91̽����Ƶ

Sixty 91̽����Ƶ students, supported by the 91̽����Ƶ Honors Program, participated in the 22^nd Annual on March 26, 2022. 91̽����Ƶ students delivered 32 oral presentations and 13 poster presentations, comprising 45 of the 188 total research projects presented – the greatest number out of the 30 participating colleges statewide. The students had been working since November 2021 to conduct research, write proposal abstracts, prepare their posters, and record their presentations – all culminating in their participation in live Q&A during the conference. 91̽����Ƶ research topics included the romanticization of mental illness on TikTok, unequal access to in vitro fertilization, Ernest Hemingway’s conflicted performance of gender, the impact of online education on first-generation college students, and museum exploitation and repatriation of Native American objects. Nine 91̽����Ƶ students also participated in the conference by volunteering to moderate Q&A during poster and oral presentation sessions.  Additionally, 91̽����Ƶ Honors Director Emily Liu served as the conference’s Program Chair on behalf of the Honors Transfer Council of California.

At the conference plenary session, English Professor and former 91̽����Ƶ Honors Director Kay Ryals received the Director’s Award for her contributions to the 91̽����Ƶ Honors Program as well as to the Honors Transfer Council of California. Additionally, the following 91̽����Ƶ students won awards for the quality and originality of their research:

• 1^st place for Social Sciences and Humanities Poster: Angel Xie, “Barriers to Women Joining STEM: Looking at the Role of Mathematical Self-Concept and Self-Efficacy,” mentored by English Professor Emily Liu
• 1^st place (tie) for STEM Poster: Anna Yuan, Diana Lu, Lauren Harvey, and Thomas Chen, “Mathematical Modeling of California Condor and Gray Wolf Populations with Restoration Efforts,” mentored by Math Professor Lan Pham
• 2^nd place for STEM Poster: Nameer Ahmed and Ali Tamadon, “Applying the SEIR Model on Orange County COVID-19 Cases,” mentored by Math Professor Lan Pham
• Outstanding Abstract Award: Anna Zhuravlova, “Battling Covid-19: A Comparative Study of Ireland and New Zealand,” mentored by Political Science Professor Joon Kil
• Outstanding Abstract Award: Karis Kim, Kelly Kieu, and Emily Otero, “Does Saying “Bitch” Mean You’re Sexist? Investigating Sexism in Modern-Day Language,” mentored by Psychology Professor Michael Cassens
• Outstanding Abstract Award: Ruth Castillo, Andrew Cook, Oubadah Alwan, and Hazel Halili, “Social Influence in a Virtual Space: Social Proof Verses Authority Power,” mentored by Psychology Professor Michael Cassens

91̽����Ƶ Honors Program students Brittany Kester and Anna Nahm won Exemplary Achievement Awards for academic excellence in the Honors Program, progress towards their personal goals, and extracurricular service to their community.

91̽����Ƶ faculty and staff who attended the conference to support students included Psychology Professor Michael Cassens, English Professor Julie Herold, Psychology Professor Jerry Rudmann, Biology Professor Rolando Ruiz-Vega, English Professor Kay Ryals, English Professor Deanna Scherger, Honors Program Director Emily Liu, and Honors Program Administrative Assistant Shakeh Mehrabian.