Digital Commons Network^™

Standardized Training Methodologies For Medical Laboratory Science Students And Their Importance For Student Success, Maria Simpson

Medical Laboratory Science Independent Study Projects

Clinical education is a critical component of Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) programs, serving as the primary bridge between academic instruction and professional practice. However, traditional clinical rotation training models often struggle to keep pace with rapid advancements in laboratory technology, expanding professional responsibilities, workforce shortages, and heightened patient safety expectations. The purpose of this capstone project is to examine the key factors driving the need to update training methodologies in MLS clinical rotations and to evaluate contemporary educational approaches that better prepare students for entry-level practice. This project addresses systemic challenges faced by clinical laboratories, such as staffing constraints, heavy …

Finding Balance: School-Based Yoga Interventions And Their Alignment Within Multi-Tiered Systems Of Support, Ursula Vogt

Educational Specialist, 2020-current

School-based interventions that support emotional regulation and student well-being are increasingly emphasized within Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS). Yoga has emerged as a potential school-based practice; however, its outcomes, alignment with MTSS frameworks, and implementation characteristics remain unclear. This systematized review examined (a) psychological, emotional, and behavioral outcomes associated with school-based yoga interventions, (b) their alignment with Tier 1 and Tier 2 supports, and (c) implementation characteristics that support feasibility in school settings. A systematic search identified 21 U.S.-based studies, which were analyzed using thematic analysis. Findings indicated that yoga interventions were associated with improvements in emotional regulation, stress and …

The Gut Microbiome, The Gut-Brain Axis, And College Student Well-Being, Idi Mckay

University Honors Theses

This literature review examines how diet, stress, environmental exposure, and food accessibility may influence college students' mental health and academic performance through the gut microbiome and the Gut-Brain Axis (GBA). Current microbiome research often focuses on early childhood development, clinical disease populations, or older adults, while overlooking college-age students who experience significant social, environmental, and biological transitions. College students frequently face food insecurity, irregular eating patterns, chronic stress, inconsistent sleep schedules, and reduced access to nutrient-dense foods, all of which may influence microbial diversity and overall gut health.

This thesis explores how modern campus environments and lifestyle factors may contribute …

2026 Spring Commencement Program: Winona State University, Winona State University

WSU Commencement Programs

This is the Winona State University Spring 2026 commencement program. Commencement was on Thursday, May 7 and Friday, May 8, 2026.

During the Commencement event, a complete list of graduates was provided online. This program was not published during the Commencement event. This digital copy is maintained in the repository for archival purposes.

Descriptive Analysis: Effects Of Insufficient Sleep Among College Students Ages 18-22, Divine Ighalo

Honors Theses

Background: Not getting enough sleep is common among college students and is often linked to habits such as screen time, caffeine intake, stress, and irregular routines. This study examined how these lifestyle factors are associated with insufficient sleep among college students ages 18-22 and how poor sleep affects their overall wellbeing. Methods: This study used a cross-sectional survey design and collected data through an anonymous 25 question online Qualtrics questionnaire. This was completed by 150 participants. The survey was designed to be completed in about 5-7 minutes. It included a mix of multiplechoice questions, frequency-based responses and select all that …

Emma Sealey Honors Portfolio, Emma Sealey

Honors Capstone Portfolios

Emma Sealey's honors capstone portfolio captured in May 2026.

Jessica Heinsch Honors Portfolio, Jessica Heinsch

Honors Capstone Portfolios

Jessica Heinsch's honors capstone portfolio captured in May 2026.

Animal-Assisted Therapy, Stress Regulation, And Mental Awareness, Kimberly Montenegro, Brandy Whitford

Student Publications and Presentations

Mental awareness refers to a person's ability to focus, regulate emotions, and respond to stress. When these capacities weaken, daily functioning can become more difficult. They depend on the body’s stress response system, particularly the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and brain regions such as the amygdala and prefrontal cortex. When chronic stress disrupts these systems, individuals often experience reduced attentional control and emotional instability. Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) has gained attention as a possible approach to reducing stress. Research on human-animal interaction shows that spending time with animals can lower cortisol levels and increase oxytocin, both of which influence stress responses. Studies …

Reading The Rings: Experimental Techniques In Shark Vertebral Analysis, Lily Drons, Destiny Perez, April A. Watson

