SXU Holds 21st Annual Honors Program Senior Symposium
Saint Xavier University (SXU) recently hosted its 21st annual Honors Program Senior Symposium. Each year, the symposium showcases independent research conducted by Honors senior for their capstone projects. Students research under the direction of a faculty mentor and the senior project coordinators, Troy Martin, Ph.D., and Tatiana Tatum, Ph.D.
Students participating in the symposium have an opportunity to execute a research or creative project of significant scope related to their major or program, which culminates in a substantial written paper and public presentation. Projects addressed research across a variety of academic disciplines, including natural sciences, nursing, women's studies, criminal justice, language, psychology and more.
"These student-scholars showed a high level of commitment to their research projects. We are so proud of them and the excellence shown in their work. Their studies all were focused on areas that contribute to the well-being of the community and society, demonstrating a strong link to Saint Xavier's Mercy mission," said Angela Durante, Ph.D., who oversees the Honors Program.
"Most of our students presented works that were not only creative and well-researched but spoke to our core values of social justice and a common good. I was so proud of our students and how this thread of equity and the importance of justice could be found throughout all disciplines, from criminal justice to nursing to chemistry to biology. They were well-researched, well-constructed, and well-presented," added Tatum.
This year, for the first time, the conference ended with a presentation of the Honors stoles and cords to students. The gold stoles signify membership in the Honors program and are marked with the word "Honor." The gold cord symbolizes exceptional academic achievement and intertwines with a red cord that represents scarlet, a University color.
Faculty were incredibly proud to witness the progress and growth of students over the past year.
"This past semester, I taught one of the two Honors seminars and have been delighted to participate in a community of committed learners. My nine students developed and completed their research projects that began about a year ago with the submission of a proposal. Observing their progress and their growth into scholars over the course of this semester has been a high point of my three decades at SXU. I was so pleased with their presentations at the Honors Conference and especially the mature way they conducted themselves as they shared their research in their oral presentations. The Honors Program demonstrates that SXU is committed to encouraging our students to reach their highest potential," said Martin.
Check out the list of Honors scholars and their incredible projects!
Language and Society
Guadalupe Guzman - Public Opinion and Immigration
Shaunia Singleton - Perceptions of Sexual Intent: How Sex Norms May Have Shifted Due to Social Media Exposure
Jenan Said - Neurodiversity in a Neurotypical World: Ableism Toward the Autistic
Contributions of Nursing and Science
Mlaak Yassin - Assessing and Enhancing the Effectiveness of Parent Education of Infants from Age Birth to One Year
Alexandria Demas - Nursing Students’ Self-Reported Experience in an Interdisciplinary Gerontology Minor
Oppression Toward Women in Society
Jacklyn Alfred - Trope or Tragedy: Perceptions of Sexual Violence in Films
Melanie Diaz - The Fear of Sexual Assault on College Campuses
Jocelyn Rojas - Women in Business: The Road Traveled
Life Science
Esra Awadallah - Assessing antimicrobial properties of natural extracts such as garlic and rosemary on E. coli, S. aureus, and P. aeruginosa
Patycja Zieba - Monk Parakeet Group Personality Analysis in the Chicagoland Area
Ayat Nakleh - Detecting Ovarian Cancer Early on Using Nanotechnology
Brittany Stano - Rotifer Habrotrocha rosa Across Multiple Spatial Scales
Environmental Sciences and Quality of Life
Lisa Doan - Next Generation Poisoned? Detecting Harmful Heavy Metals in Infant Food
Jena Said - Environmental Racism
Danya Mohamed - Fragrances and Cosmetics