Digital Commons Network^™

Decades After Exposure: The Continuing Burden Of Asbestos-Related Diseases In The United States, Hannah Mnayarji, Luke Montgomery, Tunde Adebola

Liberty University Research Week

Many consider diseases caused by asbestos exposure to be antiquated conditions that are rarely observed today. However, asbestos-related diseases (ARDs) have long latency periods, meaning that the time between exposure to asbestos and the onset of disease typically ranges between 20-40 years. Since the last import of asbestos to the United States was in 2023, occupational exposure has continued into recent history. This study hypothesizes that there has not yet been a decline in asbestosis and mesothelioma incidence and mortality–two conditions primarily caused by asbestos exposure–indicating that the latency period between asbestos exposure and disease occurrence persists into the modern …

Creative Resilience In Career Counseling: Innovative Strategies For Diverse Populations, Janita Daggy, Deepa Michelle Emmanuel, Stacey Coyne

Liberty University Research Week

Ongoing workforce shifts and social inequities have intensified the challenges many individuals face during career transitions. While creativity and resilience are each associated with career adaptability and success, their combined application in career counseling has received limited attention. This presentation introduces a creative resilience framework grounded in career construction and narrative approaches. Creative interventions, including narrative reframing, metaphor, expressive writing, and experiential strategies, are highlighted as tools for supporting flexibility, meaning-making, and engagement. A culturally responsive practitioner toolkit is proposed for use with diverse populations such as first-generation students, veterans, and displaced workers. Implications for counseling practice and future research …

Honoring Survivors’ Wholeness: Recommendations For University Offices Of Wellness, Maeve Jillian King

GS4 Student Scholars Symposium

Rates of child abuse are nationally significant, especially after considering how much violence goes unreported. Many college students have experienced sexual violence prior to arriving on campus, where incidents of sexual victimization are prominent. With this in mind, how can university offices of wellness support survivors wherever they are in their journey of survivorship? Previous research rarely considers both realities of victimization, but displays large concerns surrounding survivor’s mental health and educational obtainment. Additionally peer and social support play significant roles in survivor outcomes. This interdisciplinary literature review examines current university practices, mental health realities, and impacts of culture on …

Exploring The Changes In First-Year Students’ Self-Regulated Learning From High School To College, Nancy E. Rodriguez, Anna C. Brady

GS4 Student Scholars Symposium

During the first semester of college, students experience drastic changes in their independence, and learning strategies. This transitional period from high school to the first semester of college requires researchers to understand students’ self-regulated learning (SRL) processes during their first year. It is important to understand the connection between students’ experiences, learning strategies, and persistence in college. Knowledge on this connection can support funding for institutional resources like first-year seminar classes. These classes can improve students’ commitment for graduating on time, and academic achievement. For this reason, the proposed project aims to investigate students’ engagement in SRL by answering the …

Predicting Diabetes Using Logistic Regression: A Cross-Sectional Analysis Of The Pima Indians Diabetes Dataset, Caroline Andrew, Ibrahim Aliu

GS4 Student Scholars Symposium

Introduction: Globally, Diabetes affects an estimated 589 million adults and caused approximately 3.4 million deaths equivalent to one death every six seconds, with type 2 diabetes accounting for most cases. The Pima Indians of Arizona have one of the highest documented prevalence rates of type 2 diabetes globally, making their population central to diabetes research. Although the Pima Diabetes Dataset has been widely used in predictive and machine-learning studies, few investigations have applied rigorous multivariable epidemiologic methods to quantify the independent contributions of key demographic and metabolic risk factors. This study aimed to characterize diabetes risk factors and quantify independent …

A Cross-Cultural Analysis Of Medieval And Early Modern Iberian Dress, Kennedy Pemberton

GS4 Student Scholars Symposium

The 15th and 16th centuries represent some of the most historically significant years for the Spanish Kingdom. The Spanish Inquisition, consequent subjugation of the moors, and discovery and conquest of the Americas each display a unique strength and objective of the Spaniards within the late 1400s and early 1500s. As these events altered the world, so too did they alter forms of dress. The integration of Muslims into Spanish society opened the door for Moorish influence in certain elements of Spanish dress, especially regarding decorative elements like embroidery. The conquering of foreign lands provided a wealth of gold, gems, and …

