1. society
2. unrest and war

Senior Honors
Projects
April 21–23, 2015
SPARC
Scholarship, Performance, Art, Research, and Creativity
FESTIVAL
www.msmary.edu/sparc
faith • discovery • leadership • community
Page 2 | SENIOR HONORS PROJECTS | SPARC FESTIVAL
Members of the Mount St. Mary’s University faculty dedicate themselves to excellence in
both scholarship and teaching, integrating the latest developments in their disciplines into
classroom instruction. The Honors Program offers students a unique opportunity to work
closely with our expert faculty on research projects involving topics of shared interest. These
projects serve as capstone experiences in the honors students’ majors and as springboards to
graduate schools and professions.
Each year, the Mount’s SPARC (Scholarship, Performance, Art, Research and Creativity)
Festival celebrates academic excellence. The festival showcases the scholarship and creative
projects of our undergraduates, who represent the College of Liberal Arts, the School of
Natural Sciences and Mathematics, the Richard J. Bolte, Sr. School of Business, and the
School of Education and Human Services. Our senior honors students are responsible for
a significant portion of the program through the presentations they give on their research
projects. In addition, each year a Mount professor is chosen by the Honors Committee to give
the Honored Faculty Address at the festival’s opening ceremony. Dr. Kathryn Dye, Assistant
Professor of Biology, will deliver this year’s address on Tuesday, April 21.
We invite you to join us! All senior honors project presentations are free and open to the
public. Presentations are in the O’Hara Dining Room, Laughlin Auditorium, Cardinal Keeler
Dining Room, and Horning Hospitality Suite; the speakers, times and topics are listed in this
brochure.
If you need directions to these venues or any further information, please call me at
301-447-5617 or e-mail me at [email protected].
We look forward to seeing you at one or more of these events!
Thane M. Naberhaus, Ph.D.
Director, University Honors Program
SPARC FESTIVAL | SENIOR HONORS PROJECTS | Page 3
W elco me | U nive rs ity H o n o r s P r o g r a m D I r e c t or
Welcome from the Director
Senior Honors Projects Schedule
TUESDAY, April 21
Location
Time
Student Name
Department of
Session I
Laughlin
Auditorium
6 p.m.
Rebecca Adamczyk
Education
6:45 p.m.
Nicole Presti
7:30 p.m.
Natalie Theis
8:15 p.m.
Brandi Rice
Communication
6 p.m.
Benjamin McNamee
6:45 p.m.
Kaitlin Thompson
Business,
Accounting and
Economics
7:30 p.m.
John Naylor
8:15 p.m.
Tyler Giles
8:30 a.m.
Michelle Rose
Mathematics &
Computer Science
9:15 a.m.
Dahyana Arias
Science
10 a.m.
Tyler Boyd
10:45 a.m.
Beverly Christiana Burke
11:30 a.m.
Kristina Caravelli
8:30 a.m.
Morgan Cawley
9:15 a.m.
Zachary Lesieur
10 a.m.
Kyle Ott
10:45 a.m.
Christopher Rippeon
11:30 a.m.
Andrew Schaller
O’Hara
Dining
Room
WEDNESDAY, April 22
Session II
Laughlin
Auditorium
O’Hara
DIning
Room
History
Session III
Laughlin
Auditorium
O’Hara
Dining
Room
Cardinal
Keeler
Dining
Room
Session IV
Laughlin
Auditorium
O’Hara
Dining
Room
Horning
Hospitality
Suite,
ARCC
2 p.m.
Cara Deegan
Science
2:45 p.m.
Nicholas Firman
3:30 p.m.
Rose Krakowiak
4:15 p.m.
Joseph Lesniewski
5 p.m.
Claire McGrath
2 p.m.
Colleen Crann
2:45 p.m.
Shannon Kreiner
3:30 p.m.
Kathryn Price
4:15 p.m.
Brett Smoot
5 p.m.
John-Paul Heil
Philosophy
2 p.m.
Craig Sakowski
Sociology
2:45 p.m.
Constance Kniesler
3:30 p.m.
Jason Mansmann
4:15 p.m.
Bridgette Nitza-Buwala
5 p.m.
Jordan Forrest
Visual and
Performing Arts
6 p.m.
Robert Warshel Snyder
Science
6:45 p.m.
Dylan Soller
7:30 p.m.
Beatriz Tenorio
8:15 p.m.
Karalee Watts
6 p.m.
Maria Barone
6:45 p.m.
Cristina Gonzalez
7:30 p.m.
Kevin Pitts
English
Theology
8:15 p.m.
Zachary Carls
Political Science
6 p.m.
Larisa Traub
Foreign Languages
& Literatures
6:45 p.m.
Jacob Halbert
Philosophy
7:30 p.m.
