Honors Capstone Projects - George F. Whitworth Honors Program

George F. Whitworth Honors Program

All George Whitworth Honors students will complete an individual project as part of their Honors experience. Honors students represent nearly every major on campus and possess a wide range of post-undergraduate ambitions. The common thread in these capstone projects can be found in their aims to provide a solution–or some aspect of a solution–to a problem in the world. Whether academic or applied, this digital exhibition offers a taste of the types of projects that students have pursued in spring 2024.

ALI BALL

MAJOR: HEALTH SCIENCE

Mentor: Dr. Mike Ediger

Understanding Post-Covid ER Visits

Overcrowded emergency rooms are a critical and prevalent issue for healthcare facilities across the U.S., including our own Spokane Valley. I propose an Honors Project to perform independent research post-pandemic, diving into potential factors leading to the ‘reason for visit’ in the emergency room as well as solutions to relieve this overcrowding in an organized and implementable format. The desired outcome would be to provide substantial data and analysis to support the reason for overcrowding in emergency rooms and increase the availability of patient beds.

KAE BENTON

MAJOR: CHEMISTRY

Mentor: Dr. Aaron Putzke

Scientific Communication: Preparing the Next Generation

In an age of scientific misinformation, it is necessary to meet the fast-paced world of discovery where it stems from: the world of academia. While liberal arts universities such as Whitworth have been educating biology and chemistry students on how to communicate complicated scientific processes with peers or experts in prospective fields, there is very minimal education teaching the same students how to communicate these processes to general audiences. So, a biochemistry student decided to find ways to change this at Whitworth University.

AARON BRATT

MAJORS: MUSIC & ENGLISH

Mentor: Bobby Enslow, Owner, Indaba Coffee

From the Grounds Up

Let’s not kid ourselves: recycling isn’t working. Less than 10% of plastics ever produced have been successfully recycled. The rest end up in landfills, rivers, and oceans, leaching microplastics into our soil, our water supplies, and surrounding ecosystems. It’s time to ask honestly: how hard is this stuff, really? Test subject No. 1… local coffee shops.

TRICIA CEBOTARI

MAJORS: BUSINESS MANAGEMENT & COMPUTER SCIENCE & SPANISH

Mentor: Dr. Bert Emerson

Data Validation for Health Record Systems in a nonprofit

Through the Computer Science department at Whitworth, I was able to apply and participate in their new program, the Innovation Incubator. This program connects current students with a real client in the local community of Spokane. What’s amazing about this new program is that with my particular project, I get to hand it off to younger computer science students after I graduate, which means this isn’t a project that is finished or stops improving once I graduate – it will be improved upon as time goes on, and I’m grateful to be the start of this project and get the ball rolling. With my background in Frontend Development (developing what users can see), I was paired with Lutheran Community Services Northwest (LCS NW). LCS NW partners with individuals, families and communities for health, justice and hope. They work in Advocacy, Aging & Independent Living, Behavioral Health, Child Welfare, Crime Victim Services, Family Support, and Refugees & Immigrants.

ELEANOR JEFFERS

MAJOR: PHILOSOPHY

Mentor: Dr. Keith Wyma

Care Ethics for the Recently Deceased

My project will analyze how an ethic of care can inform and legislate policy around nontraditional burial practices. New forms of post-death body disposal are becoming far more popular: rather than choosing between simply cremation or a standard burial, one can now become compost, be liquified, serve as a nutrient pod for a new tree, or even be pressed from ashes into a vinyl record. How might these different forms of post-death body practices engage with an ethic of care, with concerns over justice and equitable access, and be legislated upon? Where is the line drawn on what an individual can choose to do with their body post-death? I will draw from a number of historical traditions in brief to examine a history of post-death body disposal before analyzing the current legal landscape of funeral rites. Then, I will discuss how the newer discipline of care ethics might serve as a basis for the creation of new laws around the topic, and how care might offer guidelines for families left without a clear will and testament.

