The 30th Annual Kapp Honors Day
Thursday, April 2, 2026 — Schedule
Each year, Honors Day gives those students the opportunity to share the fruits of that work with their friends and colleagues. Even more, it is a chance for the campus community to celebrate the liberal arts as reflected in these student achievements. Whether you live on campus or are a guest here for the day, we invite you to explore the remarkable range of research, performance, and creative work on display as part of Honors Day 2026.
Concurrent Sessions
The day’s program is listed in chronological order, by session. The information provided includes title, presenter(s), and faculty sponsor. Presentations are scheduled to last 20 minutes, including time for questions.
Sequence of Events
Concurrent Sessions I: 9 – 10 a.m.
Concurrent Sessions II: 10:10 – 11:10 a.m.
Concurrent Sessions III: 11:20 am – 12:20 pm
Lunch: 12:30 – 1:15 p.m.
Concurrent Sessions IV: 1:15 – 2:15 pm.
Concurrent Sessions V: 2:25 – 3:25 pm.
Concurrent Sessions VI: 3:35 to 4:35 pm.
Session I
Session I
Session I
Session 1A – Andison Center
| Presenter(s) | Title of Presentation | Faculty Sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| Jackson Eelbode | No Write Way: Connection, Research, and Possibility in the Writing Center | Marilee Brooks-Gillies |
| Lili Catrell | No Write Way: Connection, Research, and Possibility in the Writing Center | Marilee Brooks-Gillies |
| Madeline Gustincic | No Write Way: Connection, Research, and Possibility in the Writing Center | Marilee Brooks-Gillies |
| Moderator(s): |
Session 1B – SAC 109
| Presenter(s) | Title of Presentation | Faculty Sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| Jake Lasceski | When Competition and Innovation Lead to Litigation: The Critical Role of Risk Management | Elizabeth Cameron |
| Nayonikaa Singhaal | Beyond the Debt Trap: Analysis of Chinese Investment and Elite Incentives in Kenya | Sandy Hulme |
| Karol Pucek | Exploring the Rise of Right-Wing Ideologies in Eastern Germany | Sandy Hulme |
| Moderator: Ava Stowell |
Session 1C – SAC 110
| Presenter(s) | Title of Presentation | Faculty Sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| Amanda Baker | The State of LGBTQ+ Rights in Michigan: A Quantitative Assessment | Maya Dora-Laskey |
| Raven Gregory | Yume Connect: Escaping Reality and Finding a Reason to Return | Anthony Collamati |
| Alexis Norko | Hollow Eyes Film Production | Anthony Collamati |
| Moderator: Kennadi Cooley |
Session 1D – Dow L2
| Presenter(s) | Title of Presentation | Faculty Sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| Trevor Grandy | Impacts of Salinization on Leaflitter Decomposition by Hyalella azteca | Amanda Harwood |
| Jack Yodzevicis | Temperature-based Nest Partition between Bluebirds and Tree Swallows | Katie Stumpf |
| Trevor Grandy | Effect of Road Salt Formulation on Lemna minor Toxicity | Amanda Harwood |
| Ally Harvey | Wireless Base for Beep Baseball | Victor Argueta-Diaz |
| Moderator: Devyn Whitford |
Session 1E – SAC 113
| Presenter(s) | Title of Presentation | Faculty Sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| Julia Weihs | Social Media and Autonomic Nervous System Function | Karen Ball |
| Alleigh TenHarmsel | Social Media and Autonomic Nervous System Function | Karen Ball |
| Elise Volz | Exploring the Effects of a Plyometric Warmup on GRF | Brianna Harfmann |
| Mara Tiernan | Exploring the Effects of a Plyometric Warmup on GRF | Brianna Harfmann |
| Alexis Fitch | Cold Bath Immersion Effects on Resting Metabolic Rate | Brianna Harfmann |
| Moderator: Kennedy Kalish |
Session 1F – SAC 316
| Presenter(s) | Title of Presentation | Faculty Sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| Natalie Harning | The Attractiveness of True Crime Media and Its Effects | Douglas Campbell |
