McNair Scholars Program

• Vicki Anderson
  Art Therapy

Art Therapy Techniques with the Profoundly and Seriously Disabled

Faculty Mentor: Ms. Susan Loonsk, Art Therapy

ABSTRACT: Enlightening the lives of the mentally disabled through art has proven to be a strong link to paving the way to a greater sense of well being (Pendleton, 1999). Goals included in treatment for the severely or profoundly mentally disabled consist of activities which promote creativity, self-expression, hand and eye coordination, kinesthetic and tactile stimulation, communication, and life understanding (Weiss, 1984). This research is a case study that involves two clients from the Challenge Center Sensory Stimulation Program. These clients were given different art projects using a variety of materials according to their ability level. The immediate focus was directed on whether these art activities benefit each client or not.

• Ami Naeyaert
  Psychology

  Leisure, Exercise, and Mental Health: Long-term Benefits for the Developmentally Disabled

  Faculty Mentor: Dr. David Carroll, Psychology

  ABSTRACT: An archival study examined the correlation of leisure time activities (LTA) and exercise with cooperation and maladaptive behaviors in individuals with developmental disabilities (DD). The sample consisted of 10 women and 18 men, ranging in age from 18 to 80 years, and was divided in higher- and lower-functioning groups. Cooperation was significantly correlated with LTA for the lower functioning group, r(15)=.5373, p<.05. It was suggested that LTA and perhaps exercise might be more beneficial for lower functioning individuals because it alleviates some of the tedium of their daily lives.

   

• Shawn Cassiman
  Psychology

  Poor No More: Education as Empowerment

  Faculty Mentor: Dr. Hal Bertilson, Psychology

  ABSTRACT: This research paper includes a brief history of poverty among women in the United States but focuses most specifically upon the experiences of four rural women living in poverty. Research documents include personal surveys as well as demographic information. Their interviews provide information on unique as well as general conditions and feelings of poverty. A qualitative approach was used with personal narrative provided by the participants. Some topics of similarity include emotions of stress and depression. The participants are all in the process of finishing an education or have already done so at the time of this research. The participants were enabled to do so, in part, because of strong support networks consisting of family and community. The research addresses issues of stress and PTSD. A feminist perspective was used, as it became evident soon after beginning the research that it was impossible to address the subject without doing so. Information included in the discussion deal with possible alternatives to current welfare reform, and the need for social change in order to narrow the gender/class stratification. In summary, the research resulted in information on: a) stress b) depression c) choice d) support e) education, and their connection to poverty among single mothers.

   

• Rhonda Dass
  Art History

  The Spanish Unraveling Of the Incan Empire: The Importance of Fibers and Textiles of the Past

  Faculty Mentor: Mr. William Morgan, Art History

  ABSTRACT: Steeped in ancient traditions, modern day Peru can boast the continuation of cultural heritage dating back before 1000 BC. The coastal desert climate is perfect for the preservation of textiles long buried in the sacred graves of past peoples. From these artifacts we can see how important the textiles of the Incan culture were to its people. Some argue that internal strife was the main factor for the ease with which the Spaniards were able to conquer the advanced civilization of the Incas. Others argue that the empire was already in decline. Perhaps the textile-based economy of the Incan empire was the prime factor.

   

• Noe de la Sancha
  Biology and Environmental Studies

  A Content Analysis of the Implementation of Biological Corridor Networks

  Faculty Mentor: Dr. Kevin Schanning, Sociology, Northland College, Ashland, WI

  ABSTRACT: This paper compares the implementation strategies of five major biological corridor networks in North and Central America using six criteria selected based on their believed contribution to the long-term sustainable success of the corridors. The criteria used for comparison are biological, educational, economic, treatment of indigenous people, political, and the use of media campaigns. Of these the biological component is the strongest in all of the networks. The treatment of indigenous people needed the most work. Except for the Yosemite to Yukon and the Mesoamerican Corridor little if any attention has been devoted the development of a job market which creates high quality jobs for local people and at the same time works to advance ideal implementation of a biological corridor system.

