Young Researchers Hit the Road
Seven VWC students to present at National Conference on Undergraduate Research in New York
By Edward Phillips | March 9, 2011
(NORFOLK/VIRGINIA BEACH) This semester, Virginia Wesleyan College will send its largest ever contingent of students to the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR), to be held at Ithaca College in New York, March 31-April 2.
Participating students must submit abstracts, a brief summary and a title for their research. NCUR officials weed through over 3,500 entrants to find those whose research is in-depth enough to be presented at the Conference. This year, more than 2,000 students and faculty from colleges all over the country are scheduled to attend the event.
VWC’s Dr. Maynard Schaus and Dr. Victor Townsend will accompany seven students to the conference: John Evans (sophomore), Jessica Gonzalez (senior), Hilary Hoffman (senior), Jennifer Houghton (senior), Richard Poteet (junior), Richard Robertson (senior) and Ryan Wade (junior). The students will present on subjects ranging from biology to art history. Senior Ednidia Loaiza Phillips and recent graduate Ashley Wright ’10 contributed to research projects but will not be attending the event. In addition to Dr. Schaus and Dr. Townsend, Dr. Kathy Stolley, Dr. Joyce Howell, and Dr. Phil Rock served as mentors to these students.
The NCUR, established in 1987, provides a venue for undergraduate students to present and view research in a unique manner that promotes creativity and fellowship among scholars. It is an honor to be chosen and a chance for students to shine.
“I’m not really sure what to expect,” says Hilary Hoffman, a secondary education for social studies major whose research project, “Body, Context, and Gaze: Images of Women During WWII,” focuses on the gender roles of women in World War II society. “It was very flattering and exciting to see that they picked my research over thousands of other students."
Biology major Ryan Wade worked closely with his mentor, Dr. Vic Townsend, over the summer to compile research for his presentation, “Activity Patterns of Two Species of Neotropical Harvestmen (Arachnida, Opiliones) From Costa Rica.” “
I’m pretty excited, and I’m really interested in the things Dr. Townsend does,” Wade says. “He’s very passionate about his field.”
Undergraduate research is an important component of academics at Virginia Wesleyan College. VWC will be hosting its own Undergraduate Research Symposium on campus, April 26-29. The students who are presenting at the NCUR will also present their work here, so be sure to support your fellow Marlins both on and off campus.