Digital Commons Network^™

Leaving A Legacy: Empowering Students To Give Back, Eric Schutter

Honors Theses

Most college universities struggle to convince alumni to give back to their former institutions. Currently, only 19.9% of college alumni give back to their former colleges (Alumni Factor, 2018). Despite the amount of time and energy that schools invest in their students, many of the students are not making any sort of commitment in return. However, there is a solution. If college programs found ways to create avenues for students, both current and former, to give back outside of just university general funds, they could see an increase in student giving from both parties. While there is a notion that …

The Vascular Flora Of Bill Yeck Park: Supporting The Conservation Of Local Biodiversity, Taylor Sparbanie

Honors Theses

Maintaining and fostering biodiversity is a critical component of natural areas management and conservation because of its known links to ecosystem function and stability. Identifying and documenting species through a floristic inventory is an important strategy for detecting the presence of rare or unique species, as well as invasive species that pose a threat to biodiversity. Bill Yeck Park is a 194-acre nature park maintained by Centerville-Washington Park District and is largely surrounded by residential areas. The goal of this project was to generate list of vascular plant species for Bill Yeck Park, a large park within the Centerville-Washington Township …

Disclosing Virtue, Michael Zahorec

Honors Theses

This project is about the shape of our moral understanding and discourse. Herein, I describe the moral discourse and understanding afforded through narrative. I understand narrative as both a medium of discourse (i.e. storytelling) and a mode of understanding (i.e. a way to understand oneself, others, and the world(s) in which we find ourselves). In order to describe the ethical understanding and discourse constructed through narrative, I use the meta-ethical framework of Aristotelian virtue theory. The language of virtue theory constitutes the framework upon which I construct my argument regarding the irreplaceable and efficacious nature of narrative. The preface tells …

Challenges Remain In Conducting Adequate Congressional Oversight, Alexander Crouch

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

The Use Of Life Story Interventions Between Older Adult With Dementia And Caregivers: A State Of The Science, Katelyn Mater

Honors Theses

Objective

To synthesize the research findings of storytelling techniques in healthcare settings for adults 50 and older with a diagnosis of dementia.

Data Sources

Data was gathered using the databases CINAHL, Clinicalkey, Pubmed, OVID, Proquest, and Web of Science using the search terms “storytelling/story-telling” and “caregiver”. Articles chosen for this review ranged from 2003-2018.

Data Extraction

Inclusion criteria were: 1). primary research articles, 2). written in English 3). research focused on the use of story-telling between healthcare providers and 4). participants were adults 55 and older with a dementia diagnosis. A total of 9 studies have been selected for further …

Stigma Mitigation Through Fine Arts, Kendall Owens

Honors Theses

Social stigma has plagued our society for centuries. It isolates groups of people based on erroneously defined characteristics causing stigmatized persons to be viewed as socially “abnormal”. This debarment from full social acceptance results in poor population health and well-being. Fine arts have been an integral component of society since the beginning of civilization; current and past research have found involvement in fine arts to improve health and well-being in many ways. In this project, relevant studies related to stigma, fine arts, and population health will be reviewed to support the argument that “fine arts combat and mitigate the …

Knowledge Gap: Supply Chain Students And Employers, Kathryn Bules

Honors Theses

This thesis project aims to identify the gap(s) between supply chain students and employers for both the preparedness and relative importance of the critical job skills employers seek in graduating students. This research is relevant because students view college as an investment that will pay off through better job placement and higher pay upon graduation. The problem is that some employers feel students do not have the skills necessary to be successful on the job. While there has been extensive research regarding a skills gap in graduating students and common criteria employer’s use to rank these students, there is minimal …

An Analysis Of The Developmental Enrichment Of The Seattle Children's Playgarden, Caitlin Koob

Honors Theses

This paper analyzes the opportunities for developmental enrichment, as provided by the Seattle Children’s PlayGarden, from the perspective of occupational therapy. The PlayGarden, located in Seattle, Washington, is an inclusive playground, preschool, and summer camp that promotes inclusion of children with disabilities. The analysis highlights each area of occupation, as identified in the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework, and discusses the garden’s contribution to facilitate growth in those specific skills (American Occupational Therapy Association [AOTA], 2014). The intentionality of the design and program structure advocates for children to maximize their independence in activities of daily living, despite the play-based approach. …

