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Scholars DayProgram

Wesley CollegeDover, Delaware

April 14, 2016

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Schedule of Events

College Center 206C12:15

Registration

College Center 206A/B1:00 – 1:55

Welcome, Opening, and Reception

Session I 2:00-2:40

Musical Performances Oral Presentations

Session II 2:50-3:30

Musical Performances Oral Presentations

Poster Presentations

Session III 3:40-4:20

Art Exhibition Oral Presentations

Session IV 4:30-5:10

Oral Presentations Poster Presentations

Art Presentation/Exhibition is in Longwood 101and will be up for the day in addition to Session III

Musical Performances are held in the Chapel

Poster Presentations are around the outside of the College Center(In the event of rain, the presentations will be held at the College Center lobby)

Oral Presentations in Wells Auditorium (Slaybaugh Hall 107), Slaybaugh 104, Cannon Hall 7, and Cannon Hall 110

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ChapelEnsemble Performances: Emily Dickinson Poems set to music

Kia SmithWesley College Choir

Still I Rise: a Maya Angelou Poem set to music Emily Bentz

Wesley College Choir

Panel 1: Cannon Hall 7 Moderator: Dr. Agashi Nwogbaga

Assessor: Dr. Kathy Curran

The Solvolytic Study of Cyclohexyl ChloroformateLaura Malinowski

Solvolytic mechanisms of common β-keto carbonyl compounds Ariel Bilbrough

Panel 2: Wells Auditorium (Slaybaugh) 107Moderator: Dr. Cynthia NewtonAssessor: Dr. Angela D’Antonio

Wesley College Institutional Grants for Students vs Student Loans 1987-2012

Summer Stone and Christina Hubert

Wesley College Six-Year Graduation Rate 1987-2012 Andreanna Jeffries, Samantha Weber, and Dionne Williams

Musical Performances: Session I 2:00 – 2:40

Oral Presentations: Session I 2:00 – 2:40

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Chapel

Musical Composition:Alyssa Moat

Presentation Singer: Elizabeth Hazlett

Ensemble Performances: Original CompositionNicholas Oakley

Pianists: Sherry Roscoe and Dr. James Wilson

Members of the Wesley College Choir

Tiffany Allen-JamesEmily Bentz

Benjamin BishopAlexa ChericoGarrett Doak

Joy Gordy-StithAsia Harmon

Elizabeth HazlettRebecca Herrera

Amara HillSara Miller

Massiel NapolitanoSarah PullingJacob Sasso

Aiyannah SosaLakeisha Thompson

Doris TrembleAlana Walker

Musical Performances: Session II 2:50 – 3:30

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Panel 1: Wells Auditorium (Slaybaugh Hall 107) Moderator: Professor Victor GretoAssessor: Dr. Stephanie Holyfield

How Are College Students Abusing "Legal" Substances? Glenn Aruta

Uplifting Guatemala: A Changing World Hannah Veasey

Panel 2: Cannon Hall 110Moderator: Dr. Albee Mendoza

Assessor: Professor Susan Redington Bobby

Mood Disorders and Substance Abuse among Wesley College Students Natalie Trujillo

The Band of Brothers, World War II’s Vanguard Zachary Prescott

Dying in Delaware – Impact of obesity, county of residence, income, gender, education, and race

Riza Bautista

Solvolysis of Lauryl CloroflormateMomina Toseef

Using Dendrochronology to Assess the Effects of Sea level Rise and Storm Inundation on Coastal Forests

Lihoshimar Gonzalez

Oral Presentations: Session II 2:50-3:30

Poster Presentations Session II 2:50-3:30 p.m.

The Outside of the College Center(In the event of rain, the presentations will be held at the College Center

Lobby

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The Chemical Process of a Latex AllergyKatelynn Russomanno

Location, Race, and the Transgender Community: How it all Ties Together. Jennifer Jankowski

Vernal Pond Ecosystems at the Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve Hannah Small

Waterways of Dover, DelawareChristian Rodriguez

Pediatric Root Cause Analysis Ashten Bodofsky, Ruth Ann Elston, Frank Fiorella, John Needles, and Lauryn

Hamil

Invasive Species Control at a Restoration Project along the St. Jones RiverSavanah Love

Isolation and Characterization of Antibiotic Compounds from the Soil Bacteria Streptomyces.

Mark Shaw and Christina Baughan

Using Nano-tags to explore Temporal Movements of Red Knots throughout the Tide Cycle-Is Aquaculture a threat to a Critical Staging Area (Delaware Bay)?

Josh Barth

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Longwood 101

An Autobiography Through ArtCourtney Gross

3-D Charcoal ShapesSarah Holt

Black HistoryJasmine Jackson

Self PortraitBrian Moore

Guidance through OrigamiLily Neff

Selected PaintingsEmily Temple

Charcoal DrawingsAmanda Svehla

Still LifeDionne Williams

Put A Cap On WasteBetty Grace Lee, Marquita Dickerson-Frisby, Stephanie Dobyns,

Brooke Thompson, Juliana Tedder, Alyssa Watson, Kenny Ciccoli, Lauren Gray, Sharnice Williams

Art Exhibition: Session III3:40 – 4:20

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Panel 1: Wells Auditorium (Slaybaugh 107)Moderator: Dr. Jack BarnhardtAssessor: Dr. Nancy Rubino

The Dimensions of Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANEs) Alysia Welsh

Anatomy of a College Newspaper Kristen Griffith and Brittany Wilson

Panel 2: Canon 110 Moderator: Dr. Malcolm D’SouzaAssessor: Professor Tamala Paxton

Isolation and Characterization of Phage from Soil Using Mycobacterium Summer Stone

Annie Jump Cannon: Local History and the Historian’s CraftValerie Shorter

Panel 3: Slaybaugh Hall 104 Moderator: Dr. Jeffery Mask

Assessor: Professor Darla Davidson

Wesley College Graduation Indicators Riza Bautista and Rahel Mandara

Money in Delaware State Politics Savannah Durham

Oral Presentations: Session III 3:40 – 4:20

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Panel 1: Wells Auditorium (Slaybaugh 107) Moderator: Dr. Rebecca BensonAssessor: Dr. Varleisha Gibbs

The Relationship between Homelessness and Hopelessness in Aging Adults

Alexis Jones

SPEAK Presents: Convergence "A spoken word showcase" Kevin Johnson, Evan Le’Mon, Dominic McAnulty, Mercedes Myrick, Patrick

