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TABLE OF CONTENTS

The Abstracts ...... 2 Department of Biology ...... 3 Department of Chemistry ...... 11 Department of Communication ...... 14 Department of Computer Science and Information Technologies ...... 31 Department of English and Foreign Languages ...... 36 Department of Geography ...... 42 Department of History ...... 55 Department of Mathematics ...... 56 Department of Physics and Engineering ...... 58 Department of Polical Science ...... 66 Department of Psychology ...... 67 Department of Sociology ...... 68 Department of Visual Arts……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..69 Special Thanks ...... 70 Map of the ARMAH...... 71 Oral Presentation Schedule……………………………………………………………………………………………………...... 72

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College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Research Symposium

THE ABSTRACTS

This Symposium includes 144 presentations featuring the work of 231 students, mentored by 71 Faculty and Staff across 13 departments. The projects presented at this Symposium took place in 2017 and 2018 and include coursework and independent study activities. Abstracts are organized alphabetically by department and by project title. The Presentation number in parentheses following the title refers to the table locations of the Poster and/or Physical Displays in the ARMAH. Oral presentations are scheduled in Lane Center 108, 109, 110, 111 and 113. A map of the ARMAH and the schedule for the oral presentations are at the end of this abstract booklet. Each presentation includes the following information:

Project Title (Poster, Physical Display, Oral Presentation, Table #)

Name(s) of presenting student(s) Name(s) of contributing student(s) (if applicable) Name(s) of faculty/staff mentor(s)

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College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Research Symposium

DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY

Amphibian and Reptile Survey of Dan’s Mountain WMA (Poster, Table 9)

Presenting Student: Hannah Devine Contributing Students: Rebecca Phillip, Sean Cain, Michelle Rogers Faculty Mentor: Dr. Daniel Hocking

Dan’s Mountain Wildlife Management Area includes state‐owned public lands in Allegany County, Maryland south east of Frostburg, Maryland. The management area consists of upland forest and headwater stream habitat as well as larger ponds and smaller vernal pools. Dan’s Mountain WMA is home to many amphibian and reptile species. Amphibians and reptiles will hibernate over the winter and emerge in spring to breed. Amphibians will primarily use vernal pools (wetlands that are dry for periodically) and headwater streams to breed. Reptiles, such as water snakes and turtles will also use stream or pond habitat. Terrestrial amphibians and reptiles, such as Red Spotted Newts and Woodland Box Turtles will utilize upland forest habitat. The primary objective of this study was to assess the species richness of wetlands within Dan’s Mountain Wildlife Management Area. The survey area contained 2 sampling locations. The first site is a 100 meter diameter pond (39.5108654,‐78.9791612) and the second site is a 6 meter diameter vernal pool (39.530780, ‐78.917084). The vernal pool has a first order ephemeral stream draining south east. Each area was sampled once per week. We assessed aquatic populations using dip net sweeps and visual egg mass counts. We assessed terrestrial species around the perimeter of each water body within a 30 meter buffer by overturning logs and rocks within the buffer and taking photographs in a one hour sampling time. Each individual found was identified to species level. We used this data to determine species occupancy within each habitat type.

Amphibian and Reptile Survey of Savage River State Forest—Mt. Aetna (Poster, Table 3)

Presenting Students: Kami Cagnasso, Erickson Schmidt Contributing Students: Samuel Buckwalter, Brady Moon Faculty Mentor: Dr. Daniel Hocking

A study is being conducted on the species of amphibians and reptiles on the Mt. Aetna region of the Savage River State Forest. The study is being conducted through VES (Visual Encounter Survey) and sampling to identify the species present in the spring of 2018. Species indexes are crucial in the management of land areas and conservation of species. This will provide insight to the herpetological fauna of the sampling site. Lastly, we will be taking final data in order to create a species index of the amphibians and reptiles present in Mt. Aetna.

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College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Research Symposium

Amphibian and Reptile Survey of Warrior Mountain State Wildlife Management Area (Poster, Table 3)

Presenting Students: Matthew McKenzie, Dalton Moss, Morgan Stum, Alexander Waugh Contributing Student: Jacey Brooks Faculty Mentor: Dr. Daniel Hocking

Rapid assessments of amphibians and reptiles are an effective way of understanding the distribution of local populations and their demographics. Habitat type can often influence the presence of certain species, depending upon macro‐ and micro‐scale parameters. Warrior Mountain Wildlife Management Area in Western Maryland is managed to provide habitat for a variety of wildlife as well as public recreational use. Several areas within the Warrior Mountain WMA appear to be suitable habitat (i.e. rocky‐bottomed headwater streams in forested areas) for stream‐breeding salamanders in the family Plethodontidae. These salamanders serve important roles in local food webs and can comprise 60‐80% of biomass in headwater streams. Recognizing factors that influence the presence of these species is important for managing aquatic and terrestrial habitat. The objectives of this project are to survey Plethodontid salamanders in several streams within Warrior Mountain WMA. This research is ongoing, and we will determine the effects of habitat quality on the occurrence of stream salamanders. We will survey 50 m transects within each stream, travelling upstream and flipping all cobble. We will identify each captured salamander and record habitat quality parameters, including air temperature, water temperature, percent forest cover within the drainage basin, and elevation. This will provide valuable information about factors that may affect the presence of Plethodontid salamanders, which is important for making decisions regarding riparian and stream management.

Amphibian Presence and Abundance of Blue Lick Run (Poster, Table 3)

Presenting Students: Ingrid Braun, Erin Gaylord, Nicholas Morris, Franklin Sherrard Faculty Mentor: Dr. Daniel Hocking

The Appalachian Mountains, including Western Maryland supports a high diversity of amphibian species, especially salamanders. Amphibians are important contributors to food webs and ecosystems. Frogs and Salamanders help to keep lower trophic organism’s populations stable and are an important food source to higher trophic levels of animals. Without amphibians, many other species can be negatively affected. Our objective was to assess the presence and abundance of amphibian species in Western Maryland’s Savage River State Forest. This area provides a diversity of habitat, both aquatic and terrestrial that support amphibian populations. The research sites were along a section of Blue Lick Run within the Savage River State Forest in Garrett County Maryland. Ten sites were marked by flags in various locations along the edges of Blue Lick Run, the sites were 10X10 meters. These sites were surveyed using Natural Cover Object Surveys (NCOs) by flipping rocks and logs both in and out of the water once a week for multiple weeks to assess the abundance of all present amphibian species.

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College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Research Symposium

Assessing the Presence of Eastern Spotted Skunk (Spilogale putorius) in Western Maryland Using Camera Traps (Poster, Table 4)

Presenting Student: Samuel Groat Contributing Student: Josiah Freese Faculty Mentors: Dr. Thomas Serfass, Ms. Kelly Pierce

The purpose of this study was to assess presence of the eastern spotted skunk, (Spilogale putorius) in western Maryland in riparian areas along the Potomac River. Eastern spotted skunk is a species of special concern that has experienced decline from its historic range. Historically, S. putorius northeastern range reached into southern Pennsylvania with records from 3 south‐central counties. As for its status in the central Appalachians and western Maryland, there is little information. Western Maryland has not had definitive records since 1967 and the species status remains uncertain. To evaluate the presence of spotted skunks, we set up 6 remote‐cameras, beginning February 20th and ending April 19th, in Green Ridge State Forest and in the Lostland area in Potomac‐Garrett State Forest. A camera trap site consisted of one camera, skunk essence, a sardine can, and was baited with either deer, squirrel, groundhog, or opossum. Baits were attached by lagging them in fencing to a tree approximately 2‐3 meters away from a remote camera. The cameras were set to take 3 photos during the day/night, with 15 second intervals each time the camera was triggered. Cameras were checked, and new bait was put out two times a week. Images were downloaded, and independent detections were recorded. Many different species were captured, including rare to see species such as long‐tailed weasel (Mustela frenata), fisher (Martes pennanti), bobcat (Lynx rufus), and Alleghany woodrat (Neotoma magister). No eastern spotted skunks were captured.

Environmental Variables Affecting Dragonflies in Western Maryland Wetlands (Poster, Table 4)

Presenting Student: Phillip Hogan Contributing Students: Kenny Weaver, Bethany Liberto Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jered Studinski

High‐elevation wetlands in Western Maryland are some of the rarest habitats in the state. These wetlands are home to several distinct communities of dragonflies, and include several state‐rare species. Identifying the habitat variables that structure these communities is the first step in conserving these habitats and their rare taxa. In summer 2017 the dragonfly communities of 20 western Maryland wetlands were repeatedly surveyed. Additionally, biotic and abiotic habitat parameters were recorded. A total of 1899 dragonflies from 49 taxa were encountered. The presence of insectivorous fish strongly structured dragonfly communities. The area of open water was positively correlated with richness, and pH was positively correlated with both richness and abundance. While higher pH and increasing open water area typically correlate with the presence of fish and result in a more‐diverse dragonfly assemblage, acidic fishless wetlands also support a

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College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Research Symposium distinct community containing highly state‐rare taxa. This project has identified two general types of high‐elevation permanent wetlands in western MD which contain state‐rare taxa: acidic and fishless vs. circumneutral and containing fish. Future dragonfly conservation efforts should consider the strong effects of fish and pH on these communities.

Fake Caching Behavior in Eastern Gray Squirrels (Poster, Table 9)

Presenting Students: Kristina Grove, Jessica Hartley Faculty Mentor: Dr. Thomas Lambert

Scatter hoarding activity by the Eastern Gray Squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) plays a critical role in forest regeneration. Individuals must efficiently store as many seeds as possible, however they run the risk of having those seeds pilfered by competitors. As a means by which to avoid pilfering when observed by conspecifics Eastern Gray Squirrels are known to exhibit fake caching behavior as a means of deceiving would be pilferers. However in order to maximize efficiency fake caching behavior should only be done when observed by a conspecific, and not in the presence of other organisms. The question we are looking to explore through this study is whether this caching behavior is demonstrated when the squirrels are amongst other species, or if the display is rather specific to their own species. We hypothesize that Eastern Gray Squirrels will present fake caching behaviors, only when in the presence of related species. This was tested through observations on fake caching rates when presented with three different decoy animals (a squirrel, a rabbit, and an owl). Data was collected in the woods located by Edgewood Commons, on the campus of Frostburg State University.

Geomicrobiology of Local Acid Mine Drainage (Poster, Table 10)

Presenting Students: Carlos Diaz Larez, Mekayla Reynolds, Kane Samuel Faculty Mentors: Dr. Ryan Jennings, Dr. Jonathan Flood

Acid mine drainage (AMD) is a legacy of mining activity and can significantly impact watersheds. AMD is a global concern and regionally AMD negatively effects numerous stream & river systems, resulting in observed pH ~3.2 with significantly impacted water quality. The formation of AMD is, simply, the result of accelerated abiotic natural weathering and microbial activity. Consequently, AMD systems should be examined from an interdisciplinary geo‐micro‐biological perspective. This collaborative project characterizes the geochemistry and microbial communities of two representative bituminous coal AMD systems, the Kempton Mine Complex and Mill Run site, both issuing into the Potomac from Maryland Watersheds. Important geochemical parameters (pH, temperature, dissolved ions) are quantified and inform the effort to growth AMD‐relevant microorganisms in the laboratory. Enrichment cultures include aerobic Fe(II)‐oxidizing microbes as well as an anaerobic culture, which appears to reduce Fe(III). From these AMD‐relevant cultures, DNA extraction protocols are improved to optimize yield, thus enabling genome and metagenome

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College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Research Symposium sequencing in the future. Taken together, this multidisciplinary project seeks to fully elucidate the geomicrobiology of these regionally important AMD sites and findings from these fundamental studies may lead to remediation strategies.

Gut Microbial Ecology and Nitrogen Cycling Reconstructed through Metagenome Analysis (Poster, Table 10)

Presenting Student: LaRainne Small Faculty Mentor: Dr. Ryan Jennings

Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that is characterized as inflammation of the digestive tract. This disease impacts about every 3.2 per 1000 people in the United States. About 1.4 million people suffer from IBD in the United States and Crohn’s disease caused about 57,000 hospitalizations. Crohn’s disease has been linked to genetics, yet only about 20% of people with Crohn’s disease have a blood relative that also has IBD. Recent findings suggest that human gut microbiota may be a contributing factor to Crohn’s disease. Crohn’s disease can be characterized by a shift in human gut microbial populations (dysbiosis). This study examines microbial interactions, community ecology, and nitrogen cycling in the gut microbial environment. Given the dynamics of microbial communities and nutrient cycles, dysbiosis may have important disease implications, which are explored.

Hierarchy and Arrival Times of Scavengers in Savage River State Forest: Effects of Canopy Cover (Poster, Table 9)

Presenting Student: Dustin Baker Faculty Mentor: Dr. Thomas Lambert

Scavenging hierarchy is the ranking in organisms based off their dominance over other species when feeding on carrion. The availability of carrion is limited on the landscape, and scavengers must pay the costs of both locating it and defending it once found. As more subordinate species will be unable to hold possession of the carrion they might devote more energy into searching for fresh kill sites, whereas more dominant species might use the activity of subordinate species as cues by which to locate carrion. This experiment studied the scavenging hierarchy in Savage River State Forest in Garrett County, Maryland. Savage River State Forest is a mixed growth hardwood forest. Many scavengers present include crows, vultures, hawks, fox, coyote, raccoon, and bear. Each piece of carrion was approximately 10kg and were tethered to stakes in the ground. One piece was placed in an open field, and one in a forest with closed canopy to examine if canopy cover affects arrival order or hierarchy. A camera trap was placed at each site and was set on video mode to capture the interactions between the scavengers. The videos were viewed and the species were ranked from most dominant to least dominant to determine the scavenging hierarchy and the comparison between the open canopy cover and the closed canopy cover.

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College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Research Symposium

Maryland’s Herpetofauna (Poster, Table 3)

Presenting Student: Justin Hansen Faculty Mentor: Dr. Daniel Hocking

Preserving organisms for scientific study is an important part of research and education. The technique, when done properly, can prevent a specimen from decomposing for decades or even centuries. Voucher specimens document the occurrence of a taxon at a specific location in space and time. They also allow for the identification of a new species and comparison among species. Specimens can even allow for unanticipated research in the future such as information about parasites, disease outbreaks, and genetics as new data and techniques become available. We collected and preserved reptiles and amphibians primarily for educational use in future Herpetology classes (BIOL 422/522). These specimens are useful for students learning to identify and differentiate regionally occurring species. However, we also recorded information on the day, location, and conditions when the animal was captured, thereby providing information on occurrences of difference species in Western Maryland. We collected and preserved 18 individuals of 9 species. These species include Thamnophis sirtalis, Nerodia sipedon, Anaxyrus fowleri, Lithobates palustris, Diadophis punctatus edwardsii, Plethodon glutinosus, Gyrinophilus porphyriticus, Eurycea bislineata, and Desmognathus ocrophaeus. We also created a database and catalog system for the existing specimens in the Frostburg State University Herpetology Teaching Collection and conducted maintenance on the existing collection. We developed and followed approved IACUC protocols and acquired appropriate Maryland state permits from the Department of Natural Resources to conduct this study.

Phototaxis and Hydrotaxis in Terrestrial Isopods (Poster, Table 9)

Presenting Students: Alexander Waugh, Aeriel Oncita Faculty Mentor: Dr. Thomas Lambert

We tested the light and moisture preference of 5 species of terrestrial isopods: Armadillidium vulgare; Oniscus asellus; Philoscia muscorum; Porcellio scaber and Hyloniscus riparius. Terrestrial isopods are crustaceans closely related marine species, the majority of terrestrial isopods have gills and prefer damp microhabitats. They possess heavy thick plated dorsal segments as their exoskeleton which reduces water loss and serves as protection against predators like spiders, lizards, and beetles. Some species are able to curl into a ball for protection. These organisms play a role in the breakdown of plant litter and boosting microbial activity. Species such as Armadillidium vulgare, are commonly found in moist, low‐light level conditions with rotting organic matter like leaf litter or under decomposing wood which are seen as favorable habitats for these detritivores. We sought to study and compare the behavior of the native species to the non‐native species of isopods. In this experiment, isopod species were separated by species into 5 identical rows and their preference for different light and moisture levels observed. The first experiment tested the light level preference by wax paper layers, making 9 vertical sections of gradual increasing opacity to

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College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Research Symposium create a gradient of light level. The second experiment tested the moisture level preference by providing uniform light level and a 9 section gradient of moisture level of the substrate from dry to oversaturated. The isopods were photographed in the rows and the number of isopods per section were recorded to determine the preferred level for each species for light and for moisture. Larger isopod species should be more likely to stray in areas where higher light levels are present and where there are lower moisture levels as they are less susceptible to desiccation and predation while smaller isopod species would be more prevalent in areas of lower light levels and high moisture rates due to being more susceptible to predation and desiccation.

Prevalence of the Tick‐Borne Pathogen Anaplasma phagocytophilum in Western Maryland (Poster, Table 10)

Presenting Student: Courtney Seavolt Faculty Mentors: Dr. Rebekah Taylor, Dr. Holly Currie

The incidence and prevalence of tick‐borne pathogens in western Maryland is relatively unknown. The main objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in samples of tick and rodent DNA collected from Rocky Gap State Park in the summer of 2016. This pathogen is a bacterium that causes human granulocytic anaplasmosis, which is characterized by fever, chills, headache, and muscle aches. This objective will be accomplished by PCR testing using primers and conditions described in previously published studies. DNA samples will also be quantified using the NanoDrop Lite Spectrophotometer. Should evidence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum be found in the samples, they will be matched with their original site of collection. Park rangers and staff will be notified of any “hotspots” so that visitors to those areas of the park can be aware of the risk. Land management decisions to mitigate tick and rodent infestations can also be made based on the results.

Trends in Select Western Maryland Dragonfly Communities over Time (Poster, Table 4)

Presenting Student: Kenny Weaver Contributing Students: Phillip Hogan, Bethany Liberto Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jered Studinski

High‐elevation wetlands in Western Maryland are some of the rarest habitats in the state. These wetlands are home to several distinct communities of dragonflies, and include several state‐rare species. The dragonfly communities of five of these wetlands, all of which are owned by The Nature Conservancy, were extensively surveyed in 1996. These wetlands were again surveyed with 105 person‐hours of effort in 2017. In 1996 47 taxa were observed among the five wetlands, while in 2017 35 taxa were identified. In four of the five wetlands fewer species were observed in 2017, and in the remaining wetland richness was unchanged. Similarly, fewer state‐rare species

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College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Research Symposium were identified from all wetlands in 2017 compared to 1996. Comparing species unique to each survey year (species lost vs. species gained), four of the five wetlands lost species that were more northerly in their distribution while gaining species that tended to be more southerly. These results indicate that a decrease in dragonfly richness has occurred over the last 21 years and that lower‐latitude species are extending their distributions northwards. Due to their strong dispersal abilities and apparent sensitivity to temperature, dragonflies may be good bioindicators with which to track the effects of climate change. Employing similar methods (identifying old surveys and then revisiting those wetlands) could support or refute the trends observed in this study.

