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Honors Day Program 2026

Page 1


THURSDAY, APRIL 16

8:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.

8:30 a.m. - Noon

8:30 - 9:20 a.m.

. 28th Annual Rall Symposium for Student Research

Poster Presentations Session 1

Judy G. Stevenson Hall, Wentz Science Center, 131 S. Loomis St.

9:35 - 10:55 a.m.

Oral Presentations Various classrooms, Wentz Science Center

11:10 a.m. - Noon

4:30 p.m.

BETA BETA BETA

Biology

Poster Presentations Session 2

Judy G. Stevenson Hall, Wentz Science Center

Room 254, Wentz Science Center

LAMBDA PI ETA

Communication and Media Smith Hall, Old Main

OMICRON DELTA EPSILON

Economics

Madden Theatre, Fine Arts Center

KAPPA DELTA PI

Education

Judy G. Stevenson Hall, Wentz Science Center

SIGMA TAU DELTA

English Koten Chapel, Kiekhofer Hall

5:30 p.m.

CHI ALPHA SIGMA

Athletics

Gregory Arena, Merner Field House

TAU SIGMA

Transfer Students Smith Hall, Old Main

NU TAU

Entrepreneurship

Madden Theatre, Fine Arts Center

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION

Finance

Madden Theatre, Fine Arts Center

PHI ALPHA THETA

History

Student Lounge, second floor, Harold & Eva White Activities Center

JAPANESE NATIONAL

HONOR SOCIETY

Japanese Room 17, Larrance Academic Center

6 p.m.

BLUE KEY Leadership

Judy G. Stevenson Hall, Wentz Science Center

Noon - 1:15 p.m.

HONORS DAY 2026

Luncheon

Kaufman Dining Hall, 221 S. Brainard St. 1:30 - 3:30 p.m.

50th Annual Honors Convocation Wentz Concert Hall, 171 E. Chicago Ave.

3:30 - 4:30 p.m.

. Reception Wentz Concert Hall Lobby 4:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Honor Society Events Locations listed below

HONOR SOCIETY EVENTS

BETA DELTA

Management

Madden Theatre, Fine Arts Center

PI MU EPSILON

Mathematics Room 101, Wentz Science Center

NU RHO PSI

Neuroscience

Judy G. Stevenson Hall, Wentz Science Center

PSI CHI

Psychology

Judy G. Stevenson Hall, Wentz Science Center

SIGMA DELTA PI

Spanish Theatre at Meiley-Swallow Hall

PHI SIGMA IOTA

World Languages & Cultures

Room 244, Language Resource Center, Oesterle Library & Learning Commons

6:30 p.m. April

ALPHA ALPHA ALPHA First-Generation College Students Wentz Concert Hall, Fine Arts Center

DELTA PHI ALPHA German

MORE INFORMATION ONLINE

Learn more about each student research presentation listed in this program online . Visit our webpage or scan the QR code

SIGMA
SIGMA

THE RALL FAMILY LEGACY

The Rall name has held a special place in North Central’s history since 1917, when Dr . Edward Everett Rall was inaugurated as the College’s fifth president

During his three decades of service to the College, President Rall steered the institution through two world wars and the Great Depression During that time, enrollment doubled from 447 to 929, and a major campus expansion included construction of Pfeiffer Hall, Kaufman Hall, and Merner Field House Also during President Rall’s tenture, the institution’s name changed in 1926 from North-Western College to North Central College

The Rall legacy continued with President Rall’s sons, Joseph and David Both graduated from North Central and went on to have distinguished careers The annual Rall Symposium for Student Research is named for Dr . Joseph E . Rall ’40 (read more below) Dr . David Rall ’46 was a physician and scientist who is considered to be the founder of modern environmental medicine . He headed the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the National Toxicology Program, and he served as U S Assistant Surgeon General for 19 years Among his research contributions, Dr David Rall identified ways to prevent leukemia from spreading to the brain

President Rall died in 197 The College still honors his vision of the ideal education—one that “develops the power to think, produces the open mind, destroys prejudice, and inculcates a genuine love of truth and hatred of sham or intellectual hypocrisy ”

DR. JOSEPH E. RALL ’40 1920 - 2008

The annual Rall Symposium for Student Research was named in 1998 to honor Joseph Edward “Ed” Rall ’40, M D , Ph D An internationally renowned research scientist, his half-century career at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) included serving as director of all intramural research Before joining the NIH, Dr Rall was a fellow at the Mayo Foundation in Rochester, Minnesota, and he taught at Cornell University Medical College and the Sloan-Kettering Institute

A thyroid specialist, Dr Rall helped devise therapies to prevent thyroid disease He authored more than 160 scientific papers and books and earned numerous awards from the medical and scientific communities He received honorary doctorates from North Central College, the Free University of Brussels and the University of Naples . The University of Minnesota Mayo Foundation honored him with an Outstanding Achievement Award, and North Central awarded him the Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1966

