Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Commons^™

Evaluating Moisture Content , Organic Matter And Mineral Matter In Mangrove Sediments Of The Wouri Estuary, Cameroon, Fama A. Dia

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Mangroves are important coastal ecosystems that support carbon storage, coastal protection, biodiversity, and sediment dynamics. However, the variability and composition of sediments in the tropical Wouri Estuary (Cameroon) remain poorly understood. This study investigates the relationships between key properties such as moisture content, organic matter, and mineral matter in mangrove sediments of the Wouri Estuary. Three sediment cores were collected from the west (Mungo), central (Koo), and east (Dibamba) flanks of the estuary and analyzed using the Loss on Ignition (LOI) method. Samples were oven-dried at 105°C for 48 hours to determine moisture content and combusted at 550°C for 4 …

Ownership Duration In The U.S. Business Jet Market, Yuchen Hu

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

This study analyzes ownership duration in the U.S. business jet market using FAA registry data as of February 16, 2026 (N=12,359). The analysis reveals a structured distribution with a mean of 5.86 years and a median of 5.00 years. Crucially, retention varies by acquisition status: new aircraft owners exhibit an average hold of 7.36 years, whereas pre-owned aircraft holders show a significantly higher turnover of 5.11 years, with most resales occurring within a 3–7-year window. These findings suggest that ownership behavior is driven by structured asset management and lifecycle planning, providing a predictive framework for identifying aircraft replacement and trade-in …

The Impact Of School Resource Officers (Sros) On Background Juvenile Arrest Rates, Marcell D. Dely

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

School Resource Officers (SROs) are widely used in U.S. schools with the goal of improving safety and preventing violence. However, research shows mixed results regarding their overall effectiveness. While SROs can help deter serious threats and create a safer school environment, their presence is also associated with increased disciplinary actions and arrests for minor, non-violent behaviors. This study examines whether SROs reduce school violence or contribute to the criminalization of student misconduct. Findings suggest that outcomes largely depend on factors such as implementation, role clarity, and school policies. The paper highlights the need for clearer guidelines, limited involvement in minor …

Stylemys Nebrascensis Predation Hypothesis, Noah Lohrmeyer, Amanda Peng

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

In 2008 a fossilized tortoise shell was brought into the Sternberg Museum of Natural History. As we prepared the fossil, we observed markings that resembled predation. We are trying to find what species from the White River Formation could preyed on the tortoise. There are few publications on predation for this species. With few publications, we want to find what predator would hunt these species. We cross referenced the site of the tortoise and observed several carnivorous species. We used straight carapace length (Hermanson et al., 2024) and a regression formula (Wilson et al., 2016) to analyze the species we …

Exploring Innovative Display Of Painting Through Creating A Dual-Sided Suspended Piece, Erin K. Tichota

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

For this project, I aimed to expand upon my existent painting skills and learn new methods through unconventional techniques for display. My concept of this piece was to convey the sinking and stagnant feeling of being in a rut of depression. The ropes are meant to convey a web of thoughts that the subject is trapped in, while they are sinking deeper in their bed. The dual sided aspect of this project is meant to further emphasize the concept through creating a sense of  duality and permanence.

Spectroscopic Characterization And Extraction Optimization Of Catechins In Green Tea, Zach J. Mckinley, Masakatsu Watanabe

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

This research initiative immerses students in a multifaceted analytical chemistry investigation of catechins—polyphenolic antioxidants prevalent in green tea—through the application of both classical and modern techniques. The project emphasizes hands-on experience with real-world sample analysis, method development, and critical data interpretation.

Catechins were extracted from various commercial green tea products, including loose leaves, powders, and dietary supplements, by trituration with ethyl acetate followed by solvent partitioning using a methanol and water solution. The resulting extracts were analyzed using UV-Visible spectroscopy to quantify catechin content. Selected samples were further characterized by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS), confirming both the identity and purity …

Mumm Vs. Minium: A Tale Of Two Quarries, Kale Link, Amanda Peng

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

In 2025, a discrepancy was discovered in the field numbers of a selection of mammal fossils, which had been mistakenly catalogued as originating from the Minium Quarry in Graham County, KS instead of the Mumm Quarry in Rawlins County, KS. While both quarries belong to the Ogallala Formation, they demonstrate differing biostratigraphic ages, faunal assemblages, and taphonomic settings. Mumm is Clarendonian aged, while Minium is Hemphillian. To correct this issue, all the Mumm specimens were assigned to an updated locality with more precise geographic and biostratigraphic data.