Exploring A Connection Between Learning And Student Perception Of Place, Katelyn Roberts

Honors Theses

The quality of the physical environment is understood to impact overall health, wellbeing, and capacity to learn and engage in daily life. This pilot study explores how students in the Speech Language and Hearing Sciences program at Western Michigan University view the effects of indoor and outdoor nature spaces at the College of Health and Human Services on the East Campus of Western Michigan University on their learning experience. Results of the study suggest that there are significant relationships between the participant’s perception of interesting qualities in the College of Health and Human Services and feeling a sense of connection …

The Use Of Nature As A Treatment Modality In Occupational Therapy, Lauren Koch

Honors Theses

Nature is inherently therapeutic. Applying the principles of occupational therapy within the natural environment integrates the physical, mental, and socio-emotional health benefits afforded by nature into therapeutic intervention practices. The nature centered context of the outdoors addresses performance skills and patterns, highlighting its use as a therapeutic modality. As such, nature may be used as an effective treatment modality in the practice of occupational therapy due to the benefits that it affords. The incorporation of nature into therapeutic intervention may be based upon the environmental factors, available resources, and function of the natural environment. The goal of this literature review …

Point Of Contact, Melina Wilcox

Honors Theses

Dance exists as an expression which originates in the body. This work derives from contact improvisation: a nonverbal conversation wherein each partner concentrates completely on the other, dialoging through touch. At this point of contact, a mark is made.

In life, scars blemish our skin and serve as indications of previous touch. Here, pigments interrupt skin—performer, sculpture, gallery wall, or otherwise—and document the interaction between two bodies.

Our bodies are vehicles for communication. Through tactile interaction and spatial relationships, we understand each other in ways beyond words. Our innate intelligence and intuition arise from a lifetime of moving through space …

Against The Young, Starry Background: A Critical Analysis Of A Creative Work In The Context Of Its Genres, Todd Kleiboer

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

A Qualitative Study Of The Possible Link Between Masculinity And Aggression Among College Football Players, Leanna Brown

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

"Let Bartlet Be Bartlet:" The Presidential Politics Of Aaron Sorkin's The West Wing, Marjory Madeline Zuk

Honors Theses

From 1999-2006, Aaron Sorkin’s television show The West Wing entertained audiences with a weekly backstage pass to life in the White House. While the show featured plotlines regarding the characters’ personal lives, it also centered the policy decisions of President Bartlet and his staffers, and it informed audiences about political issues and tools. With background research, I confirmed that the style of the show was a valuable educational tool, as it used both episodic and thematic framing devices when discussing different political issues. My understanding of its ability to influence audiences’ understandings of political issues lead my interest in understanding …

Satisfaction With Campus Involvement And College Student Academic Success, Carissa Pauley

Honors Theses

Previous research has shown there are multiple benefits to overall development and well-being of an individual when they obtain social belongingness (Begen & Turner-Cobb, 2015; Maslow, 1943; Osterman, 2000; Sirgy, 1986). Additionally, social belonging has been shown to have multiple positive effects in the lives of college students (Pittman and Richmond, 2008). The main objective of this study was to help determine whether the satisfaction a college student feels toward the quantity and quality of their social involvement in campus organizations is a predictor of academic success. Participants completed measures assessing academic involvement, satisfaction with The University of Mississippi, quality …

The World’S Game, But Not America’S: An Analysis Of Soccer’S Disposition In The United States, Catherine Reese Neely

Honors Theses

Globally, soccer is the most prominent sport, drawing devoted fans from nearly every country in the world. The World Cup grosses the highest attendance and viewership rates of any international professional sports tournament. For many countries, the game of soccer is a source of national identity and pride. Despite soccer’s global impression, the sport has failed to fully captivate its American audience. The introduction of the professional men’s league, Major League Soccer (MLS), in 1996 spurred interest. The sport has experienced slight growth in popularity, but its national attendance and viewership ratings are trivial in comparison to America’s elite three …

The Effect Of Familiarity On Joint Attention In Children With Asd, Rachel Jenkins

