Second Annual
Academic Symposium
April 27, 2017
Welcome
For such a compact university, Centenary has a remarkable range of programs and
departments: we prepare future entrepreneurs, police officers, teachers, fashion designers and
equestrians—as well as scientists, scholars, and poets. It can be difficult, even for those of us
on campus every day, to grasp the sheer range of achievement on this cozy campus.
This, our second annual Academic Symposium, is an opportunity to celebrate all that we do so
well at Centenary. Ninety students representing sixteen programs and departments will
present, demonstrate, and perform their best work; the cumulative force of these
simultaneous productions attests to the depth of mind and spirit at Centenary.
Bringing so many people together has been its own collaborative production, and many hands
have made this work light. The Office of the Vice President Of Academic Affairs has supported
the Symposium since it began as a loopy idea in committee two years ago. Student
Government Association volunteers will help the event run smoothly. Kathy Fruncillo and
Catherine Reilly in the Faculty Office provided expert, sane, and calm guidance: as always, they
make the faculty look better than they deserve. John Brandes in the Print Shop worked
heroically on our very late flyer and program requests. Finally, our President and VPAA, Drs.
Haney and D’Olivo, provide the intellectual leadership that makes an undertaking like this
feasible and welcome.
--Student Research & Development
(Professors Battistini, Brown, Floether, Onken, Perricone, Plantamura, and
Whang)
Directions
FROM THE FRONT ENTRANCE OF SEAY (facing Jefferson Street): To your immediate left, you
will find the Seay Parlors, with all posters and displays.
For the presentation rooms, walk through the door immediately in front of you, International
Programs. Continue through the IP offices, and you will find yourself in the Student Life Suite.
The door to your right leads to the SAC, #theVibe, and the Career Development Center. For
the Student Life Conference Room, just ask at the Student Life desk.
FROM THE REAR ENTRANCE OF SEAY (facing the campus quad): Go up the stairs immediately
in front of you. To your right is the SAC, behind you is #theVibe, the door to your left is the
Career Development Center, and the door behind you to the left is the Student Life Suite. For
the Student Life Conference Room, just ask at the Student Life desk.
For the posters in the Seay Parlors, enter the Student Life Suite, turn left at the desk, walk
through International Programs, and the Parlors will be to your right.
Presentations
11:00 am to 12:00 pm
12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
1:00 pm to 2:00 pm
Battle of the Socials at Manchester Metropolitan U
Amber Sporer
Creative Writing
Ariana Archilla
Experience in Manchester, England
David VanArtsdalen
Kevin Princeton and the Holy Land of Darkness
Kenny Vivor
Science Toy: CDC Ships
Elizabeth Kennedy
Science Toy: Eazy-Catch
Cheyenne Lasky
Science Toy: The Grade Booster
Saige Lupco
Sports Practicum Manchester Trip: Crazy Dodgeball
Miranda Burns
Throughout the Years
Courtney Butrymowicz
A Bigger Box
Justin Goodman
Adolescent Girls on the Autism Spectrum
Brooke Boetticher
American History in Persona
Kate Iannacone
Creating a Man
Abraham Rexrode
Fulton J. Sheen: Christian Voice in Contemporary Lit
Katie Zachok
Lehigh Valley IronPigs Internship
Jeff Maris
Manchester Project- UV Table Tennis Tournament
Seth Barofski
Sports Management Practicum, My Experience
Sebastian Hernandez
The Somaran Chronicles
Jon Muñoz
WeRateHorses
Samantha Mooney
WNTI Radio Internship
Justin Dalcourt
Can the Birmingham City Jail be the City on a Hill?
Courtney Butrymowicz
Implementation of Body-Worn Cameras
Alan Sciarrillo
Lessons from My Father and Others
Jon Muñoz
Misapplied Sense: Emma’s Resistance to Education
Catherine Godlewsky
The Linguistics of Singular ‘They’
Abraham Rexrode
The Three Snubs
Taylor Doll
SAC
Student Life
SAC
Student Life
#the VIBE
#the VIBE
#the VIBE
SAC
Student Life
SAC
Career Development
Student Life
Student Life
Career Development
#theVIBE
SAC
SAC
Student Life
#theVIBE
#theVIBE
Career Development
Career Development
Student Life
Career Development
Career Development
Student Life
2:00 pm to 3:00 pm
2:00 pm to 3:15 pm
Trail of the Inheritors
Kevin Pascarella
VIBEVOICES
Rob Hom
Samantha Mooney
Jessica Martin
Steven Underwood
ENACTUS Presentation
Nick Bianco
James Maris
Sachel Bise
Kyle Maris
Max Boures
Jessica Martin
Mike Caprari
Ben Poisseroux
Sam Chack
Rebecca Raymond
Todd Eckert
Greg Robinson
Mike Finelli
Andrew Rodriguez
Colin Hudson
Ornette Sanchez
Romane Jean-Louis
Darrian Steward
Brianne Lechner
Anna Stroud
Hayden Lechner
Fairies of the Forest
Lori McSherry
Four Poems for RW
Marissa Conroy
Social Issue in Fantasy: Ebony Antebellum
Steven Underwood
God as an Alternate Identity for Milton in Paradise Lost
Mathew Figueira
Motivational Advice: Yes, I can do it!
