Digital Commons Network^™

Oh Mother, Where Art Thou Paycheck?: Answering The Mommy Blogger Dilemma With Increased Privacy And Financial Protections For Minors, Sarah M. Parker

SPARK Symposium Presentations

This paper provides an overview of the current child entertainment laws and highlights the need for increased protection of minors working on social media, ultimately arguing for the adoption of a nationwide Coogan Law modeled after Illinois' law and the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation. The paper provides a sample Uniform Coogan Code that jurisdictions could adopt to implement such protections for minors online, including provisions covering required savings, financial access by parents, and the right to be forgotten.

Youth Golf Program Retention, Madison Zehr

SPARK Symposium Presentations

This study investigates the declining retention rates of students in First Tee of Tennessee, a non-profit organization dedicated to teaching golf while fostering character development in children ages 4-18. First Tee, established by the World Golf Foundation in 1997, has provided golf and life skills education to over 300,000 young people nationwide. In Tennessee, the program is managed by the Tennessee Golf Foundation (TGF) and operates across five regions: Chattanooga, Knoxville, Memphis, Nashville, and the Tri-Cities. Despite its positive impact, program administrators have noted a significant retention challenge—student participation decreases by 50% each season.

To understand the causes behind this …

Psychology: Personality, Coping, And Stress In Undergraduates, Gwendolyn Butler, Andrew Clapper, Abby Hill, Sophia Castillo

SPARK Symposium Presentations

It is no secret that college students frequently find themselves the victims of a variety of everyday and long-term stressors that can interfere with their psychological wellbeing (Saleh, et al., 2017). There are a variety of coping styles that students can use to help mitigate their stress, including problem-focused and emotion-focused coping styles (Gárriz et al., 2015).Identifying whether or not certain personality traits respond differently to different coping styles could be a critical step in informing different individuals on specific coping strategies. Currently, however, research gives mixed results regardinghow individuals with certain traits tend to cope, specifically with regards to …

Orientable Quadrilateral Embeddings Of Cartesian Products Of Graphs, Matthew Farnsworth, Max Goskie, Adrian Volpe, Jackson Sayre

SPARK Symposium Presentations

In the spirit of Pisanski (1989) we consider orientable quadrilateral embeddings of Cartesian products of cycles on surfaces. We offer a constructive example of such an embedding of three low-order cycles. Then we show more generally that such embeddings exist for the product of a 2-cycle, and even cycle, and an arbitrary third cycle. We represent our graphs using rotation schemes to show this existence. Use of rotation schemes led to the ultimate characterization of our findings visually, providing conjectures for generalizations of products of three cycles.

Beyond The Stage & Studio: Curating Cultural Conversations Through Fan-Made Syllabi, Annabelle J. Murphy, Grayson Lee

SPARK Symposium Presentations

From pop culture obsession to academic inquiry, Grayson Lee and Annabelle Murphy present their fan-crafted syllabi analyzing the revolutionary impact of "Hamilton" and the raw, enduring legacy of Fleetwood Mac's 1997 live performance of their breakup anthem, ‘Silver Springs’.

The Shifting Power Dynamic: How The Director’S Role Redefined Collaboration With Playwrights, Riley K. Mcconnell

SPARK Symposium Presentations

The Shifting Power Dynamic: How the Director’s Role Redefined Collaboration with Playwrights

Riley McConnell

For much of theatre history, playwrights held primary authority over productions, shaping not only the script but also the staging and interpretation of their work. As theatrical production became more complex during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, however, the role of the director emerged as a central creative force. This essay explores how the development of the modern director transformed the collaborative relationship between playwrights and directors.  By examining the historical rise of directing, influential collaborations such as that between Anton Chekhov and Konstantin Stanislavski, and …

Inside The Alchemical Interior: Remedios Varo’S Reinvention Of The Artist’S Studio, Jacquelyn D. Shadday

SPARK Symposium Presentations

No abstract provided.

