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Annual Conference Showcased Outstanding Research Across Multiple Fields

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.鈥擥ardner鈥慦ebb University students brought curiosity, creativity, and months of hard work to the spotlight during the annual Life鈥憃f鈥憈he鈥慡cholar Multidisciplinary Conference (LOTS-MC). With research spanning everything from freshwater snails to historical propaganda, the event showcased the depth and diversity of student scholarship that has defined LOTS鈥慚C for nearly three decades.

鈥淚’m always amazed at the incredible level of scholarship our students display,鈥� noted Professor of English Dr. Shea Stuart, a member of the LOTS Advisory Board. 鈥淭hey research in depth and present a topic in front of students and professors with professionalism and poise. Sharing research and knowledge with each other鈥攖his is the ideal of a university education.鈥�

The faculty showcase highlighted research by Professor of Paleontology Dr. David Campbell. His presentation was titled, 鈥淪nailless in Seattle and Aiders of the Lost Arks: Adventures with Snail and Clam DNA.鈥�

Presentation Prizes

Dr. Elizabeth Amato, director of Undergraduate Research, sponsored prizes for the People鈥檚 Choice Presentation and the Best Paper. Each award has a first ($125), second ($75), and a third place ($50). The People鈥檚 Choice ended in a three-way tie, with each winner or group receiving the first place prize of $125. Winners included:

People’s Choice

• Undergraduate Roundtable, featuring the members of the Ethics Bowl Team; Mentors: Dr. Anna Sieges Beal and Dr. Shea Stuart
• Bethany Durham.
• Dana Ijames.

Best Paper

• First Place – $125, Andrea Stampone.
• Second place – $75, Daniel Bennett.
• Third place – $50, Leanna Tally.鈥傗�傗��

The members of the LOTS-MC steering committee were Holly Mabry, Dr. Bruce Moser, Hannah Wylder, Dr. Meredith Rowe, Dr. Melissa McNeilly, Dr. Heather Wright, Dr. Elizabeth Amato, Noel Manning, and Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Dr. Robert Prickett. Debbie Hill provided administrative support.

Student Presentations

PowerPoint slides for the presentations are available in .

Undergraduate Roundtable:

• Issa Cogdell
• Hodges McCathern
• Brock Nikkari
• Maeve McGinley
• Alaena Locklear
• Sophie Boss

Natural Sciences

• Andrew Wilson鈥�”Elucidating Elimia: Affinities of North Carolina Freshwater Snails鈥�; Mentor: Dr. David Campbell.
• Daniel Bennett鈥�”Isolation of Cuminaldehyde from Cuminum Cyminun and Subsequent Reduction to Cuminol: Characterization by IR-Spectroscopy and GC-MS鈥�; Mentor: Dr. Ben Brooks.
• Matthew McCoy Stowe鈥�”Review of Dihydroartemisinin and Its Potential as a Neutral Chemotherapeutic鈥�; Mentor: Dr. Meredith Rowe.
• Bella Harding鈥�”Morphea Skin Disease鈥�; Mentor: Dr. Meredith Rowe.
• Jada Pittman鈥�”Red Light Therapy: Mechanisms, Benefits, and Emerging Applications鈥�; Mentor: Dr. Meredith Rowe.

Social Sciences

• Andrea Stampone鈥�”Propaganda and the Italian Battle for Wheat鈥�; Mentor: Dr. Elizabeth Amato.
• Bethany Durham鈥�”Women鈥檚 Role as Perpetrators of Genocide and Why the Media Doesn鈥檛 Portray Them as Such鈥�; Mentor: Dr. Elizabeth Amato.
• Allie Johnson鈥�”Press Control and Censorship Throughout the Reign of Terror鈥�; Mentor: Dr. David Yelton.

Religious Studies

• Leanna Tally鈥�”Corporate Personality and Sin in the Old Testament鈥�; Mentor: Dr. Paula Qualls.
• Brandon Richmond卢鈥�”A Black Comparative Religious Study of Christianity and Islam鈥�; Mentor: Dr. Scott Shauf.
• Dana Ijames鈥�”Battle for the Womb: Reimagining Revelation 12 The Woman Clothed with the Sun Through a Black Womanist Hermeneutic Lens鈥�; Mentor: Dr. Robert Canoy.
• Carson Ford Gruber鈥�”A Comparison and Analysis of Heaven and Hell in the New Testament, New Testament Apocrypha, and Dante鈥檚 Divine Comedy鈥�; Mentor: Dr. Scott Shauf.
• Joy Axelson鈥�”Unchanging Gospel Message, Changing Context: Contextualization Strategies in Lukan Paul, Irenaeus, and Althanasius鈥�; Mentor: Dr. Scott Shauf.
• Avery Marie Sharpe鈥�”Hospitality in an Old Testament Lens鈥�; Mentor: Dr. Paula Qualls.

Education and Psychology

• Persaius Stringfield鈥�”Childhood 海角网: It Takes a Village鈥�; Mentor: Kara Alves.
• Morgan Lilly鈥�”Fantasy Audiobooks and Medieval Aural Tradition鈥�; Mentor: Dr. Josh Pittman.

海角网 is North Carolina’s recognized leader in private, Christian higher education. A Carnegie-Classified Doctoral/Professional University, GWU is home to nine colleges and schools, more than 80 undergraduate and graduate majors, and a world-class faculty. Located on a beautiful 225-acre campus in Boiling Springs, N.C., 海角网 prepares graduates to impact their chosen professions, equips them with the skills to advance the frontiers of knowledge, and inspires them to make a positive and lasting difference in the lives of others. Become More at .