Schlosser, Mavin Willis, Morgan Williams, Sherie Butler and Austin Kind

Panel 2: Cannon Hall 110 Moderator: Dr. Julie Fisher

Assessor: Professor Dianitza Runser

Wesley College Tuition 1987-2012 Benjamin Miller, Zach Huk, and Vincent Wu

The Demon King and the End of Honor Nicholas Oakley

Panel 3: Slaybaugh Hall 104 Moderator: Dr. John O’Neil

Assessor: Professor Margaret McElligott

Comparative Analyses of the Reaction Rates of Seven Alkyl Chloroformates

Robert Dina

Oral Presentations: Session IV 4:30-5:10

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Your Hand in Hand HygieneStacion Jones and Vickie Cox

Characterization of the Pseudomonas fluorescens BW6LMary Williams

WetlandsOlivia Gulledge

Breakdown of Toxic Chemicals by Microoganisms Samantha Weber

Exercise Science Internship Kayla Fromal

An Investigation of the Living Shoreline Project located near the mouth of the Mispillion River, Cedar Creek and the Delaware Bay

Jessica Small

The Role of APP in Early-Onset Alzheimer’s DiseaseDionne Williams

Title: Wesley College brings the chemistry of color to Delaware's family science adventure

Austin Luna

Water Quality Comparison Between Input and Output of Silver Lake Brooke Thompson

Plaque psoriasis: The Mechanism of Etanercept Immunotherapy Ariel Bilbrough

Classic Hemochromatosis Summer Stone

Nitrous Oxide: An Alternative to Epidural Anesthesia? A Literature Review

Poster Presentations Session IV 4:30-5:10

The Outside of the College Center(In the event of rain, Presentations will be held in the College Center Lobby

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Glenn Aruta, Michael Ditore, Mark Stinsmani, Stephanie Malakuskie, Hannah Veasey

The Chemistry of Anti-Anxiety Medications on the BrainLaura Malinowski

Prudent Practices in the Storage, Handling, and Disposal of Laboratory Chemicals Lily Neff

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Abstracts

The Demon King and the End of HonorNicholas OakleyMentor: Dr. Stpehanie Holyfield

Nobunaga Oda, a dyaimo (warlord) who lived from the mid to late 1500s, changed warfare in Japan forever. His revolutionary use of the musket in the battle of Nagashino (1575) revealed the musket’s tremendous potential as a weapon that could turn the tides of battle. This new weapons technology caused warfare in Japan to change drastically. The days of massive Calvary, and noble warriors honorably testing their ability against one another had ended. The musket forced the samurai to fight as a foot solider, and a warrior who had trained for years to master the sword, could now be killed by a farmer who had a week’s training with the musket. The famed Demon King had brought an end to honor, and changed warfare in Japan forever. 

Isolation and Characterization of Phage from Soil Using MycobacteriumSummer StoneMentor: Dr. William Kroen & Professor John Kidd

The goal of this proposal project is to isolate phage from soil using mycobacterium. The questions being asked during the project are “Can we isolate phage from soil using mycobacterium?” and if so, can we identify and characterize the phage?” This project will start by taking soil samples and then soil extracts will be made with an appropriate host to put on agar. If plaques appear on the agar we would then try to get pure samples of the plaques. From there we would try to isolate the phage making the plaques. Studying phage is important because some phage can be used to cure bacterial infections, by phage therapy, which is useful when antibiotic resistance occurs. Bacteriophage are virus particles that infect and replicate within bacteria. Phage can be found anywhere. Phage can control bacterial populations by killing ‘sensitive’ bacteria causing an increase in the amount of genetically resistant bacteria.

Annie Jump Cannon: Local History and the Historian’s CraftValarie ShorterMentors: Dr. Stephanie Holyfield, Wesley College, Marian Carpenter & Edward McWilliam, Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs

Annie Jump Cannon’s long career as an astronomer remains relatively unexplored despite her many academic and scientific achievements.  She ultimately became the Curator of Astronomical Photographs and an important member of the Harvard University Observatory and gained many honors from world-renowned institutions. The panels of this exhibit intend to educate the public about this important figure and her significance to Dover, Delaware. A life-long passion for education and the pursuit of knowledge drove Annie to achieve and push the boundaries of what was acceptable for women between the Civil War and World War II. The exhibit is based on archival material from Harvard University, Wesley College, and the Delaware Division of Historic and Cultural Affairs as well as published primary and secondary sources The Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs, CARE Team fabricated the exhibit and provided guidance throughout the process of research, writing, and design.

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Uplifting Guatemala: A Changing WorldHannah VeaseyMentor: Professor Margaret McElligott

Upon researching life in Guatemala I found that it is one of many poverty stricken countries. Most published, peer reviewed articles focused research on rural farms and native populations adjusting to modern conveniences, including healthcare. During my visit to Guatemala with the nursing program we were able to see the impact of an adapting culture. While visiting Santo Tomas, we educated children at Saber y Gracia School on health factors including dental hygiene, nutrition, and fetal development. I will determine how our teaching impacted their lives. I will be interviewing the students and school administrators to determine the impact of our teaching on the students’ knowledge of health and lifestyle choices, and how the school impacts Guatemala’s future. Afterwards, I will compare the outcomes of students who attend public schools in Guatemala to the students of Saber y Gracia.

The Dimensions of Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANEs)Alysia E. WelshMentor: Dr. Julie Fisher

The presentation will explore the physical and emotional dimensions of being a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE). My research involved the role conflicts SANEs face with law enforcement as caregivers and patient advocates, the importance of SANEs, and the emotional impact of the specialty. The presentation will discuss the basics of what SANEs do regarding physical exams, patient teaching, legal and ethical dilemmas, along with how SANEs balance their patient advocate role with their involvement with law enforcement. The presentation will include the extreme physical and mental efforts SANEs struggle with to provide high quality medical care, to maintain the quality of forensic evidence, and to attend to survivors’ emotional needs.

Solvolytic mechanisms of common β-keto carbonyl compoundsAriel K. BilbroughMentor: Dr. Malcolm D’Souza

β-keto carbonyl compounds are pharmaceutically relevant biomaterials. The preparation of such useful β-keto ester enolates, carboxylic acids and amides, is often accomplished with substituted ethyl chloroformate esters and strong bases. Hence, studies on carbonyl substitution chemistry to understand the influence of aqueous solvents on chemical reactivity of substituted ethyl chloroformates are pertinent. This undergraduate project analyzed (in detail) the solvent effects on ethyl-, 1-chloroethyl-, 2-fluoroethyl- and 2-benzyloxyethyl- chloroformates through acid-base titrations at exactly 25.0 degrees Celsius. Inductive effects due to the positioning of the substituent are shown to play crucial roles in the reaction chemistry of these esters. The solvent hydrogen-bonding ability also determines substrate reactivity and major reaction pathway.