The Literary Arsenal In Fahrenheit 451: The Second Amendment Case Against Censorship, Kristen M. Boguslawski

SPARK Symposium Presentations

This paper argues that First Amendment challenges alone are not enough to address the rise of book bans in the United States. As restrictions increasingly limit access to works by minority and LGBTQ plus authors, new constitutional approaches are needed. Using the Law and Literature framework and Fahrenheit 451, the paper proposes applying Second Amendment principles to literature.

It contends that books function as powerful tools that shape thought and protect individuals from harmful ideas and government control. Like firearms, they support self defense, guard against government overreach, and provide personal value. By drawing this comparison, the paper shows that …

Male Fantasies: The Search For Female Sexuality In Ancient Greek Thought, Sophie J. Guthrie

SPARK Symposium Presentations

Feminine sexuality has often been viewed through the lens of male desire. There are many paths one may take to analyze this issue. In this essay, I turn to ancient Greek texts to search for the meaning of a feminine sexuality. I will analyze various scientific, philosophical, and poetic ancient Greek works to better understand the prevalent beliefs at the time. I will begin by looking at the ancient Greek medical explanation of women’s bodies, particularly their sexual organs. Then, I will turn to female sexuality through the lens of a male narrative in ancient Greek texts. In the end, …

Do You Remember Me?: America's Racist Past And The Construction Of "Blackness", Shae South

SPARK Symposium Presentations

The United States has a dark and complicated relationship with the idea of race and what it means to belong to a specific group of people dating back to before the first enslaved African stepped foot onto its shores. The lynching case of Dan Davis showcases this precarious past, as the accounts of his brutal murder convey a level of excitement that was not unusual in these situations, yet he was quickly forgotten about and cast aside like many others who suffered a fate similar to his. This forgetting, the casting aside of traumas, has defined the Black experience since …

Music Therapy For Women Survivors Of Human Trafficking And Domestic Violence, Dorothy Briggs

SPARK Symposium Presentations

As music therapy research progresses, populations that are underrepresented and under-researched become more evident. There is a lack of research, specifically intervention studies, addressing the needs of women survivors of human trafficking and domestic violence. The aim of this study was to construct a goal focused plan of care created by and for these survivors. Nine music therapy sessions were created, each focusing on a different goal outlined by women survivors completing the work development program at Strings for Hope in Nashville, Tennessee. The sessions followed a natural progression, addressing increasingly more difficult topics. One session was led with the …

Gen Z Voter Turnout: An Analysis Of Barriers To Participation In State And Local Elections, Avery Allen

SPARK Symposium Presentations

This study examines the factors contributing to the generational gap in civic participation, with a focus on smaller-scale elections. Using both quantitative and qualitative data, the research identifies barriers to local and state electoral participation among Generation Z and provides recommendations for civic organizations seeking to increase youth voter turnout.

Vitriol For The Masses: How The U.S. Government Uses Language Within Propaganda To Influence Citizens’ Opinions On Immigrants, G Smith-Rasmussen

CEG 450 Cultural, Environmental, and Global Studies Capstone

Politicians do not directly express vitriolic words and beliefs; instead, they test the boundaries of what is accepted and slowly push the line until the hate becomes increasingly normalized. The United States government has similar goals in mind when pushing anti-immigration propaganda. The aim is to normalize harmful stereotypes and ideas of what immigrants are, to sway people into supporting their policies. The current immigrant population that is being heavily targeted is Latin immigrants. This paper aims to analyze how harmful the 2024 presidential administrations' language surrounding Latin immigrants is through discourse analysis.

Handmade Versus Fast Fashion: An Analysis Of Human Consumption And Use Patterns, Emily E. Henderson

CEG 450 Cultural, Environmental, and Global Studies Capstone

This paper written for the Sociology and Anthropology capstone applies sociological theory to the importance of the handmade in a world where hand sewing is becoming a dying craft. Using a variety of historical examples, it establishes the importance of the handmade in the past and discovers what meaning humans find in the act of making and using handmade clothing. It uses these examples to dissect what consumers now seek from fast fashion, suggesting ways the industry has taken advantage of those desires for the sake of profit. The paper concludes that acts of hand sewing and mending are small …

2024-2025 Annual Report, Tennessee. Department Of Revenue

Annual Reports

No abstract provided.

