• Shiloh Goecke, Biology, spent 10 weeks in a summer research program (Aspirnaut) at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. The program is administered by Henderson alum Dr. Billy Hudson and by Dr. Julie Hudson. Goecke’s work was titled “Membrane Targeted YFP Sensor of Volume Regulated Anion Channels.” After presenting her work at Vanderbilt, she presented at Harvard University. Subsequently, she was selected to present her work at the American Society of Nephrology meeting, this October in San Diego. Goecke plans to attend medical school next year.
• Ashley Hennessee, Integrated Studies, was awarded the first Hester A. Davis Training Program Scholarship by the Arkansas Archeological Society. Ashley used the award to attend the Society’s Training Program at Pea Ridge National Military Park in June as part of her ANT 4083 “Readings and Research in Anthropology” course in archeological research methods with Professor Mary Beth Trubitt.
• Theatre majors Dakota Mansfield, Colin Perry, Savannah Reynolds, and Jacey Russell presented their Senior Showcase Performances in April in Arkansas Hall Studio Theater.
• LaTaschya Harris, MLA, presented on her thesis, “Conversation of the Century: The Black Lived Experience from W.E.B. Du Bois to Kendrick Lamar.” Her study focuses on the plight of the black man in America through African American literature going as far back as slavery and ending with Kendrick Lamar, with W. E. B. Du Bois’ Souls of Black Folk as the central text. Through her research of the history of race relations, the history of riots, and the history of Hip Hop, she develops a conversation between Du Bois and Kendrick Lamar which answers Du Bois’ question of 1903.
• Taylor Henry, MLA, presented on his creative project, a magical-realist/neo-noir novel titled Honeybee. In his novel, Henry focuses on on the effects of nostalgia and its relative value in society.
• Nathan Holloway, MLA, presented his creative project, (Un)Natural, (a play on Arkansas’s place as the Natural State). This is a book composed of poetry, creative nonfiction, and photography. Its aim is to illuminate the particular (peculiar?) struggles one encounters being queer in a rural southern setting.
• Heather Lowe Wright, MLA, presented on her thesis, “The Gendering of Madness in Shakespearean Tragedies.” Her study traces Shakespeare’s portrayal of madness according to the characters’ gender in Hamlet, Macbeth, and King Lear, comparing it to medical texts of Shakespeare’s time.
• Eleven Ellis College students were accepted into the McNair Scholars Program this past spring:
Cenekeyia Tidwell, psychology major; Breanna Wolfe, bio-chemistry major; Colton Langford, history and social science education major; Rachel King, bio-chemistry major; Misty Anderson, vocal music education major; Emren Akdamar, instrumental music education major; Jeffery Rogers, instrumental music education major; Eric Gaither, criminal justice major; Jenny Martinez, math major; and Keanna Peck, political science major
• Rebecca Voss, Engineering; Jackson Baber, Physics; Thomas Hodges, Physics; and Jeremy Brents, Engineering, all passed their National Association of Rocketry level 1 certification in May. This is done by building, flying, and recovering a rocket safely on a high-powered motor. The rocket must sustain minimal damage and be ready to fly again. During their level 1 flights, the students also tested out electronic altimeters and cameras to build upon our rocket research and further develop our program.
• Daniel Gibson, Biochemistry Major, attended a summer research program at Clemson University, producing work titled, “Analyzing the Adsorption of Organic Compounds to Montmorillonite K10 using Capillary Electrophoresis.”
• Jackie Mosely, Chemistry Major, attended the summer research program at University of Mississippi. Her work was titled “Interrogating the Vibrational C-I Stretch in a Series of Azabenzene-containing Halogen Bond Complexes.”
• Emily Williford, Biochemistry Major, went to Florida State University for her summer research program, where she studied “Translational diffusion and unstable conformer trapping in glassy isopentane at 77 K.”
• Eric Gaither and Randi Latiolais, Criminal Justice, participated in the Criminal Justice Summer Research Program at UALR. During the program, participants learned the importance and the fundamentals of research. Participants were introduced to a group research project that would look at the anti-Muslim sentiments and hate crimes in Arkansas. The group furthered their understanding of the Muslim religion by participating in ceremonies with the local Muslim community. At the end of the program, the group presented their findings and were invited to continue their research. Both students have been extended offers to graduate school at UALR.