College of Education and Behavioral Sciences News

The 22nd annual Posters-at-the-Capitol event will be held March 7 in Frankfort. Eleven research projects by 10 WKU students and five students from The Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science will be presented during the showcase of research and creative scholarship from Kentucky’s public universities.

The program runs from noon to 3:45 p.m. (Eastern time) with special remarks in the Capitol Rotunda at noon (Eastern time).

The WKU research projects include the following:

• Variations and Trends in Heavy and Extreme Precipitation in Kentucky between 1949-2022 by senior Abraham Tekoe of Clarksville, Tennessee. Faculty Mentor: Dr. Zachary Suriano, Department of Earth, Environmental, and Atmospheric Sciences
• The Impact of Goals on Attention, Anxiety, and Performance by senior Lauren Heelan of Crestwood and graduate student Savannah Savage of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Faculty Mentor: Dr. Steven Wininger, Department of Psychology
• Impact of Nutrition Knowledge on Performance Supplement Use in General Athletic Populations by seniors Delaney Webb of Spring Hill, Florida, Ryan Messenger of Murray and Harrison Boso of Louisville. Faculty Mentor: Dr. Ann E. Embry, Department of Applied Human Sciences
• Exploration of Public Perceptions of the Credibility of Attorney Class-Action Lawsuit Advertising by Gatton Academy senior Caleb Neitzel of Cave City. Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jacob Byl, Department of Economics
• A Comprehensive Weather Climatology Utilizing 15-years of Kentucky Mesonet Data by junior Dunil Kasturiratna of Alexandria and senior Kaden Yonts of Russellville. Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jerald Brotzge, Department of Earth, Environmental, and Atmospheric Sciences
• Sleep duration as a risk factor for suicide ideation and attempts in minoritized youth by junior Danielle Williams of Goodlettsville, Tennessee. Faculty Mentor: Dr. Amy Brausch, Department of Psychological Sciences
• Geological and hydrogeological “red flags” that influence land-use hazards in karst: a case study in Warren County, Kentucky by Gatton Academy senior Mykah Carden of Greenville. Faculty Mentor: Dr. Patricia Kambesis, Department of Earth, Environmental, and Atmospheric Sciences
• Working With Kentucky Amish and Mennonite Communities to Develop Solutions to Contaminated Drinking Water Sources by senior Katie Lane of Hermitage, Tennessee. Faculty Mentors: Dr. Chris Groves and Lee Anne Bledsoe, Department of Earth, Environmental, and Atmospheric Sciences
• iEquity: An Augmented Reality Theatre Production by Gatton Academy senior Amy Pan of Bowling Green. Faculty Mentors: Kristina Arnold, Department of Art & Design; Alan White, Department of Theatre & Dance; and Truth Tran, Department of Art & Design
• Dual Partisanship in America: Dead or Alive? by Gatton Academy senior Livi Ray of Hopkinsville. Faculty Mentors: Dr. Scott Lasley and Dr. Joel Turner, Department of Political Science
• Exploring the Contributions of V-type ATPase to Drosophila melanogaster Wing Development by Gatton Academy senior Landon Carlton of Mount Vernon. Faculty Mentor: Dr. Ajay Srivastava, Department of Biology

Contact: Office of Research and Creative Activity, (270) 745-6132

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Western Kentucky University prides itself on positioning its students, faculty and staff for long term success. As a student-centered, applied research university, WKU helps students expand on classroom learning by integrating education with real-world applications in the communities we serve. Our hilltop campus is located in Bowling Green, Kentucky, which was recently named by Reader’s Digest as one of the nicest towns in America, just an hour’s drive from Nashville, Tennessee.