“Single Girl, Married Girl:” Female Perspectives On Marriage, Maidenhood, And Motherhood In English-Language Folk Music, Avery Schanbacher

Libraries Award for Undergraduate Scholarship

In 1928, the Carter Family released “Single Girl, Married Girl.” The recording featured only Sara and Maybelle Carter, and in three short stanzas, highlighted the vastly differing lives of the single girl, who dressed fine and went where she pleased, and the married girl, with a baby on her knee, who rocked the cradle and cried. Sara and Maybelle Carter weren’t the only people who knew this song – before they recorded it for Ralph Peer at the famous Bristol sessions, it was alive as a part of musical traditions not just in their home in Scott County, Virginia, but …

Ioto: Never Open A Stiff Lid Again, Gabriel Portugal

Libraries Award for Undergraduate Scholarship

Background: From baby food to pickles, food jars are a common find in American homes. Unfortunately,  the task of opening a stiff jar lid can be very difficult for consumers with lower grip strength, parkinsons,  or arthritis. While there are a variety of products on the market to help make this easier, there exist few jar  openers that can be used by these consumers. Objective: This project aimed to research and develop  (R&D) an improved hands-free jar opener that is accessible for consumers with the most advanced  cases of limited arm strength. Methods: R&D followed a Design Thinking approach with …

Table Of Contents, Antonio Medina-Rivera

International Journal of the Linguistic Association of the Southwest

No abstract provided.

Domains Of Use And Self-Reported Proficiency: A Comparative Study Of Heritage Spanish Speakers Across Two University Campuses, Sara Castro Cantú, Salvatore Callesano

International Journal of the Linguistic Association of the Southwest

This study takes a sociolinguistic approach to exploring self-rated proficiency of Latinx, heritage Spanish speakers in Illinois. Recent studies show how dominant discourses around Spanish-English bilingualism and the educational environment in higher education institutions shape Latinx speakers’ self-perceptions of proficiency. We specifically investigate and compare two groups of college students from Chicago: students who attend a large public Predominantly-white institution in central Illinois, and students who attend a large public Hispanic-Serving institution in the heart of Chicago. Students completed an online survey about their language histories and linguistic profiles. Descriptive correlation analyses are presented that examine the relationships between self-reported …

Strengthening Student Talk And Academic Discourse, Ashley Bushell, Amber White, Jamie Richardson

Instructional Modules for Professional learning Responding to Opportunities and Valuing Educators (IMPROVE)

This Professional Learning Module (PLM) on Strengthening Student Talk and Academic Discourse is designed to support K-12 grade educators in integrating student talk and academic discourse into their classrooms to improve student engagement. Grounded in research, this PLM provides participants with practical strategies and resources to use in their classroom through the integration of student communication. Regardless of your role in the school, this module will help you foster academic conversations in your classroom that can lead to your students gaining confidence and a deeper understanding of the content. By the end of this module, you will have taught a …

Behavior Management Strategies For Beginning Teachers, Tonisha Chislom, Cambridge Gamble, Margaret Mcgee

Instructional Modules for Professional learning Responding to Opportunities and Valuing Educators (IMPROVE)

Behavior Basics: Empowering New Educators is a professional learning module (PLM) intended to shape behavior and ignite success. This learning module is geared towards beginning teachers looking to strengthen their classroom management by reflecting on research based strategies highlighted in this module.

View professional learning module.

Integrating Ai In Instruction, Janet Evans, Melissa Mcclary, Jennie Handy

Instructional Modules for Professional learning Responding to Opportunities and Valuing Educators (IMPROVE)

Integrating AI in Instruction is a Professional Learning Module (PLM) created to help educators feel more confident and informed about using artificial intelligence (AI) in the classroom. Many teachers feel unsure or even a little afraid of AI simply because it is unfamiliar. This module is designed to break down those fears by introducing practical tools, real classroom applications, and simple strategies that align with high-impact teaching practices. You will explore how to use AI in ways that are ethical and equitable, with a focus on student data privacy and digital citizenship. You will also reflect on how AI can …

Chaos To Confidence: Claiming Your Classroom, Lashae Tietsort, Dasha Glover, Keyana Jackson, Shanel Beason

Instructional Modules for Professional learning Responding to Opportunities and Valuing Educators (IMPROVE)

Nearly half of educators reported that students' behaviors were “a lot worse” than in 2019 before the pandemic (Peetz, 2025). Since COVID, teachers report that students are more prone to misbehavior and defiance, less socially skilled and emotionally mature, less motivated, focused, and present in class, and academically behind, struggling with attendance (Macias, 2024).

