT CENTER, SOUTH LOUNGE Alec Kuhn, Reading Area Community College, Faculty Mentor: Carol Bean-Ritter Emergent Cooperation: Observations of Chicken Vigilance Behavior During Feeding The following paper describes a study involving observations of chicken behavior during feeding and students’ perceptions of chickens. There will be 30 subjects from Reading Area Community College who participated by filling out a survey. There will also be recordings of birds eating to observe their behaviors.

Emily Oswald, Reading Area Community College, Faculty Mentor: Jodi Greene Emily Oswald, Reading Area Community College, Faculty Mentor: Jodi Greene The Smog that Continues to Linger in America Environmental disasters headline major news outlets every single day, reminding us of the detrimental effect that humans have on the planet. As factories release more and more chemicals into our air, cars emit a growing amount of emissions, and everyday household utilities contribute to a rapid decrease in air quality, our best weapon against this enemy is simple: effective climate policy. What most people fail to recognize is the local roots of regulatory climate policy in the United States, located in the small town of Donora, Pennsylvania. When the tragic smog disaster struck in 1948, killing twenty and causing illness to six-thousand more, America sprung into action and laid the foundation for modern regulatory legislation concerning air pollution. This paper details the history of regulatory air policy in the United States, from its local roots in aesthetics to its current billion-dollar fight against industry.

Within America’s history of pollution regulation, creative efforts have emerged to improve the air we breathe, from monetary incentives to community efforts to selfgovernance. Through it all, one message has remained clear: we have the foundation laid to save our planet, now all we have to do is continue to move forward.

Mariah Straubel, Albright College, Faculty Mentor: Lena Ziegler Fighting Colonialism from Ecuador to Palestine: An Ethnographic Exploration This paper delves into the intricacies of two seemingly separate issues: Ecuador’s recent issue of drug cartel presence and the current genocide Palestinians are facing.

The Global Scholars cohort of 2023-2024 travelled to Ecuador during the January interim period but the experience was unfortunately cut short due to a nation-wide state of emergency declared by President Daniel Noboa. After arriving home nearly

a week prior to the original departure date, global scholars were asked to write an ethnographic exploration about their previously assigned research topic including an interview with their host family, an exposure they wrote about the given topic, and their personal findings in the matter during their cultural immersion experience. This paper is based on the topic of social justice and elaborates further in the way in which the two issues of Ecuador and Palestine connect. What binds them together is how Western powers, specifically the United States, have and continue to influence each situation through both mainstream media portrayals and the capitalization off of the lasting impacts of colonialism. Student Center, South Lounge

Theater Session 1 ______________________ 8:45 – 10:10 AM, Klein Hall Maliya Bachman, Reading Area Community College Co-presenters: Kimberly Doyle, Justin Medina, Timothy Cescon, Faculty Mentor: Ellen “Dash” Walter Are You Real?

I have chosen to direct a scene from Fight Dreams by Alison Weiss. My approach raised a number of questions. Are you real? Are we real? Is anything real? Dinah is in a relationship with Bradley… but something is not quite right. She’s convinced he is subject of her imagination, and she may just be right! The only way she can think to fix this - visit a psychiatrist. But is Bradley really fake? He keeps trying to convince Dinah everything is real until she starts a new medication to help solve her Bradley problem. She seems to be happy she has a way to solve her fake relationship until in walks Julio.

Dakota Breidenstein, Reading Area Community College, Faculty Mentor: Ellen “Dash” Walter Defending a Friend in Court The monologue that I selected is from The Producers by Mel Brooks. I will be playing the part of Leo Bloom. In this scene, Leo is defending his friend, Max Bialystock in court, where they are both facing charges for overselling stocks in what they hoped would be a bomb of a Broadway show. Oops! A big reason as to why I chose this monologue is because I have always been a fan of Mel Brooks and have looked up to him and his comedic genius. I also share an equal appreciation for the late great actor, Gene Wilder, who played Leo in the 1967 film. I am exploring both physical and verbal comedic timing in this monologue and applying purposeful use of dramatic pause.

Timothy Cescon, Reading Area Community College Co-presenters: Justin Medina, Annalis Ortega, Jeremy Weaver, Faculty Mentor: Ellen “Dash” Walter Call the Ombudsman!

I have chosen to direct H.R. by Eric Coble. What better way to spice up a day-in-thelife of your run-of-the-mill office job than to have a surprise visit from the Human Resources Department? This short play follows the bashful banter of four office workers as they navigate the woes of every employee’s worst nightmares. What insights will the audience get into the unique dynamic of this small satellite corporate campus? I chose this play to explore the minutia of stage-pacing and character chemistry through dialogue. This will be my directorial debut, and I’m excited to see how the cross-over of being a team manager as well as a creative force will translate to the stage!

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Kimberly Doyle, Reading Area Community College, Faculty Mentor: Ellen “Dash” Walter The Burdens We Carry I am performing a monologue from the 1986 play Fences by August Wilson. I chose this piece because symbolically we all build fences around us, and I can relate to this in the character’s moment. This monologue speaks to me, and I hope that by sharing this piece that many audience members will also relate to the hurt and pain of the character. Oftentimes, we find ourselves pouring into another person who continues to take from us and never reciprocates. As an actor, I am approaching this performance by using method acting and drawing in from emotional recall of my own trauma and pain of oppressive relationships. I will be enhancing the scene by using external traits like gestures, mannerisms and emphasizing the diction and inflection in my voice. I will connect with the audience by maintaining an open stance in order to elevate the vulnerability of the character.

Anthonee McDermott-Nunez, Reading Area Community College Co-presenters: Isabella Morgalo, Timothy Cescon, Faculty Mentor: Ellen “Dash” Walter Exploring Kabuki The play I decided to do is a Kabuki play called The Flower Thief written by Hana Nusubito. The play follows two characters: a thief and a flower shop owner. The thief steals a branch from the shop, but the owner catches him and is about to execute him, but they have a conversation that changes the flower shop owner’s mind. I want to do this play because I have a tremendous respect for Japanese culture, especially feudal Japan. As a director I hope it spreads insights into the beautiful cultural and artistic influence of Japan. Currently, there’s a lot of feudal Japanese influence in pop culture as seen in Shogun on Hulu and Blue Eye Samurai on Netflix. This play depicts an insight into the Japanese culture and allows American audiences to glean an insight into an intercultural story. While I was unfortunately unable to cast Japanese actors into the roles, I hope to give the actors here a chance to immerse themselves into the beauty of the universal moment as intended by the playwright.

Anthonee McDermott-Nunez, Reading Area Community College, Faculty Mentor: Ellen “Dash” Walter Negotiations with God For my monologue, I want to depict a moment from a popular show that was released on Netflix called Blue Eye Samurai. The series is about a young half-Japanese and half-European woman who was born in Japan. Her mother was taken prisoner by four white European men. After facing discrimination in the land of feudal Japan, she trains in the way of the samurai to take revenge and find out who her father is. The monologue occurs during a scene with the main antagonist of the show known as Fowle,r and in this scene, Fowler walks into his chapel and has a “negotiation” with God. This is a very interesting scene because the character is not praying to God, but rather is negotiating. As an actor, I am exploring the use of actor’s beats and the way silent moments can be used to create tension.

Justin Medina, Reading Area Community College Co-presenters: Maliya Bachman, Jeremy Weaver, Faculty Mentor: Ellen “Dash” Walter Levels The short play Stuck by Claire Reeves is an emotional roller coaster of anxiety, calmness, love, and acceptance. I chose this play as a director because it can be turned into so much more with a little creative thinking. This story is about a young woman trapped in an elevator, scared and confused as she is trying to survive her anxiety and panic. I put a twist on this show to make it more than just a woman being

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trapped and a man coming to her rescue. Sal, the main male protagonist trying to help her escape and calm down, can be used to show the main female lead’s mind coming up with a way to calm her anxiety and help her cope with her situation. I would like to make it a story of grief and acceptance, making it more of showing of the death of a character caused by her panic and the environment she is in.

Annalis Ortega, Reading Area Community College, Faculty Mentor: Ellen “Dash” Walter If We Burn, You Burn With Us I picked this monologue from The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 because the hunger games is my all-time favorite movie. I love action films and thrillers, and I also love how strong and brave the character of Katniss is. She truly is an inspiration the way she brings out so much emotion from her voice and frustration. I need to work on my voice projection, so this provides the perfect opportunity. This is the scene where president Snow bombs a hospital in front of Katniss and her allies. This was her breaking point, and this is when she noticed Snow was never going to stop no matter who got killed. Out of anger and frustration she sends a message to President Snow on live camera.

Angelina Rabayda, Reading Area Community College Co-presenters: Timothy Cescon, Jaia Rahn, Isabella Morgalo, Faculty Mentor: Ellen “Dash” Walter Who Gets the Girl?

I chose to direct Three Guys and a Brenda, by Adam Bock because I had a vision. The short play follows three guys sitting on a couch in their work’s break room, watching an animal documentary. One of the guys has a crush on their supervisor, Brenda, and proceeds to talk about her with the guys, and eventually tells her how he feels. I chose this because the dry humor of it caught my eye, and I thought it would be interesting to work with. My own spin on it is having the three men played by women, and Brenda played by a man, even though in the original casting it has women playing all four roles. I love gender bent casts, and I am enjoying the process of switching around the roles. I especially like the juxtapositions since there are so many jokes about how hard men have it when it comes to romancing women.

Jaia Rahn, Reading Area Community College, Faculty Mentor: Ellen “Dash” Walter Walking Away from Her Dollhouse A Doll’s House by Henry Ibsen details the events that transpire after Nora makes a deal without her husband’s permission. In my monologue, Nora realizes that she’s been trapped in a cycle of abuse with both her father and husband seeing her as nothing more than a beautiful doll. I chose this monologue due to the fact of how controversial this play was at the time, as she leaves her family to find herself. At the time, leaving a husband and children behind would have been seen as a massive tragic flaw, as women were expected to be homemakers and child-rearing mothers.

Because of this, Ibsen was forced to write a new and ‘happier’ ending for certain international audiences to appeal to the masses. As an actor, I am exploring how to use the stage to its full advantage with this choice, as the entire monologue is emotionally heavy and dictates the exploration of movement.

Jeremy Weaver, Reading Area Community College Co-presenters: Angelina Rabayda, Jaia Rahn, Faculty Mentor: Ellen “Dash” Walter Once Upon a Time…in 2001 New York City The Moon Please by Diana Son is a short play focused on Jay and Ciel, two young parents lamenting about their lives and the hardships of being new parents in New

York City, with the story itself taking place on September 11, 2001, shortly before the attacks on the World Trade Center. As a director, my biggest priority above all is how I want to correctly convey human emotion. I feel, as many others likely feel as well, that a lot of what we see in televised, filmed, and staged media showcases a fabricated, almost comical version of emotions. I want to be able to explore the inner longings of the human soul, as well as the complications of the mind with my play. Considering my play takes place prior to a tragedy that took the lives of thousands, it’s even more important to visually describe how the minds of people before such an event can be conveyed to an audience without going overboard. It’s an emotionally gripping play, and quite relatable to select audiences. It’s perfectly unique in its own right, which is why I willingly chose to take this story on. I hope that the audience will be able to enjoy what I will put on the stage, and maybe afterwards they can take in a differing view of how emotions can be conveyed.

Jeremy Weaver, Reading Area Community College Faculty Mentor: Ellen “Dash” Walter The One Where the News Anchor Goes Berserk I will be presenting the infamous monologue delivered by the late Peter Finch in the 1976 Academy Award-winning film Network. In this bit of film text, Finch’s character, disgruntled news anchor Howard Beale, expresses his frustration over the atrocities happening in the world, and encourages the viewing audience to get out and be the voice for change, and to get mad and demand a different way of life. I am exploring the approaches to playing the emotional extremes in this monologue. However, while the scene depicts practically the calm (or chaotic calm, as you will see it) before the storm, this moment more or less showcases the aftereffects of the storm: the trauma, the frustration, and the willingness to go to extreme lengths just for change to occur. It speaks volumes of today’s world, in which even now, in the modern age of living, there are still a large number of people that go out into the streets and on social media to demand change. Why? Because none of us are truly free unless we are all free. I hope what people get out of my monologue will be a clearer view on how continually witnessing such traumatic events can significantly harm a person’s way of thinking, and furthermore, why even now, people still demand change - not to bring others down, but rather, to bring others up, and to make the world a better place in which to live.

Poster Session 1 ______________________ 9:00 – 10:00 AM SOCIAL SCIENCE, STUDENT CENTER, MAIN LOUNGE Sunny Ahmed, Penn State Berks, Faculty Mentor: Catherine Mello The Effect of Mirror Gazing on Self-esteem Mirror gazing is a specific form of self-viewing that involves seeing one’s physical appearance through a mirror. Many people glance at a mirror every day to get a sense of what they look like to other people. While we do this to get a sense that our appearance is acceptable, what impact does it have on self-esteem? The purpose of this survey-based study was to examine a person’s time spent mirror gazing in relation to their self-esteem. It was hypothesized that the more time an individual spends mirror gazing, the lower self-esteem they will report.

Madison Blickley, Kutztown University, Faculty Mentor: Susan Czerny Rohrbach Library Website Analytics With my internship at Kutztown University’s Archives and Digital Initiatives, I gained access to Google Analytics for Kutztown University’s Rohrbach Library Website.

With this access, I have run the analytics on the website. My focus in this study covered October 2022 and 2023 and February 2023 and 2024. I chose to analyze these two specific months as far as the website goes because both fall around the middle of each semester. The presumption is that with the change from Fall to Spring semesters, the course schedule and course offerings may not be the same, affecting the website usage and data. My study also proved that the number of students in the library does not correlate to the usage of the library website. However, the University’s schedule does not correlate to the timeslots with more active users on the website.

Only a small percentage of Kutztown students realize all the tools that the library has to offer them, let alone the library website.

Samantha Borzellino, Reading Area Community College, Faculty Mentor: Carol Bean-Ritter Does The Way People Stereotype Their Bodies/Self-Image Change as They Get Older?

This study examined whether participants experienced stereotype threats based on their body image. There were 23 subjects from Reading Area Community College who participated by taking a short survey. The survey was then followed by a video on stereotype threat and lastly, they took the same survey again to see if any of the answers to previous questions have changed. It was found that most of the tests did not show any significance.

Lillian Carney, Albright College, Faculty Mentor: Gwendolyn Seidman The Effects of Narcissism and Relationship Threat on Mood and Partner Attributions This experiment examined the effects of romantic relationship threat and narcissism on mood and partner attributions. In order to manipulate relationship threat, participants were randomly assigned to either a control condition in which they were told to write a few sentences describing their day, or a relationship threat condition in which they were to describe a time in which their partner hurt them (based on Murray et al., 2008). Those in the relationship threat condition reported greater sadness, anger, and anxiety than those in the control group. Those higher in narcissism experienced higher anger levels when exposed to the relationship threat condition than those lower in narcissism. Narcissism was also associated with describing one’s partner significantly more negatively when recounting the threatening incident.

Cody Carter, Albright College Co-presenters: Tu Lam, Carina Nieves, Faculty Mentor: Soma Ghosh A Tale of Three Cities: A Comparative Study on the Progress Towards SDG 11 More than half of the global population lives in cities, and the urban component of the world’s population is expected to reach 68% by 2050 (United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs). SDG 11 recognizes the need to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. Specifically, Target 11.

1 focuses on safe and affordable housing. In this study, we will evaluate the policies related to safe and affordable housing in three major cities: London, Beijing, and New York. Despite the differences in socio-economic status and urban development, all three cities face challenges related to inadequate housing that have implications for environmental, social, and economic sustainability. The goal is to compare and contrast the policies and progress made in these cities towards SDG 11. The findings will help identify common trends, outcomes, and strategies and offer practical and actionable insights for creating sustainable cities.

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Gaetcha Denis, Penn State Berks, Faculty Mentor: Catherine Mello Sensory Stimulation: An Alternative Method to Manage Anxiety Attending college can pose many difficulties for young adults such as heightened academic demands relative to high school, to being away from family, and additional responsibilities of adulthood. The hectic pace of college leaves little time for college students to self-assess or manage their anxiety. The purpose of this study was to investigate the usefulness of a sensory room in the management of short-term stress and anxiety. A sensory room is a designated sensory safe space where students can seek out different ways to increase or decrease the stimulation of different sensory modalities. Stress was induced experimentally through a challenging Stroop task, after which they were assigned to spend time in a sensory room or write an essay in a regular classroom environment. Participants completed self-report trait anxiety and state anxiety measures before and after their room assignment. It was hypothesized that sensory stimulation would decrease participants’ state anxiety.

Shawn Diamond-Velox, Penn State Berks, Faculty Mentor: Catherine Mello Pixels vs. Reality: Understanding The Psychological Impact of Video Games Although video games tend to be a form of escape for most individuals, they can also result in maladaptive behavior patterns. For instance, internet gaming disorder is a condition that involves constant and recurrent engagement in online video games.

It can lead to significant impairment, distress, and a problematic addiction. This study analyzed the relationship between video game usage and relationship status satisfaction, well-being, and social anxiety. It was hypothesized that gamers who are in a relationship with other gamers will experience a higher level of relationship satisfaction and well-being and lower levels of social anxiety compared to gamers who are in a romantic relationship with non-gamers. Compared to gamers in a relationship, single gamers will experience higher levels of relationship status satisfaction and well-being but higher levels of social anxiety. These findings will help enhance our understanding of the role video games play in different aspects of offline life and relationships.

Catherine DiPerna, Alvernia University, Faculty Mentor: Lelinna Hinh The Need for Increased Awareness of Climate Change Impacts on Indigenous Americans Climate change has begun to affect everyone, but some communities are more at risk than others. Indigenous Americans have lived on American land longer than anyone else, learning and surviving off the soil. This land has become part of their community, culture, and spiritual lifestyle. However, climate change is altering the land they have always known, which has changed their ability to practice their cultural and spiritual lifestyle. The researcher conducted a content analysis to show the discrepancy between the level of support needed for Indigenous American communities in the wake of climate change and the frequency of media publications on this issue.

The researcher examined publications within the Environmental Protection Agency, NASW-PA E-Newsletters, National Congress of American Indians’ Facebook, and Good Morning America’s YouTube, and documented the frequency with which they posted about Indigenous Americans and the impact of climate change on their cultural and spiritual lifestyles. According to the findings, there is a lack of coverage on the impact climate change has on Indigenous Americans.

