Digital Commons Network^™

Spatial And Temporal Variability In Nutritional Physiology Of Pyropia Perforata, Matthew S. Elliott

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

The red alga, Pyropia perforata, commonly referred to as nori, is ubiquitous in intertidal communities throughout coastal California and offers high nutritional value to marine herbivores. However, California rocky shores are dynamic ecosystems, with dramatic abiotic and biotic shifts resulting in environmental heterogeneity. Research has shown that seaweed nutrient physiology is impacted by environmental heterogeneity, yet there is sparse data on how internal nitrogen and total protein content change as a result of environmental heterogeneity. Here, I studied the impacts of seasonality, geography (spanning 4° of latitude from Northern to Southern California), and the onset of environmental heterogeneity on internal …

Examining Internesting Habitat Use Of Northwest Atlantic Leatherback Sea Turtles (Dermochelys Coriacea), Christina I. Mauney

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Understanding the spatial ecology of highly migratory marine animals is essential for effective conservation strategies, particularly in the face of climate change and increasing anthropogenic pressures. This study investigates the nesting characteristics, habitat use, and behavior of leatherback sea turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) in the Northwest Atlantic population nesting at Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge (SPNWR) in St. Croix, US Virgin Islands.

Ten female leatherbacks were studied during the internesting interval of the 2020 and 2021 nesting seasons. The study’s objectives were to examine leatherback nesting characteristics, delineate critical internesting habitats, and characterize behaviors during the internesting interval. Data collection included …

Raising Middle School Students' Awareness Of Relationship Risks Associated With Technology, Reda Gerges

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Increasing middle school students' awareness of relationship risks associated with electronic technology is the main focus of this capstone project. With the prevalence of technology in teenagers' lives, many may not fully grasp the potential dangers of digital communication with friends and romantic partners. Although there are many advantages to using smartphones, tablets, and other technologies, there may also be drawbacks. Physical health concerns, eye strain Digital eye fatigue, eye strain, and pain can result from prolonged screen use. Overuse of tablets and smartphones can lead to bad posture, which can cause back and neck pain. Sleep disturbances by inhibiting …

The Importance Of Nutrition Education In Early Childhood, Alexi Larios

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

This capstone project aimed to highlight the importance of nutrition education in early childhood. I chose this topic because studies have shown a steady increase over the years in children’s diet-related illnesses (Baker & Bjerregaard, 2023). Many factors have contributed to this increase such as media and marketing. Companies use their marketing strategies to target the interests of children and persuade them to desire their unhealthy products (Taillie et al., 2019). This strategy leads to children purchasing and consuming processed foods, high in sugar and empty calories. Another important component in childhood nutrition is socioeconomic status. People from lower socioeconomic …

Bullying Prevention In A Preschool Setting, Audrey Garcia

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

This capstone project focuses on anti-bullying and bullying prevention in early childhood education settings. Bullying is something that plagues schools across America. However, bullying in an early education setting can be difficult to distinguish because it can be misinterpreted as children discovering how to express negative emotions. According to Saracho (2016), preventing bullying in a preschool setting is important because it is a child’s first social environment outside the home. Educating children on bullying and how to prevent it in an early education setting is important because this is their first experience with peers and potential conflicts amongst these peers. …

Increasing Protective Factors For Non-Violence At A Continuation High School, Kiely Combs

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

This capstone project focuses on protective factors for non-violence among adolescent students at a continuation high school. The circumstances that have led students to be at this particular continuation school include things such as being suspended or on the path to suspension, behavioral issues, GPA or credit deficiencies (not on track to graduate in a traditional high school setting), and referrals from parents, teachers, counselors, etc. This workshop was intended to address the growing problem of violence between students. Several students at the continuation high school are involved in opposing gangs, which causes strife on campus and leads to physical …

Addressing Food Insecurity Among College Students, Serena Plares

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

In this capstone project, the focal topic was food insecurity and food assistance with the target population being college students attending California State University Monterey Bay. This demographic includes a diverse group of young adults from various socioeconomic backgrounds and cultures. Food insecurity is rampant across our country, county, and college campuses. It impacts families and individuals of all backgrounds and there is a need for knowledge pertaining to this topic and affordable, nutritious food access and resources. One in three children and one in four adults are affected by food scarcity in Monterey County and thirty-four percent of county …