The goal of this professional learning module is to equip educators with research-based strategies for establishing a clear classroom vision, implementing effective procedures and expectations, and fostering strong relationships with students and their families. These strategies aim to enhance student engagement and create a supportive learning …

Rooted In Connection: Using Ai To Strengthen Communication, Matthew Feuer, Betsy Hanks, Bradi Jordan, Brice Melton

Instructional Modules for Professional learning Responding to Opportunities and Valuing Educators (IMPROVE)

Communication in the digital age of Artificial Intelligence (AI) may feel like a journey into a crowded forest for many educators. This professional learning module (PLM) aims to support teachers in their use of AI to communicate with families to provide a more rooted feel. The module is framed around the responsible use of AI and rooted in research on the importance of establishing effective communication and building relationships with students and their families. Teachers at any experience level will benefit from the use of this PLM. From beginning teachers hoping to reduce the overload of their new career, to …

Spanish Conquistadors As God’S Chosen People: The Role Of Biblical Metaphor In Angélico Chávez's Recounting Of Southwest History, Nicholas L. Chavez

International Journal of the Linguistic Association of the Southwest

This study presents a critical discourse analysis of Fray Angélico Chávez’s My Penitente Land: Reflections on Spanish New Mexico through a cognitive linguistic lens based on Hawkins’s notion of iconographic reference. A metaphor analysis first identifies Chávez’s framing of New Mexican history as biblical narrative, mapping Old Testament stories, locations, and characters onto Spanish colonial events. The iconographic reference analysis then demonstrates how this metaphor functions discursively: a biblical iconographic frame of reference allows Chávez to create a biblically-based heirarchy which maps onto Spanish–Indigenous relations, positioning Spaniards as a chosen people and implicitly justifying colonial atrocities by aligning Indigenous groups …

Editorial Advisors, Antonio Medina-Rivera

International Journal of the Linguistic Association of the Southwest

No abstract provided.

Fostering Holistic Transitions: The Role Of Social Capital And Catholic Values In A College Orientation Program, Amir Aligan Austria

Journal of Catholic Education

This study examines how De La Salle University’s college orientation fosters holistic student transition by cultivating social capital, shaping habitus, and embedding Catholic values. Drawing on focus groups with eleven sophomores and juniors, we analyze peer networks, mentoring sessions, peer interactions, and communal rituals through Bourdieu’s habitus and Stanton-Salazar’s institutional agents frameworks, situated within Ex Corde Ecclesiae and Evangelii Gaudium. Findings reveal that structured mentoring and block activities strengthen relational ties; guided reflections function as “habitus exercises”; and liturgies and faith reflections operationalize solidarity, preferential option for the marginalized, and communion. Together, these practices deepen students’ spiritual purpose, moral …

Σ-Ary, Minnesota State University Moorhead, Mathematics Department

Math Department Newsletters

No abstract provided.

Leadership In 21st Century Policing, Joseph L. Keating

M.S. in Leadership

No abstract provided.

Positive Reinforcement In Leadership, Jen Lee Williams

M.S. in Leadership

This project examined whether leaders’ use of positive reinforcement
improves team retention, satisfaction, and performance across Generation
X, Millennials, and Generation Z. Jen Williams selected this topic due to the
rising turnover challenges and lack of consistent reinforcement training in
leadership practice. Using mixed-methods design, the study combined a
quantitative survey of 13 working professionals with a qualitative interview
from a Generation X leader participant. Results showed that over 92% of
the participants felt motivated by recognition, and 72% linked
reinforcement to increased satisfaction and desire to stay with their
organization. Generational differences appeared in frequency, authenticity,
and emotional sensitivity …