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Breanna Dukehart, Alvernia University Co-presenters: Catherine Strosnider, Megan Poley, Julia Martorano, Faculty Mentor: Catherine Emenheiser Improving the Quality of Life for People with Aphasia Our research explores how we can improve the education of healthcare providers and caregivers when working with people with aphasia. Additionally, we examine the psychological aspects of aphasia, and the implementation of interventions that will improve quality of care for persons with aphasia.

Jason Eidle, Albright College, Faculty Mentor: Susan Hughes Predicting Breakups from Attractiveness and Perceived Alternatives Little research has examined predictions of breakups from third-party perspectives based on hypothetical scenarios. One hundred and forty-one participants were recruited from the United States online and completed three tasks assessing perceptions of who would want a breakup and if an individual moved on based on potential mates. Key findings suggest more attractive partners were perceived to initiate the breakup more frequently and that more potential mates increased perceptions of an individual moving on.

Crystal Fondeur, Penn State Berks, Faculty Mentor: Catherine Mello Wear to thrive: Navigating College Nutrition and Activity with Technology Many monitor their health and wellness through smartphone apps and wearable devices. This study explores the role of wearable devices in college students’ dietary and physical activity behaviors. Students self-reported their general use of wearable devices, associated apps, nutritional patterns during periods of stress, and physical activity. It was expected that wearable devices would have little impact on students’ dietary patterns or stress eating levels but potentially affect their physical activity levels. These findings will help to understand whether wearable devices can positively influence or create barriers to healthy lifestyle choices among this demographic.

Laurel Gingrich, Albright College, Faculty Mentor: Elizabeth Quinn Just a Girll: A Fashion Blog Focused on Engaging Generation Z While Breaking Millennial Stereotypes Blogs are seen as the social medium for millennials, they grew up creating blogs and typically Generation Z is seen as the generation of social medias like Instagram and TikTok. However, the research done for this project supports the potential use of blogs for Generation Z. A small survey was conducted to gather information from individuals apart of Generation Z to help understand their social media habits and fashion influences. This survey was conducted to be of assistance in building a fashion styling blog for Generation Z called “Just a Girll”. By developing and launching a real fashion blog that gives advice on styling tips on pattern mixing, new trends and more, this project aims to examine and track viewership to determine the success and reach of this concept within the Generation Z population.

Erna Hamzic, Penn State Berks, Faculty Mentor: Catherine Mello Students’ Experiences of Anxiety in Sensory-friendly and Sensory-deprived Spaces.

College students report experiencing daily anxiety and elevated stress. Short-term strategies to mitigate this anxiety include making changes in their physical and sensory environment, such as seeking out soothing stimuli and eliminating stressful ones. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of using a sensory room, a designated sensory “safe space,” on students’ state anxiety levels. To this end, students were randomly assigned to decompress within a sensory room or a bare

study room within the library. Trait anxiety was measured before and after exposure to these spaces. Additionally, students’ general mental health and trait anxiety levels were assessed. It is hypothesized that trait anxiety levels will show a greater decrease in the sensory-friendly environment (the sensory room) than in the sensory-deprived environment (basic study rooms). However, this may vary based on pre-existing trait anxiety levels. The results of this study could indicate whether colleges should consider implementing sensory rooms or making more spaces available to students.

Jabriyah Harris, Albright College Co-presenters: Diamonique Suydam, Faculty Mentor: Soma Ghosh Zero Waste Campuses: Exploring Challenges and Opportunities in Creating a Greener Campus The pursuit of zero-waste campuses has emerged as a significant sustainability objective for educational institutions worldwide, aiming to minimize waste generation, promote resource conservation, and foster environmentally responsible practices within campus communities. Through a comprehensive literature review and analysis of case studies, this study examines the multifaceted dimensions of zero waste strategies, encompassing waste reduction, recycling, composting, material recovery, and sustainable procurement practices. It investigates the potential environmental, social, and economic benefits of transitioning to zero waste systems. The main goal of the research is to provide a framework for enhancing waste management practices at Albright College by critically evaluating the experiences and lessons learned from existing zero waste initiatives on similar campuses. In conclusion, this research underscores the transformative potential of zero waste initiatives in promoting sustainability, resilience, and social equity within higher education institutions.

Marina Kase, Albright College, Faculty Mentor: Elizabeth Quinn Promote Japanese Secondhand Clothing Industry One of the cultural shocks that surprised me when I first came to the U.S. was the use of secondhand clothing. People here are very fond of secondhand clothing and recognize the value of those stores. In Japan, however, purchasing secondhand clothing is not yet familiar. Young people are especially reluctant to wear those clothing because of reluctance to spend money on products perceived as being of lesser quality. In addition, if people want to acquire secondhand clothing in Japan, they need to purchase it directly from a boutique that is “knowledgeable” about vintage clothing, which is not commonly found in this society. This process intimidates many young people and dissuades them from engaging in the secondhand clothing market. The third reason is that the stereotype of secondhand clothing is old-fashioned. Therefore, through this project, I decided to offer high-quality secondhand clothing online, emphasizing trends, at a reasonable and accessible price point for young people in Japan. The offerings include the development of a sample e-commerce website and Instagram posts about trends and merchandise for advertising purposes. This concept store will also educate Japanese consumers about secondhand clothing so they are more willing to explore and shop in this market.

Mariezette LaPorte, Reading Area Community College, Faculty Mentor: Carol Bean-Ritter Fostering Resilience: The Power of Creative Expression The following paper describes a study on the relationship between creative expression and perceived resilience levels in college students. It hypothesized that engaging in creative expression activities (such as, writing, painting, music) increases the perceived resilience levels of college students that enables them to manage stress and maintain a positive outlook when faced with life’s challenges and obstacles. Using

both a descriptive and experimental design, data will be gathered from approximately 30 volunteers at Reading Area Community College and will be asked to complete an anonymous MicroSoft Forms questionnaire after agreeing that their participation implies their consent. The questionnaire will include Likert scale statements. After completing the questionnaire, participants will engage in a specific creative activity (e.g., writing, visual arts, music, crafts, or dance). Their perceived impact of creative expression on their resilience levels will be measured through their agreement or disagreement with statements assessing effectiveness. Finally, participants will complete another Likert survey to document their perception of the impact of creative expression on their resilience levels after engaging in the creative activity.

Katelyn Maloney, Penn State Berks, Faculty Mentor: Catherine Mello Examining Perceptions of Sensory Processing Sensitivities and Sensory Rooms A common experience for people who identify as neurodivergent is sensory processing sensitivity (SPS), a term used to describe an increased sensitivity or awareness to different environmental stimuli. Lack of education or awareness of this condition can create judgement and ultimately lead to generalization or stigmatization. The purpose of this study was to examine college students’ attitudes towards SPS when exposed to a sensory room, an environment designed with SPS in mind where individuals can limit, manipulate, or seek out different types of sensory stimuli. The study investigated whether interacting with a sensory room can change initial attitudes about SPS and perceptions of these types of spaces. It was hypothesized that participants who were given the opportunity to spend time in the sensory room would have fewer stigmatizing attitudes than those who did not. The results of this study will help determine whether, beyond directly helping individuals manage their own SPS, sensory rooms can also promote their acceptance and inclusion by providing the general population with firsthand experiences and education about this subject.

Arianna Marcucci, Albright College Co-presenters: Elizabeth Churchill, Faculty Mentor: Soma Ghosh Next Stop…Wait What Next?—A Review of Public Transportation in Major Cities in the Post-Covid World.

It has been almost four years since the coronavirus pandemic, but US cities might never be the same. Transit ridership still has not recovered in major U.S. transit systems, leading to several questions about how to create a viable future for the American transit system. New York City is considered one of the best in terms of public transportation—It has extensive subway and bus systems, as well as pedestrian infrastructure. Philadelphia also has an extensive infrastructure catering to pedestrians and public transportation. However, since the COVID-19 pandemic, ridership in both cities has suffered tremendously. Our research analyzes the postCOVID environmental and economic impact of each city’s public transportation systems. The focus of this research will be the regions of New York City and Philadelphia. This research will also examine how each city has attempted to recover from the pandemic. The findings will focus on solutions for what improvements can be made for both cities’ public transportation for a cleaner, more sustainable public transportation sector in a post-COVID world.

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Kayley Mattis, Penn State Berks, Faculty Mentor: Catherine Mello Studying the Effects of White Noise on Cognitive Functioning and Executive Function Deficits Auditory white noise (AWN) is categorized as a type of sound with a random signal having equal intensity at different frequencies. There has been interest in how this type of sensory stimulation interacts with cognitive processes such as attention and explicit working memory. To date, there is mixed evidence on the potential benefits of AWN on cognition. It has been suggested that individual differences in executive function (e.g., the presence of attention deficit symptoms) may moderate the effectiveness of AWN in enhancing, e.g., working memory performance. The current study investigated the effects of applied AWN on individuals with varying levels of self-reported executive functioning. The present study used a within-subjects design to manipulate AWN (present, absent) during two versions of a cognitive performance measure of six cognitive domains (prospective, short-term, long-term, and working memory, verbal fluency, and reasoning). The findings of this study will allow for a better understanding of the effects of AWN on Cognitive performance as it relates to individual variations in executive functioning.

Travis Mauger, Penn State Berks, Faculty Mentor: Nathan Greenauer The Impacts of Occupational Culture on an Individual’s Help-Seeking Behavior Help-seeking behavior has been a subject of significant interest within the psychological community, particularly in connection with veteran populations. Despite this interest, there is a gap in the literature concerning the potential impact of an individual’s occupation, and the related occupational culture, on their help-seeking behavior. The present study seeks to remedy this by investigating the potential relationship between occupational culture and help-seeking behavior, with a primary emphasis on military populations. This study consists of an online, self-report survey that will determine individuals’ beliefs regarding others seeking professional care, seeking care themselves, as well as their perceptions of their occupation’s norms.

It is hypothesized there will be a negative correlation between combat-centric occupations in the military and help-seeking behavior. It is also hypothesized that those with military affiliations will exhibit less help-seeking behavior than a civilian control group.

Adorelis Medina, Albright College, Faculty Mentor: Soma Ghosh Building a Sustainable Peace of Mind In stories, imagery is used constantly to help the readers better understand the characters and how they feel because usually one’s surroundings impact their life.

In life, this is also true. The community we reside in, the neighborhood we walk in, the walls we live in impact our health and overall quality of life. How can we better our health? By bettering our surroundings of course! LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a globally recognized green building rating system.

LEED uses smart systems to create Eco-friendly homes that align with the SDGs. According to the USGBC, as of December 2023 there are almost 9,000 LEED certified and registered higher education projects. Such institutions have seen an increase in performance and wellness in their students like the University of South Carolina.

The University of South Carolina currently has a center of Health and Well-being that is LEED certified. Bringing the outdoors in has proven to lower blood pressure and positively impact well-being. Learn about the LEED system and how it can better your peace of mind as a college student!

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Erin Morris, Penn State Berks, Faculty Mentor: Catherine Mello Mental Health in the Sensory Room Sensory rooms are often associated with, and recommended for, people who have been diagnosed with autism or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. However, these sensory “safe spaces” can be beneficial for other conditions such as depression, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Participants were invited to visit a sensory room and interact with its features for ten minutes. Beforehand, they shared their experiences with these mental health conditions. Following exposure to the sensory room, a post-survey asked them to reflect on their experiences in the sensory room and share their perceptions of its potential benefits or value to them.

It was hypothesized that the sensory room would be perceived as valuable to more people with a more diverse profile than what is generally expected.

Arianna Murataya, Penn State Berks, Faculty Mentor: Catherine Mello Colored Noise: Exploring the Varying Types of Auditory Noise and Its Influence on Cognitive Performance Colored auditory noise (CAN) refers to the frequency distribution of noise across the audible spectrum, i.e., how the energy of the sound wave is spread across the different frequencies. White noise contains all frequencies, whereas other noise colors (e.g., pink, brown) emphasize some frequencies over others. There has been interest in the use of auditory noise (primarily white noise) to enhance mental wellbeing and cognitive performance. The present study investigated the influence of CAN on an individual’s cognitive performance, in association with their self-reported noise sensitivity and tolerance. Cognitive performance was measured using two versions of a performance test assessing six cognitive domains (prospective, short-term, longterm, working memory, verbal fluency, and reasoning). One version is given without the implementation of CAN, and the other with CAN. The type of CAN used was varied by participant based on their self-reported noise preferences and sensitivity. It is expected that this study will elucidate the effects of the varying types of color noises on individual cognitive functioning.

Mitchel Nevryanskiy, Penn State Berks, Faculty Mentor: Ryan Hassler Exploring the Development of College Identity in Engineering Students: A Dynamic Systems Model of Role Identity Perspective in the First Semester The identity of college scholars plays a part when it comes to their retention rates.

The goal of this study is to understand the identity development of low-income highachieving engineering scholars who are part of a four-week residential summer bridge program and who take part in a cohort experience throughout their first semester at Penn State Berks, a four-year regional undergraduate campus within the larger Pennsylvania State University. My research will look at the change in their identity coming out of high school and into college. Utilizing interviews based on the Dynamic Systems Model of Role Identity (DSMRI; Kaplan & Garner, 2017) codebook before and after a scholar’s first semester, we aim to analyze the influence of their college identity on retention rates. Furthermore, our goal is to explore how experiences in the initial semester shape their identification within the broader academic society.

The outcomes of this study aim to illuminate the identity development of low-income engineering students during their initial semester in college. It is anticipated that these findings will provide insights into factors that might contribute to increased retention rates, ultimately facilitating a better understanding of identify development for low-income students.

Samantha Raby, Albright College, Faculty Mentor: Julia Heberle Exploring developmental psychology textbook explanations of biological concepts to evaluate definitional and explanatory quality Developmental psychology textbooks reliably include a chapter on the biological basis of psychological phenomenon covering embryology, genetic transmission, cell division, brain development, and brain function. It seems reasonable to expect these texts to contain detailed explanations of the more recently discovered biological phenomena of epigenetics and mirror neurons, given their importance to issues central to child development. However, these topics are being left out of psychology textbooks or are not being thoroughly explained, leaving students with insufficient knowledge. We examined how epigenetics has been incorporated and explained in 25 child development textbooks in the last 10 years, and compared that to incorporation of mirror neurons, to evaluate the extent and adequacy of the information about epigenetics. Our coding for presence, emphasis, definition, and explanation quality demonstrated wide variability and profound insufficiency in the textbooks at all levels across the 10 years of publication. Our initial findings confirm our suspicion that epigenetics is poorly understood and explained by most authors of developmental psychology textbooks, in contrast to mirror neurons. We note an irony, that while mirror neurons have come under critical examination in recent years, and evidence for epigenetic effects has grown, the status of explanation for both concepts does not reflect this difference.

Mia Rezza, Albright College, Faculty Mentor: Elizabeth Quinn Inclusivity Styling My research focuses on analyzing the human figure and skin, hair, and eye pigmentation to better understand how the elements of design can complement individual features. The research will cover color theory and how skin pigmentation/ tone relates to clothing colors. Additionally, the measurements that are important when it comes to silhouette styling and what compliments each body type. Following the research, I will work with five volunteers to synthesize my research. A comparison of their personal style to my research will be conducted to find if they naturally gravitate toward the research findings. This second phase of the research aims to inform individuals on how they could use my findings to complement their body type and pigmentation when styling themselves every day.

Sebastian Robinson, Albright College Co-presenters: Dana Newberry, Faculty Mentor: Soma Ghosh Exploring the Economic Viability of Implementing Sustainable Tourism Practices in Bethany Beach, Delaware Coastal communities, typically known for their natural beauty, often endure most of the environmental harm that is typically caused by tourists. By analyzing the current tourism trends and environmental concerns, there could be possible economic benefits by implementing more sustainable tourism practices specifically in Bethany Beach, Delaware. This can be seen through the lens of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically focusing on SDGs 11,13, and 14. These SGDs highlight sustainable cities and communities, climate action, and life below water. Our exploratory research will contribute to the existing laws and practices that Bethany Beach has in place and provide actionable recommendations. These recommendations will align with the stated Sustainable Development Goals and aspire to enhance the success of current regulations. By aligning sustainable tourism and the listed SDGs, Bethany Beach will draw in a wave of eco-conscious travelers and will boost the reputations of these green getaways.

Maria Rogers, Reading Area Community College, Faculty Mentor: Carol Bean-Ritter Resilience in the Face of Parentification Parentification is a role reversal between the child-parent relationship. Parentification is often viewed as having detrimental effects in adulthood. With the possibility of long standing negative emotional and psychological problems. This study aims to explore the positive side of parentification. The possible positive effect is shown by how resilient parentified children can be in adulthood. The subjects that participated in this study are from Reading Area Community College. Participants were asked to complete the study by answering statements using Microsoft Forms. All participants agreed that their participation implies their consent. The statements were built with Likert options and subjects’ participation is anonymous.

Isabella Romig, Penn State Berks, Faculty Mentor: Catherine Mello Sharing Spaces: Exploring Social Interactions in the Sensory Room Sensory rooms have been implemented at several universities to provide a safe space for students, catering to their emotional and physical needs at school. These rooms are formulated with various features that can be explored by the students at their leisure. Currently, the sensory room at Penn State Berks is only available through our library’s reservation system, creating an issue of availability for all students. My research focuses on the potential social anxiety that could occur if we open the sensory room up to multiple students simultaneously. During this inperson study, participants answered several questions regarding social anxiety in relation to hypothetical social interactions. The participants were then placed into the sensory room with a confederate, not knowing the confederate would be present.

The confederate was instructed to either interact or not interact with the participant.

Participants being unprepared for the interaction resembles the reality of opening the sensory room to several students. Both the changes in blood pressure measurements and difference in answers on the survey questions indicate the degree of discomfort stemming from the experienced social interaction. The examination of these changes will guide future decisions pertaining to the function of our sensory room.

Roxanne Santiago, Reading Area Community College, Faculty Mentor: Carol Bean-Ritter Procrastination Among Adult College Students This study examines why adults in college procrastinate. It involves interviewing adult learners who are students at Reading Area Community College to explore the impact of procrastination on their mental health and grades. This study consisted of 30 random adult learner college students from Reading Area Community College in Reading Pennsylvania. Participants completed a questionnaire that included questions asked to better help grasp how procrastination affects the mental health surrounding Adult RACC college students and their grades.