Developing Strategies For Pce Outreach, Mariah Blankenbaker, Gordon Carlson, Daniel Adesoji, Levi Eck

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

In collaboration with Professional and Continuing Education (PCE), we produced projects to automate their internal tasks, as well as to promote their services. By taking advantage of software techniques, we bridged live-action footage with 2D and 3D computer visuals for promotional material. In addition, we researched the capabilities of creating a custom Generative Pre-trained Transformer (GPT) and trained it to analyze and interact with thousands of industry datapoints.

Depth-Dependent Variation Of Organic And Inorganic Components In Mangrove Sediments: Dibamba Vs Koo Mangrove, Khady Christine Diouf

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Mangroves are important carbon sinks and play a key role in the global climate system, yet tropical estuaries such as the Wouri estuary, Cameroon, remain poorly studied. This study aims to improve understanding of how organic matter varies with depth within mangrove sediments. Sediment cores were collected from two locations within the estuary: Dibamba River mangrove (DM; 3°56′14.0″N, 9°44′54.0″E) and Koo tidal creek mangrove (KM; 3°57′36.0″N, 9°38′51.0″E). Sediments were subsampled at regular depth intervals and analyzed using Loss on Ignition (LOI). Samples were dried at 105 °C for 48 hours to determine moisture content, heated at 550 °C for 4 …

Hydrodynamic Control On Organic Matter Deposition In Mungo And Dimbamba (Wouri Estuary)”, Maimouna Traore

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

This study investigates how hydrodynamic energy controls organic matter (OM) deposition in the Wouri Estuary using sediment cores from Mungo and Dimbamba. OM was determined using the Loss on Ignition (LOI) methods with samples dried at 105°C  for 48 hours and combusted at 550°C for 4 hours .

High OM values at Mungo (27.4–42.6%) indicate a low-energy environment that promotes sediment deposition and OM preservation. In contrast, low OM values at Dimbamba (15.7–30.5%) reflect high-energy conditions that enhance sediment reworking and limit OM accumulation.

These results confirm that OM content is an effective proxy for hydrodynamic energy and depositional processes.

Community Cultivation: Building Community Health, Growth, And Sustainability Through A Community Garden, Lauren J. Franks

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

The Community Cultivation program is a grant proposal project that explores how a community garden can improve access to healthy food in rural areas, with a focus on Hays, Kansas. Guided by the question of how community-based food initiatives can reduce nutrition-related disparities, this project responds to the HaysMed Community Health Needs Assessment, which identifies nutrition and access to fresh produce as critical concerns for Ellis County. The program offers a sustainable, community-centered approach that increases the availability of fresh produce while building individual gardening and cooking skills. With an emphasis on food-insecure and low-income individuals, the Community Cultivation Garden …

Flood Frequency Analysis Of Big Creek, Ryan S. Funai, Jason T. Santoli, Gunnar F. Wainscott, Callen Zurn

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

The primary purpose of flood frequency analysis is to determine a timeframe of potential flood events. Analyzing flood frequency is a process that involves collecting years of quantitative data on discharge rates, calculating the probability of exceeding a certain rate of discharge, and calculating the average interval between events equaling or exceeding a certain rate of discharge. The Big Creek Watershed drainage area covers an area of 549 square miles in Western Kansas, including Ellis, Trego, Gove, and Sheridan Counties. This research analyzes 79 years of data collected by the USGS at the intersection of Big Creek and US-183. Water …

Immigration And Policy: Who Influences Who?, Madison May Albers

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

This project examines how public opinion on immigration changes in response to the framing of major immigration policies in the United States. The study is grounded in Policy feedback theory, which argues that shifts in public opinion reflect the dominant frames of policy. The independent variable is the framing of the legislation, measured by presidential State of the Union addresses, and the dependent variable is the public's sentiments on immigration, measured by the media's portrayal. Utilizing a qualitative comparative historical design, the project analyzes the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, DACA in 2012, the Trump travel …

Variation Of Organic Matter In Mangroves Sediments, Fatou A. Mbaye

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Variation of Organic matter in mangroves sediments

Abstract

Mangrove ecosystems are major zones of sediment accumulation and organic matter preservation, playing a key role in coastal carbon storage and depositional processes.This study investigates the vertical distribution of organic matter in sediment cores collected from three mangrove environments in Cameroon: Koo mangrove located in the central zone of the Wouri Estuary, DiBamba mangrove situated in the eastern sector of the estuarine system, and Mungo mangrove. Sediment cores were collected from 1–144 cm (Koo), 1–177 cm (DiBamba), and 1–178 cm (Mungo).

