Winners have been announced for the 2018 Student Research Symposium, held April 25.

More than 30 students created poster presentations in one of six categories: Humanities; Business, Engineering and Technology; Social Sciences; Physical and Biological Sciences; Health Sciences; and Education. A panel of judges viewed the presentations and selected winners for each category.

Research Symposium 2018

2018 Research Symposium winners

Education

Faith Scheidemantle, Camdenton, first – “Student Competency with Managing Information-Pros and Cons of a Behavioristic Approach to Assessment”

Health Science

Kaitlin Fraser, Carl Junction, first – “Comparison of Wellness in Undergraduate Health and Non-Health Majors”

Sierra Wells, Joplin, second – “Relationship Between Parental Knowledge of Physical Activity Standards and Children’s Fitness Levels”

Social Sciences

Christian Provence-Harmon, Webb City, first – “Effectiveness of a Community Asset Map in Relation to Joplin’s Empowerment Levels”

Garrett Pekarek, Joplin, second – “Demographic Change in 20th Century Murphysburg”

Physical and Biological Sciences

Lauren Brown, Alyssa Brown, and Ashlea Zumwalt, all of Joplin, first – “Supervolcano Impact on the Environment: A Case Study of Yellowstone”

Ashley Burns, Pierce City, second – “When Predators Become Prey: Testing for Differences in the Striking Behavior of Western Rat Snakes”

Humanities

Sara Clark, Springfield, first – “The Art of Being Centered: Exploring Zen Buddhism in Ceramics”

Ryan Drendel, Naperville, Ill., second– “Just Playin’: Mass Oral Communication in ‘Their Eyes Were Watching God’”

Best Overall

Lauren Brown, Alyssa Brown and Ashlea Zumwalt