Digital Commons Network^™

Bryoflora Of Ed Mabry-Laurel Gorge Wildlife Management Area In Northeastern Kentucky, Teagan Pattinson, Allen C. Risk

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

Bryophytes include liverworts, hornworts, and mosses - Ecological importance: primary colonizers, retain moisture in the environment, cycle nutrients, and act as bioindicators (McKnight et al., 2013) - Bryophytes have a dominant gametophyte life cycle phase and lack complex vascular tissue - Incredibly adaptable to a wide array of environments and can grow on almost any surface - The objective of this project is to document the diversity of bryophyte species in the Ed Mabry-Laurel Gorge Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Elliott County, KY - This WMA features narrow, deep sandstone gorges, creating a perfect environment for a diverse range of …

Adverse Childhood Experiences And Emotional Well-Being And Addiction, Joshua Croucher, James Allen Pauley-Baker, Lynn Geurin

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) include abuse, neglect, and family dysfunction, such as domestic violence, parental addiction, and mental health issues (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2023). ▪ Most adults (60%) have experienced at least one ACE per lifetime in the United States. ▪ Rates in Kentucky are high with 64% of the population having a history of multiple ACEs (Kentucky Department for Public Health, 2016). ▪ Research links ACEs to increased risks of mental health issues (e.g., depression, anxiety) and substance use disorders in adulthood (Kobrinsky & Siedlecki, 2023; Lu et al., 2007; He et al., 2022).

Textile Artwork, Maina Ratcliff, Elizabeth Mesa-Gaido

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

The objective was for Ratcliff to research past and contemporary textile artists and techniques; create works of their own design; experiment with textile techniques; combine fabric with other art materials; and disseminate their creative productions for exhibition and publication.

Streamlined Rapid Response Team Communication: A Capstone Project For Rapid Response Systems, Caleb Williams

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

• In acute care settings, the ability to quickly mobilize a rapid response team (RRT) is critical in improving patient outcomes, especially during urgent situations. • This capstone project emerged fromfromasafety problem identified at Hospital A during practicum in which resources were delayed to help a fall patient due to the lack of immediate access to a rapid response system. • The guiding objective of this project is to explore and implement technological solutions that improve emergency communication and reduce response times, thereby enhancing patient safety. By integrating the QSEN principles, particularly those of safety, teamwork and collaboration, and informatics, …

The Impact Of Family Centered Care In Healthcare, Shalyn West

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

Family-Centered Care (FCC) is a cornerstone to healthcare that promotes engageFamily-centered carement with families by fostering a respectful relationship and improving the line of communication between staff and families. However, its prioritzation is waning, leading to diminished patient and family satisfaction and increasing nurse burnnout. This project is meant to highlight the importance of FCC to increase patient safety/satisfaction and reduce nurse burnout to better improve the healthcare system as whole. Nurses are experiencing negative attitudes towards FCC, but these feelings are causing a separation between patient families and hospital staff. This creates a strained communication, jeopordizing patient well-being. As …

The Functions And Processes Of An Acetylene Torch, Mike Bowen, Cail Jones, Maija Wehr

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

We will be exploring the processes and safety of an Acetylene torch. We will explain in depth the uses of a Oxy-fuel torch, brazing, welding, cutting, and forming metals. We aim to emphasize the specific safety of preparing the torch during set-up and during use. An Oxy-acetylene torch is a multi-purpose tool that uses combination of fuel and oxygen. Both the fuel and oxygen have it’s own hose that is connected by the torch. This creates a combustible fuel that allows welders to be able to cut, weld, braze, and heat metals. Both the fuel and oxygen have knobs controlling …

Environmental And Social Determinants Of Gastrointestinal Cancer In Eastern Kentucky, J.D. Berry, Leah Wells, Dylan Williams, Timothy Hare

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

This study aims to answer the research question: What health behaviors and other factors affect diet and contribute to disproportionately high rates of gastrointestinal cancer in Appalachian Eastern Kentucky? Gastrointestinal cancers and nutrition are closely linked, and certain eating habits increase the risk of these diseases. These patterns are even more complicated in Appalachia, where environmental and social challenges shape how people eat and live. This work explores addresses food deserts, educational disparities, economic hardship, and healthcare access

The Connection Between Poverty, Social Empathy, And Experiential Learning, Juniper Taulbee, Rebecca Davison

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

In the original research of Dr. Davison, she explored the question of how experiential learning influences the social empathy levels and educational practice of public-school educators. While the research showed an increase in social empathy, it also showed interesting trends that were not accounted for in the original hypothesis, such as a decrease in social empathy scoring for male participants and differences in scoring based on lived experience with poverty. Our purpose now is to analyze these differences in empathy scoring and theorize what it may imply about life circumstances, empathy, and the limits of learning.

