By MCS Staff 04.16.2014

Fifteen Milligan students presented countless hours of research in the first annual 2014 Rise Above Research Conference in Derthick Hall yesterday.

 

During the poster session, five students including photography major Kate Handzlik and psychology major Nate Andrew entertained questions regarding their research with the Appalachian Service Project.

 

“We’ve been working with ASP for the past five years,” said Andrew. “Our goal is to access the outcomes of home repairs of the residents in Appalachia.”

 

Andrew focused on the physical and psychological outcomes of these repairs, finding that the homes built by ASP were significantly warmer and helpful for children’s overall health.

 

Handzlik’s work with ASP included field research in collecting surveys and photographing those she came in contact with.

 

“I gave surveys that took about 40 minutes to two hours,” she said. “I built up rapport for them to trust me and for them to give me more natural poses. It was great because I could combine my two majors, two things that I love all at once.”

 

Other presentations included a fine arts performance on the history and explanation of Devised Theatre by Darcie DeLong, Adam Derrick, Tess Evans-Shell and Laura Mixon.

 

Following the skit, six students gave oral presentations of their research. The topics ranged from quantum mechanics to maternity care to gender descriptions in newspaper obituaries. Those who spoke included Don Juan Hale, Richard Wampler, Elizabeth Gentry, Kerri Beth Slaughter, Beattie Renn and Anneke Snyder.

 

The conference concluded with a faculty presentation by communications professor Jim Dahlman. He spoke on the making of his book, “A Familiar Wilderness: Searching for Home on Daniel Boone’s Road.”