Matthias Wurster
9 a.m.
Alexandria Honsberger
9:45 a.m.
Maggie Rosenbaum
10:30 a.m.
Ashley Seiler
11:15 a.m.
Matthew Steele
9 a.m.
Megan Shuster
9:45 a.m.
Brian Quigley
10:30 a.m.
Kendra Hughes
11:15 a.m.
Emily Davis
12 p.m.
Regina Fleck
THURSDAY, April 23
Session V
Laughlin
Auditorium
O’Hara
Dining
Room
Psychology
Political Science
Senior Honors Projects Descriptions
Tuesday, April 21
Honors Session I
LAUGHLIN AUDITORIUM
REBECCA ADAMCZYK
Standing against Food Deprivation and
Nutrition Unawareness in Schools
Mentor: Barbara Marinak, Ph.D.
Hunger, malnutrition, and obesity correlate with
children’s academic performance and behavior. After
researching this relationship, I surveyed elementary
school students for insight into their views on
nutrition and implemented “Nutrition Night” to bring
nutrition education to their school. I also targeted
three nutrition concepts to teach during my student
teaching. Teachers have a responsibility to promote
decent nutrition and overall wellness in order to benefit
children’s learning experiences.
NICOLE PRESTI
Analyzing Award-Winning Picture Books from
the Twenty-First Century through the Lens of
Catholic Social Teaching
Mentor: Carolyn Cook, Ph.D.
This study sought to answer the question, “Are awardwinning picture books of the twenty-first century
addressing the tenets of Catholic Social Teaching?”
The researcher developed a rubric based on the tenets
of Catholic Social Teaching and used it to evaluate
129 award-winning and honored picture books from
the past ten years. Qualitative results indicated that
certain awards embodied some tenets of Catholic Social
Teaching.
NATALIE THEIS
Extending Bilingual Education: Building the
Confidence of English-Language Readers
through Spanish Vocabulary Acquisition
BRANDI RICE
Terrorism News Coverage: A Comparative
Analysis of the Boston and Madrid Bombings
Mentor: Pratibha Kumar, Ph.D.
This project comparatively examines the media
coverage of the Madrid train bombing of 2004 and the
Boston Marathon bombing of 2013. Framing theory is
used to analyze the content of 20 newspaper articles
each from El Mundo and the Boston Globe. The results
show significant differences in how the Spanish and
American media framed these two terrorism incidents.
O’HARA DINING ROOM
BENJAMIN McNAMEE
Are the U.S.’s Generally Accepted Accounting
Principles Obsolete in a Global Market, and Is
It Time to Adopt the International Financial
Reporting Standards?
Mentor: John Sherwin, Lecturer in Accounting
This project investigates why the U.S. government has
not adopted or fully implemented the International
Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), and why it has
instead, for the foreseeable future, decided to use the
U.S.-based Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
(GAAP). The paper explores the pros and cons of
the GAAP and IFRS in relation to the U.S. financial/
accounting sector.
KAITLIN THOMPSON
Gambling with the Economy
Mentor: Raymond Speciale, Associate Professor of Business
Law and Accounting
My project addresses the recent legalization of fullfledged casinos in Maryland, examining the scheduled
2016 casino opening at National Harbor. Its location in
a populous residential area near Washington, D.C., and
Northern Virginia will offer easy accessibility to millions
of visitors. I seek to predict this casino’s likely impact
on the local, county, and state economies.
Mentor: Carolyn Cook, Ph.D., Marco Roman, Ph.D.
The purpose of this study was to determine whether
building confidence in a Spanish class could positively
influence a student’s confidence in English reading.
The study focused on developing elementary
students’ Spanish vocabulary through creative and
developmentally appropriate activities (e.g., bingo) to
increase confidence in Spanish. The results indicated
success, with several students showing noticeable
growth.
Page 6 | SENIOR HONORS PROJECTS | SPARC FESTIVAL
JOHN NAYLOR
TYLER BOYD
Mentor: Timothy Stanton, Ph.D., Father Elias Yelovich
The purpose of this research is to determine three
things: the ethical implications of failing to create
websites that are accessible to those with disabilities,
along with the ethical and moral rewards for having
an accessible website; the legality of not having an
accessible website; and the procedure for creating an
accessible website.
Mentor: Susan Mertins, Ph.D.
An investigational drug, DMS612, is selectively
cytotoxic for renal tumor lines. Because it is chemically
similar to a molecule that inhibits ATP citrate lyase
(ACL), an enzyme essential for lipogenesis, it may
promote cell death via dysfunctional membrane
synthesis. Therefore, the effect of DMS612 on ACL
protein expression is examined in two renal tumor
lines, CAKI-1 and TK10.
