Undergraduate Research and Creative Works

Volume 3, Issue 6 March 2014

Our mission: to engage under- graduates in Sigma Tau Delta Scholarly Paper Award Winner student-faculty Junior English Major open to all members paper focuses on Dashiell collaborations Devan Plyler has been nationwide, so Plyler’s Hammett’s novel The Mal- that reflect indi- named the recipient of work is recognized across tese Falcon, who is includ- vidual, unique, this year’s Sigma Tau the country. ed in the canon of major scholarly and Delta Scholarly Paper detective fiction authors. imaginative ex- Award in the Undergradu- periences which ate category for the best Plyler revised this paper promote the de- student paper presented during Spring 2013 for the velopment of at a non-Sigma Tau Delta purpose of presenting it at new competen- academic conference. the Big South Undergradu- cies, foster criti- ate Research Symposium cal thinking, and Sigma Tau Delta is the (BigSURS) that occurred provide students International English Hon- here at High Point Univer- with opportuni- or Society, dedicated to sity and later published it ties to add to literacy in all disciplines of in the BigSURS Conference English. High Point Proceedings for her exem- the sum of hu- University’s English De- Plyler’s paper Sam Spade plary work. She owes man knowledge. partment inducts stu- as an Anarchist: Revela- much of the paper’s suc- dents into its Alpha Xi Xi tions of the Wrench, the cess to her advisor, Dr. Chapter based on aca- Beam, and the Man was Carlson, who pushed her to demic excellence. This originally written for an Art work on it beyond the award competition was of Detection course. Her classroom.

High-PURCS 2 Mathematics Students Return from Conference Event Three Mathematics instant runoff elections. soccer game. For the sec- Students to Trav- 3 students, accompanied by These two students creat- ond year in a row, his el on Grant Dr. Graham-Squire and ed a program to analyze presentation won an award Theatre Students 4 Dr. Zuhr, travelled to the ranked choice-election for one of the top Succeed Summary of Mathematics data, report any mono- undergraduate oral Association of America tonicity anomalies, and to presentations at the Criminal Justice 5 Southeastern Section compare results employ- conference. Major Returns Conference in Cookeville, ing different voting Research Students 5 Tennessee, March 14-15. methods. Their travel to this confer- Return The third student, ence in Cookeville, Tennes- Nick Zayatz and David Christian Weigandt, see was supported by a Senior Shares Her 6 Naylor presented their presented his research on grant from the Office of Un- Research Story work on an investigation creating software that dergraduate Research and Student Count 6 into the prevalence of tracks a soccer ball Creative Works. anomalies in real-world through the video of a Page 2 Undergraduate Research and Creative Works

High Point University Research and Creativity Symposium (High-PURCS) 2014

Last year, at the Big South exemplify originality and cre- Undergraduate Research ativity and reflect high quali- Events will begin with Symposium (BigSURS), ty work. the welcoming which incorporated High- announcements at PURCS, HPU students partic- The High-PURCS event ipated in fields including An- continues to grow from its 1:45 in Phillips 120. thropology, Art History, inception (with nearly 50 Chemistry, Communications, Students in 2012), to this See you on April Economics, Education, Eng- year’s event which will 24! lish, Health Sciences, Histo- include Nearly one-hundred ry, Mathematics, Modern students from High Point Uni- Language, Physics, Psychol- versity, from sixteen differ- ogy, Sociology, and Theatre. ent departments around campus! At this event, 97 This year’s High-PURCS students will present 82 dif- symposium will take place ferent projects. There will be on April 24, 2014 (Reading 43 posters, 34 oral presenta- Day). The High Point Uni- tions, and 4 live performanc- versity Research and Crea- es. Two of these papers will tivity Symposium (High- be presented in Spanish. PURCS) showcases student scholarship in a supportive This is an opportunity to see environment that models a what research and creative professional venue. projects your peers are Students choose to present engaging in and to learn their works orally, as a post- more about the Office of Un- er presentation, as a brief dergraduate Research and performance, or as an Creative Works. exhibit. These works Volume 3, Issue 6 Page 3