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The Band of Brothers, World War II’s VanguardZachary Tyler PrescottMentor: Dr. Stephanie Holyfield

World War II saw young men taken from school or work and thrust into the crucible of combat. Many infantry units quickly became exceptional in conventional warfare; however, the men of the 101st Airborne's 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment became the best of the best due to outstanding performances in near impossible situations. The Band of Brothers became the best unit of World War II due to victories on D-Day, Operation Market Garden, and during the Battle of the Bulge. Using battle maps from the Army Academy, simple analysis will show how the 101st Airborne preformed far above traditional infantry units. The ultra-light weapons and equipment carried by the American paratroopers prove how effective these units were by overcoming the battle-hardened Germans, as the German army was typically the best armed, with the most technologically advanced weapons of the war.

Pediatric Root Cause AnalysisAshten T. BodofskyMentor: Dr. Nancy Rubino

The pediatric root cause analysis identified inconsistencies and noncompliance with infection control measures.  The objective of this project is to improve compliance and consistency in infection control measures on the pediatric floor. The researchers’ method was observing staff and family compliance with infection control measures. Quality control indicators were analyzed. Rooms were audited for hygiene protective equipment. The unit was audited for measures such as signs. The Joint Commission and CDC promote competency education in the health care arena and stress that equipment must be available and appropriate. No current research is available for family compliance with isolation precautions, so further research is indicated. A culture of infection prevention must come from top down, starting with senior management to effectively provide a positive example to staff. The researchers found inconsistencies and lack of available equipment to be leading contributors to low quality indicator rates.

Dover YMCA Member Satisfaction SurveyKayla FromalMentor: Dr. Barb Abbott

This study was conducted as a part of the Exercise Science Internship through Wesley College at the Dover YMCA and required 400 hours.  In addition to attending and teaching classes and learning how to work in the fitness industry, I completed a qualitative member satisfaction survey.  This paper survey was distributed to members of morning classes who volunteered to complete the survey between March 14 and March 18.  Over 60 surveys have been collected.  The data will be analyzed for age, gender, length of membership, gym usage, areas of dissatisfaction, and areas of satisfaction.  The results of this study could be useful to YMCA staff members to assess gym usage and areas needing improvement.

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Location, Race, and the Transgender Community: How it all Ties TogetherJennifer JankowskiMentor: Chelsey Vest, Dr. Cynthia Newton

The subject that I am aiming to address is how a transgendered persons regional location affects the treatment they receive, as well as how race factors into the behavior towards them. I plan to compare how the treatment differs from the east coast and the west coast, and in the northern and southern states too. I also plan on discussing how race ties into the tolerance of transgendered persons. The tolerance of a certain race has some regional aspects to it, such as if the rate of violence towards a transgendered person of color increases if they reside in more southern states, and vice versa.  I will be using a combination of scholarly literature, statistical databases and information from local LGBT organizations including, but not limited to, the Delaware Renaissance organization, Glaad.org, and Transgenderlawcenter.org. Finally, I plan to raise awareness for the transgender community with this presentation.

The Chemistry of Anti-Anxiety Medications on the BrainLaura Claire MalinowskiMentor: Dr. William Kroen

Clinical anxiety disorders such as obsessive compulsive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder can be caused by the brain having incorrect levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). GABA inhibits, or slows, the chemical messages responsible for nerve activity in the brain. If GABA levels are too low, neurons will fire too often and cause anxiety. Benzodiazepines are a family of drugs that include Valium and Xanax, and are used to treat anxiety disorders by increasing GABA amounts in the brain, thus slowing down nerve transmission. While this family of drugs acts quickly to calm anxiety symptoms, there are many negative side effects to long term usage. The excessive inhibition of neuron transmission can affect the ability to create memories and could even cause depression. The effects of benzodiazepines on the brain and the long-term chemical changes caused by them will be researched and described in this review project. 

Prudent Practices in the Storage, Handling, and Disposal of Laboratory ChemicalsLily Neff, Katrina A. Mitchell, Kristopher RoeskeMentor: Malcolm J. D’Souza

This project encourages faculty, students, and administrators to support quality, safety, and environmental measures in our undergraduate chemistry laboratories. Through standardization using the commercial Quartzy platform, sustainable systems are implemented to streamline the management of chemicals, their documentation and the ordering process. Solutions, including material reduction, strategies to reduce chemical wastes, increased recycling capacity, life cycle impacts of various waste management strategies and revised risk assessment approaches are developed. Chemicals are inventoried on Quartzy according to the suggested storage patterns obtained from flinnscience.com. It states chemicals are to be separated into inorganic and organic then further separated into compatible families. Acids and flammables are placed in isolated units with proper ventilation. Chemicals are given an alphanumeric label that corresponds to their placement in the storage unit. For example, OR2D04 is the second organic storage unit, shelf D, since shelves are assigned a letter, and the fourth row on that shelf.

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Vernal Pond Ecosystems at the Delaware National Estuarine Research ReserveHannah SmallMentor: Independent Project

Vernal ponds are complex systems in which environmental parameters such as total surface area, salinity levels, temperature, rainfall and amphibian presence play important roles. These parameters were measured at four ponds throughout the Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve to observe any significant correlations. At each reserve site, Blackbird Creek and St. Jones, two ponds were monitored. Preliminary results show an inverse correlation between rainfall and surface area using weather history provided by Delaware Environmental Observation Systems and a Trimble Nomad GPS. Surface area was lower when the amount of days increased without rainfall. Linear regression results showed the amount of frog calls identified and overall presence was greater at ponds with larger surface areas. Along the Mid-Atlantic, Delaware specifically, there are no regulations or state ordinances to protect vernal ponds. A state-wide mapping inventory and knowledge of their importance could make the difference between survival and extinction for these systems.

Wesley College Brings the Chemistry of Color to Delaware’s Family Science Adventure ProgramAustin Luna and Andre JonesMentors: Dr. Derald Wentzien and Dr. Malcolm J. D'Souza

Every year, the Wesley College organic chemistry class participates in a four-hour, DE-ACS sponsored, Family Science Adventure program. Our volunteers develop and bring interactive chemistry concepts and activities that engage over 250 elementary and middle school students. This year, chemistry was further demystified using creative experiments and colorful hands-on activities. A questionnaire were used to measured student interest and engagement in science before and after the event. We asked on both questionnaire, pre and post, two questions I think science is fun/exciting and I would like a job that involves science so we could see if there is an increased interest in STEM programs. With a total 53 questionnaires, we tested the claim that there is an increased interest in STEM programs. We ran a Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test and 95% confidence interval on the two questions asked used. Results helped support the claim that the students have an increased interest in STEM programs.

