University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Bulldog Student-Athletes Present Undergraduate Research Projects
12.14.2022 | General
ASHEVILLE, N.C. - UNC Asheville offers undergraduate students many opportunities other schools reserve for graduate students. One opportunity is to conduct undergraduate research in partnership with a professor. To see eight student-athletes take advantage of this opportunity this semester is just another indicator that these are individuals who are serious about both their development as an athlete and a student.Â
Presentation topics cover all majors and reflect the interest or passion of the student to know more about a particular area. Presentations can be oral, scholarly published findings and/or presentations that include poster sessions allowing everyone to engage in a one-on-one opportunity to learn something new on November 22nd, Undergraduate Research Day. The research and presentation process is not limited to seniors. In addition, seven first-semester freshmen started this semester with the First-year student showcase. The showcase highlights a variety of critical and creative work creating podcasts, projects, websites, poetry, essays and installations on topics from a Photo Portfolio to Politics and Protests in the Ancient World.
"Student-athletes are used to being in front of a crowd competing in their sport, but it is exciting to see the perfect balance of Student and Athlete when they present their academic research to a scholarly group," said Assistant Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Success Rebecca Nelms.
Several UNC Asheville student-athletes presented their undergraduate research to a panel of faculty members back on Nov. 22.
Abby Parks - Women's Swimming and Diving - Drink Up and Earn More? Perhaps.
Sean McGinty - Men's Soccer - Fluidez/Veranderlich/Fluid. El genero inclusivo
Walker Lezotte - Men's Cross Country/Track and Field - What Makes Horror Scary?
Nora Segurola - Women's Swimming and Diving - The Fear of the Feminine
Solomon McDonald - Men's Track and Field - Jupiter Notebook
Mary Jo Smith - Women's Soccer - Conjuring up the Truth
Addison Wright - Women's Swimming and Diving - Applying Theories of Communication to Food Justice in Western North Carolina
Grant Stidham - Men's Soccer - International Teaching
Ashley MacFarlane - Women's Soccer - The Art of Walt Disney World
Delaney Carlton - Women's Swimming and Diving - Stacking eBOSS Quasar Spectra to Measure Mg II Absorption and [O II] Emission in Galaxy Halos
Nathaniel Edwards - Men's Cross Country/Track and Field - Psilocybin May Help Decrease Depression and Anxiety in Terminal Cancer Patients
Elizabeth Fangman - Cheer and Dance - Implications of Race and Income in Disparate Exposure to Pollution
Solomon McDonald - Men's Track and Field - Student
Professor of Mass Communication Dr. Stephanie O'Brien shared her sentiment on Addison Wright's presentation on the application of communication theories to food justice in Western North Carolina.
"Addison's presentation was insightful and provided potential for new considerations of communicating with rural communities," said O'Brien. "Her use of framing theory highlighted paths that companies can take to reach various groups of people through phrases and themes. As well, her interviews and surveys added insight on effective ways to reach these communities through non-mediated paths. What impressed me the most was that Addison's method and research took a lot of time, including traveling to the communities and getting to know the people. It's hard to go into a small, rural community and get people to open up to you about your experiences and ideas. To do this while also completing other classes and competing as a student-athlete is commendable."
"My project was for the McCullough Fellowship on campus," said Wright. "It was a lot to balance as a student-athlete, but it taught me how to be more organized and gave me a passion for community-partnered work."
Men's Soccer graduate student Sean McGinty spoke about his presentation Fluidez/Veranderlich/Fluid. El genero inclusivo, which examined the origins and similarities between the Spanish and German languages. In addition, McGinty explored the gender constructs of each language while comparing it to that of the English language.
"This presentation meant a lot to me, and I grew up in a German-speaking household and have also been speaking Spanish since I was a child." Said McGinty. "The project was over a semester's time, so I was able to work on it a little bit each week leading up to the due date."
Men's Soccer redshirt senior Grant Stidham presented on the history of international teaching in the United States. Through examinations of organizations like the Peace Corps, Fulbright and Participate Learning, Stidham was able to compare and contrast how the different organizations prepared international teachers for their work ahead in the U.S.
"All of the hard work I put into this project is an understatement," said Stidham. "I tried to touch on it at least once a day whether that be on the bus to an away game, in the library or in Highsmith. All of this while I was trying to juggle soccer, other schoolwork, student-teaching and coaching with a local youth club. I had to make sure I was on top of my undergraduate research project and other academics at all times."
Nelms commended the group of student-athletes for their dedication and hard work balancing these tedious projects with their other academics as well as their athletic commitments.
"Whether they are fielding questions about nucleotides in cancer research, teaching methods in an international setting or presenting a Bachelor of Fine Art gallery showing I always learn something and emerge amazed by their knowledge, skill and potential."