Biology Students to Travel to Spartanburg

On April 2nd, a group of 13 Alexander Hart, Kelsey Ortiz, growth of crops through Biology students accompanied William Fravel, Alyssa Heisler, this process and the bioac- by 4 faculty members will and Jasmine Jordan. They will cumulation of mercury in travel to Spartanburg, South be accompanied by Dr. Camp- the Wilson bird species in Carolina for the 75th Annual bell, Dr. Hughes, Dr. Crater, order to protect life. Meeting of the Association of and Dr. G. Smith. Southeastern Biologists. This group of Biology The theme of several students’ students’ travel is also This association strives to pro- research includes ways to pre- supported by grants from mote an environment that en- vent the growth of Methicillin- the Office of Undergradu- courages collaboration and Resistant Staphylococcus ate Research and Creative participation of every discipline Aureus (MRSA), which is a Works. High Point and application of biology. natural element of the human University students and body but can cause problems if faculty will be able to see The students participating it goes untreated and grows some of the biology include Olivia Fletcher, Ashley resistant to antibiotics. students’ work next month Bondurant, Alec Perry, Chase at High-PURCS. Manuel, Jessy Nicole Brooks, Other student topics include Haley Hegedus, Taylor the process of pollination, in Patzwahl, Amanda Girreson, regards to improving the

Psychology Students Travel to Texas

March 27-29, Psychology The Society also encourages protection and the idea of students Jacklyn Tonkovich the collaboration of research academic entitlement in and Kaila Tuccio traveled to in order to better all of college students as a study Austin, Texas with Dr. Li- humanity. Other students in gender difference. Barber to present their re- involved in the research but search at the Society for did not attend the conference This presentation was fund- Research in Human Develop- were Lindsay Anuzis and ed by a grant through the ment (SRHD). SRHD’s mis- Christine Perry. Office of Undergraduate sion is to stimulate and Research and Creative support research in human The research focuses on the Works. You can view their development and to role of parental involvement poster presentation at encourage the application of in college students. High-PURCS in April. these findings. Specifically, they address the consequences of over- Page 4 Undergraduate Research and Creative Works

Junior Stage Managers Recognized for Their Work

Junior Theatre majors Rachel Garrett and Sarah Thompson participated in the Kennedy Center Ameri- can College Theatre Festival in Roanoke, Virginia with a group of other theatre students from High Point Uni- versity.

This competition involves 18,000 students nationwide from 600 different institu- tions in an attempt to im- named first runner-up for Festival in order to work with ma- prove the quality of theatre the same award and jor professional stage managers in across the country. Gar- received an Honorable the Kennedy Center. rett has been named the Mention in the Stage Man- winner of the Region IV agement Competition. The travels of these ladies and the Kennedy Center American group of theatre students was sup- College Theatre Festival Na- With this award, Garrett ported by a grant from the Office tional Stage Management receives an all-expenses of Undergraduate Research and Fellowship. paid trip to Washington, Creative Works. Additionally, Gar- DC in April for the National rett and Thompson will give Another Junior Theatre ma- Division Kennedy Center presentations at the upcoming jor, Sarah Thompson, was American College Theatre High-PURCS event.

Senior Theatre Major Excels in Conference

student and professional per- For the first round of auditions, formers and allows the thea- Feiman had to prepare a ninety- tre student to gain experi- second audition package, which ence outside of the universi- includes a song and a monologue. ty setting in order to obtain jobs and careers right out of Feiman received six callbacks for college. theatre companies in Florida, Mon- tana, and Michigan. Her travels After a first round of audi- have been supported by a grant tions, theatre companies from the Office of Undergraduate Senior Theatre Major Court- submit lists that include Research and Creative Works. ney Feiman participated in the which performers gained South Eastern Theatre Confer- their interest. The students Courtney Feiman will also be pre- ence, whose purpose is to on these lists are called back senting at the High-PURCS event bridge the separation between for interview purposes. on April 24. Volume 3, Issue 6 Page 5