Student Publications and Presentations

As a part of an ongoing archaeological research project, our goals aim to determine a general range of the age and size of sharks from South Inlet Park based on vertebrae recovered from an archaeological excavation. On these vertebrae are distinct ring structures which represent growth periods to identify the estimated age and size of the sharks when they were alive. Beginning this project, we cataloged different shark vertebrae and took measurements for comparison. Current findings have already narrowed down the two major types of vertebrae: lamnoid and scyliorhinoid and present the possibilities of species which have those vertebrae. As …

Apoe Ε2 Potential Protection Against Long-Term Consequences Of Traumatic Brain Injury, Rebecca Faith Mesidort, Kimberly Rowland

Student Publications and Presentations

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can alter the quality of life, often resulting in cognitive decline, neurodegeneration, or death. There have been no biological advances to resolve the long-term consequences of TBI. The APOE ε2 gene is widely known as a neuroprotectant for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. However, the biological mechanisms of how APOE ε2 protects the against neurodegeneration is unknown. The purpose of this study is to investigate APOE ε 2’s response to an environmental stimulus that leads to neurodegeneration, TBI and further investigate APOE ε2’s biological mechanisms. After inflicting blunt force trauma to our model organism …

Catalase Activity In The Presence Of Pure Flavonoids, Emily Weems, Erika L. Doctor

Student Publications and Presentations

Catalase is an enzyme which catalyzes hydrogen peroxide into water and molecular oxygen. Flavonoids inhibit catalase, which allows for a buildup of hydrogen peroxide in our bodies that is important when we are sick. Pure flavonoids, like those found in colorful fruits and vegetables, will inhibit catalase by reducing the enzymes’ ability to break down hydrogen peroxide. The pure flavonoids that we looked at are hesperidin and naringenin, found in citrus fruits, and quercetin, found in vegetables like onions and hot peppers. Plant flavonoids are seen to inhibit catalase but are found bounded to compounds like sugars while pure flavonoids …

Circadian Genes In Fruit Flies: What They Teach Us About Human Sleep And Health, Laney Wilson, Mia Gonzalez, Kimberly Rowland

Student Publications and Presentations

Circadian rhythms are cycles developed internally that influence the behavioral and physiological changes that happen daily. They occur in organisms as diverse as humans and fruit flies. They are the product of “clock” genes that set the rhythm and tune them in response to changes in the ambient light. In the present study, we aimed to determine the contribution of functional clock genes to the circadian regulation of movement of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. An equal number of wild-type flies (n = 5) and clock-mutant flies (n = 5) were placed in an incubator for 1 week to allow …

Nature-Based Occupational Therapy For Enhancing Education Participation, Malia M. Mendiola, Susan Macdermott

Spring 2026 OTD Capstone Symposium

The project developed nature-based interventions (NBI) resources to support the education participation of neurodivergent high school students. The objective was to increase students’ school participation through nature-based OT for improving emotional regulation, lowering physiological stress, and attention restoration.  Nature immersion was explored through the school's OT program, as well as interdisciplinary collaboration with teachers, other services providers, and community partners. The resource guide focused on benefits, impacts, and practical implementation of NBI for the Winston School and for the broader school-based occupational therapy community.

Rewilding Teens: A Quartet Beyond Screens, Ian Ramsey

Appalachia

A teacher takes high school students into backcountry environments and remote destinations from New Hampshire to Thailand, where he walks them through “the fire of challenge” without technology.

Student Senate Meeting Minutes April 15, 2026, Student Senate-Winona State University

Student Senate Meeting Minutes

This document is the official Winona State University Student Senate Minutes for April 15, 2026.