Crystal Caribbean Kruse
Opportunity and Achievement at WNTI
Justin Dalcourt
Katie Peters
'Pretty’: A Word History
Emily Sugrue
Pre-Vet Association Research Symposium Trip
Maureen Agnew
Religion, Women in Society, and the Viking Age
Jade Piatt
Sex Education and its Function
Eben Loudin
Social Media: Small Brands to Increase Brand Awareness
William Squares
Pre-Vet Association Research Symposium Trip
Samantha Frosch
Arianna Palmieri
Student Life
#theVIBE
SAC
Student Life
Student Life
Student Life
Career Development
#theVIBE
#theVIBE
Career Development
#theVIBE
Career Development
Career Development
#theVIBE
Posters
12:00 pm to 2:00 pm
12:00 pm to 4:00 pm
2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Cartridge Case Ejection Patterns
SEAY Parlors
Kelly Petersen
Decisional Balance and Collegiate Marijuana Use
Amber Poltricitsky
Jaclyn Smith
It’s Our Time of The Month
Sarah-Ann Haimann
Speech/Hearing Impairment on Substance Use Disorders
Amanda Madonna
Splitting Water with Mixed Metal Oxide Catalysts
Tiffany Demattia
Ryan VanVliet
Scarlett Welfel
Substance Use Treatment for LGBT Older Adults
Carolyn Brouard
Stephanie Nardone
Shaina Dinapoli
Jaclyn Smith
Katherine Gannon
The Development of Reactivity in the Equine
Margaret Hall
Treatment Motivation in a Therapeutic Community
Brianna Coates
Rags to Runway
SEAY Parlors
Amaryllis Cummings
Renee Hack
Jasmine Fox
Nicole Soriero
Helen Giannandrea
Recycling Garment Display
Amaryllis Cummings
Stephanie Wichowski
Ann Otes
Brianna Wistuba
Nicole Soriero
Client and Clinician Impressions of SUD Treatment
SEAY Parlors
Abigail Voelkner
Co-Occurring Psychiatric History and TC Treatment
Carolyn Brouard
Coping Strategies in Older Adults
Rebecca Thompson
Abigail Voelkner
MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference
Glenn Allen
Study Abroad Experience in Limerick
Morgan Haller
Displays
12:00 pm to 4:00 pm
1:00 pm to 2:00 pm
International Service Program to the Dominican Republic
Rebecca Clinebell
Katherine Newman
Alejandro Espinal
Rebecca Raymond
Romane Jean-Louis
Roberto Romero
Three Garments
Gianna Ross
SEAY Parlors
Videos
12:00 pm to 1:30 pm
Tool for Therapeutic Riding Instructors-In-Training
Margaret Hall
#theVIBE
Abstracts
Build a Bigger Box: Personal Finance at New York Life
Justin Goodman
A presentation of what I learned working with my mentor Ed Kovac from New York Life. This includes mortgage
advantages, different portfolios, Roth and Traditional IRA’s, retirement plans, and how to get the most for your money
and best place to park it, depending on one’s needs.
Adolescent Girls on the Autism Spectrum Transitioning into Adulthood Brooke Boetticher
My presentation will examine how the intersections of autism, adolescence, and female gender interact to form unique
experiences for teenage girls on the autism spectrum. Issues discussed will include the challenges faced by autistic
individuals, their experiences and identities, the services (or lack thereof) available to this specific population, the lack of
scholarly research done on the population, and the negative effects of that lack of attention and what can be done to
improve it.
American History in Persona
Kate Iannacone
The author of this series of poems spent this semester engaged in an independent study focused on point of view. In
this presentation, she intends to share some of what she learned, as well as her love of history in a series of persona
poems that tell stories of American History through the eyes of those who lived it.
Battle of the Socials at Manchester Metropolitan U
Amber Sporer
My presentation will cover my semester-long project with students from Manchester Metropolitan University for my
Sports Practicum course. Battle of the Socials” is a trivia night event I have been planning with six other students from
MMU. I will present the video my group and I created of the event, as well as other information from the experience.