Dr . Rall took a leadership role in the College’s 1995 Kresge Science Challenge that brought $2 million in new support to his alma mater’s science program He also inspired the creation of the Rall Symposium Dr Rall was involved in the Symposium from its inception until his death in 2008 He played a critical role in attracting Nobel Laureates and other distinguished scholars to speak to attendees

2026 RALL SYMPOSIUM FOR STUDENT RESEARCH

An institution of the liberal arts and sciences, North Central College provides an impressive array of opportunities for students to design and conduct independent scholarly research projects in the sciences, social sciences, humanities, business, preprofessional disciplines, and fine arts Undergraduate and graduate students can examine their own disciplines and make interdisciplinary connections as they plan, collect and evaluate data, document results and present their findings

Students can collaborate with faculty in their ongoing research, or they can design and implement their own independent projects under faculty supervision A number of these projects are carried out as part of the College Scholars Honors Program, and many have been funded by the College’s Richter Grant program North Central students regularly present the results of their scholarly and artistic work at local, regional and national professional meetings

North Central College celebrates the 28th year of the Rall Symposium for Student Research in 2026 Students who were part of Beta Beta Beta, the American Chemical Society and Pre-Health Organization initiated the first Rall Symposium in 1998 They were supported by President Emeritus and Life Trustee Harold R Wilde, Ph D , and Professor of Mathematics and Dean of Faculty Emeritus R Devadoss Pandian, Ph D

*Denotes presenters

Dr. Edward Everett Rall
5th President, North Central College

POSTER PRESENTATIONS: SESSION

I 8:30 - 9:20 a.m.

Judy G. Stevenson Hall, second floor, Wentz Science Center

The Evangelical Associations Views Towards Roman Catholics at North Central College

Lynsey Glenn ’27 History/Social Studies and Secondary Education Advisor: Ann Keating

Becoming American: Italian immigrants in the 1920s-1950s

Carolynn Missak ’26 History Advisor: Ann Keating

Filmmaking Under Fascism: How the Nazis Controlled an Entire Industry

Jonathan Tolbert ’26 History and Social Science Advisor: Shereen Ilahi

Cleo Tanner and Women’s Sports at North Central College

Benjamin DiPasquo ’27 Secondary Education/History Social Science Advisor: Gregory H. Wolf

Teaching With Heart: Exploring the Role of Teacher Social Emotional Competence

Marla Chavez ’26 Elementary Education Advisor: Kathleen King

The Divine Age: A Narrative in Clay and Exhibition

Lucie Jumonville ’27 Studio Art Advisor: Christine Rabenold

Invertebrate Host Species Shed Infective Zoospores Into Aquatic Environments at Varying Rates

Hannah Galletti ’27 Biology Advisor: Gregory Ruthig

Methodological validation of a non-invasive ultrasound technique for in vivo measurement of ankle muscle fiber architecture

Jack Covey ’26 Biological Sciences Advisor: Gregory Ruthig

Enhanced or degraded mutualism with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and Canada thistle, an invasive plant

*Kayla Martinez ’26 Biochemistry

*Hannah Meyers ’28 Biology and Environmental Science

Daniela Acevedo ’29 Secondary Science Education

Eva Chavez Garcia ’27 Biology

Carly Grant ’26 Biology

Maggie Knopf ’27 Biology

Luke Moran ’27 Biology

Octavio Ortiz ’26 Biology

Nicole Baker ’24 Biology

Advisor: Joanna Weremijewicz

Kaempferol Attenuates PFDA-Induced Cytotoxicity and Oxidative Stress in HGrC1 Cells

Kate Taylor ’26 Biology

Advisor: Jennifer Sallee

Crochet Coral Reef Project

Carly Grant ’26 Biology

Advisor: Stuart Patterson

Optimizing Experimental Infrastructure for the MAGIS-100 Atom Interferometer: From Magnetic Mitigation to Vacuum Systems

Patricia Savoia Cooley ’27 Physics, Mathematics

Advisor: Mandy Kiburg

Upgrading a Magneto-Optic Microscope for Imaging Artificial Spin Ice

*Nazifa Anis ’26 Applied Mathematics, Physics Interdisciplinary

Zoya Karim, ’26 Chemistry

Annella Bellot ’27, Math and Physics

Advisor: Susan Kempinger

Enzyme Kinetics Using Quantitative NMR and Progress-Curve Analysis

Jean Guillaume Ducreux ’28 Biochemistry

Advisor: Jeffrey Bjorklund

Optimizing Dye Removal from Water Using Spent Coffee Grounds: Influence of pH and Particle Size

*Madeline Hill ’26 Environmental Science

*Deisy Perez ’26 Neuroscience

Advisor: Rebecca Sanders

Napping and Memory for Emotional Experiences

*Stella Bank ’26 Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychology

*Amelia Deliberto ’27 Psychology and Behavioral Neuroscience

*Liz Thomas ’27 Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychology

Advisor: Alexis Chambers

The Effects of Dialect Cues and Decisions in Healthcare: An Audio-Vignette Study

Genesis Hernandez ’26 Psychology

Advisor: Nader Hakim

An Analysis of Research Participation Hesitancy

Zain Raza ’26 Actuarial Science

Advisor: Nader Hakim

Exploration of the neurotoxic effects of ketamine on astrocyte activity in the ventral tegmental area and nucleus accumbens core

