Digital Commons Network^™

Analyzing Environmental Education In Northern Mississippi And Its Impact On Student Outcomes, Vishnu S. Gadepalli

Honors Theses

This thesis examines environmental education in public high schools in northern Mississippi, investigating how educators describe its presence, delivery, and institutional support in communities disproportionately burdened by environmental harm. Seven semi-structured interviews were conducted with high school teachers across four northern Mississippi schools, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed through iterative thematic coding under Institutional Review Board approval. Five themes emerged: opportunistic curricular integration, time and standards as overriding structural constraints, passive institutional support, student receptivity tempered by limited awareness, and significant variation across school contexts with one magnet school as a clear outlier. The study concludes that environmental education in these …

Knowledge And Attitudes Toward Over-The-Counter Medications Among Undergraduate Students At The University Of Mississippi, Anna S. Dawson

Honors Theses

This study examines and compares knowledge and attitudes towards over-the-counter (OTC) medications among undergraduate college students at the University of Mississippi. OTCs are purchased and administered without a prescription, making them an efficient, safe, and affordable method of healthcare. It is important to determine the attitudes college students have towards these drugs and if they are able to safely and correctly use them. Information gathered from this study can be used to guide future education on medication literacy and to gain insight into how college students use OTCs to medicate themselves. A Qualtrics survey was sent out to a random …

Design And Production Of A Carbon Fiber Longboard, John R. Beebe, Jacob Williams, Julia Stradinger, Vince Fitchtel, Jordan Cochran

Honors Theses

This thesis contains an overview of the design, prototyping, and manufacturing of a carbon fiber long board. The purpose of this capstone was to create a viable product for the real-world market and then determine how to manufacture it at scale with sustainable financial practices. In order to accomplish this task, engineering, accounting, and manufacturing challenges had to be overcome throughout all stages. The production process involved the carbon fiber layup, baking, water jet cutting, and assembly of the carbon fiber longboard. In order to optimize this process, continuous improvement and lean manufacturing problem solving techniques were applied. After a …

The Benefits And Barriers To Expanding Crna Programs In Michigan, Grace Van Zweden

Honors Theses

The demand for Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) and their delivery of safe, high-quality anesthesia care has increased significantly due to nationwide anesthesia provider shortages and the growing reliance on CRNAs to meet healthcare system needs. This demand underscores the importance of expanding nurse anesthesia programs in Michigan and across the United States to support nurses pursuing advanced education and to improve patient access to essential care within their communities. The CRNA profession has evolved over time to meet the changing needs of the healthcare system, and current CRNA programs require applicants to satisfy rigorous and highly specific admission criteria. …

Separation Of Ferric Ions From Waste Aqueous Solution Using Solvent Extraction/Precipitation Process With Deep Eutectic Solvents And Resonant Accoustic Mixing, Frank Agyemang

Honors Theses

The problem of ferric ions (Fe³⁺) in industrial wastewater is a critical issue for several sectors, such as mining, electronic plating, and metal finishing, due to both its environmental and economic impact. Traditional treatment methods using energy-intensive procedures and unsafe organic solvents are not in compliance with sustainability, but can succeed in achieving a valid metal recycling. By utilizing deep eutectic solvents (DES) and resonant vibratory mixing technology, an environmental friendly method is developed to selectively extract/precipitate ferric ions from waste aqueous solutions. Deep eutectic solvents (DES) have been developed to replace common organic solvents, representing environmental friendly alternatives with …

Improving Direct Reduced Iron Briquette Properties, Abigail Clark

Honors Theses

Fines are generated during the reduction, handling, and transportation of iron oxide pellets and lump ore. These fines present significant safety concerns due to their tendency to oxidize rapidly and combust spontaneously. In addition, they contribute to material losses and reduced revenue. However, DRI fines can be recycled through briquetting and reused in downstream steelmaking processes. Briquettes are produced by agglomerating and compacting direct reduced iron (DRI) fines with binders such as molasses and lime, calcium stearate, and bentonite. Although many different binders have been developed and studied for iron oxide agglomeration and induration, far fewer studies have been conducted …