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College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Research Symposium

DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY

Analysis of Sitagliptin in Milk Samples Using Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (Poster, Table 22)

Presenting Student: Brian Day Faculty Mentor: Dr. Holly Currie

Januvia, the brand name of Sitagliptin (STG), is prescribed to patients managing type II diabetes mellitus that are unable to take metformin. It helps to lower blood glucose concentrations and increases the amount of glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP‐1) and glucose dependent insulinotropic peptide (GIP) present in the body. STG while effective in treating type II diabetes, can cause significant and harmful side effects. Some of the more concerning side effects for this drug are pancreatitis and kidney damage. These side effects can even lead to death. A study in rats showed that STG is secreted in the milk of lactating rats. To our knowledge, there have been no studies of STG conducted on breastfeeding women. Even though there is little research regarding STG and breastfeeding, it is still prescribed to breastfeeding women. There are no published methods for detecting STG in milk. This work describes the development of a method to detect STG in milk involving liquid‐liquid extraction, derivatization, and gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC‐ MS). A standard curve was created and a known milk sample was spiked with 156 ppm STG. The developed method determined the concentration of STG in the spiked sample to be 151 ppm.

Analysis of the Structural Integrity of Actein (Poster, Table 16)

Presenting Student: Kenneth Sewell Faculty Mentors: Dr. Peggy Biser, Dr. Holly Currie

Actein is a key triterpene in Black Cohosh, and is a potential chemotherapeutic. Studies of actein in natural samples requires the purchase of pure actein standard. Pure actein standard can be costly which raises concerns about the integrity of actein standards stored for long periods of time. This research aims to develop a method to determine the structural integrity of actein standards stored at ‐80°C for a prolonged period. A variety of instrumental methods including liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC‐MS), gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC‐MS), electrophoresis, and spectroscopy will be used to determine the molecular weight and structure of the stored actein samples. This will allow the structural integrity of the samples to be assessed.

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College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Research Symposium

Development of a Biochemistry Undergraduate Lab Protocol for pI Determination of Bovine LDH (Poster, Table 16)

Presenting Students: Cara Crawford, Scott Bingaman Faculty Mentor: Dr. Peggy Biser

Commercially available Bovine Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) proteins were analyzed using native 2‐dimensional electrophoresis in order to find an isoelectric point (pI). Through refinement of the protocol for an undergraduate biochemistry undergraduate laboratory, it was determined what the best protein sample amount was along with the stain.

Development of a Functional Group Testing Experiment for General Organic Biochemistry Students (Poster, Table 16)

Presenting Student: James West Faculty Mentor: Dr. Peggy Biser

A laboratory experiment was designed for General Organic Biochemistry (CHEM 150) students to investigate functional groups and functional group testing. Functional groups are common structural patterns observed in molecules that significantly contribute to the overall properties of the molecule. Functional groups react predictably to certain reagents. This experiment utilizes this predictability to identify functional groups in unknown solvents. Students will conduct a series of functional groups on eight different, common solvents. Observations will be recorded and compared to known positives. The students will then determine which functional groups are present in each solvent and then match the unknown solvents with their identities from a provided list, which will include the name and structure of each solvent tested. In conducting the experiment, results were found to be consistent and unambiguous. Working in groups, students should be able to complete this experiment in a single laboratory session. Given these results, we have concluded that the experiment will be ready to integrate into the CHEM 150 course beginning in the fall 2018 semester.

Solid Phase Peptide Synthesis Protocol Optimization and Application (Poster, Table 22)

Presenting Students: Brian Day, Nanxi Xu Faculty Mentor: Dr. Matthew Crawford

Solid phase synthesis (SPS) is primarily used in modern industrial and academic synthesis of drugs because these kinds of methods allow rapid synthesis of low molecular weight drugs. In this research two separate SPS experiments were completed to decide which approach can be utilized for a higher yield. The purpose of the first SPPS based experiment was to synthesize a peptide with

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College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Research Symposium various N‐ terminal labeling groups. The second SPPS focused on the same method but used unnatural amino acids to determine robustness in the solid phase synthesis approach. A biologically active peptide was created using the Fmoc strategy and a marker was attached in the last step in place of the amino acid. The markers are designed to target bioconjugates. The samples were analyzed by a mass spectrometer. The experiment was completed using a manual method, which was inexpensive, did not require complicated instruments, and were easy to perform. These processes can be changed by adding more, using other amino acids, or using other markers. The ultimate goal of this study is to synthesize an antimicrobial peptide. Every year about 2 million people in the United States are infected with bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics; however, at least 23 thousand of these cases result in death. Others die from conditions caused by these resistant infections. Therefore, there is a desperate need to discovery new antimicrobials using an affordable and easy process. Peptides have the ability to be antimicrobials and the SPPS process has become a predominant method in synthesizing peptides due to it being affordable and simple. There is now an active area of research for novel antimicrobial peptides. The peptide O‐W‐ F‐I‐F‐L‐NH2 was successfully synthesized with a yield of 70.9%. Further experimentation will include designing a unique peptide sequence, synthesizing it using the methods previously perfected, and assaying its antimicrobial activity.

Styrene Migration from Food Packaging into Ramen Noodles (Poster, Table 22)

Presenting Student: Brandi Binkley Faculty Mentor: Dr. Holly Currie

People are exposed to a variety of chemicals every day in the products they consume. Styrene is a component of many food packaging materials including Styrofoam. Ramen noodles are heated in Styrofoam providing a potential source of styrene exposure. This research aims to determine if there are detectable levels of styrene in Ramen noodles heated in Styrofoam packaging. Leaching/migration has been a topic in the science community for a while, but the focus has been more on plastic related chemicals than styrene. It has been shown that styrene can be associated with negative health effects such as carcinogenesis and neurotoxicity. If styrene levels are found in food, then it needs to be determined if the levels are safe according to the set exposure limits. The techniques used to complete the research project are headspace with solid phase microextraction (SPME) and gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC‐MS).

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College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Research Symposium

DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATION

60 Second Documentary (Oral Presentation)

Presenting Students: James Cousler, Ernest Merchant, Delron Glave, Kameron Clem, Elijah Sutton, Sidney Beeman, Jhaneal Stoute, Cheyenne Younger, Andre Glenn, Margaret McBride, Dasia Jones, Jajuan Jones Faculty Mentor: Ms. Annie Danzi

Mass Communication program students in the Advanced Video Production course (MCOM487) were tasked with creating short format, 60 second documentaries for the web. Students went through a step‐by‐step pre‐production process that included research, pitching, and planning before they could begin filming. Viable film topics had to meet certain criteria such as relevance, curiosity, accessibility and more. After each individual topic was green‐lit, students had two weeks to film and edit their documentary. Selected: 60 second documentaries will be shown and discussed in an oral presentation at the Undergraduate Research Symposium.

Addiction and Poverty: Allegany County Resources Available to Help the Community (Oral Presentation)

Presenting Student: Rebecca Megablew Faculty Mentors: Dr. Elesha Ruminski, Dr. Cynthia Zirlott

A lot of times when people see someone who is impoverished using drugs or alcohol, they throw them into a social stereotype. They don’t consider the fact that those people use drugs or alcohol to cope with the environment in which they are living, whether it’s financial stress or any form of abuse. Unfortunately, in 2009, 38% of the homeless population are alcoholics and 26% of the homeless population are drug abusers (National Coalition for the Homeless, 2009). Where are these statistics now? Addiction creates more issues because limited financial resources are used for drugs or alcohol. Not only does addiction drain those in poverty financially, it makes it hard to keep up in their jobs and might make addiction harder to beat. This presentation will focus on what resources are in place in Allegany County, Maryland, to help the poor and addicted. National Coalition for the Homeless. 29 June 2009. 4 April 2018. http://www.nationalhomeless.org/factsheets/addiction.pdf

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College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Research Symposium

Aluminum and Galvanized Steel Boat Lifts: Harmful Effects to the Environment (Oral Presentation)

Presenting Student: Austin Gray Faculty Mentor: Dr. Elesha Ruminski

In the past few decades, humans have had the opportunity to come up with many forms of machinery and structures that are involved in the water. Unfortunately, many of these are causing damage to the environment through chemicals and noise pollution. On the eastern shore of Maryland, the most widely used kind of boat lift is the galvanized steel lift. However, this lift pollutes when it rusts. Boat lifts, which happen to be a growing product near the coasts, can create pollution that is not viewed with enough criticism. This research focuses on aluminum’s electrolysis and the oxidation of the steel boat lifts, eventually focusing on the pollution aspect of the marine construction industry.

Avoiding the Unemployment Line: Are Jobs in My Major Available After Graduation? (Oral Presentation)

Presenting Student: Jordan Johnson Faculty Mentors: Dr. Elesha Ruminski, Ms. Christine Willingham

This research presentation will explore if college graduates get jobs in their field of study after graduation. The audience will learn difficulties graduates face getting jobs in their fields of study after they have spent four years going to school to get a job in their field. The main reason for this research is to explore how college graduates can be successful in finding employment.

Beating the Internet: Are Bobcats using Social Media Effectively? (Poster and Oral Presentation, Table 23)

Presenting Student: Margaret McBride Faculty Mentor: Dr. John Lombardi

With growth of Frostburg State University as a serious Division 3 athletic competitor comes the growth of athletic social media. This paper discusses the effectiveness of Frostburg State University's Athletic Social Media. This type of effectiveness is determined by 4 things: 1) Use of social media by current FSU athletes to identify upcoming athletic events, 2) Use of social media by current FSU to identify results of past athletic events, 3) Use of social media by FSU non‐ athletes to identify upcoming athletic events and 4) Use of social media by FSU non‐athletes to identify past athletic events. The methodology used to determine this effectiveness is through various routes including surveys, focus groups, and data analysis of the social media accounts in question. Each FSUASM account was reviewed using different variables and confines to overall

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College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Research Symposium determine the viewership of each account. After general audience was established, a survey was conducted to provide more of a mass‐understanding of the audience and finally, focus groups were conducted to determine why the social media is or is not effective. The social media being focused on is Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

Campus Involvement: How Getting Involved on Campus Benefits Students after Graduating (Oral Presentation)

Presenting Student: Tasia Smith Faculty and Staff Mentors: Dr. Elesha Ruminski, Mr. Robert Cooper

Getting involved on campus as a student is extremely important. It gives students the ability to get connected to faculty and staff, to get involved in organizations and to gain overall knowledge. Many students fail to get involved on their campus because they do not see the benefits that can come out of getting involved on campus. Not only can students build great connections and friendships, they can gain valuable knowledge that can benefit them after college. The research included in this presentation will be from interviews conducted with participating Frostburg State University alumni. These alumni were involved on campus before graduating and have seen the benefits that came along with their student involvement.

Concussion Prevention: Moving Toward Proper Collegiate and Professional Level Protocol (Oral Presentation)

Presenting Student: Nigel Williams Faculty and Staff Mentors: Dr. Elesha Ruminski, Mr. DeLane Fitzgerald, Mr. Peter Mayer

Today in the sport of football, many serious injuries occur in the game. Most injuries get properly diagnosed because of the professional expertise on and off the field. One of those injuries that have become a serious ongoing problem in the sport of football are concussions. Concussion is an injury to the head cause by a blunt or impacting force. With football being such a dangerous and high contact sport, it is very likely that a player is able to contract one. This presentation’s focus will be what a concussion is and the severity of not properly handling one. In this presentation, the focus will also be the proper ways of dealing with a concussion and the protocols on the collegiate and professional level of football. Lastly, there will be an overview about the short and long term effects that concussions can have on a football player if they are not properly met. Not properly addressing a concussion can be very dangerous and detrimental to a person’s health.

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College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Research Symposium

Coping with Depression in Frostburg: Depression and the Methods Deemed Most Effective in Handling It (Oral Presentation)

Presenting Student: Joshua Warren Faculty Mentor: Dr. Elesha Ruminski

Depression is defined by the National Institute of Mental Health (2018) as “a mood disorder that causes distressing symptoms that affect how you feel, think, and handle daily activities, such as sleeping, eating, or working.” Depression negatively affects the academic performance of students, often leading to the students dropping or failing out of classes. This presentation will include a descriptive analysis of depression in college students as well as the methods of handling depression that Frostburg State University (FSU) students believe to be the most effective. The data is composed primarily of previously assembled research information and statistics that were gathered from various sources. This research has been compiled to present a brief overview of depression in college students as well as methods of prevention, such as counseling, therapy, and medication that are deemed viable by professionals in the mental health field. Included also are results from a survey that was conducted on FSU’s campus to collect data on depression rates amongst a population of students and what is considered to be most successful amongst the ways that those students combat depression. National Institute of Mental Health. “Depression Basics.” 6 April 2018. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/depression/index.shtml

Does Reading Affect Personality? The Correlation between Reading and Empathy (Poster and Oral Presentation, Table 23)

Presenting Student: Francheska Alvarez‐Perez Faculty Mentors: Dr. Elesha Ruminski, Dr. Sydney Duncan

Empathy is the ability to understand and feel what a person is going through based on their perspective. Some people are especially empathetic, and others struggle with empathy. Studies show that empathy can be a learned behavior that one can acquire by reading. According to David Comer Kidd and Emanuele Castono, “literary fiction helps people practice empathy because of its complexity. Because it requires more mental processing, readers of literary fiction are tasked with interpretation or critical thinking” (Hill 2016). The goal of this presentation is to prove whether this is correct or incorrect. Does reading actually have an effect on empathy? Through reviews of literature and a survey conducted on a random population, it will be possible to determine whether reading has an effect on the development of empathy. This survey will contain questions pertaining to a person’s personal reading habits and thoughts and will tie in ideas gathered from the literature review. By looking at what people have to say about reading and empathy now, it will be possible to verify the claims of these previous studies. Hill, C. E. (2016, December 09). How Reading Fiction Increases Our Capacity for Empathy. Retrieved April 06, 2018, from https://www.booksatwork.org/reading‐novels‐empathetic/

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College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Research Symposium

Figurative and Coercive Language: An Examination of News Headlines on Social Media (Oral Presentation)

Presenting Student: Ashleigh Myers Faculty Mentors: Dr. Elesha Ruminski, Dr. Sherri Whalen

In today’s society, many individuals rely on social media for their main source of current news. Although this is a convenient alternative to traditional news sources, such as newspapers or television, some social media outlets do not always offer their audience a reliable story or headline. The use of social media news outlets is only becoming more popular, which may cause problems in the validity and support of news headlines. This case study will focus on the coercion and manipulation happening in news titles by recreating the study conducted in 2014 titled, "Coercive Metaphors in News Headlines: A Cognitive‐Pragmatic Approach" by Katarzyna Molek‐ Kozakowska. Coercive news headlines are achieved through figurative language. Therefore, this study will analyze the figurative language used in current news headlines appearing on social media and organize findings to help give an insight about coercive headlines. MOLEK‐ KOZAKOWSKA, KATARZYNA. "Coercive Metaphors in News Headlines a Cognitive‐Pragmatic Approach." Brno Studies in English, vol. 40, no. 1, Jan. 2014, pp. 149‐173. EBSCOhost, doi:10.5817/BSE2014‐1‐8.

#FitLife: The Impact Millennials Have on the Fitness Industry Through the Use of Instagram (Oral Presentation)

Presenting Student: Sarah Maggitti Faculty Mentors: Dr. Elesha Ruminski, Dr. Ryan Kentrus

In recent years, the use of social media has rapidly increased among younger generations. This network allows people from all over the world to share information, experiences, photos, and recommendations. From a business stand point, social media is the perfect platform to market new products, services, and ideas to these younger generations. This presentation will examine the impact millennials have had on the growth and success of the fitness industry through this generation’s use of Instagram. Instagram is a major platform for gyms and other health clubs to advertise to millennials through regular advertising means and sponsorships of popular Instagram users. Through the use of information collected and a survey of Frostburg State University students, this presentation will focus on millennials’ use of Instagram and how, through this social media site, their focus on a healthy lifestyle and their use of gyms and health clubs has increased. This will demonstrate the importance of marketing through social media to gain the attention of younger audiences and to better connect to this generation to promote a fitness‐based business most effectively.

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College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Research Symposium

Gender Neutral or Gender Inclusive: Creating Non‐Binary Gender Language in the United States (Oral Presentation)

Presenting Student: Ciel LaBrossiere‐Little Faculty Mentors: Dr. Elesha Ruminski, Ms. Christine Willingham, Dr. Shoshana Brassfield

Gender identity is an important issue in the United States, given the current social and political climate today. With this in mind, some organizations have opened up their restrooms, using language such as “Gender Inclusive,” “All Gender,” or “Gender Neutral.” Frostburg State University, for example, offers “safe spaces” on campus, including “Gender Inclusive Housing.” While these examples indicate a shift in the way that non‐binary and gendered language are approached, there is still room for improvement.

Have Smart Phones Made Us Less Social? (Oral Presentation)

Presenting Student: Caprice Kabwasa‐McGuire Faculty Mentor: Dr. Elesha Ruminski

Studies have shown that people are addicted to their phones, and the way we communicate is changing as we speak. Surprisingly, smartphones were first created in 1992 by IBM. The original intent was to conveniently connect calls and emails and to create notes to have everything in one place. Fast forward 15 years when the first iPhone was released, and the smart phone has more features than ever before (Tweedie, 2015). This presentation will explore if the invention of the smartphone has changed the way we communicate and other social impacts. Tweedie, S. (14 June 2015). The world’s first smartphone, Simon, was created 15 years before the Iphone. http://www.businessinsider.com/worlds‐first‐smartphone‐simon‐launched‐before‐iphone‐2015‐6

How Does PTSD Affect the Homeless Rates of Veterans? (Oral Presentation)

Presenting Student: Brandon Brock Faculty and Staff Mentors: Dr. Elesha Ruminski, Ms. Danielle Dabrowski

What happens to military service members when they are finished serving our country? There are countless veterans that are homeless and living on the street. This presentation will describe post‐ traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and address how PTSD affects the homeless rates of veterans. The research will explore the mechanisms in place to help veterans suffering from PTSD. PTSD affects many veterans differently and has many levels of severity. This research will examine what veterans go through when they have PTSD and how this keeps them from being employed. This research recognizes how the United States could do a better job at taking care of the people who defended this country after they are finished with their duty.