*Danni Moser ’26 Molecular Neuroscience

Theo VanderHyden ’26 Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychology

Miranda Baker ’26 Molecular Neuroscience

Ari Watts ’26 Molecular Neuroscience

Ceriana Potts ’28 Molecular Neuroscience

Yessica Valdez Ponce ’27 Molecular Neuroscience

Zoe Vo, ’27 Molecular Neuroscience and Psychology

Advisor: Michael Stefanik

Oxycodone incubation changes mTOR or eIF2 expression in the nucleus accumbens shell of male Sprague Dawley rats

*Miranda Baker ’26 Molecular Neuroscience

Ari Watts ’26 Molecular Neuroscience

Theodore VanderHyden ’26 Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychology

Ceriana Potts ’28 Molecular Neuroscience and Psychology

Zoe Vo ’27 Molecular Neuroscience and Psychology

Danielle Moser ’26 Molecular Neuroscience

Lukasz Teper ’26 Behavioral Neuroscience

Advisor: Michael Stefanik

Daily Self-Administration of oxycodone’s impact on eEF2 and eIF2 levels in male Sprague Dawley rats in the nucleus accumbens core

*Ari Watts ’26 Molecular Neuroscience

Miranda Baker ’26 Molecular Neuroscience

Danni Moser ’26 Molecular Neuroscience

Ceriana Potts ’28 Molecular Neuroscience and Psychology

Zoe Vo ’27 Molecular Neuroscience and Psychology

Yessica Valdez Ponce ’27 Molecular Neuroscience

Theodore VanderHyden ’26 Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychology

Lukasz Teper ’26 Behavioral Neuroscience

Advisor: Michael Stefanik

*Denotes presenters

POSTER PRESENTATIONS:

SESSION I 8:30 - 9:20 a.m.

Judy G. Stevenson Hall, second floor, Wentz Science Center

The Effect of Protein Consumption Timing on Hypertrophy in Adults Who Resistance Train: A Critically Appraised Topic

Claudia Spalding ’27 Master of Athletic Training

Advisor: Kendall Selsky

Eccentric Loading Therapy in Patients with Patellar Tendinopathy: A Critically Appraised Topic

Camille Ziemba ’27 Master of Athletic Training

Advisor: Kendall Selsky

The Addition of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation in Patients with Chronic Spinal Cord Injury Participating in Resistance Training: A Critically Appraised Topic

Tegan Oas ’27 Master of Athletic Training

Advisor: Kendall Selsky

Understanding Physical Activity Behaviors in Young Adults in College

*Bella LaRocco ’26 Exercise Science and Psychology

Logan Selsky ’26 Health Science

Advisor: Rachel Luehrs

What Drives Physically Active College Students to Meet Physical Activity Guidelines

*Cristiano Mastropieri ’27 Exercise Science

Anais Gerard ’27 Exercise Science and Kinesiology

Advisor: Rachel Luehrs

Studying How Music Frequencies

Psychologically Influence Humans

Eugene Kalin ’26 Mechanical Engineering

Advisor: Jonathon Kirk

ORAL PRESENTATIONS

9:35 - 10:55 a.m. Wentz Science Center

Historical Perspectives

Moderator: Will Barnett Location: WSC 256

Crime and Criminal Justice in The Salem Witch Trials

Milam Phills ’26 History

Advisor(s): Bruce Janacek

Scrummaging with Stereotypes: Masculinity, Identity, and LGBTQ+ Inclusion in Sports

Zachary “Caesar” Scalafini ’26 Music Composition Advisor(s): Will Barnett

A Kingdom of Priests: Women’s Authority and Patriarchy in Early Mormonism

Samantha Alis ’27 History and Anthropology Advisor(s): Will Barnett

The Religious and Scientific Views of Isaac Newton Andres Perez ’27 Secondary Education and Social Studies Advisor(s): Bruce Janacek

Art and Music as Performances

Moderator: Lindsay E. Shannon Location: WSC 354

Liberté, Antiquité, Publicité: How Jacques-Louis David’s Neoclassical Approach to Painting Shaped History

Marina Jòkanović ’26 Art History and Acting Advisor(s): Lindsay E. Shannon

From Compton to Puerto Rico: Social Criticism on America’s Biggest Stage

Mason Collins ’26 English Literature Advisor(s): Gregory H. Wolf

Kinesthetic Contagion: Modeling the Mechanisms of Mass Psychogenic Illness Through Theatre

Aidan McGuire ’26 Theatre: Design & Technology, Directing & Dramaturgy Advisor(s): John Warrick

Sonification of Biological Molecules

Claudia Andrews ’26 Biology and Music Performance

Advisor(s): Jonathon Kirk

Philosophy, AI, and Society

Moderator: Shaheen Moosa Location: WSC 042

The Role of Balance in Novel Videogame Monetization

Samuel Salvador ’26 Philosophy Advisor(s): Shaheen Moosa

The Ethics of Suicide

Justin Schroeder ’26 Philosophy and Religious Studies Advisor(s): Perry Hamalis

Modular Multi-state AI Teaching Protocol

Ian Gorrell ’26 Computer Science and Computer Engineering

Ethan Jordan (University of Sioux Falls)

Advisor(s): Nnamdi Nwanze

Lebensborn: Brothel or Baby Sanctuary?

