Digital Commons Network^™

Manufacturing Process Of A Wooden Tortilla Press: Idea To Production, Colleen Nolan, Ben Bird, Olivia Marque, Emma Palmer, Hayden Walker

Honors Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to document the design, development, and manufacturing of a wooden tortilla press completed as a capstone project through the Center for Manufacturing Excellence (CME). The project follows a structured product development process that began with problem definition and concept development, progressed through design, prototyping, and jig fabrication, and culminated in a full production run on the CME shop floor. A multidisciplinary team, including engineers, a marketer, and an accountant, collaborated throughout the project to support both technical development and manufacturing execution. Project planning and scheduling were established early and maintained throughout the project to …

The Effects Of Acute Exercise And Observation On Procedural Learning: Considerations Of Biological Sex, Madeline R. Gossett

Honors Theses

As memories are formed or learning progresses, neurons within the brain establish a strong connection in what is referred to as a “neural engram.” This neural engram can be strengthened or weakened by certain physiological factors. Dopamine, for example, is released during physical exercise or when positive reinforcement is incorporated (Greenwood, 2019). This is a neurotransmitter that leads to a stronger connection between neurons, which in turn leads to a stronger memory formed in the brain. These physiological relationships that contribute to cognition are still being discovered, so research in this area is ongoing (Guskjolen and Cembrowski, 2023).

Memory is …

Accy 420 Financial Reporting Casework And Class Takeaways, Davis C. Brewer

Honors Theses

In my practicum class during my junior year at the University of Mississippi, Dr. Dickinson assigned eight case studies over the course of our Accountancy 420 course. These case studies involved several different topics, many regarding financial reporting. This included a wide range of topics such as the Corporate Transparency Act, ESG regulations, asset theory, and most importantly the new Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) regulations. Throughout the year guest speakers would come to class and discuss working in the accounting industry, as well as answer any questions that we might have. During this time, we learned how to analyze …

Of Corporations And Compliance: Accountancy Case Studies And An Exploration Of Future-Oriented Action In Corporate Accounting, Nathan K. Woo

Honors Theses

This thesis compiles several case studies completed under the direction of Dr. Victoria Dickinson during the 2024–2025 academic year for the fulfillment of requirements imposed by Accountancy 420: Independent Study. The first semester (Fall 2024) involved four research cases. The first case involved analysis of AMC Entertainment’s annual report (10-K) for the purpose of identifying pertinent financial statement information and creating risk-mitigation strategies. The second case pertained to the January 2024 Corporate Transparency Act and its effect on reporting companies. The third case centered around analysis of the relationship between environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues and public accounting. Finally, …

How National Trends Impact Accounting, Greyson Antes

Honors Theses

The following thesis contains eight accounting case studies performed throughout the 2024 academic year concerning a multitude of topics like the “Make America Healthy Again” movement and other related themes impacting the accounting industry. During these projects, students were randomly assigned to different groups to work on case studies. There were five miscellaneous cases covering different accounting topics that ultimately culminated into the final topic in the spring semester. This final topic contained three large case studies, all with the same group, investigating how the “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) movement would impact the audit plan for Kellanova, a snack …

Accounting In A Changing Landscape: A Collection Of Case Studies, Rachel K. Rowe

Honors Theses

This thesis comprises six independent yet interconnected case studies that reflect on a range of modern accounting and regulatory topics. These cases were written under the direction of Dr. Victoria Dickinson during two semesters of the Professional Research and Development Thesis Program at the University of Mississippi. The purpose of this class is to provide students with the opportunity to research cases that have real-world applications in the field of accounting.

The first case explores Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) issues, emphasizing the increased importance of reporting for them and the growing role of accountants in sustainability assurance. The second …

Identifying And Coping With Failure In Human Anatomy & Physiology I And Ii Students, Annie R. Mueller

Honors Theses

Human Anatomy and Physiology (A&P) is a two-semester course that focuses on the structure and function of the human body systems. For many students, A&P could be their first challenging undergraduate course and their first experience with academic difficulty. Students must learn to adapt their study habits and respond productively to academic failure. The purpose of this study was to examine how students in the A&P courses at the University of Mississippi perceive and cope with academic failure, as well as to evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention method. Students enrolled in BISC 206 and BISC 207 participated in three …

Accounting In Practice: An Analysis Of Real-World Business And Regulatory Case Studies, Claire E. Coursey