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College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Research Symposium

How Music Brings Cultures Together to Create a Team’s Identity (Oral Presentation)

Presenting Student: Karahn Alston Faculty Mentors: Dr. Elesha Ruminski, Ms. Christine Willingham, Ms. Annie Danzi

Why do sports organizations choose the music they play during sporting events? Is it determined by the team city location and culture? Today in the sports entertainment business, the players are not the only focus. This presentation will examine how music builds fan engagement and team identity. The role for the public relations and marketing department consists of fan engagement. Music is one thing that fans look forward to because it connects the players to the fans from each city. Additionally, players aren’t always from the city they play for; therefore, it sometimes can be hard to connect with the fans that root for them day in and day out. Players have a difficult time getting to know one another because they do not choose the team to which they are assigned. Players come from different cities and come from different cultural backgrounds but they all share the common goal for the love of their sport. Music can connect fans and teams to get pumped as well as to celebrate victory after a huge win.

How Religious Fundamentalism Might Contribute to Less Social Equality for Women (Oral Presentation)

Presenting Student: Kadeem Parker Faculty Mentors: Dr. Elesha Ruminski, Dr. Sydney Duncan

This presentation offers a close look at social structures in order to properly assess how women are treated due to religious fundamentalism. The audience will discover the meaning of religious fundamentalism and how it may contribute to less social freedom and agency for women in American society as well as for women in the global community. Women across the globe face profound social inequality due to religious fundamentalism. They might face threats for trying to receive an education, have their leadership undermined, and they might be silenced when it comes to controlling their own bodies among many other social injustices. The research will focus on backing these claims by employing the ethnographic research method and by the reviewing of prior research conducted on the topic.

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College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Research Symposium

Guest Satisfaction: What Students will Share and What Frostburg Dining will Change (Poster, Table 23)

Presenting Student: Tiaju McCalup Faculty and Staff Mentors: Dr. Elesha Ruminski, Mr. David Glenn

This study focuses on how customer feedback can help Frostburg Dining create better guest experiences and how speaking up can provide guests with changes they want to see. Each semester Chartwells Higher Education, the company that operates Frostburg Dining, conducts guest satisfaction surveys at each of their locations. Surveys were distributed and remained open for a month, and this semester they ranged from March 2018 to April 2018. Information collected on participants included if they are meal plan holders or not, gender, academic year, location of their meal purchase, price paid, and whether they are commuters or live on campus. These surveys covered customers’ views on value for money, areas they would like to see improvement in, cleanliness, speed of service, staff friendliness, overall rating of the chosen location and their likelihood to refer a friend. Emphasis was placed on advertising to prompt participation and incentives to make guests feel valued. Numerous platforms were used to deliver this survey to students, including emails sent by Frostburg State University, social media posts with attached links, posters at dining locations, and tabling in Lane University Center to take the survey on site. To communicate to guests the value of their opinion, each participant received a free beverage and entry to win a Bluetooth Sony speaker or a Fitbit. Final results gave Frostburg Dining a comprehensive list of pros and cons, allowing management to determine what short‐term and long‐term goals to set. This presentation will cover the measures that Frostburg Dining has taken and intends to take in the upcoming semester to improve or maintain guest satisfaction.

I Am Not Who You Think I Am: An Examination of Social Media Image (Oral Presentation)

Presenting Student: Alexus Clanton Faculty Mentors: Dr. Elesha Ruminski, Dr. Eyad Youssef

Social media sites such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter have become increasingly successful in recent years. Social media sites allow their users to connect with billions of people all over the world with the ability to create virtual profiles of themselves. Users are also able to post details and photos about their life and experiences, maintain relationships, meet new people and comment on other people’s lives. Social media brings many positives; however, it also opens up room for self‐evaluation, social comparison, loneliness, narcissism and depression. This presentation will study why users are posting or presenting the content that they are to these social media sites. Are the users creating this virtual façade because they aren’t living up to these expectations in reality, or do they create the façade to drive them into reaching the expectations that they are presented with on their social media? This research will include the outcomes of survey questions presented to Frostburg State University students and willing participants from

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College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Research Symposium social media. Additionally, an observational approach studying multiple social media accounts on various platforms will be taken, along with studying previous research done on this subject. This research seeks to examine the relationship between social media and its influence on self‐image.

Medical Marijuana: The Future of Injury Prevention and Treatment (Oral Presentation)

Presenting Student: Phil Wheeler Faculty Mentor: Dr. Elesha Ruminski

In professional sports, competition is at its peak. With that level of competition comes the willingness to do what it takes to win. This judgment can sometimes lead to serious injuries, whether it be an instant and tangible issue, or an injury that progressively gets worse over time, even after playing ceases. There have been countless studies into the world of medicinal marijuana in terms of preventing and treating injuries, especially with concussions and chronic pain. These studies go more into the fact that marijuana is being more accepted in the field of treatment and prevention of many ailments. Football is becoming one of the more medicinal‐ marijuana conscious sports because it is most associated with injuries out of many of the sports today. There have been some players advocates that have put forth efforts to legalize medicinal marijuana because it is one of the only treatments that helps manage pain and other conditions caused by the contact sport. Injuries can be gateways to these prescription/opiate drugs, which can lead to addiction. These factors all tie into the positive influence of legalizing medicinal marijuana in professional sports.

Mass Shootings and the Media: How the News Reflects Reality (Oral Presentation)

Presenting Student: Erik Davis Faculty Mentors: Dr. Elesha Ruminski, Ms. Christine Willingham

In today’s society, there is a massive amount of information that each one of us absorbs on a daily basis, which we gather through our phones, televisions and computers. There is, however, a significant problem that not everyone takes into account when receiving this data. Often times, the information that news agencies broadcast to us is not completely accurate. Personal agendas and biases held within certain organizations can be found in a lot of events where there is news coverage. For this project, the researcher examined specifically how accurately news organizations present information associated with mass shootings.

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College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Research Symposium

One Step Forward, Two Steps Back: The Cliff Effect’s Impact on Poverty in Allegany County (Oral Presentation)

Presenting Student: Gwendolin Schemm Faculty Mentors: Dr. Elesha Ruminski, Dr. Kathleen Powell

Poverty is one of the greatest forms of violence an individual can face. The existence of poverty presents itself in various forms: hunger, lack of shelter, lack of clothing, and even the fear of every day. Poverty is economic insufficiency in which individuals cannot meet basic needs. The cliff effect is a barrier that prevents low income individuals from reaching self‐sufficiency (Circles USA, 2017). The presentation will examine how the cliff effect enables the recursive cycle of poverty in Allegany County. Twenty‐nine percent of the population that resides in Allegany County are asset‐ limited and ten percent live below the federal poverty line (The United Way Alice Project, 2018). Public and private assistance programs help these individuals, but they fail to provide financial stability. Eligibility for such programs is primarily based on personal income. The cliff effect is an economic phenomenon that impacts financially vulnerable individuals by holding them back from achieving self‐sufficiency (State Policies to Counteract the Cliff Effect in Public Programs, 2011). Because the rate of decrease in benefits is significantly greater than the rate of increase in wages, the working poor are forced to take two steps back. Poverty and the cliff effect are structural problems, not just individual problems. The presentation highlights the current state of the cliff effect in Allegany County and potential solutions to decelerate individual’s metaphorical fall off the cliff. The cliff effect slows the progress of individuals who are trying to move out of poverty in Allegany County. Circles USA (December, 2017). Building a community to end poverty. Retrieved from http://www.circlesusa.org/. State policies to counteract the cliff effect in public programs (October, 2011). Retrieved from http://www.legis.nd.gov/files/committees/642014%20appendices/17_9066_01000appendixb.pdf The United Way Alice Project (2018). Retrieved from http://www.uwcm.org/main/wp‐ content/uploads/2017/01/16UW‐ALICE‐Report_MD_1.6.17_Hires1.pdf

President Trump, Twitter and Politics (Poster, Table 23)

Presenting Student: Nicole Leighty Contributing Student: Ashleigh Myers Faculty Mentor: Dr. Sherri Whalen

The tweets of President Donald Trump were examined under the mass communication theory of the echo chamber. The echo chamber is a theory which states, "An environment in which a person encounters only beliefs or opinions that coincide with their own, so that their existing views are reinforced and alternative ideas are not considered" (Oxford Dictionaries). The tweets that were analyzed were from two very specific time frames that elicited an increase in political engagement. The tweets were from two‐week periods from around the time of the healthcare vote and tax reform bill. Specific keywords were used to search through the replies to the original tweet

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College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Research Symposium composed by President Trump. Our research examines the question of if echo chambers are present within Twitter and specifically with replies to President Trump's tweets. Echo chamber Definition of echo chamber in English by Oxford Dictionaries. (n.d.). Retrieved April 06, 2018, from https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/echo_chamber

Representation Matters: The Impact of Having an Instructor from a Similar Background on Scholastic Success of Minority Students (Oral Presentation)

Presenting Student: Milan Williams Faculty and Staff Mentors: Dr. Elesha Ruminski, Dr. Amy Branam Armiento, Ms. Robin Wynder

Minority students are expected to succeed with many odds stacked against them. When did this expectation begin? What types of obstacles do they face? How can the odds be turned in their favor? This presentation will aim to answer each of these questions and more. Aside from providing answers to these questions, there will also be research pertaining to other topics covered such as the likeliness of these students succeeding if they do feel representation. With the answers to these questions, with research hopefully there will be an increase in the influence these students so desperately need.

Rise by Helping Others: The Importance of Community Food Banks and Involvement of Volunteers (Oral Presentation)

Presenting Student: Casey Kidd Faculty Mentors: Dr. Elesha Ruminski, Dr. Brian Hough

Imagine waking up and not knowing when or if you were going to be able to eat that day. This is a real issue faced by many men, women, and children across the entire world. Food banks have created a way for these troubling thoughts to be put to rest by providing relief. Numerous types of skills are required for the various tasks needed for success. This also entails the collaboration of various personalities in order to rise to the mission of taking care of what needs to be done for one's community. Food banks are not only essential to community sustainability by providing free or reduced cost food for those who are struggling within the community, but also by decreasing waste produced by the communities. Various projects are required to be completed for things to flow smoothly within the food banks operation system. This presentation will evaluate how playing an active role in local food banks is good for the individual as well as the community. Being involved in one's community, especially when it comes to working with food banks, is critical to a community's ability to come together.

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College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Research Symposium

“Shut Up & Dribble”: The Predicament Minority Athletes Face When They Speak Out (Oral Presentation)

Presenting Student: Natnael Alamirew Faculty Mentors: Dr. Elesha Ruminski, Dr. Robert Moore

When individuals whose voices are disregarded—such as people experiencing famine and those who go through discrimination for their race, gender, or religion—see their issues and concerns echoed in the news, they can be empowered to take action to change the status quo. Public figures can play a vital role in leading dialogues by using their platforms to bring attention to issues facing these relegated communities. Nearly without fail, however, minority athletes who have used their platform to make political statements have faced strict consequences from higher powers. In 1967, Muhammad Ali declined to be inducted into the military based on his religious beliefs. He was then arrested, stripped of his title, and barred from professional boxing in the US for three years. Even after the drastic 1960s, many other athletes have experienced significant career setbacks for objecting the establishment. It is imperative to remember that regardless of the tendency to admire athletes, in the end, they are just human beings, people with thoughts, feelings, and the right to express themselves. This study seeks to validate and create awareness to the predicament athletes of minority background face when voicing their opinions on social matters. Bibliography: Arnett, Autumn. “Media Fuels Negative Perception of Black Athletes.” Diverse, 4 June 2015, diverseeducation.com/article/73591/. “Muhammad Ali Refuses Army Induction.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, www.history.com/this‐day‐in‐ history/muhammad‐ali‐refuses‐army‐induction. 6 April 2018.

Straw Wars: An Analysis of Frostburg State University’s Awareness of the Harm That Straws Cause to the Environment (Oral Presentation)

Presenting Student: Niki Elliott Faculty Mentors: Dr. Elesha Ruminski, Dr. Jennifer Earles

Plastic straws can be extremely harmful to wildlife and are one of our beach’s top polluters. Indeed, Americans alone use more than 500 million plastic straws every day (The Be Straw Free Campaign, 2013). However, based on the literature, this information is not widely known. Beginning with this mandate, this study will analyze data collected from surveys and interviews with Frostburg State University’s (FSU) staff and students. Survey and interview questions will identify the knowledge level of participants about the danger plastic straws pose to the environment, healthier alternatives to the plastic straw, and participants’ willingness to switch to a more sustainable type of straw. Based on this study’s findings, outreach programs could be developed to meet the current knowledge level and interest of participants in an attempt to lessen the detrimental effects of plastic straws for wildlife, oceans, the overall environment, and the FSU community. N/A. (2013, November 26). The be straw free campaign. National Park Service.

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College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Research Symposium

The Economics of the Digital Music Industry and How it Influences Consumer Spending (Oral Presentation)

Presenting Student: Isaiah Lewis Faculty Mentors: Dr. Elesha Ruminski, Dr. Ronald Horner

The music industry has been one of the main driving forces in the economy of the United States for many years and is only getting larger. Now, with the emergence of the internet, music has brought in a lot of revenue. For example, Itunes is a big music platform where artists can sell their music and consumers can go on their phone and purchase any songs they want with the push of a button. According to Fortune.com, Itunes estimates to earn an average music sales of $4.1 billion a year in digital music download sells (Dewitt 6). One of the reasons why many artists have success selling their music on these types of platforms is because whether consumers realize it or not, many artists use tactics that influence the way people in society spend their money. This presentation will examine the impact and revenue patterns of digital music sales. It will also explain how music is connected to the way consumers spend their money through various methods of consumerism. Dewitt, Phillip. “How much revenue did ITunes generate last quarter,” 21 July 2013, Fortune.com.

The Exploration of the Lack of Female Sanitary Products in Women’s Bathrooms at Frostburg State University (Oral Presentation)

Presenting Student: Imani Jackson Faculty Mentors: Dr. Elesha Ruminski, Dr. Jennifer Earles

Women have natural occurrences that, when ignored, can cause embarrassment, humiliation, and severe health consequences. These natural occurrences are “periods” or menstruation cycles, which happen on a monthly cycle and can cause cramps, fatigue, bloating and pre‐menstrual syndrome (PMS). Periods are a female’s body way of preparing itself for childbirth, when the lining of the uterus sheds, causing a discharge of blood and tissue. To save themselves from embarrassment, humiliation, and other wellness and health issues, women use female sanitary products like tampons and sanitary pads or napkins. Typically, when for any reason women do not have these products, there are usually dispensers in public bathrooms where these products can be obtained. The dispensers in the women’s bathrooms of Frostburg State University are completely empty. Pursuing a college education is a right many woman fought for over time. Women face many challenges on a daily basis, including gender inequality, pressure to included, and confining society norms. Women have the right to an education, yet we are distracted by lack of products for this natural occurrence. This research will explore why these dispensers are empty and how this effects the female students of Frostburg state University. It will also seek to understand if students feel there is a need to address this issue and what it would take to improve this situation.

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College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Research Symposium

The Impacts Advisors Have on Their Advisees (Oral Presentation)

Presenting Student: Lauren Calton Faculty and Staff Mentors: Dr. Elesha Ruminski, Ms. Amy Shimko

Some academic advisors provide positive resources for advisees, while some advisors are lacking in providing guidance. This presentation will offer a look at the different ways an advisor can have an impact on advisees and improvements that can be enacted by a university to ensure all advisors are held to the same standards. A survey will be conducted to better understand if there are any standards for advising across majors, how well advisors adhere to these advising standards, and what types of support students seek in advisors. Universities, particularly Frostburg State University, can benefit from these findings so they can provide future students with a better experience by providing a set of standards for future advisors to adhere to so they can minimize dissatisfaction from advisees.

The Relationship between Effective Coaches and the Success of College Athletes (Oral Presentation)

Presenting Student: Rosalie Friedman Faculty and Staff Mentors: Dr. Elesha Ruminski, Dr. Robert Lewis, Ms. Kaitlin Boerman

Sports are a huge topic discussed worldwide. Many college students are involved in sports and look up to their coaches for guidance. Coaches teach morals and values that stay with athletes for life. This research will present the leadership techniques used in coaching. Making sure coaches use their power for good is key. An effective coach goes above and beyond for their team. Coaches lead by example and help create building blocks for students. This presentation will examine characteristics coaches need as well as dynamics and personable relationships they create in their roles. Topics discussed will include communication skills, attitude, and commitment. The end goal for a coach within their sport and life is to support their athlete’s success on and off the field.

Transition Challenges in Higher Education: Serving Those Who Have Served (Oral Presentation)

Presenting Student: Samantha Dabrowski Faculty and Staff Mentors: Dr. Elesha Ruminski, Ms. Danielle Dabrowski, Mr. Billy Wrights

The enrollment of veterans into colleges will begin to increase dramatically over the next few years with veterans utilizing the GI Bill for funding. Lopez et al suggests, “More than 955,000 veterans received aid under the new GI Bill during the 3 years following its passage in 2009” (143). Many student veterans face challenges transitioning to civilian life and transitioning challenges facing this non‐traditional group of students when starting college far exceed that of a

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College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Research Symposium traditional college student. This presentation will preview some of the transition challenges facing student veterans and what Frostburg State University has currently implemented, and will examine the importance of these programs, with a goal of having a campus‐wide understanding of the distinct and vast needs of this population of students.

Undergraduate Civic Engagement: Exploring the Rhetorical Situation of Civic Responsibility at Frostburg State University (Oral Presentation)

Presenting Student: Jon Huizer Faculty and Staff Mentors: Dr. Elesha Ruminski, Dr. Thomas Bowling, Ms. Christine Willingham, Ms. Tracy Edwards

Among the most pressing issues facing our nation today is the well‐documented, multi‐decade‐ long decline in the participation and engagement of its citizens. It has resulted in a wholesale inability for citizens to take part in healthy civil dialogue, separate fact from fiction, work together in solving public problems and take effective action when appropriate. Traditionally, the diffusion of civic skills has been the role of institutions of higher education as they work towards transforming students into active citizens. Yet, there is corresponding evidence of a disconnect between institutional commitments to civic responsibility and the manner in which students actually embrace them. Counterintuitively, in a world of unprecedented global communication networks and technologies, we have seemingly lost the ability to communicate in meaningful and effective ways. This work seeks to explore and assist in mitigating this decline and disconnect. It embraces the foundational concept that the sustainability of a democracy depends on an informed, skillful and active citizenry. To that end, an action research methodology and exploratory design scrutinizes the concept of civic responsibility under the lens of the rhetorical situation. This approach is crafted to advance a compelling and innovative vision, one that communicates a sustainable culture of democratic civic engagement; and by way of implication, it illustrates that in the absence of an established undergraduate civic science curriculum, the development of a student‐driven, co‐curricular and interdisciplinary civic engagement program becomes of utmost importance. Such a program is demonstrably the embodiment of civic responsibility.