Can the Birmingham City Jail be the City on a Hill?
Courtney Butrymowicz
What do a twentieth-century African-American preacher in Alabama and an early Puritan sailing for a “New World” have
in common? Both John Winthrop in “A Model of Christian Charity” and Martin Luther King Jr. in “Letter from
Birmingham City Jail” use religious language for political advocacy. Though King and Winthrop use religious concepts
differently, they make the same move of using religious typology to further their political goals. These texts strongly
suggest that in America, when the arc of the moral universe bends towards justice (or at least liberty), religious
language has usually played an essential role.
Cartridge Case Ejection Patterns based on Bullet Weight, Caliber and Firearm Position
Kelly Petersen
Law enforcement regularly comes into contact with two primary types of handguns at shooting scenes: the revolver and
the semi-automatic pistol. The spent casings ejected from a semi-automatic pistol can surround a shooting scene and
become quite significant to investigators and crime scene personnel in their effort to assess where the shooting
occurred, how far the shooter was from his/her intended or unintended target, and, sometimes, whether statements
made by victims, suspects, and witnesses are true. Several variables will be examined in this research project: variations
in the caliber of semi-automatic pistols discharged at the range; the surface the spent casing comes in contact with after
ejection; the materials utilized in various types of pistol ammunition; the amount of propellant contained within various
types of pistol ammunition; the weight of the projectile; and how the shooter holds the firearm at discharge. There are
currently no documented studies that have addressed the average distance travelled by cartridge casings ejected from
different handguns in an effort to determine the position of the shooter in a crime. This study will benefit both the law
enforcement and the scientific communities.
Changes in Treatment Motivation, Readiness, and Engagement in a Therapeutic Community Population
Brianna Coates
Therapeutic community (TC) clients (n=153 residential; n=45 outpatient) in substance use disorders (SUD) treatment
were examined for changes in motivation/readiness for treatment and therapeutic engagement across three time
points in treatment (day 30, 90, 150) as part of a larger study on TC treatment process and outcome. Repeated
measures ANOVA (mixed) findings highlighted no significant changes in motivation/readiness for treatment over time,
but there was a significant increase in therapeutic engagement over time in treatment. Residential/outpatient status
had no effect. Findings will be discussed within the broader literature on motivation/readiness and client engagement
as well as the literature on systemic differences between residential and outpatient SUD care.
Client and Clinician Impressions of SUD Treatment Progress: A Moderation Analysis
Abigail Voelkner
Little research exists that studies the parallel process of client self-impressions of substance use disorder (SUD)
treatment progress alongside the clinician perceptions of client progress. A specific type of moderation model was run
on SUD treatment client – SUD treatment counselor dyads (N=136) in which client self-assessment at baseline was
predicted to influence client self-assessment at time 2 (60 days later). In addition, counselor impression of client
progress at baseline was hypothesized to moderate this model, with client self-report of client-counselor rapport
hypothesized as moderating the primary moderator. The model was significant, F (7, 128) = 9.48, p<.001, R 2 = 34.15. In
brief, all predictors and interactions were significant (p<.001). Of note, the conditional effect of the baseline client selfassessment x counselor assessment interaction showed a significant inverse relationship under conditions of low
rapport and significantly positive relationship under conditions of high rapport. Implications for SUD treatment will be
discussed.
Co-Occurring Psychiatric History and Therapeutic Community Treatment
Carolyn Brouard
A series of mediational models were conducted on 9,664 therapeutic community (TC) clients using secondary data from
discharge files collected over the past three years. Across all three models number of prior treatment episodes did
prove to have a significant indirect effect on the relationship between mental health diagnostic history, or mental health
hospitalization history, or mental health hospitalization for 30+ days on time in current treatment episode. Implications
for inpatient/outpatient TC care will be discussed in regard to the impact of prior or current psychiatric distress on
treatment program planning and administration. Directions for future study of co-occurring disorders will also be
discussed.
Coping Strategies in Older Adults
Abigail Voelkner & Rebecca Thompson
Older adults (N=244) in prison were studied to examine the predictive influence of coping strategies on perceived prison
stress. Regression analysis found that cognitive, emotional, physical, and social coping strategies significantly predicting
prison stress. In brief, it appeared that there was a significant inverse relationship between cognitive, physical, and
social coping and prison stress, and a positive relationship between emotional coping and prison stress. Applicability of
findings to in-prison treatment programming will be discussed.