Honors Theses

This thesis consists of several accounting case studies completed throughout two semesters of Honors Accountancy 420 under the direction of Dr. Victoria Dickinson. The projects combined both individual and group work and focused on applying accounting knowledge to real-world business situations and current events. Each case study required research, analysis, and evaluation of topics related to financial reporting, auditing, regulation, and corporate operations. Throughout the fall semester, the case studies introduced a variety of accounting and business topics that helped develop research, analytical, and communication skills. During the spring semester, the primary focus shifted toward analyzing the potential impact of …

Theories Of Time And Free Will, Sarah Otto

Honors Theses

This paper examines the intersection of the philosophy of time and the philosophy of free will, asking whether theories of time, such as the B-Theory or presentism, have an impact on free will beyond what they suggest about the truth or falsity of determinism. It first discusses common connections made between free will and time in past literature and dismisses determinism as a connection. The paper proceeds to provide three conditions for free will: the existence of a self, the ability of that self to inform decisions, and the ability of that decision to adequately participate in the causal chain. …

Menstruation Behind Bars: A Mixed-Methods Study On Menstrual Product Access And Distribution Practices In Mississippi County Jails, Eron Hendrix

Honors Theses

This study examines menstrual product access and distribution practices in Mississippi county jails. It highlights the impact of period poverty as a critical yet underexplored public health and human rights issue within the corrections system. While existing research documents widespread inequities in access to menstrual products women’s healthcare in the correctional system, limited attention has been given to menstrual health at the local jail level. Using a mixed-methods approach, this study combines qualitative interviews with jail correctional staff and quantitative survey data from formerly incarcerated women to better understand institutional practices and lived experiences.

Interviews were conducted with sheriffs, jail …

What You Don't Hear About Barriers To Healthcare In The Deaf Community: Analyzing Interpreter Experiences In The Deep South, Ryan Augustine

Honors Theses

Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals experience significant health disparities in the United States, yet the perspective of the ASL interpreter has remained largely absent regarding the barriers documented in existing literature. This pilot case study examined the barriers Deaf individuals face when seeking healthcare through the unique vantage point of eight ASL interpreters across the Deep South: Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Guided by grounded theory methodology, eight semi-structured interviews were conducted and analyzed to find recurring themes. Findings confirmed and revealed barriers that would not have surfaced without the perspective of the interpreter. Four themes emerged from this study: healthcare …

Teaching Sex Education In Mississippi: A Qualitative Study Of School Practices And Perspectives, Kathryn E. Wildman

Honors Theses

This thesis examines the implementation of sex education policy in Mississippi, a state with persistently high rates of teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. Although House Bill 999 (2011) mandates sex education in public schools, limited research has explored how this policy is enacted in practice. Drawing on qualitative interviews with high school educators, school nurses, and representatives from community-based organizations, this study investigates how sex education is delivered, how educators are prepared, and how social and institutional factors shape classroom instruction.

The findings identify four central themes: substantial variation in implementation across school districts, inconsistent and often insufficient teacher …

The End Of Amateurism: Title Ix Challenges In The New Ere Of College Athletics, Georgia G. Kemmett

Honors Theses

This thesis examines whether emerging revenue-sharing models in intercollegiate athletics following the House v. NCAA settlement can be reconciled with Title IX’s mandate of sex-based equity. While antitrust law has accelerated the collapse of NCAA amateurism by dismantling restrictions on athlete compensation, the resulting revenue-sharing framework risks concentrating financial benefits in male-dominated sports, particularly football and men’s basketball, thereby raising significant legal and policy concerns under federal civil rights law.

Through analysis of Title IX doctrine, antitrust jurisprudence, OCR guidance, NIL regulation, congressional reform proposals, and emerging litigation involving gender identity and athlete eligibility, this thesis argues that commercialization and …

Curated Realities: Algorithmic Media And Cultivated Identity Among Gen Z, Terrell Atkins

Honors Theses

As media environments evolve, so does the process through which individuals form identity and understand social reality.  This study explores how algorithms within media influence identity and worldview, with a particular focus on Generation Z; the first generation born alongside the development of modern media systems.

A mixed-method approach was used with survey data and focus group discussions to better understand how repeated exposure to personalized feeds impact user’s perspectives and sense of self.  This research aimed to investigate how Gen Z users interact with and interpret their social media feeds, with attention to perceived alignment between media content and …

Designing A Collaborative Uav-Ugv System For Autonomous Challenge Completion, Ember Reysen

Honors Theses

The coordination between Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGVs) holds significant potential for completing complex tasks such as disaster response and construction surveillance by leveraging the strengths of aerial flight and stable on-ground transportation. Unfortunately, coordination between UAVs and UGVs is extremely complex and task-dependent, leading to limited understanding of autonomous collaboration. This thesis explores the process of designing an UAV-UGV collaborative system capable of aerially scouting a target destination, relaying its coordinates to a ground vehicle, and performing a precision landing for unison travel. I utilize computer vision techniques via OpenCV for target marker identification, ROS …