Peyton Farrow ’26 Human Resource Management Advisor(s): Shereen Ilahi

Mental Health, Memory, and Psychology

Moderator: Alexis Chambers Location: WSC 254

Gender Difference in Police Officer Mental

Health Seeking Attitudes

Emily Mostaccio ’26 Psychology Advisor(s): Liana Peter-Hagene

Discrete Emotion Effects on Memory Recall

Stella Bank ’26 Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychology

Advisor(s): Alexis Chambers

N-Ovation: A Workbook for Small Restaurant Businesses to Lead Employees Towards Better Well-Being and Productivity

Nora Klepczarek ’26 Shimer Humanities

Advisor(s): Karl Kelley

Exercise and Self-Esteem: Running toward Better Mental Health

Macy Fleury ’26 Exercise Science

Allison Peloso ’27 Exercise Science

Advisor(s): Rachel Luehrs

*Denotes presenters

ORAL PRESENTATIONS

9:35 - 10:55 a.m.

Wentz Science Center

Space, Narratives, and Portrayals

Moderator: Jennifer Smith Location: WSC 356

Who is our Purpose?

Olivia Durbin ’27 Health Science Advisor(s): Nicole Rivera

Caring through Stories: A Narrative Medicine Intervention to Enhance Empathy in Physician Assistant Students

Nmesoma Onyejekwe ’26 Biochemistry

Advisor(s): Jennifer Smith and Mary Groll

The Depiction of Antisocial Personality Disorder in Crime Media

Brianna Gounelis ’26 Criminology

Advisor(s): Jesse Self

Lack of Access to Athletic Trainers in SES; A Critically Appraised Topic

Lunden Alexander ’27 Master of Athletic Training Advisor(s): Taylor Arman

Compelling Approaches in Art and Design

Moderator: David Cordero Location: WSC 015

From Fields Afar: Facing the Unknown

William Wrage ’26 Graphic Design Advisor(s): David Cordero

Pandora and Her Creators: A Reinterpretation of Myth and Art through Clay

Lucie Jumonville ’27 Studio Art

Advisor(s): Michael de Brauw

RESPLENDENT: Self-Portraiture as Process, Product, and Research in Exploration of the Female Identity

Jessica Zambo ’26 Design Advisor(s): David Cordero

The Impact of Educational Animation’s Design on Contemporary Undergraduates’ Engagement in a Digital Age

Aria Suh ’25 Design Advisor(s): Kevin Valentine

Biology and Society

Moderator: Gregory Ruthig Location: WSC 013

Water Molds as Model Multi-host Pathogens: Determining Disease Risk in Midwestern Pond Communities

Evelyn Kandler ’26 Biochemistry Advisor(s): Gregory Ruthig

Carbon Sequestration on Coffee Plots in Guatemala

Tejaswini Baskar Joshi ’26 Accounting Advisor(s): David Gray

Exhausted Coffee Grounds: Reusability for the Adsorption of Contaminants from Water

Madeline Hill ’26 Environmental Science

Advisor(s): Rebecca Sanders

COX10 activity in Leigh Syndrome: The effect of overexpressing a partially functioning allele in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Bruce Juarez ’26 Biochemistry Advisor(s): Steve D. Johnston

Language and Storytelling

Moderator: Quanisha Charles Location: WSC 040

Marvel-Less Genre and the Narrative Consequences of Franchise Fatigue

Camden Welander ’26 Computer Science Advisor(s): Saul Kutnicki

Dialogic Healing and Shared Authorship: A Multilingual Student’s Duoethnographic Journey Through the e-LOVE Framework

Manar Abdullah ’28 Mechanical Engineering Advisor(s): Quanisha Charles

The Strategies for L1 and L2 Acquisition

Ruth Nicolalde ’26 Psychology Advisor(s): Quanisha Charles

The Gateway to the Soul: Adolescent Black Reason in The Bluest Eye

Mia Cassin ’27 Secondary Education and English Education Advisor(s): Megan Cole Paustian

7 Moons and the Post-Mortem Point of View: Music, Literature, Photography, and the Sri Lankan Civil War

Moderator: Casey Gough Location: WSC 034

Humans & the Connection of Dark Humor in Literature

Cameron Andrea ’26 English Literature Advisor(s): Casey Gough

The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida: A Bohemian Rhapsody Jillian Calcagno ’27 English and Secondary Education Advisor(s): Casey Gough

Photojournalism & the Morals in Between

Seanah Battung-Wenz ’27 English and Education Advisor(s): Casey Gough

Center for Social Impact:

Community First Fellows Roundtable Moderator: Suzanne Chod Location: WSC 104

BOLD Choice: Promoting activist theatre in suburban spaces and the hiatus of Paramount Aurora’s BOLD series

