2015-2016 Undergraduate Research Mentors of the Year

Posted by Evan Bridges on Apr 17, 2016 in Faculty Mentor, Feature | Comments Off on 2015-2016 Undergraduate Research Mentors of the Year

Each year, 3 professors involved in research are chosen by ACU students to receive the Mentor of the Year Award.

This year the winners were Dr. Michael Daugherity, Dr. Christopher Hutson, and Dr. Anita Broxson.

• Dr.  Michael Daugherity, Department of Physics
  • This mentor was nominated by his students for his enthusiasm and devotion to research and the students that he works with. His extraordinary teaching as well as his character inspires students to pursue their interests and passions. He is experienced in his field of study and relates information effectively and efficiently, helping to develop student interest in research. Dr. Daugherity has helped his students shape and form projects that have expanded their knowledge and intellect. One student said that this professor is someone that they admire and will never forget. 

• Dr. Christopher Hutson, Department of Bible, Missions, & Ministry
  • This mentor was nominated by his students because he is an unwavering source of support and encouragement for his students’ research endeavors. His encouragement has given students the confidence to continue their projects with renewed motivation and persistence. He is excellent at communicating with his students through every stage of the research process and takes a personal interest in their work. One student said this professor has given him confidence to stay motivated throughout the research process because he has learned it can produce magnificent results. 

• Dr. Anita Broxson, School of Nursing
  • This mentor was nominated by her students for her contagious passion and enthusiasm for research. She helps her students discover their own passion for research and encourages them to think critically and view things from different perspectives. She takes a personal interest in her students and helps them discover and develop their talents with patience and understanding. She inspires a spirit of integrity in everything as she encourages her student to seek Christ in every aspect of their work. Her role as a mentor goes far beyond her research projects. She cares not only about her students’ education but their mental and spiritual well being as well. 

Congratulations to these professors for their exemplary role as mentors!

Spring Conferences 2016

Posted by Autumn Sutherlin on Apr 12, 2016 in Conferences, Feature | Comments Off on Spring Conferences 2016

ACU students have been traveling all over the United States presenting their research. Some of the conferences include:

American Chemical Society National Conference, Alpha Chi National Convention, Eastern Communication Association Conference, Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancer Symposium, National Association of Social Work Baccalaureate Program Directors Annual Conference, National Conference on Undergraduate Research, Pacific Sociological Association Meeting, Texas Academy of Science.

We are so proud of all of these students, but some items of note include:

The School of Social Work taking 31 students to their conference.

At the Alpha Chi National Conference, Kristen Brehm won 1st place for her presentation in the chemistry division. Jeffrey Wooliscroft won a regional Alpha Chi scholarship, and Tina Johnson and Hailey Yamada both received chapter scholarships.

Jamie Thompson and James Nix placed 2nd overall among over 75 undergraduate posters at the Texas Academy of Science meeting.

2016 ACU Undergraduate Research Festival

Posted by Autumn Sutherlin on Apr 11, 2016 in Activities, Conferences, Feature | Comments Off on 2016 ACU Undergraduate Research Festival

The ACU Undergraduate Research Festival is an annual conference at which ACU undergraduate students present research they have done in the last year. The 8th Research Festival was April 5, 2016. Read more about the Festival and award winners at

blogs.acu.edu/researchfest

The 9th Research Festival will be April 4, 2017.

SPUR Travel Grants

Posted by Autumn Sutherlin on Feb 29, 2016 in Activities, Grants, Student Researcher | Comments Off on SPUR Travel Grants

With the financial support of the Student Association, the Student Panel on Undergraduate Research awards travel grants to undergraduate researchers. These awards help students travel to professional conferences to present their work.  The awards are awarded based on a rubric.

Fall 2016 SPUR Travel Grant Awardees

• Mikalia Bradberry (Music) National Association of Teachers of Singing
• Sonia Cyuzuzo (Engineering and Physics) PhysCon
• Clint Taylor (Engineering and Physics) WASH Summit
• Cecily Towell (Engineering and Physics) PhysCon
• Megan Cromis (Engineering and Physics) PhysCon
• Chelsea Fordham (Social Work) North American Christians in Social Work Annual Convention
• Lauren Selensky (Engineering and Physics) PhysCon
• Zhaojia Xi (Engineering and Physics) 2016 Annual Meeting of the APS Division of Nuclear Physics
• Courtney Tee (Communication and Sociology) Association for the Sociology of Religion

Spring 2016 SPUR Travel Grant Awardees

• Kristen Brehm (Chemistry and Biochemistry) Alpha Chi National Convention
• Andrew Brown (International Studies) Alpha Chi National Convention
• Luke Cooksey (Biochemistry) Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Symposium
• Megan Cromis (Engineering) National Conference on Undergraduate Research
• Angela Fogle (Bible, Missions, and Ministry) Alpha Chi National Convention
• Chelsea Fordham (Social Work) National Association of Social Work Baccalaureate Program Directors Annual Conference
• Mackenzie Harrington (Communication and Sociology) Eastern Communication Association Conference
• Bre Heinrich (Social Work) National Association of Social Work Baccalaureate Program Directors Annual Conference
• Savannah Hipes (Psychology) Alpha Chi National Convention
• Tina Johnson (Biology) Alpha Chi National Convention
• Kimberly Martinez (Communication and Sociology) Eastern Communication Association Conference
• Chelsea Peer (History) Alpha Chi National Convention
• Kathryn Preston (Biology) Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Symposium
• Rachael Schaad (Bible and Ministry) Alpha Chi National Convention
• Amanda Stephens (Accounting) Alpha Chi National Convention
• Julia Taylor (Biochemistry) Alpha Chi National Convention
• Jaime Thompson (Biology) Texas Academy of Sciences

