OSU Wentz Research Scholars recognized
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Oklahoma State University has recognized 44 Wentz Scholars for their outstanding undergraduate
research. The prestigious Wentz Research Project scholarship of $4,500 per year helps
prepare these scholars for graduate study or national competitions. This year marks
the 20th anniversary of all Wentz scholarships.
“We think the quality of this year’s program indicates how far OSU has come in its
research mission,” said Bob Graalman, director of Scholar Development. “The many other
areas of Wentz involvement are further examples of their commitment to OSU—including
leadership, music, support for non-traditional students, and more. Wentz has supported
generations of OSU students with work-study grants and loans. Truly, the stories of
Lew Wentz and OSU go hand-in-hand.”
As the Wentz Research Project outlines, each scholar worked alongside a mentor and
outlined a research project that could be completed within a year. The award ceremony
included a browsing session during which four judges considered the students’ work.
Many of the projects represented areas such as agriculture, social sciences and mathematics.
Judging the displays were Virgil Nichols, College of Engineering, Architecture and
Technology (CEAT) emeritus, Assunta Martin of the English Language Institute, John
Sauer, Entomology and Plant Pathology faculty emeritus, and Scott Wise, CEAT graduate
and former Wentz Scholar.
Cassie Mitchell, OSU alumna and former Wentz Scholar who is now a faculty member
of both Georgia Tech and Emory School of Medicine, served as special guest for an
April 13 reception honoring this year’s Wentz winners. She spoke on how vital it is
for a research student to ask questions and not be afraid to share their results with
the world. Sheryl Tucker, Graduate College dean, spoke on “Research Considered.” Tucker
stated the importance of research and explained how her own undergraduate research
played a pivotal role in starting her career as a chemist.
Five display winners were recognized: Jessica Baggerman of Groom, Texas for “Effects
of Bovin Viral Diarrhea Virus on Zinc Activated Finger Protein Expression”; Jacob
Burton of Oklahoma City for “Comparative Analysis of Commercial Grout vs. Polyester
Cement as Backfill for Dowel Bar Retrofit”; Mikayla Marvin of Yukon for “Transport
of E. coli Through Soil Marcopores: Laboratory and Field Experiments”; Taylor Mitchell
of Stillwater for “Bird Wing Tip Design and Its Application to UAVs”; Lauren Oseland
of Edmond for “The Impact of Parenting on the Social-Self of Adolescents with Intellectual
Disabilities.”
Graalman also recognized the research students who applied for national scholarships.
He said the application for these scholarships is challenging work and consideration
is an honor. OSU had one national scholarship recipient this year, Rosa Yorks who
received the Goldwater Scholarship.
To view photos from the event visit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ostatenews/sets/72157629830589521/
The Wentz Project Scholars
Name; College & Major, Awarded Project
Jessica Baggerman; CASNR Animal Science, “Agriculture Effects of Bovine Viral Diarrhea
Virus on Zinc Activated Finger Protein Expression”
Corbit Bayliff; CASNR Animal Science, “Effect of Muscle Growth Factors on Marbling
Development” Mentor: Gerald Horn
Erin Best; Arts and Sciences, Microbiology/Molecular Genetics, “The Effect of Calcium
on Motility in Psuedomonas Aeruginosa”
Jacob Burton; CEAT Civil Engineering, “Comparative Analysis of Commercial Grout vs.
