More than 270 Pacific University undergraduate seniors presented their capstone projects to their professors, friends and families on Wednesday, April 24.
Oral presentations and poster boards proliferated the Forest Grove Campus and showcased the culmination of numerous hours of research, analysis and creations produced by the class of 2013.
In all, the projects reflected the College of Arts & Sciences' wide spectrum of academic programs offered within its schools of Arts & Humanities, Natural Sciences and Social Sciences.
Pacific magazine editor Jenni Luckett and photographers Michelle Bose and Stacie Struble captured the essence and sights of Senior Projects Day.
Following is a sampling of the capstone projects:
Cody-John Apana and Christopher Fernandez (biology) examined the potential use of a specific virus to treat antiobiotic-resistant bacteria.
Jessica Barry, Alissa Nergaard and Ashlei Noble (education & learning) designed a curriculum for a ten-day summer camp for second through fifth graders.
Jennifer Buck (social work) conducted a study that measured the effects of perceived stigma and societal discrimination of those with a mental illness and how social supports and a sense of community belonging moderate those effects.
Abby Cain (environmental science) worked on behalf of the Tualatin River Watershed Council to prioritize replacement of culvert water diversions to restore stream habitat for native fish.
Kelly Chastain (creative writing) discussed the initial chapters of her novel in progress, Deception. The work features distinct voices for first-person narrators so readers experience characters through their individual personas.
Jessica Clark (biology) researched a chemical compound's possible ability to negate breast cancer.
Brandon Eddy, Miranda Paasche, Gwen Rogers and Allycia Shackelford (exercise science) presented their individual findings on how exercise affects learning and cognition.
Briana Flores (mathematics) analyzed linear models of tsunami forecasting models to determine variable factors that affect the models' accuracy.
Stephanie Fryman (biology) analyzed the effects the compound genestein has in breast cancer incidents.
Michael Furuya (environmental studies) presented an alternative form of composting organic waste.
Taz Gample (psychology) researched parents' perspectives of toy guns and other imitation firearms.
Alexandra Greenberg (exercise science) measured the physical fitness of local firefighters.
Beth Hall, Jayme Hall and Cristal Plasencia (education & learning) evaluated and developed criteria for children's and adolescent literature on the topic of disabilities for the Forest Grove Community School.
Blaise Holden (psychology) researched conventional and alternative treatments for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder to try and identify an optimal approach for improving attentional control.
Ryan Kam (biology) analyzed the mechanisms behind the biodegradation of plastic in the ocean by marine microorganisms. He believes microbial communities provide considerable hope for the reduction of plastic waste in marine environments around the world.
Kristina Kohl (environmental chemistry) worked to establish baseline data on contaminants found in fish inhabiting Antartica.
Kristina La Casse (environmental studies) designed lesson plans for the College of Education's Early Learning Community preschool.
Heather Lanza (environmental chemistry) tested 22 commercially available fish oil supplements to detect the presence of toxic pesticides.
Madeline Lee (biology) presented her findings on how cow manure exposure influences the promotion of antibiotic resistance in dairy farm soils.
Kelsey Lockwood (environmental studies) found that plasma sampling methods to measure pesticide levels of fish may be a cost-effective and accurate alternative to tissue sample testing.
Richard Murphy (media arts) presented his film Neon, which explores the idea of transhumanism, the possibility and desirability of fundamentally transforming the human condition by developing and making widely available technologies to greatly enhance human intellectual, physical and psychological capacities. Kristen Carter (media arts) developed graphics and other special effects for the film.
Kate Schiewe (environmental studies) utilized permaculture techniques to redesign a classroom at the Forest Grove Community School to make the classroom make it more functional and conducive to the educational experience.
Sid Slom (anthropology-sociology) researched and analyzed the socially constructed designation of students from Hawai'i as "Hawaiian."
Carmen Taplin (social work) conducted comparative research on parent visitations after a child is put into foster care. She examined a new model known as visit coaching that may be more effective toward family reunification. She discussed how Oregon might implement and evaluate the new model.
Joshua Thompson (biology) conducted studies to advance the understanding of how malignant tumors grow.
Kristan VanDomelen (social work) presented research that examined whether foster youth becoming involved in the federal government's Independent Living Program services at an earlier age results in better independent living skills as young adults.
Jayme Vincent (integrated media) designed and developed a custom website, logo and focused set of print collateral for Your World Rocks, a local non-profit of scientists and engineers dedicated to promoting education of mineral science, reclamation, recycling, chemistry and engineering.
Michael Weingart (biology) analyzed changes in the brain that occur related to clinical depression and other mental health ailments.
Colin Wester (psychology) measured the facial responses of people viewing advertisements to ascertain product likability.
Johanna Wood (environmental studies) developed and implemented a curriculum for B Street farm that provided 50 Latino students ages eight through 15 experimental and sustainable education grounded in S.T.E.A.M (Science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics) disciplines.
Additionally, Art majors presented their capstone works in the Cawein Gallery, while Music majors performed their capstone recitals or conductorships.
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