Research Festival T-Shirt Design Contest – $50 Prize

Posted by Autumn Sutherlin on Jan 8, 2016 in Activities, Announcement, Conferences | Comments Off on Research Festival T-Shirt Design Contest – $50 Prize

The Student Panel on Undergraduate Research (SPUR) is soliciting an original design to print on the Research Festival t-shirt to be sold at the 2016 Undergraduate Research Festival. Profits from the t-shirt sales will go toward funding student travel to external conferences. If your design is chosen by SPUR you will receive a prize of $50 and, of course, a free t-shirt. You must be an ACU undergraduate student to participate.

We suggest that the design represent more than one area of research. You may if you wish incorporate the Undergraduate Research Crest on the t-shirt. Please email uresearch@acu.edu if you would like copy of the crest.

The design must include the elements:
1. The text “ACU Undergraduate Research Festival”
2. The current year, 2016
3. One color for the printed design

You retain ownership, but grant the ACU Office of Undergraduate Research rights to use your art. Please submit your design electronically to the Office of Undergraduate Research at uresearch@acu.edu. The office may also be contacted with questions regarding designs and this contest, in general. Submissions are due by 5 PM Friday, February 5. We look forward to seeing your work! 

ACU Undergraduate Researchers Presented at a Variety of Conferences this Fall

Posted by Autumn Sutherlin on Nov 15, 2015 in Arts, Conferences, Feature, Humanities, Social Sciences, STEM, Student Researcher | Comments Off on ACU Undergraduate Researchers Presented at a Variety of Conferences this Fall

ACU undergraduate researchers have been traveling to conferences this fall.

Ryan Wilson traveled with Dr. Darby Hewitt of the Department of Engineering and Physics to present his work at the Frontiers in Optics/ Laser Science Conference.

Hannah Lowry, Kristen McNally, Austin Lemmons, and Jake Hall presented at the 2015 CSOTTE Conference: Emerging Scholars Track.

Hannah Choquette and Dr. Stephen Baldridge presented at the North American Christians in Social Work Conference in Grand Rapids, MI.

Bre Heinrich, Kennedy Morrison and Dr. Stephen Baldridge presented at the Lubbock Christian University Healthy Families Conference.

Tyler Salter presented from his McNair Scholars research at the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion.

Several faculty and students from the Department of Engineering and Physics attended and presented at the 2015 Fall Meeting of the American Physics Society of Nuclear Physics in Santa Fe, NM. Rueben Byrd, Hannah Hamilton, Cecily Towell, Paul Carstens, Lauren Slensky, and Zhaojia Xi all received scholarships to present their work at the conference.

Fourteen McNair scholars presented at McNair Conferences at the University of New Mexico or the University of Wisconsin. Read about the conference at UNM on the McNair blog.

Twenty seven students traveled to the Texoma Region of the National Association of Teachers of Singing Conference to compete in Oklahoma City with Dr. Rick Piersall and Dr. Julie Pruett. Among the students were Megan Lewis, Mikalia Bradberry, Jasmine Washington, Teonna Murphy, Kendall Stubblefield, Kristen Gillis, and Keely Smith.

Caitlin Norquist sang the role of Casilda at the Utah Vocal Arts Academy/Utah Lyric Opera festival.

Recent ACU Undergraduate Publications

Posted by Autumn Sutherlin on Nov 12, 2015 in Announcement, Journal Articles, Social Sciences, STEM, Student Researcher | Comments Off on Recent ACU Undergraduate Publications

“Assessment for the Masses: A Historical Critique of High-Stakes Testing in Reading” – Elizabeth Rockwell (With lead author, Dr. Andrew Huddleston) Texas Journal of Literacy Education (Summer 2015)

“Di- and tetraosmium carbonyl complexes with dicarboxylato ligands serving as intramolecular rings and intermolecular bridges” A. G. Fikes, N. Gwini, S. H. Yoon, V. N. Nesterov, and G. L. Powell, Journal of Organometallic Chemistry.

“Blogging Ferguson in Black and White” The Journal of New Media and Culture. Doug Mendenhall and 47 undergraduate that were enrolled in Media Issues, the introductory course within the ACU Department of Journalism and Mass Communication. The students were supervised by Jessica Clark.

Nine articles published with ACU undergraduates published by faculty and students from the Nuclear Physics Group in Physical Review C and D in the last year. Current and former undergraduates include A. T. Basye, K. Gainey,  K. R. Andrews, T. Jones, A. J. Miller, R. Pinson, D. Thomas, M. Towell, R. Towell, R. M. Wright, D. S. Jumper,  R. M. Wright, K. Gainey, N. A. Sparks, and J. P. Wood.