What Is Philosophy For? Reading Wittgenstein After Cavell, Maggie L. Zhang

2026 Claremont Colleges Library Undergraduate Research Award

This literature review examines two major strands of Cavellian scholarship on Wittgenstein, arguing that their relative separation has obscured the insights each offers the other. Cavell’s “therapeutic” reading of Wittgenstein understands his philosophical project not as a theory of language but as an activity aimed at dissolving the philosophical fantasy of such a theory. This approach has been taken up along two largely distinct lines of inquiry: one focused on the Tractatus and the debate between substantial and austere views of nonsense, and another centered on the Philosophical Investigations and its relation to ordinary language philosophy, particularly in light of …

Potential Interactions Between Pharmaceuticals And Microbial Biofilms On Microplastic Surfaces, Brooklyn Sims

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

Microplastics (MPs) and pharmaceuticals are common contaminants in urban streams, where MPs are colonized by microbial biofilms. This study tested whether pharmaceuticals adsorb onto MPs and alter microbial biofilm communities. Polyester fibers were added to twelve laboratory stream mesocosms, and a subset received seven pharmaceuticals at environmentally relevant concentrations. After 15 days, MP and water samples were collected. HPLC confirmed the adsorption of all pharmaceuticals onto MPs. Amplicon sequencing revealed that pharmaceutical exposure did not significantly change bacterial or algal diversity or community composition on MPs or in stream water. The lack of effect may reflect the low pharmaceutical concentrations …

Chattla+ - Can Llms Write Correct Tla+ Specifications?, Eric Spencer

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

TLA+ is a programming language used by companies like Amazon and Microsoft to mathematically prove a system is correct via specifications. We evaluate 30 LLMs on 205 public TLA+ specifications, achieving only 8.6% semantic correctness. Model size doesn't predict quality, DeepSeek r1:8B outperforms it's 70B variant. ChatTLA+, our fine-tuned GPT-OSS-20B model, uses TLC model checking as a path toward reliable formal specification synthesis through reinforcement learning.

Exploring Kimchi And Polysaccharide Characteristics Via Fermentation Of Napa Cabbage, Patrick Mallari, Christopher Tran

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

Kimchi is a fermented food popularized in Korea, which originated in an era where it was necessary to preserve vegetables throughout fall and winter seasons. Due to the fermentation, the bacteria found in kimchi assist with several mechanisms in digestion, specifically in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. A particular bacteria of interest was Lactobacillus plantarum, or now known as Lactiplantibacillus plantarum. The goal of this research project is to examine the efficiency of fermentation from L. plantarum as a probiotic compared to bacterial cultures found in kimchi.

Characterizing The Red Line Noise Curve, Bennett Korotko, Jilian Paulson, Cole Owen Bucholtz, Daniel O'Shea

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

The telescope dome on top of Cudahy Science Hall is currently without a telescope, due to the vibrational noise from the Red Line trains which pass closely by, roughly every five minutes. In this work, we design and implement an experiment to characterize the excess noise signal generated by these trains, working towards the future implantation of a new telescope. We construct simple geophones to detect the vibrational signal, which is then analyzed using power spectral density (PSD) estimates. We consider the effects of location, time of day, and detector noise on our analysis and discuss potential implications.

Systemic Barriers To Parental Involvement In Immigrant Families: Impact On Children’S Academic Outcomes, Ama Jane Baffoe

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

This literature review examines how parental involvement and systemic barriers influence children’s academic outcomes, specifically within immigrant families. By analyzing research on language proficiency and work schedules, this study identifies how these factors limit parental participation in school-based activities. Findings indicate that while parental involvement consistently correlates with academic achievement and emotional stability, current school systems often disadvantage immigrant families facing these barriers. The review concludes that schools must develop more inclusive involvement strategies to eliminate educational inequalities and better support the success of students from diverse backgrounds.

