Arts & Sciences News: Spring/Summer 2018
Students perform research, present and compete, while the Civil War Institute marks a milestone
Stephen Klawa ’18, a chemistry major (shown above), is working on original nanoscience research – the fabrication of nano-composite catalyst for production of hydrogen from water under UV light. His presentation was accepted for the Pittsburgh Conference on Analytical Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy. While he did not attend PITTCON 2018, he was present at the American Chemical Society meeting in April. He has also been accepted to Ph.D. programs in chemistry at five schools: Johns Hopkins University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, George Washington University, Virginia Tech and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
The original research of junior chemistry major Rachel Aterrado was presented at PITTCON 2018, although she was unable to attend the conference. Her research is on determination and examination of chemical constituents in the bark of black gum (Nyssa Sylvatica), which is used by some American tribes to treat tuberculosis and worms. Aterrado is conducting experiments with, and under the supervision of, Professor of Chemistry Diep Ca, Ph.D., and Bernard J. Dunn School of Pharmacy Professor of Biopharmaceutical Sciences Wendell Combest, Ph.D. Rachel also gave a presentation at the American Chemical Society meeting in April and is presenting at the Virginia Academy meeting in May 2018.
Three students in the honors cell biology class taught by Associate Professor of Biology Laurel Rodgers, Ph.D.: Candace Ashworth ’19, Dillon Richardson ’18 and Emily Martin ’18 presented their Science Art pieces at the Southern Regional Honors Conference (SRHC) in Washington, D.C. on April 5. Richardson also gave a Flash Talk (five-minute presentation) at the SRHC about his American chestnut research titled “Investigation of fungal endophytes within American and Chinese chestnut tree seeds and seedlings.”
Biology major Candace Ashworth ’19 won first prize for the Stirewalt-Lincecome student paper presentation at the Helminthological Society of Washington in York, Pennsylvania, during the weekend of April 14-15. The prize is awarded to the best overall student paper (including both graduate and undergraduate work) at the conference. Her paper, co-written with Assistant Professor of Biology Michael Zimmermann, Ph.D., is titled “Combining male morphotypes in Bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus) masks differences in parasitism between sexes.”
On Saturday, April 7, Shenandoah University’s McCormick Civil War Institute held its annual spring conference in Hester Auditorium, “Another Era in Our War Life: When the Home Front Became the Battle Front.” This year’s conference, which attracted participants from New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and Washington, D.C., was the largest in MCWI’s 26-year history. One hundred three people attended the conference featuring presentations by eminent Civil War era scholars.
The Department of Mathematical Sciences took 10 students to the Mathematical Association of America’s Sectional Meeting on April 14 at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia. Four students presented undergraduate research and nine students competed in a math competition called the “Radical Dash.” The Shenandoah University Radical Dash team consisting of Kyle Albert, John Kent, and Jennifer Erbach beat all the competition, coming in first place in the regional competition for undergraduate mathematics students.
Faculty from the exercise science department presented a workshop at the American College of Sports Medicine’s 2018 International Health & Fitness Summit in Arlington, Virginia, on April 7. The Summit’s theme was “Combating Sedentary Behavior,” and Associate Professor of Exercise Science Jessica Peacock, Ph.D.; Assistant Professor of Exercise Science Barry Parker, Ph.D.; and Assistant Professor of Exercise Science Jessica Kutz, Ph.D., led an interactive workshop, “A Quidditch Training Program for Muggles,” that focused on developing physical activity programming using popular culture in order to combat childhood inactivity and obesity. The workshop was based on service the exercise science department has offered at the Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum for the past several years, providing educational activities to promote physical activity in the Winchester community. Several exercise science students were also in attendance at the summit, including SUFiT trainer Beth Dickman ’21, who earned an additional certification as an indoor cycling instructor. Other SUFiT trainers who attended included Alexis Lewis ’20, an exercise science and pre-admit physical therapy student, and biology major Nicole Fuller ’20. SUFiT is Shenandoah University’s personal training program.