EMMA MAPLE

MAJORS: COMMUNICATION STUDIES & POLITICAL SCIENCE

Mentor: Dr. Erica Salkin

The Case of the Missing Context: Newspaper coverage of the Supreme Court’s decisions in Masterpiece Cakeshop and 303 Creative

This research analyzed 49 articles from five major U.S. newspapers discussing the Supreme Court decisions in Masterpiece Cakeshop and 303 Creative. Researchers found three broad areas of concern: misleading ledes, unclear presentation of legal questions and a reliance on quotes without context. When comparing coverage of these two cases, researchers found differences in sourcing and descriptions of the impact the decisions. These findings suggest opportunities for misinformation and misunderstanding of the decisions and their impact.

KYLE MARQUEZ

MAJOR: POLITICAL SCIENCE & THEOLOGY

Mentor: Daniel Geiter

How to Partner for Justice: Linking Whitworth with the world through education and activism

It is easy to be self-involved, in this time in history; to only see the world within a 5-mile radius, never leaving one’s bubble or being involved in their own needs. We aim to break that bubble of isolation through the power of connection. We aim to empower and connect Whitworth students to local activist organizations and nonprofits via a panel presentation from the leaders of local activist organizations and nonprofits aiming to create change in our city.

CASEY MODDRELL

MAJOR: CHEMISTRY & POLITICAL SCIENCE

Mentor: Dr. Aaron Hitefield

Analysis of Whitworth Student’s Self-Perceived Ability to Identify STEM-Based Fake News

Whitworth University, as a liberal arts institution, seeks to educate students in all areas of academia. With fake news, especially that of the STEM-based variety, becoming increasingly more common, it must be asked if Whitworth students are prepared for the future. Respondents were asked to identify STEM-based fake news articles and asked to rate their ability to do so. While no data was found to be statistically significant, Whitworth students in general tend to overestimate their ability, regardless of major or political ideology.

HAILEY NASS

MAJOR: ELEMENTARY EDUCATION

Mentors: Dr. Lisa Hoxie and Jerusha Emerson

Belonging, Representation, Empathy – a Children’s Book

In a world where children struggle to find belonging, two books show them they are not alone. One demonstrates how every family looks different but are more alike than we may think. The second explains how every family has a unique story. Together, these books can help children better know themselves and have deeper empathy for others.

MEGAN NECOCHEA

MAJOR: ENGLISH

Mentor: Dr. Thom Caraway

Issue 34: Sustaining a Literary Magazine

Literary magazines, as publications, are called ephemeral, short lived, created to vanish. Script, Whitworth University’s literary magazine, has lasted steadily since 1987. However, the process of editing and producing the magazine has been a difficult process since 2020, when the connection between each year’s editor was severed. I wanted to reorganize the system around Script to better support editors in both the acquisition and production process. This year’s Script team is redesigning our process in order to leave the next editors confident and able to do their work. The Rebirth Issue of Script and the process of producing was focused on preserving the process as a guide for future editors as well as a process that will prepare editors of the next issue to take over the magazine.

AUBREY PARKINSON

MAJOR: HISTORY

Mentor: Dr. Dale Soden

A Beginner’s Guide to Museums

Museums are a blend of the past, present, and future. Exploring the many exhibits of a museum can be overwhelming physically, mentally, and emotionally. This guide intends to give readers a brief overview of the history of museums, types of museums, and ways to process and understand the history and artifacts within museums. However, ultimately, it is up to you to have your own experiences and conversations within these spaces, but, hopefully, this guide is a good place to start.

CASEY PROCIW

MAJOR: ENGLISH

Mentor: Dr. Bert Emerson

Campus life and struggles of non-traditional students at Whitworth

College is changing, but Whitworth is not—or at least not nearly enough. The number of non-traditional students attending college is rising, while traditional student enrollment is declining. However, Whitworth is still geared almost exclusively towards those traditional students, leaving a growing portion of the student population feeling ostracized and in some cases, unwelcome. These are their stories, their struggles, and their suggestions for how to change this growing problem.

IRENE RACHARLA

MAJOR: COMPUTER SCIENCE

Mentor: Dr. Aaron Griffith

Bringing Humanity Back to The Incarcerated

In today’s world, cancel culture has become a norm. The moment someone makes a mistake, we label that as the worst possible outcome. Now, for some, this is just a minuscule fraction of their ego, but in other cases, it ruins reputations and lives. Over the past few years, I have grown passionate about breaking the dehumanization of individuals. I believe that all people are created in God’s image and worthy of dignity and love, regardless of the mistakes made in the past. My project aims to give voice to people who we often think do not deserve it: incarcerated people in the United States.