Quantifying Black Carbon Concentrations In Georgia And Analyzing Associated Public Health Risks, Khloe R. Osborne

Honors Theses

Quantifying Black Carbon Concentrations in Georgia and Analyzing Associated Public Health Risks

One of the most daunting challenges of the industrial world is air pollution. Within this broad spectrum, there is an inhalable particle group named PM2.5, which contains black carbon. Black carbon has evidence that supports the generation and worsening of adverse health impacts, which may include birth complications, cognitive deficits in children, pulmonary aggravation, asthma, cardiovascular issues, neurological degenerative patterns, and cancer risk. This is especially seen in vulnerable populations, like children, elderly, and those who already suffer from weakened health, many of which reside in the southern …

Case Studies In The Accounting World, Brady J. Halloran

Honors Theses

This paper represents an accumulation of cases during a year of course work through the Professional Research and Development Thesis Program at the University of Mississippi under the supervision of Dr. Victoria Dickinson. The program includes a class that spans two semesters. The purpose of the class is to administer cases to the students that will allow them to research and discuss real-world examples and experiences within the accounting industry. The eight case studies that are included in this paper cover a wide range of political, legal and financial topics that businesses have recently dealt with. Through performance of these …

Funding & Resource Adequacy In Mississippi Head Start Programs: Perspectives From The Field, Anna Carlisle Nichols

Honors Theses

Head Start plays a vital role in supporting children from low-income families by providing comprehensive early education, health, nutrition, and family support services. Decades of research demonstrate that participation in Head Start improves cognitive development, social-emotional skills, and long-term educational outcomes. However, a growing body of research suggests that Head Start funding may be insufficient to fully meet the needs of eligible children, raising concerns about program capacity, staffing, and service quality, particularly in high-poverty states that provide no direct state supplemental funding, like Mississippi. This study examines the extent to which Mississippi’s Head Start programs have the resources necessary …

Periodontal Disease In A Classic Maya Population From Ambergris Caye, Belize: A Cej-Ac Analysis, Avery R. Mcneil

Honors Theses

Dental remains provide a durable and information-rich record of biological, dietary, and health-related processes in past populations. This study examines periodontal disease, dental wear, and morphometric variation in a Classic period Maya population from coastal Belize (ca. A.D. 700-900) using cementoenamel junction-alveolar crest (CEJ-AC) distance as one measure of periodontal health. Dental remains were assessed using standardized bioarchaeological methods, including tooth identification, crown measurements, and periodontal scoring based on mean CEJ-AC distances recorded at preserved surfaces. The results indicate widespread mild to moderate periodontal disease across the sample, with posterior teeth exhibiting greater alveolar bone loss than anterior dentition. These …

Art In An Apocalypse: Aids, Activism, And Abolition In Work Of Essex Hemphill And Alternative Video Production, Sydney E. Guntharp

Honors Theses

This thesis is an exploration of Black, POC, feminist, and queer art in the late twentieth century, examining both the AIDS crisis and the increasing privatization of the prison industrial complex as key factors in the development of Essex Hemphill’s poetic, expressive works and the filmmaking activism of various videotape collectives. Through employing the lens of critical prison studies, this work seeks to understand how Black and POC art emerged as a site of political resistance to a carceral state as well as the broader social punishment doctrine that influenced the public health response to AIDS in the United States. …

Judicial Confirmation Politics: Senatorial Framing And The Public's Response, Edward W. Hunter Jr.

Honors Theses

In 2023, the Supreme Court ruled affirmative action in higher education unconstitutional, intensifying debates over the role of identity in selection processes. This study extends that discussion beyond college admissions to the federal judicial confirmation process. It uses a content analysis of Senate Judiciary Committee hearing transcripts to examine how U.S. senators frame the identities of judicial nominees, and a nationally representative survey to assess how senators’ identity framing shapes public opinion. I find that both Democratic and Republican senators engage in identity framing to signal alignment with their respective constituencies. Public responses to this rhetoric are substantially filtered through …

Manufacturing Of A Wooden Tortilla Press: Idea To Production, Glenn H. Walker

Honors Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to document the design, development, and manufacturing of a wooden tortilla press completed as a capstone project through the Center for Manufacturing Excellence (CME). The project follows a structured product development process that began with problem definition and concept development, progressed through design, prototyping, and jig fabrication, and culminated in a full production run on the CME shop floor. A multidisciplinary team, including engineers, a marketer, and an accountant, collaborated throughout the project to support both technical development and manufacturing execution. Project planning and scheduling were established early and maintained throughout the project to …