Comparative Analyses of the Reaction Rates of Seven Alkyl ChloroformatesRobert DinaMentor: Dr. Malcom D’Souza

Primary alkyl chloroformates (ROCOCl) are synthetically useful in the production of carbonates and amino acids. The solution chemistry can be studied through acid-base titrations. Chloroformates produce hydrochloric acid (HCl) in solution, coupled with sodium methoxide (NaOMe) as the base and a lacmoid-acetone mixture as an indicator, acid-base titrations can be performed. From the titrations the rate of reactions can be analyzed and compared to show trends in the electron pushing carbon groups. The measured kinetics of reaction in solutions widely ranging in nucleophilicity and ionizing power are reported for ethyl, propyl, iso-propyl, 2-ethylhexyl, octyl, nonyl, and decyl chloroformates. Quantitative analysis of experimental data is performed using multiple correlation analysis with the dual parameter Grunwald-Winstein equation. The coefficients obtained govern the interactions between solute and solvent associated

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with hydrophobicity of substrates.Music Composition PresentationAlyssa MoatMentor:

The purpose of this presentation is to show people the production side to music and to get people interested in the music production class. The song is about envious people. The song was recorded here in the recording studio at Wesley Chapel. 

Wesley SonataNicholas OakleyMentor: Dr. David Langanella

The Premiere of the second movement from this three movement piece. During the premiere, the audience will be given an insight into the compositional process.

A Work in Progress: The path of creating a tune through poetryKia SmithMentor: Dr. David Langanella

This presentation is about the process of putting poetry to music through trial and error. I will be describing my view on the process of putting poetry to music and how I turned each poetry work chosen into a piece of vocal music. I will be accepting questions after the presentation for anyone who wants to know more. The Presentation will also include excerpts of my latest works performed by the Wesley College Choir.

Still I RiseEmily BentzMentor: Dr. David Langanella and Dr. James Wilson

My four-part choral composition of Maya Angelou’s poem, “Still I Rise” was inspired by a composition I wrote last spring using the same poetry. This choral version not only uses more voices, but gives Angelou’s words a different attitude— one of strength and confidence. The piece was written and entered into the Delaware Collegiate Composer Competition and won second place. During my presentation, I will explain my reasoning behind the harmonic progressions and rhythmic ideas I chose to write.

Put A Cap On WasteBetty Grace Lee, Marquita Dickerson-Frisby, Stephanie Dobyns, Brooke Thompson, Juliana Tedder, Alyssa Watson, Kenny Ciccoli, Lauren Gray, Sharnice WilliamsMentor: Student Group Project

Sustainable Wesley is creating a large art piece. We are collecting bottle caps of all sizes (water bottle, gatorade, milk jug, ect.) from our peers, and painting them blue and white. We are then assembling the caps into the Wolverine Logo on a clear backing to create a mosaic out of the water bottle caps. The purpose of this art piece to talk about what more we can do with the waste we create. Sustainable Wesley is hoping to create a greener campus, and talking about how to do this is pertinent in making this happen. By displaying a creative way to reuse waste, we are hoping to inspire our peers to do the same. We are also going to have a display with the art piece

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talking about how we can "Put a cap on waste."3-D Charcoal ShapesSarah HoltMentor: Professor Sarah Hardesty

This still life drawing focuses on the value and shading created by using charcoal, and various drawing tools. Some of these tools include a smudge rag, erasers, and my fingers. In doing this it helped emphasize the form and volume created.

In this drawing class I had the opportunity to create this charcoal drawing from my own viewpoint in the classroom. The still life is from a variety of different foam shapes, with a light shinning down on it. This gave each viewpoint from every student in the class, including myself a unique advantage of the shading depending upon where you were standing.

Charcoal has been around for centuries, so its nothing new to the world, yet for me it was. I found this way of drawing to be so fun, and interesting. This being that I had the ability to control the drawing.

Black HistoryJasmine JacksonMentor: Professor Sarah Hardesty

This piece is called Black History. I created something that symbolized African Americans and Black History month, because the project was due in February. That is why I chose the black power fist. To me the black power fist represents unity, strength, and pride. I figured with all the unjustified violence that had been recurring in the last few years, that it would be nice to show that African Americans can rise above it. I put pieces of tape around the fist to symbolize how African Americans are unique in each individual way and all come together to for one common goal. I chose red, black, and green because these are the Black History month colors. The red represents the blood that unites all people of Black ancestry, the black represents all the black people that exist as a nation, and finally the green represents the natural wealth of Africa.

Charcoal DrawingsAmanda SvehlaMentor: Professor Sarah Hardesty

I am submitting two charcoal drawings from the Fall 2015 Drawing I class for the Scholar's Day art exhibition. The first piece is a self-portrait that focuses on defining facial features through value and depth. The second piece is a still life that was based on white Styrofoam shapes with different light sources.

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Guidance through OrigamiLily Soon NeffMentor: Professor Sarah Hardesty

My artist inspiration came from Jo Nakashima. His artwork incorporates many kinetic and geometric origami figures which inspired me to create and focus on kusudamas that I used to make when I was younger. Each kusudama is made of six individual origami pieces stapled and glued together by the four end folds. This represents my personal challenge of organic chemistry as a whole. The way to succeed in this course is to practice and practice each step over and over again. Each kusudama is created step by step, repeated five more times, to make the whole. Likewise, organic chemistry is completed step by step to figure out the final answer. In my installation project, two types of molecules are represented, CO2 and O2. The CO2 is represented by two light green kusudamas, which symbolize oxygen, and one dark green kusudama which represents carbon, attached to each other by hidden wire. The other, O2, is represented by two light blue kusudamas attached to each other by hidden wire. The two different molecules are different colors, instead of a solitary color for each element, to symbolize their importance and relation to each of us. The green CO2 molecules represent our long lasting greenhouse gas effect. The O2 molecules are a light blue color to represent their pure necessity to sustain our life. When a person sits on the chair surrounded by the kusudamas, the light blue O2 molecules are both on the left and the right at relatively the brain, heart, and lung level to emphasize this, and the CO2 molecules are up above to represent in the surrounding atmosphere. The artwork overall, represents multiple obstacles, from personal to environmental in an interactive way with the viewer.

Selected PaintingsEmily TempleMentor: Independent Project

These are a few of the paintings I've worked on independently over the past year. My characters are typically women in a fantasy setting, but I work to consciously oppose the typical, narrow cliches of the fantasy genre regarding its female characters. My medium is digital; my paintings are composed in Clip Studio Paint with a Wacom tablet. It is a medium I have practiced for the past several years, and one I strive to improve in with each piece.

Still LifeDionne WilliamsMentor: Professor Sarah Hardesty

In the Drawing I course, drawing skills were developed to make inanimate objects look realistic with use of line and shading techniques. Charcoal and shading techniques were utilized to create drawing of non-living objects. With the skills developed from the course, a still life drawing was created using harsh to light shading of charcoal to create contrast in shading along with white charcoal pencil and an eraser to create highlights. From this artwork, I learned the importance of contrast and blending to craft a realistic image.

