Students to Present Research at Seventh Annual UNK Student Research Day Monday, April 18, on the Campus

Dr. Ken Nikels
308.865.8843

Nearly 170 students will present their research at the seventh annual Student Research Day Monday, April 18, at the University of Nebraska at Kearney Nebraskan Student Union.
“The UNK Student Research Day is designed to give students the opportunity to present the results of collaborative research and creative activity conducted with faculty members,” said Dr. Ken Nikels, dean of the Office of Graduate Studies.  “Any undergraduate UNK student engaged in collaborative or independent research is eligible to participate.”

Students are listed alphabetically by hometown, along with the titles of their presentations:

Ainsworth     Heather Biggins, Effects of Mortality Salience on Religious Orentation, Dr.

Richard Miller, psychology
Kandra Johnson, A New Mechanism for Nucleohilic Aromatic Photosubsitutions
     Para-To-Nitro in Nitrophenyl Ethers, Dr. Gene Wubbels, chemistry

Albion     Adam Zrust, NAMM Show, Dr. James Payne, music
Alliance     Nicole Shimek, How Are We Doing? An Evaluation of the University of Nebraska
             School Psychology Training Program, Dr. Max McFarland, counseling
and school psychology
Amherst     Kent Adelung, Do the Benefits of Preserving the Rainforest Outweigh the Benefits
             of Developing It?, Steele Becker, geography
Arnold     Merle Bierman, Effectiveness of NP Coat for Prevention of Bovine Respiratory

Disease in High Risk Calves, Dr. Charles Bicak, biology

Beemer     Stacey Schlickbernd, Effects of Sleeper Color on Adults’ Perception of Gender

Traits, Dr. Robert Rycek, psychology

Bellevue     Crystal Frost, Concentrations of Adrenal Testosterone in Castrated Male Rats

Before and After Exposure to a Female in Estrus, Dr. Janet Steele, biology

Bellwood     Megan Boss, Upward Social Comparison, Dr. Richard Miller, psychology
Kate Semin, Divergence Between Training, Competition, and Laboratory
             Measures of Maximum Heart Rate, Dr. Greg Brown, health, physical                                         education and recreation
Bertrand     Nathan Harms, Analysis of Gene Expression in Switchgrass Tissues, Dr. Paul

Twigg, biology

Jordan Kuck, The Legend of “Vadonis” Ulmanis, Dr. Carol Lilly, history

Blair     Michael Ray, Influence of Screen Media on Body Composition and Physical
         Activity in Preschool-Age Children, Dr. Kate Heelan, health, physical                             education and recreation
Bloomfield     Karri Thunker, Traditional Wedding Rituals, Dr. Nita Unruh, health, physical
education and recreation
Blue Hill     Jessica Mack, Assessment of the Accountability of School Psychologists Using the
         Eleven Domains of Leadership, Dr. Max McFarland, counseling and                                  school psychology
Brainard     Karynn Kucera, Influence of Exercise on the Repair Enzyme Systems in Diabetes

Mellitus, Dr. Janet Steele, biology

Broken Bow     Sarah Heckenlively, UNK Interior Design Department, Dr. Srivasti Seshadri,

marketing

Brooke Wright, Justice for All: Assessing Advocacy, Dr. David Hof, counseling
and school psychology
Cambridge     Alisa Edgerton, Effects of Sleeper Color on Adults’ Perception of Gender

Traits, Dr. Robert Rycek, psychology

Central City     Sarah Burbach, Fitness Assessment on HPERL Majors, Dr. Greg Brown, health,
physical education and recreation
Columbus     Ruth Udey, Solid-State Phase Properties of Thin-Film GeC Fabricated by a

Hollow-Cathode Plasma Jet Deposition Method, Dr. Chris Exstrom,
chemistry

David City     Mark Griffiths, Coliform Colonization on the Toothbrush as Various Storage

Distances from the Toilet, Dr. Julie Shaffer, biology
Bradley Stastny, Cognitive Averaging: Attraction, Similarity, and Likeability, Dr.
Richard Miller, pscyhology