The Dawn Of A New Lappin: The Revision And Reorganization Of The Morehead State Archives, Ava Fluharty, June Lennex-Stone, Shelby Turner, Jennifer O'Keefe

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

The Geology Program has formal book, fossil, journal, map, mineral, and rock collections dating to the 1950’s. These specimens were donated by biological and physical sciences faculty prior to the 1960 hire of Dr. John Philley and greatly expanded upon by Drs. Philley, James Chaplin, Jules DuBar, and H.W. Straley III through the 1990’s. Prior to construction of the “C-wing” of Lappin Hall, the collections previously housed in laboratory classrooms in the path of the new corridor connecting the “B-wing” and “Cwing”, as well as those housed in the “A-wing” were boxed and stored in multiple temporary locations until new …

Paleoclimate Reconstruction: Using Crest In R Studio, Marianna Ritchie, Hannah Sprinkle, Jennifer O'Keefe

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

CREST (Climate Reconstruction Software) is a package developed by paleoclimatologist Manuel Chevalier and applied in the R Studio Programming Environment that permits linkage of massive taxonomic distribution and climate tolerance datasets derived from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) with fossil occurrence data, producing robust paleoclimate reconstructions of up to up to 14 bioclimatic variables, which at a minimum include mean annual temperature and mean annual rainfall.

Kentucky's Flying Leader: John Thomas Daugherty, Christina Lambert, Bryce Tackett, Adrian Mandzy

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

This Public History research project was completed in the fall of 2024 as part of Junior Seminar (History 380.502). The class explored how World War II impacted the lives of individuals living in Eastern Kentucky and our research focused on Bath County native and Flying Cross recipient John Thomas Daugherty. Completed by Bryce Tackett and Christina Lambert, the project included a physical poster and a digital PowerPoint presentation, both of which can be viewed on Morehead State University's ScholarWorks website. Like the other individuals researched during the course of this class, our focus on the life of John "Big Dog" …

Paul "Raymond" Griffith Soldier From Eastern Kentucky, Isabella Anderson-Huseman, Allison Ferguson, Adrian Mandzy

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

The Poster of Paul "Raymond" Griffith was a public history project Allison, and I completed in our Fall of 2024 Junior Seminar class. Paul was an Eastern Kentucky native who served in World War II. The project was to highlight those soldiers from eastern Kentucky who served during World War II. Griffith was a great uncle to Allison which allowed us to highlight his sacrifice and show how he was impacted by the war. The poster highlights the sacrifice Paul Griffith made for his country

Evaluation Of Cutting Sizes And Sticking Cutting Times On Propagation Of Rosemary, Emma R. Miller, Emily B. Cobb, Alyssa F. Covell, Mary H. Jackson, Mollie K. Mayabb, Ace B. Shelby, Leo Shelby, Seaanna G. Skinner, Madeline Walsh, Ricky C. Young, Amy S. Collick, Alireza Rahemi

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is a well-known culinary and medicinal herb in the Lamiaceae family, which is native to the Mediterranean area. It is a source of antioxidants and has several benefits for the body's health, such as antiinflammatory, anti-fungal activity, anti-aging, and support of the digestive system. Rosemary has several habit types: trailing, creeping, and upright; its flowers can be blue, violet, pink, or white. It could be propagated by seeds or by vegetative methods. Seedlings can show a high level of genetic diversity; therefore, vegetative propagation is used to keep the mother traits of the cultivars. One of the …

Continuity Of Attachment Strategy From Preschool To Adolescence, Annabelle Mcneal, Abby Chaney, Gabby Blackburn, Shari L. Kidwell

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

Attachment Theory recognizes that humans naturally form protective, enduring relationships with their primary caregivers which first develop in infancy.

