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2025 Undergraduate Research Competition Program
Full text link16th Annual Undergraduate Research Competition, April 15-16, 2025.
The 2025 CCU Undergraduate Research Symposium included 168 oral and poster presentations (51 oral presentations and 117 poster presentations) and an additional 20 team pitch presentations composed of 57 students who participated in the inaugural year of the Wall College’s Chant’s Tank Pitch Competition.
Presentations at the Undergraduate Research Symposium were judged by over 80 faculty and staff, and prizes are awarded in three categories: Best Oral Presentation, Best Poster Presentation, and Best Chant’s Tank Pitch Presentation. Here are the following award winners in their respective categories:
Best Oral Presentation: 1st Place: Mike Szklarzewski, Computer Science. Faculty Mentor: William Jones, Computing Sciences, and Nathan DeBardeleben (Los Alamos National Laboratory). “Scaling Machine Learning Models Across GPUs and Nodes: A Performance Analysis Using Megatron on a Weather Prediction Surrogate Model” 2nd Place: Samantha Oliver, Psychology. Faculty Mentor: Melissa Baker, Psychology. “The Effects of Perpetrator Emotional State and Treatment History on Mock Jurors’ Punishment Decisions in Gun Violence Cases” 3rd Place: Cassidy Knill, Marine Science. Faculty Mentor: Angelos Hannides, Marine Science. “Impacts of Point and Non-Point Sources on Two Urbanized Tidal Creek Systems”
Best Poster Presentation: 1st Place: Savannah Piziak, Exercise and Sport Science. Faculty Mentor: Justin Guilkey, Kinesiology. “Exploring the Role of Muscle Oxygenation in Determining Optimal Inter-set Rest Duration and Its Impact on Performance” 2nd Place: Juliana Calderone, Marine Science. Faculty Mentor: Angelos Hannides, Marine Science. “Diel patterns of biogeochemical indicators in coastal tidally-dominated creeks” 3rd Place: Cassidy Cullen, Biology, Shanari Buckner, Biology, Gabriella Pepin, Biology, and Amy Starchville, Biology. Faculty Mentor: Megan Cevasco, Biology. “Investigation of Vibrio from Huntington Beach State Park and Pawleys Island waters”
Best Chant’s Tank Pitch Presentation: 1st Place: Jackson Shapiro, Recreation and Sport Management, Joe Montesanto, Accounting, and Thomas Gavin, Marketing. Pitch: JJT SmartWash 2nd Place: Ben Doleshal, Business Management & Commercial and Investment Real Estate, and Hans Seibold, Finance. Pitch: CyberGuard Solutions 3rd Place: Ashley Wood, Marketing, Casey Mangan, Accounting, and Olivia Tenaglia, Finance and Marketing. Pitch: Dorm Dashhttps://digitalcommons.coastal.edu/ugrc-programs/1015/thumbnail.jp
State-Level Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Comprehensive Examination of Policy Adoption in the South vs Non-South States
No full textThe COVID-19 pandemic caused a significant number of fatalities worldwide (WHO, 2021). Unfortunately, the response to the pandemic appeared to politicized in the United States. Various factors contribute to the policies adopted by different states to contain the spread of the disease. This study aims to investigate the adoption of COVID-19 policies in South versus non-South states, explicitly examining state interventions such as stay-at-home orders, school closures, mask mandates, and travel restrictions. Utilizing the policy innovation and diffusion hazards model, we found that politics dominated the adoption and duration of mask mandates but that the adoption and duration of stay-at-home orders, school closures, and travel restrictions by state governors were determined by demographics and the death toll in each state. The South in this case, was not a distinctive region
The Rage, Spring 2025
Full text linkThe Rage zine is published in collaboration with Students Advocating Gender Equality and CCU Women\u27s and Gender Studies. Volume 3, Issue 2.https://digitalcommons.coastal.edu/the-rage-zine/1004/thumbnail.jp
Healthcare Administration within Free Medical Clinics and the Impacts on the Sustainable Development Goals
Full text linkIMPACT OF ALEKS ON MATH ACHIEVEMENT FOR STUDENTS WHO WERE SOCIALLY PROMOTED
No full textThis research examines the impact of ALEKS on student achievement in mathematics, specifically the correlation between mastering course concepts and preparedness for Algebra 1 as assessed by MAP RIT scores. The investigation focuses on the problem that many students lack the foundational skills necessary for success in Algebra 1 and higher-level math courses, leading to the research questions: How does student completion in the ALEKS intervention course impact their performance on MAP? and How much more likely are students who completed the intervention course to be considered Algebra 1-ready based on MAP than those who did not?
The study employed purposive sampling to target socially promoted students transitioning from middle to high school who struggle with fundamental math skills. Data collection took place post-intervention, with privacy measures in place. Instruments such as ALEKS for concept mastery and NWEA MAP RIT scores were used to evaluate performance.
Analysis showed significant results regarding MAP performance, with a paired-sample t-test indicating notable improvement in fall and winter NWEA MAP RIT scores (p \u3c .001). A logistic regression indicated that students who completed the course were 2.69 times more likely to be deemed Algebra 1-ready, though this was not statistically significant (p = .126). Fall RIT scores demonstrated a significant positive correlation with readiness.