Creating a Man
Abraham Rexrode
This presentation is a collection of poems presented at the Sigma Tau Delta convention this year. The convention’s
theme was “re-creation” which the author felt fit with this collection of poems because they revolve around the
experience of being a transgender man. These poems discuss dealing with gender identity, bathroom bills, gender
dysphoria, and other experiences relevant to that experience. Giving a brief look into one transgender journey, the
poems start with questioning gender identity and build to questioning how to relate and write about a woman’s
perspective, experienced in the past, while currently identifying as a man.
Creative Writing
Ariana Archilla
Decisional Balance and Collegiate Marijuana Use
Jaclyn Smith & Amber Poltricitsky
This study examined university students' (N=114) marijuana use in accordance with the DSM-5 criteria for cannabis use
disorder and the marijuana decisional balance scale. A 2x2 MANOVA was conducted in order to determine the
relationship between the benefits (pros) and consequences (cons) of the marijuana decisional balance scale in contrast
with the DSM-5 criteria severity. The MANOVA results revealed significant main effects for diagnostic status.
Implications for counseling will be discussed within the framework of motivational interviewing and cognitivebehavioral treatment models.
The Development of Reactivity in the Equine
Margaret Hall
A good therapeutic horse should be calm and minimally reactive to sudden or strange events (novel stimuli). But how
does one judge the reactivity of a horse? Using heart rate, respiration rate, and an in depth reactivity scale horses
currently being used in a therapeutic riding program and lesson horses from Centenary’s Equestrian Program were
evaluated for reactivity to a variety of stimuli. The goal was to find out the best reactivity tests to gauge potential
therapeutic horses. However, overall the Centenary lesson horses were just as non-reactive as the therapeutic horses
begging the question why? Through delving into the background of each horse used in the study a link was developed.
The least reactive horses had the most extensive and varied backgrounds that included traveling, showing at big venues,
multiple owners, and multiple careers. This link indicates that therapeutic programs should seek out and favor horses
with varied experiences and backgrounds when looking for reliable therapeutic mounts.
The Effects of Speech/Hearing Impairment on Substance Use Disorders Treatment
Amanda Madonna
A 30-year review of relevant literature databases found very few published studies discussing the logistics of substance
use disorder (SUD) treatment with speech- and/or hearing-impaired individuals. Consequently, this poster addresses a
significant limitation of the SUD scholarly literature. Substance use disorder treatment clients (N=9,011) with speech
(n=92) and/or hearing impairments (n=263) were compared with clients without these impairments in regard to time in
treatment and number of prior treatment episodes. Findings showed that those with speech and/or hearing
impairments reported significantly more prior treatment episodes. Implications for tailoring services to accommodate
the specific speech and/or hearing needs of these clients will be addressed.
ENACTUS Presentation
Nick Bianco, Sachel Bise, Max Boures, Mike Caprari, Sam Chack, Todd Eckert, Mike Finelli, Colin Hudson, Romane
Jean-Louis, Brianne Lechner, Hayden Lechner, Kyle Maris, James Maris, Jessica Martin, Ben Poisseroux, Rebecca
Raymond, Greg Robinson, Andrew Rodriguez, Ornette Sanchez, Darrian Steward, Anna Stroud
Evaluation of the Implementation of Body-Worn Cameras in the Edison Police Department: Project Update
Alan Sciarrillo
I am examining law enforcement’s use of body-worn cameras. More specifically, and in response to the current issues
law enforcement agencies are facing, a municipal police department (in NJ) is implementing body-worn cameras, which
I am evaluating. This evaluation includes the opinions of officers in each rank in order to obtain an all-inclusive view of
body cameras. Because body-worn cameras are a relatively new technology, police departments have little existing
research available to inform for their own programs. This study will use this agency as a model for other departments in
the state and throughout the country. I am collecting data and will give an update on this project.
Exploring God as an Alternate Identity for Milton in Paradise Lost
Mathew Figueira
This paper explores the character of God in Paradise Lost as an alternate identity for the author, John Milton. While
critics commonly note the biographical resonances (especially political) in Milton’s construction of Satan (most famously
William Blake, who claimed Milton was “of the devil’s party without knowing it”), the potential connections between
Milton and God have been overlooked. The goal of the paper is to examine why someone as boastful as Milton would
have only placed himself in the self-defeating position of Satan when the mantle of God was equally available to him.
Through the examination of biographical context then by subsequently analyzing the views of Milton’s children it
became clear that Milton could have written these characters as a view of the disappointments and disapproval present
at the time in his own children. Milton spent much of his life buried in his work and political dealings which brought
anxiety onto his children. Understanding this, God then becomes an absentee, often unforgiving and judgmental father
figure overlooking his children. Religion, ideals, and circumstance clash as Milton struggles to keep up a career, politics,
the safety of himself and his family all satiating his family’s needs.