The Ethics, Legality, and Process of Creating
Websites for People with Disabilities
TYLER GILES
Sources of Income Stagnation and Inequality:
Clarifying Positive, Negative, Personal, and
External Factors
Mentor: John Larrivee, Ph.D.
The first half of this paper deals with understanding
measures of material well-being such as income and the
historical context of today’s inequality. The second part
uses a unique framework to classify sources of rising
inequality into four distinct categories. The results of
this classification should have important implications
for how policymakers seek to tackle income inequality
in the United States.​
Wednesday, April 22
Honors Session II
LAUGHLIN AUDITORIUM
MICHELLE ROSE
Cheating at Cards: Using the Mathematics of
Game Theory to Master the Card Game 31
Mentor: Brian Heinold, Ph.D.
The author uses game-theory techniques to explore
several strategies for playing the card game 31. Each
strategy is analyzed based on its expected outcome as
generated by a computer program, and is considered
successful if it substantially improves a player’s chance
of winning.
DAHYANA ARIAS
Identification of Key Molecules in the HMGB1
Mediated Inflammatory Process in the Brain
Mentor: Jennifer Staiger, Ph.D.
HMGB-1 (high mobility group box 1) is a protein that
has been shown to act as a pro-inflammatory cytokine
when released from necrotic cells following stroke.
This project examines the relationship of HMGB-1
with receptor for advanced glycation end products
(RAGE) to regulate translocation of CEBP-β (CCAAT/
enhancer-binding protein beta), and identifies potential
downstream targets of this inflammatory pathway.
The Effect of DMS612 on ATP-Citrate-Lyase
Protein Expression in Renal Tumor Lines
BEVERLY CHRISTIANA BURKE
The Effect of Blocked p190 on the Proliferation
of Smooth Muscle Cells in Idiopathic
Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Mentor: Dana Ward, Ph.D.
The purpose of this experiment is to determine
whether the proliferation of smooth muscle cells
affected with IPAH can be reduced by the knockdown
of p190RhoGEF, a gene abnormally upregulated
in smooth muscle cells, via a lentivirus expressing
a shRNA targeted against p190RhoGEF. If the
knockdown does in fact reduce cell proliferation, it
could suggest new areas for therapeutic intervention.
KRISTINA CARAVELLI
The Establishment and Implementation of a
BioOrganic Course for the Health Science
Major at Mount St. Mary’s
Mentor: Patricia Kreke, Ph.D.
New to the Mount for the spring 2015 semester is
the course BioOrganic Chemistry (CHEM 150).
BioOrganic chemistry is a fast-growing scientific
discipline that merges concepts from organic chemistry,
biology, and biochemistry, and the introduction of
this course is critically important for students pursuing
nursing, physical therapy, and occupational therapy at
Mount St. Mary’s.
O’HARA DINING ROOM
MORGAN CAWLEY
The Politics of Portraiture: Imagining Isabel of
Castile as the Ideal Catholic Woman
Mentor: Jamie Gianoutsos, Ph.D.
As a ruler of Castile in her own right, Queen Isabel
had to balance her Catholic faith and femininity with
the competing expectations of political authority and
social standards for women. This project explores
how representations of Isabel from the 1490s justified
her rule as a female monarch and counteracted her
seemingly “masculine” power and decision-making by
representing her as the ideal Catholic woman.
SPARC FESTIVAL | SENIOR HONORS PROJECTS | Page 7
ZACHARY LESIEUR
From Audie Murphy to Captain America: The
Transformation of the American Soldier in
Twentieth-Century American Culture
Mentor: Charles Strauss, Ph.D.
In the 1930s, the general infantryman dominated
popular military memoirs. Since World War II, the
GI’s image in these memoirs has declined, while at the
same time, especially since Vietnam, members of the
U.S. special forces have published bestselling memoirs
and appeared in films with an idealized image. In the
context of postwar celebrity culture and a growing
antipathy toward joining the military, special forces
have become America’s newest idealized heroes.
KYLE OTT
Teaching History through Games
Mentor: Gregory Murry, Ph.D.
When people think of board games, fake money,
kingdoms made of candy, and the sound of a sinking
battleship come to mind. What few people realize is
that games can be used as powerful tools for historical
learning. The purpose of this project was to develop
and test games designed to help students understand
important historical lessons and attitudes.
CHRISTOPHER RIPPEON
Incompatible Goals, Destructive Resolutions:
The Influences behind Toyotomi Hideyoshi and
Tokugawa Ieyasu’s Persecution of Christianity
in Late-Sixteenth- and Early-SeventeenthCentury Japan
Mentor: Gregory Murry, Ph.D.
The two men most responsible for unifying Japan,
Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu, both
waged campaigns against the Jesuit missionaries during
their periods of power. The long-term effect was the
destruction of the Jesuit mission to Japan. This paper
examines the possible reasons why Hideyoshi and
Tokugawa would have sought the removal of the
Jesuits from the island.