Rika Sato, Albright College, Faculty Mentor: Elizabeth Quinn Global Market Discovery ~A Case Study of Japan and the U.S.~ People often do not realize the value and uniqueness of products that are commonplace in their location of the world. Studying in the U.S. allowed me to see the value of products I was familiar with in Japan, and also opened my awareness of excellent products that exist in America. For example, the fruit containers commonly used in the U.S. have a hole in the bottom that allows the fruit to be washed and drained while still in the container. In contrast, similar containers in Japan do not have such a feature. In light of this, it became clear to me that introducing such

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products to Japanese consumers would be an innovative idea.This project aims to find truly valuable products in America and Japan based on various factors such as purchasing psychology and culture. The goal is then to provide valuable products to local consumers by taking into account the culture and needs of different countries and regions and developing market-appropriate strategies.

Donia Shalal, Albright College, Faculty Mentor: MeeAe Oh-Ranck Concept Development with $19 and a Dream In order to focus on the environmental and economic sustainability concerns facing the fashion industry, I was tasked with designing a garment that portrayed the concept on a budget of $19. Combining nature, peace, and serenity as the theme, my inspiration was centered on falling rose petals. The process of developing this look involved material research and sourcing, cost analysis, translation of concept into product, as well as garment construction. Through presenting this project, I aim to show the challenges and successes of designing within specific constraints that result in positive impacts.

Joseph Werner, Penn State Berks, Faculty Mentor: Catherine Mello Variables Associated with College Student Alcohol Consumption In a university setting, students are exposed to an entirely different environment with new norms regarding alcohol consumption. Most college students participate in and experience these norms in different social situations on campus (e.g., parties, hangouts, or sports events). Regularly attending social situations that exhibit different norms regarding alcohol (e.g., drinking to the point of blacking out) may affect behaviors of students, causing changes in general patterns of alcohol consumption.

In this study, participants provided self-report information about their general and situational alcohol consumption patterns as well as the types of social situations in which they regularly attend (i.e., on-and off-campus). Personal moderators such as self-esteem, life satisfaction, and social anxiety were also examined. It was hypothesized that college students who regularly attend social situations where norms favor alcohol consumption will experience a shift in their current behaviors consistent with these norms.

Alettya Zalapa-Alonso, Alvernia University, Faculty Mentor: Di You Do You Really Agree?: Is there Gender Bias in our Romantic Relationships?

What if the only reason we side with one person is not that we morally value the ethical and rightness of the situation but because we are bound by siding with the similar group we consider ourselves to be in? As we move further in time, our attempts to understand the components of our romantic relationships are still developing.

Leaving room to question how we can improve comprehension and our roles within its elements (Mahoney & Martin, 2009). As researched from Brenner (2019) and Ni (2023), there is much overlap in themes of conflicts within our relationships along with examinations of more committed ones, such as marriage (Geiger & Livingston, 2019). Along with deeper statistical data regarding the concepts involved, such as breakups, age, generations, etc. (Pawlak, 2023). This study analyzed whether a participant will side with the same gender they identify with in an argument found in a heterosexual romantic relationship. Using a theme of communication in a small vignette, followed by a Likert-scale survey, we would measure current participant stances in an argument example. Statistical analysis is limited due to the quantity of the data collected. In further analysis, the results indicate contributions to further studies on this research topic.

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Poster Session 2 ______________________ 11:15 AM – 12:15 AM NATURAL SCIENCE - STUDENT CENTER, MAIN LOUNGE Daniel Abramov, Penn State Berks, Faculty Mentor: Justin DiAngelo Effects of DSK and CCKLR Deletion on Lipid and Carbohydrate Storage and Feeding in Drosophila melanogaster Neuropeptides are vital in coordinating a wide array of metabolic functions and behaviors in Drosophila. Altering neuropeptide levels in the fly brain creates a model system that can be used to elucidate the connection between metabolism, brain health, and sleep in humans. Populations of neurons in the Drosophila brain can sense fluctuations in nutrient availability, thus altering feeding behavior. Drosulfakinin (DSK), the Drosophila ortholog of the mammalian hormone cholecystokinin (CCK), is a critical regulator of feeding behavior and metabolic homeostasis given its function as a satiety signal. However, whether DSK modulates lipid or carbohydrate metabolism is not yet known. We studied DSK and its two putative receptors, CCKLR-17D1 and CCKLR-17D3, to determine their role in the storage of fats and carbohydrates. Adult flies that did not express DSK, or either of its two receptors, exhibited an increase in triglyceride storage in both male and female flies compared to controls, but had no effect on glycogen levels. This increase in triglyceride storage can result from increased feeding, and we will test this hypothesis by measuring food consumption.

Together the data suggests that DSK limits triglyceride storage, and its two putative receptors play nonredundant roles in this process.

Aidee Acosta, Penn State Berks Co-presenters: Eduardo Contin, Amy Borjorquez, Kaylin Ifill, Mallory Duff, Shantelle Duarte, Faculty Mentor: Tami Mysliwiec Are Antibiotic Resistant Genes Expressed within the Blue Marsh Watershed?

Let’s Find Out! Antibiotic-resistant bacteria within the Blue Marsh Watershed in Berks County, Pennsylvania, is a growing health concern. This study identifies antibiotic-resistant Enterococci spp and Escherichia coli bacteria within this local watershed. The EPA uses Enterococci spp and Escherichia coli as indicator species for detecting potential pathogens in recreational water supplies. Three sample sites were chosen to look for Enterococci and Escherichia coli based on anthropogenic activities in the watershed.

Each sample site may be affected by different human activities: the upstream site is surrounded by agricultural lands, the lake site is used for recreational activities, and the downstream site may be influenced by industrial non-point pollution. Water and sediment samples from each site were collected monthly. Enterococci and E. coli were isolated from sediment samples using EPA-standard membrane filtration protocols for recreational waters. Isolated Enterococci and E. coli colonies were subjected to Kirby Bauer assessments for antibiotic profiling. Isolated Enterococci and E. coli cultures were found to be resistant to seven commonly prescribed antibiotics by physicians. Several antibiotic-resistance genes were identified using PCR analysis on DNA extracted from sediment samples collected from all sites within the Blue Marsh Watershed.

Kathryn Baptiste, Albright College, Faculty Mentor: Ian Cost 3-D Flight Model Reconstruction and Biomechanical Muscle Force Application of the Great Horned Owl The mystery of avian flight is still a continuous topic of discussion among many researchers. The focus of this project was a 3-D computer model of the Great Horned Owl used to model flight musculature. Much of the information used in the sculpting process was from my previous research completed, which was developed by dissection and data collection for force calculations. The flight muscles sculpted on the model were the pectoralis, supracoracoideus, triceps, and biceps. The free sculpting software, Blender, was used with the X-Muscle System which was selftaught over the ACRE summer period. During the research period, improvements on the overall dimensions of the flight muscles were accomplished.

Faith Bentz, Alvernia University Co-presenters: Amy Lista, Lauryn Morgan, Allison Altman-Singles, Faculty Mentor: Joseph Mahoney How Does Running with a Jogging Stroller Affect Ground Reaction Force?

New parents often face challenges to a healthy lifestyle after welcoming a new child into their lives. One particular challenge is finding the time to uphold their exercise routines. A practical remedy for new parents is integrating jogging strollers into their fitness regimen. These specialized strollers facilitate running with the child onboard, helping parents counteract potential declines in personal health. While jogging strollers are designed to minimize injury risks for the passenger, there remains a notable gap in research concerning the potential injury risks for the operator. This research investigates how running with a jogging stroller results in changes to the forces and moments on joints and bones compared to traditional running. Additionally, we investigate how these alterations in biomechanical loading may elevate the risk of injury for the parent.

Ishmael Cadet, Penn State Berks, Faculty Mentor: Praveen Veerabhadrappa The comparison between aerobic capacity in males and females.

Blood pressure (BP) regulation is crucial for maintaining cardiovascular health and preventing medical conditions. Aerobic fitness is crucial for maintaining a healthy cardiovascular system, enhancing endurance, and reducing the risk of chronic diseases. On average, do Males and Females have different VO2 max numbers?

Purpose: To compare aerobic capacity in males and females. Methods: 10 individuals ( 5M/5F, 19-50 years, BMI 25.9±5.2 kg/m) were recruited and participated in a submaximal exercise test where baseline measures such as: weight, height, BMI, and aerobic capacity were recorded. Blood pressure was then taken at rest, before, and after the exercise test. Results: There is a significant difference between male and female numbers for VO2 max. P value is .028 < 0.05, we have statistical significance.

We can reject the null. The mean score for men was 57.74 ±9.44, the mean score for women was 39.80 ± 11.71. Conclusion: Males and females have statistically different VO2 max numbers.

Alex Carvalho, Penn State Berks, Faculty Mentor: Praveen Veerabhadrappa Patellar Tendon Thickness from Resisted Reverse Walking in Young Adults Tendon disorders are associated with ~30% of all musculoskeletal pain. Tendons seem to adapt to a repeated stimulus from both resistance & cardiovascular training, making them thicker. Reverse walking has become more popular in loading the patellar tendon in rehabilitation, but the structural & physiological changes are yet

to be determined. Purpose: The purpose was to assess the patellar tendon thickness in young adults in a resisted backwards-walking protocol. Methods: Twenty-eight (19M/9F avg BMI 28.2 kg/m2) healthy adults (18-35years) were recruited from local gyms. Subjects were randomly assigned to a 1-minute/3-minute/or 5-minute duration for 3-days/week for 6-weeks. All subjects were instructed to walk on the Matrix S-Drive Performance Trainer with a subjective intensity of at least 7/10 on the modified Borg scale. Tendon length was measured with the Echo Blaster 128 ultrasound, and thickness was assessed 10% from the proximal and distal ends, and the exact middle. After 6-weeks, the tendon thickness was reassessed. Results: Pre-test measurements show that Gender and thickness (prox: 4.226 ±0.899mm; p=0.884, mid: 4.832mm ±0.828; p=0.923, dist: 4.479 ±0.6223mm; p=0.287) and training style and thickness (prox: p=0.725. mid: p=0.066, dist: p=0.544) have no significant difference. Conclusion: Preliminary results show gender nor backward walking impacted the patellar tendon thickness.

Sara Hallameyer, Alvernia University , Faculty Mentor: Jamie Becker Isolation of Microorganisms from Winogradsky Columns Microorganisms are ubiquitous. There are pathogenic microbes which can cause illnesses, like COVID-19, and microbes that promote health like those in the human gut that help break down organic matter. Microbes can provide information about their environment, such as what nutrients are present in soil and water like iron or phosphorus. This project focused on isolating microbes from Angelica Creek in Reading, PA. Winogradsky columns were used to concentrate microbes from water and sediment samples. The columns contained distinct sources of carbon, iron, and sulfur to foster different microbes in sediment layers. Spread plating with dilution series samples of freshwater was employed to isolate microbes. Isolates were chosen based on morphology, with a focus on unique colonies and potential photosynthetic capabilities. Streak plating was conducted to further purify colonies. Identification of isolates via DNA extraction and sequencing of 16S rRNA gene amplicons was performed. All isolates have been added to the University’s culture collection. Future research may include areas like natural product chemistry, antibiotic potential, and microbial interactions with other cell types, including human cells.

Paige Hinkle, Albright College, Faculty Mentor: Amy Greene Artificial Sugar Substitutes in Explaining the Correlation Between Type 2 Diabetes and Alzheimer’s Disease Amyloid - (A) is a pathological protein that occasionally misfolds causing the aggregation and formation of plaques in the brain, one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease. Research currently exists connecting neurodegenerative diseases and dietary choices. While relatively little is known about how Alzheimer’s disease develops, there exists strong evidence for a correlation between type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease. Up to 81% of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease also have type 2 diabetes. This correlation is so robust that the term “brain diabetes” has been used to describe Alzheimer’s disease. This research explores that correlation through comparing the effect of artificial sugar substitutes to glucose on Aβ aggregation. A ThioflavinT assay was conducted and data was analyzed in a GloMaxⓇ microplate reader. Fluorescence and absorbance levels were recorded to assess the sugars’ effects on A plaque aggregation. The differences between each sugar’s plaque formations were assessed using ANOVA. Pairwise two-tailed t-tests were performed comparing the glucose control with each of the four artificial sweeteners. The

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difference between A aggregation in the presence of artificial sugar substitutes was significantly higher than the glucose control. This paper contributes to explaining the correlation underlying type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease and provides evidence of how artificial sugar substitutes could contribute to Alzheimer’s pathology.

Nhi Hoang, Alvernia University , Faculty Mentor: Eric Recktenwald Behavioral effects of ralfinamide mesylate injection to the optic nerve of the frog (Rana pipiens) Frogs rely on vision to recognize moving prey and looming objects – they respond by snapping toward or jumping away. The goal of this research is to discover the neural basis for these visually guided behaviors. In frogs, the optic nerve projects mainly to the optic tectum. Electrical recordings of optic nerve fibers terminating in the tectum reveal different classes of fibers that respond preferentially to specific patterns of light. These fiber-classes terminate in discrete layers of the tectum and form independent visuotopic maps. One fiber-class responds preferentially to small objects moving through a receptive field. Another class responds preferentially to the movement of an edge through an entire receptive field. These fibers could serve as the physiological basis for the recognition of prey and looming stimuli. If so, selective inhibition of these fiber-classes should result in selective behavioral deficits.

Previous research showed that applying tetrodotoxin (TTX) to the frog’s optic nerve inhibited responses to looming stimuli, but responses to prey were unaffected. This experiment aims to selectively inhibit frogs’ responses to prey stimuli while sparing responses to looming stimuli. Ralfinamide mesylate, a blocker selective for TTXresistant ion channels, was unilaterally injected into the optic nerve and behavior was subsequently tested.

Tara Huffman, Albright College, Faculty Mentor: Matthew Sonntag Studying Plasmon-Driven Reactions with Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is a highly sensitive analytical method that provides insight on chemical composition and structure on a single-molecule scale. When adsorbed to a substrate of metal nanoparticles, molecules irradiated with light will generate hot electrons which drive photochemical reactions that are identified through the disappearance and emergence of Raman peaks. Rhodanine (2-thio-4-oxothiazolidine) (Rd) is a five-membered heterocyclic molecule that was shown to participate in a plasmon-driven reaction on a silver nanoparticle surface, and the chemical transformation of Rd monomer to Rd dimer was monitored through spectral changes. We are now investigating how changes to Rd structure modifies reactivity with respect to dimerization.

Matthew Kauffman, Penn State Berks, Faculty Mentor: Justin DiAngelo Glut1 functions in insulin-producing neurons to regulate lipid and carbohydrate storage Obesity is one of the largest health problems globally, arising from excess triglycerides (TAG). The genes important for regulating TAG storage are not known. Glut1 encodes a glucose transporter identified as a potential obesity gene through a buoyancy screen. However, how Glut1 acts in different tissues to affect lipid storage is not known. In this study, we characterized the role of Glut1 in the fly brain. We decreased neuronal Glut1 and measured glycogen and TAG levels. Glut1-RNAi flies had decreased TAG and glycogen. Certain hormones regulating metabolism expressed in the fly brain are insulin-like peptides (Ilps) 2, 3, and 5. We hypothesized decreasing Glut1 panneuronally results in decreased Ilp expression. We observed a decrease in

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Ilp3 and Ilp5 expression in Glut1-RNAi flies, suggesting Glut1 functions in insulinproducing neurons (IPCs) to regulate organismal TAG and glycogen storage. To test this hypothesis, we induced Glut1-RNA specifically to the IPCs and measured TAG and glycogen storage. We saw decreases in the organismal TAG and glycogen storage and decreases in llp3 and Ilp5 expression, indicating Glut1 functions in IPCs to regulate Ilp expression and whole-organism nutrient storage. These data suggest Glut1 functions as a nutrient sensor in IPCs, controlling organismal TAG and glycogen storage.

Steven Lecates, Penn State Berks, Faculty Mentor: James Karlinsey The Heat Dependence of Acetylsalicylic Acid Synthesis Acetylsalicylic acid, or aspirin, can be produced from the acetylation of salicylic acid with acetic anhydride. Heat works to catalyze the reaction, and this project aims to see if there are limitations to the head added. When tested at multiple temperatures ranging from 70 to 100 degrees Celsius, the highest percentage of yield in a fixed reaction time of 15 minutes was 85 degrees. At this temperature, both the yield and the purity were measured to be the highest, improving greatly as the temperature increased incrementally from 70 degrees. When temperatures reached 90 degrees and above, the resulting product lacked the crystalline appearance of acetylsalicylic acid and instead maintained a similar consistency to the powdery salicylic acid starting material as well as producing a lower purity observed through IR and melting point range. While heat does increase the efficiency of the reaction, results show that overheating the reactant mixture by even a few degrees can limit the production of acetylsalicylic acid.

Madeline Marous, Penn State Berks, Faculty Mentor: Lorena Tribe Graphical User Interface (GUI) Implementation for Agent-Based Microbial Radiobiology Model Sending human life to explore the Moon and Mars will be challenging. The Earth’s magnetic field naturally protects life from deep-space particle radiation that will pose health risks to humans in deep space. Current research is insufficient as it can only report cell damage in the form of bulk growth curves. AMMPER (Agent-based Model for Microbial Populations Exposed to Radiation) is an open-source, agentbased, computational model designed to simulate the effects of deep-space radiation on individual yeast cells (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) to facilitate interpretation of biological radiation experiments. Version 1.0 of the code ran in a console, limiting the program’s accessibility. Here we present a graphical user interface (GUI) for AMMPER, developed internally by converting input points and UI files, designing an application and logo, and expanding program packages. Additionally, optical assistance corresponding with simulation parameters has been integrated. Future work will include creating a bit installer and runtime environment for AMMPER to increase ease of download and use. Ultimately, the creation of the GUI has two main goals: to facilitate the integration of computational models into the work of researchers in microbial radiobiology, and to act as an interactive and visual resource for space biology education.

Vismaly Martinez, Alvernia University Co-presenters: Dana Badders, Faculty Mentor: Ondra Kielbasa DNA Extraction, PCR Analysis and Presumptive Test on Human Blood Bloodstain analysis in forensic investigation is an important method when profiling because an individual’s blood type is not affected by physical conditions, climate, living conditions, etc. After being extracted, the DNA is quantified using specific molecular biology techniques and put through gel electrophoresis. The presence

of genetic markers mutations relevant to forensic applications is then examined in amplified DNA. The findings open the door for more advanced techniques in genetic research and diagnostics by offering insightful information about the consistency and dependability of the DNA extraction and PCR amplification procedures. The main goal is to discover how fresh blood affects DNA quantity and concentration calculations differently than older blood stains, interpreting the bloodstains differently based on their age and freshness. How variations in time and storage circumstances may affect the DNA extraction process. It is expected blood stains stored under room temperature condition will not perform better than the other conditions. It is also expected that the blood stain that was stored under the cooler temperature condition will perform better than the other conditions. These results will help determine the optimal conditions to analyze blood samples and indicate conditions that may adversely affect such analysis.