Fairies of the Forest
Lori McSherry
Fairies of the Forest is a children’s picture book that I wrote and illustrated to show that with imagination, any activity
can become a creative adventure. Violet and Amethyst make their forest walk more exciting by using their imagination
to pretend they are searching for fairies. They transform ordinary objects: an acorn cap becomes a hat, and flower
petals are made into a dress. The story aims to teach children that being creative is fun—and transformative.
Four Poems for RW
Marissa Conroy
This presentation consists of multiple poems I have written for a literary magazine on campus, Reading Writing, or RW
for short. While RW allows students to post anonymously by creating a pen-name or symbol, I will be sharing these
poems. The four poems follow the guidelines of the RW literary magazine; they are written in response to a specific
prompt and they are exactly 100 words or less. The prompt will be read prior to the poem to help the poems be better
understood. While the poems are not related, they are all elements of previous and current experiences.
Fulton J. Sheen’s Way to Happiness: the Christian Voice in Contemporary Literature
Katie Zachok
I will be reading an excerpt from my final paper for my Independent Study course, entitled “Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen’s
Way to Happiness: the Christian Voice in Contemporary Literature.” I will discuss the aim of the course to give the
audience context. With regard to the text in question, I will talk about how Christian literature has been marginalized as
a genre, with Sheen providing a practical and down-to-earth perspective among many other Christian authors. He offers
any reader the opportunity to reflect on the meaning of life and how to live it in the most peaceful way possible,
addressing the complexities of life that have been in the minds of men for centuries.
How Social Media Platforms can Allow Small Brands to Increase Brand Awareness
William Squares
I will demonstrate the power and reach given to smaller companies through social media. The organization I will focus
on is a minor league hockey team, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. After interning with the group during the current year, I
have both been told and experienced ways in which companies can use social media as a tool to spread their brand
awareness. I will delve into the specifics of how content can give brands a personal social media presence, rather than a
computer-generated feel. I will also discuss the struggles of working under not only a company social media policy but
also a large-scale league policy. (The Phantoms have their own social media conduct policy, as does the league they play
in.)
Presentation and Poster: International Service Program (ISP) 2017 to the Dominican Republic
Rebecca Clinebell, Alejandro Espinal, Romane Jean-Louis, Katherine Newman, Rebecca Raymond, Roberto Romero,
and Nicci Veras
Centenary’s International Service Program (ISP) Ambassadors will be showcasing their experience from our alternative
spring break trip to the Dominican Republic, which happened March 11-15, 2017. Our Ambassadors will be showing a
slideshow of the many pictures taken during the trip, a documentary of the activities and connections made with the
children in the Dominican Republic, as well as speaking about the life changing experience and giving insight on how to
help foster and grow ISP at Centenary University.
It’s Our Time of The Month
Sarah-Ann Haimann
With feminism gaining positive and negative attention across the world, Centenary University gathered a committee of
women to put together activities for a week in March called Female Empowerment Week. The week encouraged
individuals to break through the gender stereotypes society has confined us to in order to gain the confidence to walk
this world comfortably in our own skin. We said why we are better than Barbie, we broke some plates, and took the
tape off our mouths in the Vagina Monologues. We laughed, we cried, but most importantly we grew as individuals as
well as a community.
Kevin Princeton and the Holy Land of Darkness
Kenny Vivor
The presentation is based on a series of novels I have been working on since 2011. The story revolves around a wealthy
young man turned gangster ascending into Heaven after getting killed by the police. As he explores the afterlife, he soon
discovers a society of elite supernatural assassins known as the "Apostles." Seeing this as an opportunity to redeem
himself, he joins them in an everlasting war against their enemies the "Satanists," who work to control the afterlife and
the universe to enhance mankind through sin and totalitarianism. It's a speculative fiction story that revolves around life
after death, religious fanaticism versus Christian humanism, spirituality and redemption. I will read excerpts that explain
the world and how I developed the afterlife as both a manifestation and metaphor for second chances to live again.
Lehigh Valley IronPigs Internship
Jeff Maris
I will be discussing what I have been doing over the course of my internship and what I have learned from it. This will
include day-to-day activities and my role in making the guests’ experience the best we can at Coca-Cola Park.
Lessons from My Father and Others
Jon Muñoz
This presentation is a collection of vignettes from what will become a longer novella entitled Lessons From My Father
and Others. The novella begins with the narrator attending his father’s funeral, which prompts a series of memories
about the narrator’s childhood and adolescence. Along the way, the narrator reflects upon the “lessons” taught to him
by both his father and society. The novella aims to explore the intersections between memory, ethnicity,
nationality, race, gender, sexuality, and identity.