Overall, the study indicates a positive relationship between course completion and readiness for Algebra 1. However, the lack of significant results in the logistic regression suggests the need for caution and further research on effective program components to address barriers among at-risk students
EXPENDITURES OF TITLE I FUNDS TO MAXIMIZE STUDENT PERFORMANCE
No full textThis mixed methods case study investigates how Title I funds are allocated and perceived in relation to student achievement in six rural elementary schools in the southeastern United States. Drawing on the Distributive Justice Theory by John Rawls, the study explored the perspectives of three principals and three instructional coaches regarding the effectiveness of Title I expenditures in improving outcomes for economically disadvantaged students. Quantitative data from school report cards (2019-2023), Title I expenditure plans, and SC-Ready English Language Arts assessment scores were analyzed alongside qualitative data from semi-structured interviews about the expenditures.
Findings revealed that expenditures most strongly associated with improved student outcomes including hiring interventionists, supporting professional learning communities (PLCSs), providing targeted professional development, and increasing parental engagement. Participants emphasized the importance of data-driven decision-making, consistent implementation of interventions, and collaborative planning. The study contributes to the limited body of research on effective Title I spending, while offering practical guidance for school leaders seeking to maximize the impact of federal funding on student achievement
Revisiting Southern Identity
No full textWhat is the role of southern identity in contemporary southern politics? Research conducted prior to the Trump administration concludes that southern identity is resilient, and that political ideology had replaced race as the key factor predicting identity. Given the massive changes in southern and American politics in the last decade, however, there is reason to question whether these conclusions hold. In this paper we rely on two surveys of the southern electorate to determine whether southern identity remains resilient and whether the predictors of identity have changed. We conclude that southern identity remains central to the identity of most southerners. We also find that political ideology continues to be a, or perhaps the, primary driver of southern identity. Race is a statistically predictor in one of our models, but not in the other. We conclude by noting opportunities for future scholarly inquiry on this critical political question
Energy Statistic-Based Goodness-of-Fit Test for the Lindley Distribution with Application to Lifetime Data
No full textIn this article, we propose a goodness-of-fit test for a one-parameter Lindley distribution based on energy statistics. The Lindley distribution has been widely used in reliability studies and survival analysis, especially in applied sciences. The proposed test procedure is simple and more powerful against general alternatives. Under different settings, Monte Carlo simulations show that the proposed test is able to be well controlled for any given nominal levels. In terms of power, the proposed test outperforms other existing similar methods in different settings. We then apply the proposed test to real-life datasets to demonstrate its competitiveness and usefulness.
This article was published Open Access through the CCU Libraries Open Access Publishing Fund. The article was first published in the journal stats: https://doi.org/10.3390/stats804008
The Sustainability Stones: Culturally Embedded Conservation Strategies and Their Vulnerability in Maupiti, French Polynesia
Full text linkThis paper explores culturally embedded conservation strategies through the lens of the traditional agroforestry and fisheries cycles in Maupiti, French Polynesia. By pairing certain breadfruit cultivars with specific fish species, the island’s community created a culinary system that regulates the seasonal consumption of marine resources, making the sustainable use of those resources more likely. While modern pressures such as reduced breadfruit diversity, competition with imported foods, and climate change have weakened these traditional practices, they remain an example of local ecological knowledge guiding conservation. The study highlights the threat of losing sustainable resource-use practices and biodiversity as both biodiversity and traditional ecological knowledge are reduced. Maupiti’s resistance to external development, however, and local community memory offer hope for a potential revival of these practices, preserving both biodiversity and cultural heritage. Reestablishing traditional breadfruit-fish pairings, or forging new ones, could play a vital role in conserving Maupiti\u27s terrestrial and marine biodiversity.
This article was published Open Access through the CCU Libraries Open Access Publishing Fund. The article was first published in Geographical Review: https://doi.org/10.1080/00167428.2025.246910
Safeguarding American Interests: A Strategic Analysis of U.S. Economic Sanctions on China and Their Impact on National Competitiveness (2018-2023)
No full textThis study examines the effectiveness of U.S. economic sanctions against China from 2018 to 2023, analyzing their impact on political objectives, economic benefits, and global trade dynamics. Employing a mixed-methods approach, this research combines quantitative trade data analysis, GDP growth, and technology sector performance with qualitative assessment of policy changes and diplomatic relations. Findings indicate that while sanctions have increased costs for targeted Chinese practices, they have not fundamentally altered China\u27s approach to core issues. The economic benefits for the U.S. are mixed, with its technology sector maintaining global competitiveness amid complex market dynamics. Unintended consequences include accelerated Chinese efforts towards technological independence, supply chain disruptions, and strained global trade relations. The study concludes that sanctions\u27 effectiveness is limited against large, economically diverse countries like China. Recommendations include adopting a more targeted approach to sanctions, prioritizing multilateral cooperation, and investing in domestic innovation to maintain competitiveness