ANDREW SCHALLER
Mexican War Memories: Lessons Learned
during the Mexican–American War and How
They Influenced Grant’s and Lee’s Tactics and
Strategies in the Civil War
Mentor: Curtis Johnson, Ph.D.
This project examines the lessons the United States
military learned during the Mexican–American War
and why these lessons were counterproductive when
brought into the Civil War. Specifically, Ulysses
S. Grant’s and Robert E. Lee’s experiences in the
Mexican–American War are examined and assessed
to see how they might have helped or hindered each
army’s fighting ability.
Wednesday, April 22
Honors Session III
LAUGHLIN AUDITORIUM
CARA DEEGAN
The Effect of the Nutrients Vitamin D and
Magnesium on the Growth of Cancer Cells
Mentors: Dana Ward, Ph.D.
Evidence of nutrient benefits could help reduce the
cost in the fight against cancer cell growth. Thus, the
purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of
magnesium and vitamin D levels on cancer cell growth.
A panel of cancer cells was acquired, cultured, and
treated. The cells’ viability was assayed via a Trypanblue and a neutral-red assay.
NICHOLAS FIRMAN
How Alteration of the Asiatic Clam’s Living
Conditions Affects Its Respiration Rate via
Dissolved Oxygen Measurements
Mentors: Jeffrey Simmons, Ph.D.
Mussels are going extinct at a faster rate than any
other species. In this experiment, we tested different
treatments to find specific conditions that would give
mussels the best conditions in a closed system. We
looked at the respiration rates of the mussels as a result
of the treatments, which showed the rate at which the
mussels were growing. ROSE KRAKOWIAK
Is What You See Really What You Get?
Detection of Methyl Salicylate in Latent
Fingerprints and of Aging Ballpoint Ink
Mentor: Danny Miles, Ph.D., Garth Patterson, Ph.D.
This project investigated various forensic methods
of detection. The first part of the study focused
on detecting methyl salicylate from the surface
of latent fingerprints using vapor analysis and gas
chromatography–mass spectrometry. The second
part analyzed the effect of time on the physical and
chemical properties of ballpoint ink using thin-layer
chromatography and a modified digital camera.
JOSEPH LESNIEWSKI
Dynamic Light Scattering for the Analysis of
Gold Micelles
Mentor: Danny Miles, Ph.D.
Dynamic light scattering (DLS) is a spectroscopic
method that works by measuring the time-dependent
intensity of light that is diffused when a laser is passed
through a solution to measure the size distribution
of the suspended particles. This project involved the
construction of a DLS instrument in order to measure
synthesized polymeric micelles that are used as targeted
drug-delivery systems.
Page 8 | SENIOR HONORS PROJECTS | SPARC FESTIVAL
The Role of Protein ATF6 of the Unfolded
Protein Response in Ebola Virus Infection
Mentor: Kathryn Dye, Ph.D.
This experiment examined whether Ebola virus utilizes
the Unfolded Protein Response (UPR) for infection and
proliferation by examining the role of ATF6, a UPR
protein. ATF6 expression was knocked down in a line
of VeroE6 cells, which was sent to USAMRIID to be
infected with Ebola virus. A plaque assay determined
whether a successful infection had occurred.
BRETT SMOOT
Maugham: A Man Conflicted
Mentor: David Wehner, Ph.D.
Many readers and critics regard W. Somerset Maugham
as a cynical man and a second-rate author. Despite
this, he is a very interesting figure to study, primarily
because he led a life of conflict. His professed beliefs
often differ from both his actions and his writings. I
examine these differences and conclude with some
tenets of Maugham’s philosophy.
JOHN-PAUL HEIL
“Practice Rather than Theory”: The Role of
Self-Knowledge in the Paradiso’s Sphere of the
Fixed Stars
O’HARA DINING ROOM
COLLEEN CRANN
A Vast, Vulgar, and Meretricious Beauty: The
Interpretation of Jay Gatsby through the Eyes
of Twentieth-Century Literary Criticism
Mentors: David Wehner, Ph.D.
This project explores the relationship between
interpretations of Jay Gatsby and twentieth-century
literary criticism. The dominant schools of literary
theory during the twentieth century offer a variety of
approaches to critical theory and textual interpretation.
Yet a close look at the character of Gatsby as
interpreted by four critical approaches reveals that
these schools may not be so different after all.
SHANNON KREINER
“There is nothing more / that I can say or
lose”: The Intersection of Motherhood and
Mental Instability in Twentieth-Century
American Women’s Literature
Mentor: Thomas Bligh, Ph.D., Leona Sevick, Ph.D.