Allelopathy In Small-Scale Cropping Systems, William Quinn

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

Maximizing yield within a limited growing space is an important goal of small-scale agriculture. The opportunities and constraints of small-scale agriculture have inspired the implementation of relay cropping. In relay cropping systems, different crop species are grown together, and their plant-plant interactions, including allelopathy, the release of biochemicals that influence neighboring species’ growth, play a critical role in their success or failure. To evaluate allelopathic potential for 6 unique species pairings we implemented 8 unique in-situ methods and complementary aqueous extract assays to assess ex situ allelopathic potential to better inform small-scale growers of alternative management practices to raise yields …

Unpaid Internship Award Presentation By Cella Porter, Cella Porter

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

As a Behavioral Health Intern at Alternatives, I support students at Theodore Roosevelt High School through weekly one-on-one mentorship meetings. Because of my impact at this unpaid internship, Loyola University of Chicago has granted me the Unpaid Internship Award. This presentation outlines my role, work, and takeaways from my time at Alternatives.

​​Accessibility Of Online Health Portals​, Kailey A. Cooper, Nate Dolan, Carly Kreisa, Ayva Peterson, Lindsey Pinter, Helen Prow, Abagail Ripley, Amelia Torgerson

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Winona State University Nursing students partnered with Winona County Public Health to create education for clients related to accessibility, navigating online health portals, and addressing barriers to accessing portals. The project included a community assessment and literature review that outlines health portals and how they are accessed amongst different patient populations. As the healthcare world shifts from paper to online services, online health or patient portals have become increasingly common (Andreadis et al., 2025). Online health portals are used as a communication pathway between healthcare interdisciplinary teams and the patient. Information on these portals includes lab results, communication with providers, …

What Is The Impact Of Stress? A Comparison Study Of College Athletes & Non-Athletes, Paige M. Christianson, Kyra Nelson, Kylie S. Buck, Kaidin S. Barnes

Research & Creative Achievement Day

The aim of this study was to explore differences in stress mindset, perceived stress, and extreme life stressors among athlete and non-athlete college students. The sample included participants recruited from a Midwestern university (N = 312), in which 28.2% identified as an athlete in either a NCAA Division II team and/or a sports club. Participants completed an online anonymous Qualtrics survey answering questions measuring their stress mindset, perceived stress, and current most extreme life stressor. Comparisons between the two groups, stress mindset scores and perceived stress scores were evaluated through independent samples t-tests, while differences in most extreme life stressor …

Effects Of Exercise And Chemotherapy Treatments On Survival And Climbing Activity In Drosophila Melanogaster With Different Mitochondrial Genotypes., Amber A. Haines

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Mitochondrial variation plays a role in energy production, physical performance and responses to physiological stress. This study investigated how Drosophila melanogaster, fruit flies, mitochondrial differences and exercise affected survival under the cisplatin and climbing abilities. Fruit flies with different mitochondrial genotypes were assigned to exercise and non-exercise groups. These groups were then split and assigned to either sugar or cisplatin, a chemotherapy drug. Survival rates and climbing ability, a measure of neurodegeneration, were monitored after the treatment. This study will provide information about how mitochondrial variation and exercise can influence responses to environmental and chemical stress.

Public Health Book Club, Ashia Meister, James W. Durst, Ameila Beyer, Kelly K. Freymiller, Julia I. Kunz, Jaci M. Winchell, Josephine M. Sandquist, Chloe F. Sand

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Introduction: This project describes the development and implementation of a book club focused on population health topics to promote learning, discussion, and community engagement. A public library is a safe space to host book club meetings due to its non-intimidating environment. All members of the community are welcome to participate. A book club was hosted on campus for members of the nursing cohort to attend. With a focus on public health, these book clubs build awareness, critical thinking, and community engagement around population health issues. Purpose: The promotion of a book club can improve health literacy in the community by …

