Undergraduate student scholars present at SPIRES

By Genesis Moon//

Undergraduate student scholars presented research projects, art projects and honors theses at the annual SPIRES and Departmental Honors Presentations on April 20.

More than 100 students exhibited their work in the day-long event.

SPIRES, which stands for scholarship, performance, innovation, research and experience symposium, was sponsored by the Office of the Provost that provided students with the opportunity to show their work through panels, talks, presentations, posters and artwork.

The first session of the day included talks about study aboard and included presentations by Volpe Scholars Elizabeth Cooper, Aaron Heiner, Lydia Kazakavage and Russell Odor.  Odor studied abroad in Sydney, Australia, while other students traveled to Singapore, Japan, and Jordan.

The second session of the day, “Closing the Gap,” focused on social issues. Presenter Jordan Banks talked about awareness of the word gap and family engagement and its impact on students’ literacy. She looked at obstacles that can prevent parents from being more engaged in their children’s education and learning.

Another presenter, Sel Lyons, spoke about weight inclusivity in healthcare and how it can improve health outcomes.  “I chose weight inclusivity in healthcare because I’ve existed in a fat body all my life, and I’ve experienced the healthcare system,” Lyons said. “I have fat friends and family members who have had a difficult time navigating the healthcare system. Doing anything we can to make this system more navigable, safer, and effective for all bodies, is important to me.”

The final presenter for the session, Isabella DiPietrantonio, spoke about college food insecurity and enhancing Hood College’s campus cupboard. In her presentation, she spoke about the campus food pantry and how the campus can improve the support services through a partnership with a national or local nonprofit.

“It’s crazy to see how many resources are out there,” she said. “It shows that so much it takes to get different programs started and so much behind things, it’s not simple as putting up a pantry. There is so much networking, advertising and getting resource income even having volunteers.”

Twenty students gave departmental honors presentations. The session, sponsored by the Honors Program and the Christine P. Tischer fund, featured research on such topics as female characters in Bollywood and “Lord of the Rings,” social media impact on athletes, and the affect of temperature on lobster larvae.