UW Students Present Research Work

Aug. 5, 2003 -- University of Wyoming students presented research projects at the recent 11th annual UW McNair Scholar research symposium in the Classroom Building.

They conducted their research through UW's McNair Scholars Program, which prepares students from underrepresented groups for entry and success in doctoral degree programs. To be eligible, students must meet certain federal income guidelines, have at least a 3.0 grade point average and be first generation college students (or of an underrepresented ethnic minority group). The scholarship includes a paid summer research internship in which students work with faculty and graduate student mentors to complete significant research projects.

For more information, call Susan Stoddard at (307) 766-6525 or Zackie Salmon at (307) 766-3818.

The McNair Scholars Program at UW, funded by the U.S. Department of Education, is part of the federal TRIO programs that help students to overcome financial, cultural, social and academic barriers. UW has six TRIO programs with outreach sites located throughout the state.

UW McNair students presenting their projects, listed by hometown, name of project and UW faculty mentor are:

CHEYENNE -- Sonja Parson, computer science senior, "Integrating Archival and Newly Collected Records from Wyoming Rangeland Exclosures into a Unified Database," faculty mentor Renewable Resources Associate Professor Ann Hild and graduate student mentor Courtney Ladenburger; Victor Simental, management and marketing senior, "Perceptions of Corporate Partnership at the University of Wyoming," faculty mentor Management and Marketing Assistant Professor Stacey Baker and graduate student mentor Senthil Karuppasamy.

GLENDO -- Jody Sanborn, psychology senior, "An Examination of the Role of Attributional Style in the Relationship Between Antisocial Personality and Aggression," faculty mentor Psychology Associate Professor Walter Scott and graduate student mentor Mindy Dahl.

KEMMERER -- Sherry Adrianos, molecular biology junior, "Fiber Properties of Varying Ratios of Spider Silk Proteins," faculty mentor Molecular Biology Professor Randy Lewis and graduate student mentor Shane Nelson.

LANDER -- Tanya Wilson Smith, education senior, "Literacy in Grades K-6 in Two Australian Cities," faculty mentor Temporary Assistant Professor Wendy Smith.

LARAMIE -- Melody Durrett, biology senior, "Factors Driving Soil Respiration in a Lodgepole Pine Forest," faculty mentor Botany Assistant Professor Elise Pendall and graduate student mentor Laura Hudson; Laurie Hanson, social sciences senior, "Prospective Memory in Older Adults," faculty mentor Suzanna Penningroth, Department of Psychology and graduate student mentor Maura Pellowe; Kayle Jensen, distributed social sciences senior, "Factors That Would Encourage Homeschool Parents to Enroll Their Students in a Facilitator-Led Online Lesson," faculty mentor Adult Learning and Technology Associate Professor Landra Rezabek and graduate student mentor Paula Renaud.

LINGLE -- Haley Franks, molecular biology senior, "Phosphotransferase Systems Involvement in pediocin AcH Resistance in Listeria," faculty mentor Molecular Biology Associate Professor Kurt Miller and graduate student mentor Junfeng Xue.

LOGANDALE, NEV. -- Jacob Bell, psychology senior, "Distribution of Pygmy Rabbits in Wyoming: Predictive Range Modeling and Field Surveys," faculty mentor Gary Beauvais of the Wyoming Natural Diversity Database and graduate student mentor Alan Redder.

RAWLINS -- Melissa Jackson, psychology senior, "Preschoolers' Recollection of How and When Learning Occurred and Who Taught New Information," faculty mentor Psychology Associate Professor Karen Bartsch and graduate student mentor Connie Tang.

RIVERTON -- Rachel Ratliff, education senior, "The Effects of Exercise on Student Retention of Information," faculty mentor Sociology Professor Gary Hampe and graduate student mentor Sandra Root-Elledge.

ROCK SPRINGS -- Fernando Urrutia, sociology and psychology senior, "The Uninsured Elderly in Wyoming: An Analysis by Age Cohorts, Employment History, and Sex," faculty mentor Sociology Professor Gary Hampe and graduate student mentor Sandra Root-Elledge.

SARATOGA -- Debbie Stevens, social sciences senior, "Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment for Wyoming Juvenile Offenders: What is Needed?" faculty mentor Criminal Justice Professor Malcolm Holmes and graduate student mentor Wendy Perez.

Posted on Tuesday, August 05, 2003