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The Pandemic Skip and the Power of Nostalgia: Why Gen Z is Drawn to Animated Kids Shows
Get PDFThe early 2010s produced animated kids shows such as Gravity Falls, Adventure Time, Steven Universe, and The Legend of Korra, which drew Generation Z because of elements like family, friendship, and self-introspection. This connection is strengthened by the Pandemic Skip Phenomenon: a time where young adult’s mental growth was stunted during COVID-19, leading to this generation looking for comfort in these nostalgic animated series’ to assist the transition into adulthood
Perception of School Counseling Services: English Learner Students’ Utilization and Awareness
Get PDFThis study explores English Learner\u27s perceptions and utilization of school counseling services. 180 students enrolled in the English Learner program at a regional vocational high school in a suburban town in Massachusetts responded to a 15 question survey based off of the BEATS: Barriers, Experiences, and Attitudes Toward School Counseling Survey (Auger et al., 2018). The findings identify the most and least utilized services and students\u27 perceptions of their effectiveness. Additionally, the results can help school personnel address gaps in counseling support and potential barriers to access.https://scholarworks.merrimack.edu/rcac_2025_posters/1007/thumbnail.jp
Measuring Biomarkers in Plasma with Fluorescence Spectroscopy
Get PDFHuman plasma presents as a complex biological matrix that can serve as a valuable source for biomarkers that can help us study health and wellness. Fluorescence measurements, excitation-emission matrices (EEMs), were collected from various samples. To deconvolute the complex makeup of signals, we then applied Parallel Factor analysis (PARAFAC) to the data collected from plasma samples. This allowed us to isolate signals of several fluorescent components. Finally, the results and findings are benchmarked against previous studies on plasma, and some of the calculated components are attributed to chemical species such as Tyrosine and NADH. This dataset was made up of subjects varying in various characteristics, such as age and gender, and our analysis examines differences and trends in the dataset between different types of subjects.https://scholarworks.merrimack.edu/rcac_2025_posters/1062/thumbnail.jp
Reimagining Relationships: Expanding Our Community to Combat the Climate Crisis
Get PDFI will explore the efforts of indigenous teaching methods in environmentalism that could provide structural solutions and the importance of understanding historical precedent that has brought about the anthropogenic climate crisis. The goal of this project is to explain how we got to this point, what needs to be done to limit the severity of the devastation, and to show how indigenous ecological knowledge can combat the climate crisis.https://scholarworks.merrimack.edu/rcac_2025_posters/1065/thumbnail.jp
How does College major shape students’ Climate Change Anxiety?
Get PDFIs college major associated with students’ level of climate change anxiety. We will distribute a survey to a sample of Merrimack students. Respondents will identify their major(s) and answer questions about their opinions on climate change.https://scholarworks.merrimack.edu/rcac_2025_posters/1072/thumbnail.jp
Protecting the Public from the Release of Hazardous Materials due to Climate Related Disasters in Orange County, Florida
Get PDFDue to its geographic location, Orange County, Florida is vulnerable to a number of climate related disasters. Hurricanes, floods, and wildfires are just some of the extreme weather conditions Florida faces at an increasing rate. According to The United States Climate Vulnerability Index Orange County is at a high vulnerability to hurricanes and property damage from floods and wildfires. Property damage is common when a natural disaster works its way through the state. In Orange County there are a number of risk management plan facilities and national priority list sites, and if these places get destroyed by climate related disasters then they could release harmful substances into the air or water. These substances could put the public’s health at risk. Climate related disasters in Orange County, Florida, could seriously damage risk management plan facilities and national priority list sites, which puts the public at pollution exposure related risks. Damage from climate related disasters in Orange County, Florida, to risk management plan facilities and national priority list sites will increase public exposure to hazardous materials.https://scholarworks.merrimack.edu/rcac_2025_posters/1076/thumbnail.jp
Psychological Distress due to Cultural Stress, Family Relationships, and Family Obligations within First Generation Hispanic/Latinx College Students
Get PDFThe Hispanic/Latinx population in the U.S. has grown significantly over the years, with college enrollment among individuals aged 18–24 increasing steadily since 2000. However, first-generation Hispanic/Latinx students face unique challenges that contribute to lower college completion rates compared to other groups. These challenges often stem from cultural stressors, family dynamics, and family responsibilities, which can negatively affect both mental health and academic success.
Cultural stressors arise when students try to balance their cultural identity with the expectations of American educational institutions. Many colleges fail to recognize the pressure that comes from navigating two cultures, experiencing discrimination, and managing conflicting values. Family relationships also play a significant role. Parents of first-generation students, who may not have attended college themselves, often lack the experience and understanding needed to support their children through the demands of higher education. This disconnect can leave students feeling isolated and overwhelmed.
In addition to emotional stress, many first-generation Hispanic/Latinx students face financial and caregiving responsibilities at home. Coming from low-income households, they are often expected to work or care for siblings while managing their academic workload. These additional pressures make it harder for them to focus on their studies and succeed academically. Without proper institutional support and a better understanding of these cultural and family-based challenges, it becomes difficult for Hispanic/Latinx first-generation students to thrive in higher education.https://scholarworks.merrimack.edu/rcac_2025_posters/1082/thumbnail.jp
Animal Noises and Jumbled Words: A Multitasking Test
Get PDFMultitasking refers to the engagement in multiple tasks simultaneously or in rapid succession, often resulting in the division of attention and cognitive resources across activities (Alzahabi & Becker, 2013). This experiment aims to explore how visual multitasking (reading a tongue twister while identifying shapes) and auditory multitasking (identifying shapes while hearing distracting animal sounds and having to identify the animal) influence reaction time and accuracy. The first task was to correctly identify a basic shape within an image (square, circle triangle) using a corresponding key on the Superlab program. For the first part this was all the participant had to do. For the second part, at the same time the participant must read aloud a tongue twister on a Macbook. The second experiment had the same shape identification method, but the participant would hear a random animal sound played at random times during the second part of experiment. They had to call out what animal it was when they heard the sound. The reaction times of response to identifying shapes were recorded for both tasks. By comparing the effects of different types of multitasking, the study will provide insights into whether certain forms of interference are more cognitively taxing than others. The hypothesis is that performance on visual identification task will decrease when paired with another visual task or while experiencing auditory stimuli.https://scholarworks.merrimack.edu/rcac_2025_posters/1090/thumbnail.jp