November 21, 2024
Thirteen students from Pearl River Community College participated in the Fall 2024 Dr. William Lewis Honors Institute Research Symposium hosted at University of Southern Mississippi’s Thad Cochran Center on Tuesday (Nov. 19).
They gave oral presentations of research conducted covering a variety of topics.
Hailey Scardino of Hattiesburg won first place in oral presentation. Her topic was “How Does Dopamine Affect the Way Hallucinations Form in Schizophrenia?”
Hope Wheat of Hattiesburg was second in oral presentation (Parenting Gone Digital: How Excessive Screen Time Affects Child Development). Haven O’Neal of Sumrall was third (Is There Really a Shortage in the Nation’s Healthcare Field?).
Other oral presentations included:
Madiha Karim of Hattiesburg (Should the Vernacular Style of Architecture Be More Commonly Used in Today’s World, and Why?); Brady Morse of Hancock County (How Are Advanced Manufacturing Technologies Shaping the Future of Engineering?); Jackson Rigney of Petal (What Training Do Commercial Airline Pilots Undergo to Become Licensed?); Finn Elise Smith of Petal (How May Changing Tornadic Weather Patterns Be Caused by Climate Change?); Kaycee Tanner of Lucedale (What Methods Are Used to Keep the United States Government Accountable?).
Another five students presented poster presentations.
Makayla Herberger of Purvis won first place: (What Are The Benefits of Free Health Clinics?) Allyiah Johnston of Oak Grove was second: (Student Mental Health and Ways Colleges Can Help). Cataryna Brack of Petal was third: (What Are the Best Mysophobia Coping Strategies?).
Other poster presentations: Madysen Davis of Hattiesburg (How Are Cats Capable of Experiencing Emotions?); and Braden Mann of Petal (How Does Gymnastics Benefit Kids with ADHD?).
Dr. Ryan Ruckel, Dean of the Dr. William Lewis Honors Institute – Forrest County Campus, said the Symposium serves the overall effort to encourage students to engage with undergraduate research by learning how to ask a good question and propose a way of researching the answer to it.
“These students will be able to compete at the Mississippi Honors Conference, which is a statewide conference of two-year and four-year schools,” said Dr. Ruckel. “The Dr. William Lewis Honors Institute has participated in the MHC every year, and we have had winners every year.
“USM has also generously offered for the top scorers at the symposium to compete in the undergraduate research symposium at USM in April, where they could win cash prizes.”
Dr. Ruckel and USM’s Dr. Joyce Inman, Dean of the USM Honors College offered opening remarks for those present, and Dr. Rebecca Tuuri, Associate Dean of the UMS Honors College, offered closing remarks.
Said Dr. Ruckel: “This event makes it possible for a student to present on a topic they think might be of interest to them, whether it is in a poster or oral presentation, and often discover their career path or major by doing so.”
Judges for this year’s competition included PRCC faculty Dr. Doug Donohue, Dr. Terri Ruckel, Chris Christen, Dr. David Collum, Dr. Melanie Davis, Rosemary Davis, Dr. Erick Moffett, Dr. Sylvia Preston, Dr. Aaryn Purvis, Dr. Greg Underwood and Dr. Lisa Wall.
Dr. Ruckel thanked Mary Ann Stewart, PRCC Honors Faculty Member, for working with students to develop their research and presentation skills, and recognized Dr. Jennifer Seal, Dean of the Dr. William Lewis Honors Institute – Poplarville Campus.
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Article and photography by Chuck Abadie.