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An Autobiography Through ArtCourtney D. GrossMentor: Professor Sarah Hardesty

This collection of prints was created for a printmaking class, and each print represents a piece of who I am. I looked back into my childhood for inspiration for these pieces, carefully selecting images that could summarize a life of cherished memories. The images in this collection are symbols of my life story and the people in it, combining to create an autobiography through art. I hope to use my artwork and the mark making in my prints as a vehicle to share my story. Everyone has a story; this one is mine.

Self PortraitBrian H. MooreMentor: Professor Sarah Hardesty

The artwork presented is a self-portrait in charcoal. It is entirely done by looking in the mirror, not based on a photograph. I made this in Drawing 1 with Professor Sarah Hardesty. I used white pencil in certain areas to accentuate the highlight on my face. This contributed to the volume and realism of the drawing.

SPEAK Presents: Convergence "A spoken word showcase"Kevin Charles Johnson, Evan Le'Mon, Dominic McAnulty, Mercedes Myrick, Patrick Schlosser, Mavin Willis, Morgan Williams, Sherie Butler and Austin KindMentor: Dr. Harry Maxson

SPEAK returns this year to present original Spoken Word from various perspectives. The goal of the performance is to show how subjective the art of poetry is to poets and listeners. Expect to hear topics from everywhere.

Isolation and Characterization of Antibiotic Compounds from the Soil Bacteria StreptomycesMark Shaw and Christina R. BaughanMentor: Dr. Virginia Balke

Streptomyces are soil dwelling bacteria that naturally produce antibiotics and release them to their immediate surroundings. The genus is responsible for producing over half of the antibiotics used today to treat bacterial infections in humans. Pathogenic bacteria rapidly develop resistance to commonly used antibiotics, underscoring the need for the discovery of new antibiotic compounds with different mechanisms of action. In this study, we are investigating the structures of antibiotics from Streptomyces cultured from various soils. The Streptomyces isolates were classified using 16S rRNA gene sequences. Antibiotic production was demonstrated by co-culturing the Streptomyces isolates with representative Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and observing growth inhibition. Antibiotic compounds were extracted from solid growth media and separated by thin layer chromatography (TLC). TLC stains were utilized to identify the general structure of antibiotic compounds found in the extract. Further structure determination will be done using LC-MS and NMR.

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Characterization of the Pseudomonas fluorescens BW6L FruR Transcriptional RegulatorMary “Molly” C. WilliamsMentor: Dr. Virginia Balke

FruR (cra) is a well-characterized fructose utilization regulator in Gram-negative bacteria E. coli and Pseudomonas putida. Studies indicate that the regulation of fructose utilization genes differs extensively between the two species reflecting their differing natural niches. With the genome sequencing of P. fluorescens BW6L, a comparison of P. fluorescens FruR function with E. coli and P. putida can be studied using genome annotation and cloning techniques. To accomplish this, the P. fluorescens FruR gene was cloned into pET expression vector, protein expressed, and purified. An upstream region containing the putative binding sequence was PCR amplified. Studies investigating the binding of the P. fluorescens FruR will be conducted to confirm the function of this protein in P. fluorescens. These results will be compared to published studies on the function of FruR in P. putida and E. coli.

Classic HemochromatosisSummer L. StoneMentor: Dr. William Kroen

Classic Hemochromatosis (HHC) is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder where the body absorbs too much iron (as much as four times the normal) from a person’s diet. Too much iron in the body increases the risk for diseases such as arthritis, depression, infertility, and some cancers. If left untreated, the iron builds up in joints and organs, eventually turning fatal. HHC is caused by mutations (C282Y usually) in alleles of the HFE gene located on chromosome six; this gene is involved in iron uptake from food. DNA tests are able to detect HHC. There are more than 1 million Americans with the genes for this disorder. Caucasians are most at risk for HHC. One treatment includes drawing blood in order to lower iron levels. This review will cover the genetics of the mutations of the HFE gene as well as the results of this disorder.

Your Hand in Hand HygieneStacion R. Jones and Vickie CoxMentor: Chris Jarrell and Dr. Denise Morris

Focus of the Abstract: The literature reports a 1.7 million healthcare-associated infections (HAI’s) occurring annually. Effective hand hygiene has been directly associated with a reduction in these costs (WHO, 2015). A brief training session was conducted on the impact of hand hygiene in the prevention of HAI’s. Does an effective educational offering improve hand hygiene practices among undergraduate nurses? Method: A convenience sampling of students participated in the training session. Multiple evaluation methods identified knowledge deficits at each level of the training session. Results: Post test scores increased by 10.4%, and return demonstration was effective in 75% of participants. Recommendations: Based upon the findings of this research study and the recommendation from the literature, it is recommended that ongoing hand hygiene education be implemented as an approach to preventing HAI’s. Conclusion: Participants were responsive to the educational session and acknowledged that proper hand hygiene contributes to the reduction of HAI’s. Keywords: hand hygiene, healthcare-

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associated infections

Invasive Species Control at a Restoration Project along the St. Jones RiverSavanah Star LoveMentor: Dr. Stephanie Stotts

Sections of the riparian zone along the St. Jones River were restored through the St. Jones River Revitalization project. However, the restoration project has not been well maintained and invasive species have begun taking over the area. This project is an examination of the research design for controlling the invasive species and the preliminary steps that have begun. The research design includes the removal of invasive species through a control group, spraying, and hand removal. While less labor intensive, spraying can kill off desirable species, causing long term problems. Invasive species were removed by hand in the fall of 2015, and spraying will begin in late spring 2016. The results of this project will be important because they will lead to land management decisions.

Breakdown of Toxic Chemicals by MicrooganismsSamantha J. WeberMentor: Dr. William Kroen

BTEX is the group of chemicals including benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene, which are toxic aromatic compounds in the environment. They are toxic because of their carcinogenic and mutagenic potential on humans. These chemicals are also pollutants because they enter the environment from an outside source such as oil spills. They build up on the surface of water, blocking the sunlight from penetrating through to the aquatic plants and organisms. This diminishes the ability for these organisms to effectively undergo photosynthesis. Interfering with photosynthesis causes a decrease in the oxygen available to aquatic organisms, and many could die. Bioremediation is a process of “cleaning” the environment using natural mechanisms. The bioremediation of BTEX can be done by microorganisms that produce compounds called biosurfactants, key components to the breakdown of BTEX compounds. This literature-based review will describe the mechanisms by which the BTEX compounds are degraded.