Criminal Justice Major Presents at Meeting Criminal Justice ma- parties interested in attended several jor Kathleen Kelley, the results of the re- panels focusing accompanied by Dr. search. Such detailed on school delin- Ahn-Redding, attend- conversations are quency, school ed the Academy of easier in a poster shootings, and Criminal Justice Sci- session than in an capital punish- ences Annual Meeting oral presentation. ment, which in Philadelphia Febru- Kelley also attended helped her learn ary 20-22.She pre- American University’s what kind of re- sented her research Justice, Law, and So- search is being as a poster titled Op- ciety reception, al- conducted at erationalizing At- lowing her a great other universi- tempted Mass Mur- opportunity to net- ties. der, which granted work and meet oth- her the opportunity ers whose work is Ms. Kelley’s trip was supported by a URCW to speak in depth to relevant to hers. She research grant and she will be presenting her research at High-PURCS next month.

Health and Physical Education Students Return from Conference

Research students Ha- Ruehle and Rivera pre- The group benefitted Works for the grant ley Ruehle, Rob Rive- sented their bowling from networking with that made their trip ra, and Perry Morris, study research with distinguished academ- possible. accompanied by Dr. Dr. Bell and gained ics in their field of Bell traveled to Lex- much from the ques- health and physical Haley Ruehle and Rob ington, Kentucky for tions asked in re- education. These indi- Rivera will also be the Southern District sponse to their work. viduals authored re- presenting their work American Alliance for spected theories and at The American Alli- Health, Physical Edu- With a full schedule, books in this field. ance for Health, Physi- cation, Recreation and these students attend- The students also cal Education, Recrea- Dance (AAHPERD) ed more than five gained insight into the tion and Dance in St. Conference to present presentations a day work of fellow stu- Louis on April 2, as research and to learn and attended other dents from other uni- well as at High- more regarding the activities as part of the versities and would PURCS. profession of health conference. like to thank the Office and physical educa- of Undergraduate Re- tion. search and Creative

THE OFFICE OF Experienced Student Shares Her Story UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH AND Shannon Curley, a senior more conferences. At Works to not fear rejec- CREATIVE WORKS English major, has been the end of March, she tion. The worst thing accepted to seven differ- plans to travel to the that anyone could say is ent conferences in her University of North Caro- “no.” time working with the lina in Wilmington for the Office of Undergraduate Southeast Women’s She says, “I'm a big Research and Creative Studies Association Con- sports fan and I believe Works. ference, and to Washing- in the old adage, ‘You ton DC for the American miss every shot you She credits her advisor, Literature Association’s don't take.’ It's the same Dr. Laura Linker, with African American Litera- thing with this—if you helping her get involved ture and Culture Society don't try, then you'll nev- with the office. Without Conference. These two er get in. If you do, you her, Shannon would not conferences signify the might surprise yourself.” have applied, been ac- climax of Shannon’s re- cepted, or attended the search experience at Marco Undergraduate High Point University, for Conference at the Uni- this time, she will attend versity of Tennessee, as a professional instead Spring 2013, that began of an undergraduate stu- her interest in participat- dent. ing in other conferences. Shannon also thanks this office for support through Shannon advises young- the past few years. er students wanting to Before the end of her get involved with the undergraduate years, Office of Undergraduate Shannon will attend two Research and Creative

Register URCW Activity The Presentation category is for works from class that have been refined for public presentation, performance, or exhibit. Currently, there are 165 students giving presentation!

Contact Us! The Publication category is for works that have been published. We are proud of the 4 students registered for publication! Dr. Joanne Altman Office Phillips 115 [email protected] The Competition category includes any works in a discipline that leads to a competition. There are 17 students registered for competition!

The Research Rookies program is specifically designed to aid low- er classmen to get involved in research. There are now 51 research rookies! www.highpoint.edu/urcw Newsletter brought to you by Amy King Total, there are 94 students working in mentored relationships with faculty. Make sure you complete the mentee registration if you are doing research, so you can be counted!