Literature has empowered women to write about
the ways in which motherhood is both fulfilling and
trying. The authors Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Sylvia
Plath, Anne Sexton, and Marsha Norman depicted
motherhood through the lens of mental instability.
Articulation of this mother–child relationship serves as
a common theme that presents a vision of motherhood
as essentially complicated, nuanced, and deeply
intimate.
KATHRYN PRICE
Connecting with Virginia Woolf: Identifying
Modernism and War in To the Lighthouse
Mentor: Leona Sevick, Ph.D.
Virginia Woolf addresses the devastation of World
War I in the home life of the Ramsays, showing the
loss and suffering experienced by families rather than
soldiers. My project examines ways of teaching To the
Lighthouse as a literary work, exploring how students
might connect to its obscure style and modernist
themes and gain an appreciation of Woolf’s novel.​
Mentor: Paige Hochschild, Ph.D.
Scholars have argued whether The Divine Comedy’s
genre is poetic philosophy or philosophical poetry.
This project treats the question of genre as a way
to understand philosophy’s place in the pursuit of a
well-ordered life. The Comedy may not be a work of
“traditional” philosophy, but it has a philosophical
argument; the center of this argument is selfknowledge.
CARDINAL KEELER DINING ROOM
CRAIG SAKOWSKI
Rape Myth Acceptance as Influenced by Media
Consumption
Mentors: Timothy Wolfe, Ph.D.
How can we address a social issue if we do not
recognize its existence? How does the media frame
how we view not only the world around us, but those
marginalized in it as well? This project examines how
different forms of media, particularly television and
music, affect our beliefs about rape myths.
CONSTANCE KNIESLER
The Use of Body Language in Law
Enforcement
Mentors: Joseph Vince
This research considers the validity and application
of law-enforcement professionals’ skills of reading
and using body language as a form of nonverbal
communication. I studied the past psychological
research on the validity and application of body
language. Additionally, I studied cases of law
enforcement’s use of body language in the field.
SPARC FESTIVAL | SENIOR HONORS PROJECTS | Page 9
Pres ent at io n S c h e d u le | We d n e s d ay, Ap r i l 9
CLAIRE McGRATH
JASON MANSMANN
Standing Your Ground: An Exploratory Look
at the Origins, Applications, and Beliefs
Regarding Stand Your Ground Laws and their
Effects on Crime
Mentor: Timothy Wolfe, Ph.D.
This project explores the origins of Stand Your Ground
Laws, the application of these laws in court cases, and
the political ideologies of those for and against the laws.
The project also consists of statistical analyses designed
to determine the laws’ effects on crime and suggest
recommendations for future researchers.
BRIDGETTE NITZA-BUWALA
“Report a Concern”: An Online Reporting
System as a Community-Policing Tool
Mentor: Timothy Wolfe, Ph.D.
An online reporting system is a way for the community
to both seek and inform the police. Thus, it is a web
tool contributing to the practice of community policing.
This descriptive and exploratory study of community
members’ interactions with police through the web
aims to produce information beneficial to those wishing
to improve upon or initiate community-policing
practices.
JORDAN FORREST
Unveiling the Fell Stitch
Mentor: Nick Hutchings, Assistant Professor Visual and
Performing Arts
Embracing traditional methods of craft and utilizing
casting and found objects, this art installation works to
make the viewer aware of the generational gaps present
in today’s society. By highlighting the importance of
making by hand, the installation enables the viewer to
recognize the value of mending these bonds through
the passing of fiber crafts from one individual to the
next.
Wednesday, April 22
Honors Session IV
LAUGHLIN AUDITORIUM
ROBERT WARSHEL SNYDER
Discovery and Analysis of Bacteriophages at
Mount Saint Mary’s University Mentor: Kathryn Dye, Ph.D.
Bacteriophages are obligate parasites that infect and
replicate in bacteria. As bacteria have a wide range
of host environments, bacteriophages can be found in
many locations. Of these bacteria, Arthrobacter was
used to search for bacteriophages on the Mount Saint
Mary’s campus. Three new bacteriophages were found.
DYLAN SOLLER
Synthesis of Gold Micelles
Mentor: Patricia Kreke, Ph.D.
Micelles contain hydrophobic, or non-polar, and
hydrophilic, or polar, components. When exposed to an
aqueous environment, micelles orient their hydrophilic
components outward toward the polar solvent, isolating
the hydrophobic tails in the core. Gold micelles can
be synthesized through a series of modifications to
recently synthesized gold nanoparticles. The micelles
can then store, protect, transport, and deliver various
hydrophobic cancer drugs.
BEATRIZ TENORIO
Observing the Effects of HMGB1 on C/EBP-ß
in Mouse Cortical Astrocytes
Mentors: Christine McCauslin, Ph.D.
