April 11, 2018

Celebrating Student Achievement Day Edition

April 11, 2018

Celebrate Student Achievement on April 12 Courtesy of meredith.edu

Meredith College will hold its annual Celebrating Student Achievement (CSA) Day on Thursday, April 12, 2018. This daylong event is a longtime tradition at Meredith during which students share the results of their undergraduate research and creative projects.

CSA Day includes research presentations, posters, performances, and other creative projects, as well as award ceremonies and special departmental events.

An impressive percentage of Meredith students — 51% — participate in undergraduate research each year. A widevariety of disciplines, including biology, fashion, nutrition, English, and psychology, will be represented during this CSA Day. The day begins with a breakfast and poster session from 7:30 – 8:30 a.m. in Carlyle Campbell Library. The full schedule is available on MyMeredith.

Hannah Southern Harris 208 , 9:45-10:05 a.m.; 10:35-10:55 a.m.

Do you feel that this research or some aspect of what you’ve learned will apply to your future, whether in continuing education or in the working world?

My current research will absolutely apply to my future. I have been accepted to American University’s art history graduate program and will specialize in early modern European art starting this fall. I hope to continue working with art for the rest of my life.

Rachael Hoffman Martin 242, 12:15 to 1:15 p.m.

What is your research?

I am presenting different projects from the last 4 years in the interior design program. The goal is to show how I have enhanced my skills, and knowledge from freshman year to senior year. I will be showing a few projects from freshman, sophomore, and junior year but will be highlighting the projects I completed in my senior level studios. I am very excited to show the boutique hotel we just finished. It was the most challenging, but reward project I have completed so far at Meredith.

What inspired this topic for you?

The interior design department host a senior showcase every year, so I am excited to be a part of it. During every project you keep CSA day in mind, because it’s a good time to show off our projects, and skills.

Do you feel that this research or some aspect of what you’ve learned will apply to your future, whether in continuing education or in the working world?

This will definitely be helpful in the future. It shows everything from the codes, to the construction documents, to the pretty fabrics.

Being able to present yourself well as an interior designer is very important and presenting these projects is just another opportunity to strengthen these skills.

Davis Holt

Poster Session, Carlyle Campbell Library, 7:30-8:30 a.m.

What is your research?

I am presenting 2 different avenues of research on CSA Day. The first is my senior thesis, which analyzes Impressionist and Realist Edouard Manet’s portraits of Berthe Morisot, one of the few female Impressionist artists. I focus on how he combines genre painting and portraiture to construct and manipulate her identity within the portraits. The second paper I am presenting discusses Caravaggio’s painting “Salome Receiving the Head of John the Baptist.” I analyze how Caravaggio handles the themes of death and malevolence in the painting.

What inspired this topic for you?

I love feminist critique of art history, so I am drawn to any representation of women in art. I first 11became interested in Manet’s portraits when I learned he painted Morisot more than any other female model (including his wife of 20 years), yet never painted her as an artist.

Manet had a hard time reconciling Morisot’s artistic and intellectual as a woman, so instead he removes her agency and paints her as the sexual feminine ideal. In Caravaggio’s painting, I was intrigued by his depiction of Salome and how he handles the consequences of death in the composition. Caravaggio creates an emotional connection in his work that makes the viewer confront the psychological consequences of the bible story.

What is your research?

My research is on the relationship between romantic partner attachment, the length of the relationship, and political and religious similarities.

What inspired this topic for you?

I was interested in attachment to begin with and then it evolved into this research study using the Meredith Emerging Adulthood Longitudinal Studies.

Do you feel that this research or some aspect of what you’ve learned will apply to your future, whether in continuing education or in the working world?

I feel as though this research could spark other ideas for me in the future. Although I will be working with children, applying this research to friendships instead of romantic partners might be interesting and beneficial to me as a teacher.

CSA Day

CSA Day

Amanda McLain

Poster Session, Carlyle Campbell Library, 7:30-8:30 a.m.

What is your research?

My research is looking at Coliform Counts in Local Recreational Water Sources Around Meredith College Campus. I am sampling one location on campus and Lake Johnson off campus to see the amount of coliform counts within each, while also recording the temperature and pH of each sample. From this research we are able to see trends in counts throughout the year and see the correlation between the location and the amount of coliform found.

This research is providing a baseline data so that further research can be conducted on this topic.

What inspired this topic for you?