Understanding Recreational Reading and its Impact on Academics at Frostburg State University (Oral Presentation)

Presenting Student: Parwon Kamei Faculty Mentors: Dr. Elesha Ruminski, Dr. Paul Bernhardt, Dr. Mary Anne Lutz

Recreational reading in our modern society might seem like a forgotten habit. With the rise of streaming services, such as Netflix or Hulu, social media, and, in general, the expansion of the internet, more people find themselves reading books less frequently. Looking at this phenomenon

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College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Research Symposium from an objective standpoint, a few questions that might arise regarding recreational reading. This presentation will cover scholarly definitions of recreational reading and will detail what materials count as recreational reading. The audience will also be informed on the motivation behind one’s recreational reading habits. Finally, results will be presented on the recreational reading habits of Frostburg State students and the relationship between their reading habits and their grade point average.

Wakanda Forever: An Analysis of the Success of Black Films (Oral Presentation)

Presenting Student: Ashley Palmisano Faculty Mentors: Dr. Elesha Ruminski, Dr. Kevin Kehrwald

The 2018 Marvel Comics movie Black Panther is a cinematic phenomenon that is taking the nation, as well as the world, by storm. The movie takes place in the fictional African country of Wakanda, a technologically advance, rich nation untouched by white colonization. This premise drew people in by the thousands and was an obvious hit with audiences and critics alike. It is the highest‐ grossing black‐directed film of all time, the 12th highest grossing film of all time, the 5th domestically (as of 3/30/2018), and what’s more, it did all of this with a majority minority cast and crew. Black Panther was a film unlike anything Hollywood has seen before, but that isn’t to say that its success can’t be traced back to the history of black films in America. Black films range from movies with black directors, like Jordan Peele’s Get Out, majority black casts, like Eddie Murphey’s Coming to America, black themes, like Amma Asante’s Belle or any combination of the three, like Barry Jenkins’ Moonlight. A look back at the success or failure of previous black‐led films will perhaps provide some insight as to why Black Panther is doing as unbelievably well as it is today.

We’re Going Streaking: Why FSU Students Find Snapchat Appealing (Oral Presentation)

Presenting Student: Rose Gause Faculty Mentors: Dr. Elesha Ruminski, Dr. Brian Hough

Snapchat has redefined when, where, why, and how we share photos and videos. This social media phenomenon has taken the media universe by surprise and is unlike any other social media. It has become normal to see people walking around outside recording a beautiful day, talking to their phones when there is no one on the other end, or referring to a “streak” in a nontraditional way. In terms of Snapchat, a “streak” occurs when two Snapchat users send each other snaps back and forth at least once every 24 hours. While some people avoid the app altogether because they find it confusing, others use it every day. Snapchat was created in 2011, but it did not become popular until a few years ago. According to Omnicore, active snapchatters open the app 18 or more times a day. Those active users represent some of the Frostburg State University (FSU) population. This presentation will provide an overview of how Snapchat operates, its most recent

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College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Research Symposium updates, and results from surveys giving insight on what makes Snapchat so appealing to FSU students. Aslam, Salman. “Snapchat by the Numbers: Stats, Demographics, & Fun Facts.” Omnicore, https://www.omnicoreagency.com/snapchat‐statistics/ 13 February 2018.

What is Happening to My City? An Analysis of Opioid Addiction in Western Maryland and the Issues that Law Enforcement has to Handle (Oral Presentation)

Presenting Student: Zach Mason Contributing Students: Kambawamukor Harris, Stephen Owings, Renee Poffenberger, Brandon Roberson Faculty Mentors: Dr. Elesha Ruminski, Ms. Christine Willingham

The state of Maryland has been jarred by the popularization of opioids, and the effects have shown to be quite problematic. One might expect this crisis to be contained within the more urban areas and crime heavy sectors of large cities, but this is not the case. Western Maryland has fallen victim to the epidemic and is suffering greatly because of its addictive nature. In response, the state has developed the Maryland Heroin and Opioid Task Force and Coordinating Council. This group shows the necessity in analyzing the spread of opioid addiction to find proper ways to stop the spread of opioids, and opioid related issues. This presentation continues analysis of research put forth by a group of Frostburg State University students from Communication Studies 215: Small Group Communication in an effort to raise awareness by creating a public service announcement. In creation of the public service announcement, the students were tasked with the study of locally affected demographics and the gathering of statistics that show the spike in opioid abuse in Western Maryland. This part of the study is centered on the testimonies of local law enforcement and their experience with this type of drug. Understanding what firsthand responders have to deal with daily provides a look into the issues that the community faces and just how problematic this addiction is.

What Is The Best Form of Security for Schools? (Oral Presentation)

Presenting Student: Olivia Balogun Faculty Mentor: Dr. Elesha Ruminski

According to everytownresearch.org, “Since 2013, there have been more than 300 school shootings in America –an average of about one a week.” This statistic emphasizes the urgency for a better form of school security. By examining the different forms of security, schools can choose the best way to protect their students and staff. By seeing a comparison of the different methods of security, the audience will be able to see which form of security is the best for schools across the country. Also, by examining the different forms of school security, the number of fatal school shootings can be reduced. “The Long, Shameful List of School Shootings in America.” EverytownResearch.org, 21 Mar. 2018, everytownresearch.org/school‐shootings/

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College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Research Symposium

DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES

Animated GIF Generator (Poster* and Physical Display, Table 35)

Presenting Students: Rebecca Flinn, Rebecca Lee Faculty Mentor: Dr. Xunyu Pan

The goal of an animated gif generator would be to allow users to completely design a gif using premade animations. As well as designing an animated gif, this program provides premade backgrounds and looping times to make sure the gif loop is a seamless as possible. These premade animations and backgrounds are accessible through a library on the website, which they can then drag over to the blank storyboard area and place where they would like it to go. The premade animations attempt to cover a large variety of random objects, people, and animals, etc. so the user can have as much creative freedom as possible. Both the backgrounds and animations are 2D, which made the design and implementation of them easier to accomplish, which allowed us to make more items for the user to choose from. For this project, we used HTML and its associated libraries, along with potentially using Java applets to embed functionality into the website.

Binary Digits Illuminated (Poster* and Physical Display, Table 37)

Presenting Student: Brandon Villagran Faculty Mentors: Dr. Michael Flinn, Mr. Steven Moon

The following project is a collaboration of software technologies and electrical hardware creating an interactive learning tool for one of the most fundamental concepts in computer science: binary, the language of computers. The primary purpose is to provide the learner with an interface, accessible through a touch screen display or their own smart device, for which they can turn 8 light bulbs on or off and receive the corresponding conversion of the 8 binary digits, represented by the light bulbs, into decimal, hexadecimal, and greyscale values. An explanation by the demonstrator should be provided, but additional information can be found on the interface itself. The project is designed to be interacted with by anyone, regardless of age or background, and provide for an effective teaching tool for the concept of binary numbering and conversion. The secondary purpose is to demonstrate the capabilities of modern technologies to the audience. The project utilizes a Raspberry Pi 3 Model B which acts as a host for an Apache Web Server providing users with the web interface developed with HTML5/CSS3, JavaScript, and PHP. An 8 channel 5‐volt relay module is used to allow control of the higher voltage lightbulbs by the Raspberry Pi’s GPIO interface, subsequently controlled through the web interface. The Pi is connected to a wireless access point via a LAN connection. The web interface is accessed through the web browser of any device connected to the wireless access point, or the touch screen display monitor presented with the project. The project is designed to be replicable by anyone interested in the topics of home electronics automation and web interfaces, or anyone looking for a fun project to do.

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College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Research Symposium

Choose Your Own Adventure: A Video Game (Poster* and Physical Display and Oral Presentation, Table 36)

Presenting Students: Rebecca Flinn, Atticus Speis Faculty Mentor: Mr. Steve Kennedy

Throughout this semester, we have worked on the concept, design, and code for a text‐based video game. We have had to write out a script and story line, create designs to further the immersion, compose background music to increase the ambiance, and code the entire game. Our goal is to eventually make this simple text‐based game into an MMO RPG with 3D graphics and a world that is free to roam. Conceptually, our game should be able to cater to what the player wants to happen by shaping who the character is in the game based on what choices the player makes. Though it won’t lead to multiple endings, the way the player arrives at the ending and how they beat the game will be different based on how they chose to play.

PAWS Usability Study (Poster and Oral Presentation, Table 38)

Presenting Students: Joshua Ritchie, Jordan Sabedra, Keon Fenner, Kalief Epes Faculty Mentor: Dr. Oluwadamilola Gbenro

The purpose behind our PAWS prototype project was to identify the difference in usability between members of the university and identify whether PAWS was preferred to stay the same or if the system was preferred to be changed. The interviews consisted of two different scripts with six participants on each script with no preference to ethnicity, race, major, gender, or year of college, and was primarily used for Watching Participants navigating PAWS. This includes the time for each task presented, watching body language, and taking notes of the environment (time of day, location, Technology utilized). After conducting interviews, we constructed a sixty‐person survey containing different questions to figure out different Pros and Cons of PAWS and alternative ways dozens of people use PAWS and their preference over the system. Once all our information was gathered, we created a prototype version of PAWS using WIX.com that solves the different problems associated with the feedback we obtained through our two methods of information gathering. For our interviews, we recorded 66.7% of males and 33.3% of females from our twelve interviewees. College years ranged from freshmen to senior; with a higher concentration of seniors participating as interviewees. Between the people interviewed the knowledge of computers ranged from beginning, middle, and expert at a 33.3% selection rate for each. Only 8.3% of the interviewees claimed to be an expert in the usability of PAWS. For both scripts, the average time needed to complete the different tasks were 14.12 seconds for task one, 56.17 seconds for task two, and 86.29 seconds for task three, with fifty of people in both scripts needing help. The results of the questionnaire included 58.3% of females and 41.7% of males. There were 23.3% of freshmen, 31.7% of sophomores, 25% of juniors, and 20% of seniors included in this sixty‐person questionnaire. There was a total of twenty‐two questions having to do with opinionated responses on PAWS including yes/no questions and questions that are scaled from 1

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College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Research Symposium to 5, one being least likely, five being most likely. We also have free range responses not limited to any response guidelines. Some of the feedback we received on these questions were “PAWS is annoying to use when it comes to registering for classes” and “Make more simple to use.” Our website is a complete change to the functionality of PAWS. We altered Viewing the E‐BILL, Searching for Classes, Listing Textbooks, Favorites listing, Requesting transcripts, and Planner modifications. Using the same twelve participants, we had 83.3% of the users who preferred our prototype over the current PAWS system, and 83.3% who felt our system was easier to use than PAWS. Through a reconstruction of our Interviews, we found that each task averaged less time on our PAWS system, with task one at 9.045 seconds, task two at 32.125 seconds, and task three at 54.948 seconds. Overall, users preferred our websites improvement to the usability of PAWS.

Regional Economic Growth through Business Assistant (Poster* and Physical Display, Table 37)

Presenting Students: Bobby Boykin, Janai Foster, Alyssa Malanik, Johnathan Tripp Contributing Students: Kaitlynn Leedy, Jonathan Yantz Faculty Mentor: Dr. Michael Flinn

Allegany and Garrett Counties have been pushing towards more thriving and lasting economic growth for this region. However, potential business owners interested in opening or relocating a business in this area can get lost when it comes to gathering the information required regarding zoning laws, regulations, and permits. Frostburg Forward is an organization that is interested in boosting this economic growth, and wanted a way to simplify the data gathering process. Working with the needs and requirements set by this organization, as well as utilizing best practices and project management, our seminar class worked to develop a functioning website with the purpose of streamlining the process of planning and opening a business. By leveraging technologies such as Google Analytics, Firebase, and several programming languages, our website directs users through a questionnaire process that uses the given answers to provide users with all of the information they need in regards to permits, laws, and which offices and departments business owners need to see. Through the use of our website, potential business owners will have a more streamlined way to go through the process of opening a business here; thus, boosting the economic growth of the Western Maryland region.

Security Concerns and Vulnerabilities of Autonomous Vehicles (Poster, Table 38)

Presenting Students: Alyssa Malanik, Evan Colon, Janai Foster, Stephen Gormus, Jeremy Lartigue Contributing Students: William Majette, Michael DiPietro, Mark Lemus Faculty Mentor: Dr. Goubin Xu

Advancements in technology have led to the creation of autonomous vehicles which are starting to become a norm in our modern‐day society. The incorporation of (Light Detection and Ranging)

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College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Research Symposium

LIDAR sensor mapping technology have allowed these cars to operate autonomously. Alongside these advancements, there are vulnerabilities which include the following: physical access to the vehicle, the possibility of a remote intrusion into the electronic systems, and equipment failure. Crackers and malicious entities can remotely hack into autonomous vehicles by exploiting software flaws and poorly written code, or in worse‐case scenarios, Zero‐day exploits. The computer processing unit in these cars are programmed to make decisions in real‐time in order to operate the autonomous vehicle as safely as possible. Situations may arise when the vehicle must make decisions that can lead to injury or death. This brings various ethical and legal issues from the consequences of the vehicle's operation. Thus, cyber security has a tremendous priority in the safety, creation and maintenance in autonomous vehicle.

Vehicle Paint Code Identification using Live Mobile Image Processing (Poster* and Physical Display, Table 35)

Presenting Student: Johnathan Tripp Faculty Mentor: Dr. Xunyu Pan

Automotive manufacturers identify the types of paint used on their vehicle models using a, often proprietary, identification code. This code contains the information necessary to identify such components as the brand, color, or finish of that particular type of paint. As many auto manufacturers use different naming conventions for these codes, it can be challenging for the average person to determine what type of paint is applied to a vehicle. In instances where the owner of a vehicle may wish to purchase paint to repair blemishes, or even repaint the entire vehicle, being able to identify the paint codes used by a manufacturer using a simple tool could be very useful. My project aspires to simplify the process of determining the paint code for a vehicle using computer vision capabilities of modern smartphones. My project consists of an Android mobile application developed using the Java and Kotlin programming languages for identifying the paint color codes of different vehicles using the camera of a mobile device. The scope of this project is limited to identifying the paint color codes used by car manufacturers, but could be easily expanded to include paint codes for other vehicle categories. This mobile application requires the presence of a camera, which is used to return a live image feed to the application where a user can then select a small region of the screen to attempt to try to search for a matching paint code. Parameters exist within the application to narrow the scope of the search by a car’s ‘Make’, ‘Model’, and ‘Year’. This will allow the app to only consider a subset of the paint code data to make accurate identification much easier. The application also implements logic to take multiple samples of the color previewed on the user’s screen and assign weights to those preview images to help identify the most likely color within the parameters given by the user. Initial implementation of this application will store paint code data locally within the application, however I plan to expand the project to store this data on a remote database for expandability.

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College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Research Symposium

Visualizing Operating Systems Algorithms through a Graphics User Interface (Poster* and Physical Display, Table 36)

Presenting Student: Cody Beck Faculty Mentor: Dr. Xunyu Pan

CPU scheduling, disk scheduling, and page replacement are important parts of understanding how an operating system works. Unfortunately they can be difficult to understand until someone actually works with them. There are some visualizations but none of them are interactive. The program supports an in‐depth interactive visual experience to help users study the inner working algorithms for computer operating system: CPU Scheduling (First Come First Serve, Round Robin, and Shortest Job First), Disk Scheduling (First Come First Serve, Shortest Seek Time First, Elevator, Circular Scan, and C‐LOOK), and Page Replacement(Optimal, First In First Out, Least Recently Used, Random Assignment). The program is designed in such a way that all parts will be loosely coupled aiming to maximally compatible with Professor Pan’s Augmented Reality based Mobile learning app. Incorporating compatibility into the program is important. If the graphical elements are incompatible, a new GUI can be easily accomplished. Each algorithm will take arrays representing the data as an input and output several arrays, with a built in interpreter to represent it graphically.

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College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Research Symposium

DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH AND FOREIGN LANGUAGES

Amphibian Abundance in the Frostburg Wetland (Poster, Table 5)

Presenting Students: Ingrid Braun, Elizabeth Myers, Hannah Seddon, Jason Shaffer Faculty Mentor: Dr. Molly Hartzog

The Jefferson salamander (Ambystoma jeffersonianum) and the spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) are both native to the Appalachian mountain range. In the spring they can be found in the Frostburg State University campus arboretum for the breeding season. The question our team is researching is whether temperature influences the activity levels of the Jefferson and the spotted salamanders in the Frostburg arboretum breeding pool. This study will address the lack of knowledge about the effects of temperature on these two species in our region and if there is variation between the two species. Observational studies are being conducted in the arboretum using transects to locate both the Jefferson and spotted salamanders and report detection rates given variable temperatures. Our findings will assist in further student research in locating and identifying these two species both on campus and in the surrounding area.

Analyzing Alcohol Awareness of Frostburg State’s Students to Determine an Effective Way to Educate Peers about the Effects of Alcohol Consumption (Poster, Table 5)

Presenting Students: Nnamdi‐Raphael Okoye, Jessica Raney, Tieazier Wallace Contributing Student: Megan Sciolla Faculty Mentor: Dr. Molly Hartzog

Alcohol is a major problem in college, and, it is commonly assumed that college students have poor drinking habits along with limited knowledge of appropriate alcohol use. Students are introduced early by peers and are influenced by the “fun atmosphere” in college settings. These individuals are not fully informed about the risks and/or important factors to consider when choosing what to drink. Students in college often debate which type of alcohol (dark or light) will more so impair their motor skills or cause a hangover. However, there is limited research focusing on directly communicating with college students and asking them direct questions about their alcohol habits and knowledge. There is information available that says congeners, chemicals other than the “wanted” alcohol or ethanol present play a big role in the cause of a hangover. We aim to introduce a survey that reveals statistics regarding patterns, and knowledge of alcohol with typical students. This research involved directly surveying college students at Frostburg State University. Giving a survey can help generate an idea of where the general student body stands on the effects of alcohol. A survey will be used to evaluate the awareness of students with alcohol. This information will be organized to make observations about what students think about alcohol and determine ways to educate students about the uses of it. Students that consume more alcohol on

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College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Research Symposium a monthly basis will be more knowledgeable about which alcohols cause more of a hangover and disrupt motor skills the most. Based on the results and outcome of the survey answers, information will be formulated to educate Frostburg students about the dangers and unknown effects of alcohol. Overall this creates an educated path to learning the importance of knowing what is being put into their bodies.