Supporting Preschoolers Social Emotional Development, Gladiola Peinado

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

This capstone project focuses on the social-emotional regulation of preschoolers (3–5 years old). Many preschool children are struggling to develop social emotional skills when they first enter their preschool setting. Unfortunately, children with poor social emotional learning skills are more likely to have difficulties with peer relationships and with school adjustment, because they are not able to express or recognize emotions (Ferreira et al,. 2021). When children increase their ability to regulate behavior and emotion, they are better at recognizing their own and others’ emotions and intentions, cooperating with one another, and building relationships with peers. In order to address …

Helping Kindergarteners Understand Their Emotions And Their Peers, Marelin Guadalupe Cruz Garcia

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

The social-emotional development is described in this study. This study examines children who lack pro-social-emotional abilities and find it difficult to build meaningful interactions with others. In my work, I discuss how research and the lessons I taught my participants can help children gain greater social-emotional abilities and an understanding of different emotions. I work with kindergarteners who are five to six years old because I want to support them in developing deep connections with their peers and in learning about their feelings. The issue I will be bringing up is that kids struggle to build positive relationships with their …

Supporting Self-Regulation In Elementary School Students With Disabilities, Jessica Guerra

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

This project focuses on increasing self-regulation in first and second-grade students with learning disabilities (LD) and emotional or behavioral disorders (EBD). Classroom behavior problems such as disruptions, not staying on task or following directions, and inappropriate behaviors and language increase the teacher's and students' stress levels. Also, Outbursts and minimal understanding of how to redirect these types of behavior can disrupt the flow of classroom instruction and impede students’ learning (Parsonson, 2012). These issues relate to poor cognitive skills, so healthy self-regulation can not be developed properly. To improve these cognitive skills and support self-regulation of students with special needs, …

Benefits Of Speech Language Pathologists On Elementary School Students, Gisel Reynoso

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

This senior capstone research project outlines a research endeavor aimed at exploring the multifaceted impact of speech-language pathologists (SLPs) on elementary school students, with a particular focus on developing educators, enhancing diversity, and fostering subject matter expertise. Motivated by firsthand experiences in service-learning and recognizing the significant challenges students face due to communication disorders, this study seeks to investigate how SLPs can effectively support students while contributing to educators' professional development and promoting inclusivity. Through a mixed-methods approach, including interviews, surveys, and data analysis, this senior capstone research project aims to provide valuable insights into the transformative role of SLPs …

Transitioning Coordinated Family Support Services From The For-Profit To The Nonprofit Sector, Yesenia Zavala

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

The demand for nonprofit family support services in Monterey County exceeds available resources, leaving many without access. Coordinated Family Support Services (CFSS) in Monterey County serves individuals and families referred through the San Andreas Regional Center, which is funded by Medi-Cal and state funds. Inadequate access to nonprofit family support services affects individuals and families in Monterey County. Contributing factors to this issue include limited resources and funding, not enough community engagement and partnerships, and insufficient staffing and expertise to provide these services. Transitioning CFSS from a for-profit to a nonprofit is impractical due to financial constraints and lack of …

Political Accountability And The Censure Or Rep. Tlaib, Mabel Cummings

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

The tolerance the House of Representatives has with its own Members is resulting in more egregious acts receiving no consequences, and shows the lack of political accountability built into the structure of Congress. The Washington D.C. office of Congressman Tony Cárdenas represents the 29th district in California, and one of its main functions is listening to constituents' political concerns, and addressing them through legislation. The concerns called into the office during the censure of Rep. Tlaib resulted in the analysis of political accountability in the U.S. House of Representatives, the accountability systems in similar democracies, and how they related to …

Healthy Teen Dating Relationships, Thalia Hernandez

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Teen dating violence has become a damaging issue in Salinas, California, which forces the community to find immediate solutions to prevent the devastating aftermath of this problem on adolescents. This paper provides ideas for solving this issue by designing the "That's Not Cool" social campaign that was created to maintain healthy relationships between teens. Coordinated with the STRYVE program of the County of Monterey Health Department, the plan was implemented in the Salinas City High School District, where the population is predominantly Hispanic or Latino. As a result of studies, poverty, cultural beliefs, and poor education have been identified as …

The Importance Of Maintaining Healthy Relationships In Middle Childhood, Hailey Oyoque