   

• Barb Keller
  Natural Resources–Wildlife and Fish Ecology

  Habitat Use Of Southern Flying Squirrels(Glaucomys volans) in Northern Wisconsin

  Faculty Mentor: Dr. Douglas Smith, Biology and Natural Resources, Northland College, Ashland, WI

  ABSTRACT: According to Jackson (1961), southern (Glaucomys volans) and northern (G. sabrinus) flying squirrels occupied the southern and northern parts of Wisconsin, respectively, and did not overlap in their distributions except in the "tension zone." However, recent studies identify tremendous overlap in their distributions. What is not known is whether the two species are sympatric at the scale of the patch, and in what patches they co-occur. Therefore, my objective in this study was to identify the range of habitats occupied by G. volans in northern Wisconsin. Five northern hardwood stands that ranged in age and composition were studied to determine what habitat and microhabitat features were most important to G. volans. Pearson′s correlation coefficients showed significant correlations in several variables including: shrub density and snag dbh, shrub density and number of snags, average dbh and number of trees, number of shrubs and number of oaks (Quercus spp.), number of trees and number of oaks, and number of oaks and oak dbh. Heterogeniety exists within stands in number of oaks per station, diameter of oaks, shrub density per station, course woody debris (logs) volume per station, and diameter of snags per station. These results will be used to predict habitat use by G. volanswith data obtained from live-trapping (beginning September 2001).

   

• Jonathan Peters
  Mathematics and Computer Science

  A New Family of Macaulay Posets

  Faculty Mentor: Dr. Serguei Bezroukov, Mathematics and Computer Science

  ABSTRACT: This paper introduces a new Macaulay poset, which is a representation of the Petersen graph. It is proved the order described is Macauley for this poset. The results extend previous ones relating to the edge-isoperimetric problem on some graphs.

   

• Billie Simonson
  Elementary Education

  The Effects of Learning to Use a Spelling Study Technique on a Sixth Grader′s Spelling Ability

  Faculty Mentor: Dr. Cecilia Schrenker, Teacher Education

  ABSTRACT: The history of spelling instruction in the United States and the causes of spelling difficulties were investigated in this research project to build background knowledge. The effects of teaching a spelling study technique involving eight steps on a sixth grade male were assessed. Data was collected using the WRAT 3, a questionnaire to assess the subject′s attitudes toward spelling, daily pre-tests of new words, daily re-tests of the previous day′s words, daily writing samples, and post-testing on 20 words taught over the intervention period. Principal findings included a more positive attitude toward spelling, the subject′s ability to write more clearly as a result of the intervention, and maintenance of 17 of 20 words taught over the intervention period.

   

• Solomon Tesfai
  Accounting

  Newspaper Coverage Beyond our Borders

  Faculty Mentor: Dr. Craig Grau, Political Science, University of Minnesota Duluth

  ABSTRACT: Our knowledge of foreign nations is becoming more and more reliant on the media. Because of this, it is important to understand the tendencies and trends that the media show in their coverage of foreign nations. This was done by comparing six of the most influential newspapers in America and documenting the amount of headlines they have written on the twenty-seven largest nations based on population. This research will span ten years (1990-1999), and will be facilitated through the use of a database called Lexis-Nexis. China, Japan, Russia, and Mexico were the countries that received more headlines then the other countries examined. It was found that coverage varied significantly with Gross Domestic Product and populations of the countries. The circulation of newspapers was also positively correlated with the coverage of foreign nations. Distance both in totality and individually, was not significant. Ethnicity proved to be an inconsistent determinant of coverage of foreign continents.

   

• Mai Lee Yang
  English

  The Captivity Narrative and Its Influence on Maria Kittle and Edgar Huntly

  Faculty Mentor: Dr. Steve Adams, English, University of Minnesota Duluth

  ABSTRACT: The captivity narrative emerged as an art form in early America and is essential to the growth of what is considered "American" literature. Puritan ideology and the central role of women in captivities fueled the rise. Because captivities were so widely read, the characterization of Indians became racial stereotypes. These stereotypes were often used to propagate Euro-American desires and beliefs. Captivity narratives impacted all genres of American literature, from domestic and sentimental to frontier and gothic. Ann Eliza Bleecker′s The History of Maria Kittle and Charles Brockden Brown′s Edgar Huntly will be used as examples of how the captivity narrative influenced these works.