Dying in Delaware – Impact of obesity, county of residence, income, gender, education, and raceRiza C. BautistaMentor: Dr. Derald Wentzien and Dr. Malcolm D’Souza

To uncover the existence of obesity-related health disparities present in Delaware’s New Castle, Kent, and Sussex counties, we analyzed the 2000-2010 mortality tables published by the Delaware Division of Public Health, Delaware Health Statistics Center (DHSC). Prior work showed that the prevalent obesity-trend was Kent > Sussex > New Castle. Using the 2000-2010 tables, we show a considerable variation in the obesity-related mortality rates with Kent >> Sussex > New Castle. Furthermore, the obesity-related deaths were found to be inversely proportional to personal income. Due to a 2006 discrepancy in the DHSC educational attainment data, we used polynomial interpolations to estimate the deceased’s educational attainment. Incorporating this interpolated value into our 2000-2010 analyses, we show that the fluctuation in obesity-related death rates was greater for those with less than 12 years of education. Also, there is a disproportionate racial disparity in obesity-related death rates between blacks and

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whites.WetlandsOlivia GulledgeMentor: Independent Project

Wetlands provide a wealth of ecosystem services. However, the anthropogenic destruction of wetlands can be a common occurrence. The destruction of these natural sanctuaries over the last century has resulted in biodiversity loss and can contribute to increased flooding. To mitigate these issues, humans engineer man-made wetlands. In Carroll County, MD, Lehigh Cement is expanding their quarry operations into a wetland area (Five Daughters Run). Federal regulations require Lehigh to offset the wetland destruction by constructing a man-made wetland. The constructed wetland centers on Haines Branch, a local stream. This project focuses on the design of the engineered wetland through field observations of the wetland construction and interviews with engineers. The construction of the wetland began in November 2015 and is expected to be completed by the end of 2017. This project provides background for future research on studying and monitoring the progress of this wetland over the next decade.

Solvolysis of Lauryl CloroflormateMomina ToseefMentor: Dr. Malcolm D'Souza

Lauryl Chloroformate incorporates a 12-carbon chain-link as its alkyl component. It is a fundamental chemical that is needed for the production of pesticides, perfumes, dyes and fuel additives. However, in general, chloroformates (ROCOCl) are known to cause physiological damage. Hence discerning their physicochemical solvent properties is important to chemical industries. In this project, the solvent chemistry of lauryl chloroformate was studied at 25.0 Celsius in several binary aqueous-organic mixture in ethanol (EtOH), methanol (MeOH), acetone, and 2, 2, 2-trifluoroethanol (TFE). In all these solvent reactions, the resultant product is hydrochloric acid (HCl). As a result, acid base titrations are utilized as the core of the methods for the reaction analyses. A mixture of sodium methoxide (methylate) in methanol is used as the base that is paired with a lacmoid-acetone mixture to identify the neutralization end-point. In this poster, we present the pseudo first-order rates of reaction that were obtained.

Using Dendrochronology to Assess the Effects of Sea level Rise and Storm Inundation on Coastal Forests.Lihoshimar Pamir GonzalezMentor: Dr. Stephanie Stotts

Dendrochronology is the scientific method of dating based on the analyses of patterns of tree rings. The goal of this project is to create a difference chronology between upland and lowland eastern red cedars (Juniperus virginiana) in the St. Jones River Reserve Dover, DE. This chronology will allow us to assess the impact of sea level rise and storm inundation on coastal forests. The upland chronology consists of trees located at least a half-meter above sea level, and the lowland chronology consists of trees below this level. The chronologies were developed through skeleton plotting the data, measuring rings with a liner encoder, quality control and assurance with COFECHA, and detrending with ARSTAN. This poster is a presentation of the upland chronology.

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The Chemical Process of a Latex AllergyKatelynn A. RussomannoMentor: Dr. William Kroen

Latex is a natural protein that is present in many foods and everyday items. People react in many different ways; while some reactions are instant, others present with symptoms days after exposure. I will focus on how the body’s immune system responds to this allergen, what antibodies (immunoglobulins) the body produces when contact occurs, and how these antibodies release chemicals that cause the symptoms that we see and feel. When overexposure to the latex protein occurs, the immune system starts to recognize the protein as an invader and sends the antibodies to eliminate the protein, causing the symptoms such as rash at the point of contact or inflammation in the lungs. This review will also explore hypotheses about what causes one to acquire an allergy to the latex protein, such as excess exposure and birth defects, since this allergy is usually acquired during childhood.

An Investigation of the Living Shoreline Project located near the mouth of the Mispillion River, Cedar Creek and the Delaware BayJessica P. SmallMentor: Dr. Stephanie Stotts

This investigation takes a closer look at a Living Shoreline Project that is located on the shorelines and the surrounding marshlands of the DuPont Nature Center in Milford, Delaware. As a seasonal environmental educator at the DNC I have been monitoring this site since the summer of 2015. The Delaware Estuary Living Shoreline Initiative addresses the increased loss of tidal salt marshes and coastlines in the Delaware Estuary. To carry out the project, the team used a combination of native wetland plants and grasses, natural structures, and intertidal shellfish to trap sediment to prevent banks and shorelines from eroding. The project provides an economically and naturally friendly tactic in order to maintain and promote life to our estuaries. This research was conducted as part of an internship for Wesley College.

Nitrous Oxide: An Alternative to Epidural Anesthesia? A Literature ReviewGlenn P Aruta, Michael DiTore, Mark Stinsman, Stephanie Malakuskie, Hannah VeaseyMentor: Professor Darla Davidson

Mothers who are seeking pain management during labor currently have limited options. The use of epidural anesthesia poses multiple risks to both the mother and baby. A lesser known, alternative option for pain management during labor is nitrous oxide. Historically, nitrous oxide has been used as an anesthetic. However, when used in modified concentrations, it has been shown to provide effective analgesia. Recent studies have supported the use of nitrous oxide for pain management in the laboring patient. The aim of this presentation is to identify how health care organizations have successfully implemented the use of nitrous oxide in their facilities.

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The Role of APP in Early-Onset Alzheimer’s DiseaseDionne WilliamsMentor: Dr. William Kroen

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative brain disease influenced by genetic factors. The genetic mutation of the abnormal amyloid precursor protein (APP) on chromosome 21 leads to the development of amyloid plaques in the brain. The role of membrane-bound protein APP in the brain is not fully understood. Studies show that the breakdown of APP by enzymes generates smaller fragments of the protein called amyloid beta (Aβ) polypeptides. The formation of Aβ is a primary component in the abnormal deposits of amyloid plaques in the brain. The amyloid plaques causes neurons in the brain to stop functioning and lose connection with other neurons, resulting in a decline of cognitive brain function. This review will investigate the breakdown of APP which develops amyloid plaques in the brain occurring in patients with early-onset AD.

