Digital Commons Network^™

Understanding The Well-Being Of Aging Refugees In The United States, Julia A. Fernandez, Alexa Charleus, Ellarose Capparelli, Gianna M. Cicalese, Daniella Stanzione

Academic Festival

Background and Objectives: Refugees endure psychological distress from traumatic experiences such as war, persecution, and forced displacement when migrating to nations like the US for safety. This affects their ability to navigate resettlement and aging. Demographics, cultural background, and social networks are sparsely researched in the context of older refugees and affect quality of life. This study explores how sociodemographic factors influence quality of life among aging refugees in the U.S.

Research Design and Methods: A survey of 108 refugees aged 50+ from Bhutan, Burundi, and Somalia was conducted in a small Midwestern city. The survey assessed how their …

Interviewedge: A Smart Technical Interview Simulator, Salavuddin Shaik, Ziad Al-Sharif

Celebration of Scholarship

Traditional interview preparation lacks real-time feedback, adaptability, and interactive assessments, leaving candidates unprepared for highstakes technical interviews. InterviewEdge is a next-generation technical interview simulation platform that combines dynamic coding challenges, AI-powered evaluation, and real-time speech analysis to refine problemsolving and communication skills—key aspects of modern hiring assessments. InterviewEdge is built using Next.js, Node.js, and MongoDB, integrating AI-driven evaluation models to provide instant, structured feedback on coding correctness, efficiency, and structure. Beyond technical assessments, the platform also analyzes behavioral responses via speech-to-text processing, evaluating clarity, articulation, and storytelling using industry-aligned best practices. Unlike conventional platforms, InterviewEdge gamifies the learning experience through …

Rfid Security For Iot Airport Infrastructure, Owen Guerra-Mondragon Saenz, Sawyer Hansen, Aaron Tulino, Philippe Shchetinin

Discovery Day - Prescott

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), a methodology that uses active and passive tags to communicate through radio signals at different frequencies, has made its way to different implementations, including tracking of merchandise in transit, inventory management, access restrictions to authorized personnel, different data-sharing applications embedded with Near Field Communication (NFC). This technology has been mainly used in airports for tracking people and tracking luggage. In the tracking people line, was found that the main targets are the employees; to allow them to enter specific locations in the airport and give them permissions based on the role/hierarchy they have in the company …

Team Coaching, Laura Weinreb, Michael Cherry

Celebration of Scholarship

The purpose of my paper was to explore Team Coaching. I selected the topic of Team Coaching because it is a fairly new form of coaching and I wanted to learn more about it. Additionally, my organization is exploring Team Coaching and is testing the concept. I explored Team Coaching through a thorough literature review and review of the International Coaching Federation’s website. My research focused on defining team coaching, identifying the benefits of team coaching and the ethics of team coaching along with exploring team coaching competencies. The result of my work was a more thorough understanding of team …

My Leadership Story, Claire Ferguson

Academic Festival

This presentation explores my leadership journey, intertwining personal experiences with key leadership theories. Using the metaphor of a river, I illustrate how pivotal moments—such as committing to play Division 1 lacrosse, overcoming an ACL injury, and winning a championship—have shaped my resilience, adaptability, and ability to support others. The most profound challenge, losing my father during my senior year, further solidified my understanding of leadership as a process of perseverance and empathy.

Throughout this course, I have deepened my understanding of leadership by engaging with theories such as Peter G. Northouse’s definition of leadership as an influence process and insights …

The Relationship Between Psychological Distress, Work Burnout, And Firearm Ownership Among Correctional Officers, Corey Tolliver

Academic Festival

Introduction. This study examines the relationship between psychological distress, work burnout, and firearm ownership among correctional officers. Methods. Using secondary cross-sectional data, we investigated psychological distress, work burnout, and the impact of firearm ownership among 211 correctional officers (COs). Results. Psychological distress is alarmingly high across all racial/ethnic groups, with the vast majority classified as likely to have a severe mental disorder. White COs exhibit the highest mean distress scores. Over half of the COs enrolled reported owning a firearm (54.5%). Those who reported having to own a firearm tended to have higher work burnout compared to those who never …

Performance Of Quasi-Isotropic Gf/Pet Laminates In Impact And Compression After Impact Loading, Yubo Ma, Shuoyan Niu