Deweese     Kathy Skalka, Why People Choose Abortion, Dr. Nita Unruh, health, physical
education and recreation
Doniphan     Shawn Manion, Wounded Knee From Two Perspectives, Dr. Susanne Bloomfield,                         English
Dunning     Clint Strand, “Nebraska 4-H Foundation – Support Our Youth” Creating a New
             Identity for and Awareness of the Nebraska 4-H Foundation, Dr. Ruth                                     Brown, communication
Elba     Jessica Jurzenski, An Investigation of Ant (Formicidae) Diversity in 26 Nebraska

Counties, Dr. Wyatt Hoback, biology

Elm Creek     Katrina Campuzano, “Nebraska 4-H Foundation – Support Our Youth” Creating
             a New Identity for and Awareness of the Nebraska 4-H Foundation, Dr.                                     Ruth Brown, communication
Eustis     Amanda Mollring, Coaching in Today’s Society, Dr. Nita Unruh, health, physical
education and recreation
Fairbury     Mark Rhine, Impact of Wal-Mart’s Presence on Retail Climate of Five Central

Platte Valley Communities and Counties, Dr. Steve Hall, accounting and
finance

Fremont     Julie McAlpin, Perceptions of Caloric Intake Among College Students: Accurate
         or Inaccurate?, Dr. Kate Heelan, health, physical education and recreation
Geneva     Jessica Reinsch, Justice for All: Assessing Advocacy, Dr. David Hof, counseling
and school psychology
Gering     Jaime Wendt, The Effects of Magnets on Hand Strength: A Replication and

Extension, Dr. William Wozniak, psychology

Gibbon     Monty Shultz, Alcohol Consumption at Sporting Events and It’s Effect on

Underage Athletes, Dr. Sandra Cook-Fong, social work

Gothenburg     Stephanie Bogers, Characterization of OTK18 on Neural Cell Survival, Dr. Kim
Carlson, biology
Jennifer Gilson, Accountability of School Psychologists: Perceived Needs &
         Supervision, Dr. Max McFarland, counseling and school psychology
Grand Island     Adam Clemans, An Analysis of the Gateway Drug Theory, Dr. Scott Sasse,

criminal justice
Taffnee Faimon, The Insidious Intruder, Dr. Rober Luscher, English
Elissa Fattig, Perceptual Bias as a Function of Behavioral or Social Status and
Identifying School-Based Treatment/Intervention for Students Diagnosed                              with ADHD, Dr.Max McFarland, counseling and school psychology
Josh Larsen, The DART Buoy System, Steele Becker, geography

Erica Milton, Lopers at Night: A Spatial Analysis of UNK Alumni Cohorts,
Dr. Paul Burger, geography

Adam Sevenker, Student Models of Electric Current and Electric Potential in
Activity-Based Physics, Dr. Trecia Markes, physics and physical science
Justin Sevenker, Reading Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick, Dr. Mike Benzel,
English

Chelsey Simonson, Western and Clark’s Grebes Frequency Distribution

Relationship in Wintering Locations, Dr. Bruce Eichhorst, biology

         Christa Sindelar, Search for the Drosophila Melanogaster Analog of Human Krab

OTK18, Dr. Kimberly Carlson, biology

Grant     Stewart Clouse, Generalization of Complex Numbers and Perplex Numbers, Dr.

Barton Willis, math and statistics

Gretna     Danny Ostransky, Phobias, Dr. Nita Unruh, health, physical education and
recreation
Hastings     Jodi LaChance, Identifying School-Based Treatment/Intervention for Students                                     Diagnosed with ADHD, Dr. Max McFarland, counseling and school                                         psychology
         Zachary Nelson, Comparative Water Policy Lessons: Plotting a Course to

Comprehensive Water Policy by Studying Nebraskan and Ukrainian
Water Rights and Policy, Dr. Peter Longo, political science

Harvard     Brett Chloupek, Lopers at Night: A Spatial Analysis of UNK Alumni Cohorts,

Dr. Paul Burger, geography

Holdrege     Tasia Johnson, Identification of Antibiotic Resistance in Solvent Tolerant