I had taken Microbiology at Meredith College, which opened my eyes to the small microorganisms that live around us. So when my research adviser, Dr. Andrus, proposed this research topic to me, I was intrigued to conduct research that explores the topic of microorganisms in water sources that we interact with in our environment. This topic inspired me because these microorganisms within the water have the potential to be pathogenic to humans and animals. We interact with these water sources on a daily basis, which means that we are coming into contact with these microorganisms.

Do you feel that this research or some aspect of what you’ve learned will apply to your future, whether in continuing education or in the working world?

This research will definitely benefit my future. I have learned basic lab techniques that I can apply in my future career as a researcher in the field of Biology. Having these techniques will be beneficial because they can be applied to many forms of research and will set me apart from others in this field. Also doing this research has allowed for me to gain experience in collecting data, managing a laboratory, troubleshooting, collaborating with others, and supervising other undergraduate students. Doing this research has allowed for me to have the confidence to be a successful researcher in the field of Biology in the future.

Sarah Du Bose SMB 162, 8:30 a.m.

What is your research?

My research is on The Effects of 8 Week Physical Education Courses on Anxiety, Body Image, and Exercise Self-Efficacy.

What inspired this topic for you?

The inspiration for my research was based on me being an athlete and my experience with school stress. I found that regular exercise helped my anxiety and stress.

Do you feel that this research or some aspect of what you’ve learned will apply to your future, whether in continuing education or in the working world?

This research will be applied to my future as I plan to continue my education in a Master’s program at UVA in Kinesiology.

Tishya Robertson

Annie Poslusny

Harris 208, 8:30 a.m.

Harris 208, 9:20 and 10:10 a.m.

What is your research?

I have researched a painting by Caravaggio, an Italian Baroque artist. The painting is called Sick Bacchus, and it is a self-portrait of the artist as the Bacchus, the Roman god of wine, fertility, and agriculture. The interesting part is that Caravaggio/Bacchus has an illness in the painting, and art historians have been unable to determine what that disease is, so as a public health major, I am hoping to shed some light on that aspect.

What inspired this topic for you?

I studied abroad in Sansepolcro, Italy in the spring of 2017, and the focus of the semester was Art in Italy. Dr. Mulvaney, the facultyin-residence and one of my current professors, instilled a love of art in me that I never thought was there. Since then, I have been looking for ways to combine it with public health- which is pretty interdisciplinary already- so when I came across this painting in my Baroque Art class, I was very curious about what disease ailed Caravaggio. Retroactively studying a disease can be difficult since you may never be able to know if you were right or not, but I have come across a few explanations that are highly probable.

Do you feel that this research or some aspect of what you’ve learned will apply to your future, whether in continuing education or in the working world?

Although I’m not entirely sure if my career will involve art history, it will involve public health which often requires creativity and the ability to interpret data. I have had to do in-depth research on this topic, so the skills I used for this project can be used in any career path or continuing education.

What is your research?

I will be presenting two research projects on CSA Day. The first is a research project on Caravaggio, specifically on the Inspiration of St. Matthew ca. 1602. Through analysis of his religious imagery, I show how he presents saints as relatable figures while using various artistic techniques to heighten an emotional response in the viewer, and make the viewer a part of the story. My second project is a combination research/creative project on Illuminated Manuscripts. I researched how and why Illuminated Manuscripts were made, and for the creative part I am making a page of my own Illuminated Manuscript using calligraphy, and gouache paint.

What inspired this topic for you?

Caravaggio is my favorite artist of the Baroque period, and this research grew out of a class assignment. I was particularly interested in the Inspiration of St. Matthew because it was the second of two versions Caravaggio did of the same subject, but the first was immediately rejected by the church. I wanted to find out why the first version was rejected, and how the composition was changed to make it more palatable. I wanted to see what the artist originally intended, and how he altered his composition while still remaining faithful to his style.

The Illuminated Manuscript project came about because I was struck by how beautiful and intricate they are. I was curious how they were made, and thought I would learn a great deal about them by making one myself.

Do you feel that this research or some aspect of what you’ve learned will apply to your future, whether in continuing education or in the working world?

I love researching. I get interested in something, and enjoy pursuing it and seeing where it leads. Both of the projects are important to my career goal of becoming a museum curator and art historian. Being a thorough researcher, good writer, and good public speaker are important. Even though I don’t enjoy public speaking, I pushed myself to do these presentations because I know the only way I will get better at it is to actually do it.

