“ I am most proud of our research project: ‘A Minor is Someone Who Digs: Readying Children with Court School‘ because it gave our research team the opportunity to present at PSI CHI WHITTIER UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH CONFERENCE and at the WESTERN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE where we received the PSI CHI REGIONAL RESEARCH AWARD for most promising research project.
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE: With Professor Mark Kozek, I am researching a special set of numbers called Eulerian Numbers. These have significant influence in a branch of mathematics known as combinatorics, which focuses on studying how to count particular mathematical structures. Our initial interest began with a manuscript, written by alumnus J. Donovan
FEATURES
Dean ’52, outlining some interesting behaviors in these numbers. In other words, I am researching how and why the
’17
IM Ingrid Morales HOMETOWN Los Angeles, CA
CO-CURRICULAR
OFF-CAMPUS RESEARCH EXPERIENCE: Math
ACTIVITIES:
and English tutor at Homework House, teaching
Psi Chi (psychology
assistant at Broadoaks School, statistics teaching
OFF-CAMPUS EXPERIENCE: Research Experience for
honor society)
assistant at Whittier, study abroad to Greece
Undergraduates program at Seattle University
Leader at Dexter
PLANS POST-GRADUATION: Intern for LA
PLANS POST-GRADUATION: Earn a Ph.D. in mathematics
Middle School
County before applying to graduate school to
and work as a university professor. I would like to volunteer
earn a Ph.D. in psychology, with ultimate goal of
with the Peace Corps to share the joy and beauty of
becoming a child therapist
mathematics abroad.
n
Enrichment
MAJOR Psychology (Social Work minor)
Ps
5
Ma Mathematics
4
’17
Psychology
Eulerian Numbers behave the way they do.
“ I am very proud and grateful for the opportunity to have received the BARBARA ONDRASIK '57 AND DAVID GROCE FELLOWSHIP. Since starting my college career, I yearned for the opportunity to participate in research. To actually be in charge of my own project with the support of Whittier College and Dr. Kozek has been a humbling and rewarding experience.
CAAS Tutor n Whittier College
KH Kimberly Hurtado
CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES:
HOMETOWN Los Angeles, CA
Psi Chi (psychology honor society)
MAJOR Psychology (Spanish minor)
’18
CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: Jazz Band n Pi Mu Epsilon (math honor society)
Thalian Society n Quaker Campus n
PLANS POST-GRADUATION:
PdC Philip de Castro HOMETOWN La Habra Heights, CA MAJOR Mathematics (Physics minor)
Work with the FBI and eventually attend graduate school.
and explained legal terms and processes, and then collected post-tests within two to three weeks after the preparation was given. The results of this study were positive and suggest that the educational component was successful in increasing RESEARCH EXPERIENCE: Hurtado and Morales, along
the number of correct responses among children of all ages,
with Professor Lori Camparo and classmate Jasmine
while decreasing the number of incorrect responses among
Romero ’16, undertook a research project examining
kindergartners, 3rd graders, and 5th graders.
the effectiveness of children’s Court School, a "pretrial
Furthermore, the results of a second study of legal
preparation program”, located only in Las Vegas, Nev.
professionals indicated that describing court schools as
The program intends to educate and reduce anxiety in
“education-programs” was perceived more positively than
children before they appear in court.
when described as “preparation-programs.”
The team sought to gauge the effectiveness of
Overall, findings from both studies generally supported the
the educational component by examining children’s
team’s hypotheses that the program has a positive effect in
legal knowledge before and after the course. The team
court proceedings involving children. The results of the study
collected pre-tests, taught students the educational
will now be added to the literature supporting the expansion
component, which consisted of a story that defined
of children’s Court Schools to other states.
36 THE ROCK FALL/WINTER 2016
WHITTIER.EDU 37