Creative endeavors attracts variety of disciplines
More than 450 students displayed at least 260 research projects in the seventh annual Student Research and Creative Endeavors Exhibit Wednesday in Rose Arena.
Students presented research from a variety of subject matters and colleges.
Tori VanderHaar, Wyoming, Mich., senior, said she has studied illiteracy as part of her English class since January, and was exhibiting her research.
"We took a different approach to studying literacy," she said. "We did it as a multi-genre."
The impact of reading aloud in secondary schools was the focus of Andy Tramper's research.
Tramper, Kent City senior, said he has researched oral reading as part of his English class since January, which led to his exhibit.
"Reading aloud is important in elementary school, but why can't it be important in secondary?" he said.
Research on a type of swallowing disorder was also on exhibit.
Lori-Ann Pietrandrea, Canada graduate student, said she studied the disorder for four months as part of her communication disorders internship for the brain-damaged population, she said.
Josh Gerrish, Saginaw senior, displayed research on a communication disorder-expert system.
He said his research, which began in August as a part of a computer science class, involves computers and communication disorders.
"It's supposed to diagnose communication disorders," he said.
Gerrish said he was happy to present his research.
"I'm proud of it," he said. "It's a pretty great opportunity."
Another exhibit on display involved people's reactions to a word such as "red" written in a different color ink.
Corin Guernsey, Nashville, Mich., senior, said her research came from part of the psychology program.
"It's the interference that happens when they are trying to decide whether or not to read the color or the color name."
Shana Edwards, Sanford senior, said she spent over four months with her professor studying the reliability of a psychology questionnaire for her research.
"We looked at the reliability of the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire," she said. "We wanted to see if the scores were reliable and if it was reliable for adults and both genders."
Richard Castle, Tawas City senior, said he researched land-cover change in northeast Michigan for four months as part of his geography class.
"I compared land-cover change from 1975 to 1998," he said. "You can determine if land use is changing toward getting larger or smaller."
The relation of skull measurements to sex was research presented by Amy Gorno, Trenton freshman.
She said since January, she and her two partners have studied the research.
"We took 10 different skulls," she said. "We measured them 30 times each to determine their sex."
Gorno said the event made her feel her work was more important.
"It makes it all seem a little more worthwhile," she said. "People can actually see what we've done and achieved."
Students and parents said they agreed the event was worthwhile.
Max Oginsky, Flint senior, said he came to view the exhibits with a class.
"I think it's great because it's a way of rewarding students," he said.
Lori Cameron, Fort Gratiot junior, also said she came to the event with her class.
"I think it's a great idea," she said. "So many students are working hard to put these projects together."
Terri Morgan, Commerce Township resident, said she came to see her daughter's exhibit.
"I was really impressed by the creativity and the interest," she said. "I'm impressed that all the different disciplines were here."
Tom Welsh, Holt junior, said he came to the event because he enjoys the art exhibits.
"Art is beautiful," he said. "It's a description of life. This is a time to show people's dedication to the things they love"