Jake Keller ’26 Musical Theatre and Theatre: Directing & Dramaturgy Advisor(s): Stuart Patterson

Pathways to Civic Participation: Increasing Internal Civic Efficacy Among Low-Income

Roselynne Orrala ’28 Economics Advisor(s): Suzanne Chod

CFF - How Churches can be used for Educational Purposes

Jayden Lawrence ’27 Journalism & Media Communications Advisor(s): Steve Macek and Suzanne Chod

The Healthcare Desert: Implementation of Mobile Integrated Healthcare and Community Paramedicine in Rural Areas

Aaliyah McCormick ’26 Political Science Advisor(s): Nader Hakim

CSI Fellowship - Data Center Education

Simisola Smith-Paríolá ’27 Environmental Business Advisor(s): Ann Dolinko

Building Leadership Pipelines: Advancing Women in Collegiate Athletic Administration

Skyy Hills ’26 Political Science and Sport Management Advisor(s): Suzanne Chod

*Denotes presenters

The Stories We Inherit: Student Immigration

Storytelling as a Living Archive of Identity and Belonging in the United States

Moderator: Jelena Sánchez Location: WSC 101

The Stories We Inherit: Student Immigration

Storytelling Roundtable

Amanda Azpeitia ’28 Biology: Health Professions

Luisa López López ’28 Biology: Biological Science, Entrepreneurship, Finance

Kamryn Neer ’27 Biology: Health Professions and Political Science

Shea Smith ’26 Computer Science

Kelly Tapia ’26 Human Resource Management and Finance

Gabrielle Gangloff ’27 Psychology

Holly Salazar-Ramírez ’29 Communication Studies and Journalism & Media Communication

Advisor(s): Jelena Sánchez

POSTER PRESENTATIONS: SESSION II

11:10 a.m. - noon

The Persecution of the Sinti-Romani during the Third Reich

Esteban Nunez ’26 English

Advisor: Gregory H. Wolf

Counterculture Ideologies of the 1960s: The Effects of Drugs

Sophia Fischer ’28 History and Secondary Education

Advisor: William Barnett

The Neoliberal Shift in Body Positivity: Commodifying Empowerment and Individualizing Resistance

Megan Sinnaeve ’26 Sociology

Advisor: Steve Macek

How Japan’s Aging Population Is Reshaping Business

Patrick Duffy ’27 Japanese Studies

Advisor: Reiko Speich

The Boogeyman Is Not Real: Disgust, Anger, and Anti-Transgender

Tactics in Contemporary American Conservatism

Aaliyah McCormick ’26 Political Science

Advisor: Suzanne Chod

Essential Oil Thymoquinone Suppress Water Mold Germination in a Dose Dependent Manner

*Connor Stafiej ’26 Biology

*Cristian Sandoval ’26 Biology: Biomedical Science

Advisor: Gregory Ruthig

Thermal Influence on Zoospore Release and Hyphae

Growth of Saprolegnia Ferax

Jason Smith ’26 Biology: Biomedical Sciences

Advisor: Gregory Ruthig

Survey of pathogen diversity in Midwestern pond communities

*Daniella Ballestas ’28 Biology

Dallas Gillson ’25

Evelyn Kandler ’26

Hannah Galletti ’27

Advisor: Gregory Ruthig

TCG Verify

*Ian Gorrell ’26 Computer Science and Computer Engineering

*Dastan Kasymbekov ’28 Computer Science

*Matija Vuckovic ’26 Computer Science

Advisor: Sun-il Kim

Predictive Model for Magnetic Field Required to Switch Islands of Magnetic Material

Annella Bellot ’27 Professional Physics and Mathematics

Advisor: Susan Kempinger

Simulating Hard Axis Field Contribution on Artificial Magnetic Systems via Mumax3

*Zoya Karim ’26 Chemistry

*Nazifa Anis ’26 Applied Mathematics and Interdisciplinary Physics

Annella Bellot ’27 Mathematics and Professional Physics

Advisor: Susan Kempinger

Crystal Structures of Large-Volume Commercial Pharmaceuticals

Jacob Salazar ’26 ACS-Certified Chemistry

Advisor: James A. Kaduk

Evidence of Victim’s Depression Can Increase Acquittals in a Murder Trial

*Elizabeth Thomas ’27 Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychology

*Cordelia Skuldt ’27 Psychology

*Tia Atkins ’25 Psychology

Advisor: Claudia Peter-Hagene

Judy G. Stevenson Hall, second floor, Wentz Science Center

POSTER PRESENTATIONS:

Judy G. Stevenson Hall, second floor, Wentz Science Center

Investigating oxytocin-mGluR2/3 interactions on oxytocin’s attenuation of cocaine-seeking in differentially reared rats

*Trinity Murray ’26 Molecular Neuroscience

*Lukasz Teper ’26 Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychology

*Ryan Breese ’28 Psychology and Economics

*Olivia Roth ’29 Molecular Neuroscience Advisor: Margaret Gill

The Framing of News Articles

Ruth Nicolalde ’26 Psychology Advisor: Mary Jean Lynch

Exploring Personality Effects in Text-Based Communication Through Emoji Usage

*Taylor Graveman ’27 Psychology & Sports Management

*Alayna Lazicki ’27 Psychology & Health Science

*Katie Weisheit (Psychology, St. Olaf College class of 2024)

*Jesus Herrera ’26 Psychology

*Naomi Virgil ’27 Psychology Advisor: Mary Jean Lynch

Can white noise with the placebo effect increase memory recall performance?