Michael McClatchie, Alvernia University, Faculty Mentor: Jamie Becker Agricultural Pesticide use and the Soil Microbiome Modern agriculture is heavily reliant on chemical compounds to protect crops from various infestations. The widespread use of compounds such as pesticides and herbicides have contributed to the degradation of natural ecosystems. These compounds often have cascading unintentional effects on organisms, including the soil microbiome. The soil microbiome harbors diverse beneficial organisms that aid in plant growth and health. The goal of this project was to determine some of the impacts that pesticides have on soil microbiomes. We exposed diverse bacterial strains from the Alvernia Culture Collection to pesticides to assess how these chemicals influence their growth and function. Pseudomonas chlororaphis, Pseudomonas alcaligenes, Bacillus pumilus, and Variovorax paradoxus were all tested. Along with these strains, an unknown species of Streptomyces was used, as were three novel strains isolated from Alvernia University ’s Bog Turtle Creek Farm.

Michael Peirce III, Alvernia University, Faculty Mentor: Jamie Becker The Importance of Freshwater Quality with the use of Environmental DNA and Mayfly Sensors Freshwater quality has tremendous importance when it comes to sustaining a healthy environment. Plants and microbial primary producers have a direct connection with water quality. If water quality is poor, there will not be sufficient primary production to support heterotrophic organisms. The Leipsic watershed has been damaged over the years by pollution and contamination from dumping and littering. Freshwater mussels, an important indicator species for ecosystem health, have been impacted by the pollution in this watershed. The purpose of this project was to use environmental DNA (eDNA) to detect freshwater mussel species in the Leipsic watershed. The data collected was used to monitor the potential recovery of these organisms and acquire knowledge about the population. Along with eDNA, Mayfly sensors were maintained and used to remotely monitor freshwater quality over several weeks. Maintenance included scrubbing the submerged sensors every two weeks to clear any debris or microbial growth on the sensors. Mayfly sensors monitor multiple parameters in the water including turbidity, conductivity, and temperature. Mayfly sensors and biological indicator species like mussels are two ways in which one can assess freshwater ecosystem health. Increased information regarding freshwater quality will help guide decisions to improve watershed quality.

Gillian Pierce, Albright College, Faculty Mentor: Dr. Ian Rhile Determining Bond Dissociation Free Energies of Base-Appended Radical Cations Tethering a one-electron oxidant and base can generate a reagent capable of undergoing a mechanism known as coupled proton-electron transfer (CPET) in which a proton and electron move in one step but to different sites. Previous work indicates that pyridyl-appended radical cations 10-(pyrid-2-yl)-10H-phenothiazinium undergo CPET with phenols. This work aims to manipulate the bond dissociation free energy (BDFE) through substitution on the pyridine (fluoro- and methyl-substituted) and phenothiazinium (trifluoro- and methoxy-substituted) rings. Titrations allow for determination of pKa’s and consequent changes in the BDFE. The hypothesis is changing the group on the pyridine ring will change the pKa, not the reduction potential, and changing the group on the phenothiazinium ring will change the reduction potential, not the pKa. Hence, the data for these compounds will provide evidence these properties can be tuned independently.

Emma Remaley, Alvernia University, Faculty Mentor: Alicia Sprow Conserving the American Kestrel The American Kestrel is North America’s smallest falcon only weighing about three to six ounces. These falcons eat all kinds of agricultural pests with their most known positive impact on the farming community, especially in Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, since the 1970’s, North America has experienced a decrease of nearly 2 million American Kestrels for a variety of reasons. One of the most concerning declines to their population, to scientists, is the loss of habitat including nesting sites. With help from the Pennsylvania Game Commission at the Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area and members of the surrounding community, new nest boxes are on the horizon for the American Kestrel in Southeastern Pennsylvania.

Brenna Robinson, Penn State Berks, Faculty Mentor: James Karlinsey Modifying the Kolbe Decarboxylation for Low-Voltage Synthesis The Kolbe Decarboxylation is an organic electrosynthetic reaction which removes a carboxyl group from two carboxylic acids to form carbon dioxide gas and a dimer.

This research investigates possible modifications to the Kolbe Decarboxylation which could allow for the synthesis to occur at lower potentials than the theoretical minimum voltage of 2.4 V. The specific carboxylic acid studied was benzoic acid dissolved in methanol, and modifications to the synthesis included varying the temperature, the pH, the total length of electrolysis, the added supporting electrolytes, and the voltage at which the electrolysis was performed, with an additional comparison of the reaction yields with and without stirring. The product and byproduct yields were analyzed using infrared spectroscopy to compare the percent transmittance of the initial and final solutions. The results of this research could provide insight into improving the efficiency of low-energy Kolbe Decarboxylation syntheses.

Pedro Rodriguez III, Penn State Berks Co-presenters: Patrick O’ Donnell, Josh Miiller, Jacob English , Faculty Mentor: Rungun Nathan Hiker Stilts The project we constructed solves the issue of hikers crossing creeks and streams during long hikes. Our project goals are to make a pair of all terrain stilts that can assist hikers in crossing bodies of water under 6” deep while being compact and lightweight. The design has three parts for making it compact. It is made from a steel base to ensure a strong product. The foot of the stilt is an assembly of an outer layer

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of felt covered with a foam layer which attaches to the steel base. The foam provides deformation to accommodate uneven surfaces such as rocks and debris typically found on trails. The top and bottom plates of the foot section are connected via two columns and attached by cotter pins. The top plate attaches to the hiker foot using Velcro straps. The stilt is designed to support a total max weight of 300lb. The design assumes that the hiker will use the stilts along with hiking poles.

Owen Ruiz Perez, Albright College, Faculty Mentor: Amy Greene Effectiveness of various antibacterial treatments on surgical prosthetic implants This project will focus on the preventative actions taken to prevent biofilm formation on prosthetic materials used for surgeries. Biofilms are concerning in terms of their effects on human physiology. Biofilms are simply groups of microorganisms that are known for being resistant to antibacterial agents, and this can lead to chronic infections. During prosthetic surgery, the prosthetic implants used are treated through multiple methods, such as thermocycling and irradiation. The increased hydrophilicity of the used material can reduce adhesion and the formation of biofilms. By studying the different preventative treatments that are used on prosthetic implants, methods can be improved or created to further aid in the prevention of these measures.

Jada Savage, Penn State Berks Co-presenters: Alexandru Popescu, Joshua Kalyan, Marjaan Khan, Grace Kim, Faculty Mentor: Jill Felker Characterization of Cyanobacteria in Blue Marsh Lake Increasing beach closures at Blue Marsh Lake due to Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) have become a concern for the reservoir ecosystem. Anaerobic conditions and nutrient pollution runoff have led to consecutive instances of cyanobacteria, the microorganism that causes HABs, overgrowing, lowering dissolved oxygen levels and producing a potent toxin leading to beach closures during the summer months. The concern of these HABs is that they may contain cyanotoxins such as Microcystin (hepatotoxin) that pose a risk for both the ecosystem and public health.

This study investigated the wild-type cyanobacteria population during the summer of 2023. Water samples were collected from the lake swimming area. Samples were examined microscopically, and their growth curves were analyzed. The growth curve was conducted by serially diluting the cyanobacteria then measuring their optical density over a two-week period. Growth curve analysis gives insight into the type of cyanobacteria that was present during the summer 2023 season. Microscopic investigation suggests that Anabaena and Microcystis are prevalent in Blue Marsh Lake. Determining the types of cyanobacteria present in the Blue Marsh Lake may provide insight into best practices for controlling growth and minimizing their harmful impact on the local ecosystem.

Victoria Schiding, Albright College, Faculty Mentor: Bethanne Bruninga-Socolar The Spread of Deer Abundance in Antietam Lake Park The purpose of the project is to examine the abundance of deer in different locations of Antietam Lake Park. Our goal with this research is to determine if there are factors in the environment that deter deer, in hopes that our results can be implemented in the parks wildlife management plan. Antietam Lake Park is located in Berks County PA. The lake is surrounded by 665 acres of land which has trails, orchards, and forest.

Due to deer no longer having natural predators in the area, overpopulation of deer is a common problem in Pennsylvania. High deer abundance in the eastern United States

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negatively affects deciduous forests, with studies reporting up to 50% reduction in plant growth during the growing season. For this reason, there has been a call to limit and manage deer herd size in Pennsylvania. Fencing is often used to exclude deer from areas of conservation concern. We used camera traps to collect data in two different locations in the park, the open orchard and fenced portion of the orchard.

We focused on photos collected between September 7th, 2022, and October 18th.

We observed deer, dogs, foxes, groundhogs, and squirrels. We conducted two t-tests to compare deer observations and non-deer observations in the open orchard vs. the orchard near the fenced deer enclosure. The results from the t-test using the deer populations from both habitats showed that the orchard near the fenced deer enclosure had a greater concentration of deer and other mammals with a one-tailed p-value < 0.0001. The t-test comparing mammal populations from both sites had a p-value of 0.002. Both results show that overall animal abundance was higher in the orchard near the fenced deer enclosure. The location of the two orchard sites within the greater landscape of Antietam Lake Park suggests that the difference we observed in the abundance of mammals near the fenced enclosure versus in the open orchard was due to local differences in habitat and human use.

Diana Stoltzfus, Penn State Berks, Faculty Mentor: Praveen Veerabhadrappa Differences in College Student’s Systolic Blood Pressure During Stationary Cycling with and Without Virtual Reality Most college students do not meet national physical activity guidelines. Novel technology such as virtual reality (VR) may be used to promote physical activity among sedentary students. Purpose: To investigate potential differences in college students’ heart rate (HR), blood-pressure (BP) and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) during stationary cycling with and without VR. Methods: Nineteen college-students, 14F/5M (18-30years) were recruited. Participants separately & randomly completed 2 separate 20-minute cycling-sessions (with and without VR). The VZFit Ring Racer application was used for the VR session. HR, BP, and RPE were assessed before and immediately after each session and at 5-min intervals during each session. Results: Non-VR vs. VR (Mean ± SD) systolic BP at 5-min (138 ±12 vs. 141±14mmHg, p=0.129), 10-min (147±9 vs.

150±10mmHg, p=0.342), 15-min (149±9 vs.152±9mmHg, p=0.516) and immediately after (137±13 vs. 141±14 mmHg, p=0.106) were measured. Conclusion: Participants had slightly higher systolic-BP during cycling with VR. Preliminary results suggest that physiological changes were comparable with/without VR and thus VR may be a viable tool to promote physical activity among otherwise sedentary populations.

Morgan Stuhltrager, Albright College Faculty Mentor: Andrew Samuelsen Genomic Authentication of Plasmid Gene Sequences for Inducible Bacterial Death This project aims to verify plasmid gene sequences that are pivotal for constructing systems to facilitate inducible bacterial death. The primary objective involves performing plasmid isolations, followed by sequencing through a third-party vendor, and subsequent comparison of obtained sequences with a published database.

Additionally, the isolated plasmids will serve as building blocks for the construction of a final plasmid that is essential for inducing bacterial death. Methodologically, the project will commence with small-scale plasmid isolations and bacterial strain preservation, transitioning into verification of plasmid sequencing. Utilizing the Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) will enable comparison of obtained sequences with established database sequences. Upon completion of the gene sequencing validation, an application, SnapGene, will be utilized to construct an online version of the final plasmid that will be utilized for inducible bacterial death. The plasmid

will either be built or synthesized. This research contributes to biochemistry as it ensures gene sequencing accuracy, mitigating unintended effects, and enhancing experimental reliability. Potential applications extend to biotechnology, microbiology, and antibiotic resistance research, promising more efficient and reproducible results, with implications for cost-effective agricultural practices.

Alexyia Taylor, Albright College Co-presenters: Kyle Nuñez, Faculty Mentor: Laura McBride Flame Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy and Heavy Metals in Water Flame atomic absorption spectroscopy is a powerful technique for determining elemental concentrations, particularly for toxic metals like lead and copper in water samples. In this experiment, samples were collected using metal free tubes and nitric acid as our stabilizer within the samples and the control. These samples came from various sources including the Schuylkill River, household sinks, a water cooler, and Albright watering fountains, employing techniques to prevent contamination. Lead and Copper standards were prepared, and samples were processed and analyzed using the PinAAcle 500 apparatus. Results indicated elevated lead concentrations exceeding EPA standards in household samples, while lake samples also showed elevated levels. Despite high concentrations, samples remained colorless, potentially indicating instrumental limitations. The copper samples collected were all within the EPA’s standards at very low levels, one sample even falling below the standard curve.

Future experiments should incorporate advanced instruments and explore broader elemental analyses.

Rachidatou Tinde, Alvernia University, Faculty Mentor: Stephen Campion Exploring the Functional Implications of Protein-Protein Interactions in TIL Domains : A computational Approach The conserved TIL (trypsin inhibitor-like) protein domain, characterized by its cysteinerich makeup, is found in many small serine proteinase inhibitors. Understanding the biological importance of TIL domains within proteins requires studying their influence on overall protein function and the consequences of mutations within them.

Notably, proteins having tetratricopeptide repeat (TPR) domains, particularly those making up TIL domains, have critical roles in mediating protein-protein interactions that are essential for a variety of biological processes. TIL domains within cd19941 were found using resources like the National Center for Biotechnology Information, providing insights into their interactions, structures, and activities, as well as their possible significance in illnesses. This knowledge could potentially add greatly to the whole extensiveness of medication development and treatment options. Analyzing and aligning TIL domain sequences helps understand binding patterns and functional implications for these domains. In-depth analysis of amino acid sequences contributes to finding important motifs that influence interactions between the TIL domain and its binding partners. The goal of this research is to use computational methods to explore the structural dynamics and functional implications of the TIL domain protein network of interactions. Using computational techniques, I want to gain insight on the intricate interplay of TIL domains in protein-protein interactions, improving the understanding of their functional relevance.

Jason Wehr, Penn State Berks Co-presenters: Logan Henne, Saul Sanchez, Faculty Mentor: James Karlinsey The Analysis of Friedel-Crafts Reaction Products The purpose of this project is to analyze different organic compounds prepared by Friedel-Crafts alkylation and acylation reactions. Both are examples of an electrophilic aromatic substitution reaction where a carbocation is attacked by a pi bond from an aromatic ring. In the alkylation reaction, one of the aromatic protons is replaced by an alkyl group, while an acyl group replaces the aromatic proton in the acylation reaction.

Using a variety of starting materials, Friedel-Crafts reaction products will be isolated using a combination of separation methods, including thin-layer, liquid, and gas chromatography, and analyzed using melting point data and spectroscopic methods.

Hailey Zavecz, Penn State Berks Co-presenters: Vinh Lu, Ben Sedlmyer, Deika Ferron, Logan Henne, Sophia Batista, Faculty Mentor: Jill Felker Microplastics in Blue Marsh Lake A prevalent anthropogenic stressor affecting water sources is plastic pollution.

Plastic pollution has led to the rise of microplastics in streams, lakes, rivers, and oceans all around the world. Microplastics come from consumer products, such as clothing, cosmetics, and plastic bottles. Microplastics have been shown to cause habitat destruction, endanger aquatic life, and negatively impact human health.

Current research suggests microplastics damage human gastrointestinal tracts. The Blue Marsh Watershed is a tributary to the Schuylkill River, which eventually enters the Delaware River Watershed. The Delaware River Watershed serves as drinking water supply for approximately 2 million people in the Philadelphia region. This study classified and quantified the presence of microplastics in the watershed and isolated bacteria inhabiting microplastic samples. Water samples were collected within the Blue Marsh Lake using a modified version of the NOAA microplastic collection protocol. Samples for microplastic classification and quantification were dried at room temperature. To date, nearly 900 microplastic samples have been visually analyzed and will undergo FT-IR analysis to further characterize chemical polymers in our samples. Samples for bacteria classification were implanted into selective agar plates. Antibiotic profiling and DNA extraction for bacterial identification are currently underway.

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Theater Session 2 ______________________ 11:15 AM – 12:45 PM, Klein Hall Kimberly Doyle, Reading Area Community College Co-presenters: Anthonee McDermott-Nunez, Faculty Mentor: Ellen “Dash” Walter Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Oops!

I chose to direct A Visit During Covid by Leon Kaye which has two characters and takes place in a living room apartment. I found this piece compelling and contemporary because our society has strong opinions on that time frame in our history. Many lives were changed during the pandemic and shut-down, and as we heal from the wounds of our past sometimes humor can help us on the path to recovery. We can all relate to the time period during the Covid shut down when many of us experienced that “lockdown let-down” in some way. This piece has a lighthearted approach of exploring the what-if’s of life and the crossroads in our lives that are sometimes uncomfortable due to our poor decisions. As a director, I am approaching this with focusing on the levels of the performers, the blocking to enhance the picturization and the use of props and silent pauses to fine-tune and craft the movement and rhythm of the performance.

Noel La Borde Santana, Reading Area Community College Faculty Mentor: Ellen “Dash” Walter The Disease of Selfishness This monologue is from the All American TV series created by April Blair. Spencer James is a high school football player, and he plays football for Beverly Hills High but lives in a poor black neighborhood called Crenshaw. His father left his family when he was very young and recently came back into the family. After staying with them for a few weeks he leaves because he has cancer and will die. This monologue has a lot of emotions and anger that makes the actor get deep into the scene, performing in a way as if it is or was their own personal situation. I chose it because I loved the intensity and the power of the lines and because I’m a big fan of the series. From the very first lines, the public can notice the emotions and the selfishness of Spencer’s father taking place, the way he took his own decisions without thought or even telling his family.

Justin Medina, Reading Area Community College, Faculty Mentor: Ellen “Dash” Walter Forbidden Love The book Brokeback Mountain written by Annie Proulx, is a beautiful yet brutal love story of two men trying to keep their love and past a secret. This story has many compelling and well-crafted lines of dialogue, so much so that it was later made into a movie of the same name. This movie proved controversial to some audience members, but to many people of the LGBT community, the film was praised for its realistic depiction of a frowned upon love and lifestyle in 1960’s America. Being a man associated with the LGBT community, I chose to do a monologue from this movie. The monologue takes place during the “I wish I knew how to quit you” scene where Jack and Ennis are having a difficult conversation about the challenging parallels of their situation-ship. This scene is immensely powerful and emotionally driven, which I will approach using a variety of acting techniques including punctuating actor’s beats and exploring motivated movement.