Terrain Characterization And Spot Traversability In Mining Environments, Gordon Oti

Honors Theses

Hazardous mining environments, including abandoned underground workings and disturbed surface areas, remain difficult to explore safely because of unstable ground conditions, limited accessibility, and unknown terrain characteristics. The Boston Dynamics SPOT quadruped platform supports remote exploration and data collection in these environments; however, effective operation requires a better understanding of how measurable terrain characteristics relate to SPOT traversability performance.

This study combined terrestrial laser scanning (TLS)-based terrain characterization with field-based SPOT testing to evaluate traversability performance in representative mining environments. High-resolution TLS data acquired using a Maptek laser scanner were processed to quantify terrain slope and rock fragmentation, while field …

Continuous Process Intensification For Rare Earth Element Adsorption, Kyle Madill

Honors Theses

A continuous flow resonant vibratory adsorption swing reactor was designed to facilitate adsorption interactions between biochar and rare earth elements in a slurry or aqueous solution. A continuous mixing vessel can allow operators to run a large quantity of material through the RVM in an automatic manner that requires little supervision. This will save the operators time and allow them to focus on other research tasks. The reactor that was built was designed to bolt into Resodyn Acoustic Mixers’ Lab Resonance Acoustic Mixer-II (LabRAM-II). A design with two stacked stages within the LabRAM-II’s acoustic enclosure was settled on. These stages …

Selective Oxidation And Reduction For Recycling Samarium-Cobalt Permanent Magnets, Mitchell Harvey

Honors Theses

Samarium cobalt (SmCo) based magnets are among the strongest permanent magnets second only to neodymium iron boron (NdFeB) based magnets. While SmCo-based magnets have lower remanence and coercivity than NdFeB-based magnets at room temperature, SmCo-based magnets retain these properties better at higher temperatures. As a result, SmCo-based magnets find use in a variety of devices operating at elevated temperatures including traveling wave tubes for satellite communications, electrical generators, and control surface actuators for aviation system. With increasing geopolitical tension over the sourcing of Sm and Co, there is a renewed interest in recycling end-of-life SmCo-based magnets. This work explores a …

The Adaptive Reuse Of Old Brainerd Junior High, Madison L. Christiansen

Honors Theses

This thesis looks at how Old Brainerd Junior High can be brought back to life in a way that supports the surrounding community in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Once an important part of the neighborhood, the building now sits mostly unused, reflecting how much of the city’s energy has shifted toward downtown. Instead of continuing that pattern, this project focuses on creating something meaningful within Brainerd itself. The proposal reimagines the school as a place for music, entertainment, and everyday gathering. It builds on Chattanooga’s growing presence in nightlife and the arts, while giving people a reason to stay, connect, and spend …

Brainerd Junior High Adaptive Reuse: Independent Senior Living And Community Center, Samantha E. Bowlan

Honors Theses

Brainerd Junior High's proposed adaptive reuse is Bell & Brick: Independent Senior Living and Community Center. The goal is to redefine senior living by integrating it with community engagement. Bell & Brick is place where older adults can enjoy independence while actively participating in community life, bridging the gap between generations. Public spaces are accessed on level one while apartments are on level 2 and 3.

Comparison Of Lower-Extremity Coordination Patterns During Countermovement Jumps Between Dancers And Nondancers, Danielle Joseph

Honors Theses

Jumping is a skill essential to several different sports, including dance. For athletes in jump-dominant sports, jump strategies can vary with differences in task demands while jump performances are similar. The countermovement jump (CMJ) has been utilized to analyze jumps because of their reliable indications of power and neuromuscular function. Methods of describing jump strategies using CMJ, such as force plate metrics, vector coding analysis, and coordination phases, have been used to describe the jumps of athletes in jump dominant sports such as basketball and volleyball. However, less jump strategy research has been done on dancers, especially to describe the …