The Linguistics of Singular “‘They’: A Response to ’They’ is Destroying the English Language”
Abraham Rexrode
This paper is a response to John Hovatt II’s article “’They’” is Destroying the English Language.” Hovatt wrote his essay in
response to singular “they” being named American Dialect society’s 2015 Word of the Year. From a linguistic approach,
my paper points out the flaws in Hovatt’s argument while supporting the use of a singular they with both historical and
current linguistic evidence. I advocate for the use of descriptive language versus prescriptive language, especially when
a word embodies a group identity. Instead of being based in linguistics or grammar, Hovatt’s points are rooted in
transphobia and therefore inadmissible.
Manchester Project - UV Table Tennis Tournament
Seth Barofski
This past semester, I had the opportunity to work with students from Manchester Metropolitan University organizing a
UV Table Tennis Tournament for charity. We organized all aspects of event, including marketing, event planning,
sponsorships, venue reservation, and financial management. Throughout the semester, we communicated through
skype and online messengers to organize the event. During spring break, we traveled to Manchester to execute our
sporting event. The event was a great success: through our event and online GoFundMe page, we were able to raise
over £300 for our respective charities, UK Cancer Research and The American Cancer Society. Being able to work with
students across the world to run a global sporting event has been a life-changing experience. The knowledge, skills, and
experiences gained from this trip have greatly prepared me for my future involvement in team management and event
planning.
Misapplied Sense: Emma’s Resistance to Education
Catherine Godlewsky
This presentation explores themes of female education within the novel Emma by Jane Austen. While confining Emma
to the conventions of her time, Austen argues that the personal satisfaction of becoming the best woman she is or can
be expected to become is one of Emma’s most important means of finding happiness. Through Emma’s interactions
with other characters, Austen shows Emma’s self-satisfied attitude as an impediment to this personal education, and
Austen argues that such internal education is more valuable than stereotypical accomplishments.
MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference
Glenn Allen
I will discuss what the MIT conference is all about, what I expected, and why you should go.
Motivational Advice: Yes, I can do it!
Crystal Caribbean Kruse
I have devoted my life and career to helping others with learning difficulties and those who are being bullied just
because they learn a different way. I will discuss my educational career, my experiences telling my story through
interviews and social media, and my aspirations for opening up a recreational facility for kids with not only learning
differences but physical challenges as well, because I have found a significant correlation between learning differences
and physical challenges in kids. But if I can do it, so can you!
National Substance Use Disorder Treatment Landscape for LGBT Older Adults: N-SSATS 2014 Data
Carolyn Brouard, Shaina Dinapoli, Katherine Gannon, Stephanie Nardone, Jaclyn Smith
The U.S. population is aging, as is the LGBT community, and many older LGBT adults are projected to struggle with
substance use disorder (SUD). However, to date no studies exist of the national SUD treatment landscape with regard to
specialized services for LGBT older adults. To address this literature gap, data were surveyed from the 2014
administration of the National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services (N-SSATS) regarding facilities that offered
specialized services for both older adult and LGBT-focused care (n=1,764). Results underscore that treatment availability
for this specialized population is scarce throughout most of the U.S. Recommendations for improving treatment
accessibility will be discussed.
Opportunity and Achievement at WNTI, Centenary Radio
Katie Peters and Justin Dalcourt with Professor Richard Hinchliffe
A panel of student leaders and the WNTI Director will discuss the rebirth of student-run radio at Centenary, and explore
some of our current top priorities. These include recruitment for a hybrid staff of students, alumni, faculty and
community volunteers; grooming student leaders to head up radio departments for programming, music, news, sports,
web/social media, promotions and production; distributing radio content on multiple platforms including the internet,
the radio website and social media; reporting on campus issues and events, and positioning WNTI as “The Innovation
Station” that serves as “The Sound of Centenary.”
Pre-Professional Club’s American Pre-Veterinary Medicine Association Research Symposium Trip
Maureen Agnew, Samantha Frosch, and Arianna Palmieri
We will discuss our experience at the 2017 American Pre-Veterinary Medicine Association Research Symposium at the
North Carolina State College of Veterinary Medicine. We are pre-vet, and hope to attend veterinary school and become
veterinarians. This trip gave us an opportunity to talk with admissions counselors at the NC State CVM, network with
current veterinary students, meet other pre-veterinary students from all over the country, attend several lectures and
wet labs, tour the veterinary school--and compete in games such as the “Anatomy Bowl” and “Pre-Veterinary
Olympics.” This experience gave us inside knowledge on how to become well-rounded veterinary school applicants.