Research & Creative Achievement Day

The impact resistance and residual compression strength of two types of glass fiber/ polyethylene terephthalate composites are investigated in this research project. The first materials are glass fiber/ polyethylene terephthalate glycol (GF/PRTG) and the second material is glass fiber/ amorphous polyethylene terephthalate (GF/PETa). Both matrix materials are ductile thermoplastic polymers. The ductility of the matrix is expected to improve the impact resistance of the composites. The advantage of the first material is higher ductility and improved fire resistance, and the advantage of the second material is high bonding strength with the reinforcing fiber glass. Both matrixes and low cost engineered …

Differences In Peak Relative Landing Forces In Division Ii Women’S Gymnastics, Basketball, And Soccer, Hailey J. Meyers, Kalli Van Tassell

Research & Creative Achievement Day

PURPOSE: Female athletes tend to be at high risk for lower limb injuries during non-contact landing. Relative peak landing force (RPLF) is the metric being monitored in this study to compare landing forces among three different women’s sports teams. RPLF is the amount of force the athlete is landing with compared to their body weight. This gives insight into athletes that could be at risk for lower limb injuries. METHODS: 16 gymnasts (height: 163.04 ± 4.84cm; BW: 62.17 ± 5.01kg) from the Winona State University gymnastics team participated in five weeks of countermovement jump (CMJ) testing using two force plates …

Modeling Cis/Trans Preferences Of Sn("Acac")2cl2 Complexes, Luke L. Rising, Hanna Sunsdahl, Matthew Burrows, Juan Carlos Feregrino Ponce

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Tin(IV) complexes bearing two chloride ligands and two symmetric β-diketonate ligands exhibit octahedral geometries. As such, they can theoretically present in two geometric isomer forms, cis and trans. Modeling of isomeric forms of these Sn(IV) complexes with five different β-diketonate ligands has been conducted to identify overall preference as well as to attempt to ascertain any influence the ligand's own electronic properties has on exhibited isomeric preference. Additionally, modeled IR spectra of cis and trans forms were compared to determine the utility of that characterization method in distinguishing these isomers.

Capturing Women's Birth Experiences Through Photos, Kristen Montgomery, Betsy Crabtree, Samantha Grayson, Alyssa Harmon, Rachael Robbins, Sarah Shelton, Hannah Sobas, Alexis Taliaferro, Nolan Willard

Epsilon Sigma at-Large Research Conference

Purpose: Each year 3.5 to 4 million women give birth in the United States. Childbirth is a life-changing event that induces various emotions in women. Many women report having a negative experience due to short staffing, inadequate care, and a loss of autonomy. Aims: The aim of the study was to understand what factors contribute to a positive or negative birth experience.

Methods: A descriptive qualitative study was conducted using photo elicitation. Photos were collected from participants and included a description of how the photo represented the participant’s experience. Demographic data were collected through a survey. Participants …

Utilizing The Mdq For Bipolar I Screening In The Primary Care Environment, Jamie Strozier

Epsilon Sigma at-Large Research Conference

Abstract- Utilizing the MDQ for Bipolar I Screening in the Primary Care Environment

Bipolar disorder is a chronic mental health condition characterized by episodes of depression, mania, or mixed symptoms, affecting approximately 5.7 million adults in the U.S. and 40 million individuals worldwide. Despite its significant impact, bipolar disorder is frequently misdiagnosed as major depressive disorder (MDD) in primary care settings, leading to inappropriate treatment and worsening patient outcomes. Research indicates that 78% of bipolar patients are initially misdiagnosed, with only 32% of primary care providers (PCPs) screening for the disorder. This quality improvement project aims to enhance bipolar disorder …

Development Of A Hybrid Synthetic And Computational Teaching Lab Exercise Featuring Budotitane, Kezia J. Lemke

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Budotitane is notable for its reported activity against cancer cells as well as its array of geometric structural possibilities. Preparation of budotitane, bis(1-phenyl-1,2-propanedionato)bis(ethoxy)titanium(IV), and its subsequent characterization by 1H NMR and IR spectroscopies as well as mass spectrometry has been implemented in an upper-level inorganic chemistry course. Computational modeling has also been utilized to predict the most energetically favorable isomer, as well as to generate modeled spectra for comparison to experimentally obtained results.