Colette Tozier ’26 Psychology Advisor: Marissa Bamberger

Mathematics of Nurikabe

Corey Budd ’26 Applied Mathematics Advisor: Matthew Pons and David Schmitz

Conservative vs Surgical Treatment of FAI

Mia Giurini ’27 Master of Athletic Training Advisor: Taylor Arman

Open Kinetic Chain Exercises Necessary in ACLR Rehabilitation

Jack Stam ’27 Master of Athletic Training

Advisor: Taylor Arman

Effect of Formal Mentorship Programs on New Athletic Training Professionals and Their Job Satisfaction and Clinical Decision Making

Lily Stacey ’27 Master of Athletic Training

Advisor: Taylor Arman

Early Functional Exercise Compared to Traditional Functional Exercise in ACL Reconstruction Rehabilitation

Trevor Scott ’27 Master of Athletic Training

Advisor: Taylor Arman

VR/AR CPR Training vs Traditional CPR Training: A Critically Appraised Topic

Michelle Watson ’27 Master of Athletic Training Advisor: Taylor Arman

In Football Athletes Without Previous Knee Injury, How Does Bracing, Compared to No Knee Bracing, Affect the Risk of Knee Injury: A Critically Appraised Topic

Joana Persiani ’27 Master of Athletic Training

Advisor: Taylor Arman

Whole Body Vibration and Increasing Hitting Performance for Baseball and Softball Players: A Critically Appraised Topic

Benjamin Dakis ’27 Master of Athletic Trainingg

Advisor: Kendall Selsky

50TH ANNUAL HONORS CONVOCATION

1:30 - 3:30 p.m.

Wentz Concert Hall

*Processional “Proud Heritage” by William Latham

North Central College Concert Winds Dr Lawrence Van Oyen, Conductor Audience, please stand as you are able.