Design And Production Of A Carbon Fiber Longboard, Julia H. Stradinger

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 …

Analysis Of Accounting Through Case Studies, Emily M. Ward

Honors Theses

This thesis looks at accounting principles though a series of case studies. The primary case study used from three parts includes examining Post Holdings financial statements, regulatory impacts, and assurances processes. This case aims to explore how companies operate, report their financial information, and respond to external pressures. The first part of the case involves evaluating the company’s structure, operations, and financial statements. The second part examines industry threats and opportunities, particularly regarding the current Make America Healthy Again agenda under the Trump administration. The third part looks at potential audit plans to enhance decision making. Through this process, the …

"First, Do No Harm": Ethical Failures And Preventive Solutions In The United States Pharmaceutical System - A Narrative Review, Rebekah R. Bailey

Honors Theses

The United States pharmaceutical system is highly advanced but faces growing ethical concerns related to drug development and marketing, overprescription, and high drug costs. This thesis examines how pharmaceutical marketing, regulatory practices, and prescribing behaviors may conflict with the ethical principle of “first, do no harm.”

Using a narrative review of interdisciplinary literature in public health, medical ethics, and applied ethics, this thesis analyzes patterns in drug development, marketing strategies, and regulatory oversight. The findings suggest that ethical issues are systemic, driven by commercial incentives, inconsistent regulatory standards, and an increasing reliance on pharmaceutical solutions. These factors contribute to overmedicalization, …

Issues Of Justice Since Batson V. Kentucky: The Ethical Implications Of Peremptory Strikes In Jury Selection, Andrew M. Nichols

Honors Theses

The usage of peremptory strikes in jury selection have led to several issues over the course of American history. Since their inception in English Common Law, their ethically questionable use has led the United States Supreme Court to rule on them repeatedly, most notable in 1986’s decision Batson v. Kentucky. This case allowed attorneys to challenge the opposing counsel if they suspected that jurors may have been removed from the venire due to their race and reinstate them if such discrimination was present. This thesis argues that this decision has not corrected the ethical issues that I identify, namely …

Selective Remembrance: Constructing Nostalgia At The Park Chung Hee Presidential Museum, Abigail Shaw

Honors Theses

How and why does Park Chung Hee remain so potent in the minds of South Koreans, decades after his rule? Seungsook Moon (2009) describes the phenomenon as Park Chung Hee Syndrome: a cultural condition in which Park’s image circulates between glorification, demonization, and humanization, producing an unresolved and emotionally charged field of memory. Building on this, researchers have examined how a type of “Park Chung Hee nostalgia” operates through selective remembrance of developmental success, moral discipline, and national unity, ultimately creating a positive memory and longing for semblance of his long-ended rule (Park, 2011; Podoler, 2016; Lee, 2022).

Statues and …

A Compilation Of Accounting Studies And Analyses, Annalee Hill

Honors Theses

This thesis includes a study of the food company, General Mills, from the perspective of auditors who view General Mills as a client. Specifically, it is an investigation of General Mills’ extensive efforts to comply with a new political agenda, which may result in subsequent applicable regulation. To develop this analysis, my classmates and I used various sources, including General Mills’s real, current financial statements, over the course of several weeks to produce a three-part compilation on the company itself, its move toward healthier products, and how we could assist them in doing so as their auditors. We performed analyzed …

Aquinas In The Twenty-First Century: A Reconciliation With The Catholic Church’S Teaching On The Death Penalty, Diego G. T. Abele

Honors Theses

When the Catholic Church revised its paragraph in the Catechism that concerned the teaching on the death penalty, many believed that this seemed to contradict the Church’s traditional teaching on the death penalty, which has included the writings of thinkers like St. Thomas Aquinas. However, after applying principles of his natural law theory, this apparent contradiction goes away, and the full Catholic teaching on the death penalty comes to light. Several key theses of Thomist natural law will be described, addressing the metaphysical, epistemological, and ethical questions it seeks to answer. This will be the backbone of my paper as …

Topics In Accounting: A Case-Based Analysis, Forrest B. Foster

Honors Theses

This body of work is representative of materials produced through the Accountancy Practicum course, under the advisement and supervision of Dr. Victoria Dickinson. This course allows students in the Patterson School of Accountancy to complete their thesis requirement for the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College through a series of case studies, primarily covering current topics in the accounting industry. The six case studies completed through this course cover a variety of accounting topics that are new or controversial, including the Corporate Transparency Act and the effects of the current political administration on the financial statements of food companions. Additionally, some …