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 Levels; Comparison 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