Bacteria, Dr. Julie Shaffer, biology

     Rick Sherman, Expression and Purification of Sensory Rhodopsin II in

Escherichia Coli, Dr. Frank Kovacs, chemistry

Howells     Kevin Vogel, Thermodynamics of Dust Particle Interactions in Plasma, Dr. Mark

Markes, physics and physical science

Humphrey     Sheila Rios, Costing Methods of Platte Valley Manufacturers, Dr. Steven Hall,

accounting and finance

Kearney     Bryce Abbey, The Validation of HydraTrend™ Reagent Strips for the Assessment

of Hydration LevelsComparison of Methods of Glycogen

         Replenishment and Repeated High Intensity Exercise Trials;                                    Association Between Physical Activity and Adiposity in Preschool-Aged     
         Children; and Influence of Screen Media on Body Composition and     
         Physical Activity in Preschool-Age Children, Dr. Kate Heelan, health,
physical education and recreation

Kyleen Bachman, The Effects of Cortisol Levels When Under Physical and

Emotional Stress, Dr. Janet Steele, biology

Scott Barry, “Nebraska 4-H Foundation – Support Our Youth” Creating a New
             Identity for and Awareness of the Nebraska 4-H Foundation, Dr. Ruth                                     Brown, communication

Abby Bjornson, The Effects of Internet Forum Use on Competitive State Anxiety
in High School Wrestlers, Dr. Jean Mandernach, psychology

Kathryn Carlson, The Affects of Aspartame and Exercise, Dr. John Hertner,

biology

Kristi Castillo, UNK Interior Design Department, Dr. Srivasti Seshadri,

marketing

Beth Cunningham, Upward Social Comparison, Dr. Richard Miller, psychology
Chris Denton, Accountability of School Psychologists: Perceived Needs &
         Supervision, Dr. Max McFarland, counseling and school psychology

Jodi Garrelts, Finding Spanish Equivalents to English Modal Auxiliary Verbs in a

Classroom Setting, Dr. Marth Kruse, English

Tessa Gifford, The Proper American Women: Coming of Age During the Second

Wave of Feminism, Dr. Linda Van Ingen, history

Theresa Houlihan, The Effects of Peer Diversity on Conformity, Peer Pressure,

and Self-Esteem, Dr. Robert Rycek, psychology

Jessica Isaac, Technique-Inspired Expression: Beethoven’s Gift to the Performer,

Dr. Valerie Cisler, music

Adriane Juel, Attitudes of College Students Towards Cloning, Dr. Nita Unruh,
health, physical education and recreation
Dustin Kozal, An Approach to Modernizing Bell Tower Interfaces, Dr. John

Hastings, computer science and information systems

Mindy Lester, Sandra Day O’Connor and Determining the Direction of Gaze in

Humans: How Accurate Are We?, Drs. Peter Longo and William
Wozniak, political science and psychology, respectively.

Laura Logan, Academic Culture, Dr. Daryl Kelley, sociology
Maryann Markes, An Investigation of Carcinogens in Cozad, Nebraska, Dr.

Kimberly Carlson, biology

Rick Marlatt, The Function of Love in The Brothers Karamazov, Dr. Sam                                     Umland, English
Chris McClemens, Nineteenth Century Crime and Criminals, Dr. Mark Ellis,

history
Kendra Moore, “Maria Brown: A Story of Murder, Justice, and True
     Womanhood” in Nineteenth Century Nebraska, Dr. Mark Ellis, history
Luke Moore, Effects of Mortality Salience on Religious Orentation, Dr. Richard

Miller, psychology

Kelly O’Connor, “Nebraska 4-H Foundation – Support Our Youth” Creating a
             New Identity for and Awareness of the Nebraska 4-H Foundation, Dr.
Ruth Brown, communication
Casey Paine, “Nebraska 4-H Foundation – Support Our Youth” Creating a New
             Identity for and Awareness of the Nebraska 4-H Foundation, Dr. Ruth
Brown, communication