’Pretty’: A Word History
Emily Sugrue
th
A word that has been known to the English vernacular since the 11 century, pretty has quite an ugly history. Elements
such as the word’s etymology, history, meaning, and usage have changed so much over time that pinpointing the exact
history of pretty is an arduous process. I will try to give it a shot, though, because I’ve paid a pretty penny for my college
education. Since I am not content with sitting pretty for the rest of my life, I had better put what I have learned to good
use. Please, pretty please, stay tuned!
Rags to Runway
Amaryllis Cummings, Jasmine Fox, Helen Giannandrea, Renee Hack, and Nicole Soriero
We are design/costume design students who participated in the Rags to Runway Fashion Show, organized by the “Child
Abuse Prevention, New Jersey” organization. We created three outfits: 70's inspired look, casual look, and evening look,
with materials purchased from the local thrift stores.
Recycling Garment Display Amaryllis Cummings, Ann Otes, Nicole Soriero, Stephanie Wichowski, and Brianna Wistuba
Students from the Draping class will create artistic fashion outfits through reuse, recycling, and reconditioning of
“garbage” pieces that are destined for a landfill.
Religion, Women in Society, and the Viking Age
Jade Piatt
This presentation compares popular portrayal of the Vikings to the historical evidence archaeology and written work
provide. Using a combination of both to evaluate the scope of Viking impact, it examines how archaeology supports and
contradicts primary sources. Particular attention is paid to Viking numbers, brutality, trade, and economics. In addition,
Viking society is explained with regard to spirituality, through a juxtaposition of paganism and Christianity, and the
social roles of women are discussed in conjunction with both religious perspectives. Overall, this presentation brings the
true nature of Vikings to light—clean, spiritually aggressive, talented sea-farers, whose society possessed a significantly
more equal view of women than their Christian counterparts.
Science Toy: CDC Ships
Elizabeth Kennedy
I will be presenting my final project for Physics II, which entails a sales pitch for investment in a new science toy. I will be
presenting a toy boat. This boat is powered by steam provided by a candle and copper wire. I have named the boat
“CDC Ships” after my godson, who really loves boats. Once the project is complete, I hope he will enjoy using it with my
aunt and uncle.
Science Toy: Eazy-Catch
Cheyenne Lasky
For my physics II final project, I made a catapult. I was inspired by my mother, who has disabilities. Some days can be
bad for her, and living with five dogs can be hard. So on the days that aren’t her best, she can still play with our dogs
and do so while resting. The whole purpose of the catapult is to help anyone, but especially seniors or people with
disabilities, play with their animals. The catapult is small and light enough to move around easily, and it can hold treats
or balls to throw. I tested it with my own dogs and they seemed to love the treats the best. This would be a great toy to
put on the market for people looking to enjoy the company of an animal, no matter their condition or age.
Science Toy: The Grade Booster
Saige Lupco
This is my physics final project that will incorporate aspects from both Physics I and Physics II. It is a toy car powered by
a battery and rubber bands making it carry both potential and kinetic energy along with a simple circuit much like the
ones built and worked with previously in Physics II labs. It will be presented with a brochure and a PowerPoint
explaining the details of the work that went into the project, how it works, and how it can be passed as a science toy.
Sex Education and its Function
Eben Loudin
This presentation is drawn from a paper I wrote for my Historical Methods class. It covers the beginning of sex
education in America to the present day. In addition, I will address technological aspects that were incorporated in sex
education as well as technological changes that have shaped sex education throughout the decades. I will discuss both
the “first” sexual revolution in the early twentieth century as well as the “second” sexual revolution in the 1960s. Time
permitting, I will consider the discourse surrounding sex education, including some of its controversies.
Social Issue in Fantasy: Excerpts from "Ebony Antebellum"
Steven Underwood
This Presentation will feature an excerpt of Steven Underwood's Dystopian novel that meddles with concepts of
poverty, social issue and stigma mixed with the fantastical in an egalitarian society. Magic, in this excerpt, is presented
as a symbol of commerce, wealth and success: those with plenty of it hold a light of life others don't and define what
parts of it are okay to use and what aren't. As such, the excerpt deals heavily in metaphor and symbolism that attempts
to be direct in motive and statement. This project is also an experiment on tone, balancing some potentially older
themes with a voice younger audiences can potentially understand.