Deep Tissue Massage-Induced Muscle Damage Associated With Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (Doms), Stress, And Rhabdomyolysis, Lily M. Ekert, Ella R. Halopka, Micah Maddio, Marisa Wood, Bailey Kerkow, Logan Murphy, Ashley Wise

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Deep tissue massage is a common treatment method used to aid in muscle recovery, reduce pain, and promote overall physical well-being. However, there is limited research explaining its biochemical effects at a cellular level, particularly in relation to muscle damage and systemic inflammation. Severe cases of muscle tissue breakdown are Rhabdomyolysis, which is discussed with an emphasis on clinical evidence rather than biochemical aspects. The goal of this study is to determine whether deep tissue massages cause cellular damage and tissue inflammation. This testing will be done through quantitative measurements of biomarkers within the bloodstream. In previous studies, four specific …

Evaluating Movement-Based Detection Of Moose Calving Using Gps Collar Data, Lauren A. Beck

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Moose (Alces alces) give birth during a short seasonal window and exhibit distinct changes in movement behavior, including long-distance travel followed by a period of localized movement while caring for newborn calves. Previous research has shown that these patterns can be identified using GPS collar data; however, it remains unclear whether movement data alone can reliably predict calving events. This study evaluated whether movement-based metrics derived from processed GPS collar data from the 2013 calving season could be used to develop a predictive model for calving. Movement data were compiled into a dataset of daily movement features and event-level summaries, …

Accuracy Of Wearables For Measuring Heart Rate, Xavier R. Mogensen, Kirstyn M. Sand, Imogene Fields

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Within the HERS department at WSU, the Polar H9 heart rate (HR) monitor has often been the standardized method for tracking HR during exercise for lab use. Today there are various portable methods that are widely used to track changes in HR while exercising that are more user friendly and intuitive. This study intends to test the accuracy of alternative HR trackers compared to the Polar H9 in order to determine if these alternative methods can be used in the HERS lab setting. College aged male and female participants will be instructed to sit, walk, and run for 6 minutes …

What Do Healthy Eaters Do?: A Qualitative Analysis Of Self-As-Doer Healthy Eater Identities, Ava N. Krolnik, Esther A. Gauerke, Megan L. Ekern, Georgia R. Jeddeloh, Isabelle C. Okeson, Riley G. Buck, Madeline Bersch

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Healthy eating is critical for promoting longevity, lowering risk of chronic illnesses like heart disease and maintaining a healthy weight. However, only 1 in 10 Americans are meeting dietary guidelines and 60% have one or more diet-related chronic diseases. Research on psychosocial factors like the Theory of Planned Behavior and identity may help promote the engagement of healthy eating behaviors. Longitudinal research suggests that factors such as attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control and intentions predict long-term eating behaviors and lifestyle changes when intentions are internalized and believed. Research also demonstrates that constructs such as the self-as-doer identity predict healthy …

Growing Alum Crystals, Jackson A. Struhar, Alexis M. Freiboth, Ana N. Schneider

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Alum, also known as Potash, is used to can pickles. Alum powder was used to create seed crystals. The seed crystal was hung in a jar submerged in distilled water with alum powder dissolved to attempt to grow an Alum crystal over the Spring semester. Three different concentrations were used to determine changes associated with crystal growth and quality. Numerous strategies were employed throughout the semester as growth methods worked and did not work.

Growing Large Alum Crystals, Wyatt N. Laborde, Will Gunderson, Kyle R. Behrens

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Alum forms a colorless cubic crystal that can grow to the size of a small apple over the span of 2-3 months of growth in a concentrated solution. Many different seed crystal solutions were used to obtain large clear seed crystals. The best seed crystal was attached to a string and suspended in various concentrations of Alum solution to allow for the seed crystal to grow into a large crystal. By monitoring the weight of the crystal, the solution concentration was adjusted for optimum growth.