High-mobility box protein (HMGB1) has been
observed to promote chronic neuroinflammation in
CNS injuries. CCAAT/enhancer binding protein (C/
EBP-ß) was seen to increase in response to HMGB1
signaling. Both HMGB1 and C/EBP-ß are involved in
inflammatory responses during cell trauma in the brain,
but they have not been linked. This project investigates
the signaling pathway and possible target genes of C/
EBP-ß activation.
KARALEE WATTS
Experimental target validation of
microRNA-64 in C. elegans
Mentor: Michael Turner, Ph.D.
MicroRNAs are short strands of nonprotein coding
RNA that can inhibit gene translation. Because
of nonspecific pairing between miRNAs and their
predicted targets, miRNA target interactions must be
validated experimentally. Human miRNA hsa-miR-96
has been linked to diabetes and is homologous to
the C. elegans miRNA cel-miR-64. This experiment
identifies and attempts to experimentally validate
predicted target genes of cel-miR-64.
Page 10 | SENIOR HONORS PROJECTS | SPARC FESTIVAL
O’HARA DINING ROOM
HORNING THEATER
MARIA BARONE
LARISA TRAUB
Mentor: David McCarthy, Ph.D., Michael Miller, Ph.D.
Communion with God and neighbor is the goal of
the Christian life, and relational bonds formed within
community are necessary for all human beings. As a
specific type of community, youth groups within the
Catholic Church are essential to the faith development
of teens. This project demonstrates the importance
of community formation in youth ministry, not only for
the faith development of teens and their understanding
of life in the Church, but also for their role in carrying
on and passing on the faith as they become adults.
Mentor: Marco Roman, Ph.D.
The Hussard Noir was a progressive educational
movement of the 1880s that promoted the
centralization of the French government. Through
an examination of the Hussard Noir figure in modern
literature, this study illuminates the way in which the
search for a national French identity continues to this
day.
Growing Up in Community: The Faith of the
Next Generation
CRISTINA GONZALEZ
Jesus as Flow
Mentor: David Cloutier, Ph.D.
Christians are called to imitate Jesus in all aspects of
their lives. Drawing on both theology and psychology,
this project examines a model of work that leads
to human fulfillment in Christ. Jesus’ life uniquely
displays the idea that one’s work and identity are
one in being, a notion that is further illuminated by
Csikszentmihalyi’s theory of work as flow.
KEVIN PITTS
Theology of Running
Mentors: David Cloutier, Ph.D.
Running is sportive, and sport well done achieves
excellence and exercises freedom. For these reasons,
the Catholic intellectual tradition has asserted that
sport can be a noble pursuit and a means to the final
end of eternal, unitive life with God. In this project I
imaginatively explore ways that running can be suited
to this final end, especially as it relates to prayer.
ZACHARY CARLS
The Federal Reserve, Economic Stability, and
Well-Being
The Emergence of the French Left as Seen
through the Figure of the Hussard Noir in the
Regional Literature of Modern France JACOB HALBERT
Mapping the Origins of the Gut Feeling: A
Philosophical and Psychological Analysis of the
Origin of Moral Intuition
Mentor: Jessy Jordan, Ph.D.
This project explores the field of evolutionary
psychology to determine whether human moral
intuition can be explained by evolutionary forces.
Evolutionary psychology makes the claim that moral
intuition is merely a consequence of evolutionary
forces. However, it seems that post-evolutionary action
of reason demonstrates that evolution may not be able
to explain all the facets of our moral intuition.
MATTHIAS WURSTER
Split-Brain Cases and What They Say About
the Self
Mentors: Jennifer Rosato, Ph.D.
The split-brain experiments in recent medical history
have generated significant puzzles for philosophical
thinking about the self. In my project I look into Derek
Parfit’s interpretation of the split-brain experiments and
argue for the importance of self-understanding and the
linguistic specialization of our left hemisphere to the
kind of beings we take humans to be.
Mentor: Maureen Oakley, Ph.D.
This study is a policy analysis which attempts to assess
the overall historical effectiveness of the Federal
Reserve by comparing the historical stability of price
levels and inflation before and after its establishment.
The data from each time period is then compared to
measures of economic well-being in order to judge both
the Fed’s faithfulness to its mandate over the years and
the worthiness of that mandate. SPARC FESTIVAL | SENIOR HONORS PROJECTS | Page 11
Thursday, April 23
Honors Session V
LAUGHLIN AUDITORIUM
O’HARA DINING ROOM
ALEXANDRIA HONSBERGER
MEGAN SHUSTER
Mentor: Caitlin Faas, Ph.D.
This project provides a model and manual for resident
assistants at the Mount to help build leadership skills
in their first-year residents. The model was informed
by results from a quasi-experiment I conducted in
the fall semester. Resident assistants are leaders in
their communities, and this project helps provide an
appropriate method for modeling these skills.