| Dante Snook | Echo Chambers, Algorithms, and How to Recognize the Perfect Storm They Create | Douglas Campbell |
| Becca Dean | Mass Incarceration | Douglas Campbell |
| Moderator: Nathaniel Watson |
Session II
Session II
Session II
Session 2A – Andison Center
| Presenter(s) | Title of Presentation | Faculty Sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| Emma Risinger | Pine River Anthology 2025-2026 Presentation | Kooi Lee Vander |
| Moderator(s): |
Session 2B – SAC 109
| Presenter(s) | Title of Presentation | Faculty Sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| Cami Mitchell | Machiavelli on Power | Douglas Campbell |
| Helen Pendleton | The Case Against Medical Assistance in Dying | Douglas Campbell |
| Adriana Olivia | Beyond the Oath: Racial Disparities within Healthcare that Erode Bioethical Principles | Douglas Campbell |
| Moderator: Allisaundra Snook |
Session 2C – SAC 110
| Presenter(s) | Title of Presentation | Faculty Sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| Amanda Baker | “Not Honored with a Human Shape”: Language and the Construction of Shakespeare’s Monstrous Bodies | Maya Dora-Laskey |
| Sally Shrake | Exploring Gendered lives of Artificial Intelligence | Maya Dora-Laskey |
| Lily Thompson | Unspoken Pain: Silence and Disconnection in Jhumpa Lahiri’s “Year’s End” and “Going Ashore” | Maya Dora-Laskey |
| Moderator: Kennadi Cooley |
Session 2D – Dow L2
| Presenter(s) | Title of Presentation | Faculty Sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| Sophie Lynch | Building Resilience through Early Intervention: Identifying and Preventing Female Adolescents with Anorexia Nervosa | Sandy Hulme |
| Emily Dimock | The Impact of Nighttime Mouth Taping on Sleep Quality | Brianna Harfmann |
| Nicole Yacks | Does the use of Compression Boots and Foam Rolling Impact Next Day Performance? | Karen Ball |
| Moderator: Ruby Frisch |
Session 2E – SAC 113
| Presenter(s) | Title of Presentation | Faculty Sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| Tatenda Mukudu | Self-Driving Remote Control Car | Victor Argueta-Diaz |
| Moderator: Devyn Whitford |
Session 2F – SAC 316
| Presenter(s) | Title of Presentation | Faculty Sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| Yassine Kraiem | Interactive Pathfinding Visualization for Smart Urban Navigation | Andrew Thall |
| Chloe Anderson | The New Frontier: How Remote Work is Redefining Disability Accommodations | Elizabeth Cameron |
| Moderator: Emma Millard |
Session III
Session III
Session III
Session 3B – SAC 109
| Presenter(s) | Title of Presentation | Faculty Sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| Sierra Scott | Assessing Japan’s Use of Mega-Events to Drive Cultural Tourism | Sandy Hulme |
| Marco Vega | Donald Trump’s Campaign Strategy and If It Affected the Public Outlook on Immigration | Sandy Hulme |
| Alex Detterman | Significance Surrounding Egypt’s Asylum Law No. 164 of 2024 | Sandy Hulme |
| Moderator(s): Dante Snook and Danica Crews |
Session 3C – SAC 110
| Presenter(s) | Title of Presentation | Faculty Sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| Kennedy Mullens | Sick and Tired of Being Sick and Tired: The Impact of Racism on Black Well-Being in Audre Lorde’s “Eulogy for Alvin Frost” and Kamilah Aisha Moon’s “Fannie Lou Hamer” | Maya Dora-Laskey |
| Aidan Shapiro | From Controversy to Canon: The Changing Critical Reception of Jane Eyre | Maya Dora-Laskey |
| Moderator: Kennadi Cooley |
Session 3D – Dow L2
| Presenter(s) | Title of Presentation | Faculty Sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| Karol Pucek | Moot Court | Ben Taylor |
| Fayth Sanom | Moot Court | Ben Taylor |
| Natalie Krause | Moot Court | Ben Taylor |