Waterways of Dover, DelawareChristian A. RodriguezMentor: Dr. Stephanie Stotts

The stream network in Delaware has been substantially altered since European settlement. The main waterways in Dover, Delaware include the St. Jones Creek and a tributary, Meeting House Branch. Through land development, streams and river ways were dammed or drained. Unfortunately, building structures and roads were constructed in the location of former stream beds, creating modern day flooding issues with heavy rain. This project includes a stream network comparison between a compilation of maps from the early 18th century present-day maps. All historic maps were collected from the Delaware Public Archives. The results of this project indicate that Water Street, North Street, High Street, and Main Street were built upon natural waterways, increasing the risk of flooding at these locations.

Water Quality Comparison Between Input and Output of Silver LakeBrooke T. ThompsonMentor: Dr. Stephanie Stotts

Elevated nutrient levels within Silver Lake of Dover, Delaware often lead to blue green algae blooms, eutrophication, and low oxygen levels, but the source of these nutrients has not yet been definitely identified. These pollutants could originate from upstream agriculture land use or from runoff within Dover. In an attempt to pinpoint the nutrient source, weekly grab samples were collected from the input and at the output of the lake between June 2 and November 23, 2015. The samples were filtered and tested for the nutrients ammonia, phosphorus, nitrate, and nitrite using a spectrophotometer. To better understand nutrient flows we also estimated the lake’s residence time through a rough survey. The results indicate a two month water residence time in the lake and variable sources for nutrient levels. This research is essential to the quality of Silver

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Lake because it allows land managers to focus their efforts on nutrient management.

Plaque psoriasis: The Mechanism of Etanercept ImmunotherapyAriel K. BilbroughMentor: Dr. William Kroen

Chronic plaque psoriasis can be described as a complex inflammatory autoimmune skin disorder in which one’s immune system attacks its own epidermal tissue. Plaque psoriasis can potentially affect up to 5% of individuals within the United States. The pathogenesis of psoriasis includes a cell-mediated autoimmune response, in which an environmental antigen signals for the production of various types of immune cells and skin cells, more commonly referred to as T-cells and keratinocytes. This begins the cycle of extensive production (proliferation) of the T-cells and keratinocytes. To counteract this hyperproliferation, common medications are used to suppress the immune system. More specifically, Enbrel (etanercept) is utilized to inhibit the signaling mechanisms of cytokine tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). This literature-based review focuses on the specific biochemical mechanism of Enbrel, within the immune system.

Wesley College Institutional Grants for Students vs. Student Loans 1987-2012Summer L. Stone and Christina HubertMentor: Dr. Frank Fiedler

Small, private colleges such as Wesley College rely on tuition to pay the bills. One way of making college affordable for individual students is institutional aid. We use the Delta Cost Project Database from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) to analyze how Wesley College students pay for college. The Statistical Analysis System software (SAS) lets us compare institutional grants and student loans as a percentage of tuition to those at similar peer institutions. We discuss how Wesley College fares in comparison to its peers when making college more affordable.

Money in Delaware State PoliticsSavannah L. DurhamMentor: Dr. Cynthia Newton

Research Question: Do the monies donated by individuals, PAC’s, and lobbying firms during political campaigns influence policies passed in Delaware’s General Assembly? Justification: Political influence derived from money has become a controversial topic in the United States. The political influence gap between those in the top 5% and bottom 5% is at an all time high and is the cause for many Campaign Finance Reform policies in both the United States legislature and many state legislatures. The objective of my thesis is to determine the amount of influence money has in the State of Delaware’s Legislature.

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Mood Disorders and Substance Abuse among Wesley College StudentsNatalie TrujilloMentor: Dr. Rebecca Benson

Alcohol consumption remains a significant issue among college students in the United States. Studies indicate that depressed college students often turn to binge drinking as a form of coping. A descriptive study looked at mood and anxiety symptoms in correlation with alcohol use among Wesley College students in 2014 and in 2015. Convenience samples of 243 students in 2014 and 463 students in 2015 were used. Students were asked to complete surveys, which asked for data including age, class, gender, major, depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms, drug use, and alcohol use. Limitations of the study include the majority of the sample being twenty years old or younger, and the use of the convenience sample. Results were tabulated for alcohol use and symptoms among majors, classes, age groups, and the samples as a whole.

Wesley College Graduation IndicatorsMorgan A. Williams, Riza Bautisa, Rahel MandaraMentor: Dr. Frank Fiedler

A key measure the U.S. Department of Education highlights on their College Navigator is the 6-year graduation rate. It is the rate of first-time, full-time undergraduate students who start a bachelor's degree at a 4-year institution and finish within six years. The national 6-year graduation rate is about 60%.There are different reasons why a student may not finish a bachelor’s degree at the same institution within six years: The student may be struggling academically and quit college, the financial burden may be too high, or a student may decide to transfer to another institution.Identifying early indicators for the first two types of students can help colleges like Wesley College to intervene and support struggling students so that they succeed. We use anonymized Wesley College data to find indicators such as high school GPA or major upon acceptance that correlated with failure to graduate within six years.

The Solvolytic Study of Cyclohexyl ChloroformateLaura C. MalinowskiMentor: Dr. Malcolm D'Souza and Dr. Kathleen Curran

Secondary choloroformate esters are organic compounds where one side of an ester contains a secondary carbon and the other contains a chloride. These compounds are used as an intermediate compound in areas ranging from the food industry to pharmacy. Cyclohexyl chloroformate is used in steroid production. In this research Cyclohexyl chloroformate was introduced to solutions of ethanol, methanol, acetone, and aqueous mixtures of ethanol and 2-2-2 trifluoroethanol (TFE), aqueous TFE, and aqueous 1,1,1,3,3,3 hexafluoro-iso-propanol (HFIP) to see how it broke down and reacted with each different environment. Previously cyclohexyl chloroformate was thought to follow the addition-elimination reaction common for secondary chloroformate esters but this research has supported the hypothesis that it undergoes a solvolysis decomposition mechanism where carbon dioxide leaves before new bonds can be made similar to that of another secondary chloroformate ester, isopropyl chloroformate. This presentation will describe the methods used and the results in further detail.

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Anatomy of a College NewspaperKristen Janae Griffith and Brittany WilsonMentor: Professor Victor Greto

Brittany Wilson and Kristen Griffith are editors of The Whetstone, Wesley’s independent student newspaper. We will present and spark discussion about the role of the independent journalists at our college. Our mission for this presentation is to educate the audience about journalism’s role to inform students. We will breakdown what goes into reporting and writing journalistically. We’ll refer back to previous Whetstone articles such as, “CFO Tries to Eliminate Student Fees,” “Security Accused of Acting Unprofessionally,” and “Security Refuses to Release Investigation Results,” as examples to explain how and why we did those stories. We will also explain the rules of journalism and clear up any preconceptions people may have of the mission of journalism. Our goal is for the audience to leave with a better understanding of journalism, and to appreciate the purpose and importance of The Whetstone.