Adaptive Reuse Of Old Brainerd Junior High: Community Driven Creative Spaces, Jenna Pumpelly

Honors Theses

Community spaces are becoming increasingly important and they are not just a fun space that someone can visit every now and then. They are actually a way of promoting health, welfare, and connection throughout a community (Francis et al., 2012). Creating what is called a “third space” is increasingly important in a world that is becoming more solitary. I propose that the Old Brainerd Junior High is a great candidate for a space like this. The arts are proven to be an increasingly popular way to bring people together. Creative spaces are an effective tool to foster community development. It …

Brainerd Junior High Adaptive Reuse: Transitional Living For Foster Care Graduates, Gavin J. Watson

Honors Theses

Brainerd Junior High is being reused as a transitional living and working facility for foster care age-outs in need of assistance as they learn skills of independence and confidence. The first floor serves the community of Brainerd with a variety of commercial spaces, offering the graduates onsite places for employment. The upper levels serve as studio and 1 bedroom apartments for 24 residents, with shared laundry and community building spaces.

Adaptive Reuse Of Brainerd Junior High: Creating Third Spaces, Nathan S. Shevick

Honors Theses

This thesis project explores how the transformation of a local building in the community can bring people together through adaptive reuse. The Brainerd Junior High School was built in 1930 and designed by Chattanoogan architect R.H. Hunt, who has designed many significant buildings in the area such as the Medical Arts Building, 2nd Presbyterian Church, Lookout Mountain Hotel (Carter Hall, Covenant College), Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Memorial Auditorium, the Chattanooga Bank Building, and many other beloved buildings in the area. The Brainerd Junior High School building was expanded in 1956 and 1959 and changed ownership and became the magnet school, 21st …

Adaptive Reuse Of Old Brainerd Junior High School: Fostering Community Through Art Education, Brooklyn T. Phillips

Honors Theses

The adaptive reuse project for Old Brainerd Junior High School aims to transform the historically significant building into a space that better serves the community, as it once did. The goal of this project is to create a space that meets the community's current needs while preserving the building's historical significance. ​ Research methods, such as interviews and surveys, showed that preserving and reusing the building is important to the community because the space holds many memories. When asked, the community mentioned the lack of arts and crafts centers available to Brainerd. With this information, the proposed use of the …

Environmental Psychology In Historic Preservation, Eva Kindall

Honors Theses

This thesis explores the adaptive reuse of the historic Brainerd Junior High School in Chattanooga, TN, as a catalyst for community revitalization. Initially built in 1930, the building served generations of students for 75 years. Currently, the main building is closed, while the additional buildings serve as the Midtown Community Center. Its architectural character, accessible location, and nostalgia present an opportunity to reimagine its role in the current economy. Adaptive reuse offers more than architectural preservation, but is a strategy to address urban challenges such as housing affordability, lack of amenity access, and cultural erasure. Through this project, the aim …

The Effects Of Anti-Gdnf On The Sensory And Autonomic Nervous System In The Heart, Tryphosa Konadu

Honors Theses

Heart disease is the number one leading cause of death; about 1 in every five deaths is due to heart disease. “Heart disease” is a catch-all phrase that encompasses a variety of conditions that affect the heart’s structure and function. Many of these symptoms can be attributed to dysfunction within the parasympathetic, sympathetic, and sensory nervous systems. Neurotrophic factors like GDNF (Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor), BDNF (Brain-derived neurotrophic factor), and NGF (Nerve growth factor) promotes neuronal survival, and regeneration of the nerve fibers of the heart, especially sensory and autonomic nerve fibers. Studies have suggested that increased expression of …

Prediction Of Satellite Temperature During An Orbit Of A Cubesat, Michael Reynolds