Jay Powell, Enhancing Knowledge Acquisition in the Context of Automatic Case

Elicitation, Dr. John Hastings, computer science and information systems

Ashley Scantling, Association Between Physical Activity and Adiposity in

Preschool-Aged Children and Influence of Screen Media on Body                                 Composition and Physical Activity in Preschool-Age Children, Dr. Kate                              Heelan, health, physical education and recreation

Renee Steinkruger, Perceptions of Caloric Intake Among College Students:
         Accurate or Inaccurate?, Dr. Kate Heelan, health, physical education and
recreation

Logan Stickney, Hypocrisy Induction, Dr. Richard Miller, psychology

Lewellen     Demaris Dymak, Hypocrisy Induction, Dr. Richard Miller, psychology
Lexington     Justin Haas, Evaluation of the Impact of Introduced Western Mosquitofish
             (Gambusia affinis) on Plains Topminnow (Fundulus sciadicus), Dr. Wyatt
Hoback, biology
         Mitchell Hock, Golf Equipment Technology Overpowering Golf Course Design,

Steele Becker, geography

John Laux, An Evaluation of Visible Implant Elastomer (VIE) Tags for Marking

Crappies, Dr. Wyatt Hoback, biology

Nohad Maloley, Diplomacy and Intelligence: The Weapons of Warfare in an Age of Global Terrorism, Dr. William Aviles, political science

Joel Martin, Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act and the Farm

Security and Investment Act: Analysis and Comparison of Methodology and Results of Two Farm Subsidy Programs, Dr. Diane Duffin, political science

Seth McFarland, Effects of Exercise on Glucose Tolerance and Insulin Sensitivity in Mildly Overweight Men, Dr. Greg Brown, health, physical education and recreation

Lincoln     Christie Coleman, Herpetofaunal Species Composition and Relative Abundance

Between Riparian Woodland and Clear-cut Areas at Jeffrey Island Habitat Area, Dawson County, Nebraska, Dr. Bruce Eichhorst, biology

         Andrea Herndon, IT Service Needs in Rural Markets, Dr. Srivatsa Seshadri,
marketing

Brett McCurdy, The Effects of Internet Forum Use on Competitive State Anxiety
in High School Wrestlers, Dr. Jean Mandernach, psychology

Jeff Reznicek, Documenting Mental Health Success Stories and Correlates of

Success and Failure, Drs. Theresa Wadkins and Krista Fritson, both psychology.

McCook     Kindra Koetter, Racial Differences in Homicide Offenders, Dr. Scott Sasse,

criminal justice

Minden     Jessica Lieske, The Effects of Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder on

Self-Concept, Dr. Robert Rycek, psychology

Nelson         Nicolas Fryda, An Evaluation of Visible Implant Elastomer (VIE) Tags for

Marking Crappies and Determining Fish Loss Through Irrigation
Discharge from Sherman Reservoir, Dr. Wyatt Hoback, biology

North Platte     Michaela Chase, School and Community Based Mental Health Professionals:

     Who’s Ready to Assess and Assist?, Dr. Max McFarland, counseling and
school psychology

         Jessica Einspahr, Is Assessment Still a Best Seller? Administrator’s Speak Out: A
             Follow-up Study, Dr. Max McFarland, counseling and school psychology
         Lindsey LaShell, Credit Unions: A Viable Challenge to Other Banks?,
Dr. Srivatsa Seshadri, marketing
Becky Rosenthal, Binge Drinking, Dr. Nita Unruh, health, physical education and
recreation
Ogallala     Erica Chu, Czechoslovakia and Nationalism, Dr. Robert Switky, political science

Chad Leach, The Effects of Medication and Behavior Treatments in Children with
     Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Dr. Nita Unruh, health, physical
education and recreation

Omaha     Kristi Musgrave, Form & Analysis Service Project, Dr. Darleen Mitchell, music
     Mikala Nielsen, Obesity Issues Among the Adult Populations, Dr. Nita Unruh,
health, physical education and recreation
Kelly O’Brien, School Psychologists and Elementary School Counselors
             Providing Mental Health Services in Schools, Dr. Max McFarland,
counseling and school psychology
Kelli Parmenter, “Nebraska 4-H Foundation – Support Our Youth” Creating a

New Identity for and Awareness of the Nebraska 4-H Foundation, Dr. Ruth Brown, communication

Sarah Stuart, How Physically Active are College Students?, Dr. Nita Unruh,
health, physical education and recreation

Micah Torgrimson, Parody: Factors of Fair Use and Grammatical Anarchy?,

Drs. Carol Lomicky and Martha Kruse, communication and English, respectively.