Bacteria and Fungi Presence in Frostburg State University Computer Labs (Poster, Table 5)

Presenting Students: Brittany Ketterman, Brittany Wandless, Shane Jones Faculty Mentor: Dr. Molly Hartzog

It is commonly understood that the presence and spread of bacteria and fungi cause illnesses. Bacteria and fungi can be found on surfaces we as students come into contact with on a daily basis here at Frostburg State University. Students still freely use the open‐access computer labs. However, students are unaware of which computer labs contain the most contaminants. This experiment addresses the issue of the bacteria and fungi contaminants with special attention to the keyboards found in open‐access computer labs throughout campus. In conclusion, this project, by closely examining the bacteria and fungi found here on campus, sheds new light on the neglected issue of illness causing contaminants we come into contact with here at Frostburg State University.

College Students Too Broke for Pasta? (Poster, Table 5)

Presenting Student: Hannah Llewellyn Faculty Mentor: Dr. Kristin Shimmin

This project examines what Giuseppe’s Italian Restaurant could do in order to attract more college students as customers. Giuseppe’s Italian Restaurant was established in 1979. At this time, they were primarily catering to college students from Frostburg State University. Over the years, Giuseppe’s has transformed into a restaurant that caters to a local loyal customer base, travelers, business men and women, as well as the college community. Because Giuseppe’s is located in such a small town, it is important that they try to target every aspect of the area. The population of Frostburg nearly doubles when Frostburg State University is in session so it is clear that businesses in the area should try their best to appeal to this segment of the market. This project therefore investigated two questions: What is it that keeps college students away from Giuseppe’s when they are choosing where to eat? And, what could be done that would make the students choose Giuseppe’s as a place to eat? The research questions were answered by surveys taken by college students that aimed to find out more about their preferences such as what amount of money they typically spend on food, promotions that appeal to them and what would draw them into a particular restaurant. An interview was conducted with a Frostburg State University student in

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College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Research Symposium order to ask more follow up questions than a survey was capable of and gather even more in‐ depth information. In addition to interviewing a student, an interview was also conducted with the owner of Giuseppe’s, Mark Witt, to understand more about his current marketing strategy and to see what he believes it will take to draw more college students into his restaurant. Ultimately, this project seeks to bring more people into Giuseppe’s because students are an important segment of the market that the organization has not yet reached.

Comparison of Overall Reported Health to Academic Performance for Frostburg State University Students (Poster, Table 11)

Presenting Students: Sierra Smizer, Lexie Grimm, Andy Wall Contributing Student: Erika Allen Faculty Mentor: Dr. Molly Hartzog

It is a commonly held belief that an individual's academic performance is improved when that individual’s health and fitness are improved. Many studies have shown this correlation in High School students, but it is unknown whether Frostburg State University undergraduate students follow the trend. This study uses a survey to track the correlation between reported health and fitness and reported academic performance of Frostburg Students. The questionnaire used is anonymous and online, keeping the identity of participants unknown. We believe that this study will show a positive correlation between academic performance and physical health.

Does Living Off Campus Help or Harm Academic Success of Students (Poster, Table 11)

Presenting Students: LaRainne Small, Helen Nunez, Deion Okonkwo Faculty Mentor: Dr. Molly Hartzog

Frostburg State University is building a new residence hall, coming in the fall of 2020. This building will require that first year students and sophomore live on campus. This is due to research gathered by other colleges and their reputation. Though these colleges have done research proving this, however, Frostburg has no public study on this topic. A short 9 question survey was completed by a wide range of Frostburg State University students to answer the question if living on campus truly helps with academic success. The survey consisted of 9 questions that asked students various questions about their academic experience as FSU student and housing. This survey will prove that living on campus does make a difference in academic success of the students of FSU. This research will hopefully reveal if the new on campus housing is a good investment or a waste of money.

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College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Research Symposium

Effect of Road Overpass Developments on the Distribution of Aquatic Insect Larvae in Allegany County, Maryland (Poster, Table 11)

Presenting Students: Abigail Rossman, Kalvin Thrasher, Sean Cain Faculty Mentor: Dr. Molly Hartzog

Road development in and near natural areas often stimulates environmental and chemical vicissitudes to surrounding ecological communities. Road salts, tire particles, and litter all due to traffic on roads can assist in the alteration of both terrestrial and aquatic environments. However, it is unclear how roads overpassing aquatic ecosystems such as streams effects the distribution of the fauna inhabiting such areas. The current study was conducted focusing on the distribution of aquatic insect larvae in disturbed streams focusing on density change with distance from road overpasses over streams. Four streams were investigated, three of which were near and/or overpassed by road developments and one of which was a control stream undisturbed by urban development. Aquatic insect larvae in the orders Diptera, Ephemeroptera, Trichoptera, and Plecoptera were abundant in the sampled streams above, with varying densities relating to distance upstream and downstream from the bridge covering a segment of the stream. The distribution response of aquatic insect larvae sampled in varying streams was hypothesized to have an increased density in relation to distance away from the road developments.

Optimal Studying Ergonomics of Frostburg State University Students (Poster, Table 17)

Presenting Students: Autumn Friend, Erin Gaylord, Camden Nichols Contributing Student: Zachary Sparber Faculty Mentor: Dr. Molly Hartzog

This project emphasizes the importance of ergonomical body positioning for efficient studying among students at FSU. There is no evidence of a study done on the ergonomics of study space for students so this is an interesting topic to research and experiment with. Our project will consist of a thorough questionnaire of how student's physically study, how many hours a week they study, what their declared major is, and how they feel they performed on their most recent exam based on their studying ergonomics. We will be examining all, anonymous surveys (roughly 200) and making a conclusion of which ergonomically sound study habit seems to be the most efficient based on a statistical analysis performed in Microsoft Excel. We believe that students who sit, upright at a table or desk while studying will perform the best on their exams based on the background and effects of ergonomics and work. This study will not require funding of any kind, only approval of IRB regulations and FSU staff. We hope to discover a clear result and conclude which physical setting is the most efficient for studying.

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College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Research Symposium

Sanitary Effectiveness of Campus Surface Cleaners (Poster, Table 17)

Presenting Students: Dylan Bean, Dustin Tippen, Cara Crawford, Brian Day Faculty Mentor: Dr. Molly Hartzog

During every flu season, schools are at a high risk of carrying higher numbers of infectious microbes than normal. Nothing puts a hinderance on learning more than missing lectures due to illnesses caused by common bacteria and viruses. While we know that the Frostburg State University janitorial staff cleans and sanitizes, we do not know how effective the cleaning supplies are. This experiment is designed to answer that question. With help received from the janitorial staff, the exact cleansers used to sanitize were tested by preparing culture agar plates on high traffic areas on campus ‐ Lane University Center door handle, Ort Library elevator buttons, a keyboard in CCIT, and a table in Compton Science Center ‐ swabbing before and after using the cleaning supplies. The data should show a good correlation between the bacteria count and the effectiveness of the cleanser. By analyzing the results, we can then determine if the cleanser used is effective enough to stay the same or if it should be reconsidered in favor of using better products. With the data presented by this research, students and faculty on campus can better protect themselves from infection and illness.

The Effect of College on Students’ Religious Faith and Practice (Poster, Table 17)

Presenting Students: Marquise White, Destinee Turnquist, Marie Saint‐Louis Faculty Mentor: Dr. Molly Hartzog

College is the place where identity exploration among young people peaks. In most cases, students move away from home and begin to discover who they are on their own and away from their family. This study will examine if this change causes students to be more or less religious and spiritual. There have been numerous studies regarding the effect of college on a students’ religiosity and spirituality over several decades. However, these research findings have yielded conflicted findings. Studies show that college may cause a person to become less religious/spiritual while others suggest the opposite. Frostburg State University students were given a short survey of 8 questions. Students were asked questions to rate themselves on how religious/spiritual they would consider themselves and how it has changed since coming to college, and if Frostburg State University provides opportunities for spiritual development. Participants were also asked their religious affiliation, if any. I argue that college will cause a student to become more religious and spiritual. Although coming to college may change your religious practices from how they were at home, the stressful environment of any university will cause a student to ponder one’s purpose in life and realize the vastness of the world they occupy. This will lead to a student’s religiosity/spirituality remaining unchanged from how it once was, or even an increase.

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College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Research Symposium

The Microclimates of Frostburg State University (Poster, Table 17)

Presenting Students: Madison Lawrence, Gavin Wheeler, Daniel Healey Contributing Student: Malinda Grimm Faculty Mentor: Dr. Molly Hartzog

Sustainable development requires a greater understanding of urbanization and the effects it may have on local ecosystems. The rural campus of Frostburg State University encompasses an area of 260 acres with major differences in elevation, architecture, vegetation, and surface composition; all of these could have an effect on the microclimates of certain areas. Few focused studies have looked into the variability of climate in a small area, such as a college campus. This project examines microclimates of Frostburg State University each with unique elevation, human development, flora, and cover. Data collection primarily includes taking temperatures with digital thermometers from 16 specific locations on campus at 3 times during the day to see if there are any consistent and significant differences in temperature around certain buildings or locations. For example, areas near buildings would be expected to have a slightly higher temperature due to heat leaking out, and areas primarily surrounded by vegetation would be slightly cooler due to the lack of thermal sources. The presence of wetland, old growth forest, and riparian areas around the developing nucleus of Frostburg State University provides insight into microclimates and how they form within diverse habitats. The results of this experiment could help the university present a more accurate weather report for students and using FSU as a model would enhance our ability to build alongside natural areas without creating a disturbance.

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College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Research Symposium

DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY

A Comparison of Self‐Leveling Suspension Systems for Kite Aerial Photography (Poster, Table 21)

Presenting Student: Tristan Nazelrod Contributing Students: Ben Oelke, Emma Louis, Sebastian Flister, Kyle Bowman, Morgan Alban Faculty Mentor: Dr. Francis Precht

The concept of flight has long held the fascination of humans since the beginning of recorded history. Along with the dream of manned flight came an effort to acquire aerial imagery to capture the experience. Some of the first successful modes of aerial photography were that of a self‐ leveling suspension system which was attached to a kite, first described by Pierre Picavet in 1912. Upon the emergence of these systems came numerous attempts at system design for the most efficient platform. Recent low cost kite‐based aerial photography has brought a new interest in the Picavet platform and several modifications have been attempted to optimize system performance. In the laboratory, three distinct Picavet designs were constructed with efficiency in flight and application in mind. These Picavets were hung and tested on a G‐Kites Fled Kite. Upon the arrival of an ideal testing day the group took flight with the different designs in order to look for strengths and weaknesses of each build. With the testing of each subsequent design, an improvement upon a particular aspect of function in the suspension of the camera from the kite such as: stability, ease of construction and ease of use. This information can be used for future Kite Aerial photograph missions as an indicator on which build would be optimal for the given requirements of the mission.

Analyzing Hurricane Forecast Models for Tract Error and Looking at Sea Surface Temperatures to Identify a Correlation with Hurricane Frequency (Poster, Table 21)

Presenting Student: Kory Leech Faculty Mentors: Dr. Francis Precht, Dr. Matthew Ramspott, Dr. Tianna Bogart

Hurricanes are one of the most dangerous natural hazards that strike the East coast of the United States; they come every year and do massive amounts of damage. With climate change and temperatures rising, sea temperatures ay be causing more frequent and stronger hurricanes. Also, At this day and age technology is so advanced, but hurricanes still do billions of dollars in damages and cause a lot of casualties, so forecast models will be critiqued to locate any errors and possible ways they can be improved.

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College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Research Symposium

Automatic Generation of an Autonomous Small Aircraft Systems (sUAS) Survey (Poster, Table 21)

Presenting Student: Kyle Bowman Contributing Students: Sebastian Flister, Tristan Nazelrod, Ben Oelke, Morgan Alban, Emma Louis Faculty Mentor: Dr. Francis Precht

With the transition from human operated machinery to autonomous computerized operations, the move to unmanned flight has begun to enter into the airways as well. Small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) commonly known as drones, are experiencing widespread use and can accomplish tasks that would have required a human life to be placed into a situation that could result in injury or death through manned aerial flight. With access to a computerized automated system, researchers can create a plan an upload that path line into the sUAS to allow for a highly calculated survey area that can be flown autonomously by the drone with little human intervention. This surveying technique can minimize the amount of time a human life is required to be in the air during a flight. Producing a mission plan prior to the flight mission allows the researcher to examine the terrain under investigation before entering the site, saving time. This strategy requires the flight mission to be pre‐programmed into the sUAS. Mission Planner, a Windows‐based free open‐source community supported ground station application for the ArduPilot autopilot project, was used to plan an autonomous sUAS mission. Mission Planner allows researchers to delineate a study area with the use of readily available remote sensing imagery acquired from Google Earth. After the study area was delineated, camera specific parameters, configurations of the sUAS operations, dynamic control of the sUAS, flight height, and other variables can be programmed into the operation of the sUAS during the proposed mission. A grid based flight plan was generated and uploaded to a 3DR IRIS+ quadcopter and all equipment was taken to the test site. Once at the home location that was selected, the grid based flight line was flown and imagery taken of the study area. Imagery obtained was used to support other projects by providing high quality, inexpensive, very high resolution, and up‐to‐date aerial imagery.

Beyond Boom & Bust: Using Historical Resources to Promote Community & Economic Development in a Maryland Coal Town (Kempton) (Poster, Table 2)

Presenting Student: Kristen Geroski Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jonathan Flood

This project explores the complex relationship between the small community of Kempton (MD) and resource extraction industries past and present. The research is conducted by a local member of the community who documents the founding, florescence, and decline of Kempton and juxtaposes past developmental trajectory with the current economic, social, and environmental state of the community. The presence of coal beneath Kempton is simultaneously the raison d'être for the community, the fuel for its initial growth, the cause of its historic decline, and remains an influential factor in community and environmental dynamics. This research highlights several

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College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Research Symposium transcending themes in the relationship between local communities and coal extraction industries. This study of the human‐environment relationship at Kempton documents the double‐edged character of communities and environments driven by fossil fuel resource extraction.

Chemical Mobility of Toxic Metals in Concrete Made with Coal Ash (Poster, Table 2)

Presenting Student: Kory Leech Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jonathan Flood

Coal ash is a byproduct of energy production when coal is burned. Coal ash is toxic substance that pollutes the air and waterways, so this project aims to immobilize the coal ash by creating concrete with it. The concrete made with the coal ash with be formed into bricks and implanted in the ground to be allowed to weather. After a month of weathering the surrounding soil will be tested for toxicity to identify if the coal ash is stable or leaking into the ground.

Coal Fly Ash: Stabilizing Our Soil or Poisoning It Forever? (Poster, Table 2)

Presenting Student: Austin Owens Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jonathan Flood

Coal fly ash is created as a byproduct of the burning of coal and is the largest component of coal waste. The ash is often added into soils to sequester toxins and reduce the amount discarded into landfills. Moderate amounts of fly ash in agricultural soils have been utilized to stabilize soils and increase crop yields. This ash however, contains metals that are toxic to humans in certain quantities. Past studies have suggested that large quantities of agricultural crops could absorb these metals. The goal of this study is to identify levels of coal ash concentration in soils that would be beneficial vs. harmful. This study will be carried out using examples of plants with edible fruiting bodies. The plants will be exposed to varying concentrations of fly ash in the soil over a period of time and compared to a control soil free of coal ash. Overall plant health during the exposure will be assessed and the fruiting bodies analyzed using the X‐Ray Florescence machine (XRF) in Gunter Hall to determine concentrations of toxic metals in the plants. Doing this will show how readily these plants absorb chemicals from the ash as well as how much ash can safely be used in agricultural soils.

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College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Research Symposium

Coal Resisting the Cold: Measuring the Corrosion of Deicing Salt on Fly Ash Concrete (Poster, Table 2)

Presenting Student: Grace Hinkle Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jonathan Flood

Coal ash, also known as fly ash, is a major waste product of the coal industry in Appalachia that is often left outdoors where the remaining chemicals seep into the soil damaging the habitat. Coal ash can be easily constrained to a concrete mixture that both prevents chemical leakage and strengthens the concrete. Fly ash concrete is less permeable and less porous increasing the long‐ term durability and preventing corrosion from outside forces, like deicing salt. This project will measure the corrosive effects of deicing salt on fly ash concrete and concrete mixed using Portland Cement as the control. The pores will be measured to determine the best ratio of fly ash to use and then 3 bricks of the control and 5 bricks of the fly ash mixture. Deicing salt will be placed on each brick and irritated over the course of the experiment to simulate daily walking. At the end of the experiment, the pores will once again be measured to determine how the deicing salt has effected the surface of the concrete and brick depth will be measured to calculate how much the salt has corroded the different brick types.

Construction of a Fixed Wing Small Unmanned Aircraft System (sUAS) (Poster and Physical Display, Table 20)

Presenting Student: Emma Louis Contributing Students: Morgan Alban, Sebastian Flister, Tristan Nazelrod, Kyle Bowman, Ben Oelke Faculty Mentor: Dr. Francis Precht

Becoming more accessible to the general public as costs decline and access increases, small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) are being increasingly used for mapping, monitoring, and research applications. An sUAS is defined by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as an aircraft without a human pilot on board, or more commonly known as drones. The ‘Global Nomad’ is a fixed wing pusher‐style aircraft, constructed using kit components as well as off‐the‐ shelf components. These included the airframe for a Finwing Sabre airplane, a motor M2820 (3542) brushless outrunner, an electronic speed controller (ESCs), e.g. 60A‐OPTO, and 24‐gram and 9‐gram servos used for control surfaces. The fixed wing sUAS was constructed to use a FrSky 8 channel receiver, bound to a FrSky Taranis transmitter. Methodology employed includes construction of the airframe, installation of the motor, servos and cables (i.e wiring), control horns, control rod linkages, and lamination of the wing and tail surfaces to reduce dents in the foam frame. After construction was complete, the airplane was flight tested at Glendening Park, located in Frostburg, Maryland.