Mentor: Michael Towle, Ph.D.
The immigrant experience since the start of World
War One has changed dramatically in regard
to immigrant culture, education, and political
development. This paper explores how the immigrant
experience has changed and possible reasons for the
changes.
Forming a Leader: A Resident-Assistant
Approach
MAGGIE ROSENBAUM
Social Environments and Physical Activity: A
Comparative Study Between Ireland and
America
Immigrant Life over the Past 100 Years:
Cultural, Political, and Educational Changes
BRIAN QUIGLEY
(Dual) Executive Decision: SemiPresidentialism as a Solution to the
Presidential–Parliamentary Debate
Mentor: Mindy Korol, Ph.D.
Social relationships are vital to our overall health and
well-being, which in turn contributes to the welfare
and health of society as a whole (Berkman & Kawachi,
2000). The way motivation to exercise is transmitted
to individuals from social relationships and social
environments may differ among cultures. This study
examines such differences, focusing on America and
Ireland.
Mentor: Amanda Beal, Ph.D.
When it comes to democratic governance, scholars
generally agree that the system of government in
place within a country can have a sizable effect
on the performance of democracy. Presidentialism
and parliamentarism have mixed track records
in this regard, but a third regime type—semipresidentialism, which attempts to fuse the best aspects
of presidentialism and parliamentarism—holds some
promise.
ASHLEY SEILER
KENDRA HUGHES
The “I” in “I do”: What Emerging Adults
Consider Before First-Time Marriages
Mentor: Caitlin Faas, Ph.D.
This study is focused on marriage and the theory
of emerging adulthood (Arnett, 2000). Participants
included seniors from a local high school, who were
compared to college students at the Mount. Questions
focused on personal goals and future expectations for
marriage.
MATTHEW STEELE
Predicting End-of-Semester Professor Ratings
before the First Class
Mentor: Robert Keefer, Ph.D.
Are professor evaluations fair? Research has suggested
that they are not; non-teaching variables such as race,
gender, attractiveness, and personality have been
shown to influence student’s evaluations. In the current
study, data gathered from 83 undergraduate students
at Mount St. Mary’s before classes even met were
able to predict end-of-semester evaluation scores with
significant accuracy.​
Exploring Lindblom’s Privileged Position of
Business Theory: A Study of Climate Change
Policy in the U.S.
Mentor: Maureen Oakley, Ph.D.
Most scientists agree that climate change is a problem,
but there is still great disagreement throughout
the world about what to do about it, especially in
the business world. The energy sector in particular
produces high levels of greenhouse gases. Thus, my
study sets out to explore the relationship between
energy businesses and climate-change legislation.
EMILY DAVIS
The Olympic Games: A Conflict of Perceptions
and Economic Realities
Mentor: Paul Manuel, Ph.D., David Cloutier, Ph.D.
An in-depth look at Olympic development provides
insight into the false perceptions many have of the
success of Olympic hosting. The international prestige
that the Olympics bring to a city provides an excuse
to use public funds to transform the city and host,
regardless of the Games’ actual influence. This research
explores the intricacies of Olympic hosting, with special
attention to perceptions and economic outcomes.
Page 12 | SENIOR HONORS PROJECTS | SPARC FESTIVAL
REGINA FLECK
The Rhythm is Gonna Move You Forward:
Samba, Capoeira, and Funk as Instruments of
Social Change in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Mentor: J. Kristen Urban, Ph.D.
In this study, the Afro-Brazilian art forms capoeira and
samba are assessed through a historical lens as initiators
of emancipation and political engagement. I investigate
contemporary social issues in Rio by analyzing the work
of funk groups like Afro-Reggae. These groups have
provided Brazilians with jobs, narrowed the inequality
gap, offered alternatives to drug-trafficking in the
favelas, and begun to de-stigmatize the poor through
music. SPARC FESTIVAL | SENIOR HONORS PROJECTS | Page 13
SPARC Festival Schedule
APRIL 21 (TUESDAY)
3:30–5:30 p.m.
Opening Ceremony including Honored Faculty Address ➢
Knott Auditorium
5–7 p.m.
Art Exhibition
Williams Gallery, Delaplaine Fine Arts Center
6–8:45 P.M.
HONORS SESSION I
6–9:30 p.m
Lightning Talks Session I
Philips Library
7–8 p.m.
Music Major Split Recital
Horning Theater, Delaplaine Fine Arts Center
8–9 p.m.
Avant Garde Program
Laughlin Auditorium
O’Hara Dining Room and Laughlin Auditorium
APRIL 22 (WEDNESDAY)
8:30 A.M.–NOON
HONORS SESSION II
12:30–1:30 p.m.
