Jacksonville, AL – Seventy students from Jacksonville State University (Jax State) took part in the annual Student Symposium held from February 13 to 15, where they presented a diverse range of topics covering both educational and creative spheres.
Since its inception in 1995, the Student Symposium has become a regular event almost every year. It provides a platform for Jax State students to showcase their work to both faculty members and peers. After the completion of the student presentations, a panel of judges evaluates the submissions and selects deserving students for awards across multiple categories.
Dr. David Thornton, the computer science professor who organized this year’s Student Symposium, expressed to Skyler Kasinger with the JSU Press Department, his admiration for the participating students, stating, “The students always amaze me and give me hope for our future.” The presented topics spanned a wide array, including climate change, suicide prevention, water quality in developing countries, malaria reduction, the ‘dark tetrad’ of personality, and the history of hip-hop. Notably, a special guest named Popcorn, a rat with cornhole-playing abilities, made an appearance.
Among the award recipients were:
Best of College Awards:
– Arts and Humanities, Undergraduate: Daniel Rich for “Contextualizing of an Elegy Misinterpreted: A New Historicist Take on ‘The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky’”
– Business and Industry, Graduate: Madison McCoy for “College Athlete Revenue Sharing and NIL: Financial Considerations and Implications”
– Health Professions and Wellness, Undergraduate: Caroline Lively for “Optimizing Athletic Recovery: The Role of Nutrition and Supplements in Combatting Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage”
– Health Professions and Wellness, Graduate: Cody Hopkins for “Is the Lever Sign an Effective Diagnostic Tool for Acute Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tears: A Critically Appraised Topic”
– Science and Mathematics, Undergraduate: Evie Vaughn for “JSU Meets the Vikings: Unearthing Archeology of an Icelandic Dwelling”
– Science and Mathematics, Graduate: Tajuddin Mwijage for “Empowering Adolescent Online Safety: Examining the Current Landscape and Anticipating Future Technological Advances”
– Social and Behavioral Sciences, Undergraduate: Julianna Mostillo for “Sex Differences in Sub-categories of Narcissism, Extraversion, Conscientiousness, and Psychopathy”
Best Posters:
– Undergraduate: Caroline Ducato for “An Examination of Implementing a Hard Salary Cap for NILs in Collegiate Sports”
– Graduate: Bethany Christie for “An Evaluation of the Teach-Back Method for Training Functional Analysis Methodology”
Best Papers:
– Undergraduate: Hayden Richardson for “Memes: A Social and Cultural History”
– Graduate: Shelby Wolfram for “The Developmental Effects of the Time and Duration of Exposure on Xenopus Laevis Embryos by Sodium Selenate”
Best Cover Design: Madison Spencer
Houston Cole Library Award for Research Excellence: Victoria Tillman for “Physical Activity in Epileptic Patients: A Critically Appraised Topic”
Award for Best Showcase: Olivia Harp for “The Evolution of Hip-Hop and Its Impact on Popular Culture”
For those interested, the student presentations are available for viewing on the JSU Student Symposium’s YouTube channel.