Organic matter content was determined using the Loss on Ignition (LOI) …

Oer Showcase: Process Of Developing An Open Textbook Focused On Course Design Resources And Why, Zhongrui Yao, Magdalene Moy, Danielle Reilley

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

This OER showcase will demonstrate to the audience a detailed process of developing an open textbook focused on course design resources and why. We will discuss how we used AI when creating and editing the chapters, how to organize chapters, and why we included AI-related content. This textbook is in the editing phase. Peer reviewers have already returned the feedback. This textbook aims to provide a one-stop shop for faculty who are interested in designing new courses or redesigning courses.

Inorganic Carbon Distribution And Its Sources In Koo And Dibamba Mangroves Sediments, Mouhamed Seck

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Mangrove sediments store valuable evidence about carbon cycling and environmental changes in coastal ecosystems. In particular, the amount of inorganic carbon can highlight differences in carbonate inputs. The Wouri Estuary in Cameroon is a large tidal system where several rivers converge. However, the Wouri Estuary in Cameroon a large tidal system where several rivers converge has never been explored in this regard, particularly with respect to inorganic carbon preserved in mangrove sediments. In this context, we are trying to examines the distribution and potential sources of inorganic carbon in sediment cores from Koo Tidal Creek and the Dibamba River mangroves. …

Acceleration Battery Predictive Model Utilizing Field-Based Testing​, Peterson Bohannon, Justin L. Montney, Emily Washburn, Jenifer Bechard, Michael Frangello Iii

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Sprint performance is a key determinant of success across many sports (particularly track and field athletes). Many of the biomechanical and physiological factors contributing to sprint performance are typically assessed using laboratory-based tools that are not accessible to most coaches. The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate a practical, field-based testing model capable of predicting 60 m sprint performance and identifying key performance determinants in sprint and jump athletes.

A cohort of 40 collegiate track and field athletes (ages 18–24) completed a comprehensive testing battery including 30 m acceleration, 30 m fly sprint, standing long jump, standing …

Fhsu Western Kansas Regional Water Quality Study, Gunnar F. Wainscott

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

This study, conducted by Fort Hays State University faculty and graduate students, aims to analyze water quality through systematic sampling and analysis of wells, ponds, and streams across the region. Each sample is analyzed for a suite of eighteen parameters, such as arsenic, lead, nitrate, etc. By combining laboratory results with spatial data, this project seeks to identify regional patterns, establish a foundation for future monitoring efforts, and provide participating landowners with clear, accessible information about their own water quality.

Guns, Blood, And Textbooks? Geopolitical Risk And U.S. Higher Education Spending, Daniel Bechle

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

• The study explores whether certain types of geopolitical risk contribute to shifts in U.S. higher education spending across time. 
• Information is drawn from Iacoviello and Tong’s (2026) database, which scores newspapers for various forms of geopolitical risk tied to the United States using Artificial Intelligence (AI) keyword-matching procedures. 
• Time series statistical analyses evaluate how changes in geopolitical risk relate to changes in higher education spending.
• The initial results indicate that when there is an increase in geopolitical risk where the United States is the direct target of geopolitical risk where it may respond to the threat or the performance of …

Powwow Sound: The Differences Between Northern And Southen Style Music, Alison P. Walker

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

The purpose of this study was to observe the music performed at Powwows and the differences of the sound according to region.

I examined the changes based on region that made the style of music performed different.

Sustainable Land Use Optimization In Radioactively Contaminated Landscapes Of Ukrainian Polissia, Iryna Mcdonald, Liudmyla Raichuk

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Sustainable Land Use Optimization in Radioactively Contaminated Landscapes of Ukrainian Polissia

Dr. Iryna McDonald¹, Dr. Liudmyla Raichuk²

¹Fort Hays State University, Department of Agriculture, Hays, KS, USA

²Institute of Agroecology and Environmental Management of the NAAS, Kyiv, Ukraine

Abstract

The radioecological situation in territories contaminated due to the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant accident remains challenging, particularly in the Zhytomyr, Kyiv, and Rivne regions, where certain products continue to exhibit elevated levels of radionuclide content. Contemporary challenges –  such as the full-scale war, which has led to the loss of productive lands in southern and eastern …

Behaviorally-Anchored Team Member Feedback In Undergraduate Learning: Linking Verbal Communication To Ai-Detected Emotional Expressions, Ryan Will, Brent J. Goertzen, Magdalene Moy, Jace Hesford

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

This study examines how undergraduate team members’ verbal communication behaviors are associated with the emotional expressions of their teammates during student project team interactions. Drawing on data from a semester-long, team-based undergraduate course, three key team meetings were video-recorded across the team life cycle. Verbal communication was analyzed using a systematic content analysis with an a priori codebook capturing emotionally relevant behaviors such as optimism, empathy, building bonds, developing others, service orientation, and task-focused communication. Nonverbal emotional expressions were assessed using AI-based facial expression analysis grounded in Facial Action Coding System research, generating average emotion scores for each team member. …