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Isabella Morgalo, Reading Area Community College Co-presenters: Justin Medina, Finn Jackson, Faculty Mentor: Ellen “Dash” Walter Just Us The Levee by Taylor Mac is a heavy and emotional play about a woman who comes home one day after drinking to reveal to her husband that she is pregnant. Although most would be excited by this news, this causes nothing but panic and stress for our lead as she has a history of miscarriages. I chose this piece because as a director, I want to explore working with deeper topics that are able to move audiences. I’m excited to experiment with the challenge of working with more sensitive topics and directing an emotional and moving play.

Isabella Morgalo, Reading Area Community College Co-presenters: multiple on-screen actors, Faculty Mentor: Ellen “Dash” Walter 5 Nights at RACC In spoofing the video game and film, Five Nights at Freddy’s, the RACC Film Studies class shot a noir-inspired mystery in our library. The aisles of books and films provided the perfect setting for one security guard’s nightmares! The film features Scooby-doo-inspired chase scenes, mysterious librarian demises, elevator moments, and a surprising cameo by our RACC mascot, the Raven! (Insert scary music here!)

Jonathan Nava-Pensado, Reading Area Community College Co-presenters: Finn Jackson, Timothy Cescon, Faculty Mentor: Ellen “Dash” Walter Between Us People Rosie in the Shadow of Melrose by Craig Fols is a quiet exploration of sexuality through a conversation between a boy and a girl at a train station. As a director, I wanted to explore the ability to tell deeper stories through subtext. What appealed to me about this story was that actors would have the opportunity to portray deep emotion with restrained dialogue. The limited location will provide an opportunity to focus on creating deeper subtext by using shadows to develop character and mood.

The story will also rely heavily on the physicality of the actors, with movements, facial expressions, and body language conveying the emotions of the characters. This will create a more immersive experience for the audience. Lastly, as a director, the technical aspect I want to showcase the most is how focus can elevate the intimacy of a scene between two people.

Jonathan Nava-Pensado, Reading Area Community College Co-presenters: multiple on-screen actors , Faculty Mentor: Ellen “Dash” Walter “11:59” Directed by Jonathan Pensado, 11:59, is a short film made for a class project. The film tells the story of a student who has to submit their capstone project and waits until the last day to be able to do it. This was the first short film directed by Pensado that utilized a crew and actors. The film was predominately an exercise of teamwork and technical aspects. Some of the techniques that had to be encompassed in the short film were the use of continuity whether it was conversation or movement. There are homages to previous short films made in the same class and other films such as Apocalypse Now which was studied during this very class.

Annalis Ortega, Reading Area Community College Co-presenters: Anthonee McDermott-Nunez, Maliya Bachman, Faculty Mentor: Ellen “Dash” Walter Blindfolded Date I have chosen to direct a scene from Romantic Encounter by Michael Anna Fambro.

As a director, I have picked this play because I love the way it combines romance and comedy - in my opinion the best mix. I love how the humor in the text gives me a lot I can play with, especially because the characters are blindfolded. This allows me to use props and body language to build excitement in the scene. I love the comic timing required by both the characters along with the tension and chemistry between the two.

Jaia Rahn, Reading Area Community College Co-presenters: Maggie Klein, Angelina Rabayda, Justin Medina, Faculty Mentor: Ellen “Dash” Walter Let’s Make a Baby, Mike Men in Heat by Dana Yeaton through the student director’s lens of Jaia Rahn describes the conversation between Murray and Mike as Murray asks Mike to have a baby with him, so the child will be the manliest man in history. I really wanted to direct this piece because of the comedy in the small things that make it truly amazing. As a director, I strive to focus on the little things that layer to make a powerful message come to light for the audience. This short play lends itself to using dramatic pauses, a technique that we discussed in class, both to build tension and comedy. I just have such a love for the play and all of the characters, and I really think this will shine.

Timothy Spatz, Reading Area Community College Faculty Mentor: Ellen “Dash” Walter If Dick Van Dyke Ran the Country Stanley Kubrick’s film, Dr. Strangelove, is considered a dark comedy, but one particular monologue stands out: the U.S. President’s infamous phone call to the Russian President from the War Room. The key to this monologue is comic timing, so I chose the monologue from Dr. Strangelove in order to explore how actor’s beats, dynamics, and textual rhythms can affect the humor of each moment. I chose to explore the portrayal of the President as if he were played by comedian Dick Van Dyke who was an iconic master of comic timing.

Paper Session 2 ______________________ 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM BUSINESS - SCIENCE HALL 255 Fay Berig, Penn State Berks, Faculty Mentor: Sadan Kulturel Decoding Challenges in Organizing Innovation Competitions and Programs: A Thematic Analysis of Interviews with Organizers Educational initiatives, particularly innovation competitions and programs (ICPs), play a pivotal role in fostering entrepreneurial development among student participants. This impact is particularly notable for students focusing on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). To attract and support student innovators, higher education institutions and foundations have diversified their cocurricular offerings. These include design challenges, hackathons, start-up incubator competitions, boot camps, customer discovery labs, and accelerator programs.

Hence, student ICPs are increasingly instrumental in shaping the education of the next generation of innovators and critical thinkers. Furthermore, organizers have a crucial role in ensuring the success and feasibility of innovation and pitch competitions. The successful implementation of such programs often entails myriad challenges and setbacks that organizers must overcome to benefit their participants. This paper delves into the challenges organizers face while running student ICPs - non-credit, co-curricular, team-based initiatives where students collaborate to address openended problems. Through a literature review and analysis of organizer interviews, the study explores current trends, identifies common challenges and setbacks, and provides a concise overview of best practices for organizers to ensure the success of innovation competitions and programs. The primary objective is to understand the obstacles organizers encounter when establishing and executing their ICPs. Mahika Chatterjee, Penn State Berks, Faculty Mentor: Sadan Kulturel-Konak Building an Entrepreneurial Mindset in Undergraduate Studies Fostering innovation and creative thinking is crucial in higher education. It allows students to develop new solutions to modern-day problems across different fields of study. This paper explores entrepreneurial approaches and activities that educators in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), business, and beyond can implement in higher education to foster innovation in their teaching. In today’s evolving economy and workforce, it is crucial to have an entrepreneurial mindset, however, many students lack opportunities and experiences in building such mindsets. After compiling an extensive review of literature, case studies, and practical experiences, this paper identifies several tools and strategies to foster innovation and cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset in higher education.

Matthew Coleman, Kutztown University, Faculty Mentor: Mostafa Maksy Can It Keep Growing? A Historical & Prospective Analysis of the Home Depot, Inc The Home Depot, Inc. operates as a home improvement retailer. It sells various building materials, home improvement products, lawn and garden products, and décor products, as well as facilities maintenance, repair, and operations products.

The company also offers installation services for flooring, water heaters, bath, garage doors, cabinets, cabinet makeovers, countertops, sheds, furnaces and central air systems, and windows. In addition, it provides tool and equipment rental services.

The Home Depot, Inc. was incorporated in 1978 and is based in Atlanta, Georgia. Over the last four years, the company’s stock price increased by an average of 20% per year. The objective of my research is to determine whether Home Depot can continue to grow and be an excellent, stable long-term investment. I plan to analyze the company’s operating performance, cash flow, and financial position. In conducting this research project, I will use various financial statement analysis tools including trend analysis, ratio analysis, and predictive analysis. I will employ models to predict whether the company will go bankrupt in the next three years, whether it will be taken over in the next year or two, and whether its bond rating will change in the next year.

FASHION - SCIENCE HALL 251 Isabella Boehm, Albright College, Faculty Mentor: Elizabeth Polley What was worn to a Victorian ball The history of balls in the 1800’s is very interesting. This paper goes over what would have been expected from a woman attending a ball in both behavior and dress. It will also go into detail on how a woman’s age influenced the type of dress a woman would have worn.

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Emily Johnson, Albright College, Faculty Mentor: MeeAe Oh-Ranck Uncovering the Veil: Investigating Iranian Protests and Fashion During Civil Unrest In September 2022, Jina “Mahsa” Amini died in custody after being punished for wearing her hijab “improperly” by the morality police. Her death sparked a series of women-led protests, which had a significant global impact. Amini’s name symbolizes societal transformation, challenging Iran’s strict religious and political norms. Using this event as inspiration, this project analyzes various texts on women’s rights history and the opposing views of the hijab. The research shows that the protesters’ anti-authoritarian, anti-martial, and do-it-yourself ethos aligned with the rebellious spirit of 1970s punk culture and other groups that have fought against oppressive social institutions. The culmination of this research came with the development of a handmade garment that represents women’s ongoing and fatal struggle while advocating for their rights. The design illustrates how oppression can create a barrier, like a veil, that prevents women from being viewed as equals to their male counterparts.

Alexis Mahon, Albright College, Faculty Mentor: Elizabeth Quinn Behind the Lens: The Art of Fashion Creative Direction Albright College fashion design majors working on their capstone projects are developing 3-look collections to earn the opportunity to design garments that show off their creativity and skill for New York Fashion Week. Unfortunately, perfect technique and unique perspective is not enough to compete with the talent pool of other design students. To make their portfolios shine above the rest, my skillset enables me to work behind the scenes with each of these designers to create a comprehensive editorial visual presentation of their work. These editorials will stand as an exposure piece that the student designers and I can submit to potential employers, marketers, and magazines. This PowerPoint presentation will showcase the editorial photoshoot process I developed that will bring their designs to life in ways that best fit the vision of their work. My conclusory presentation will include the process I used in researching, networking, and producing their respective projects.

Tiaja Money, Albright College, Faculty Mentor: Elizabeth Quinn Artificial Intelligence Exploration: Creating Digital Crochet Designs This project centers around work with artificial intelligence programs being used to create a digitized version of a crochet collection. Throughout this process, ChatGPT was used to create accurate crochet patterns for 5”x5” swatches, and The New Black, an AI garment design generator, was used to finalize the collection of garments. Using specific U.S. crochet terms, this research resulted in the creation of a collection of 7 looks, 5 patterns from ChatGPT, and swatches using those patterns. This work is intended as a first step towards influencing future research on helping to formulate a working crochet machine.

HUMANITIES 3 - SCIENCE HALL 351 Camila DePena, Albright College, Faculty Mentor: Simone Banks The Importance of Honest Representation in Karla Cornejo Villavicencio’s The Undocumented Americans In Karla Cornejo Villavicencio’s The Undocumented Americans she broaches the topic of immigration by presenting the reader with the ugly, the messy, and the reality. In my paper, I argue the importance of this approach and her ability to disregard what people want for what they need. To reduce a person’s story and make it easier to stomach is exactly what takes away their humanity. It makes it so that every person

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who is associated with immigration is put under an umbrella and reduced to a few words. Her interviews, her storytelling, and her presentation of these people is the first time I saw myself in an immigration story, despite consuming so many. It was the first time I could read a line on every page and identify myself, and that is the problem I’m arguing. Everyone wants a straightforward way out, but people are not so easy.

So, to be able to talk about immigration, the story must be told with no details spared.

Dynasty Roque, Albright College, Faculty Mentor: Elizabeth Polley Exploring Strategies and Software for Digital Promptbook Creation Abstract Our ACRE (Albright Creative Research Experience) project focused on investigating alternatives to paper promptbooks. These included software applications specifically created for promptbook creation such as StageWrite and those that can be used for this purpose such as Goodnotes, Publisher, Word, and Google Docs. Interviews were conducted with industry professionals and educators about preferred practices for promptbook creation and their reasoning. All digital solutions were pilot tested using an existing paper promptbook and evaluated according to ease of use, available tools, cost, and efficiency. A final analysis of the best option for creating digital promptbooks was drafted and will be presented to the department faculty.

Matthew Sexton, Albright College, Faculty Mentor: Guillaume de Syon Fire In The Sky – The Space Age, Pop Culture, and the Filkmusic they Created With the enthusiasm accompanying the birth of space travel in the 1960s, popular culture flourished with tales of the stars. Famous franchises piqued the interest of youth everywhere and for creative minds, transformed into something more, notably in the realm of music. Aside from “space age” or “new age” melodies, another body of work,“filkmusic,” emerged around this time. Many have tried to define filkmusic’s origins down to a single date or song, but the common understanding of “filk” is folk music with astral spin. Filkmusic reflects the culmination of that space age interest, a chronicle of songs that portray the aspiration, admiration, loss, and love of the space age and the anticipation of what is yet to come. In this presentation, I will convey briefly the history of how Filkmusic came to be.

MUSIC PANEL - STUDENT CENTER, SOUTH LOUNGE Fabion Ruffin, Albright College Co-presenters: Nyjeria Farley, Taliah Erwin, Stacey Darcelin, Elizabeth Osura, Ronald Thomas, Faculty Mentor: Mike D’Errico Strength in Numbers: How Young Artists Navigate the Rap Industry “Record company people are shady.” This modest claim from Q-Tip reflects the complex dynamics of race and class in the history of rap music, especially from the perspective of young artists of color looking to navigate the early stages of their careers. While the American music industry was built in parallel with the racist ideologies of reconstruction-era America, rap music reflects the legacy of this troubled history. Common stereotypes of blackness are often perpetuated by record label executives and reinforced by hip-hop’s listener base through stereotype threat, and young artists feel pressure to conform to these stereotypes to advance their careers. In the age of TikTok and post-Ferguson America, how do young rappers navigate the constantly changing racial, class, and political structures of the music industry? In this presentation, student members of the Albright Collective reflect on how emerging artists navigate the complex dynamics of the rap industry. Using insights from interviews and collaborative creative work with student artists, Dr. D’Errico—Director of the Rap Collective—argues that building character archetypes

through storytelling, marketing, and branding provides a platform for young rappers to challenge problematic racial stereotypes that have plagued the industry for years. The proposed presentation format for this conference will start with a student panel hosted

by Dr. Mike D’Errico—Director of the Rap Collective—followed by a performance of student work and sharing of recorded music by members of the group.

disparities in systemic resources compared to their foster siblings. All members noted the life-long effect that fostering has on individuals, from vocational success to lasting emotional advantages. This study implicates the importance of specialized support and resources for all individuals in foster families in order to better understand reunification and retention rates in the foster care system.

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Nicole Maria Paredes, Penn State Berks, Faculty Mentor: Catherine Mello Selecting What Matters: A Study on Value Given to Information Important to Us Selective forgetting and remembering of information refers to the filters through which we decide which information we want to retain for immediate or future use, and which information we choose to discard because it is deemed not useful at the moment or in any foreseeable situation. The current study aimed to gain a deeper understanding of the value (i.e., importance,relevance, usefulness) assigned to information evolves as we acquire more knowledge about life and ourselves. As we accumulate knowledge, we become better at discerning what should and should not be actively remembered. In this study, participants were asked to complete a set of tasks designed to test both their memory and their value-based information selection process. It was hypothesized that, compared to younger adults, middleaged adults would have developed a more efficient information selection process that facilitates the recollection of high-value information and the forgetting of lowvalue information. Additionally, the study considered how technology—specifically, the offloading of information to devices like phones— is part of these strategies to optimize remembering and forgetting.

Valerie Davidheiser, Kutztown University, Faculty Mentor: William Donner Hex Signs: The Most Recognizable Pennsylvania German Folk Art The Pennsylvania Germans, or more commonly Pennsylvania Dutch, are descendants of early German immigrants from the Rhineland and Palatinate regions of central Europe. Probably the most recognizable Pennsylvania German symbol at present, the hex sign, known in the Pennsylvania German language as schtanne or stars, is an art form that has been passed down throughout generations. Folk art is quite important to their culture, and is something they take great pride in. Painted and hung on their barns are colorful, circular designs, featuring illustrations such as tulips and stars. When analyzing the history and meaning behind the hex sign, various theories and beliefs come to light. Hex signs represent the Pennsylvania German’s culture, and hex sign artists have worked to pave the way for future generations to be able to connect with their ancestors. This research is important as it examines the prevalence of the hex sign in both the past and the present, through various books, newspaper articles, and interviews with current hex sign artists. Folk art, like the hex sign, whether magical or not, allow for the Pennsylvania German culture to continue to be celebrated.

Rebekah March, Kutztown University, Faculty Mentor: Jason Lanter Coming Home: Navigating reentry after studying abroad When considering the psychological effects that study abroad students experience, culture shock takes the spotlight while reverse culture shock is rarely a topic of discussion. Reverse culture shock occurs upon one’s reentry back to their home country after spending an extended time abroad. Many students need support during this transition and must know that reverse culture shock will occur in order to better navigate its hardships. The current study examines the effects of reverse culture shock on a focus group of former study abroad students who completed one semester or more abroad. Through quantitative and qualitative questions, information has been gathered through a survey to better determine student need for support upon reentry to their country and home university. Results and feedback will be communicated with Kutztown University’s Office of International Education and Global Engagement to aid in developing a reentry support program and materials for study abroad students.

Emily Oswald, Reading Area Community College, Faculty Mentor: Danelle Bower Foster and Biological Children’s Dynamics The foster care system creates unique relationships in families, yet an often forgotten aspect is the biological children of foster parents. The objective of this qualitative research study was to gain knowledge surrounding the relationships of biological and foster children within foster families, and what the perceptions of these interactions are to each person. Data was gathered from social media posts and blogs from foster children and their biological siblings. This content was then analyzed and coded for themes including grief, abandonment, and joy. Findings from foster parents and their foster children involved equity between children and the perception of a positive experience. Biological children noted the importance of fostering, yet perceived

Poster Session 3 ______________________ 1:15 PM – 2:15 PM INTERDISCIPLINARY- STUDENT CENTER, MAIN LOUNGE Madeline Albright, Albright College, Faculty Mentor: Soma Ghosh The Challenges and Opportunities of Building a Clean Energy Economy through Tax Credits: An Analysis of the Inflation Reduction Act The passing of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) on August 16, 2022, invested $369 billion to further the development of a more sustainable economy in the United States.

Provisions of the IRA established tax credits to incentivize and promote environmentally friendly technologies among taxpayers, including electric vehicles and solar panels; replacing technologies that burn fossil fuels and create negative externalities.