O’Neill     Jamie Babutzke, The Restoration Effect Revisited, Dr. William Wozniak,

psychology

Pleasanton     Jennifer Epley, Weight Loss Methods Among College Students and “Nebraska
         4-H Foundation – Support Our Youth” Creating a New Identity for and     
         Awareness of the Nebraska 4-H Foundation, Drs. Nita Unruh and  Ruth
Brown, health, physical education and recreation and communication,
respectively.
Ravenna     Mindi Horst, The Healing King, Dr. John Damon, English
     Cynthia Waskowiak, The Impact of the Drought on Voting Behavior: The Case of

the Platte River Valley Corridor and Determining the Direction of Gaze in

Humans: How Accurate Are We?, Drs. Peter Longo and William Wozniak, political science and psychology, respectively.

Rising City     Nikki Gillespie, Social Groups Effect on Body Image, Dr. Krista Fritson,

psychology

Ruskin     Stacy Simonsen, Ability to Distinguish Real from Faked Facial Expressions of

Emotion, Dr. William Wozniak, psychology

St. Paul     Katie Stepanek, Traditional Teachers vs. Year-Round Teachers, Dr. Nita Unruh,
health, physical education and recreation
Scottsbluff     Marty Demoret, The Restoration Effect Revisited and The Effects of Magnets on

Hand Strength: A Replication and Extension, Dr. William Wozniak,
psychology
Naomi Schemm, Just What Were They Thinking? British Arctic Exploration,
1818-1850 and Grammatical Anarchy?, Drs. Mary Elizabeth Ailes and
Martha Kruse, history and English, respectively.

Seward     Angela Holland, Regulation of Interior Design: What Makes a Law Successful,
Dr. Janice Kimmons, family studies and interior design
Shelton     Susan Ewton, I Confess … I Hit the ‘ALT’ Key, Dr. Krista Forrest, psychology
Sidney         Robyn Sanders, “Nebraska 4-H Foundation – Support Our Youth” Creating a
             New Identity for and Awareness of the Nebraska 4-H Foundation, Dr.
Ruth Brown, communication
Spalding     Kristin Collins, The Effects of Cortisol Levels When Under Physical and

Emotional Stress, Dr. Janet Steele, biology

Stanton     Lawnie Woolsey, Path Determination of Trained and Untrained Crayfish—A

Progress Report, Dr. Marc Albrecht, biology

Sutherland     Rebecca Bay, Testing for the Chivalry Hypothesis Within the Central Nebraska

Drug Court System, Dr. Scott Sasse, criminal justice
Jennifer Dancer, General Educator’s Knowledge of Section 504, Dr. Max
McFarland, counseling and school psychology

Tecumseh     Laura Pella, Do College Students Want to get Married, Dr. Nita Unruh, health,
physical education and recreation
Trenton     Jean Hoffmeister, Interaction Between Races, Dr. Joseph Carlson, criminal justice
Valentine     Molly Mundorf, School Boards, Administrators, and School Psychologists                 
         Perception of Role Priority, Dr. Max McFarland, counseling and school psychology
Wakefield     Derek Wakefield, “Nebraska 4-H Foundation – Support Our Youth” Creating a
             New Identity for and Awareness of the Nebraska 4-H Foundation, Dr. Ruth Brown, communication
Wayne     Tyler Anderson, Ability to Distinguish Real from Faked Facial Expressions of

Emotion, Dr. William Wozniak, psychology

Heather Stauffer, Boom to Bust: Prosperity and Decline of Several Buffalo

County Nebraska Towns, Dr. Mark Ellis, history

CALIFORNIA
   Chino     Paul Jimenez, Is sports a solution?, Dr. Scott Sasse, criminal justice
   Fallbrook     Robert Bechtol, Hypocrisy Induction and Homosexism as a Function of

Environment, Attitudes and Values, Drs. Richard Miller and Jean
Mandernach, both psychology.