Validating Llm-Assisted Coding Of Student Leadership Teams For Formative Feedback, Jace Hesford, Magdalene Moy, Ryan Will, Brent Goertzen

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Leadership education scholarship increasingly calls for direct assessment of leadership behaviors rather than reliance on proxy measures (Banks et al., 2023). This poster reports a validation study situated in a project-based leadership course at a midsized university. While teams meet regularly throughout the semester-long project, three meetings are digitally recorded, transcribed and analyzed to provide students with objective feedback based on the content of their communication. Team meetings are coded using an a priori framework grounded in emotional intelligence (Salovey & Mayer, 1990; Lee & Wong, 2017), with codes reflecting self-awareness, self-regulation, self-motivation, social awareness, and relational management as enacted …

Woven Color: Historical Uses Of Color Theory Woven Into Fiber Art Practice, Mary K. Greenwood

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

This semester-long project, created in Material Exploration, examines the use of historical color theory within contemporary fiber art to evoke emotion and narrative. Drawing from established color systems, artistic movements, and artist inspirations, the work explores how color relationships, such as harmony, contrast, and saturation, can communicate mood and meaning. Through experimentation with textile materials and processes, each piece integrates intentional color schemes to enhance storytelling through both visual and tactile elements. Ultimately, the project highlights how applying historical color theory within fiber art can deepen emotional resonance and connect traditional practices with contemporary expression.

Color Clash: When Opposites Create Harmony, Zachary Dean Esslinger

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Opposites attract is usually the saying and the same can be said for colors. Complimentary colors are pairs directly opposite each other on the color wheel. Warm versus cool, bright versus high intensity these are things that stand out when these colors are paired together Red/Green, Yellow/Purple, Blue/Orange and subsequently any hues, values and tints can be used as well. complementary color pairs, but if looking at a color wheel there are twelve consisting of your three primary and the othernine coming from different hues.

The Effect Of Water Pollution In Kansas, Chaejun Park Chaejun Park, Jeanne Sumrall

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Groundwater in Kansas shows significant nitrate contamination, with about 20% of samples exceeding the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) safe drinking water limit of 10 mg/L. This indicates that a considerable portion of groundwater sources are affected by pollution levels high enough to pose potential risks to human health and environmental quality. High nitrate concentrations are strongly associated with agricultural activity and land-use patterns, particularly areas with intensive fertilizer application, irrigation, and livestock operations. In addition, more than half of all monitored wells show evidence of human influence, reinforcing the idea that nitrate contamination is largely driven by anthropogenic rather than …

From Books To Justice: Public Libraries Strengthening Legal Access Across Kansas, Lauren J. Franks, Ziwei Qi

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Legal self-help centers across Kansas allow access to legal information for self-represented litigants in civil court cases. However, there is a lack of these centers in rural areas. In areas where this resource does not exist, libraries, which already serve as a trusted community-centered hub, can help provide legal information and resources. This project aims to identify best practices in increasing access to legal information and survey key staff including self-help center staff, court staff such as court clerks and judges, and librarians, to help inform our integration of legal self-help services into public libraries. By executing a short anonymous …

Heavy Metal In Water Resources, Zuming Bi, Jeanne Sumrall

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Heavy metal pollution in surface water has posed a serious threat to human health. The goals of this research are to analyze the concentration and distribution of key heavy metals and compare the measured values with global standards. This study analyzed major heavy metals like Fe, Mn, Cu, Pb, and Ag across several test points in Kansas and converted them to standard units mg/L. Based on the statistical graph, heavy metal iron and manganese levels are exceeded USEPA and WHO limits several times,  while other heavy metals stay in the safe range. The results indicate that the pollution in Kansas …

Ancestral Sequence Reconstruction Of Gh4, Chaejun Park Chaejun Park, Masakatsu Watanabe

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

GH4 enzymes use an unusual NAD⁺-dependent catalytic mechanism that remains poorly understood. Because of their roles in microbial metabolism and potential bioengineering applications, understanding how this mechanism evolved is important. In this study, we use the GH4 structure 1U8X as a reference for structural and functional analysis. Using ancestral sequence reconstruction and phylogenetic analysis, we inferred ancestral GH4 sequences and selected a particular ancestral node for detailed comparison with modern enzymes. These comparisons were used to examine stability, sequence conservation, and catalytic features, helping identify mutations and evolutionary transitions that contributed to the emergence of this distinctive NAD⁺-dependent mechanism.

Music In New Orleans, Brooklyn R. Thomas

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Buddy Bolden's Band 1905

Photo Hogan Jazz Archives