Keynote Speaker
Laughlin Auditorium
2–3:30 p.m.
Poster Session I
Patriot Hall
2–5:30 p.m.
Lightning Talks Session II
Phillips Library
2–5:30 P.M.
HONORS SESSION III
2–5:30 p.m.
Performance Presentation
Knott Auditorium
4–5:30 p.m.
Poster Session II
Patriot Hall
6–8:45 P.M.
HONORS SESSION IV
7:00–9:30 p.m.
Senior Theatre Projects
Horning Theater, Delaplaine Fine Arts Center
O’Hara Dining Room and Laughlin Auditorium
O’Hara Dining Room, Laughlin Auditorium, and Cardinal Keeler Dining Room
Raku Firing
Delaplaine Fine Arts Center
O’Hara Dining Room, Laughlin Auditorium, and Horning Hospitality Suite (ARCC)
APRIL 23 (THURSDAY)
9 A.M.–12:30 P.M.
HONORS SESSION V
9 a.m.–12:30 p.m
Lightning Talks Session III
Phillips Library
9:30 a.m.–11 a.m.
Poster Session III
Patriot Hall
Noon–3 p.m
International Fair
Cardinal Keeler Dining Room
1–2:30 p.m.
Lighted Corners Publication Premiere
Phillips Library
3–5 p.m.
Closing Celebration
Founder’s Plaza
O’Hara Dining Room and Laughlin Auditorium
*More details on all these events will be available on campus posters and www.msmary.edu/sparc
Page 14 | SENIOR HONORS PROJECTS | SPARC FESTIVAL
Honored Faculty Speaker
KATHRYN DYE, PH.D.
Virus Factory Shutdown: Investigating Ebola Virus Entry and Reproduction
Since 2009, Kathryn Dye has been an assistant professor of biology in
the Science Department at Mount St. Mary’s University, where she
teaches introductory biology, genetics, immunology, and virology. Her
research areas are virology and cell biology, and she focuses on the
infection of cells by Ebola virus and the reproduction of Ebola virus in those cells. During a
virus infection, the normal biochemical pathways and machinery in cells are hijacked and
used to produce more viruses; infected cells become virus factories. Dr. Dye investigates
the route by which Ebola virus enters cells and the effects of infection on the cells. She also
modifies normal cellular machinery in order to determine the role of various factors in virus
reproduction. Understanding how Ebola virus works enables physicians and scientists to
develop preventative measures and treatments.
Dr. Dye attended graduate school at Loyola University Chicago, where she earned a
doctorate in microbiology and immunology. Prior to joining the Mount community, Dr. Dye
held a postdoctoral fellowship at National Cancer Institute in Frederick, Maryland. She has
also served as Visiting Faculty at U.S. Army Research Institute of Infectious Diseases on Ft.
Detrick since 2008. Dr. Dye lives in Frederick with her husband John and their two children.
SPARC FESTIVAL | SENIOR HONORS PROJECTS | Page 15
The success of this festival depends upon months of work by the SPARC Festival Planning
Committee and the University Honors Committee. The festival is made possible by the generous
support of our administration and by the time and dedication of numerous students, staff, and faculty.
SPARC Planning Committee
Dahyana Arias, C’15
Tom Bligh, Ph.D.
Chris Bradley, Ph.D.
GHM Society Leadership
John-Paul Heil, C’15, President
Brian Quigley, C’15, Vice-President
Alyse Spiehler, C’17, Secretary
Stacey Brown-Hobbs, Ph.D.
Alejandro A. Canadas, Ph.D.
Mark Carlson, D.M.A.
Katy Dye, Ph.D.
Corinne Farneti, Ph.D.
Laura Frazier, Ed.D.
John-Paul Heil, C’15
Brian Heinold, Ph.D.
University Honors Committee
Amanda Beal, Ph.D.
Carolyn Cook, Ph.D.
Paige Hochschild, Ph.D.
Teresa Rupp, Ph.D.
Solomon Tesfu, Ph.D.
Michael Turner, Ph.D.
Support Staff
Dawn Alexander
Denise Ausherman
Hilary Douwes
Karlie Herbert
Fawn O’Hara
Lisa Reed
Lisa Rhoads
Karen Shorb
Katie Soter
Nick Hutchings, M.F.A.
Barbara Marinak, Ph.D.
Thane Naberhaus, Ph.D.
Fred Portier, Ph.D.
Emily Stetler, Ph.D.
Mike Turner, Ph.D.
Hillary Douwes, M.A.
Kyra Shahid, Ph.D.
Thane Naberhaus, Ph.D.
Director of the University Honors Program | Bradley Hall 306
Mount St. Mary’s University | Emmitsburg, Maryland 21727
301-447-5617 | [email protected]
www.msmary.edu
5133-3/15