BELTON, Texas — University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (UMHB) students unveiled their undergraduate and graduate research projects on April 10 during the 2024 Watson Scholars’ Day.
Sponsored by the UMHB Research Office, Watson Scholars’ Day requires students to complete all the steps necessary to present at a conference, including identifying a topic, conducting research, and ultimately explaining their findings publicly.
“Our goal with Scholars' Day is not only to give students an opportunity to showcase their work, but also an opportunity to learn how to deliver effective presentations,” said UMHB’s Director of Undergraduate Research Dr. Jodi Pilgrim.
Participants included 139 students, 26 faculty sponsors, and 32 faculty judges. Students from New Tech High School also presented and experienced presentations from various UMHB students. Award recipients are as follows:
Quantitative Category
1st place
Scholars: Jayden Widener and Mathis Rollin
Sponsor: Dr. Mandy Parra
Title: Body Composition Correlation with Vertical Jump in Untrained Women Basketball Players After Resistance Training Intervention
2nd place
Scholar: Steven Duttine
Sponsor: Dr. Jennifer Costello
Title: Exploring Social Connection: A Study on its Impact on Anxiety, Depression, and PTSD Symptoms Among OEF/OIF Military Veterans
3rd place
Scholars: Luke Villarreal and Tyler Woods
Sponsor: Dr. Lester Sombito
Title: Knocking Out Differences: A Comparative Study of Governance Structures in USA Boxing
and England Boxing
Qualitative Category
1st place
Scholars: Gavriella Phillips, Sophia Stockton, Bethany Fitzwater
Sponsor: Dr. Renate Hood
Title: Reading the Parable of the Beloved Poor Son While Highlighting Latin American Themes
2nd place
Scholars: Allyson Trostle, Brittin Choate, Avery Anders
Sponsor: Dr. Renate Hood
Title: Reading the Parable of the Honorable Father and the Shamed Son With Asian Voices
3rd place
Scholar: Isabella McElwain
Sponsor: Dr. Brenda Morton
Title: A Decline in Certified Foster Parents: A Social Media Investigation
Literature Review Category – Graduate Students
1st place
Scholars: Payton Jackson, Elma Andrews, Bianca Dinh, Bailey Martinez
Sponsor: Dr. Wendi Stewart
Title: Virtual Education: Convenient or Detrimental? The Real Effect on Child and Adolescent Mental Health
2nd place
Scholars: Ashley Carson, Claudia Terrazas, Lutz Pierre
Sponsor: Dr. Wendi Stewart
Title: The Effects of Vitamin D Supplementation on Sleep Quality in Adults
3rd place
Scholars: Savannah Andres, Jordyn Lacy, Tessa Green, Paige Talbert
Sponsor: Dr. Wendi Stewart
Title: Cardiac Rehabilitation and Post-Myocardial Infarction Mortality
Literature Review Category – Undergraduate Students
1st place
Scholar: Makayla Banton
Sponsor: Dr. Jacky Dumas
Title: Strength of Femininity and Motherhood in the Iliad
2nd place
Scholar: Cheyenne Willis
Sponsor: Dr. Seena Mathew
Title: Gene Editing: A New Way to Treat Breast Cancer
3rd place
Scholar: Katelynn Anderson
Sponsor: Dr. Caroline Pollard
Title: Implications of Using Dungeons and Dragons as a Tool for Teacher Education
Creative Production Category
1st Place
Scholars: Ali Mohamed Jassani, David Darrah, Caden Kuhn
Sponsor: Dr. Matthew Kuester
Title: Bringing History to Life: Retrofitting a Pay Phone for the UMHB Museum
2nd Place
Scholars: Caden Crenshaw, Jacob Dailey, Megan McAllister, Shannen Newman, Wenceslao Ortiz-Gamiz, Ximena Gutierrez, Zachary Natt, Kaden Deberardinis
Sponsor: Dr. Paul Griesemer
Title: Design of a Roll Cage for an Off-Road UTV
3rd place
Scholars: David Darrah, Allyse Castillo, Megan McAllister
Sponsor: Dr. Chengli Wei
Title: The Picogrid: An Exploration of Microgrids, Hydroponics, and Construction