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

My Capstone Project focuses on the importance of healthy relationships in middle childhood, ages nine to eleven. Middle childhood is a sensitive time period in the lifespan . Fourth and fifth graders in particular (9-11 years of age) are gaining a greater perception of the world around them as they are anticipating adolescence. These factors can have an influence on their peer relationships. In completing service learning at Henry F. Kammann elementary school in Salinas, California, I have learned that most students have dealt with peer conflicts (bullying, discrimination). As stated in an article called Middle Childhood, “Children in this …

Cultivating Awareness And The Importance Of Engaging High School Students In Food Justice Through Literary Exploration, Yeymi Rivera

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

To address social justice concerns, this essay explores the relationship between literature and food justice. Primarily, concentrating on utilizing literature as a teaching tool in the high school curriculum to focus on food inequalities. The main goal is to educate students and spread awareness of social injustice, encourage critical thinking, and help them to comprehend the concepts of food security and food access. Comparative narratives are expressed through literary works that captivate a large audience and make people think about difficult issues like food access, food security, food insecurity, and food deserts. In addition, I will design a lesson plan …

Community Benefits Awareness Presentations, Marlene Ramirez

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Socioeconomic disadvantage significantly impacts educational outcomes, with 81% of Monterey County Office of Education (MCOE) Alternative Education program students facing economic hardships. Serving youth in grades 9-12 and adults in Monterey County, including those within the county jail and juvenile facilities, the MCOE Alternative Education program strives to facilitate high school diploma attainment. This project sought to bridge the knowledge gap surrounding the Medi-Cal, CalFresh, and CalWORKs benefit programs through presentations shared within the MCOE community and partner agencies. A partnership between MCOE and the Monterey County Department of Social Services (MCDSS) was established to further this goal. The anticipated …

Sexual Wellness Across Abilities: Reimagining Education For Adults With Disabilities, Damiana Kelsey

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Many adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDDs) lack sexuality education and opportunities for personal expression. Because of this, a sexuality education curriculum was developed for Gateway’s program, Without Walls. This program is specifically for adults with Intellectual Disabilities. This curriculum was delivered to 15 students ages 25 to 56. The purpose of this project is to bridge information for this population and make it more accessible. Especially with this group, there is a need for further discussion and a space to ask questions about social-emotional and sexual health. Over the course of 11 classes, the students reported having a …

Benefits Of Dual Immersion Programs On Elementary School Students, Belle Sanchez

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

This senior capstone research project aims to share the benefits of dual immersion programs in elementary school years. Understanding what a dual immersion program is and knowing the different models within the program allow parents to select which program is best suited for their students. A key point in clarification is that a dual immersion program does not aim to replace an English, or standard, education program, but adds a target language to enhance the students learning. This study looks at the overall benefits that students can gain in elementary school, from kindergarten through fifth grade, sometimes through eighth grade. …

Family Engagement: Identifying And Meeting Family Needs, Clara Beas

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Family engagement in early education is insufficient. The Early Learning Program is an agency which serves low income families by providing early childhood education and a variety of different services like health and dental screenings for children and nutrition and parenting workshops for the parents and family to do together. The project is aimed to evaluate the agency's Family Strengths and Needs assessment tool and provide updates to better serve families by focusing on areas that are lacking. As a result, the assessment language was clarified and the method of delivery improved so that future assessments will gather more accurate …

Diversity Coordinator Training, Norma Victoria

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

The Restorative Justice Program in The Schools is an agency that helps students, facilities and family members resolve conflict in a restorative method and helps them understand the result of their actions. Historically, students of color continue to have a higher suspension rate than white students. Providing coordinators with answers to help students with their questions about race and ethnicity in the schools can help eliminate students' own misunderstandings that contribute to disputes that result in suspensions. The contributing factors are minimal parental engagement and implicit bias and discriminatory practices. The consequences include academic achievement gap and increased drop out …

Benefits Of Adapted Physical Activities For Students With Disabilities, Jason Mazzuca

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

This senior capstone research project examines the benefits of adapted physical education for students with disabilities. Through the use of literature reviews, field observations, and interviews with three elementary school teachers, the findings revealed that adaptive physical activities , such as a program called Sami’s circuit has greatly benefited students with disabilities. This kind of adapted physical activities involve the participation of many classes with a large group of students through a virtual trainer, in which teachers can easily adapt to be implemented into their individual classroom setting, and to outdoor activities as well.