Polyester Cement as Backfill for Dowel Bar Retrofit”
Emily Cloud; CEAT Chemical Engineering, “Solar Disinfection for the Water of Seis
de Mayo, Honduras”
Clarissa Craige; CASNR Animal Science “Agriculture Effects of Diet on IGF-1, Insulin,
and Glucose Levels in Plasma of Growing Horses”
Julianne Damante; CASNR Animal Science “Agriculture Effects of Bovine Viral Diarrhea
Virus on the Mitochon drial Protein Prohibitin”
Joshua Damron; Arts and Sciences Chemistry, “Development of New Quantitative Experiments
for Protein Function”
Daniel Ede; CEAT Civil Engineering, “Structural Load Resistance of Insulating Concrete
Forms vs. Wood-Framed Walls’
Danielle Elias; Arts and Sciences Psychology, “Differences in the Neuro Cognitive
Development of Infants”
John Evans; Animal Science, “Hormone Regulation of Gene Expression Related to Angiogenesis
in Granulosa Cells of Pigs”
Lauren Foley; Arts and Sciences, “Who Are the People in My Neighborhood? Social Recognition,
Spatial Context, and Monogamy”
Shane Hnatusko; Arts and Sciences Biological Sciences, “Purification and Enzymatic
Characterization of Carbonic Anhydrase in P. aeruginosa”
Lisa Hughes; Arts and Sciences/HES Biological Sciences/Nutritional Sciences, “Developmental
links Between Exposure to Stress and Release of Reproductive Hormones”
Jacob Keeling; CASNR Biochemistry Agriculture, “Studying Interactions of Maicrotubule
Associated Proteins”
Ashlee Keenum; CEAT Chemical Engineering/Spanish, “A Comparison of Aortic Endothelial
Cell Growth in 2D and 3D Matrices”
Morgan Kinsey; HES Nutritional Sciences, “Addressing Dietary Habits of Students in
the THANDA Program”
Travis Knapp; Arts and Sciences English/History, “The Production of the King James
Bible”
Katharine Lasley; HES Nutritional Sciences, “Dietary Vitamin D and Vitamin D Status
in Older Women in Oklahoma”
Whitney Lisenbee; CEAT Biosystems Engineering, “Assessment of Plant Growth and Survival
in an Improved Lightweight Green Roof Media”
Christopher Long; Spears School of Business International Business/Spanish, “Regime-Type
& the Efficacy of US Foreign Aid in Mitigating Drug-Related Crime in Latin America”
Justin Lyles; CASNR Animal Science Agriculture, “Development of Species-Specific
Primers for the Turfgrass Pathogen Sclerotinia Homoeocarpa”
Mikayla Marvin; CASNR Biosystems & Agricultural Engineering, “Transport of E. coli
through Soil Macropores: Laboratory and Field Experiements”
Josh McLoud; Arts and Sciences Biological Sciences “Triclosan's Effects on Legume
Inoculation and Nodulation Rates”
Robert McMurry; CASNR Horticulture Science, “Evaluating Trap Crop Effectiveness to
Control Thrip Populations”
Dawson Metcalf; Arts and Sciences History/Political Science, “Breaking Barriers”
Taylor Mitchell; CEAT Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, “Bird Wing Tip Design and
Its Application to UAVs”
Nathan Muschinske; CEAT Chemical Engineering, “Development and Optimization of a
Polymer/Virus Gene Delivery Vector”
Mark Nelson; CEAT AMAE Russian, “Image and Perception in St. Petersburg: Essays and
Photography”
Amanda Neujahr; CASNR Animal Science, “Investigating the Use of Plant-derived Protein
Sources in Diets of Nursery Pigs”
Lauren Oseland; HES Human Development & Family Science “The Impact of Parenting on
the Social-Self of Adolescents with Intellectual Disabilities”
Megan Prouty; CASNR Entomology/Pysiology “Blood Meal Identification in Mosquitoes
from Oklahoma”
Rebecca Purvis; CEAT Biosystems Engineering, “Prevention of Pesticide Punoff Using
VFSMOD”
Ariel Richter; CASNR Natural Resource Ecology & Management, “Road Mortality in Terrapene
Carolina and T.ornata: Are Females More at Risk?”
Christine Schieszler; Arts and Sciences Psychology, “The Impact of Individual Differences
in Neuroticism on the Rebound Effect”
Rais Shameer; Spears School of Business Finance/Accounting, “Identify Issues and
Find Feasible Solutions for Building a Proper CNG Distribution System in the U.S.”
Adam Simpson; Arts and Sciences Zoology, “Survivorship and Movement of Juvenile Collared
Lizards”
Louis Steigerwald; CEAT Biomechanical Engineering, “Failure of Stream Banks Due to
Water Level Recession”
Leah Vest; Arts and Sciences Undeclared “Fly Transfer of Human Pathogens to Fruit”
David Wallace; CASNR Environmental, “Estimating Groundwater Recharge Using a Statewide
Weather Monitoring Network”
Shannon Watson; CASNR Agricultural Economics/Agricultural Communications, “Nutritional
Analysis for Wellington Orphanage in Sierra Leone, West Africa”
Lindsey Williams; CEAT Chemical Engineering, “Characterizing the Growth of Endothelial
Cells as Par of a Tissue Equivalent Respiratory Model”
Jeffery Williams; CASNR Animal Science, “Regulation of GPCR34 Gene Expression in
Granulosa Cells of Cattle”
Yorks, Rosalina Arts and Sciences Zoology/Microbiology, “Linking Population Genetics
and Enzyme Kinetics to Understand the Impacts of Thermal Pollution in Sooner Lake”