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College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Research Symposium

Construction of a Low‐Cost Fixed Wing Drone for Aerial Photography (Poster, Table 20)

Presenting Student: Ben Oelke Contributing Students: Emma Louis, Kyle Bowman, Morgan Alban, Tristan Nazelrod, Sebastian Flister Faculty Mentor: Dr. Francis Precht

Within the past few years drones have been appearing all over the place, in all different kinds of fields of work, from search and rescue operations, to pro sports teams using them during practice, to archaeological surveys. The field of geography has been using drones mainly as a tool to survey research sights, using a vast variety of specialized cameras. The purpose of this project is to show that not all drones need to be extremely expensive, but by using techniques derived over decased by the RC flying communities the construction of a low cost fixed wing drone can produce a capable aircraft. The extreme expense of many ready‐to‐fly fixed wing aircraft often prohibits financially challenged universities from exploring opportunities available for mapping, monitoring, as well as research aspects of the earth’s surface. A low cost solution was investigated. The airframe was constructed from regularly available foam board, and a few off‐the‐shelf electronic components. Finally once the construction was complete the low‐cost fixed wing drone was tested and proved well suited to providing cost‐effective, high resolution, timely aerial imagery.

Construction of a Multirotor Small Unmanned Aircraft System (sUAS) (Poster, Table 20)

Presenting Student: Sebasian Flister Contributing Students: Kyle Bowman, Morgan Alban, Emma Louis, Ben Oelke, Tristan Nazelrod Faculty Mentor: Dr. Francis Precht

The use of small un‐manned aircraft systems for research, mapping, and monitoring has become increasingly common among the scientific community. The ability to make a scientific or measuring instrument fly is no doubt an interesting development with a huge potential for how we study and interact with our world. Using a variety of off‐the‐shelf components, we constructed a quadcopter drone around the frame of a DJI Flamewheel 550. Rotor blades were mounted on four 2312E brushless outrunner motors, connected to 420 lite E‐series electronic speed controller (ESC’s) ESC allows speed control by changing the voltage output to the motors. A Naza32 Lite flight controller was installed to provide better control by providing stabilization to the drone. A FrSky 8 channel receiver was installed and bound to a FrSky Taranis transmitter. Finally, the quadcopter was flight tested.

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College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Research Symposium

Digging In & Breaking Down: Soil Decomposition & Formation in CCB & AMD Enriched Soils (Poster, Table 8)

Presenting Student: Brittni Young Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jonathan Flood

Decomposition rates in soil are dependent on several factors that include; moisture level, oxygen penetration, temperature, and soil pH. All of these make up the basis for the biological activity within the soil that is responsible for decomposition. Using acid mine drainage and coal ash as added components to soil can help identify if decomposition rates increase or decrease depending on if those factors are affected. In order to test this, three different experimental groups were tested against a control of normal soil to determine if any group was more effective at decomposition than the other. Decomposition is an important process in every ecosystem. Knowing how these components affect the soil can help in future restoration in areas where these substances are already existing in the soil. Purposely using these components safely in the soil can also create a possible new way of composting that would cut back on trash output.

Fire on the Mountain: A Diachronic Study of Wildfires in Western Maryland (Poster, Table 8)

Presenting Student: Nicholas Morris Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jonathan Flood

The increased prevalence of forest fires in the United States, particularly in the Pacific Northwest, has spurned concerns across the country that increasing levels of coarse woody debris (CWD) could fuel potentially large, deadly, and destructive fires. Being somewhat remote made up of primarily successional forest, this study seeks to find the forest fire history and potential risk of forest fires in Garrett County, MD.

Generating a 3D Model from Low‐Altitude Drone‐based Aerial Photography (Poster, Table 21)

Presenting Student: Morgan Alban Contributing Students: Tristan Nazelrod, Ben Oelke, Kyle Bowman, Emma Louis, Sebastian Flister Faculty Mentor: Dr. Francis Precht

The popularization of Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS, drones) in recent years has led to great advances in the scientific community. The low cost of these systems has enabled researchers to obtain time‐sensitive aerial imagery at preferred higher spatial and temporal resolutions at a significantly reduced cost. AgiSoft software was used to create a 3D representative model of a study area, using overlapped aerial photographs obtained from a sUAS. AgiSoft can perform

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College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Research Symposium photogrammetric processing of digital images and generate a 3‐D spatial model which can greatly enhance perspective and understanding of the object(s) under consideration. The collected photos were initially geo‐registered and the areas of overlap automatically scanned to compile a seamless mosaic of aerial images of the study area. A structure from motion (SfM) algorithm, a computer vision approach, was employed which involved the process of estimating 3‐D structures in a landscape by matching features that appear in offset overlapping 2‐D images. While the strategy is computer intensive, the resulting high resolution 3‐D typically compare in accuracy to approaches using traditional photogrammetric methods and high‐cost higher‐risk manned aircraft platforms. The final product from this mapping technique was a PDF file (portable document format) that can be displayed in any PDF reader, such as Adobe Acrobat.

Gifts of Gob & Coal Waste Treasures: Prospecting for Rare Earth Elements in Coal Production Refuse & Acid Mine Drainage (Poster, Table 8)

Presenting Students: Brandon Parsons, Joseph Lucas Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jonathan Flood

Samples of acid mine drainage were taken in Kempton MD, to try to help the Maryland Department of the Environment find a solution to their problem. The sludge was tested for rare earth metals for a profitable solution of removal from the site. Rare earth metals are metals on the periodic table that are valuable, but hard to find occurring on earth. The metals that are found here are Niobium (Nb), Yttrium (Y). These were only found in certain samples that were tested. An abundance would send a flock of investors to Kempton, and excavation of the sludge would be finished in no time. After testing, little to no elements were found that were of high value. The highest amount for Nb was 18.67, as for Y it was 53.6. The Niobium is used to make jewelry, and Yttrium is used for microwave filters. Although no major elements found, there is still hope for clearing, and renewing, Kempton MD, and easing their mine drainage problem.

Impacts of Urbanization on Agriculture in Montgomery County, Maryland in Recent Decades (Poster* and Physical Display, Table 32)

Presenting Student: Nathan Olen Faculty Mentor: Dr. Matthew Ramspott

The goal of this research project was to highlight areas of change from agriculture to urbanized land. The research was focused in Montgomery County, Maryland because of how fast the county has been urbanized in recent decades. Information about Land Use/ Land Cover obtained from the NOAA Coastal Change Analysis Program (C‐CAP) database was analyzed in relation to statistical data from the USDA Farm Census to identify and characterize major areas of change between the 1990s and the 2010s. Specific areas that were found to exhibit abundant change during those decades will be further analyzed using recent Landsat data to develop a more complete

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College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Research Symposium understanding of change progression. Three major data sources were utilized for this project: the C‐CAP Land Cover data provided by NOAA, LANDSAT imagery provided by USGS, and the Farm Census data provided by the USDA. The Farm Census data is used to set a baseline for the amount of farms that were lost and the amount of area lost due to urbanization. C‐CAP data is used to geographically identify areas of change in a map format. And the Landsat data is used to cover the timeframe from 2010 to current day. Preliminary analysis of the USDA Farm Census indicates 85 lost farm operations from 1997 to 2012 and a loss of nearly 3000 acres of farmland over the fifteen year period.

Mapping Coal Ash in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed (Poster, Table 8)

Presenting Student: Ben Oelke Faculty and Staff Mentors: Dr. Jonathan Flood, Mr. Jason Litten

Humans have relied heavily on fossil fuels since the start of the industrial revolution in the mid 1700’s, at the time the primary fossil fuel used was coal. While the fossil fuel coal has been a staple for centuries, the use of coal today as a fuel source is beginning to become outdated. The Industry is struggling to survive under the current conditions, science and technology is evolving so rapidly that there are now more efficient sources, which are either green energy, natural gas, or oil. While coal is no longer the first option as an energy source, we can’t simply ignore the history of coal. Coal has left behind such a large foot print on the environment, through the mining and burning for centuries, which has created Coal Combustion Residuals (CCR’s), better known as fly ash, which is full of harmful heavy metals and other chemicals. These CCR’s that can be devastating to an ecosystem and are typically dumped back into mines that have already been mined to its full extent. Looking at the distribution within Maryland many of the dump sites are extremely close to our states water ways, and urban areas, the City of Frostburg and Cumberland just being two examples which could have a direct effect on our residents.

Metal Macros: Measuring Iron Composition in Benthic Macroinvertebrates in Acid Mine Drainage Stream Preston Run, Maryland (Poster, Table 15)

Presenting Student: Hannah Devine Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jonathan Flood

The Hoffman Drainage Tunnel is located in Clarysville, Maryland and runs into Preston Run, a tributary of Wills Creek in Allegany County. The drainage tunnel was built in 1903 to drain water out of coal mine. Today, the tunnel deposits Acid Mine Drainage into Preston Run which lowers the pH and causes iron accumulation on the substrate and organisms living in the stream. I assessed the macroinvertebrate assemblages upstream and downstream of the drainage tunnel throughout April 2018 using the Maryland Biological Stream Survey Protocol. I identified the organisms to family level and determined the health of the reaches using the West Virginia Stream

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College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Research Symposium

Condition Index. Organism samples were analyzed using X‐ray fluorescence to determine the amount of iron accreted on their carapace. Finally, I weighed individuals and measured total length to assess if iron accumulation added mass to the organisms. I hypothesized that the assemblages downstream of the Hoffman Drainage Tunnel would show significant decreases in sensitive species in the Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera orders and that organisms found would have significant iron accumulation on their exoskeletons.

Negative to Positive: AMD and Coal Ash Wetland Creation (Poster, Table 14)

Presenting Student: Anna Mattero Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jonathan Flood

The point of this experiment is to apply coal ash and acid mine drainage in a positive way to help offset climate change and see if these materials can be used make an effective wetland. There has been evidence that coal by products are effective sequestering agents of carbon‐dioxide gas, and that acid mine drainage is an effective buffering agent. The negative effects of the past and present coal industry is supposed to be offset by positive use of its byproducts. Using these byproducts in a positive way via creating a wetland which both sequesters carbon‐dioxide gas and buffers harmful containments. Wetlands are known to do both, and adding these to create wetlands would at least put them to better use to help slow down climate change. Coal ash is known as a highly effective sequestering agent, and acid mine drainage as a decent absorber of harmful toxins. My experiment uses a large, plastic, shallow cylinder with varying levels of coal ash, soil, and organic matter. To accelerate the carbon sequestration process we are using histic epidedons from extant wetlands to foster and support emergent taxa growth. The goal is to use these negative byproducts of coal industry in a positive way to help slow down climate change and environmental damage.

Plants Eat What? Long‐Term Monitoring of Greenhouse Soil at Frostburg Grows, Western Maryland (Poster, Table 15)

Presenting Student: Emma Louis Faculty Mentors: Dr. Philip Allen, Dr. Jonathan Flood

Frostburg Grows (FG), a 5‐acre sustainable organic agriculture initiative established in 2014, is located in Allegany County, Western Maryland (WMD). The FG project is situated on an extensively modified landscape that typifies the legacy of the deep and strip‐mining coal extraction period of Central Appalachia. Recent land‐use of the site includes being used as a county dump and to store FEMA trailers. The need for revitalization of human‐altered landscapes for environmental, economic and social growth in the region is essential. FG is an innovative approach to repurposing and rejuvenating an extensively impacted environment. WMD is an economically depressed food desert, signifying a critical need for sustainable agricultural initiatives in the region. Strip mining and the associated chemical contamination of the remaining soils, has removed the potential for

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College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Research Symposium traditional agricultural practices. FG built 6 high‐tunnel greenhouses with raised grow beds, a native tree nursery, and a composting facility. The greenhouses allow an 4‐6‐week extension to the traditional regional growing season. The soil used by FG was imported and has been extensively utilized for 5 highly productive growing seasons. Compost for the soils is generated on site from organic yard waste from the city of Frostburg. Commencing on January 2nd, 2018, long‐ term soil monitoring began, the initial baseline characteristics e.g. nutrient levels, organic content, pH, elemental composition via X‐ray fluorescence, and particle size are presented here. The project will continue to monitor the soil with emphasis on tracking the potential mobility of herbicides, e.g. glyphosate (Round Up) from the Frostburg City yard waste and metals, aluminum (recycled road signs used on site) entering the soil communities. The monitoring program will enable long‐term land‐use management techniques to be developed to allow FG to be a sustainable productive organic agriculture center for the foreseeable future.

Phytoremediation of the Kempton Mine Complex (Poster, Table 14)

Presenting Students: Alexander Kirchhof, Kyle Bowman Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jonathan Flood

The process of phytoremediation is the use of plants to remediate heavily contaminated areas, and is a process that is applied to contaminated land sites around the globe. In Western Maryland there are several areas that could benefit from this process. The Kempton Mine Complex is one such area where phytoremediation could be applied. A variety of plants can be used from cattails and sunflowers to trees such as the willow. To further ease the task, the remnants of the Peter Skylstad’s wetland are still functionally performing this task albeit in a reduced amount. These various species of plants on site are absorbing the AMD as a sort of inorganic fertilizer and accumulating heavy metals. Thus; a plan can be established to analyze the amount of heavy metals present in the current wetland and then begin augmenting the existing wetland to improve accumulation processes. Through the use of an X‐Ray Fluorescence (XRF) machine, the chemical composition was acquired and analyzed to understand how the heavy metals introduced into the system are being utilized. Since it takes time for plants to grow and adapt to the conditions present in the mine area, the proposed additional wetlands would be built from the confluence towards the lime dozer. By building in reverse there is more time for the plants to accumulate, and adapt to the conditions in Kempton. This project aims to analyze plant samples from the Kempton Mine Complex, analyze the soil composition, and identify possible plants for the new wetland. This can be done through field research, laboratory tests, and interviews.

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College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Research Symposium

Stream Assessment and Watershed Management Plan for Big Run and Monroe Run (Poster, Table 14)

Presenting Student: Phillip Hogan Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jonathan Flood

Big Run and Monroe Run provides some of the most pristine trout‐fishing waters found in Maryland due to the minimal human impacts within the watershed. The rurality of this habitat provides rare habitat as development and degradation have affected streams across the state making this a safe haven for endangered, rare, and threatened species. Protecting these two streams from degradation is important as the habitat of the native Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) is declining in Maryland with rising temperatures due to climate change. The Southern Water Shrew (Sorex palustris punctulatus), as well as the Tiger Spiketail (Cordulegaster erronea) are endangered species that reside within the valley. Rare stoneflies claim refuge in the cold water that flows from springs within the watershed. Housing development, logging in the nearby state forest, and road salt inputs are the main stressors affecting the water quality within the watershed of these streams. Invasive species such as Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolate) and Japanese Knotweed (Fallopia japonica) have taken up residence within the watershed. Stream health assessments were conducted to determine the state of the streams through historical and current water quality recordings, Wolman pebble counts, and aquatic invertebrate sampling. The confluence of these two streams converge into one channel before entering the Northern end of the Savage River Reservoir before ultimately leading to the upper section of the Potomac River. These recommendations to remove possible sources of degradation and provide future guidelines to limit activities within the watershed will provide a stronghold for endangered, rare, or threatened species. Stream management plans that start at headwater streams in the Chesapeake Bay drainage basin will positively impact the restoration efforts downstream in the bay.

Two Wrongs Make a Right? Neutralizing Acid Mine Drainage Using Coal Ash (Poster, Table 14)

Presenting Students: Kristin Ratliff, Sierra Waters Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jonathan Flood

Coal powers our nation and traditionally supports the economy of the Appalachian region. Many environmentalists call for an end to coal because of the negative impacts it has on the environment, such as deforestation, the release of heavy metals, the production of carbon dioxide, and the production of acid mine drainage (AMD). AMD is an acidic liquid produced by the oxidation of iron sulfide left in the mine pits. Currently, basic ash produced by burning coal for electricity is deposited into mine pits in an attempt to neutralize the AMD. This project explores whether ash can actually be combined with AMD to create a product with a safe pH for the water bodies that it is dumped into. Two negative outcomes of coal production and usage might help mitigate each other and create a healthier environment around coal.

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College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Research Symposium

Using GIS to Reconstruct the PaleoHydrology of Ancient Sicily (Poster, Table 15)

Presenting Student: Morgan Alban Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jonathan Flood

This international and multi‐institutional project, American Excavations at Morgantina (http://themagazzino.org/), uncovered was a hitherto unknown erosional event that literally changed the shape of the island of Sicily. Early Greek pioneers deforested much of the island’s interior and loosed the topsoil into the upper stream reaches and main river channels. Sediments gradually made their way to—what was then—a large interior bay. Human caused erosion choked the once navigable rivers and gradually filled the extensive bay with sediment, a process known as progradation. Today the erstwhile bay is known as the Catania Plain. This enormous change in the hydrology and geomorphology had profound impacts on the inhabitants of the island, causing once bustling interior harbors like Morgantina to become isolated and irrelevant. Here, information is presented from preliminary fieldwork along the principal watersheds that drain Sicily’s expansive, fertile, and highly erodible interior. I posit that episodic waves of human colonization beginning in the Bronze Age (ca. 3200 BCE) and continuing through the Romanization of the island (ca. 250 BCE) transformed Sicily’s primarily forested interior into a patchwork of agricultural areas. The most dramatic of these environmentally transformative episodes occurred during the Greek Colonization of the island that began in the 6th Century BCE when iron implements—used for environmental engineering (i.e., saws, axes, awls, etc.)—were first introduced to the island in profusion. The result of these sweeping land‐cover alteration forever changed fluvial functions and stream morphology of the island’s interior. Streams once perennially navigable disappeared in sequential surges of eroded material. Ultimately, the expansive O‐ and A‐ Horizons that once blanketed the upper watersheds migrated to infill an expansive bay, ringed by ancient harbors and past sites of human occupation. The relatively rapid infill of the bay resulted in revolutionary changes in the island’s economic exchange network, driving some towns into dereliction while breathing new life into other settlements. To support my position, I alloy my field observations with paleo‐environmental and archaeological datasets and build on the handful of previous fluvial studies conducted in the area during the 1960’s.