Honors Theses

Joint attention is the ability to share focus on an object with a conversational partner and the awareness that this attention is shared (Moore, Dunham, & Dunham, 2014). Joint attention is an important building block for learning, language, and social development (Mundy & Newell, 2007; Thurm, Lord, Lee, & Newschaffer, 2007). However, previous research has documented that children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often have significant deficits and delays in the acquisition of joint attention when compared to typically developing peers of similar chronological ages (Mundy, Sigman, & Kasari, 1994; Osterling & Dawson, 1994; Chiang, Soong, Lin, & Rogers, 2008). …

A Comprehensive Analysis Of Financial Reporting Through Case Studies, Cole Conner

Honors Theses

This paper serves as an investigation and analysis of the financial reporting practices of publicly traded companies, in addition to addressing a number of other selected accounting topics. This was accomplished through the analysis of a number of accounting case studies. Each of these studies addresses a specific topic related to financial reporting such as the accounting for income taxes, the treatment of plant property and equipment, and the treatment of investments in securities. The cases provide background related to the topic and organization(s) discussed as well present a series of questions which guide in the discussion and analysis of …

Before Disaster Strikes: An Analysis Of Emergency Management Planning, Reagan Moody

Honors Theses

I have always been inspired by the outpouring number of volunteers that arrive to the scene of a natural disaster, ready to help in any way possible. With or without adequate training, these people arrive with warm hearts and helping hands. I admire their valiant efforts, however, it has prompted me to ask the question: If our citizens can respond so quickly in times of adversity, how are city governments preparing spontaneous volunteers for emergency management planning? The intent of this thesis is to properly evaluate the emergency management plans implemented in the cities of Baton Rouge, LA, Spokane, WA, …

Examination Of Communication And Social Media Usage Among Socially Anxious Individuals, Greyson K. Young

Honors Theses

Social anxiety disorder (SAD) affects between 6.8% and 12.1% of the U.S. population. At the core of SAD is the fear of social situations, and in particular, the fear of others’ positive (FPE) and negative (FNE) evaluation. Studies have found that social media and online/indirect communication are commonly used to minimize the experience of stress, anxiety, evaluation, and rejection commonly associated with face-to-face interactions. As such, the aims of the current study were 1) to characterize communication and social media use among socially anxious college students, and 2) to examine associations between social media use and FNE and FPE. The …

Influence Of Multidisciplinary Educational Experiences On Engineering And Nutrition Student Perceptions On Collaboration And Soft Skill Development, Caroline Kay Crosby

Honors Theses

Solutions to most real-world challenges require collaborative efforts by multidisciplinary teams to provide the breadth of perspective and expertise needed to create effective solutions. Interprofessional education is a pedagogical practice used to provide students with opportunities to broaden their professional perspective by encouraging students to work as a part of a diverse team to solve complex problems. This process strengthens discipline-specific skill development, problem-solving skills, and appreciation for other disciplines while providing experiences that are attractive to potential employers. Many students are interested in food science, but no food science courses are offered at the university where this study took …

A Marketing Campaign For Hunters’ Home: A Home Of Hope Through Integrated Marketing Communications: Secondary And Primary Research Studying The Target Audience, The Hunting And Conservation Community, To Create An Imc Campaign Focused On Fundraising And Awareness, Josie Corinna Slaughter

Honors Theses

Through research and evaluation of current and experimental nonprofit marketing methodologies and practices designed to raise awareness and attract donors, this project’s purpose is to define and create a marketing campaign for a children’s home, named Hunters’ Home: A Home of Hope, in Namibia. Adopted and unique strategies will be identified to target the audience of hunters to help meet the specific needs of the home, which was founded by Marina Lamprecht, a person widely known and respected by participants in hunting and conservation. To create the marketing campaign, secondary and primary research was conducted. Secondary research was done through …

The Protective Role Of Estrogen On Hiv-1 Mediated Neurotoxicity, Macklin Licamied

Honors Theses

The prevalence of HIV among men have been in a steady inclination over the last several decades, yet the accelerated infection rate among older women is considerably concerning. Not only does the HIV virus affect the immune system but it also affects the central nervous system. One of its viral proteins, Tat, acts as an excitotoxin and disrupts the cell’s membrane potential by increasing the concentration of Ca2+ inside the cell. This influx of calcium ions leads to apoptosis and secretion of the cell’s contents into the surrounding area. Macrophages, along with other innate immune components, gather and induce the …

