Hastings College is celebrating excellence with Academic Showcase and the Celebration of Excellence Convocation!

On Wednesday, April 24, 2024, classes are cancelled for the day so the entire campus community can participate.

Academic Showcase

Each spring, members of Alpha Chi, the collegiate all-discipline national honor society, coordinate Academic Showcase.

During Academic Showcase, students, faculty, staff, parents and community members enjoy and learn from fascinating student presentations about individual research projects, experiential learning, study abroad experiences and creative endeavors.

Academic Showcase is a chance for students to share their passions and to show off their impressive work. It also gives students a chance to engage in dialogue and discussion as they answer questions about their project.

Celebration Convocation

Celebration of Excellence Convocation is at 3:30 p.m. in French Memorial Chapel

The event will be livestreamed on our YouTube channel

2024 Academic Showcase Schedule

The abstract book is available here.

9:00-9:25 a.m.

Morrison-Reeves 219

Revving Through Turbulence: American Muscle Cars as Icons of Power, Resilience, and Identity in the 1970s

By Brandon Hamel

Morrison-Reeves 148

Saturated Absorption Spectroscopy and Laser Locking for Rubidium 87

By Brody Ortmeier & Aiden Foreman

Morrison-Reeves 213

15-Minute Cities: Ideals and Inequality

By Matthew Houlihan

Morrison-Reeves 131

A Rhetorical Analysis of Missing White Woman Syndrome

By Ally Goad

9:35-10:00 a.m.

Morrison-Reeves 219 The Future-oriented Craft Imaginary of the Crochet Coral Reef  By Hailey Gifford
Morrison-Reeves 148 Goddesses and Mortal Women: An Exploration of the Connection between Mythology and the Ancient World By Maggie Price
Morrison-Reeves 213 Academic performance and inclusion among transfer students: The role of mentoring at a four-year college By Citlaly Quiroz
Morrison-Reeves 131 Wetland Conservation: A Soil-Up Approach By Alison Karnes

10:10-10:35 a.m.

Morrison-Reeves 219 The development of a psychometric measure to assess intentions of healthy eating behaviors in college students: Using the Theory of Planned Behavior as a theoretical framework By Riley Lanning

Morrison-Reeves 148

A Rhetorical Analysis of the Sing Sing Prison Museum’s Triumph Narrative

By Meg Dedic

Morrison-Reeves 213

Edward Dando: Crime, Punishment, and Oysters in Victorian England

By Jake Levinson

Morrison-Reeves 131

A World of Play: An Adventurous Look at Multicultural Children’s Games

By Savana Kascak,  Cici Velarde, & Myah Brown

10:45 -11:30 a.m.

Creative Thoughts in Action

Morrison-Reeves 216

Poetry as Identity: Purpose, Process, and Poems

By Tienna Chu

The Death of Cato Hale: An Excerpt From a Student Novela

By Cody Wilson

Morrison-Reeves 148

Ghana’s Way: A guide into herbal medicine, waterfalls, and an excessive amount of Jollof

Student who went on the Ghana trip include: Victoria Vondra, Abigail Beeck, Ikeah Cuff, Isaiah Strachan, Jaida Rowe, Josephine Parker, Julia Vilanova, Maria Garcia, Mireia del Val Fernandez, Myah Brown, Nisa Thomas, Sofie Pedersen, Tymia Thompson, Zailee Poulson

Morrison-Reeves 213

A Haunting: Black Womanhood

By Ally Banks

Bimbo Feminism in Professional Spaces

By Emma Kellick

Kiewit, Room 116

Elevated by Resilience: The Undying Strength of Immigrant Mothers

By Citlaly Quiroz & Bri Narick

Reclaiming the Stage: Empowering Women in Performance

By Bri Narick

11:30 a.m.–2:00 p.m.

Poster Session
Morrison-Reeves Science Center Atrium

The Impact of Long COVID on the Quality of Life of Parkinson’s Disease Patients: A Mixed Methods Study of a Rural Community in the Midwestern United States — Maria Garcia

The Deception Files: Uncovering the Long-Term Consequences of Disinformation in Democracy — Citlaly Quiroz

Transposition of the Great Arteries — Sophie Stevens

Differences Between LGBTQ and non-LGBTQ Students in Perceived Stress and Coping Strategies — Sasha Richards

A Natural Battle: a comparison between war and nature through literature — Abby Harveson

Adult Onset Leukemia – Chronic Myeloid Leukemia — Jessica Strock

The neurobiology of eating behaviors: Exploring neurological and environmental factors underlying maladaptive eating — Riley Lanning

A Correlational Study of the Coach-Athlete Relationship, Deviant Overconformity to the Sport Ethic, and Athletic Perfectionism — Madison Grove

Agricultural Soil Analysis for Detection of Metal Concentration — Taylor Empfield