| Dean Becca | Moot Court | Ben Taylor |
| Jackson Eelbode | Moot Court | Ben Taylor |
| Stella Lampert | Moot Court | Ben Taylor |
| Moderator: Ruby Frisch |
Session 3E – SAC 113
| Presenter(s) | Title of Presentation | Faculty Sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| Holly Hall | The Evolution of Women’s Sports: How Female Leadership is Shaping the Industry | Elizabeth Cameron |
| Nayonikaa Singhaal | State-Directed Investment and Path Dependency: Analysing the Determinants of Chinese FDI in Africa in the BRI Era | Vinitha Varghese |
| Wassim Guerfali | State-Directed Investment and Path Dependency: Analysing the Determinants of Chinese FDI in Africa in the BRI Era | Vinitha Varghese |
| Caskey Aubreigh | Unequal Play: An Economic Analysis of Pay Disparities Between NBA and WNBA Players | Matt Hinkel |
| Moderator: Devyn Whitford |
Session 3F – SAC 316
| Presenter(s) | Title of Presentation | Faculty Sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| Jackson Pollard | Medical Ethics | Douglas Campbell |
| Kyle Scheck | The Integrated Reality of Science and Religion | Douglas Campbell |
| Andrew Barrett | Genetic Enhancement vs Gene Therapy | Douglas Campbell |
| Moderator: Emma Millard |
Session IV
Session IV
Session IV
Session 4A – Andison Center
| Presenter(s) | Title of Presentation | Faculty Sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| Makaila Boatman | Model UN | Sandy Hulme |
| Khalil Chalouti | Model UN | Sandy Hulme |
| Chloe Anderson | Model UN | Sandy Hulme |
| Nayonikaa Singhaal | Model UN | Sandy Hulme |
| Moderator(s): |
Session 4B – SAC 109
| Presenter(s) | Title of Presentation | Faculty Sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| Dani Crews | The Role of Christianity in Native American Cultural Resilience | Matthew Smith |
| Logan Wenz | Demosynthesis: A Video Game about Planning through Unpredictability | Anthony Collamati |
| Paulina Rivet | Exploring Feminine Leadership in the Ballet Industry | Catherine MacMaster |
| Moderator: Ella Moylan |
Session 4C – SAC 110
| Presenter(s) | Title of Presentation | Faculty Sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| Stephanie Rauch | Looting: The Pattern Behind the Failure of the Edenville and Sanford Dams | Tina Rolling |
| Kay Keller | Psychopaths, Fruits, and Deviants: Anti-Queer Immigration Law in the United States in the Twentieth Century | Kristin Olbertson |
| Jackson Eelbode | The Call is Coming from Inside the White House: The disinformative democracy’s guide to rhetorical threat construction and policymaking | Ben Taylor |
| Moderator: Kennadi Cooley |
Session 4D – Dow L2
| Presenter(s) | Title of Presentation | Faculty Sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| Sophia Dech | Using Allele-Specific PCR to Genotype Beefalo | Eric Calhoun |
| Kadence McKenzie | Body Functionality, Sports Self-Efficacy, and Sport Confidence as Predictors of Sports Performance Perception in Collegiate Athletes | Janelle Blazek |
| Natalia Rodriguez | Body Functionality, Sports Self-Efficacy, and Sport Confidence as Predictors of Sports Performance Perception in Collegiate Athletes | Janelle Blazek |
| Andrew Benton | Real-Time Monitoring and Control of Colloidal Crystal Growth Using AuNPs and DNA | Kyle Gibson |
| Moderator: Devyn Whitford |
Session 4E – SAC 113
| Presenter(s) | Title of Presentation | Faculty Sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| Kianna Carpenter | Learning to See Power: Teaching Privilege Through Feminist Pedagogy | Maya Dora-Laskey |
| Cassandra McGaugh | Let’s talk about Sex….ual education: The impact of sexual health education sources and quality impact queer and straight college students’ sexual behavior | Janelle Blazek |
