May 01, 2006

Undergraduate researchers showcase their work

by K.C. Jaehnig

CARBONDALE, Ill. — Each student listed below was on of 45 Southern Illinois University Carbondale undergraduates taking part in the University's fifth annual Undergraduate Research Forum April 3.

The event showcases original research and creative activity completed during the academic year under the guidance of faculty mentors and exemplifies SIUC's commitment to promoting excellence in undergraduate academics as part of Southern at 150: Building Excellence Through Commitment, an ambitious plan to reshape the University by its 150th anniversary in 2019.

Those participating (by hometown) included:

Bloomington: Maurice M. Betts, a senior in chemistry mentored by chemistry and biochemistry Chair Lori Vermulen, with a project titled "Synthesis and Characterization of a Zirconium Phosphate/Nicotine Intercalation Compound." He is the son of Gary Williams of Kansas City, Kan., and Bloomington resident Altheria Betts (909 W. Mulberry St.).

Blue Mound: Ryan T. Jones, a junior in physiology mentored by Assistant Professor Peter Patrylo, with a project titled "Synaptic Transmission is Compromised Preferentially in the Aged CNS During Metabolically Challenging Conditions." He is the son of Blue Mound resident Norman T. Jones (7922) and Nancy R. Skube of Sherman (1505 Ascot Chase).

Bolingbrook: Adria L. Pilsits, a senior in zoology mentored by Associate Professor Frank E. Anderson, with a project titled "Phylogeny and Population Genetics of Alloteuthis (Loliginidae) and Discovery of a Cryptic Species." Pilsits' parents are John P. and Linda M. Pilsits (20 Yukon Court).

Please see also Joliet.

Carbondale: Ryan A. Cheperka, a senior in psychology mentored by Assistant Professor Yu-Wei Wang, with a project titled "The Impact of Social Support on Sexual Assault Recovery Process: Helpful and Harmful Reactions."

Emmett T. Harrison, a junior in architecture mentored by Assistant Professor Norman L. Lach, with a project titled "Design of a School of Architecture." He is the son of Emmett T. and Terri L. Harrison (167 Emmett Lane).

Casey: Please see Mt. Carmel.

Champaign: Paul J. Dixon, a junior in geology mentored by Associate Professor Scott E. Ishman, with a project titled "Ostracod Distribution in the Larsen Ice Shelf Region, Eastern Antarctic Peninsula and Their Applications to Holocene Paleoclimatic Analysis." He is the son of John C. and Pat M. Dixon (909 S. Lynn St.).

Chicago: Caitilin Cusack (9600 S. Seely), a senior in art and design specializing in sculpture, with a project titled "Plastic and Rubber: An Exploration of Mold-Making Methods."

Jami N. Jackson (1506 E. 71st Place), a junior in psychology mentored by Associate Professor David L. Dilalla, with a project titled "Influences on Student Academic Motivation." Jackson's parents are Jeffrey L. Jackson and Staci E. Bass.

Danita D. Little, a senior in English mentored by education college Research Project Specialist Susanne C. Ashby, with a project titled "'Jones don't think it is acceptable:' Attitudes of College Students & Professionals Toward the Usage of Proper Grammatical Constructs." Her parents are David L. Little and Pamela Hammond. She is the ward of Chicago resident Detra A. Jones Crudup (10227 S. Wallace).

Adebowale "Debo" O. Osisanya, a senior in journalism mentored by Assistant Professor Laura E. Hlavach, with a project titled "Boob TV versus Boom-Boom TV: Why Congress and the FCC Have Attacked Televised Indecency Yet Failed to Regulate Broadcast Violence." He is the son of Akintunde Osisanya of South Holland (16300 Kenwood Drive) and Olayemi Osisanya (4640 N. Sheridan Road).

Cobden: Haley E. Anderson, a senior in psychology mentored by Assistant Professor Benjamin F. Rodriguez II, with a project titled "Post-traumatic Growth in the Aftermath of Different Types of Traumatic Events." Anderson's parents are James A. and Barbara J. Anderson (1100 Kratzinger Hollow Road).