Quorum Sensing and the policing mechanism — Dekota Schubert

Kairomones: Nature’s Secret Universal Language — Evelyn Holmstedt

Dissimilatory Reduction in S. oneidensis — Lauren Hauser

Addiction: a Disease — Hannah Stromer

Tuberculosis: Information and Prevention — Bemnet Tesfa

Asthma Unpacked: Insights and Solutions — Miriam Miller

Toxic shock syndrome: A form of septic shock caused by the toxins of Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes — Sara Pedroza

Crohn’s Disease: A Comprehensive Look at Symptoms, Treatments, and Research — Hannah Wenske

Ancient Baggage: The Impact of Prehistoric Admixture on Modern European Genetic Diversity — Kierra Spurgeon

Prebiotics are a Therapeutic Intervention for Autism Spectrum Disorder — Andi Collins

Investigating 1,3-Diethylimidazolium Iodide Ionic Liquid on Nucleic Acid Melting Temperatures — Katie Heller

Amyloid Precursor Protein Regulates c-fos Expression in Zika Virus Mediated Paralysis — Tori Vondra

Glaucoma: A Traditional Approach to Assist Westernized Medicine — Nisa Thomas

Brittle Bones: Postmenopausal, Senile, and Diabetic Osteoporosis — Cadence Stenger

Antibiotic Resistance of Staphylococcus aureus — Kailee Lunzer

Effects of global warming on the carbon cycle — Gunnar Ogle

Effects of Polychlorinated Biphenyls on Immune Systems of Aquatic Animals — Dulce Lopez

Comparative Analysis of Angling Strategies and Post-Catch Treatment for Black Bass and Walleye — Bryce Ryker

Ascorbic Acid in Vitamin Supplements — Sienna Torres

Monogamy and Extra Pair Paternity In Animals — Turner Griffin

Is PRIME Hydration More Efficacious for Rehydration than Plain Water for the General Population? — Alyse Anderson & Rylee Reid

A Comparison of the Effectiveness of Foam Rolling versus Stretching on Muscle Soreness and Recovery — Makenna Asher & Majesta Valasek

The Impact of Music on the Reaction Time of Elite NAIA Male and Female Sprinters from a Sprint Block — Ayriel Brown-Love & Ikeah Cuff

Dehydration and Its Impact on the Anaerobic Threshold — Jayden Gonzalez & Joe Vokins

Assessing the Validity of the Apple Watch Series 9 on Energy Expenditure During Aerobic Exercise — Maddie Grove & Sofia Gomez-Garcia

Reaction Time in Front Row Versus Back Row Volleyball Players — Laura Hyde & Morgan Carver

Rheumatoid Arthritis: The Incurable Disease — Lindsi Loos

Post-Activation Potentiation: Squat Load Impact on Vertical Countermovement Jump Height — Eli Nappe & DJ Schroeder

1-RM OR 3-5-RM, Which Do College Coaches Prefer More: A Survey — Trystan Soby & Benjamin Garrett

Preserving Kemp’s Ridley: Best Management Practices for the Conservation of a Critically Endangered Species — Lacy Bonifas

Dual Inoculation with B. subtilis and B. megaterium vs Single Inoculation — Madyson Ludwig

Botulism — MaraMay Stone

Diabetes: Exploring the Two Types — Jermaine Francis

What is Osteomyelitis? — Olivia Gilbert

Synthesis and Characterization of Imidazolium-Based Thiones — Emma Severson & Christopher Sedmak

Circular mRNA in Vaccine Research — Kailey Bruha

A Deeper Look Into Psoriasis — Baylee Evarts

Oral Cancer — Diana Kollars

2:10-2:35 p.m.

Morrison-Reeves 219

John Lewis’ March: The Future Under Attack

By Stephanie Bloyer

Morrison-Reeves 148

Uncovering New Truths: An Ethnographic Project to Learn More About My Dad

By Megan Lampe

Morrison-Reeves 213

Visual Learning in Action – A New Twist on a Microbiology Lab Manual

By Alena John

Morrison-Reeves 131

Laughing Through the War: The Use of Comedy Films in World War II

By Emma Morelli

2:45-3:10 p.m.

Morrison-Reeves 219

The Experiences of College Athletes in One-on-One Off-the-Field Conversations with their Coaches

By Vincent Byrne

Morrison-Reeves 148

Does Type of Information Presentation Influence POTS Knowledge?

By Alyssa Kimmer-Steffen

Morrison-Reeves 213

Green Shadows Seventy Years Later: My experiences following Ray Bradbury’s footsteps in Ireland

By Emily Nevins

Morrison-Reeves 131

Consistent Calibration of Compasses, and the Importance of Hard Iron

By Owen DeBoer

3:30 p.m.

Celebration of Excellence Convocation in French Memorial Chapel