Empowering Vidas By Affirming Motivation, Optimism, Resilience In Educators, Irene Castro

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

The state of California has a severe teacher shortage that poses a significant threat to the quality of education to our students. Through a survey conducted at one of the agency’s school sites we were able to explore the issue, shedding light on its root causes, implications, and potential solutions. This crisis has been exacerbated by factors such as low teacher salaries, challenging working conditions, and a lack of resources in schools, particularly in underserved communities. The impact of the issue is creating a ripple effect that hampers student learning outcomes. This shortage disproportionately affects schools in economically disadvantaged areas, …

Pedestrian Safety: Crossing Language Barriers, Monica Corral

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

The prevalence of accidental injuries among pedestrians in Monterey County has reached alarming levels, highlighting an urgent need for intervention to mitigate this issue. The contributing factors leading to this issue are the lack of infrastructure, lack of pedestrian education and language barriers. This significantly enhances the likelihood of a pedestrian being exposed to injuries, human suffering, and death. The County of Monterey Public Health Department has been granted funds by the California Office of Traffic Safety in an effort to implement initiatives aimed at reducing pedestrian-related accidents, injuries, and fatalities in Greenfield California. This project focused on developing a …

Food Literacy And Applying Learnings Towards English Literacy, Andrew Wirtz

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Food Literacy promotes the way people should consciously think about the food we ingest on a day-to-day basis. This paper explores how teachers can positively teach students how to be literate when it comes to food and how students can apply these learnings towards their English subject matter skills. This paper also explores how children from all economic backgrounds seek out highly processed foods (such as fast food) which are filled with various chemicals and additives, which in turn, can affect students' performance within the classroom in an negative manner.

How Monitoring Food Is Protecting People, Grace Sugden

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

While the issue of food safety has always been a concern for humanity, what that looks like has changed drastically over time. Instead of trying to judge if a stream has safe drinking water, consumers are now faced with deciding which preservatives and pesticides they expose themselves to. With the multitude of United States agencies tasked with protecting the public, standards and quality control processes should be transparent and efficient. Since the creation of the Bureau of Chemistry, numerous acts have been passed that regulate ingredients, processing procedures, and minimize contamination risks. When a spoiled product enters the food web, …

Fueling Performance: Tailored Nutrition Strategies For Female Athletes, Capri Pezzella

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

This project aims to explore the unique nutritional considerations for female athletes, with a focus on optimizing performance and addressing specific physiological needs. Through comprehensive research, the project will identify strategies for optimizing iron intake to prevent anemia, managing calcium and vitamin D for bone health, and addressing menstrual cycle-related changes in energy expenditure and nutrient needs. Practical recommendations will be made to help female athletes maximize their potential and support their overall health.

Journalistic Quality In The Digital Age Relating To Newsroom Diversity, Max Guerrera

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Traditionally, journalistic quality is determined by the integrity of a piece, along with its contribution to public knowledge. High quality, ethical journalism serves the purpose of holding those in power accountable and ensuring transparency in government actions through factual reporting. Objectivity is a highly emphasized element of American journalism because it allows the audience to form their own opinions and evaluate facts individually. However, as the distribution of media has changed with technological advancements, so have news writing trends. The theory of agenda setting, the concept that the media have the power to shift public opinions and perceptions of the …

The Need For Volunteer Engagement, Brittney Portillo

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Although there are a large number of non-profit organizations and volunteer opportunities available, there is a lack of volunteer engagement within organizations making it difficult to complete mission goals. This project was implemented and completed by Community Builders for Monterey County executive director and intern. Community Builders for Monterey County is a 501c(3) non-profit organization that was created to connect volunteers to different non-profit organizations around Monterey County. This project was created with the purpose of assessing potential volunteer needs in a survey style form in order to better understand how to get volunteers more engaged. The project resulted in …

Parenting A Child Who Has An Autistic Sibling: Effects On Adjustment And Mental Health, Jess Del Mundo

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

This capstone project focuses on informing parents about the challenges and needs of siblings of children with autism. Parenting is a profound and meaningful responsibility, and having children with special needs adds to this daunting job. It is imperative for parents to nurture the development and awareness of all of their children, both neurodivergent and neurotypical. This workshop will give parents the tools to navigate this responsibility. I developed a workshop that first informs parents about the positive outcomes for children who have siblings with autism, such as higher levels of empathy and compassion. Second, I will address the challenges …