Progress Towards The Synthesis Of Trans-4-Bromo-2-Heptene, Ava L. Dillon

Research & Creative Achievement Day

trans-4-Bromo-2-heptene (1) is a simple compound that has never been synthesized in pure form and could be a useful starting material for organic synthesis. Therefore, the goal of this research is to synthesize 1 with a multistep synthesis. The synthesis starts with the preparation of hept-2-yn-4-ol (2) via a Grignard synthesis with the triple bond acting as a masking group for the alkene. The alcohol is converted to 4-bromo-2-heptyne (3). Step 3 is the most crucial step of selectively reducing the triple bond to the desired double bond. Finally, because the reduction should produce the cis alkene, the …

The Relationship Between Player Age And Reporting Injuries To Coaches And Medical Personnel, Drew O. Lingen

Research & Creative Achievement Day

It is estimated that there are 1.6 to 3.8 million concussions sustained each year in the USA. While most athletes recover from concussions in just a few days or weeks, prolonged symptoms can affect one's everyday life. This is an essential topic for me because I have first-hand experience with concussions. In 2021-2022, I had four concussions in nine months, with one concussion lasting six months. That concussion ended my college-catching career. I would never want someone to go through what I have gone through in this experience, which is why I have been conducting this study for the past …

Changemakers For Students With Severe Disabilities, Kelsey Lamountain

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Students with severe disabilities continue to face multiple barriers in accessing their education compared to their non-disabled peers. Specifically, they can be segregated from their peers without disabilities, general education teachers, and the general education curriculum. Despite these barriers, special education teachers can work within their role to disrupt ableism and stop harmful practices. In addition to being case managers and teachers, special education teachers can take on the role as advocate as they work towards persisting past the above barriers. Research has documented the importance of teacher educators preparing special education teachers as change agents (Olson & Roberts 2017; …

Ipar Internship, Steven R. Goodnow

Research & Creative Achievement Day

One focus of this poster presentation will be focused on how I used Power BI to visualize institutional data from here at WSU. Another focus point will be how we used data of other institutions from IPEDS to find similar schools to WSU. This internship is a part of my 120 credits toward graduating.

Disparities In Women's Healthcare, Allie Sonnleitner

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Purpose: Women's health care disparities remain an understudied topic within the scientific community, despite the emergence of the Women's Health Movement in the 1960s. It wasn't until 1986 that women were allowed to participate in clinical research and trials. In 2017, the National Institutes of Health launched its first dedicated program to address disparities among women. Studies have consistently found disparities between biological men and women in areas such as pain management, treatment and diagnostics, and inclusion in clinical trials. These studies highlight significant differences in care and provide substantial evidence to support their findings.

Methods and Results: To address …

Harnessing Ai For Small Business Feasibility: A Paddleboard Guiding Venture In Winona, Minnesota, Grace M. Baden, Clay A. Craker, Isabella Howe, Patrick Wright, Andrew A. Regner

Research & Creative Achievement Day

This project explores the integration of artificial intelligence in constructing a feasibility study for a proposed paddleboard guiding business in Winona, Minnesota. Conducted as a six-week applied learning experience within the Commercial Recreation course, students systematically employed AI tools to develop a feasibility analyses, covering business concept development, market research, financial forecasting, and operational planning.

A core focus of this project was AI prompt engineering—students iteratively designed, tested, and refined AI-generated responses to improve the accuracy, clarity, and applicability of feasibility study components. The project also examined AI's efficiency in generating data-driven insights, its limitations in niche market research, and …

Comparison Of Morphological Characteristics And Dna Sequences Of Platyhelminthes Within Dabbling And Diving Ducks Species, Elise A. Betcher, Karolyn M. Kolstad, Ashley L. Marks, Marguerite C. Reitano, Alexander J. Train

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Platyhelminthes, also known as flatworms, are among the most common parasites found in North American duck species. This phylum of parasites includes tapeworms and flukes. This study focused on identifying various Platyhelminthes found in Minnesota and Wisconsin wild ducks using both morphological characteristics and genetic sequencing. Both diving and dabbling species of ducks were used for this study, including green winged-teal (Anas carolinensis) and ring-necked ducks (Aythya collaris). Platyhelminthes were removed from legally harvested ducks and stained before examining and imaging under the microscope to identify key morphologic features for a presumptive identification. Subsequently, DNA was extracted …

Environmental Concerns Of Women In Appalachia, Kristen Montgomery, Adebayo Adeeko, Jessica Binns, Sarah Hall, Paula Hawkins, Allyson Newer, Michaela Outlaw, Karenna Turley