What Flows through It? Monitoring, Identifying and Tracking the Geochemical Characteristics of Deep Creek Lake, Western Maryland (Poster, Table 15)

Presenting Student: Tristan Nazelrod Faculty Mentors: Dr. Phillip Allen, Dr. Jonathan Flood

Deep Creek Lake (DCL) is the largest purpose built inland body of water in the state of Maryland covering circa 6 miles2 (16 km2) with 69 miles (111 km) of shoreline. DCL was constructed in 1920 by Youghiogheny Hydroelectric as a component of a hydroelectric project. The state of Maryland took charge of lake recreation activities in 1980, and purchased the land underlying the lake and buffer zone in 2000. DCL supports a diverse ecology and is extensively utilized for a wide variety

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College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Research Symposium of recreational activities and lake health is an integral component of a prosperous tourism economy located within rural Central Appalachia. In 2018, a 12‐month monitoring program was initiated to both characterize the general water quality of DCL and interpret the pattern of annual chemical and sediment flux into and out of the system. A land‐use survey of the surrounding lake catchment recorded a range of anthropogenic activities, with great potential to significantly impact water quality and ecosystem health. These include an expanding housing and commercial presence, transport infrastructure, and recreational facilities footprints that increase runoff into the lake. The regional legacy of mining operations discharges acid mine drainage (AMD) and associated toxic minerals, metals, and metalloids. This study monitored fluxes in suspended and dissolved load with turbidity and electrical conductivity meters, and physical parameters of pH, Oxidation Reduction Potential (ORP), and temperature were also recorded. Nitrate (NO3) and sulfate (SO4) concentrations were analyzed to assess anthropogenic inputs into lake chemistry. Initial results have elucidated areas of significant runoff and chemical input from the surrounding watersheds. This study will generate baseline data to develop an understanding of geochemical thresholds that allow the DCL ecosystem to function, and if surpassed may lead to severe environmental and economic consequences.

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College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Research Symposium

DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY

African Americans and the Death Penalty: A Legal History Analysis (Oral Presentation)

Presenting Student: Danielle Price Faculty Mentor: Dr. Eleanor McConnell

Throughout the country, African‐Americans are disproportionately represented among those who receive the death penalty. This paper examines the capacities in which African‐Americans are unjustly sentenced to death in America. This paper provides an in‐depth analysis of the history of the use of the death penalty with African‐Americans in the United States. Starting with Furman v. Georgia in 1972, the United States Supreme court ruled that the imposition of the death penalty in this case was a direct violation of the 8th Amendment. The Justices also highlighted the discriminatory manner in which the death penalty was imposed, and prompted states to consider the ways they enforced capital offenses. The paper then focuses on Gregg v. Georgia (1976), which overturned the decision made in Furman v. Georgia; thus, making the death penalty legal again. With this case, the Justices ruled that the use of the death penalty was only unconstitutional if there was an unnecessary amount of pain inflicted and if the punishment did not fit the severity of the crime. I emphasize the fact that the implications set in place by the Justices seem effective in context, but fail to be useful in reality. While the Supreme Court ruled that it is illegal to give a criminal the death penalty on the basis of their race or other similar factors, it does not prevent states from doing so. This caused me to realize that there should be further safeguards in place to ensure that race is not an influence when sentencing a criminal to death. The paper also highlights how the race of the victim is accounted for when giving someone the death penalty. A person is more likely to receive the death penalty if their victim was White than if their victim was of any other race; this likelihood increases if the defendant is African‐American with a White victim. I use a study done in 1982 by David Baldus, a law professor at the University of Iowa, to illustrate how the race of the victim and the location of the crime are utilized when giving someone the death penalty. The findings derived from this study were a direct contradiction of the regulations decided by the Supreme Court in Gregg v. Georgia (1976). Lastly, I analyze certain circumstances in which both White defendants and African‐American defendants receive the death penalty. Specifically, the mental stability of the defendants. I mention cases that prove White defendants are able to claim to have a mental illness that caused them to commit the crime, which enables them to not receive the death penalty. However, African‐Americans are not awarded that same privilege. This paper strives to shed light on inconsistencies with the use of the death penalty in relation to the race of the defendant, and promotes readers to understand that criminal justice reform is a way to combat it.

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College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Research Symposium

DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS

Applying Machine Learning to Real World Search Environments (Poster* and Physical Display and Oral Presentation, Table 34)

Presenting Student: Garrett Willingham Faculty Mentor: Dr. Justin Dunmyre

Adapted machine learning algorithms have enormous potential to solve complex problems in simulated environments. By modeling real world conditions in a simulation, a machine learning algorithm has the potential to develop intelligent pathing behavior if incentivized to search the space for a target without knowing its initial location. The environment within the space provides complexity which the algorithm will model in order to make intelligent pathing decisions. By limiting the information available to the algorithm and incentivizing it to make calculated and precise movements, it is hoped that the algorithm will refine its pathing to account for its surroundings making the data more applicable to real world situations.

Elliptic Curve Cryptography (Poster* and Physical Display, Table 33)

Presenting Student: Alissa Whiteley Faculty Mentor: Dr. Mark Hughes

Elliptic curves are defined by equations of the form y 2 = p(x) where p(x) is a cubic polynomial. Their mathematical properties have made them very useful in some modern encryption algorithms making up the field called Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC). Of particular importance is the addition operation that can be performed on an elliptic curve whereby two points on the curve can be “added” to yield a third point on the curve. The geometric version of this addition rule leads to its algebraic equivalent. When the curve’s coefficients and solutions are taken from a finite field, the proper setting is formed for applications to cryptography. The fact that the “Elliptic Curve Discrete Logarithm Problem” is difficult to solve is the key to the effectiveness of ECC. That is, given a point P on the curve and Q=nP obtained by repeated addition, it is very difficult to determine n. The Elliptic Diffie‐Hellman Key Exchange algorithm uses this property to perform a secure private key exchange between two parties in the presence of eavesdroppers. This project investigates the mathematics behind the addition of points on an elliptic curve and how this leads to an effective encryption technique allowing secure key exchanges.

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College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Research Symposium

Euler’s Polyhedral Formula (Poster* and Physical Display, Table 33)

Presenting Student: Sarah Sparks Faculty Mentor: Dr. Mark Hughes

In his Elements of Geometry, first published in 1794, mathematician Adrien‐Marie Legendre gave the first rigorous proof of a very elegant result from Euler that would come to be known as Euler’s Polyhedral Formula. The formula states that a polyhedron with vertices, edges, and faces satisfies 2. This result, while so simple, has led to generalizations of the formula and has important applications in topology. This project focuses on two proofs of this remarkable formula, namely Legendre’s surprising proof, which uses spherical geometry, and a proof due to Cauchy. Applications of the formula are also considered.

Not Your Mother’s Knot Theory (Poster, Table 34)

Presenting Students: Sarah Sparks, Emma Seibert Faculty Mentor: Dr. Justin Dunmyre

Mathematical knots are similar to a knot we can create with a shoelace or rope in which we connect the ends so that is it a closed loop. The fundamental ideas/problems explored in knot theory are determining which knots are equivalent, which knots are the unknot, and which crossing changes need to be made in order to unknot the knot. There are various types of knots including twist knots, pretzel links, and torus links each with their own notation and properties. Knot theory is used today to understand the construction of DNA and other molecular structures.

Tessellations (Poster, Table 32)

Presenting Student: Emma Seibert Faculty Mentor: Dr. Mark Hughes

A tessellation or tiling is what is created by repeated use of one or more shapes to cover the plane without having any overlapping or gaps. Tessellations can be found all around us in art, plants, fruits, and animals. In addition to the visual appeal of tessellations, the mathematics behind tessellations is useful in fields such as quasicrystal chemistry. This project focuses on aperiodic tessellations and their interesting characteristics. A set of tiles is aperiodic if every tessellation created from them is non‐periodic (i.e., having no translational symmetry). A famous example of such a set of tiles is the kite and dart invented by Roger Penrose. The main result considered here is the amazing theorem that as larger and larger areas are tiled with the kite and dart, the ratio of the number of kites to the number of darts used approaches the golden ratio. The proof involves mathematical induction, properties of Fibonacci numbers and an operation on tessellations called composition.

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DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS AND ENGINEERING

"Backyard" Optical Stellar Interferometry – A Feasibility Study (Poster and Oral Presentation, Table 13)

Presenting Student: Truman Boyer Contributing Student: Caleb Godwin Faculty Mentor: Dr. George Plitnik

Measurement of distant objects is of paramount importance in astronomy, but for centuries direct measurement was impeded by atmospheric distortion of starlight. The study of light wave interference in the early 1800's led to a proposal by H. Fizeau in 1850 to use the measurement of optical interference patterns to determine the sizes of compact binary star systems. The limited success of Fizeau's technique led A.A. Michelson in 1890 to propose a more refined apparatus that was eventually used in 1920 to directly measure the diameters of Betelgeuse and other giant stars. After WWII, the use of radio telescopes superseded optical methods in astronomical interferometry. This paper outlines a feasibility study at FSU designed to determine if small scale telescopes with modern optics and microcomputer imaging software can be used to demonstrate optical interferometric techniques and their application to remote measurement. Discussion of techniques, results, issues, and possible refinements in measuring artificial light sources, small binary stellar systems, and possibly the measurement of stellar diameters will be presented.

Confirmation of Multiple Pattern Speeds in the Barred, Grand Design Spiral Galaxy NGC 4321 (Poster, Table 19)

Presenting Student: Nicholas Wade Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jason Speights

Previous measurements of the pattern speed in NGC 4321 show evidence for a pattern speed that decreases with increasing radius. These measurements used a version of the Tremaine‐Weinberg method that assumes a constant value of the pattern speed across the disk, so we checked those results using a general form of the method that excludes the assumption of a constant pattern speed. We find 3 approximately constant values of the pattern speed for the nuclear, bar, and spiral arms, consistent with previous measurements, but our values for the nuclear and bar regions are larger. The larger values are explainable as due to the bias from averaging when applying the version of the method that assumes a constant value of the pattern speed. Our results are consistent with mode coupling of the bar and the beginning of the spirals at the 4:1 ultraharmonic resonance.

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College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Research Symposium

Emergency Water Purification System (Poster and Physical Display, Table 1)

Presenting Students: Amber Eure, Kamaron Cheatham, Kimera Peterson Contributing Student: Taqi Robinson Faculty Mentor: Dr. Zhen Liu

The purpose of this project is to enhance an existing water filter process that will provide a method of receiving safe drinking water post natural disasters. Considering the usage of water for 3‐4 people is about 240‐400 gallons of water per day. The average household is approximately 4 people and the gallons used per day include many activities such as, cooking, bathing, drinking, etc. Taking the environment into consideration, the water filter created will need to operate with the post‐conditions of a natural disaster such as power outages, flooded areas, and damaged plumbing. The team intends to make a filtration system that can be fully operational without power and be able to, hypothetically, filter 240‐400 gallons of water daily with objects that are readily in stores such as a tote, pipes, hoses, and the materials used to filter water. The filter built for testing will be a small scale model to allow feasibility for test runs. The water used for testing will be an imitation of contaminated water containing organic compounds (acetone, chloroform – stabilized with ethanol, 1, 2 dichloroethane), bacteria (E.coli), and metal (lead II nitrate) to mimic various of industrial and natural pollutants. The simulated contaminated water will go through the filtration system created which contains gravel, sand, activated carbon, and bentonite clay. The contaminated water will be tested before and after using the filter to quantify the amount of each contaminant in the water. The samples of the water will be tested using the Gas Chromatography – Mass Spectrometry (GC – MS) and the Atomic Absorbance Spectrophotometer (Flame – AA) to determine what organic or metal contaminants remain. The number of bacteria left from the water after being filtered will be tested by taking a sample before and after being filtered and placed in incubators to grow the bacteria. The bacteria will then be counted and compared. The collected data for all the contaminants will be compared to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) standards of drinking water. The results compared to EPA will determine the efficiency of the filter. The goal of this project is to provide an on‐demand option for families to have safe drinking water after a natural disaster. The results will assist in obtaining the ultimate goal of this research in having an on‐demand source to receive safe drinking water for a household.

Engineering Electromagnetic and Thermal Shielding Surfaces via Conductive Material Coatings (Poster and Physical Display, Table 7)

Presenting Students: Brendan Latimer, Basluel Mekonnen, Brandon Tichnell, Jovany Tinne Faculty Mentor: Dr. Zhen Liu

In this capstone project, the combination of polypyrrole and reticulated foam bi‐layer composites are engineered. This strategy will increase the electromagnetic and thermal shielding properties of the composite. Potential applications include military shielding. There are three generations of polypyrrole/reticulated foam being created, and two generations using a nickel conductive coating

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College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Research Symposium to reinforce the effects of the polypyrrole. Utilizing oxidizers such as ammonium persulfate (APS), iron (III) chloride hexahydrate (FeCl3), and iron (II) chloride tetrahydrate (FeCl2) allows us to change the chemical properties, which manipulates the thermal and electrical conductivity of the composites. Generations IV and V involve an integrated metal aerogel coating onto the aforementioned three generations polypyrrole foam absorbers with nickel particles. The nickel coating will enhance the corrosion resistance of the polypyrrole and also enhance the conductivity. Major factors to consider in larger scale production include: mass per unit length, degradation over time, cost per volume, and method of application to the surface area. Once these composites are assembled, they can be evaluated for their thermal and conductive properties using a multimeter, thermal imaging camera, and thermal gravity analysis. These composites can also be ultimately and practically tested for electromagnetic shielding properties using equations established by previous research.

Examples of Radially Decreasing Pattern Speeds in Barred Spiral Galaxies (Poster, Table 19)

Presenting Student: Caleb Godwin Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jason Speights

It is common practice to assume that bars and spirals are rotating at the same rate. We test this assumption by directly measuring bar and spiral arm pattern speeds for a small sample of hydrogen alpha data in the CALIFA 2nd data release. The pattern speed is measured using the general form of the Tremaine‐Weinberg method, which allows for radial variation in the pattern speed. The results for the bar regions are consistent with rigid rotation, but the results for the spirals are more diverse. They are consistent with a combination of shearing and approximately rigid rotation that in all cases is less than the pattern speed of the bar.

EZ Chick ‘N Tractor (Poster and Physical Display, Table 7)

Presenting Students: Erron D’Souza, Michael Mattis, Caitlin Olejnik, Eric Vrydagh, Garrett Wiles Faculty and Staff Mentors: Dr. Julie Wang, Mr. Duane Miller

This is prototype design is for a low‐cost autonomous chicken tractor for small farms. The objective of this project is to provide an easy method for regularly moving a free‐range chicken tractor and to make the collection and the raising of meat chickens easier. A chicken tractor is a bottomless chicken coop that allows meat chickens to graze freely on grasses. Farmers currently physically move standstill tractor versions every day to fresh grass in order for the occupying meat chickens to sell as free‐range. Because farmers are required to go outside to these chicken tractors at least once a day to move them, it would be ideal if the tractors could move more frequently and automatically, so the chickens can consume more fresh grass per day to live up to the consumers’ expectations for “free‐range” conditions. The process of moving these pre‐existing tractors is

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College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Research Symposium troublesome and is time consuming for farmers. Current homemade versions of chicken tractors are typically composed of heavy materials. Furthermore, collecting chickens for removal from the caged environment is additionally troublesome and tedious. Our prototype design for a chicken tractor is battery powered and programmed to move every desired hour for a given field length. The tractor has an integrated feeding and watering system, so the only attention needed by the farmer is to refill the feed and water reservoirs. To aid the farmer in moving the tractor to a fresh line of grass, the controlled motor system also has a manual control option, so the user can steer the tractor without having to push the assembly. Our design reduces the amount of time the farmer must tend to the chicken tractor, aid the meat‐chicken collection process, and prevent the farmer from lifting and pushing the assembly.

Heart Rate Monitor (Poster and Oral Presentation, Table 13)

Presenting Students: Daquan Wiley, Ivan Sando, Elliott Batts Faculty Mentor: Dr. Wudyalew Wondmagegn

In this proposal, we will explain how we researched different ideas, possibilities, and designs to help us come up with one final design. Our introduction will give our viewers an overview of how our heart rate monitor (HRM) is supposed to work. Also, we will describe the potential problems we will run into, and how we will come up with solutions to address those problems. The literature review will give one the history behind different heart rate monitors, and how they have innovated, and reinvented over time, also provided any other facts you may not have known about the heart rate monitor. The base of our proposal explains the description of the project. This will show one how the project works from beginning to end. Our schematic will thoroughly explain the route we took so that we can be aware of every material we will need to buy and how long the Capstone project should take.

High‐Altitude Environmental Experiments: Engineering in the Clouds (Poster* and Physical Display and Oral Presentation, Table 31)

Presenting Students: Peter Trask, Abel Beyene, Bradley Funkhouser, Caleb Blakslee Contributing Students: Alex Kahsay, Francis Ntabo, Kris Moreno, De’Angilo Alston, Emmanuel Coleman Faculty Mentor: Mr. Thomas Eberle

The High‐Altitude Balloon (HAB) research experiment is being conducted by a team of 10 Frostburg State University students (Arundel Mills Extension) as part of their senior Capstone design project. The ENEE 408 class project is expected to reach 100k feet into the atmosphere while carrying a payload designed to measure conditions that will be encountered by hypersonic, high altitude flights of the future. The payload system will be designed to adhere to FAA and FCC regulations and will be tested to withstand atmospheric and low temperature conditions at high

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College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Research Symposium altitude. Sensory data and telemetry will be continuously collected during the flight, and later processed upon retrieval of the payload. The first issue to be addressed is tracking the HAB during its flight. The telemetry data of the HAB will need to be transmitted in real time so that the payload can be recovered. Since this is a critical component of the HAB, the team researched and included redundancies in the design. Using the “Pi in the Sky” platform, which allows telemetry to be sent via both Automatic Packet Reporting System (APRS), and LoRa (Long Range), a 915MHz amateur radio band. By using both of these methods, it will ensure that the payload can be tracked and located upon landing. Our team’s research will support work being done for hypersonic, high‐altitude flight. Friction due to air generates a large amount of heat on such aircrafts, where even a small amount of particles can cause turbulence. To solve this problem, the team us using an optical dust sensor capable of measuring particulates in terms of density. In addition to this, the group is also developing a method to collect particulate samples on glass plates to be analyzed post flight by Raman spectroscopy. This method should provide insight into what type and density of particulates were collected. Finally, in order to meet the requirements needed to meet the projects goal, the team planned for a physical housing a power supply capable of handling low temperatures, and high winds velocity. In order to power the HAB powered during the flight, the team is using different battery chemistry types, and solar panels to keep the electronics powered reliably in the cold conditions. A foam housing was also chosen to insulate the electronics from the cold temperature. The HAB will be able to record sensory data pertaining to the environment, such as various gas levels, temperature, humidity, and pressure. The HAB will also collect live particulate samples to be analyzed after the launch. Telemetry data will also be recorded and transmitted during the entire flight for tracking and recovery of the payload. The group will complete this plan while meeting the requirements by the FAA and FCC and their safety guidelines. Our plan is to launch the HAB from the Frostburg main campus between May 2nd – May 9th, depending on weather conditions.