Cross-Gender Teaching Dynamics In Single-Gender Schools: A Case Study On School Leaders’ Perspectives On Gendered Teaching Practices, Support, And School Culture, Kelsie R. Copeman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this comparative case study is to examine the gendered experiences of teachers through the perspective of school leaders at single-gender schools. The theory guiding this study is Tomlinson’s theory on differentiated instruction, as it explains how the recognition and response to student differences allows for effective teaching in order to optimize learning experiences. The central research question is: How do school leaders perceive and navigate cross-gender teaching dynamics in single-gender schools? This study uses semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and journal entries from school leaders. The sample consists of 10 school leaders with current experience in single-gender schools, …

Assessing The Impact Of Alumni Relations: Using The Theory Of Planned Behavior To Understand Fsu Students Motivation To Engage, Eldaneka Rolle, Richard Waters Phd, Ciara A. Lewis

AMTP Proceedings 2026

This study aimed to understand Florida State University graduate and upper-division undergraduate students in the College of Communication and Information, attitudes and perception of connection through the specific behavior, engagement with alumni relations. If individuals perceive a connection, is there perceived behavioral control (PBC), does PBC influence their intent to remain connected through one of the four key components, experience, communication, volunteer and philanthropy. Five focus group discussions were conducted using semi-structured interviews. Through thematic analysis, eight common themes were developed, Major, Minor or Certification Interest, Program Experience, Faculty, Advisors and Staff, Event Participation, Communication Preference, Volunteer Opportunities, Small Contributions …

Dementia Knowledge Levels Among Adolescents In England, Esra Hassan, Ben Hicks, Naji Tabet, Nicolas Farina

Peninsula Medical School

Objectives: Raising awareness of dementia in the general public is a key dementia policy. Adolescents are one population whose levels of dementia knowledge we have little understanding about. In this cross-sectional survey study, we aimed to capture the level of dementia knowledge in adolescents from different socio-demographic groups and to explore the factors associated with adolescents’ dementia knowledge. Method: We recruited 1,371 adolescents aged 11-18 years across England. Adoeslescents were asked to complete a survey that included dementia knowledge items from the The Northern Ireland Life and Times Survey. Descriptive statistics, a logistic regression, and cross-tabulations were used to explore …

Mechanism-Aware Ml Identifies A Protease-Chemokine-Galectin (Pcg) Axis That Links Plasma Proteomics To Single-Cell Signaling And Enables Compact Severity Classification In Covid-19, Félix E. Rivera-Mariani, Albersy Armina-Rodriguez, Tashoy Campbell, Emily Solomon

Faculty and Staff Publications & Presentations

No abstract provided.

Student Senate Meeting Minutes February 18, 2026, Student Senate-Winona State University

Student Senate Meeting Minutes

This document is the official Winona State University Student Senate Minutes for February 18, 2026.

Expert Validation Of A Professional Development Model For K–2 Emotional Regulation, Mark Simpson

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Emotional regulation (ER) is foundational to student learning, behavior, and long-term educational success and well-being; however, many elementary educators report limited formal preparation in explicitly teaching ER skills. The purpose of this study was to design a professional development (PD) program for K–2 teachers focused on ER and to evaluate its content validity through expert review. The framework was grounded in Gross’s process model of ER, Desimone’s core features of effective PD, and Sims’s dynamic IMTP framework. A researcher-developed rubric was used to evaluate alignment, clarity, theoretical grounding, and feasibility. Five experts in various roles within the field of education …

Evaluating Motivation In Stem Education: A Positive Self-Talk Intervention, Tiffany L. Copeland

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

This study evaluated a social-emotional learning intervention that taught positive self-talk to high school students from underrepresented minority groups in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). The setting of this study was a place-based program that immersed students in hands-on STEM activities while located in Philadelphia’s life science hub. Before taking a science assessment, students set effort-based goals and learned to say self-talk statements such as “I will give my best effort” and “Even when it's hard, I will give 100%.” This mixed-methods program evaluation compared pre- and post-intervention data using a paired-samples t-test, linear regression, and correlation analyses. Data …

Simulation-Based Learning In Oral Radiology: Students’ Perceptions Of Training In Intraoral Radiographic Techniques Across Two Dental Institutes, Abeer A. Almashraqi, Ankur Jethlia, Rebecca Glanville, Hanin Daas, Kamran Ali

Peninsula Dental School

Objective: Simulation-based learning (SBL) in oral radiology offers a safe, structured environment that supports students’ transition to clinical practice. However, limited research has captured students' perceptions of SBL for intraoral radiography training. This study aimed to explore the perceptions of dental students about SBL in intraoral radiography using a mixed-methods approach across two dental institutions. Methods: Third-year undergraduate dental students from two institutions were recruited. All students were trained on both periapical (paralleling technique in Institution A and bisecting angle technique in Institution B) and bitewing radiographs using a mannequin. Data were collected through a 9-item Likert-scale survey and three …