Epsilon Sigma at-Large Research Conference

Purpose: Environmental contamination is rampant in the United States and other parts of the world. There are potential health implications related to environmental contamination.
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Aims: The purpose of this study was to investigate how concerned women in Appalachia are regarding the environment. The following research question was addressed: What concerns do women have regarding the environment? The objective of this study was to understand how women perceive their environment and to evaluate what concerns they have regarding the environment. We also evaluated demographic factors to see if any demographics contributed to particular concerns related …

What Impact Does Ai Have On American Elections?, Andrea Villalba Simon

Academic Festival

This paper explores how artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping the concept and practice of power in the context of voting in the United States. AI has allowed campaigns and institutions to communicate more efficiently, analyze voter behavior, and manage elections with greater precision. However, this same technology introduces major risks. These include the manipulation of public opinion, misinformation, cybersecurity threats, and unequal access to political influence. Through real-world examples and expert insights, this paper examines how AI impacts who holds power, how it is exercised, and what that means for democracy in the U.S. It draws on Robert Dahl’s influential …

Drug Treatment Courts: Choosing Between Rehabilitation And Recidivism, Grace Miller

Academic Festival

The presentation discusses the use of drug treatment courts to serve justice to those whose offenses are related to their struggle with illicit drug use. Drug treatment courts are described and its benefits are outlined. These courts are compared to treatment of drug offenders within the normal justice system, and the drawbacks of drug treatment courts are discussed. This informs the future of drug treatment courts int he United States.

The Influence Of Tiktok And Twitter On Voter Turnout: Social Media’S Role In Political Engagement, Emma Jaghatspanyan

Academic Festival

TikTok and Twitter are two of the most influential social media platforms, particularly among young adults. This research explores how TikTok and Twitter impact youth voter turnout and investigates how targeted strategies on these platforms could enhance or damage political engagement, especially in the electoral process. Using quantitative data from the 2020 American National Election Studies (ANES) survey, I compare how the usage of different social media platforms, namely Tiktok and Twitter, affects voting behaviors in the United Stateswhile controlling for a list of variables such as region, income, and education. The findings reveal that both TikTok and Twitter are …

Engaging The Future: Analyzing Key Drivers Of Youth Political Participation, Brady Rourke

Academic Festival

No abstract provided.

Platform Wars In Maternal Health: What Huel’S Success On Shopify And Amazon Teaches Us About Building Trust And Loyalty, Autumn Marshall

Academic Festival

The United States maintains a poor ranking in maternal mortality rates among developed nations, supporting traditional maternal system mistrust to increase. This creates an increased opportunity for maternity women to seek help from wellness brands. The Amazon and Shopify presence of Huel enabled me as a Marketing Professional, to study how the two digital platforms impact health product purchasing decisions. My research utilizes a comparative platform analysis based on the product features, Health Belief Model and Brand Equity Theory to gain insight for customer experience, SEO strategy, product discoverability and brand storytelling. The study reveals that Amazon provides extensive market …

Star Power: The Impact Of Social Media And Celebrity Endorsements On The 2024 U.S. Presidential Election, Maeve Cahill

Academic Festival

This thesis investigates the role that social media and celebrity endorsements played in the 2024 presidential election. As social media becomes increasingly incorporated into the everyday lives of American citizens and celebrity endorsements become more common on the campaign trail, understanding their changing impact in the context of a modern landscape has become important. I utilized a mixed methods approach to analyze the social media strategies of both the Harris and Trump campaigns, as well as how each candidate leveraged celebrity endorsements. The findings suggest that both campaigns prioritized similar content on their respective X pages and that the engagement …

"If It Doesn't Fit, You Must Acquit": The Perception Of Evidence, Brooke Rizzuto

Academic Festival

The legal process of the criminal justice system may be rooted in facts, but how a jury interprets those facts is inherently subjective. Their perception is influenced by how the case is framed, who is speaking, and how compelling the story is, not just by the evidence alone. This paper explores how psychological factors impact the perception of evidence in court by comparing the People v. Simpson murder trial and the Depp v. Heard defamation lawsuit. Both trials involved large amounts of forensic or digital evidence, expert witness testimony, and media attention, but produced very different outcomes.

In the Simpson …

Empowering Youth: Risk Factors Of Juvenile Delinquency, Shannon Keenan

Academic Festival

No abstract provided.

Testimonio Research Design, Mayra Garcia-Diaz

GS4 Student Scholars Symposium

No abstract provided.

Synthesis And Analysis Of 3,4- Diphenyl Pyridazines Derivatives As Breast Cancer Therapeutics, Joshua Osaghae

GS4 Student Scholars Symposium

No abstract provided.