• Attachment strategies become refined across development to best adapt to the caregiving environment (Crittenden, Landini, & Speiker, 2021).

• Crittenden’s Dynamic Maturational Model organizes attachment strategies by pecific patterns of affect and cognition (2011).

A (avoidant): dismissing own negative affect, distorting cognition

B (secure): balanced integration of affect & cognition

C (ambivalent): involving others in own affect, omitted cognition

Continuity in attachment across development was originally predicted. However, both DMM and non- DMM research has found some degree of discontinuity …

Middle Eocene Ecosystems Recorded In The Zilpha Clay, Kyndra Gray, Asher Jack, Jen O'Keefe

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

This presentation focusses on our study of fifteen samples of Zilpha Clay recovered from the MSA-1 core in Shelby County, Tennessee.

The Power Of Bedside Shift Report: The Implementation And Effectiveness Of Patient-Centered Care, Emily Byrd

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

The purpose of this project is to implement bedside shift report (BSR) and demonstrate its effectiveness in improving patient care outcomes. Currently, Hospital X lacks BSR, missing a crucial opportunity to enhance patient safety, communication, and overall quality of care. Evidence-based practice (EBP) supports BSR as the gold standard in patient handoff, showing its ability to reduce medical errors, increase patient satisfaction, and improve assessments for patient care. This project aligns with the QSEN principles as guiding objectives, ensuring that its implementation prioritizes patient-centered care, teamwork, evidence-based practice, quality improvement, and safety. By integrating BSR, this project aims to elevate …

Captivating Title Reflecting The Essence Of Your Capstone Project, Audrey Newman

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

The core aspect of nursing professionalism unites knowledge application with ethical standards and professional conduct guidelines through efficient communication methods. Healthcare outcomes improve when professional conduct builds patient trust and directs ethical decisions to meet patient care standards. This project shows its value through the direct connection between nursing professionalism and improved patient outcomes. Professional nursing practice develops patient trust because it leads to fewer medical errors and better communication while fostering an ethical culture focused on safety. This project aims to fill professional practice gaps through the study of educational approaches, workplace culture dynamics, and ethical standards that affect …

The Guillotine: Symbol Of Justice And Fear, Chase Hollon, Kaitlyn P'Simer, Alana Scott

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

The guillotine was created to be a more human way of executing people during the French Revolution. It was a symbol of equality – no one of any status was safe from the blade. The guillotine lasted from 1792 until Sept 10, 1977. The guillotine was proposed by Dr Joseph Guillotin, who belonged to an anti-death penalty political group. It was designed by surgeon Antoine Louis and built by German harpsichord maker Tobias Schmidt. Guillotin promoted the use of the device during the French Revolution to carry out deaths quickly and pain-free.

Soldiers And Spies: A Lady’S Guide To Serving In The Civil War, Kaitlyn P'Simer, Benjamin Fitzpatrick

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

While the Civil War primarily focuses on the men who fought in it, there are unknown stories of the women during the time. These women took different paths to not only live through but survive during the war. Most women during this time stayed on the home front. However, there were some that became soldiers and spies in hopes to aid their side of the war.

Economics Of Swine Production: A Case Study At Morehead State University's Derrickson Agricultural Complex, Caroline Adkins, Allie Dick, Vijay Subramaniam

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

Morehead State University's Derrickson Agricultural Complex (DAC) offers students hands-on experience in livestock management and classroom learning. The swine program focuses on efficient production, herd health management, and sustainable feeding practices. It emphasizes three stages of piglet development: farrowing, weaning, and finishing. The DAC conducts research on economic sustainability and profitability of swine production, refining management strategies, and optimizing herd performance. These efforts align with Morehead State University's mission to promote innovation and best practices in modern livestock production.