Invocation

Welcome

Awards Introduction

Rev Max Blalock Chaplain

Dr Abiódún Gòkè-Paríolá President

Dr Kristin Geraty

Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES

ART and DESIGN

Diane Duvigneaud Senior Art Award: Jessica Zambo

Outstanding Major in Art and Design: William Wrage

BIOCHEMISTRY and BIOLOGY

Outstanding Major in Biochemistry: Nmesoma Onyejekwe

Outstanding Major in Biology: Rebecca DeSouza

CHEMISTRY and PHYSICS

Outstanding Major in Chemistry: Mark Horton

Outstanding Major in Physics: Nicholas White

COMMUNICATION and MEDIA STUDIES

John Madormo Outstanding Student Broadcaster: Hailie Balding

Outstanding Major in Communication Studies: Lola Furbee

Outstanding Student in Forensics: Aidan McGuire

Outstanding Major in Interactive Media Studies: Ashly Rico

Outstanding Major in Journalism and Media Communication: Jayden Lawrence

Outstanding Major in Organizational Communication: Diego Farias

COMPUTER SCIENCE and ENGINEERING

Outstanding Major in Computer Science and Engineering: Ian Gorrell

Ms Hale Ekinci

Dr Steve Johnston

Dr Nicholas Boaz

Dr Amy Grim Buxbaum

ENGLISH

Outstanding Major in English: Ainsley Ratledge

Outstanding Major in Literature: Sophia Hein

Outstanding Major in Writing: Raine Lanoue

HISTORY

Outstanding Major in Social Science/History: Olivia Walko

James Henry Breasted Class of 1890 Outstanding Major in History: Carolynn Missak

Dr Nnamdi Nwanze

Megan Cole Paustian

Dr Luke Franks

MATHEMATICS and ACTUARIAL SCIENCE

Outstanding Major in Actuarial Science: Toni Sarussi

Outstanding Major in Applied Mathematics: Tommaso Proserpio

Outstanding Major in Mathematics: Nicholas White

MECHANICAL and ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING

Outstanding Major in Mechanical Engineering: John Chivari

Outstanding Major in Electrical Engineering: Anthony Cole

MUSIC

Clarence Juhnke Outstanding Music Major Award: Kenadie Dawson

Outstanding Major in Music Education: Joie Fagaragan

PHILOSOPHY and RELIGIOUS STUDIES

Outstanding Major in Philosophy: Samuel Salvador

Outstanding Major in Religious Studies: Justin Schroeder

POLITICAL SCIENCE

Outstanding Major in Political Science: Kayley Bogdan

PSYCHOLOGY and NEUROSCIENCE

Outstanding Major in Psychology: Matthew Henning

Outstanding Major in Neuroscience: Trinity Murray

SHIMER GREAT BOOKS SCHOOL

Outstanding Student in the Shimer Great Books School: Ruin Corbin

SOCIOLOGY, CRIMINOLOGY and ANTHROPOLOGY

Outstanding Major in Anthropology: Julia Vitucci

Outstanding Major in Criminology: Sara Sterner

Outstanding Major in Sociology: Megan Sinnaeve

THEATRE

Outstanding Major in Musical Theatre: Jake Keller

Outstanding Majors in Theatre: Lily Barger and Aidan McGuire

Outstanding Major in Theatrical Design and Technology: Beatrice Harbaugh

WORLD LANGUAGES and CULTURES

Outstanding Student in Chinese: Bailey Miller

Outstanding Student in German: Tamara Alvarado

Outstanding Student in Japanese: Patrick Duffy

Outstanding Student in Spanish: Elisa Schiralli

Dr Katherine Heller

Dr Frank Harwath

Dr Susan Chou

Dr Greg Lynch

Dr Suzanne Chod

Dr

Mary Jean Lynch

Dr Daniela Barberis

Dr Matthew Krystal

Dr Laura Lodewyck

Dr Patricia Bayona

SCHOOL OF BUSINESS & ENTREPRENEURSHIP

ACCOUNTING

Outstanding Major in Accounting: Joselind Manzano

ECONOMICS and FINANCE

Outstanding Major in Economics: Logan Hess

Outstanding Major in Finance: Andy Pham

MANAGEMENT and MARKETING

Outstanding Major in Human Resource Management: Peyton Farrow

Outstanding Major in International Business: Liana Marchionne

Outstanding Major in Management: Travis Farnum

Outstanding Major in Marketing: Zuzanna Kalinowski

EDUCATION

Outstanding Major in Elementary Education: Mary Elliott

Ms Sarah Kostelny

Dr Gwendolyn Tedeschi

Dr Jeffrey Anstine

SCHOOL OF EDUCATION & HEALTH SCIENCES

Outstanding Major in Secondary Education: Viridiana Perez-Andrade

HEALTH SCIENCES

Outstanding Major in Health Science: Logan Selsky

Outstanding Major in Sport Management: Sydney Tucker

Outstanding Major in Nutrition: Aubrey Sinchak

KINESIOLOGY

Outstanding Major in Exercise Science: Macy Fleury

ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

Outstanding Major in Environmental Studies: Logan Riemer

GLOBAL STUDIES

Outstanding Major in Global Studies: Nicole Posont

INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES

Dr Francine G Navakas Student in Interdisciplinary Studies: Jack Spatara

LEADERSHIP, ETHICS & VALUES

Outstanding Major in Social Entrepreneurship: Elizabeth Herwaldt

Dr . Kathleen King

Dr Kristin Patel

Dr Rachel Luehrs

INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES

Dr Jeffrey Anstine

Dr Supna Jain

Dr Daniela Barberis

Dr Julie Nagashima

RECOGNITIONS

Distinguished Military Graduate

Dr Vicki Williams Award Recipient: Bailey Miller

COLLEGE AWARDS

Outstanding Service to Student Life Award Dr Vicki Williams Award Recipient: Arthur Glinkin

Margaret Youel Award Dr Vicki Williams Award Recipients: Adaly Camacho and Anthony Cole

Harold R Wilde Distinguished Service Award Mr Vincenzo DeMaio ’26

Megan Sweeney ’01 Award Dr Jennifer Smith Award Recipient: Nmesoma Onyejekwe

Outstanding Senior Awards

Abiódún Gòkè-Paríolá

Closing Remarks Dr Abiódún Gòkè-Paríolá

North Central is the school we love, To her we sing this praise, And from the East and from the West You hear the voices raise Hail! Hail! North Central Hail!

Our Alma Mater true, We’ll always, always loyal be To you, to you, to you

*Recessional “Proud Heritage” by William Latham

Please stand and remain in seats until faculty process out.

An Honors Reception will be held in the Wentz Concert Hall Lobby immediately following the Convocation.

Alma Mater

Student Thesis Advisor(s)

Claudia Andrews Jonathon Kirk

Miranda Baker

Corey Budd .

Michael Stefanik

David Schmitz

COLLEGE SCHOLAR HONORS THESES

Thesis Title

Sonification of Biological Molecules

Oxycodone incubation changes mTOR or eIF2 expression in the nucleus accumbens shell of male Sprague Dawley rats

. Mathematics of Nurikabe Matthew Pons

Marla Chavez Kathleen King

Madeline Hill Rebecca Sanders

Marina Jòkanović Lindsay Shannon

Tejaswini Baskar Joshi David Gray

Eugene Kalin Jonathon Kirk

Nora Klepczarek

Karl Kelley

Emily Mostaccio Liana Peter-Hagene

Nmesoma Onyejekwe Jennifer Smith

Zain Raza Nader Hakim

Aria Suh

Camden Welander

Kevin Valentine

. Saul Kutnicki

Jessica Zambo David Cordero

Teaching with Heart: Exploring the Role of Teacher Social Emotional Competence

Exhausted Coffee Grounds: Reusability for the Adsorption of Contaminants from Water