Health Education For Caregivers Of Individuals With Intellectual And Developmental Disability (Idd), Madison M. Conlin, Jack Lux, Megan Hesse, Sadie Olson, Violet Nelson, Christina Chao, Anna Peterson, Johanna Shubert

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Background: Winona State University nursing students partner with Home and Community Options (HCO) during their population health clinical experience. HCO’s mission is to “empower and support people with developmental disabilities,” with a vision of ensuring that all individuals thrive and are valued members of their communities (Home and Community Options, n.d.). The Healthcare Director at HCO identified a need for additional staff education related to common health conditions affecting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), including arthritis, diabetes, and depression or other mental health concerns. In response to this identified need, nursing students developed evidence-based educational strategies to enhance …

Mental Health And Loneliness Within College Students, Kaylee R. Bateman, Josie Kessel, Kylie Anderson, Madeline Beinborn, Julia Bangert, Madeline Vitzthum, Sarah Jama

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Purpose: Mental health is a broad topic, with many different aspects that can affect someone's daily life. Loneliness is the feeling of being alone or experiencing an imbalance between desired and actual social interactions (Potter et al., 2023). This project explores, the mental health aspect of loneliness. Data from Winona State University (WSU) students was collected using the UCLA Loneliness Scale (ULS3). On campuses, many traditional college students experience loneliness from a new environment that is potentially away from family, friends, and familiarity. The transition to college and experiencing independence for the first time can increase stress levels, thus, increasing …

Publishing Satori Literary Journal, Shaela Eriksen, Jade Mcelmury, Reagan Roesler, Camden Mcdonald, Jade Mcelmury, Elena Armstrong, Lydia Domaille, Jenifer Frick, Linda Hang, Eva Hodnick, Sarah Huderle, Dylan Jackson, Charlie Lund, Kendra Mcclure, Linda Moua, Callie Sahlstrom, Allen Wedekind

Research & Creative Achievement Day

This poster presentation will cover how ENG 324 created Winona State University's Literary Art Journal, Satori, and its companion, Irotas. Both journals feature works of poetry, fiction, non-fiction, and photo submissions. Satori was created by students in the class who worked to solicit submissions and market the journal across campus.  This presentation will also cover the production process and the many logistical aspects of publishing a literary journal.

The process of soliciting submissions included a variety of social media and traditional formats to advertise the Satori submissions. While receiving submissions, the class studied the legal and production processes of book …

Social Dominance In Cd1 Female Mice, Hannah G. Casselman, Eli Illescas-Huerta, Nancy Padilla-Coreano

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Social rank and dominance have a profound impact on the survival of many animals. Social dominance fosters social stability and modulates neuroactivity, immune response, and endocrine function. Understanding and measuring social rank in laboratory mice is crucial when assessing social behavior. Previous research has focused primary on dominance in male mice based on measurements of aggressive and competitive behaviors. However, it remains unclear how social dominance is exhibited in female mice and which behavioral assays are most effective for measuring their rank. Males tend to be aggressive and territorial, whereas females engage in less aggressive and visibly competitive behaviors. Given …

A Collaborative Approach To Strengthening Behavioral Strategies To The Arcadia School District, Mallory Arndt, Sada Stanley, Ariana Huntington, Erin Janiszewski, Syndey Graf, Josie Becker, Bailey Ripley, Dana Jones, Gabby Rinowski, Luke Garner, Hailey Schliep

Research & Creative Achievement Day

The School District of Arcadia is lacking mental health resources due to budget cuts from state and federal levels. Mental health needs have become a rising concern in recent years. With that, the guidance counselors, who traditionally supported students' emotional regulation and behavioral needs, became increasingly occupied with Academic and Career Planning requirements, leaving them with limited time to address students' mental health needs. To help address this need, Winona State University nursing students partnered with the district's guidance counselors to develop supplemental emotional management and decision-making skills-building videos that counselors could use during busy periods to support students' coping …

Higher Than Cloud Nine By Grace Ahrens, Grace Ahrens

Research & Creative Achievement Day

This is a poster presentation on a novel written by me. The poster will feature the book's cover, synopsis, and a few printed lines and paragraphs from the book. This novel is my spring semester project for the Winona Wordsmiths club.