How Are College Students Abusing "Legal" Substances?Glenn P. ArutaMentor: Professor Jerry Mench

College students today participate in many activities that can be seen as risky or dangerous to their health. The most commonly associated habit of college students is binge or excessive drinking. While this has been known for decades, it is not the only known habit. Prescription stimulant misuse and abuse amongst college students is growing at an increasingly and alarmingly noticeable rate. This presentation analyzes various different articles and research studies based on the misuse and abuse of prescription stimulant drugs and alcohol by college students. This presentation explores why college students drink alcohol or take stimulants, as well as the potential harmful effects that can result.

Wesley College Tuition 1987-2012Benjamin David Miller, Zach Huk, Vincent WuMentor: Dr. Frank Fiedler

Paying for college can be a daunting task. Since the 1980s, average college tuition has risen much faster than inflation. Data on tuition and other characteristics of institutions of higher education is collected by the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) in their Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). We utilize the Delta Cost Project Database from IPEDS together with the Statistical Analysis System software (SAS) to analyze Wesley College tuition 1987 – 2012 in particular. This database contains a total of 215,613 self-reported observations and 974 variables derived from the institutional characteristics. We discuss the correlation of gross and net tuition, both total and per student, to comment on the price of Wesley College compared to the average cost of a list of similar peer institutions.

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Wesley College Six-Year Graduation Rate 1987-2012Andreanna Tatyana Jeffries, Samantha Weber, Dionne WilliamsMentor: Dr. Frank Fiedler

More and more colleges rely on the federal financial aid their students receive to attract a large enough number of students able to afford college. In turn, many education reform groups advocate linking this financial aid to high graduation rates, low student debt, and good job placement as outcomes. We use the Statistical Analysis System software (SAS) to analyze six-year graduation rates for Wesley College students 1987-2012. We discuss possible reasons for Wesley College students' performance compared to students at similar peer institutions. The data we used was obtained from the Delta Cost Project Databases, which is part of the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).

The Relationship between Homelessness and Hopelessness in Aging AdultsAlexis D. JonesMentor: Dr. Albee Mendoza

In 2010, the Homeless Planning Council of Delaware estimated that the state of Delaware has consistently about 6,000 homeless individuals. As an intern for a men's homeless shelter, it became clear to me that Dover has an overwhelming number of middle-aged homeless men compared to younger homeless men. Previous research shows that in recent years the number of middle-aged men who are homeless increased by 11% (Kushel, 2011). It was also found that older age was a high indication of longer durations of homelessness (Caton, Dominguez, Schanzer, & Hasin, 2005). Thus, the purpose of this study is to determine the association between hopelessness depression by using the Hopelessness Depression Symptom Questionnaire (HDSQ; Metalsky & Joiner, 1997) and age in a population of homeless men. The study has received IRB approval and data collection is underway. Results will inform possible interventions for the aging male homeless population in Dover. The ultimate goal is to improve the lives of all homeless men through advocacy efforts.

Using Nano-tags to Explore Temporal Movements of Red Knots throughout the Tide Cycle - Is Aquaculture a Threat to a Critical Staging Area (Delaware Bay)?Josh Barth Mentor: Dr. Stephanie Stotts

The rufa population of Red Knots (Calidris canutus) has declined substantially in the past two decades, and was recently listed as a threatened species on the endangered species list. Research has shown this decrease to correlate directly with the overharvesting of horseshoe crabs (Limulus polyphemus). However, gaps in the research prevent a comprehensive understanding of all limiting factors affecting the recovery of the species. This project proposal investigates how Red Knots interact with the tide cycle by comparing bird presence/absence using nanotags. It is important to study these habitat areas because they are shared with aquaculture plots. This research can impact the recovery of the species and has implications for the nearly 30,000 acres of aquaculture plots in the Delaware Bay.

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MentorsDr. Barb Abbott Dr. Virginia BalkeDr. Rebecca Benson Dr. Kathleen CurranProfessor Darla Davidson Dr. Malcolm D’SouzaDr. Frank Fiedler Dr. Julie FisherProfessor Victor Greto Professor Sarah HardestyDr. Stephanie Holyfield Chris JarrellDr. William Kroen Dr. David LaganellaDr. Harry Maxson Professor Margaret McElligottProfessor Jerry Mench Dr. Albee MendozaDr. Denise Morris Dr. Cynthia NewtonDr. Nancy Rubino Dr. Stephanie StottsChelsey Vest Dr. Derald WentzienDr. James Wilson Professor John Kidd

ModeratorsDr. Jack Barnhardt Dr. Rebecca BensonDr. Malcolm D’Souza Dr. Julie FisherProfessor Victor Greto Dr. Jeffery MaskDr. Albee Mendoza Dr. Cynthia NewtonDr. Agashi Nwogbaga Dr. John O’Neil

Assessors Dr. Kathy Curran Dr. Angela D’AntonioProfessor Darla Davidson Dr. Varleisha GibbsDr. Stephanie Holyfield Professor Tamala PaxtonProfessor Susan Redington Bobby Dr. Nancy RubinoProfessor Dianitza Runser Professor Margaret McElligott

VolunteersJohn Needles Jennifer CareySamantha Roberts Rachel HarmonAlexis Branca Brittany WynneElvie Domond Susan HagelmanShellby Bowman Leslie AlstonMeisha Reeves Katherine NettlesLauren Gray Emily KinseyYuly Rodrigues Patricia Anderson-HenryLeah Lowery Adeline CheysonAshley Delserro Da’neara HenryChaoying Feng Briana MillinerSharron Goss Chelsea MarrinerRenee Bazil Kathleen CeneDarojanae Jacobs Patrick ArutaMark Stinsman Frank FiorellaSamantha Zimmaro Erik QuickArchael Daniels Markita Jones 

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Ashley Langley

Special ThanksApril Mahoney Kris McGlothlinTina Heesh-Mosley Malcolm D’SouzaDr. Jeffery Gibson Emily WoodDr. Cynthia Newton Mary Ellen WoodKevin Shuman Jessica CookNancy McCoury Abdul HameedWesley College SGA Kristopher RoeskeVirginia Balke Anh Gibson

Scholars Day Committee Scholars FellowsDr. Brantley Craig Ariel BilbroughProf. Charlisa Edelin John Dougherty Prof. Sarah Hardesty Joshua FreezeProf. Margie McElligott Kristen GriffithDr. Gwen Pursell Kandace HigmanDr. Stephanie Stotts Emily Temple

Brooke Thompson Hannah Veasey

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Scholars Day is sponsored in part by the DE-INBRE and the DE-EPSCoR grants