The Practice Of Screen Printing, Olive Adams, Jacob Lee, Elizabeth Mesa-Gaido

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

Students at the Claypool-Young Art Building have been eager about learning screen printing for years but have not had the opportunity because of the absence of a permanent screen print professor and class. To curb this, junior art student Olive Adams was employed as an Undergraduate Research Fellow to both learn the processes of screen print and letterpress and to reinvigorate the interest in the medium. In addition, the teachings of mentor Jacob Lee have given Adams a thorough understanding and appreciation for the medium, strengthening her range as an art student.

Impacts Of Business Management Literacy On A Small Business In A Developing Third World Country, Lisa Abrampah, Amberlee Bailey, Prince Boateng, Jordan Richmond, Dylan Williams

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

This project investigates the importance of cultural empathy, practical business strategies, and effective leadership in the context of global business development. By integrating these elements, the project aims to address the unique challenges faced by a small business in Bauchi State, Nigeria, offering targeted support in areas like marketing and financial management. Students involved in the project engaged in monthly, culturally informed interactions with the business owner, adapting their strategies in real-time based on ongoing feedback and research into effective business management in similar contexts. The research highlights a small welding business in Bauchi State, Nigeria, a region that faces …

The Effects Of Adult Attachment To God On Mental Health, Megan M. Brodowski

Student Works

Attachment styles and spirituality can greatly affect mental health, therefore, attachments to God can also be an indicator of mental health. This literature review examines all relevant literature regarding attachment styles to God and mental health, using a total of 10 sources. Secure and insecure relationships with God were examined to find correlations with psychological well-being. Secure attachments to God are correlated with higher psychological well-being. Researchers found that anxious and avoidant attachments to God are correlated with psychological issues like depression and anxiety. Further research should be conducted to address limitations of self-report, cross-sectional studies, and underrepresented groups. With …

Developing A Trauma-Informed Pedagogy Workshop Series For Faculty: Empowering Student Learning And Healing At Grand Valley State University, Hayley F. Wilson

Masters Projects

Higher education institutions (HEIs) face increasing student populations affected by trauma, presenting significant barriers to academic success and emotional well-being. Between 40% and 84.5% of college students have histories of trauma (Forster et al., 2019; Smyth et al., 2008), while approximately half experience trauma during their first year of enrollment (Galatzer-Levy et al., 2012). Exposure to trauma disproportionately impacts Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) students, further compounding educational inequities (Portell, 2019, as cited in Gunderson et al., 2023). Although trauma-informed care (TIC) has emerged in applications within education, formalized professional development opportunities for faculty to implement trauma-informed pedagogy …

Lindenwood Digest, April 16, 2025, Lindenwood University

Lindenwood Digest

The Lindenwood Digest has been a digital employee newsletter since 2009.

How High School Athletic Directors In Southwest Michigan Paths Differ, Lily Browning

Honors Theses

The world of athletics continues to grow at a rapid rate, athletic directors are at the forefront of the sporting world particularly in high school athletics. So, how does one begin a career in athletic directing. The traditional path has been being a teacher or coach at the school and then moving into the administration portion of athletics. However, that is not the case for everyone and that is why the findings of this study are important to the field. There are not certain paths that get you to the job quicker than others in the world of athletic directing. …

Do Individuals With Mental Illness Engage In More Violence Than Others?, Kaley E. Rajewski

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

The stigma of mental illness that remains prevalent in our society has direct ties to the idea that mental illness and violence are interrelated. Regardless of data, the public perception of mental illness can and does include a preconceived notion of violent tendencies. Research has examined why these perceptions exist and whether they are valid. Research has evaluated various groups from both the general public and groups of individuals suffering from various levels of mental illness. Examinations in the public perception included location, age, economic status, sex, and race. Examinations in the mental health field evaluated different types of mental …

Pursuing Sustainability In Campus Dining Services, Nick Ventrola, Emily Zito

Sustainability Research & Practice Seminar Presentations

Nick Ventrola, WCU Dining Services Resident District Manager, and Emily Zito, WCU Dining Services Registered Dietitian, present "Pursuing Sustainability in Campus Dining Services".

2025-04-16 Seattle U Credit Union Initiative Empowers Students With Financial Knowledge, Abdullah El-Sherbeeny

The Spectator Online

No abstract provided.

2025-04-16 How Do Professors Deal With Ai?, Milan Damjanac

The Spectator Online

No abstract provided.