The efficiency of these credits remains undetermined due to limited research. By conducting a meta-analysis of the United States’ prior history of environmental tax credits and their distributional consequences, the goal is to predict the success of the environmental tax credits introduced in the IRA. This study analyzes the complexity and inaccessibility of the environmental tax credits in the IRA, disparities in the tax credit’s benefit distribution, and the cost-effectiveness of the incentives to establish a clean and sustainable economy.

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Marisol Alonso-Hernandez, Alvernia University Co-presenters: Naftali Sarara, Faculty Mentor: Salem Elsaiah Design of A Sustainable Robot Car with Arms for Indoor Applications The main objective of this ongoing project is to design an autonomous robotic car with an arm for indoor applications in the School of Engineering at Alvernia University . The sustainable autonomous robot with an arm (SARA-01) will be utilized in the engineering building to pick up and transport tools inside engineering labs. This version of SARA-01 only uses a 4WD flat chassis and is programmed via Arduino Mega. On the other hand, the specifications of the robot arm depend on numerous factors, including the specifications of the chassis and wheels, the voltage source, storage, and driving motors. In this context, SARA-01 is a sustainable robot car, so we aim to use solar panels to power the complete system. Consequently, a backup battery and a charger controller are now being developed for this project. In this project, an H-bridge converter circuit triggers and controls the H-bridge converter. Furthermore, a method to estimate the battery size is implemented, and an over-voltage scheme has also been developed for protection purposes. This project has two components: simulation and hardware implementation. Selected results from both simulation and realization are being reported and will be presented at the conference.

Allison Ammarell, Penn State Berks, Faculty Mentor: Dale Litwhiler Converting Door Motion into Battery Power This study investigates the relationship between motion and energy by examining the mechanism of converting the act of opening a door into a means of charging a battery.

Initially, the research focused on identifying methods to efficiently transfer the kinetic energy generated from opening a door into a viable method for trickle-charging a battery.

It was determined that a feasible approach involved utilizing the door’s motion to raise and lower a weight, thus mechanically converting vertical motion into horizontal motion to harness energy. Calculations were conducted to determine the necessary weight to be lifted in order to reasonably charge an existing battery. The project’s success hinges on both thorough research and the development of a mechanism capable of converting the vertical motion from the door hinge into horizontal motion for lifting the weight, thereby enabling energy conversion. Moving forward, the project aims to further investigate how controlled descent of the weight can facilitate trickle-charging of a battery, thus extending its scope and potential applications.

Anne Balter, Alvernia University Co-presenters: Evan Williams, Gabrielle Tamburro, Regina Rossi, Faculty Mentor: Catherine Emenheiser Comparison of Community Reintegration Outcomes Post Burn Injury Community reintegration post burn injury is a challenging experience across the lifespan. The purpose of this research was to determine the differences in community reintegration outcomes between the pediatric and older adult populations post burn injury. Burn-related treatment previously focused on survival but is shifting to an emphasis on engagement in the community. Common challenges to community reintegration include social supports, social barriers, work, and mental health which guided the literature review. This research is essential to help clinicians, patients, and caregivers to understand common challenges patients experience in order to promote their successful participation in meaningful activities.

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Lillian Carney, Albright College, Faculty Mentor: Justin Couchman Fostering Growth Mindset in Children This experiment examined the effects of growth mindset on children’s prosocial behaviors. Children aged 5-6 years were tested in their kindergarten classroom, where they were placed into one of two conditions. In the first, they watched a puppet attached to strings who could not control their behavior. They were shown how the actions of the puppet were deterministic. In the second condition, they were shown a free-moving puppet who had control over their movements and behaviors. They were shown how the puppet moved in accordance with its free will. Those in the free will condition reported higher levels of growth mindset ideology than those in the deterministic condition, t(32) = 2.36, p < .05. Results also showed a trend towards those in the free will condition having higher theory of intelligence scores and GRIT scores. This suggests that educational practices ought to focus on free will and personal agency when promoting growth mindset, changeability of intelligence, and resilience.

Taisha Charles, Albright College, Faculty Mentor: Julia Heberle An examination of emerging adults: Factors impacting intergenerational transmission of corporal punishment in relation to language, parenting, attitudes, and personality Most research on corporal punishment (CP) focuses on current parents’ attitudes and experiences with CP. Our research differs as it examines adults before parenthood. We collected data from 103 participants, all between the ages of 18-24, who have not yet had children. We examine the interpretation of the words spanking vs hitting, to see if people identify a difference in the meaning and appropriateness of their application.

Secondly, we ask about the relationship between participants’ own CP history, their attitudes towards and endorsement of CP, and assess the degree to which other parenting, personality, and developmental variables impact this relationship.

Nicholas Dumont, Alvernia University Co-presenters: Michael Felcher, James Maier, Faculty Mentor: Amy Thomas Exploring Nonpharmaceutical Interventions for Joint Pain and Swelling The objective of this investigation was to explore nonpharmaceutical, or nonmedicinal, interventions to manage joint pain and swelling for individuals over 50.

This investigation was a critical appraisal of existing literature, published within the last 10 years. In total 15 articles were were selected as representing best evidence on the topic. Joint pain and swelling is a common symptom amongst older adults and is commonly treated through the use of pharmaceuticals. This can have a negative effect on overall health through potential side-effects. While medications work for some, it is important for therapists to explore ways to treat joint pain/swelling through non-pharmaceutical means; identifying clients’ interests to facilitate maximum engagement in meaningful activities. The investigation focused on three separate themes: aquatic exercise, tai chi/yoga, and outdoor aerobics. These interventions were shown to decrease pain levels and to increase overall body fitness, improving quality of life in clients. Findings suggest these interventions may offer an effective non-pharmaceutical approach to treatment of joint pain and swelling.

Lacey Franklin-Foreman, Albright College, Faculty Mentor: Elizabeth Quinn Unleashed Unleashed is a student-designed hybrid magazine and catalog changing how fashion is viewed on paper. The hybrid fashion editorial and catalog differs from many bigname magazines, such as Vogue, Harper Bazaar, and Vanity, because the publication allows readers and consumers to grasp concepts that are not welcome. For instance, Unleashed offers trendy designs that many plus-size young and older women can appreciate. Black culture is heavily appreciated. Lastly, there is a new look for accessorizing through sustainability. This project will showcase how thinking outside the standards of a fashion magazine would be an inclusive celebration of all diverse and unique styles.

Yasmin Hidalgo, Alvernia University Co-presenters: Chaslin Hoover, Allison McDennis, Erin Mooney, Faculty Mentor: Catherine Emenheiser Virtual Reality in Post-Stroke Rehabilitation Virtual reality is an up-and-coming field of technology that is in its infancy of research.

Promising results have been demonstrated thus far, showing how virtual reality exhibits positive outcomes for individuals who have experienced a stroke. In this poster presentation, these positive effects and interventions will be discussed in four occupation areas. Occupational therapy is a profession that prides itself on being current with the best research, so utilizing virtual reality in treatment is a natural next step for those who would benefit from it.

Daniel George, Penn State Berks Co-presenters: Jake Danko, Bogdan Nazaryan, Faculty Mentor: Rungun Nathan Automation of Battery Cover Flame Treatment Battery manufacturers flame treat the covers of their batteries during production to aid the bonding of epoxy in sealing openings around the battery posts to prevent leaking.

Current treatment methods involve a blowtorch operator manually applying the flame treatment to each post. These methods can result in inconsistencies and inadequate treatment of the battery post, which results in poor epoxy bonding, battery leakage, and reduced battery performance. A mechanism that secures the battery cover and provides a consistent flame application to the cover can complete this treatment with a reduced probability of defects. For such a mechanism to treat battery covers in a consistent and effective manner, it must be adjustable to accommodate various cover sizes and configurations.

Alex Hitchens, Reading Area Community College, Faculty Mentor: Jodi Greene Eye Of The Beholder This photography presentation will include photos from December of last year, and the start of this year leading into February. These photos were taken with a Canon Rebel E0S T3.

Alison Germadnig, Alvernia University Co-presenters: Janine Finny, Madalyn Yorke, Victoria Mak, Faculty Mentor: Amy Thomas Occupational Therapy’s Role in Educating and Supporting Parents of Children with Autism The aim of the investigation was to explore the role of occupational therapy in supporting parents of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) throughout the diagnostic and treatment process. Twenty articles, published between 2016 and 2023, were selected and critically appraised. A synthesis of key findings was developed and organized in accordance with the Model of Resilience in Daily Occupations’ four key themes: (a) creating and recreating accepting conditions: breaking stigma through education, (b) finding solutions: parent-focused interventions, (c) striving for balance among daily occupations: minimizing parental burden, and (d) thinking about their child’s future: motivating factors. Findings suggest limited knowledge is a key contributor to parental burden and stress felt throughout the diagnostic and treatment process, and indicate OTs may play a vital role in educating and supporting parents of children with autism. Further research is needed to dissect the specific areas of knowledge where parents feel they have an insufficient understanding regarding their child’s diagnosis.

Gavin Hollingsworth, Alvernia University Co-presenters: Carter Puryear, Mitchell Race, Faculty Mentor: Kimberly Stoudt Implementing Prevention Programs to Decrease the Incidence of Superior Labrum Anterior and Posterior (SLAP) Injuries in Collegiate Wrestlers.

Superior labral anterior to posterior (SLAP) tears are common in wrestlers. Recent literature indicates that 17.1% are isolated SLAP tears, 25.7% are SLAP tears and partial rotator cuff tears, and 8.6% are SLAP tears and full-thickness rotator cuff tears.

There are additional associated injuries following a SLAP lesion, such as Bankart lesions. Prevention programs should consist of range of motion, scapular and rotator cuff strengthening, motor control performance, and core and lower extremity kinetic chain exercises. A structured rehabilitation plan can be included in future prevention programs to reduce the incidence of SLAP tears. Further imaging such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) or Magnetic Resonance Arthrogram are recommended to confirm the injury diagnosis. Limitations include a lack of statistics and evidence in wrestlers with SLAP lesions. Future research should include suggestions and provide additional research into a successful prevention program that incorporates the recommended therapeutic interventions.

Caleb Hooper, Penn State Berks Co-presenters: Ethan Link, Andrew Omelczenko, Faculty Mentor: Rungun Nathan Vespertilio Sensory Array Navigation of difficult terrain has been one of the most pressing issues for manufactured autonomous systems. The Vespertilio Project models the way bats use sonar to navigate and react to obstacles. This is done by emitting sound waves and analyzing the echoes that bounce off the environment. The project’s current stage is focused on developing a fully articulated ear based on the Horseshoe bat’s anatomy.

The design uses a flexible resin for the ear, and nitinol wire and servos to mimic muscular articulation. The articulation system is integrated with the sonar system to insulate each system from both the environment and each other.

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Akilah Hoxter, Alvernia University Co-presenters: Ashley Anders, Ebony Cobb, Faculty Mentor: Kimberly Stoudt The Effects of the Menstrual Cycle on an Athlete’s Risk for ACL Injury There is an increased amount of research regarding the female athlete. Evidence suggests that during the menstrual cycle phases, an athlete may be at an increased risk for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. Evidence also supports that the follicular phase changes biomechanics, including an increase in estradiol concentration leading to an increase in anterior knee (AK) laxity. Studies also suggest that menstrual cycle-based strength training can improve an athlete’s muscular strength and aid in injury prevention. There is a need for further research as most of the studies evaluated relied on self-reported menstrual cycle timeframes. Further studies could also use an arthrometer to provide objective measurements for the increase in AK laxity or perhaps conduct a study involving females whose menstrual cycle phases are determined using a serum analysis.

purchasing decisions. In summary, our research contributes to an overall analysis of the relationship between sustainable branding, consumer perspectives, and financial outcomes, thereby fostering an understanding of an industry aiming to thrive in a sustainability-conscious market.

Marissa James, Alvernia University Co-presenters: Taylor Sundstrom, Anita Zakharov , Faculty Mentor: Amy Thomas The Impact of Primitive Reflex Integration on Children’s Academic Performance in School-Based Occupational Therapy The aim of this investigation was to identify how children’s academic performance can be improved through interventions targeting primitive reflex integration in schoolbased occupational therapy. Fifteen articles were critically appraised, and key findings synthesized related to three primary skill deficit areas commonly linked to retained reflexes: a) visual, (b) motor, and (c) executive functioning. The majority of findings suggest a strong connection between retained reflexes and skill deficits that result in poor academic performance. However, limited information was found identifying specific integration interventions or their impact on academic performance. The three integration approaches identified include: Brain Balance Program, Daily Developmental Movement Program, and Rhythmic Movement Training. Due to limitations in the reported findings, further research on the impact of reflex integration may be warranted.

Hannah Kerns, Alvernia University Co-presenters: Nicole Caruso, Jacqueline Gentile, Victoria Stock, Faculty Mentor: Amy Thomas Investigating OT Interventions to Address Spatial Neglect in Inpatient Rehabilitation The aim of this investigation was to determine the most effective OT treatment approach for clients experiencing post-stroke spatial neglect in the inpatient rehabilitation setting. Spatial neglect is a common neurocognitive disorder of spatial attention and inattention. Twenty articles were critically appraised, and findings synthesized related to four intervention themes: (a) prism adaptation, (b) visual scanning training, (c) virtual reality, and (d) mirror therapy. Outcomes suggest all interventions effectively improved neglect severity and performance in activities of daily living. However, of the four, visual scanning training was reportedly the most effective for carryover of learned skills post-discharge. While findings for all interventions were positive, the most effective intervention for addressing post-stroke neglect remains unclear.

August Jillard, Albright College Co-presenters: Sabryna Orfino, Faculty Mentor: Soma Ghosh Sustainable Branding and the Future of Green Hotels: A Consumer-Driven Perspective of the Hospitality Industry In an era where consumer behavior is increasingly shaped by environmental and social considerations, businesses face pressures to strategically align branding with sustainability. The push for sustainability in the hospitality industry is centered around “being green” by cutting down on waste, conserving water, and reducing the carbon footprint. Sustainable branding bridges the gap between a hotel’s environmental initiatives and its brand image. This research employs a combination of quantitative and qualitative analysis of financial data, consumer surveys, and case studies to compare and contrast the sustainability initiatives of major hotels. By identifying various sustainability and financial Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for long-term success, this study will aim to offer strategic insights for businesses, investors, and policymakers navigating the intricate landscape of sustainable branding. Furthermore, the proceeding analysis will examine the role of consumer awareness, attitudes, and values in shaping perceptions of sustainability efforts and, consequently, influencing

Matthew Knowles, Alvernia University Co-presenters: Hao Ha, Faculty Mentor: Salem Elsaiah Design of A Sustainable Robot Car with Arms for Outdoor Applications at Alvernia University The main objective of this ongoing project is to design an autonomous robot with arms for outdoor applications at Alvernia University . The sustainable autonomous robot with arm (SARA-02) will be utilized to transport small tools outdoors. This version of the robot car uses a larger metal 4WD shock absorption robot tank and is also controlled by Arduino Mega or Raspberry Pi, depending on some factors that are being considered. We aim to use the robot tank for outdoor applications such as open fields or golf courses. In this work, a solar panel will be used to energize the whole system. Consequently, a backup battery and a charger controller are now being developed for this project. In this project, an H-bridge converter circuit is used to trigger and control the H-bridge converter. Furthermore, a method to estimate the battery size is implemented, and an over-voltage scheme has also been developed for protection purposes. This project has two components: simulation and hardware implementation. Selected results from both simulation and realization are being reported and will be presented at the conference.

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Kushal Joshi, Penn State Berks Co-presenters: Rocco Hirshman, Faculty Mentor: Terry Speicher Exhaust Tip Capstone Project This design report encompasses the collaborative efforts of our team in developing an innovative and cost-effective exhaust tip for vehicles. We emphasized efficient cooling within thermal constraints and made sure our project aligned with key outcomes like safety and cost. We addressed design requirements, verification criteria, and project purpose. We are in the testing phase of our project and the implementation of the final system on a vehicle.

Morgan Kopcik, Albright College, Faculty Mentor: Elizabeth Quinn Pseudo Sustainability: What is environmental sustainability in the fashion industry?

Most people’s knowledge of environmental sustainability in the fashion industry is vague at best and more likely non-existent. People only know what the companies they shop from are telling them about their products. What percentage of these collections are sustainable compared to the entirety of the brand, and what do these companies mean by being “conscious?” People should understand how long their clothes remain on the planet even after they are thrown away, how their clothes are affecting the planet even when they are donated. The information on textile lifecycles needs to be clear to the public, including how much waste the fashion industry accumulates and how long it takes these materials and fibers to decompose and break down. The research for this project is presented as a poster that gives a brief but concise summary of what commonly used terms about sustainability mean. The poster will also present how long it takes fibers to break down in landfills, where along the manufacturing process materials become harmful to our environment, and the difference between brands that are truly sustainable and the brands who market their pseudo sustainability.

Jakob Kopf, Penn State Berks Co-presenters: Dominick Shortridge, Michael Cotter, Armin Almasi, Faculty Mentor: Rungun Nathan Design, Creation, and Testing of a Handheld Water Purification System One of the most important things a hiker needs when out on a trek is access to clean drinking water and while there are plenty of options available that can purify nonpotable water, most of these either take a long time or have undesirable side effects.

Therefore, the group was given the task of designing and creating a water filtration system that could improve upon preexisting systems and utilize rotary motion as the main input. After researching various pumps, a design based on traditional gear pumps was chosen for the initial prototype. While this covered the movement of water, it was decided that filtration was to occur elsewhere, separate from the pump via a membrane filter. To lower the overall cost and keep the system lightweight, most of the prototype was 3D printed using PLA. Testing undergone with these prototypes included seeing if the main body could hold water, if the device is able to draw water up by hand, durability of parts, and if the water purification rate was satisfactory.

Based on this testing, several modifications have been made to later device revisions such as decreasing its size, altering the shape of grooves, or utilizing different part connection methods.

Robert Labagh, Albright College, Faculty Mentor: Amy Greene How does the hydrogen peroxide concentration affect the thrust Rocket engines are complex, but simplifying their design, manufacturing, and assembly reduces cost and time. Most engines need fuel and an oxidizer like hydrogen and oxygen. Using hydrogen peroxide as a monopropellant simplifies plumbing and control. Eliminating components like the vectoring system and using electronic power further simplifies the engine, making it cheaper and faster to make. However, such simplification may affect thrust and specific impulse. Designing, building, and testing the engine, then varying hydrogen peroxide concentration from 90% to 100%, helps find the most efficient and powerful design.

