Undergraduate Academic Project Grants
Initiated by then-Chancellor John Bardo in 1996, the Undergraduate Academic Projects Grant Program funds a variety of student projects. Administered by the Office of the Provost, the Academic Project Grants Program awards students and faculty with materials, supplies, and travel support to conduct research and creative work during the academic year. Students and faculty construct proposals, which are reviewed by a formal faculty committee made up of representatives from across the colleges.
Student and faculty proposals were submitted for competitive review. We wish to acknowledge by project title and student name the awardees for the 2021 – 2022 academic year. Congratulations to these students and their faculty sponsors. Many thanks to the Academic Project Grant committee for their work, and to Suzanne Melton, the administrative support associate for this program in the Office of the Provost. Members of the committee include:
Missy Glavey
College of Education and Allied Professions
Chuck Thomas
Hunter Library
Frankie West
College of Arts and Sciences
Robert Steffan
College of Engineering and Technology
Kim Hall
College of Health and Human Sciences
Steve Ha
College of Business
Leo Lei
College of Fine and Performing Arts
Suzanne Melton
The Office of the Provost
Kloo Hansen
The Office of the Provost
College of Arts & Sciences
Anthropology and Sociology
Assessing Patterns of Moisture Content in Decomposing, Desiccated, and Mummified Tissue in the Southeastern United States
Student Awardee: Carter Unger
Faculty Sponsor: Rebecca George
Biology
Detecting Autophagy with Flux Inhibitor Controls: Using CQ, 3-MA, and Rapamycin to Assess Autophagy in Biomaterials Research
Student Awardee: Melissa Rogers
Faculty Sponsor: Heather Coan
Development of techniques for growth of human embryonic kidney cells (HEKs) on slides for visualization via confocal microscope
Student Awardee: Melissa Huamancondor
Faculty Sponsor: Heather Coan
Mutation of single residues in Salmonella typhimurium TreY to test ability to convert maltooligosaccharides into maltooligosyl trehalose.
Student Awardee: Diana Romero
Faculty Sponsor: Amanda Storm
Chemistry and Physics
Functional Characterization of a Mycobacteriophage Adahisdi Immunity Repressor:DNA Complex
Student Awardee: Regan McKinney
Faculty Sponsor: Jamie Wallen
Surface functionalization of bovine serum albumin encapsulated polymer nanoparticles with ERY1 peptide to target towards red blood cells
Student Awardee: Dallas Dean
Faculty Sponsor: Rangika Hikkaduwa Koralege
Geosciences and Natural Resources
Post project support for Geological Society of America Annual Meeting 2021
Student Awardees: Hannah Hogan; Sean Arias
Faculty Sponsor: Shane Schoepfer
Euxinia seen through pyrite framboids in Trapper Creek, Idaho, leading up to the End-Permian Extinction
Student Awardee: Hannah Hogan
Faculty Sponsor: Shane Schoepfer
College of Business
School of Economics, Management, and Project Management
Budgeting North Carolina Water through Watershed Trading Quotas
Student Awardee: Adam Motterhead
Faculty Sponsor: Sean Mulholland
College of Education & Allied Professions
Psychology
South Eastern Psychological Association (SEPA) conference
Student Awardees: Alexandra Jarman; Brikena Smakiqi; Jasper Percival Shupe; Katelyn Hallman, Rachael Cunio
Faculty Sponsor: Ellen Sigler
College of Engineering & Technology
School of Engineering & Technology
Design and implement an Additive Manufacturing injection mold
Student Awardee: Nicholas Foland
Faculty Sponsor: Basel Alsayyed
College of Fine and Performing Arts
School of Art and Design
Research into Interactive Design
Student Awardee: Christina Perry
Faculty Sponsor: Mary Anna LaFratta
Exploring Sculpting and Modeling Methods Through the Creation of Special Effects Prosthetic Makeup
Student Awardee: Kayden Deeter
Faculty Sposnor: Morgan Kennedy
School of Stage and Screen
DA 265 Activism in Musical Theatre Dance Project
Student Awardee: Megan Ritchie
Faculty Sponsor: Ashley Wasmund
Seeing Sound: Sound Design Presentation
Student Awardee: Zay Jarrett
Faculty Sponsor: Chris Flinchum
College of Health Sciences
School of Health Sciences
Evaluating Mobile Workstation Disinfection Protocols in a Western Carolina University Nursing Simulation Lab
Student Awardee: Alexandria Plemmons
Faculty Sponsor: Chad Hallyburton
Poster Presentation at the American Mosquito Control Association
Student Awardee: Kaylin Lewandowski
Faculty Sponsor: Brian Byrd
Environmental Health Field Experiences at Hobcaw Barony
Student Awardees: Gabby Carter; Hannah Goins; Phoenix Hall; Victoria Powell; Cathleen Shafer; Kaylin Lewandowski
Faculty Sponsor: Brian Byrd
Social Work
Exploring the Intersection of Social Work and Law Enforcement
Student Awardee: Christopher Martinez
Faculty Sponsor: Katy Allen and Cyndy Caravellis