| Regan Elliott | Educating With Intersectionality: A Push for Queer Literature in the High School Classroom | Maya Dora-Laskey |
| Moderator: Lilianna Smith |
Session 4F – SAC 316
| Presenter(s) | Title of Presentation | Faculty Sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| Emily Kraenzlein | Faith, Feminism, and Reproductive Rights | Matthew Smith |
| Amanda Baker | Bodies, Pain, Gender: Trans Pain and Creation: Video Essay | Anthony Collamati |
| Widad Hajji | Community Perceptions and Engagement: Understanding Public Attitudes Toward the Pine River in Alma, Michigan | Ben Peterson |
| MaryAlice Lynch | Community Perceptions and Engagement: Understanding Public Attitudes Toward the Pine River in Alma, Michigan | Ben Peterson |
| Moderator: Emma Millard |
Session V
Session V
Session V
Session 5A – Andison Center
| Presenter(s) | Title of Presentation | Faculty Sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| Isa Bryans | Com-bat-ing White Nose Syndrome | Elie Schwarz |
| Mina Buchkowski | Com-bat-ing White Nose Syndrome | Elie Schwarz |
| Chloe Leaman | Com-bat-ing White Nose Syndrome | Elie Schwarz |
| Monique Diehl | Com-bat-ing White Nose Syndrome | Elie Schwarz |
| Moderator(s): |
Session 5B – SAC 109
| Presenter(s) | Title of Presentation | Faculty Sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| Dani Crews | Mill on Feminism | Douglas Campbell |
| Amanda Baker | Bodies, Pain, Gender: Trans Pain and Creation | Maya Dora-Laskey |
| Jamie Diedrich | The Road through Communications | Matthew Doggett |
| Moderator: Natalie Harning |
Session 5C – SAC 110
| Presenter(s) | Title of Presentation | Faculty Sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| Madison Neu | Physiological Recovery Response Comparison between College Endurance Athletes and College Power Sport Athletes after High-Intensity Interval Training | Brianna Harfmann |
| Elena Psetas | Supplements and Glucose Uptake | Brianna Harfmann |
| Katelyn Jacot | Supplements and Glucose Uptake | Brianna Harfmann |
| Salma Laraichi | Supplements and Glucose Uptake | Brianna Harfmann |
| Salma Laraichi | Investigating the effects of Vitamin D on Circadian Rhythms | Brianna Harfmann |
| Jhonny Cedillos | Investigating the effects of Vitamin D on Circadian Rhythms | Brianna Harfmann |
| Joscelyn Marriott | Investigating the effects of Vitamin D on Circadian Rhythms | Brianna Harfmann |
| Moderator: Kennadi Cooley |
Session 5D – DOW L2
| Presenter(s) | Title of Presentation | Faculty Sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| Elana Potie | From Scroll to Sale: How Celebrity and Influencer Endorsements Encourage and Discourage Consumer Purchases | Andy Singer |
| Shai Curtiss | External Intervention, the Compromise of Sovereignty | Sandy Hulme |
| Kenley Riley | How Cutting Off Financial Networks Can End The Global Terrorism Crisis | Sandy Hulme |
| Moderator: Kennedy Mullens |
Session 5E – SAC 113
| Presenter(s) | Title of Presentation | Faculty Sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| Nick Malish | Ethnocide Through Education: Native American Boarding Schools | Kristin Olbertson |
| Nicole Yacks | Live Cello Accompaniment as a Therapeutic Modality in Dance: Does it aid in Physical and Mental Well-Being in College Students? | Catherine MacMaster |
| Mara Tiernan | Live Cello Accompaniment as a Therapeutic Modality in Dance: Does it aid in Physical and Mental Well-Being in College Students? | Catherine MacMaster |
| Gage Mitchell | The Development of Modern American Politics Through Three Lenses | Ben Taylor |
| Fayth Sanom | The Development of Modern American Politics Through Three Lenses | Ben Taylor |
| Moderator: Alanna Wester |
Session 5F – SAC 316