Mark Longenberger, Penn State Berks, Faculty Mentor: Mathew Rhudy A Statistical Investigation into the Properties of Von Kármán and Dryden Wind Turbulence Modeling Wind gust modeling is critically important to the aerospace community as aircraft must anticipate and respond accordingly to wind gusts to maintain optimal flight performance. Various wind turbulence models are used to accurately predict the intensity of wind gusts. Two of the most common models used for this purpose are the Von Kármán and Dryden Turbulence Model. Despite their common usage, there is limited literature providing a direct comparison between these two models. This research aims to fill this gap by offering a comprehensive overview and comparison between the two models. The comparison will encompass an examination of the output of the models, differences in shape and scale parameters when fitting the data to common distribution, and the expected magnitudes of the wind gusts.

Morgan Lusch, Penn State Berks Co-presenters: Ryan Light, Sam Eshleman, Chris Adams, Faculty Mentor: Rungun Nathan CapCutter The CapCutter is an automated capacitor lead-trimming machine. This automated solution is designed to reduce fatigue and labor while being quiet and a desktop-sized package. The device can be loaded with loose capacitors and will feed, align, cut, and dispense trimmed capacitors. The device has an adjustable cutting length with user-friendly controls. Capacitors put into the separation subsystem will feed through the device and fall into the alignment subsystem. Once aligned, the capacitors will be cut about twenty at a time in the cutting subsystem. Cut capacitors and waste will then drop into respective bins outside the machine for use and disposal. The cutting subsystem had a lot of design influence from stamping tools. There is one stationary shear block and one dynamic shear block, powered by two air cylinders.

When the capacitors are in position, the air cylinders extend, clamping the leads between a spring-loaded backstop and the dynamic shear block, and then shearing the capacitors between the dynamic shear block and the stationary shear block.

Optimal placement of inner nubs is still being investigated. The cutting subsystem has been designed and modeled. An analysis of cutting efficiency and shear block life will be conducted. The shear block is a bar of tool steel hardened to 60 HRC for longevity.

Gabriel Malek, Alvernia University, Faculty Mentor: Salem Elsaiah Applications of SVC in Reactive Power Control of an Industrial Plant Reactive power plays a significant role in maintaining voltage bounds of power systems within predetermined operational limits. Maintaining bus voltages within the permitted bounds is not only vital to retain operational status of a given power system, but also ensures that reliability and power quality constraints are considered while performing optimal power systems studies. This work presents a method to compensate for the reactive power consumed by inductive loads in the electrical power system. This method is developed based on Static Var Compensators (SVC), which are installed at the most vulnerable buses in the power system. An SVC is a dynamically controlled capacitor bank that injects reactive power to the power network, and thereby revamps the reactive power and the overall power factor of the power system. Modeling aspects of the power network, limitations, and the method of realization have all been presented and discussed in this work. The proposed method has been demonstrated on a practical benchmark system and all findings are presented and analyzed. Test results have shown that the presented method is applicable for reactive power compensation and improved the overall power factor at load centers.

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Michael Mancini, Penn State Berks Co-presenters: Alex Chavez, Lina Abad, Faculty Mentor: Terry Speicher Vacuum Chamber Test Stand This project responds to the critical need for an advanced vacuum chamber test stand in Styrofoam tray manufacturing, aiming to replace the manual testing process with a fully automated system. This proposed solution seeks to streamline testing procedures, improve safety protocols, conserve man-hours, and minimize human errors. The study employs a comprehensive engineering design process, covering customer needs identification, information gathering, problem definition, idea generation, concept evaluation, and detailed design development. The results showcase a robust vacuum chamber design, effectively addressing initial limitations and optimizing overall system performance. Recommendations include finalizing Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) logic, developing a comprehensive test checklist, and addressing budget constraints and fluid dynamics exploration for continuous improvement.

Alison McGrath, Alvernia University Co-presenters: Kyra Connolly, Sara Lentz, Isabel Fries, Faculty Mentor: Catherine Emenheiser Effect of Cognitive Rehabilitation on Functional Cognition in Neurological Conditions This critically appraised topic presentation will answer the PICO question, “How does the effect of cognitive rehabilitation on functional cognition compare in patients with traumatic brain injury, cerebrovascular accident, Parkinson disease, and dementia?

There is expansive research that describes various cognitive rehabilitation approaches for the treatment of cognitive deficits caused by each previously stated diagnosis.

This presentation will discuss the clinical scenario, summary of key findings, clinical bottom line, and compare the research findings in relation to the PICO question.

Kaitlyn Merritt, Alvernia University Co-presenters: Fiona Stewart, Jayah Roman, Faculty Mentor: Kimberly Stoudt The Effects of Oral Contraceptives on Bone Density Oral contraceptive (OC) use among adolescent female athletes has become prevalent in society. This research explores recent findings on the study of how oral contraceptives affect bone density. There are numerous reasons for prescribing oral and hormonal contraceptives. Healthcare providers promote their use among young females for other hormonal management rather than prescription for the prevention of pregnancy. When providers promote the use of these prescriptions it encourages young females to continue taking them without knowledge of the harm it may cause in the anatomical development. For instance, research studies indicate that oral contraceptives affect bone density. Studies have not yet identified all long-term or short-term risks from the use of oral contraceptives. Research studies have utilized a variety of methods in reviewing this topic and there is much more to be found.

Christopher Moya, Penn State Berks Co-presenters: John Ngyuen, Faculty Mentor: Terry Speicher Autonomous Fire Fighting Robot Introducing an innovative solution to enhance firefighting capabilities while minimizing human risk in hazardous environments, this presentation showcases the development of an autonomous firefighting robot. Powered by Arduino microcontrollers and motorized actuators, this robot is equipped with flame, ultrasonic, sound sensors,

28 25th Annual Undergraduate Research and Creativity Conference

and lidar for detecting and localizing fires across landscapes. Its integrated motors facilitate agile and precise navigation towards fire outbreaks, while a servo-operated water pump system ensures fires are effectively put out. Coordinating these functions is an Arduino-based control system, ensuring synchronized responses to fire emergencies. With its contemporary design and technology, this autonomous firefighting robot offers a practical solution for firefighting needs.

Caroline Parker, Albright College, Faculty Mentor: Elizabeth Quinn Pre-Consumer Textile Waste Reimagined This project aims to reexamine the textile production process with a focus on circularity. Pre-consumer textile waste will be utilized to create new woven fabrics for the academic world and the fashion industry. Textiles significantly impact the fashion industry’s environmental footprint, with approximately 10-30% of fabrics discarded during the manufacturing phase. (Knowledge Hub, n.d.) This project isn’t being done solely at Albright, but with FabScrap, a non-profit collecting textile waste from fashion brands and manufacturers in New York and Philadelphia. They shared data on the volume of pre-consumer waste they receive and provided the scrap materials to create the textiles for this project. Furthermore, collaboration with Kelly Cobb, Associate Professor of Fashion and Apparel at the University of Delaware, provided access to their labs for shredding and felting the scraps to transform into new materials. By combining these resources, this project looks to develop scalable and sustainable practices for collective good and to recognize the necessity of working together to shape the future of global design.

Leah Riegel, Alvernia University Co-presenters: Meghan Oualaalou, Olivia Ruch, Bethany Tandarich, Faculty Mentor: Amy Thomas Promoting Bilateral Integration in Children with Cerebral Palsy This study’s objective was to determine the most effective intervention to promote bilateral integration for children ages 2-9 years with cerebral palsy (CP). According to the CDC (2023), CP is the most common motor disability in children, affecting muscle tone and voluntary movement patterns. Children with CP commonly have difficulty engaging in bilateral tasks, impacting their occupational performance (Plasschaert et al., 2019). Twenty articles were critically appraised, and findings organized according to four intervention themes: (a) Constraint Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT), (b) Hand-Arm Bimanual Intensive Therapy (HABIT), (c) Botulinum Toxin A (BoNT-A) injections, and (d) Virtual Reality (VR). Findings indicate all four interventions may improve upper extremity (UE) function and increase participation in daily performance. However, findings also suggest a need for further research to examine long-term functional implications and clinical generalizability.

Sarah Robinson, Albright College, Faculty Mentor: Brian Kell Revolutionizing Mental Health Care: AI-Enhanced MRI Diagnosis of Mood Disorders Bipolar disorder is one of the most widely misdiagnosed mental health disorders, with roughly 60% of patients having been first misdiagnosed with major depressive disorder. Utilizing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans and the processing power of convolutional neural networks, the number of individuals who consequently suffer from misdiagnosis can be greatly decreased. Findings indicate that there are indeed structural differences, investigable via MRI, which can be harnessed to

surpass the diagnosis rate of a traditional psychiatrist alone. My work will display the corresponding brain structures thought to be responsible for these distinctions as well as provide insight into the mechanisms that make such kinds of computations possible through artificial intelligence.

Katelyn Schweitzer, Albright College, Faculty Mentor: MeeAe Oh-Ranck Reworked and Reimagined: The Element of Fire Today’s fashion magazines, whether printed or digital, are filled with many pages of ads, leaving fewer and fewer pages for actual content that readers value. So, why would anyone want to read or even buy a fashion magazine when it lacks the very things we crave? This project aims to design a new kind of fashion magazine that will motivate, inspire, and empower individuals through fashion. Results from a survey of about thirty people between the age of 18 and 24 showed that many individuals have different ways of describing their style and often like to read but not buy fashion magazines. Resilience, the title for this magazine concept, chooses to focus on topics that aren’t covered in the fashion industry and shed light where needed. It is for all ages and individuals who work in and outside the industry. This project presents survey findings, visuals from traditional fashion magazines, and layouts that represent my vision for Resilience. The culmination of this research and development process will be in the form of fashion magazine that will be distributed at the Albright Spring Fashion Showcase.

Katelyn Schweitzer, Albright College, Faculty Mentor: Elizabeth Quinn Resilience: Reinventing the Fashion Magazine For the last several years clothes have been constantly changing, whether that’s the way they are designed or are reworked into something different and new. Many consumers find that when it comes to garments, they have quantity but a whole lot less quality. This project aims to show and represent a new way of how garments can be reimagined. Through many different techniques such as hand dyeing, the use of fabric scraps, and other articles of clothing, a one-of-a-kind garment has been created representing the element of fire.

Michael Spitler, Penn State Berks Co-presenters: Nicholas Beers, Faculty Mentor: Terry Speicher Avanceon Bartendo+ for Spring 2024 Capstone The Capstone team was asked to design and build a portable drink-making machine for the company Avanceon. The machine is to be designed and built as a self-contained automated drink mixer. The machine will be used as a test platform for Avanceon.

The Bartendo+ is the portable version of a request Avanceon proposed to have two machines delivered at the end of the Spring 2024 semester. The Bartendo+ machine uses a CompactLogix system and is to be fully programmable to any specified drink mix that would be regularly offered.

Michael Tarquinio, Temple University, Faculty Mentor: Dimitri Karagiannis Machine Learning Detection of Campaign Financing from FIRE Industries to Members of the 116th U.S. Congress This paper studies a potential relationship between funding of the United States House of Representatives 116th congressional candidates from sources associated with the Finance, Insurance, and Real Estate (FIRE) industries, and votes cast by those members on bills and resolutions that have been lobbied by companies within the FIRE industries. Using a random forest machine learning classifier, patterns between

voting and funding were investigated in two ways; detection of previous funding level using votes on relevant bills and detecting future funding level using votes. This paper shows detectable funding in both.

Deven Webb, Albright College, Faculty Mentor: Elizabeth Quinn Never Better: The Harsh Effects of Dark Dyes This capstone project aims to reduce the harsh impacts of dark dyes on the environment by exploring more eco conscious dying options. Since darker textile dyes cause larger environmental damage than lighter colored dyes, I have chosen to focus on dyes consisting of navy blue, purple, and black.This capstone project will show a number of garments and fabric swatches that have been obtained as sustainably as possible, and dyed using natural dyeing processes such as walnuts, spices, and logwood. The project will result in a graphically designed clothing line and a swatch book of naturally dyed fabrics to showcase physical results.

Austin Witinski, Penn State Berks Co-presenters: Garrett Derr, Brandon Diehl, Luke Taylor, Faculty Mentor: Terry Speicher Bartendo Capstone for Avanceon Our team of Penn State Berks undergraduates designed and built an automatic drink-mixing machine for Avanceon. Avanceon plans to utilize the machine to train their engineers in the development and troubleshooting of Programmable Logic Controllers, the interactions between the process and system using a Human Machine Interface, and the performance and production process of a Manufacturing Execution System. This machine will be used to bridge the gap between virtual and physical implementations of these subjects.

Gabe Wunderlich, Alvernia University, Faculty Mentor: Diane Kraft Can Food Patterns and Food Components Modulate Systemic Inflammation?

The typical Western diet is potentially pro-inflammatory because it is high in processed food, refined cereal, red meat, saturated fat, and added sugars. Other dietary and lifestyle factors common in the U.S., such as excessive alcohol consumption, may also promote systemic inflammation. Conversely, a Mediterranean-style dietary intake pattern beneficially modulates inflammation and has been associated with symptom improvement in inflammation-related diseases. A comprehensive search of the diet-inflammation literature and individual dietary components that modulate inflammation was conducted. Our aim was to create a comprehensive list of proand anti-inflammatory foods, and in so doing, understand the basis for the antiinflammatory nature of The Mediterranean Diet.

Elyssa Cheesman, Albright College, Faculty Mentor: MeeAe Oh-Ranck Waves and Lava Reimagined Through Fashion Through the use of unconventional materials and a budget of $19, this project demonstrates the power of the creative process to develop unique and innovative designs. This two-look collection embodies the elements of water and fire in the form of waves and lava. A bodysuit inspired by ocean foam and a dress from nothing but bags representing explosive power. The design process began online searching for a visual connection to the project through things like shape and color. The goal behind this was to gather inspiration to be able to better express the energy of the waves and fire. Keeping the connection between the concept and the end design that

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was visible to the viewer was an important factor in the design process. Both pieces are made out of things like plastic bags, recycled fabric, plastic bottles, and other common household items. This was done for two reasons, to comply with the budget and to bring attention to the amount of plastic waste in our oceans and ecosystems.

Film Session 1 ______________________

Truc Phuong Ha, Albright College, Faculty Mentor: Elizabeth Quinn Modest Shimmering Elegance Modest Shimmering Elegance is a creative research project aiming to explore innovative design concepts through the development of a 3-look runway-ready collection. The overall inspiration for Modest Shimmering Elegance is based on the K-style aspect where this collection will be a combination of modest and stylish designs. Based on modular styles, where individual garment pieces could be attached or detached thus making it modest but also elegant. Through this project, the creative process of developing a New York Fashion Week collection was explored including everything from sketching to patternmaking, and material research to garment construction. This collection consists of tweed, lace, and chiffon, showing a modest yet stylish with a hint of bridal elegance that could be worn for workforce or stylish everyday wear due to the modularity aspect. Displayed as a poster presentation, this project will show the creative process of collection development, modular design concepts, and fabric selections; hence, the final collection will be presented at the Albright Fashion Showcase.

FILM - STUDENT CENTER, SOUTH LOUNGE

VIDEO GAME SESSION - STUDENT CENTER, MAIN LOUNGE Evan Beyeler, Albright College Co-presenters: Shane Woodside, Denzel Ntim, Clinton Odor, Faculty Mentor: Mark Baldridge Seismic Scuffle — An Interactive Demo by 13th Street Games In recent years, the fighting game genre has become increasingly homogenized. New games largely follow the standards players have grown accustomed to but sacrifice innovative gameplay. “Seismic Scuffle” shakes up the typical formula with a unique focus on the terrain as an extension of the playable characters. Rather than engaging in hand-to-hand combat, fighters scuffle by striking seismic shockwaves through the ground to send their opponents soaring. Waves can combine to increase power and amplitude, but intersecting inverse waves reduces their intensity. The characters themselves may look bizarre, but underneath their chromatic complexion they carry themselves with an air of humanity. When they face off to the beat of a rhythmic tune, it’s more about the thrill than the fight.

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1:15 PM – 2:15 PM

Fiona Buffington, Kutztown University Beauty World - A Short Film About Self Acceptance and Beauty Standards In today’s world, social media and beauty culture has molded our beauty standard into an artificial and ordinary look; almost plastic and robotic in nature. I believe a lot of unhappiness in the world springs from our inabilities to reach that expectation through difficult and tolling transformations. Beauty should shine through our differences, but instead, our little peculiarities are made out to be problems that need fixing. Coming from someone who has body dysmorphia and consequent social anxiety, I know it’s easier said than done to except yourself and see that imperfection can still be pretty.

We shouldn’t try to change who we are - even if society tells us we have no other choice. I made this film to convince myself and others of this fact.

Jamilah Hyman, Albright College Co-presenters: Ayanna Slacum, Faculty Mentor: Kami Fletcher Reading’s NAACP: Building Community and Fostering Black Excellence This research project investigates the influence of Albright College’s new NAACP branch and the organization’s efforts to foster a stronger community. Motivated by a desire to establish an NAACP branch on campus and address the issues that students of color confront, the project sought to bridge the gap between the local community and the college campus. The research focuses on the organization’s role in building unity, equality, and social justice through eleven interviews with members of the local NAACP Reading Branch and the newly formed college chapter e-board. The many perspectives gathered highlight the NAACP’s critical role in community development and advocacy, offering vital insights for student leaders working to create a healthier and more inclusive campus community.