Du Quoin: Jennifer D. Dilliner (221 N. Hickory St.), a senior in special education mentored by Professor Regina M. Foley, with a project titled "Impact of Supplemental Reading Instruction on the Reading and Writing Skills of Alternative School Youth."

Galesburg: Myranda L. Vaupel, a senior in plant biology mentored by plant biology Chair Dale H. Vitt, with a project titled "Water Chemistry of Boreal Peatlands: Utilization in Classification and Responses to Wildfire." She is the daughter of Keith W. and Julie R. Vaupel (981 E. Losey).

Gilman: Randi L. "Lynn" Vaughn, a senior in English mentored by Associate Professor Anita R. Riedinger, with a project titled "Sensationalism and the Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket." Vaughn's mother is Virginia S. Newman (929 East U.S. Highway 24).

Griggsville: Ryan S. Lawber, a senior in architectural studies mentored by Assistant Professor Craig A. Anz and Associate Professor Robert H. Swenson, with projects titled

"Interactive Structures Facilitated Through Precedent Technology" and "Ohio Area Riverboat Importance." Lawber's parents are Lloyd E. and Karen M. Lawber (39997 273rd Lane).

Herrin: Ashley B. Parker, a senior in psychology mentored by Professor David G. Gilbert, with a project titled "Brain Responses to Smoking-Related and Emotionally Positive Pictures in Smokers and Non-Smokers." She is the daughter of Timothy R. and Carla R. Parker (526 Frederick St.).

Industry: Matthew E. Lancaster, a senior in psychology mentored by Associate Professor Matthew Schlesinger, with a project titled "Causal Perception in Multiple Events and Types." He is the son of David A. and Elizabeth A. Lancaster (R.R. 1).

Joliet: Latoya R. Williams, a senior in psychology mentored by educational psychology Chair Lyle J. White, with a project titled "The Impact of the Positive Behavior Implementation Program on Special Education Enrollment in Southern Illinois." Williams is the daughter of Bedford D. Williams (407 N. Bluff) and Phyllis E. Cage-Williams of Bolingbrook (302 Woodcreek Drive).

Kansas: Ashley L. Webb, a junior in fashion design merchandising mentored by Professor Jane E. Workman, with a project titled "Message T-shirts: Threats to Perceptions of Safety?" She is the daughter of James G. and Cynthia A. Webb (3716 E. 700th Road).

Lake Villa: Michelle L. Donahue, a senior in plant biology mentored by Chair Dale H. Vitt, with a project titled "Decomposition and Peat Properties as a Function of Depth in Boreal Bogs." She is the daughter of Timothy R. and Karen R. Donahue (25407 W. Chesney Drive).

Marion: Ronald R. Bristow, a senior in psychology mentored by Benjamin F. Rodriguez II, with a project titled "Development of Public Speaking Anxiety Cognitive Self Assessment." He is the son of Ronald R. Bristow Sr. and Lynda D. Zutovsky (16889 Old Creat Springs Road).

Christopher M. Jenkins, a junior in computer engineering and computer science mentored by Associate Professor Dimitrios Kagaris, with a project titled "BIST Test Pattern Generation." He is the son of Donald R. and Kristi J. Jenkins (14225 Orient Mine Road).

Minooka: Michael A. Holland, a senior in physiology mentored by Assistant Professor Michael R. Hoane, with a project titled "Acute Neuroprotective Effects of Nicotinamide Treatment in the Traumatically Injured Brain." He is the son of Anthony S. and Brenda J. Holland (24060 Lakeview Drive).

Moline: Maria G. Guerrero, a senior in administration of justice mentored by Associate Professor William M. Wells, with a project titled "Longitudinal Patterns of Racial Disproportionality in Prisons Across States." She is the daughter of Dionicio Guerrero and Maria E. Guerrero (160 Fourth Ave.).