Participating in experiences like CSA Day show that I am willing to go above and beyond classroom requirements, and am truly and genuinely interested in the field of art history.

Mayson Stowers Ledford 101, 10:35 a.m.

What is your research?

My research is about the effect of doodling and fidgeting on memory. I looked at how natural tendencies play a role in the effectiveness of doodling and fidgeting, hypothesizing that these active tendencies would not have a negative impact on the participants’ memories.

What inspired this topic for you?

As a psychology and studio art double major, I knew I wanted to research one of the many ties between these two subjects.

Growing up, I had always been told to stop fidgeting and doodling, as these actions supposedly would distract me. However, I doubted this common assumption, so I decided to delve into deeper research on the topic.

Do you feel that this research or some aspect of what you’ve learned will apply to your future, whether in continuing education or in the working world?

I hope to use this research to encourage future counseling clients and guide possible research in graduate school.

Brianna Sgherza and Aubrey Haigler Harris 208, 2:35 p.m.

What is your research?

Our research analyzed Italian family structures through the examination of Italian films. The two Italian films analyzed were titled La Stanza del Figlio and Pranzo di Ferragosto and the research mainly focused on family dynamics and parenting styles.

The title of the presentation is Family vs. Famiglia: An Analysis of Families through Italian Cinema.

What inspired this topic for you?

The inspiration for this topic is my Italian heritage and my love for the culture (Brianna).

Do you feel that this research or some aspect of what you’ve learned will apply to your future, whether in continuing education or in the working world?

This research has helped me understand my family dynamic and have a greater appreciation for our traditions (Brianna).

Elizabeth Riley

Poster Session, Carlyle Campbell Library, 7:30-8:30 a.m.

What is your research?

My research is on the perceptions of Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten teachers on the role of empowerment on the socioemotional development of young children.

What inspired this topic for you?

As a child development major, I have learned and been able to apply knowledge regarding the developmental domains of human development. I have become increasingly interested in the socioemotional domain, which refers to how children experience and learn about their own emotions and how they learn to interact with others. While empowerment is a concept that can apply to all individuals regardless of age, the first 8 years of a child’s life can be a determinant of one’s mastery of this abstract concept. Because children are not able to grasp more abstract concepts of emotion until adolescence, I wanted to know more about how children develop this area of cognition without fully understanding what it means to be empowered. When children are given opportunities for independence and autonomy, they are subconsciously learning about what it means to feel empowered.

Do you feel that this research or some aspect of hwat you’ve learned will apply to your future, whether in continuing education or in the working world?

This research will be extremely applicable as I continue on and pursue teaching children with my B-K teacher licensure. Early childhood educators are able to plan curriculum and learning experiences for children that can contribute to their socio-emotional development.

Yousra Bouzaghar

Poster Session, Carlyle Campbell Library, 7:30-8:30 a.m.

What is your research?

My research is focused on the HIV-1 protease inhibition properties of a plant-based compound called Oxymatrine. This compound has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat a variety of conditions, from hepatitis B to pancreatic cancer. Our research shows that it does inhibit HIV-1 protease.

What inspired this topic for you?

Once I learned about this research project, I knew I had to get on board because HIV was one of my favorite topics in cell biology class. Learning about how the virus works differently from other viruses and how that has made HIV so difficult to combat was interesting and I wanted to work more with the virus.

Do you feel that this research or some aspect of what you’ve learned will apply to your future, whether in continuing education or in the working world?

Absolutely. I am beginning pharmacy school in the fall, where my studies will be focused on medication. Being a part of this research project motivates me to pursue more research opportunities in pharmacy school. Also, I believe this research has the potential to affect the pharmaceutical industry. The HIV medications currently on the market have a variety of side effects. Oxymatrine is plantbased and has no known side effects.

CSA Day Briana Landis

Poster Session, Carlyle Campbell Library, 7:30-8:30 a.m.

What is your research?

Development of a REDCap-based instrument for investigating Environmental and genetic risk factors of multiple sclerosis My research had two major parts. The first part was developing a survey that we can give to people living with Multiple Sclerosis to look at different risk factors that might cause MS to occur. For example, does smoking or being around smoking increase your risk for MS? Then we will use the data to compare to the second part of the research that I did which was look at the genetics of people with MS and using this combined data to help look for the cause of MS or to find a better way to test people for MS as the current test is a spinal tap, which I can speak from personal experience is painful!