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Participants Students

College

Lina Abad................................................................................................ Penn State Berks Daniel Abramov....................................................................................... Penn State Berks Daniel Abramov....................................................................................... Penn State Berks Aidee Acosta............................................................................................ Penn State Berks Chris Adams............................................................................................ Penn State Berks Sunny Ahmed.......................................................................................... Penn State Berks Madeline Albright..................................................................................... Albright College Armin Almasi........................................................................................... Penn State Berks Marisol Alonso-Hernandez....................................................................... Alvernia University Allison Ammarell...................................................................................... Penn State Berks Ashley Anders.......................................................................................... Alvernia University Maliya Bachman...................................................................................... Reading Area CC Maliya Bachman...................................................................................... Reading Area CC Dana Badders......................................................................................... Alvernia University Anne Balter.............................................................................................. Alvernia University Kathryn Baptiste...................................................................................... Albright College Sophia Batista......................................................................................... Penn State Berks Nicholas Beers......................................................................................... Penn State Berks Fay Berig................................................................................................. Penn State Berks Evan Beyeler............................................................................................ Albright College Madison Blickley...................................................................................... Kutztown University Isabella Boehm........................................................................................ Albright College Amy Borjorquez....................................................................................... Penn State Berks Samantha Borzellino................................................................................ Reading Area CC Dakota Breidenstein................................................................................ Reading Area CC Fiona Buffington...................................................................................... Kutztown University Ishmael Cadet.......................................................................................... Penn State Berks Lillian Carney........................................................................................... Albright College Cody Carter............................................................................................. Albright College Nicole Caruso.......................................................................................... Alvernia University Alex Carvalho ......................................................................................... Penn State Berks Ilaria Catania........................................................................................... Albright College TimothyCescon........................................................................................ Reading Area CC Timothy Cescon....................................................................................... Reading Area CC Taisha Charles......................................................................................... Albright College Mahika Chatterjee................................................................................... Penn State Berks Alex Chavez............................................................................................. Penn State Berks Elyssa Cheesman.................................................................................... Albright College Elizabeth Churchill................................................................................... Albright College Ebony Cobb............................................................................................. Alvernia University Matthew Coleman.................................................................................... Kutztown University Kyra Connolly........................................................................................... Alvernia University Eduardo Contin....................................................................................... Penn State Berks Cormick Costello...................................................................................... Depaul University Michael Cotter......................................................................................... Penn State Berks Jake Danko............................................................................................. Penn State Berks

Time

Room

1:15 PM 8:45 AM 11:15 AM 11:15 AM 1:15 PM 9:00 AM 1:15 PM 1:15 PM 1:15 PM 1:15 PM 1:15 PM 8:45 AM 11:15 AM 11:15 AM 1:15 PM 11:15 AM 11:15 AM 1:15 PM 11:30 AM 1:15 PM 9:00 AM 11:30 AM 11:15 AM 9:00 AM 8:45 AM 1:15 PM 11:15 AM 9:00 AM 9:00 AM 1:15 PM 11:15 AM 8:45 AM 8:45 AM 11:15 AM 1:15 PM 11:30 AM 1:15 PM 1:15 PM 9:00 AM 1:15 PM 11:30 AM 1:15 PM 11:15 AM 8:45 AM 1:15 PM 1:15 PM

Student Center, Main Lounge Science Hall 255 Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Klein Hall Klein Hall Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Science Hall 255 Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Science Hall 251 Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Klein Hall Student Center, South Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Science Hall 256 Klein Hall Klein Hall Student Center, Main Lounge Science Hall 255 Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Science Hall 255 Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Science Hall 251 Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge

Stacey Darcelin........................................................................................ Albright College Gaetcha Denis......................................................................................... Penn State Berks Camila DePena........................................................................................ Albright College Garrett Derr............................................................................................. Penn State Berks Shawn Diamond-Velox............................................................................ Penn State Berks Brandon Diehl.......................................................................................... Penn State Berks Catherine DiPerna.................................................................................... Alvernia University Gwenyth DiPrinzio................................................................................... Kutztown University Kimberly Doyle........................................................................................ Reading Area CC Kimberly Doyle........................................................................................ Reading Area CC Shantelle Duarte...................................................................................... Penn State Berks Mallory Duff............................................................................................. Penn State Berks Breanna Dukehart.................................................................................... Alvernia University Nicholas Dumont..................................................................................... Alvernia University Jason Eidle.............................................................................................. Albright College Jacob English.......................................................................................... Penn State Berks Taliah Erwin............................................................................................. Albright College Sam Eshleman......................................................................................... Penn State Berks Nyjeria Farley........................................................................................... Albright College Michael Felcher....................................................................................... Alvernia University Deika Ferron............................................................................................ Penn State Berks Janine Finny............................................................................................ Alvernia University Crystal Fondeur....................................................................................... Penn State Berks Lacey Franklin-Foreman.......................................................................... Albright College Isabel Fries ............................................................................................. Alvernia University Jacqueline Gentile................................................................................... Alvernia University Daniel George.......................................................................................... Penn State Berks Alison Germadnig.................................................................................... Alvernia University Laurel Gingrich ...................................................................................... Albright College Camille Griffith......................................................................................... Albright College Hao Ha.................................................................................................... Alvernia University Truc Phuong Ha....................................................................................... Albright College Sara Hallameyer...................................................................................... Alvernia University Erna Hamzic............................................................................................ Penn State Berks Jabriyah Harris ...................................................................................... Albright College Kristina Hartz........................................................................................... Kutztown University Logan Henne........................................................................................... Penn State Berks Sarah Henry............................................................................................. Kutztown University Yazmin Hernandez................................................................................... Albright College Yasmin Hidalgo........................................................................................ Alvernia University Paige Hinkle............................................................................................. Albright College Rocco Hirshman..................................................................................... Penn State Berks Alex Hitchens........................................................................................... Reading Area CC Alexander Hitchens.................................................................................. Reading Area CC Nhi Hoang................................................................................................ Alvernia University Gavin Hollingsworth................................................................................. Alvernia University Caleb Hooper........................................................................................... Penn State Berks Chaslin Hoover......................................................................................... Alvernia University

11:30 AM 9:00 AM 11:30 AM 1:15 PM 9:00 AM 1:15 PM 9:00 AM 8:45 AM 8:45 AM 11:15 AM 11:15 AM 11:15 AM 9:00 AM 1:15 PM 9:00 AM 11:15 AM 11:30 AM 1:15 PM 11:30 AM 1:15 PM 11:15 AM 1:15 PM 9:00 AM 1:15 PM 1:15 PM 1:15 PM 1:15 PM 1:15 PM 9:00 AM 8:45 AM 1:15 PM 1:15 PM 11:15 AM 9:00 AM 9:00 AM 8:45 AM 11:15 AM 8:45 AM 8:45 AM 1:15 PM 11:15 AM 1:15 PM 1:15 PM 8:45 AM 11:15 AM 1:15 PM 1:15 PM 1:15 PM

Student Center, South Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Science Hall 351 Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Science Hall 255 Klein Hall Klein Hall Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, South Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, South Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Science Hall 351 Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Science Hall 256 Student Center, Main Lounge Science Hall 255 Science Hall 251 Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Science Hall 256 Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge

25th Annual Undergraduate Research and Creativity Conference 33

Akilah Hoxter........................................................................................... Alvernia University Tara Huffman........................................................................................... Albright College Jamilah Hyman........................................................................................ Albright College Kaylin Ifill................................................................................................. Penn State Berks Finn Jackson........................................................................................... Reading Area CC Marissa James........................................................................................ Alvernia University August Jillard........................................................................................... Albright College Emily Johnson........................................................................................ Albright College Kushal Joshi........................................................................................... Penn State Berks Joshua Kalyan......................................................................................... Penn State Berks Marina Kase............................................................................................ Albright College Matthew Kauffman.................................................................................. Penn State Berks Hannah Kerns.......................................................................................... Alvernia University Marjaan Khan.......................................................................................... Penn State Berks Grace Kim............................................................................................... Penn State Berks Maggie Kline............................................................................................ Reading Area CC Matthew Knowles.................................................................................... Alvernia University Morgan Kopcik......................................................................................... Albright College Jakob Kopf.............................................................................................. Penn State Berks Alec Kuhn................................................................................................ Reading Area CC Noel La Borde Santana........................................................................... Reading Area CC Robert Labagh......................................................................................... Albright College Tu Lam.................................................................................................... Albright College Mariezette LaPorte................................................................................... Reading Area CC Steven Lecates........................................................................................ Penn State Berks Sara Lentz............................................................................................... Alvernia University Ryan Light............................................................................................... Penn State Berks Ethan Link............................................................................................... Penn State Berks Mark Longenberger................................................................................. Penn State Berks Vinh Lu................................................................................................... Penn State Berks Morgan Lusch.......................................................................................... Penn State Berks Alexis Mahon.......................................................................................... Albright College James Maier........................................................................................... Alvernia University Victoria Mak............................................................................................ Alvernia University Gabriel Malek.......................................................................................... Alvernia University Katelyn Maloney...................................................................................... Penn State Berks Michael Mancini...................................................................................... Penn State Berks Rebekah March....................................................................................... Kutztown University Arianna Marcucci..................................................................................... Albright College Madeline Marous..................................................................................... Penn State Berks Madeline Marous.................................................................................... Penn State Berks Michael Martin......................................................................................... Kutztown University Vismaly Martinez..................................................................................... Alvernia University Julia Martorano ...................................................................................... Alvernia University Kayley Mattis........................................................................................... Penn State Berks Travis Mauger.......................................................................................... Penn State Berks Alivia McAllister....................................................................................... Albright College Michael McClatchie................................................................................. Alvernia University

34 25th Annual Undergraduate Research and Creativity Conference

1:15 PM 11:15 AM 1:15 PM 11:15 AM 11:15 AM 1:15 PM 1:15 PM 11:30 AM 1:15 PM 11:15 AM 9:00 AM 11:15 AM 1:15 PM 11:15 AM 11:15 AM 11:15 AM 1:15 PM 1:15 PM 1:15 PM 8:45 AM 11:15 AM 1:15 PM 9:00 AM 9:00 AM 11:15 AM 1:15 PM 1:15 PM 1:15 PM 1:15 PM 11:15 AM 1:15 PM 11:30 AM 1:15 PM 1:15 PM 1:15 PM 9:00 AM 1:15 PM 11:30 AM 9:00 AM 11:15 AM 8:45 AM 8:45 AM 11:15 AM 9:00 AM 9:00 AM 9:00 AM 8:45 AM 11:15 AM

Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, South Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Klein Hall Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Science Hall 251 Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Klein Hall Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, South Lounge Klein Hall Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Science Hall 251 Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Science Hall 256 Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Science Hall 255 Science Hall 256 Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Science Hall 155 Student Center, Main Lounge

Allison McDennis..................................................................................... Alvernia University Anthonee McDermott-Nunez.................................................................... Reading Area CC Anthonee McDermott-Nunez................................................................... Reading Area CC Alison McGrath........................................................................................ Alvernia University Adorelis Medina....................................................................................... Albright College Justin Medina.......................................................................................... Reading Area CC Justin Medina.......................................................................................... Reading Area CC Justin Medina.......................................................................................... Reading Area CC Kaitlyn Merritt.......................................................................................... Alvernia University Josh Miiller.............................................................................................. Penn State Berks Tiaja Money............................................................................................. Albright College Erin Mooney............................................................................................ Alvernia University Isabella Morgalo...................................................................................... Reading Area CC Isabella Morgalo...................................................................................... Reading Area CC Erin Morris............................................................................................... Penn State Berks Christopher Moya................................................................................... Penn State Berks Arianna Murataya.................................................................................... Penn State Berks Jonathan Nava-Pensado.......................................................................... Reading Area CC Bogdan Nazaryan.................................................................................... Penn State Berks Mitchel Nevryanskiy................................................................................ Penn State Berks Dana Newberry........................................................................................ Albright College John Ngyuen ......................................................................................... Penn State Berks Carina Nieves.......................................................................................... Albright College Denzel Ntim............................................................................................. Albright College Kyle Nuñez.............................................................................................. Albright College Patrick O’ Donnell.................................................................................... Penn State Berks Clinton Odor............................................................................................. Albright College Andrew Omelczenko................................................................................ Penn State Berks Sabryna Orfino......................................................................................... Albright College Annalis Ortega......................................................................................... Reading Area CC Annalis Ortega......................................................................................... Reading Area CC Elizabeth Osura........................................................................................ Albright College Emily Oswald........................................................................................... Reading Area CC Emily Oswald........................................................................................... Reading Area CC Meghan Oualaalou................................................................................... Alvernia University Brian Pan................................................................................................. Albright College Nicole Maria Paredes.............................................................................. Penn State Berks Caroline Parker....................................................................................... Albright College Karleigh Patton........................................................................................ Kutztown University Shannon Peale......................................................................................... Kutztown University Michael Peirce III..................................................................................... Alvernia University Gillian Pierce............................................................................................ Albright College Megan Poley............................................................................................ Alvernia University Alexandru Popescu.................................................................................. Penn State Berks Punnya Pramod....................................................................................... Penn State Berks Carter Puryear......................................................................................... Alvernia University Angelina Rabayda.................................................................................... Reading Area CC Angelina Rabayda.................................................................................... Reading Area CC

1:15 PM 8:45 AM 11:15 AM 1:15 PM 9:00 AM 8:45 AM 11:15 AM 11:15 AM 1:15 PM 11:15 AM 11:30 AM 1:15 PM 8:45 AM 11:15 AM 9:00 AM 1:15 PM 9:00 AM 11:15 AM 1:15 PM 9:00 AM 9:00 AM 1:15 PM 9:00 AM 1:15 PM 11:15 AM 11:15 AM 1:15 PM 1:15 PM 1:15 PM 8:45 AM 11:15 AM 11:30 AM 8:45 AM 11:30 AM 1:15 PM 8:45 AM 11:30 AM 1:15 PM 8:45 AM 8:45 AM 11:15 AM 11:15 AM 9:00 AM 11:15 AM 8:45 AM 1:15 PM 8:45 AM 11:15 AM

Student Center, Main Lounge Klein Hall Klein Hall Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Klein Hall Klein Hall Klein Hall Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Science Hall 251 Student Center, Main Lounge Klein Hall Klein Hall Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Klein Hall Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Klein Hall Klein Hall Student Center, South Lounge Student Center, South Lounge Science Hall 256 Student Center, Main Lounge Science Hall 351 Science Hall 256 Student Center, Main Lounge Science Hall 155 Science Hall 251 Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Science Hall 351 Student Center, Main Lounge Klein Hall Klein Hall

25th Annual Undergraduate Research and Creativity Conference 35

Samantha Raby....................................................................................... Albright College Mitchell Race........................................................................................... Alvernia University Jaia Rahn................................................................................................ Reading Area CC Jaia Rahn................................................................................................ Reading Area CC Emma Remaley....................................................................................... Alvernia University Mia Rezza................................................................................................ Albright College Leah Riegel.............................................................................................. Alvernia University Brenna Robinson..................................................................................... Penn State Berks Sarah Robinson....................................................................................... Albright College Sebastian Robinson................................................................................. Albright College Pedro Rodriguez III................................................................................... Penn State Berks Maria Rogers.......................................................................................... Reading Area CC Jayah Roman ......................................................................................... Alvernia University Isabella Romig......................................................................................... Penn State Berks Dynasty Roque......................................................................................... Albright College Regina Rossi............................................................................................ Alvernia University Olivia Ruch.............................................................................................. Alvernia University Fabion Ruffin........................................................................................... Albright College Owen Ruiz Perez...................................................................................... Albright College Saul Sanchez........................................................................................... Penn State Berks Saul Sanchez........................................................................................... Penn State Berks Roxanne Santiago.................................................................................... Reading Area CC Naftali Sarara.......................................................................................... Alvernia University Rika Sato................................................................................................. Albright College Jada Savage............................................................................................ Penn State Berks Victoria Schiding...................................................................................... Albright College Katelyn Schweitzer.................................................................................. Albright College Ben Sedlmyer.......................................................................................... Penn State Berks Matthew Sexton....................................................................................... Albright College Donia Shalal............................................................................................ Albright College Dominick Shortridge................................................................................ Penn State Berks Ayanna Slacum........................................................................................ Albright College Timothy Spatz.......................................................................................... Reading Area CC Michael Spitler......................................................................................... Penn State Berks Fiona Stewart......................................................................................... Alvernia University Victoria Stock.......................................................................................... Alvernia University Diana Stoltzfus........................................................................................ Penn State Berks Mariah Straubel....................................................................................... Albright College Catherine Strosnider................................................................................ Alvernia University Morgan Stuhltrager.................................................................................. Albright College Taylor Sundstrom..................................................................................... Alvernia University Diamonique Suydam................................................................................ Albright College Nathan Tam............................................................................................. Penn State Berks Gabrielle Tamburro.................................................................................. Alvernia University Bethany Tandarich................................................................................... Alvernia University Michael Tarquinio..................................................................................... Temple University Alexyia Taylor........................................................................................... Albright College Luke Taylor............................................................................................. Penn State Berks Ronald Thomas........................................................................................ Albright College

36 25th Annual Undergraduate Research and Creativity Conference

9:00 AM 1:15 PM 8:45 AM 11:15 AM 11:15 AM 9:00 AM 1:15 PM 11:15 AM 1:15 PM 9:00 AM 11:15 AM 9:00 AM 1:15 PM 9:00 AM 11:30 AM 1:15 PM 1:15 PM 11:30 AM 11:15 AM 8:45 AM 11:15 AM 9:00 AM 1:15 PM 9:00 AM 11:15 AM 11:15 AM 1:15 PM 11:15 AM 11:30 AM 9:00 AM 1:15 PM 1:15 PM 11:15 AM 1:15 PM 1:15 PM 1:15 PM 11:15 AM 8:45 AM 9:00 AM 11:15 AM 1:15 PM 9:00 AM 8:45 AM 1:15 PM 1:15 PM 1:15 PM 11:15 AM 1:15 PM 11:30 AM

Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Klein Hall Klein Hall Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Science Hall 351 Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, South Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Science Hall 255 Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Science Hall 351 Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, South Lounge Klein Hall Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, South Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Science Hall 255 Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, South Lounge

Rachidatou Tinde..................................................................................... Alvernia University Viktoriia Vozharenko................................................................................. Penn State Berks Variah Ward ............................................................................................ Albright College Jeremy Weaver........................................................................................ Reading Area CC Deven Webb............................................................................................ Albright College Jason Wehr.............................................................................................. Penn State Berks Joseph Werner......................................................................................... Penn State Berks Evan Williams.......................................................................................... Alvernia University Austin Witinski......................................................................................... Penn State Berks Shane Woodside...................................................................................... Albright College Gabe Wunderlich...................................................................................... Alvernia University Madalyn Yorke......................................................................................... Alvernia University Anita Zakharov......................................................................................... Alvernia University Alettya Zalapa-Alonso.............................................................................. Alvernia University Hailey Zavecz.......................................................................................... Penn State Berks

11:15 AM 8:45 AM 8:45 AM 8:45 AM 1:15 PM 11:15 AM 9:00 AM 1:15 PM 1:15 PM 1:15 PM 1:15 PM 1:15 PM 1:15 PM 9:00 AM 11:15 AM

Student Center, Main Lounge Science Hall 155 Science Hall 251 Klein Hall Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge Student Center, Main Lounge

25th Annual Undergraduate Research and Creativity Conference 37