BELTON, Texas — University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (UMHB) students unveiled their undergraduate and graduate research projects on Tuesday, April 8 during the 2025 Watson Scholars’ Day.
Sponsored by the UMHB Office of Research, 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.
“We really want to highlight the exciting research our students have been working on with the help of their faculty sponsors. This is always a highlight of my semester as I get to interact with future leaders in their respective fields. Providing opportunities like this is another way we support our students at UMHB,” said the university’s director of undergraduate research Dr. Joni Ylostalo.
Participants included 104 students and 15 faculty sponsors. AP Seminar students from Belton High School also attended the event to observe and take notes for their own upcoming presentations. Award recipients are as follows:
Podium Presentations
1st place Natural Sciences
Scholar: Conner Rohrer
Sponsor: Dr. Seena Mathew
Title: What Are the Neurological Effects of Psilocybin on Patients Experiencing Mental Distress from Cancer and PTSD?
1st place Public Health
Scholar: Felicity Roberts
Sponsor: Dr. Ariane Secrest
Title: Phone Usage and Its Effects on Posture and Pain.
1st place Education
Scholar: Katelynn Anderson
Sponsor: Dr. Jodi Pilgrim
Title: Magic School AI: Evaluating Pedagogical Soundness and Developmental Appropriateness
1st place Nursing
Scholar: Lan Salazar
Sponsor: Dr. Michele Hackney
Title: A Spectrum of Expectations: How Prepared Are We to Care for the Neurodiverse Population?
1st place Humanities
Scholar: Brighton Konig
Sponsor: Dr. Laura Bedwell
Title: Life in a Nutshell
Creative Works
1st place Education
Scholars: Shelby Weaver & Sarah Dolliff
Sponsor: Dr. Caroline Pollard
Title: Journey to Freedom: Exploring the Underground Railroad
2nd place Education
Scholars: Jason Blattner, Peyton Sedlacek & Claire Hodge
Sponsor: Dr. Caroline Pollard
Title: Legacy of Liberty: America’s Journey
3rd place Education
Scholars: Mollee Golden & Sarah Heslip
Sponsor: Dr. Caroline Pollard
Title: Interactive Holocaust
Poster Presentations
1st place Education
Scholar: Norma Wheeler
Sponsor: Dr. Jodi Pilgrim
Title: A Study of the Readability of the STAAR
1st place EXSS - Exercise Physiology
Scholar: Cole Strickland, Mathis Rollin, Nikolas Keratsopoulos, Jaci Kelly & Dimitrije Cabarkapa
Sponsor: Dr. Mandy Parra
Title: Interrater Agreement of Novel Inertial Measurement Unit Devices Placed Bilaterally in Assessing Jump Performance
1st place EXSS - Sport Management
Scholar: Tyler Woods
Sponsor: Dr. Lester Sombito
Title: Clickbait vs. Credibility: Analyzing Media Narratives in the Deflategate Scandal
1st place Humanities
Scholar: Raquel Baker
Sponsor: Dr. Rubi Ugofsky-Mendez
Title: Seduction & Survival: The Temptress Women in Cervantes Literary Works
1st place Natural Sciences
Scholar: Amber Dickey
Sponsor: Dr. Ruth Ann Murphy
Title: A Comparative Analysis of Chlorophyll Concentration in Spinach Samples Using Visible Spectroscopy
1st place Natural Sciences
Scholars: Amy Perez & Ava Reid
Sponsor: Dr. Seena Mathew
Title: Impact of Caffeine Intake on Drosophila melanogaster
1st place Natural Sciences
Scholar: Thant Sin
Sponsor: Dr. Seena Mathew
Title: Cocaine Addiction: Neurochemical Effects, Demographic Influences, and Strategies for Treatment and Societal Impact
1st place Social Sciences
Scholars: Macy Rodgers
Sponsor: Dr. Jennifer Costello
Title: Exploring the Impact of Workshops and Simulations on Teacher Empathy and Knowledge for Students with ADHD
2nd place Social Sciences
Scholars: Aracelia Comeaux
Sponsor: Dr. Jennifer Costello
Title: Understanding the Impact a Trauma-Informed Workshop Has on Nursing Home Staff’s Skills and Knowledge
3rd place Social Sciences
Scholars: Johnathan Ogir
Sponsor: Dr. Jennifer Costello
Title: Impact of Foster Care Maltreatment on Attachment Styles in Adulthood
1st place Graduate Student
Scholars: Amanda Gillespie, Savannah Garza, Cody Hays & Grant Richardson
Sponsor: Dr. Wendi Stewart
Title: The Sugar Showdown; A1c vs OGTT in Diagnosing Type 2 Diabetes
2nd place Graduate Student
Scholars: Caroline Zinnecker, Hanna-Rose Hix, Mckelle Winsor & Chloe Williams
Sponsor: Dr. Wendi Stewart
Title: Effects of Alcohol Cessation on Patients with Gastrointestinal Cancer
3rd place Graduate Student
Scholars: Lueella Shelton
Sponsor: Dr. George Willey
Title: Addressing Rural Education Challenges to Bridge Literacy and Achievement Gaps