What inspired this topic for you?

I was inspired to do research on this topic because I myself was diagnosed with MS at age 4, which is very young, most people are around 25. MS is incurable and it is time to change that! My research was done through a foundation called DiscoveryMS, who only does research on Multiple Sclerosis, so it was an amazing environment to be in!

Do you feel that this research or some aspect of what you’ve learned will apply to your future, whether in continuing education or in the working world?

YES! I loved doing this research (and I get to do it again this summer!) with the amazing team at DiscoveryMS. Because of my research, I actually was able to go to Washington, DC and advocate for more research funding to members of Congress! In the future, I cannot wait to do that again. I would also love to keep doing research on MS.

Tori Burke

Harris 208, 8:55 a.m.

What is your research?

I did research on different forms of contemporary Native American art, and particularly on how its development relates to selfrepresentation.

What inspired this topic for you?

I started out studying ancient Native American art and found several contemporary Native American artists who I had never heard of while doing research. I later realized that I hadn’t seen very much contemporary Native art at all - Most of what is publicly acknowledged on a large scale is ancient art. Many of the artists work with this issue and the misconception that living artists have to make work that looks a certain way for their culture to be accepted. I think it’s important for their works to be seen and for it to be understood that the artists are the ones who get to decide what Native American art will be.

Do you feel that this research or some aspect of what you’ve learned will apply to your future, whether in continuing education or in the working world?

Yes, I think this topic is something that I’ll always be interested in, regardless of what I do after I graduate. I appreciate having a deeper understanding of art through research, and I think it helps me both with my own concepts as an artist and with being able to describe the complicated relationships between culture, psychology, and art history that are present in any art movement.

Rakeal Williamson

Pre-Health Post-Bac Student Poster Session, Carlyle Campbell Library, 7:30-8:30 a.m.

What is your research?

Title: DNA Extraction and PCR Product of Salmonella typhimurium Gene invA Abstract: Salmonella typhimurium is a gram-negative motile bacillus and is a causative agent of typhoid fever, diarrhea, focal septic infections, and septicemia. Salmonella gastroenteritis is a global health problem, even in industrialized nations. In the invABC operon, the invA gene is the first gene and is responsible for invasion of the intestinal epithelial cells. The invA gene is a known target of Salmonella and contains DNA sequences unique to its genus with the potential to be a diagnostic application. In this experiment, molecular methods were used to amplify the invA gene of S. typhimurium in an attempt to clone the gene into an Escherichia coli host. DNA extractions were performed on two samples, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to amplify the invA gene.

There was DNA observed on the gel run for DNA extraction sample two and not for DNA extraction sample one. The second PCR reaction gel did show PCR product for sample two at the expected size 2058 bp as verified by comparing to the BenchTop 1 Kb ladder.

What inspired this topic for you?

In regards to my research specifically, I have a desire to attend medical school and pursue a career in obstetrics and gynecology to enhance women’s health care. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Salmonella infection is a worldwide illness and may cause significant morbidity and mortality in both the mother and fetus. In order to eliminate this issue, with intensive literature review, I identified one of the primary genes, invA, to be responsible for Salmonella typhimurium invasion of the intestinal epithelial wall.

Do you feel that this research or some aspect of what you’ve learned will apply to your future, whether in continuing education or in the working world?

Yes, hopefully in the future, I will be able to perform an experiment with a knockout version of the gene. A clearer idea of the mechanism utilized by Salmonella typhimurium to invade the intestinal epithelial wall would be explored during this experiment.

The knowledge I gained in the research lab will definitely be beneficial to my professional development in the medical field.

Day at a Glance 7:30-8:30 a.m. Poster Session--Carlyle Campbell Library 8:30-11:20 a.m. Morning Sessions--Ledford 101, Ledford 111, SMB 118, SMB 162, Harris 208, Harris 214 9:30 – 11 a.m. Women in Music History--Carswell Concert Hall 9 – 11:30 a.m. Senior Spotlight & Got My Wings Launch--SMB Atrium 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. Lunch & Dessert--Belk Dining Hall 1:30-4 p.m. Afternoon Sessions--Ledford 101, SMB 162, Harris 104, Harris 208, Harris 214 1:30 – 4 p.m. Musical Performance & Research--Carswell Concert Hall 4 – 5 p.m. Student Academic and Leadership Awards Ceremony--Jones Auditorium 5-8 p.m. Various award and induction ceromonies