Honors Theses

This thesis develops a thermal-simulation strategy for predicting CubeSat component temperatures, applied to Jag-Sat-1, a CubeSat developed at the University of South Alabama and deployed from the International Space Station in 2022. The orbit was reconstructed from two-line element (TLE) data using simplified general perturbations (SGP4) propagation, and spacecraft attitude was recovered from onboard gyroscope measurements. Sunlight, penumbra, and umbra intervals were computed geometrically, and the external radiative environment — direct solar, Earth infrared, and albedo heat fluxes — was modeled using orientation-dependent view factors. These time-varying fluxes drove a transient finite-element thermal simulation of the full satellite geometry in …

Assessing Hpv And Hpv Vaccine Awareness And Perception Amongst Undergraduate Students, Maura Hawkins

Honors Theses

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections in the United States. Vaccination rates remain low among college-aged students despite an effective vaccine being available. This study investigates HPV and HPV vaccination-related knowledge, beliefs, and perceptions among undergraduate students to inform targeted intervention strategies. Participants included undergraduate students (n = 19) who attended one of three focus groups conducted in April 2025 at the University of South Alabama. Structured interview guides explored HPV knowledge, perceived risk and severity, attitudes towards vaccination, autonomy in health decision-making, trust in health information sources, and preferred educational strategies. Discussions were …

Fractured Focus: Understanding Stress In Second-Year Radiologic Science Students Across Alabama, Kelsi Clotfelter

Honors Theses

Higher education is a period of rapid transition and growing responsibility, where stress often becomes a routine part of students’ lives. In health professional programs, the combined demands of intensive coursework and clinical training can intensify emotional strain and negatively affect overall well-being. Radiography students experience uniquely high levels of academic, clinical, and emotional stress due to the simultaneous demands of didactic coursework, competency-based clinical training, and high-stakes professional expectations. A cross-sectional mixed-methods study was employed to evaluate the prevalence, sources, and perceived impact of stress among second-year radiography students across multiple Alabama institutions with the goal of identifying strategies …

Influence Of Stormwater Flooding Events On The Mobile County School District Student Population, Kadence Kali Johnston

Honors Theses

Mobile County, Alabama, receives among the highest annual rainfall totals in the United States resulting in frequent stormwater flooding that intersects with existing socioeconomic vulnerabilities. Within the Mobile County Public School System (MCPSS), 77% of students are economically disadvantaged and over 10% experience homelessness, creating heightened risk for educational disruption during flood events. This study investigates how stormwater flooding influences school attendance, closures, and academic performance across MCPSS, providing insight into how climate-driven hazards exacerbate educational inequities. The research integrates flood frequency, school performance metrics, and GIS flood-zone mapping and teacher perceptions to understand how flooding affects student learning opportunities. …

Roots Or Resources?: Understanding Latino Student Leadership In Higher Education, Kelly Parra

Honors Theses

For the purpose of this study, Latino/a refers to individuals who are from Latin America or of Latin American descent. The term Latino/a is used because it captures individuals from a variety of Latino American cultural backgrounds and is not limited to a single national origin or ethnic subgroup (Pratt Institute Libraries, n.d).

Student leadership development is often fostered with involvement in student organizations, leadership programs, mentorship opportunities, and other institutional resources provided through higher education (Lebrón et al., 2017). However, for many students’ Latino/a leadership-related skills may begin developing long before entering college through family responsibilities, cultural experiences, and …

Post-Covid Sli In Preschoolers: A Look At Changes In Speech And Language Impairments In Preschool-Aged Children In A Post-Covid Environment., Shenda Coy

Honors Theses

As the world has adjusted to times post-COVID, one thing that has caught the attention of professionals is a shift in speech language development in young children. Since COVID, more children are receiving speech and language services and diagnosed with SLI (speech and language impairment). This study investigates the reason for the shift, as well as strategies and services that can be used to adjust to these changes in numbers. The research for this project was conducted through anecdotal notes, personal research and observations. Information was collected over a number of years after COVID, from 2021-2026. This information when compiled …

Effectiveness Of Simulations In Workplace Training: A Systematic Analysis, Brittney Gaban