Many Hands Make Stronger Work: Building Cross-Institutional Undergraduate Research Experiences Using Universal Design For Learning, Stephen Podowitz, Abigail Graham, Madison E. Greene, Sarah R. Johnson, Katherine Leonard, Margaret Vander Sys, Mariel A. Pfeifer

College of Life Sciences Faculty Papers

Designing an undergraduate research experience in which all team members can meaningfully contribute and experience growth can be challenging, especially for virtual teams working across institutions. For two years, the authors worked remotely as a team that included several undergraduate researchers in a highly involved research project. Through the partnership, the two principal investigators on the project were able to involve more undergraduates in research than they could individually, using a mentoring model that drew on Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles to ensure students had opportunities for intellectual involvement in the research process. By working as an integrated team, …

2025 Fall Commencement Program: Winona State University, Winona State University

WSU Commencement Programs

This is the Winona State University Fall 2025 commencement program. Commencement was on Friday, December 12, 2025. There were 2 ceremonies at 9:00am and 11:30am.

During the Commencement event, a complete list of graduates was provided online. This program was not published during the Commencement event. This digital copy is maintained in the repository for archival purposes.

Exploring The Recognition Of Internalizing Problems Among Black Students: Delving Into The Youth Mental Health Help-Seeking Pathway, Marketta A. Adams

LSU Master's Theses

The mental health of Black adolescents is a growing concern, with high prevalence rates of internalizing disorders such as anxiety and depression. National studies report that nearly 47% of Black adolescents experience a mental health disorder by age 18, with over 60% reporting moderate to severe depressive symptomology. Despite these alarming rates, Black youth underutilize mental health services, often due to cultural stigma, limited access to culturally competent care, and under-recognition of their mental health needs. This study aimed to explore problem recognition as a key component in the mental health help-seeking pathway for Black adolescents in school settings. Grounded …

Unpacking The Role Of Virtual Exchange In Promoting Student Well-Being, Mona Pearl, Kelly Tzoumis, Allison E. Hill, Spencer D. Sutherland

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

Educational institutions and workplaces are grappling with the task of promoting the well-being of their students and employees. From 2021 to 2023, students from Brazil, Canada, Hong Kong, Mexico, The Netherlands, and the US participated in virtual exchange collaborations in the form of global virtual teams (GVTs) and were assessed pre (n=201) and post (n=251) their GVTs experience. We used structural equation modeling (SEM) to assess changes in learner well-being from participation in GVTs. Based on the impact to student perceived well-being from the GVT experience, we found important results that can be useful for both employers and academic institutions …

Week Of November 17, 2025, Student Life

College, School and Department Newsletters, Magazines, and Journals

Your weekly hub for events, resources and updates.

Law Review Symposium: Prisoners' Rights: Protecting Civil Liberties Behind Bars & Beyond 11-7-2025, Roger Williams University School Of Law

School of Law Conferences, Lectures & Events

No abstract provided.

A Structured, Competency-Based Framework For Aspiring Cardiothoracic Surgeons, Adham Ahmed, Samantha Colon, Gianna J. Dafflisio, Purab Kothari, Nina Uzoigwe, Alice Zhou, Juli Buchwald, Betemariam Sharew, Carter Glenn, Steven Medvedovsky, Justin Olivera, Ryan Kramer, Gabrielle Colon, Jonathan M. Tomasko, Sara J. Pereira, Mara Antonoff, Marc Pelletier, Irbaz Hameed

Student Papers, Posters & Projects

OBJECTIVE: Cardiothoracic surgery requires mastery of a broad knowledge base and advanced skillset to manage critically ill patients. Although competency-based assessment frameworks have been developed in several specialties, there remains a paucity of resources to guide practical progression for early cardiothoracic surgical trainees.

METHODS: Members of the Thoracic Surgery Residents Association, Thoracic Surgery Medical Student Association, and attending cardiothoracic surgeons with a strong track record of surgical education were invited to share their insights and experiences. A structured, milestone-driven roadmap was developed on the basis of their contributions.

RESULTS: We developed a structured, competency-based framework for early surgical trainees, with …