The Somaran Chronicles
Jon Muñoz
This presentation will feature excerpts from a project I began during my Children’s Literature course. Essentially, the
project consists of several short chapters from a prospective young adult novel following an overthrown princess who
must fight for her kingdom and assume her rightful throne. The project explores themes such as gender, power,
heritage, personal agency, and duty while also working to assess how such complex themes can be delivered to young
adults via a fantasy series. Accompanying each short chapter is an analysis of how the story is incorporating lessons
learned in the Children’s Literature course and how texts read in class have influenced/inspired the project
Splitting Water for Energy with Mixed Metal Oxide Catalysts
Tiffany Demattia, Ryan VanVliet, and Scarlett Welfel
We are currently developing alternative fuel sources, and focusing on converting sunlight into energy by splitting water
both efficiently and economically. This project is developing transition and lanthanide-metal-based mixed oxide
catalysts that will split water into its component chemicals using sunlight. A test apparatus that will quantify the
products generated and the efficiency of the process is also being developed and optimized.
Sports Practicum Manchester trip: Crazy Dodgeball Tournament
Miranda Burns
I will be discussing the Sports Practicum trip to Manchester England. I will also be discussing all aspects of the event I
hosted while I was there, which was the Crazy Dodgeball Tournament. The aspects will include the planning process, the
day of the event, and the reflection of how the event was overall.
Sports Management Practicum, My Experience in Manchester, England David VanArtsdalen
I will discuss my experience in Manchester, England with our Sports Practicum class. I planned, promoted, and executed
a sporting event for charity with several students from Manchester Metropolitan University. I faced many challenges
during the planning process of this project, but also learned a lot about myself and about hosting sporting events in a
foreign country.
Along with running our charitable sporting events, my classmates and I had the opportunity to experience professional
sporting events in England, including rugby and soccer matches, and we had the opportunity to network with
professionals from Manchester United and Manchester City FC.
Study Abroad Experience in Limerick
Morgan Haller
The Three Snubs
Taylor Doll
Eggla is a unique breed of rodent living in a society run by the evil Mother Goose. Just when she thinks she’ll be stuck
living her unfulfilling life forever, she’s given an opportunity that will change everything about life as she knows it.
Three Garments from Winner’s Collection
Gianna Ross
Gianna Ross, who won the “Critic’s Choice Award” at the Spring fashion show, will display three garments from her
collection.
Throughout the Years
Courtney Butrymowicz
A coming-of-age story that works through vignettes to represent development over time—development for both a girl
and her horse.
Trail of the Inheritors
Kevin Pascarella
I will present a few chapters I have written for my Children’s Literature class. These chapters are my work in-progress
for what I hope to be my future book series. While written for Children Lit, I have not decided on the series age range as
of yet due to my just focusing on the story details at the moment. For my presentation I plan to read my chapters and
explain the basis behind my series and what I hope to accomplish with it.
Video: Training Tool for Therapeutic Riding Instructors-In-Training
Margaret Hall with Professor Octavia Brown
We will show a 20-minute video to be used as a training tool for therapeutic riding instructors-in-training on mounting
and dismounting procedures. Various techniques for both mounting and dismounting will be shown to accommodate
people with a variety of challenges, from those who use wheelchairs to those who have minimal physical limitations.
This video will be offered to the Professional Association for Therapeutic Horsemanship International for national
distribution. The taping and editing of this video were conducted by Professor Boris Gavrilovich and his students. The
participants on camera were coordinated by Dr. Octavia Brown and feature TRAC (Therapeutic Riding at Centenary)
volunteers and the therapeutic horses used for the TRAC program. The commentary and direction are a collaboration
between Margaret Hall and her advisor, Dr. Octavia Brown.
VIBEVOICES
#theVibe Tribe: Rob Hom, Jessica Martin, Samantha Mooney, and Steven Underwood
#theVIBETRIBE is launching a new website for the Centenary Community, “VIBEVOICES.” The site will feature work built
by students from multiple backgrounds in fashion, social media, photography, social justice, pop culture, culture, video
games, technology and more through blogs, vlogs, photographs, graphic design, and more! Our focus is creating a
modern media experience for professional and collegiate audiences through the help and sponsorship of #theVIBE.
WeRateHorses
Samantha Mooney
The presentation will describe WeRateHorses, an Instagram created for my internship with #theVIBE. WeRateHorses
was inspired by the many equine students on campus. I will explain each step I took to ensure that the Instagram would
succeed among the equestrian population on and off campus. This includes Instagram marketing and curating the
photographs.
WNTI Radio Internship
Justin Dalcourt
I will be discussing what I have learned from working at the WNTI radio station: working in the station on the
soundboards, operating the audio file systems, and organizing fundraisers and other events. I will also be discussing my
show that I co-host and how it began. I will wrap up with my plans for radio in the future.