Organic Bullet Resistance: Pushing the Capabilities of Nanocellulose (Poster* and Physical Display, Table 1)

Presenting Students: Reagan Joy, Brian Leech, Brent Patterson, Robert Wetherbee Faculty Mentor: Dr. Zhen Liu

Nanocellulose is composed of fibrils or crystals that are found in the cell wall of plants and have widths on a nanometer scale from 5–20 nanometers along their diameter. Depending on how nanocellulose is processed it can exhibit remarkable properties. Nanocellulose has been measured to have a modulus of elasticity of 150 GPa, density of 1.5 g/cm^3, and a tensile strength of 10 GPa. These properties make it a good choice to become the next bulletproof material. In comparison, standard Kevlar has a modulus of elasticity of 130 GPa , density of 1.5 g/cm^3, and tensile strength of 4 GPa. Nanocellulose is organic, completely biodegradable and renewable unlike Kevlar and other materials based on fossil fuels. This makes it a more affordable alternative with better capabilities. This remarkable, natural substance exhibits the possibility to be bullet resistant enabling new ways to protect the men and women serving this great nation.

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Portable Hydro Generator (Poster* and Physical Display, Table 30)

Presenting Students: Zachary Green, Colby Kortas, Trevon Jacks, Keith Quarles Faculty and Staff Mentors: Dr. Wudyalew Wondmagegn, Mr. Duane Miller, Mr. Kevin Fearon

This senior project consists of the design, construction, and testing of a portable hydro generator. The turbine in the main structure will be made in the BAM laboratory to utilize the service we have here on campus. The portable hydro generator will use falling water that is funneled using a hose system to turn the turbine. The kinetic energy in the water current is then converted to usable electricity by rectifying the AC power output from a stepper motor to DC power to charge a battery. Electrical components will be enclosed in a waterproof box. The generator will be attached directly to the turbine wheel to produce the power. The goal set for the project is to construct and test the system that will produce 9 volts and 3 amps.

Predicting Inaccuracies in AML’s Makerbot Replicator Z18 Printer (Poster* and Physical Display, Table 28)

Presenting Student: Aili Wade Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jason Speights

Frostburg State University’s additive manufacturing lab (AML) uses 3D printers to create parts for FSU students. Some student projects require 3D parts to fit together, which requires a certain degree of accuracy to achieve the proper fit. However, 3D printers' degrees of accuracy vary based on a variety of variables. While this small amount of inaccuracy has little impact on 3D parts that do not need to fit into something else, it can have a great impact on those that do. AML usually just makes an educated guess as to the dimensions of a part, but this may result in multiple reprints. The purpose of this project is to create a predictor that will allow AML to accurately predict the dimensions of a 3D printed part.

Soccer Ball Shot Return (Poster* and Physical Display, Table 27)

Presenting Students: Nathan Gehr, Colt Mason, Keith Stahl, Jacob Williams, Trent Yoder Contributing Student: Aili Wade Faculty and Staff Mentors: Mr. Duane Miller, Dr. Julie Wang

Soccer is a team sport, however there are times when athletes would like to practice individually. When practicing individually, it becomes tedious to repeatedly retrieve balls from the goal and reset to shoot again. Moreover, during team shooting exercises, the exercise must be stopped frequently to collect and distribute balls that accumulate in the goal. The solution to these problems is to design a mechanism that is capable of automatically collecting and returning the soccer balls out to the field, simulating the user receiving a pass from another player. This would

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College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Research Symposium enable the athletes to practice individually as well as improve the speed and efficiency of team exercises. The proposed solution involves a sloped structure placed in the goal, which allows soccer balls to be fed by gravity to a shooting mechanism placed on the outside of the goal. The shooting mechanism then returns the soccer ball to the user by using a wheel driven by an electric motor, and the entire system operates automatically using sensors placed inside of the shooting mechanism. The system has also been designed to be portable and powered by a 120 AC wall outlet with the option to connect two twelve‐volt batteries for standalone operation.

The Collection and Conversion of Footfall and Solar Energy (Poster* and Physical Display, Table 25)

Presenting Students: John Veronick, Kerry Merrbach, Anthony D’Orsaneo, Kurt Worrell Faculty Mentor: Dr. Zhen Liu

New energy harvesting techniques are constantly being researched to help secure our future with renewable sources, while providing sound environmental stewardship practices. This project will produce a ground paving tile that includes a photovoltaic solar cell and piezoelectric materials as energy harvesting sources. The solar cell will gather the energy from the sun and the piezoelectric material will convert the kinetic energy from footfall impacts to electrical current. Integrating these two energy sources will be accomplished in a multi‐layered tile. The vision is for the tile to be placed out in the sunlight where it will get an abundant number of footsteps from pedestrians. This floor tile will not only collect renewable energy during the daytime but also during nighttime hours as pedestrians travel across it; as a permanent power generator and energy converter.

Verification of Tensile Strength Standards (Poster* and Physical Display and Oral Presentation, Table 29)

Presenting Students: Katie Hamilton, Gabby Sandy, Griffith Spies, Aili Wade, Jacob Williams Contributing Student: Micah Hunter‐Goskie Staff Mentor: Mr. Duane Miller

The relative strength of 3D printed materials varies based on the material, orientation, and infill density of each print. The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) has conducted tests to set standards for these settings, which FSU’s additive manufacturing lab (AML) will be replicating in order to verify that their printers are up to national standards. By verifying these standards, AML will be able to enhance the learning of students in ENME 382, a materials engineering class, by offering a larger variety of materials that they will be able to test and compare to national standards. This project will also improve all of AML’s future projects by providing extensive knowledge about printed part’s strength.

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Wireless Power Transfer (Poster* and Physical Display, Table 26)

Presenting Students: Deionn Yarberough, Nick Baicar, Gordon Thompson Faculty Mentors: Dr. Wudyalew Wondmagegn, Dr. Oguz Soysal

Wireless Power Transfer (WPT) eliminates the need for cable connections to transfer electricity. In modern day technology, WPT efficiency isn’t high enough to be an ideal power source for most devices. We are setting out to find the most viable option regarding the efficiency per cost ratio to transfer electricity wirelessly from one place to another. Our goal is to wirelessly connect copper coils through electromagnetic coupling, then to send a pulsing magnetic field from one coil to the next. When the pulse is collected by the final coil, our circuit will convert the magnetic flux into a voltage source. This voltage can then be used to supply power to any electronic device, however our end goal is to power a light bulb so the consumer can visually see that our circuit is working.

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DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE

An Analysis of Issues in Contemporary American Political Polling (Poster and Oral Presentation, Table 24)

Presenting Student: James Kirk Faculty Mentor: Dr. Stephen Simpson

In 2016, the American political sphere was rocked by one of the most polarizing and unexpected presidential elections in the nation’s history. In the aftermath of Donald Trump’s electoral victory over Hillary Clinton, scholars, the media, and the public all raised questions about the current and future reliability of traditional political polling methodologies. These critical questions were rooted in the broad national consensus that a Clinton victory seemed certain even in the hours before the election. This study examines both quantitative and qualitative reports from academic and journalistic sources to gain deeper insight into the technical explanations behind the disconnect between public expectations and the actual 2016 American presidential election result. The study and subsequent findings were formulated into three key analyses, focusing on the impact of declining response rates on traditional telephone‐based political surveys, specific issues related to political polls conducted during the 2016 American presidential election, and the current state of online political polling methods with specific attention paid to their usage in the 2016 American presidential election. Overall, this study found that declining response rates for telephone‐based public opinion surveys has shown little significant impact outside of measurements for political and civic engagement. In addition, this study highlights a few critical explanations, including new relationships between education level and presidential vote choice, for why state polls near the end of the 2016 American election appeared to predict the incorrect outcome. As for online political polls, recent research and data from the 2016 election indicates that their methodologies can yield more accurate than expected results, but further research is needed to continue to understand how they measure electoral opinions. This area of study, the current state of American political polls, is critical to understanding the future American electoral analysis.

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DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY

If You Believe in One Conspiracy Theory, Do You Believe in Others? (Poster, Table 24)

Presenting Students: Alexis Young, Imani Jones, Cody Watkins Faculty Mentor: Dr. D. Alan Bensley

This study tested whether measures of different specific forms of conspiracy theories predicted endorsement of ideas and themes found in conspiracy theories in general. We tested 309 general psychology students using a measure of generic conspiracist ideation, a scale measuring specific, false conspiracy theories, a scale measuring specific true conspiracy theories, and a scale measuring specific, fictitious conspiracy theories. A multiple regression analysis showed that all three specific conspiracy measures significantly predicted generic conspiracist ideation. Moreover, all of the different measures of conspiracy theories were positively and highly intercorrelated. These results support the hypothesis that when a person accepts one conspiracy theory they are also likely to accept other conspiracy theories, even fictitious ones invented by the researchers.

The Generality of Acceptance of Unsubstantiated Claims (Poster, Table 24)

Presenting Students: Cody Watkins, Imani Jones, Alexis Young Faculty Mentor: Dr. D. Alan Bensley

We tested whether measures of different kinds of unsubstantiated claims and beliefs would be intercorrelated, which would suggest a general susceptibility to unsubstantiated claims. In a sample of 286 introductory psychology students, we found significant positive intercorrelations between measures of psychological misconceptions, paranormal beliefs, measures of both false and fictitious conspiracy theories and measures of pseudoscientific beliefs and poorly supported psychological practices. These results provide support for the general susceptibility to unsubstantiated claims in beginning psychology students.

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DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY

Predictors of Quiz Success (Poster, Table 24)

Presenting Student: Jessalyn White Faculty Mentor: Dr. Terry Russell

A class survey was conducted to answer the research question of why some students do better on weekly quizzes than others. The study was based on factors of academic achievement, and the relevance of them regarding the quizzes given in class. Understanding what factors contribute to academic achievement can help students succeed with their higher education. The participants of this study were students in two research methods classes with a combined sample size of 30 students. The students had a variety of differences involving age, gender, working status, and class rank. The participants were mostly social work and sociology majors. The students helped formulate most of the questions in the survey as a class, and then they took the survey themselves. The dependent variable was measured by the scores received on the weekly class quizzes, and these scores evaluated knowledge about the research methods topics covered that week. Several independent variables were measured in a survey of the survey, and five were included in the final model. These five variables were reading the textbook, test taking mastery, family support, class participation, and five or more alcoholic drinks per sitting. Since there were many possible predictors of quiz scores, multivariate regression analysis was the best method to analyze the data. The overall model explained 40% of the variance (R = .40, p < .05); the factors discussed in this study contributed to 40% of why some students did better on quizzes than others. Based on the final model, the ideal student who did better on quizzes can be described as someone who reads the textbook, does not rely on their mastery of test tasking strategies, has family support, participates in class, and does not consume five or more alcoholic drinks per sitting. Some implications of this study would be to encourage students to read the textbook, and not be overconfident in their test taking strategies. This study helps support the notion that reading the textbook is important to a student’s success in class. Class participation, family support, test taking mastery, and alcohol consumption can be factors that affect someone’s academic achievement. Although many factors were tested, other ones or individual differences between participants could be additional reasons why some did better on quizzes than others.

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DEPARTMENT OF VISUAL ARTS

Alien Worlds (Physical Display, Areas 6, 12, and 18)

Presenting Students: Rebecca Ayres, Shelby Brothers, Caitlyn Conrad, Dalten Fisher, Zachary Johnson, Ashley Jones, Maria Luzon, Adam Mathers, Kaylyn Shockey, Jamal Fisher Faculty Mentor: Ms. Judith Dieruf

The scientists discover "new worlds" every day with enhanced insight or views into the natural world, through technology or exploration. But perhaps nothing is so fascinating as the "new worlds" created by the human brain, the imagination of the artist. This year there are less confining categories of discovery...no wildlife art, no performance art, no landscapes on metal, no Trump White House art proposals...only new worlds to discover, ones "lived in" by the artists producing them.

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College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Research Symposium

CLAS Undergraduate Research Working Group

Karen Keller, Biology (Chair) Phillip Allen, Geography Matthew Crawford, Chemistry Judith Dieruf, Visual Arts Justin Dunmyer, Mathematics Robert Hein, Visual Arts Mark Hughes, Mathematics Erica Kennedy, Psychology Jean‐Marie Makang, Philosophy Eleanor McConnell, History Marc Michael, Mathematics Duane Miller, Physics and Engineering Jill Morris, English Benjamin Norris, Chemistry Xunyu Pan, Computer Science and Information Technologies Elesha Ruminski, Communications Terry Russell, Social Work Rebekah Taylor, Biology

Elizabeth Throop, Provost (Opening Remarks) Cindy Troutman, Executive Administrative Assistant, CLAS Shannon Gribble, University Advancement

SPECIAL THANKS Additional funding for the Symposium was provided by The FSU Foundation. In addition, many projects featured in the Symposium were funded by Foundation grants, Faculty Development grants, PELEF grants, and the Student Government Association.

We would like to thank the staff of the Print Shop, the Lane Center, the Physical Plant, and Chartwells for all of their assistance in the preparation of the Symposium.

Most importantly, we would like to thank the Students and their Faculty and Staff Mentors for making the Symposium possible.

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LANE CENTER ROOM 108 Time Oral Presentation and Presenters 11:30‐12:00 An Analysis of Issues in Contemporary American Political Polling James Kirk 12:00‐12:30 Choose Your Own Adventure: A Video Game Rebecca Flinn, Atticus Speis 12:30‐1:00 Beating the Internet: Are Bobcats using Social Media Effectively? Margaret McBride 1:00‐1:30 African Americans and the Death Penalty: A Legal History Analysis Danielle Price 1:30‐2:00 PAWS Usability Study Joshua Ritchie, Jordan Sabedra, Keon Fenner, Kalief Epes

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LANE CENTER ROOM 109 Time Oral Presentation and Presenters 12:00‐12:30 Coping with Depression in Frostburg: Depression and the Methods Deemed Most Effective in Handling It Joshua Warren Medical Marijuana: The Future of Injury Prevention and Treatment Phil Wheeler Concussion Prevention: Moving Toward Proper Collegiate and Professional Level Protocol Nigel Williams 12:30‐1:00 ’Shut Up & Dribble’: The Predicament Minority Athletes Face When They Speak Out Natnael Alamirew Wakanda Forever: An Analysis of the Success of Black Films Ashley Palmisano Representation Matters: The Impact of Having an Instructor from a Similar Background on Scholastic Success of Minority Students Milan Williams 1:00‐1:30 I Am Not Who You Think I Am: An Examination of Social Media Image Alexus Clanton We’re Going Streaking: Why FSU Students Find Snapchat Appealing Rose Gause Have Smart Phones Made Us Less Social? Caprice Kabwasa‐McGuire 1:30‐2:00 Impacts Advisors Have on Their Advisees Lauren Calton The Relationship Between Effective Coaches and the Success of College Athletes Rosalie Friedman Avoiding the Unemployment Line: Are Jobs in My Major Available After Graduation? Jordan Johnson

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LANE CENTER ROOM 110 Time Oral Presentation and Presenters 11:30‐12:00 How Does PTSD Affect the Homeless Rates of Veterans? Brandon Brock Transition Challenges in Higher Education: Serving Those Who Have Served Samantha Dabrowski 12:00‐12:30 What Is The Best Form of Security for Schools? Olivia Balogun Mass Shootings and the Media: How the News Reflects Reality Erik Davis What is Happening to My City? An Analysis of Opioid Addiction in Western Maryland and the Issues that Law Enforcement Has to Handle Zachary Mason 12:30‐1:00 #FitLife: The Impact Millennials Have on the Fitness Industry Through the Use of Instagram Sarah Maggitti Figurative and Coercive Language: An Examination of News Headlines on Social Media Ashleigh Myers 1:00‐1:30 Rise by Helping Others: The Importance of Community Food Banks and Involvement of Volunteers Casey Kidd Addiction and Poverty: Alleghany County Resources Available to Help the Community Rebecca Megablew One Step Forward, Two Steps Back: The Cliff Effect’s Impact on Poverty in Allegany County Gwendolin Schemm 1:30‐2:00 Undergraduate Civic Engagement: Exploring the Rhetorical Situation of Civic Responsibility at Frostburg State University Jon Huizer The Exploration of the Lack of Female Sanitary Products in Women’s Bathrooms at Frostburg State University Imani Jackson Campus Involvement: How Getting Involved on Campus Benefits Students After Graduating Tasia Smith

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LANE CENTER ROOM 111 Time Oral Presentation and Presenters 11:30‐12:00 60 Second Documentary James Cousler, Ernest Merchant, Delron Glave, Kameron Clem, Elijah Sutton, Sidney Beeman, Jhaneal Stoute, Cheyenne Younger, Andre Glenn, Margaret McBride, Dasia Jones, Jajuan Jones 12:00‐12:30 How Music Brings Cultures Together to Create a Team’s Identity Karahn Alston The Economics of the Digital Music Industry and How It Influences Consumer Spending Isaiah Lewis 12:30‐1:00 Does Reading Affect Personality? The Correlation between Reading and Empathy Francheska Alvarez Perez Understanding Recreational Reading and its Impact on Academics at Frostburg State University Parwon Kamei 1:00‐1:30 Gender Neutral or Gender Inclusive: Creating Non‐Binary Gender Language in The United States Ciel LaBossiere‐Little How Religious Fundamentalism Might Contribute to Less Social Equality for Women Kadeem Parker 1:30‐2:00 Straw Wars: An Analysis of Frostburg State University’s Awareness of the Harm That Straws Cause to the Environment Niki Elliott Aluminum and Galvanized Steel Boat Lifts: Harmful Effects to the Environment Austin Gray

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LANE CENTER ROOM 113 Time Name 11:30‐12:00 Applying Machine Learning to Real World Search Environments Garrett Willingham 12:00‐12:30 "Backyard" Optical Stellar Interferometry – A Feasibility Study Truman Boyer 12:30‐1:00 Heart Rate Monitor Daquan Wiley, Ivan Sando, Elliott Batts 1:00‐1:30 High‐Altitude Environmental Experiments: Engineering in the Clouds Peter Trask, Abel Beyene, Bradley Funkhouser, Caleb Blakslee 1:30‐2:00 Verification of Tensile Strength Standards Katie Hamilton, Gabby Sandy, Griffith Spies, Aili Wade, Jacob Williams

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