| Presenter(s) | Title of Presentation | Faculty Sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| Mariella Cusack | Examining The Relationship Between Bone Reoxygenation and Bone Mineral Density Using Near Infrared Spectroscopy and Dual X-Ray Absorptiometry | Karen Ball |
| Lauren Brawt | Examining The Relationship Between Bone Reoxygenation and Bone Mineral Density Using Near Infrared Spectroscopy and Dual X-Ray Absorptiometry | Karen Ball |
| Kaitelyn Walker | The Effect of Amyloid-Beta (A𝛽) on Cell Viability and Levels of MAP2 and mTOR in Neuro-2a Cells, Both Undifferentiated and Differentiated. | Zackary Bowers |
| Kennedy Weston | Evaluating Solutions to Childcare in The United States | Joe Odenwald |
| Moderator: Emma Millard |
Session VI
Session VI
Session VI
Session 6A – Clack Gallery
| Presenter(s) | Title of Presentation | Faculty Sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| Lindsey Zarka | Art and Design Senior Show | Kooi Lee Vander |
| Faith Buckingham | Art and Design Senior Show | Kooi Lee Vander |
| Cael Dempsey | Art and Design Senior Show | Kooi Lee Vander |
| Hannah Grewe | Art and Design Senior Show | Kooi Lee Vander |
| Walter Hancock | Art and Design Senior Show | Kooi Lee Vander |
| Tess Lord | Art and Design Senior Show | Kooi Lee Vander |
| Alexis Marquadt | Art and Design Senior Show | Kooi Lee Vander |
| Emma Smillie | Art and Design Senior Show | Kooi Lee Vander |
| Hannah Whitley | Art and Design Senior Show | Kooi Lee Vander |
Session 6B – Poster Andison
| Presenter(s) | Title of Presentation | Faculty Sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| Michael Fox | Flying Through Microsatellite Primer Redesign of Southwestern Willow Flycatcher | Katie Stumpf |
| Ashton Trnka | Harvesting Photosynthetic Electrons with Exotic Cytochromes | Elie Schwarz |
| Grace Buckingham | Adverse Childhood Experiences and Addictive Behavior | Elizabeth Boyd |
| Alyssa Dickieson | The Effect of Self Concept Clarity on Choosing a Dating Partner | Marc Setterlund |
| Elijah Festerling | Operation: Sky Seed | Victor Argueta-Diaz |
| Wil Strickler | Operation: Sky Seed | Victor Argueta-Diaz |
| Colin Coffey | Operation: Sky Seed | Victor Argueta-Diaz |
| Andrew Bradley | Operation: Sky Seed | Victor Argueta-Diaz |
| Dani Crews | The Effects of Race on Implicit Perceptions of the Police | Marc Setterlund |
| Alex Detterman | Social Media and the Effect on Mental Health | Wallmenich Laura Von |
| Carol Wyrybkowski | Social Media and the Effect on Mental Health | Wallmenich Laura Von |
| Elliot Buchan | Social Media and the Effect on Mental Health | Wallmenich Laura Von |
| Thaliana Thomas | Social Media and the Effect on Mental Health | Wallmenich Laura Von |
Session 6C – Poster (TVD Rotunda)
| Presenter(s) | Title of Presentation | Faculty Sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| Ananya Prabhuram | Women in Apartheid | Liping Bu |
| Melanie Werner | Las Leyendas de la Hermosa Jarifa | Dougherty Deborah |
| Cassandra McGaugh | The Value of the Voice: The Alma College Choral Programs History of Sexism and Transgender Exclusion | Maya Dora-Laskey |
| Nayeli Santana-Venegas | Deconvoluting the Effects of Surfactant Identity and Concentration on Nanoparticle Purification By Depletion Flocculation | Kyle Gibson |
| Annie Singh | Examining the Regulation of TLR2 in Undifferentiated and Differentiated Neuro2a Cells Following Stimulation with Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) | Zackary Bowers |
| Emily Perkins | Happy as I Am? | Elizabeth Boyd |
| Addison Palumbo | Gun Violence: Laws, Regulations, and How they Can Benefit Our Community | Wallmenich Laura Von |
| Lauren Gilbert | Gun Violence: Laws, Regulations, and How they Can Benefit Our Community | Wallmenich Laura Von |
| Addison Cooley | Gun Violence: Laws, Regulations, and How they Can Benefit Our Community | Wallmenich Laura Von |