Mt. Carmel: Stephanie E. Dulgar, a senior in geology mentored by Associate Professor Scott E. Ishman, with a project titled "Depositional, Diagenetic or Bacterial Origin of Magnetite in Sediments Drifts from the Western Antarctic Peninsula." She is the daughter of Karen M. Waterbury (514 N. Mulberry St.) and Casey resident Stephen W. Dulgar (Six Northeast 15th St.).

Patrick D. McGill, senior in chemistry mentored by Assistant Professor Punit Kohli, with a project titled "Nanoscale Tailored Materials for Use in Microelectronic Devices." He is the son of Tracy L. and Barbara S. McGill.

Mt. Pulaski: Cassandra E. Rogers (220 S. Lafayette St.), a senior in biological sciences, with a project titled "Ultrastructure of the Motile Gamete Cell of the Liverwort Pellia epiphylla."

Mt. Vernon: Jeremy L. Pierce, a junior in psychology mentored by Assistant Professor Michael R. Hoane, with a project titled "The Window of Opportunity for Nicotinamide Treatment Following Cortical Contusion Injury in the Rat." He is the son of Clifton H. Pierce and Brenda L. Malone.

Murphysboro: Please see also West Frankfort.

Niles: Mario A. Romano, a senior in psychology mentored by Associate Professor Eric A. Jacobs, with a project titled "Substitutability in Second-Order Schedules of Token Reinforcement in Rats." He is the son of Anthony K. Romano of Phoenix (2233 E. Carlise) and Sandra L. Romano (7338 W. Greenleaf).

North Aurora: Joel A. Taddei, a senior in architecture mentored by Associate Professor Robert H. Swenson, with a project titled "Reconstructing Cantonment Wilkinsonville." He is the son of Bert D. and Ann M. Taddei (720 Stewart St.).

Orangeville: Danielle K. Estes, senior in sociology mentored by Professor Robert D. Benford, with a project titled "For the Children's Sake: Student Parents' Rationalizations for Childcare Use." She is the daughter of James E. and Diana M. Estes (10078 Bellview Road).

Robinson: Wesley T. Mehler, a graduate student in zoology mentored by Associate Professor Michael J. Lydy and research assistant Lance J. Schuler, with a project titled "Examining the Joint Toxicity of Chlorpyrifos and Atrazine in Leopmis macrochirus. He is the son of Rick J. and Lou E. Brinkman (13063 E. 700th Ave.).

Rock Island: Dorothy M. Schachel, a senior in psychology mentored by Associate Professor Kathleen Chwalisz (Rigney), with a project titled "Academic Self-Handicapping: Identifying the Motivation of Self-Defeating Students." She is the daughter of Larry L. and Joy A. Schachel (7901 Ninth St. West.).

Sherman: Please see Blue Mound.

South Holland: Sydney J. Dillard (1817 E. 171 Place), a senior in journalism mentored by Assistant Professor Kristine E. Kranenburg, with a project titled "Is Black Beautiful? A Content Analysis of Beauty Characteristics of African-American Women in the Advertisements of Cosmopolitan and Essence." She is the daughter of Larry and Sakira Dillard.

Please see also Chicago.

West Frankfort: Jeremy H. Griffith, a junior in art and design, with a project titled "Glass Compatibility Research." He is the son of John C. Griffith and Marilyn A. Haworth of Murphysboro (9166 Highway 127).

ARIZONA

Phoenix: Please see Niles.

OREGON

Corvallis: Amanda R. Chiavini, a senior in psychology mentored by Associate Professor Stephanie M. Dollinger, with a project titled "Dose-Effect Analysis of a Multi-Component Intervention: An Evaluation of Component Impact." She is the daughter of Jeffery E. and Leanne Chiavini (967 N.W. Anjni Circle).

WASHINGTON

Renton: Brandi A. Frey, a senior in art and design mentored by Assistant Professor Najjar Abdul-Musawwir, with a project titled "Reduced, Reused, Recycled: A Thoughtful Path into Mixed Media Art." She is the daughter of David J. and Tammy J. Honnen (19223 135th Ave. S.E.).

Jason L. Dickson, a senior in information systems technology whose hometown is not known, also took part with a project titled, "The Representation of African-American Women in Television Advertisements."