Advanced Design And Manufacturing Of Composite High-Powered Rockets, Matthew Whitfield

Honors Theses

This thesis covers aspects related to the design and manufacturing of high-powered composite competition rockets. Research related to the project was performed over the course of three years of participation on the University of Mississippi Rocket Rebels competition team. Areas of the project covered include project definition, rocket design, and rocket manufacturing. Project definition covers how to build a team, select a competition, and establish communication, among others. The rocket design portion discusses the work that goes into meeting competition performance requirements, and includes simulations from the 2018-19 Rocket Rebels rocket. The rocket manufacturing portion includes a summary of manufacturing …

Archaeological Investigations At Rowan Oak: Searching For Evidence Of Antebellum Slavery, Arianna Faith Kitchens

Honors Theses

Although best-known as the home of William Faulkner, Rowan Oak and a number of associated outbuildings were built by Robert Sheegog, a wealthy individual who owned multiple plantations and dozens of slaves. Sheegog held seven to nine slaves at Rowan Oak, renting some out to the University of Mississippi for labor-intensive tasks such as constructing the Lyceum and other campus buildings. Although it is known that enslaved individuals lived and worked on the property of Rowan Oak, the location of their housing remains a mystery. Through the use of archaeological survey methods, structural evidence beyond the extant buildings has been …

The Nola Development: Stormwater Management And Green Alternative Designs, Davis P. Odle

Honors Theses

In the design for any development, the management of storm and wastewater is crucial in creating a viable product. The NOLA complex is a development in Oxford, MS that consists of residential as well as commercial units. The stormwater management systems designed for this facility include: an underground storage device, separate ductile iron pipes for the stormwater and wastewater outflows, a rain garden for green alternative storage. The underground storage system is designed for the 500-year storm and to fit under the southwest parking lot on the site. The stormwater outflow pipe will be designed for the 100-year storm, while …

Safety Considerations For The Design Of Modern Elevator Systems, Abhijaya Shrestha

Honors Theses

The main purpose of this work is to perform an analysis on elevator safety considerations in the United States. This report introduces the development of elevators through its history, definitions and commonly used concepts in the elevator industry. Elevators are already an important part of day-to-day life for thousands of people and have significant role to play in the future of urbanization due to increasing population density and decreasing real estate. Elevators not only make vertical transportation convenient, but also play an important role in providing accessibility for people with disabilities; so, its safe and reliable operation is very crucial. …

Lost In Translation: Challenges And Solutions To Language Barriers In Healthcare In Mississippi, Galina Ostrovsky

Honors Theses

Language barriers can impede access to healthcare and compromise quality of care for limited English proficiency (LEP) patients. Although a rights-based framework would suggest and federal mandates require healthcare facilities to provide language access services, multiple factors result in the persistence of language barriers in healthcare. As the literature review shows, these factors include limitations in policy, enforcement, standardization, resources, and ability to recruit and retain professional interpreters. This thesis uses a multi-method case study entailing Mississippi in general and information from two specific sites, a rural Delta county and an urban central county, to assess the issue of language …

Mississippi In Technicolor: Portraits Of Strength, Devna Bose

Honors Theses

This thesis is a collection of my articles that have been published over four years at The Daily Mississippian, the university’s student newspaper. In these articles, I explore the many facets of the queer community in Oxford and Mississippi. These stories allow a glimpse into the modern queer community of Mississippi and examine the issues that often affect them. It is not an academic paper — it is merely an examination of the people and places that contribute to the Mississippi LGBTQ+ community. It includes stories about social issues, intersectionality, and legislature in relation to the queer population of this …

Mobilizing Jewishness, Gabriella Foster

Honors Theses

As a dance practitioner and self-identified Jew, I am deeply committed to social action through performance. Over the course of the past year, I explored the capacity of contemporary dance practices to support Jews in reflecting on and conceptualizing their Jewish experience. Through literary and creative research, the designing and facilitating of movement workshops in mid-Maine Jewish communities, and the creation of an evening-length performance piece titled, Shelanu (Ours), I discovered the numerous ways in which these two aspects of my identity could enrich one another. In the wake of several anti-Semitic incidents both nationally and locally this year, this …