KERI RONEY & CORINNE VASILOFF

MAJOR: BIOLOGY & MAJOR: BIOLOGY

Mentor: Dr. Aaron Putzke

Preventing Chronic Illness through Youth Sports: Epigenetics and Athletics

Many parents struggle with anxiety surrounding a history of chronic family illness, but current research in the field of epigenetics might provide new insight into long-term prevention. Physical activity and sports starting at a young age can cause small modifications to your genes, preventing future illness. Our goal is to share this knowledge to help improve the health of future generations.

KENDALL SANDHOP

MAJOR: BIOLOGY

Mentor: Dr. Aaron Putzke

Population Growth Curves of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Derived Strains of Brewing Yeast

Brewing Science is a new niche science that studies fermentation, yeast, and beer making. Beer making yeast strains have been created quickly and are changed to be optimized, so there is a gap in knowledge between new and older strains. To bridge this gap, three strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae were monitored over an 18-hour period to make a population growth curve.

ISABELLE SCOTTLIND

MAJORS: ENGLISH & HISTORY

Mentor: Dr. Dale Soden

The Straight and Narrow Ridge: Queer Activism and Resistance at Whitworth and Beyond

Whitworth University has recently been making progress towards recognizing and protecting its LGBTQ+ community, but is it enough? As a Christian university, Whitworth stands in a unique position by offering protection to some LGBTQ+ community members and allowing for organizations like Pride Club. How do we reckon with and tell Whitworth’s LGBTQ+ history, celebrating the progress that has been made while also understanding the progress that still needs to happen?

REESHIKA SHARMA

MAJOR: POLITICAL SCIENCE

Mentor: Dr. Mary Miller

Resources for Ex-Offenders in Spokane

Support for the successful reintegration of ex-offenders into society is important, which can be done in a way of focusing on the resources that are available such as employment assistance, housing support, and mental health services by establishing resources and living in a more inclusive environment.

MICHAEL ST. MARIE

MAJOR: THEOLOGY

Mentor: Dr. Adam Neder

Good Works: Craft and Consecration through Church History

This project is a series of papers on different aspects of what it means to create through a Christian lens. The first is a paper on St. Basil and his definition of what it means to be in the Image of God, in short, to participate in our own creation by becoming more like God. The second is a paper that explores J.R.R. Tolkien and his idea of sub-creation, that humans are called to create in a manner like God and that their creating can have an effect on the world around them. The third is an analysis of the short story “Tlon, Uqbar, Orbis Tertius” by Jorge Luis Borges, in this story the power of humans to create is used in both negative and positive ways. These papers, together with further research, will culminate into a larger project, perhaps a book, on a theology of creativity.

CAITLIN TEETER

MAJORS:BIOLOGY & ENGLISH

Mentor: Jerusha Emerson

Creating a Narrative to Engage Young Readers

As children get older, there is an increasing trend of losing interest in reading. This project aims to create a novel about dinosaurs which can meet the interests of older kids and blend together specific interests and an appreciation of reading. The novel is a full, fictional narrative that aims to provide a well-written narrative to better engage students.

ANGELA WESSEL

MAJOR: BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

Mentor: Dr. Bob Francis

Stable Stones for Healthy Homes: The Building Blocks for Affordable Housing

The availability of affordable housing is essential to a healthy, functioning society. As housing in Spokane is becoming more costly and scarce, the need for change is imminent if we do not want to leave our most vulnerable people behind. This project identifies the major problems of housing and homelessness, destigmatizing harmful beliefs around the subject, and identifies what healthy, affordable housing may look like. The work of other cities and countries is used to inform what the building blocks of lasting, healthy affordable housing models could look like. Spokane can learn from the challenges and successes of other cities, be creative in its approaches to housing, and implement proven and practical affordable housing policies.

DELANEY WOODS

MAJOR: HEALTH SCIENCE

Mentor: Dr. Matt Silvers

Breaking the Cycle: Redefining Healthcare Through Overprescription Awareness

In a healthcare system reliant on pharmacological interventions, patient health is significantly compromised. Given the diverse and often unknown influences at play, how can we mitigate the negative impacts associated with overprescription? This project aims to raise public awareness regarding the existing shortcomings in our healthcare system and society.