COLORADO
   Denver     Asa Poole, “Nebraska 4-H Foundation – Support Our Youth” Creating a New
             Identity for and Awareness of the Nebraska 4-H Foundation, Dr. Ruth Brown, communication
Littleton     Justin Weller, An Analysis of the Future Trends of the Airline Industry, Dr.

Thomas Eshleman, economics

KANSAS
   Atwood     Robert Hankins, “Nebraska 4-H Foundation – Support Our Youth” Creating a
             New Identity for and Awareness of the Nebraska 4-H Foundation, Dr.
Ruth Brown, communication
Lydia Pochop, Credit Unions: A Viable Challenge to Other Banks?, Dr. Srivatsa
Seshadri, marketing

Cole Spresser, Characterization of the Human Gene OTK18 Using Drosophila
Melanogaster as a Model System, Dr. Kim Carlson, biology

   Haysville     Jennifer Atterbury, Marital Status and Ratings of Attractiveness and Social

Groups Effect on Body Image, Drs. Joe Benz and Krista Fritson, both
psychology.

Kensington     Jennifer Ann Bienhoff, Are Attractiveness Judgments a Cross-Species

Phenomenon?, Dr. Bill Wozniak, psychology

   Norton     Andrea Skinner, Covalent Modification of Carbon Electrodes, Drs. James Kariuki

and Chris Exstrom, chemistry 

Topeka     Kristina Jegel, Sit, Stay, Roll-over: Workplace Pets Improve Employee and
             Customer Morale, Dr. David Palmer, management

MISSOURI
   Independence Aimee Oelkeh, Justice for All: Assessing Advocacy, Dr. David Hof, counseling and school psychology

TEXAS
   Arlington     Anne Potts, Hearing Loss and Hearing Conservation Among Miners, Dr. Kenya
Taylor, communication disorders

WYOMING
Cody     Laura Emmerich, Spectroscopy of 3,5-Disubstituted Isoxazolines, Dr. Mike

Mosher, chemistry

ARGENTINA
   Cordoba      Nicolás Mirman, Dynamics of Replacement Between Major Airlines and Regional Carriers, Dr. Vani Kotcherlakota,
economics

COLOMBIA
Bogota     Jose Martinez, Data Mining Applied to Crop Life Cycle Management, Dr. Sherri

Harms, computer science and information systems
Sandra Ramirez, U.S.-Colombia Intellectual Property Negotiations and
Communication Between Native and Non-Native Speakers at the     
     Workplace, Drs. Vani Kotcherlakota and David Palmer, both economics.

GERMANY
   Rostock     Julia Stumkat, “Nebraska 4-H Foundation – Support Our Youth” Creating a New

Identity for and Awareness of the Nebraska 4-H Foundation, Dr. Ruth Brown, communication

INDIA
   Hyderabad     Siva Kommuri, Drought Effects on Vegetation Growth Using Decision Trees and

Neural Networks, Dr. Sherri Harms, computer science and information systems

JAPAN
   Okazaki-shi     Mami Yamamoto, Cigarettes, Dr. Nita Unruh, health, physical education and
recreation
                Satomi Takahashi, Green Remembrance, Elizabeth Kronfield, art and art history
Satoe Mori, Travel Behavior, Dr. Nita Unruh, health, physical education and
recreation

MALAWI
   Blantyre     Saili Moghe, The Effects of Viactiv® Soft Calcium Chews on Calcium Ion

Concentration in Saliva, Dr. John Hertner, biology

MOLDOVA
Ribnita      Olga Stasishena, Finding the Appropriate Discount Rate for Short-term Risk-free

Decisions, Dr. Karl Borden, accounting and finance

ZAMBIA
   Kabwe     Deven Naik, The Effects of 9/11 Education, Dr. Vani Kotcherlackota, economics