Honors Theses

Beyond the classroom, training simulations can be used in the workplace and have been used in a variety of industries, but most focus on the acceptance and perceived results rather than realworld transferability. To determine the state of simulations in workplace training, five articles met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed by participants, industry, results, perceived effectiveness and transferability of skills, data type collected, and participant feedback. The included studies demonstrated the variety of ways simulations have been integrated into training, primarily through hospital and emergency response teams, clinics, and transportation settings. Virtual reality was the most frequently used out …

Surviving And Thriving: The Indigenous Migrant, Danna Guzman-Rodriguez

Honors Theses

This literature and cultural study highlights the generation of children of indigenous immigrants and the relationship with their indigenous identity and culture. This unique experience is complex and encapsulates issues such as indigenous cultural survival, homogeneity, globalization, and lack of cultural identity. Exploring the Totonac community in La Chaca, Veracruz in Mexico, allows for a deeper explanation of this experience. Speakers of Totonac and other indigenous languages often migrate to countries such as the United States and carry such cultural ties with them. What happens to these ties after moving to a Western-dominated country where globalization favors English and Western …

Does A Common Threat Unite?: Alliance Formation In East Asia Under Chinese Pressure, Sean G. Mcclellan

Honors Theses

The study explores whether a shared geopolitical threat fosters alliance formation among East Asian nations, focusing on Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea in the context of increasing Chinese influence. Integrating insights from international relations theory and social psychology—particularly Realistic Conflict Theory and the out-group unifying effect—the research evaluates whether perceived Chinese aggression corresponds with increased positive sentiment toward the United States. Utilizing data from the Asian Barometer Survey, linear regression analysis is conducted to assess how perceptions of Chinese and U.S. influence, democratic values, and political affiliation shape public attitudes. Results show that while negative views of Chinese and U.S. …

Ankle Dorsiflexion Is A Primary Influence On Single Limb Landing Stability Regardless Of Menstrual Cycle Chase, Olivia Matrulli

Honors Theses

Context: Hormonal fluctuations associated with the menstrual cycle contribute to modifications in joint laxity. Conflicting evidence supports increased ligamentous injury risk and altered postural control in response to these cyclic changes. Objective: To quantify changes in passive joint flexibility and dynamic postural control across the menses and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle. Design: Repeated measures. Setting: Research laboratory. Participants: Thirteen healthy females (20 [1] y, 1.62 [0.06] m, 67.42 [11.75] kg) with a regular menstrual cycle over the last twelve months volunteered. Interventions: Participants performed five static flexibility tests and three single-leg drop landings onto a force plate with …

Behavior Analysts' Recommendations For Police Interactions With Youth On The Autism Spectrum, Emily Emily Hinterneder

Honors Theses

Autism spectrum disorder affects nearly 2% (1 in every 36) of children in the United States, yet few resources exist to aid police officers in effective communication and interaction with this portion of youth. This study surveyed behavior analysts’ recommendations for police regarding how they can better interact with youth with autism spectrum disorder based on their knowledge, experiences, and opinions. The research surveyed behavior analysts initially in Massachusetts, then throughout the United States, on how police interact with youth with autism, with the intent to propose possible improvements. Quantitative analyses of the closed-ended questions were conducted to examine familiarity, …

Pre-Chiropractic Student Organization At The University Of Mississippi: Education Of Future Chiropractic Students And Empowerment Of The Public With Chiropractic Knowledge, Avery E. Lirette

Honors Theses

The chiropractic profession continues to grow within the allied health community, yet public understanding of its scope remains limited. Prior to the creation of the Pre-Chiropractic Student Organization (PCSO) at The University of Mississippi, students interested in pursuing chiropractic education lacked a structured support system in comparison to those available for other health professions on campus. This thesis documents the foundation, development, and impact of the PCSO as a registered student organization that was designed to educate undergraduate students about the chiropractic profession, connect them with mentors and graduate programs, and promote public awareness of chiropractic care.

This project builds …