Liberté, Antiquité, Publicité: How Jacques-Louis David’s Neoclassical Approach to Painting Shaped History

Carbon Sequestration on Coffee Plots in Guatemala

Studying How Music Frequencies Psychologically Influence Humans

N-Ovation: A Workbook for Small Restaurant Businesses to Lead Employees Towards Better Well-Being and Productivity

Gender Difference in Police Officer Mental Health Seeking Attitudes

Caring through Stories: A Narrative Medicine Intervention to Enhance Empathy in Physician Assistant Students

An Analysis of Research Participation Hesitancy

. The Impact of Educational Animation’s Design on Contemporary Undergraduates’ Engagement in the Digital Age

Marvel-Less Genre and the Narrative Consequences of Franchise Fatigue

RESPLENDENT: Self Portraiture as Process, Product, and Research in Exploration of the Female Identity

RICHTER INDEPENDENT STUDY FELLOWSHIP RECIPIENTS

Samantha Alis, Maren Anderson and Joaquin DeVries One-Hundred-Six Days for Democracy: Foundations and Strategies of a Successful Pro-Democracy Movement

Marina Jòkanović

Trinity Murray

Liberté, Antiquité, Publicité: How Jacques-Louis David’s Neoclassical Approach to Painting Shaped History

Investigating oxytocin-mGluR2/3 interactions on oxytocin’s attenuation of cocaine-seeking in differentially reared rats

Baseball 2025

ABCA Academic Team Award

Football 2025

CSC Academic All-Americans: Jerred Durian, Aidan Ellison, Danny Nuccio

NFF Hampshire Honor Society: Isaac Banker, Jerred Durian, Aidan Ellison, John Golden Jr , Drew Harp, Calvin Lavery, Danny Nuccio, Brock Nunez, Jake Pieper, Alex Porter, Noah Rapinchuk, Gustav Tosterud

NCAA Elite 90 Award: Tucker Johnson

Men’s Cross Country 2025

USTFCCCA All-Academic: Aidan Armstrong, Ari Elmayan, Jack Galminas, Jacob Kluckhohn, Oscar Frontjes, BJ Sorg

USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Award

Men’s Golf 2025

Cobalt Golf All-American Scholar: Brendan Joy, Zachary Lunde, Cole Martin

Men’s Lacrosse 2025

USILA Academic Team Award

Men’s Soccer 2025

USC Scholar Team Academic Award

Men’s Tennis 2024-2025

ITA Division III Scholar Athletes: Matt Crossland, Rafael Lessa, Justin Penados, Henry Ros, Philipp Wottgen

Men’s Track and Field 2025

USTFCCCA All-Academic: Ben Balboa, Matt Jett, Jayden Leise, Braden Nicholson, Connor Riss, BJ Sorg, Oscar Frontjes, Anthony Zajac

USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Award

Men’s Wrestling 2026

NWCA Scholar All-American: Casey Aikman, Will Erbeck, AJ Frescura, Matthew Maldonado, Josh Robison, Ethan Spacht

CSC Academic All-American: Casey Aikman

SCHOLAR ALL-AMERICANS

Women’s Cross Country 2025

USTFCCCA All-Academic: Lily Anderson

USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Award

Women’s Golf 2025

WGCA All-American Scholars: Mallorie Clifton, Tatiana Cooper, Aleksa Gizewicz, Anna Meinhart, Madison Place

Women’s Lacrosse 2025

IWLCA Academic Honor Roll: Lucy Culig, Hanna Dahlk, Ellie Gosselin, Tori Leonard, Abby MacKenzie, Annelise Oster, Zoe Palm, and Taylor Smith

Women’s Soccer 2025

USC Team Academic Award

Women’s Tennis 2024-2025

ITA Division III Scholar Athletes: Ainara Casado Cedillo, Sophia Drozd, Liveta Ezerskis, Anais Gerard, Kate Herlihy, Kayla McSweeney, Abigail Penados

ITA All-Academic Team Award

Women’s Track & Field 2025

USTFCCCA All-Academic: Gwen Berenyi, Anna Cotter, Gabrielle Harding, Alivia Henkel, Natalie Johnson, Kyla Miller, Cali Minkie, Lindsey Novak

CSC Academic All-American: Lindsey Novak

USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Award

Women’s Triathlon 2025

CTCA Scholar All-American: Jordan Haupt

CTCA Scholar All-America Team

Women’s Volleyball 2025

AVCA Team Academic Award

Women’s Wrestling 2026

NWCA Scholar All-Americans: Bella Bolek, Milana Borrelli, Mackenzie Conklin, Mikayla Garcia, Taylor Graveman, Gracie Guarino, Taylor Miess, Jael Miller, Layla Morris, Eliana Paramo, Carissa Qureshi, Riley Rayome, Elizabeth Rosenstiel, Grace Stem, Sara Sterner, Mallory Winner, London Woods, Dasia Yearby, Amaya Yoshizumi

NWCA Team Scholar Champion

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Honors Day Program 2026 by North Central College - Issuu