St. Cloud State hosts eighth annual MCUSCA

Sinduja Thinamany

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Sinduja Thinamany '14 '16 answers a question during the St. Cloud State alumni panel on the importance of being involved in undergraduate research.

The Minnesota Conference of Undergraduate Scholarly and Creative Activity is an opportunity for students from any of Minnesota State’s 37 colleges and universities to present projects that take the form of presentations, oral papers, visual arts, displays and performance arts. Students spend time working with faculty members in preparing for the conference as they take their learning beyond the classroom setting.

This year was the first time St. Cloud State hosted the conference, which included exhibitions of scholarly work by students from six universities includin gBemidji State University, Winona State University, St. Cloud State University, Minnesota State University, Mankato, Southwest Minnesota State University and the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, and three Minnesota State community colleges including Rochester Community College, Minneapolis Community and Technical College and Anoka-Ramsey Community College.

Twelve St. Cloud State students were among the presenters showcasing their research and creative works. 

Oral Presentation winners included:

• 1^st Place: Olivia Thomas and Jonathon Arndt from Minnesota State University, Mankato for their presentation “Intercultural competencies among undergraduates in the College of Arts & Humanities at Minnesota State University”
• 2^nd Place: Zachary Baker from Bemidji State University for his presentation “Detection of hydrogen sulfide with coumarin-based fluorescent probes”

Poster Presentation winners included:

• 1^st Place: Carly Rhyner from University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point for her presentation “The development of entry-level communication skills at University: A cross sectional comparison of students and employer perceptions”

2^nd Place: Mattie Osborn and Nikki Shaw from Bemidji State University for their presentation “Water uptake capabilities of sphagnum moss

In addition to student presentations, the event featured a keynote address by Lowell Hellervik ’56, St. Cloud State alumnus and co-founder of PDI Ninth House, an international consulting firm, and of Omni, an HR software development firm. The event also featured a panel discussion on the importance of being involved in undergraduate research featuring St. Cloud State alumni Lynsie Radovich ’04, Joe Hobbs ’07 ’11, Marin Schaible ’10 ’14, Andrew Scott ’13, Sinduja Thinamany ’14 ’16, Kylie Bruner ’14 ’16 and Shana Rogan ’16 ’18.

St. Cloud State presenters

Chase Negen 
The Relation of Surface Roughness and Absorption for Space Debris Removal
Advisor: John Sinko

Donovan Bassett
Correlation between reflectivity and phase change for thermochromic
Advisors: Kannan Sivaprakasam and John Sinko

Jace Engelmann, Madeleine LaFond, Emma Nelson, Jenna Nelson, Logan Olson and Amira Zaher
Effect of Sodium Bicarbonate Treatment on the Inflammatory Process in Type 1 Diabetic Mice 
Advisor: Marina Cetkovic-Cvrlje

Jharef Hazir and Tecsihua Tamariz  
Desiccation survival and thermal tolerance of closely related genera in the Enterobacteriaceae family D
Advisor: Ryan Fink

Ryan Bolduc
Economic Success Among Post 9/11 Veterans
Advisor: Monica Garcia-Perez

Regina Klages (Lighthall)
The effects of childhood poverty in adulthood: Results from a random sample of Minnesotans
Advisor: Amanda Hemmesch

Holly Goodwin
Social isolation and mental health in Minnesota: Results from a random sample of
Advisor: Amanda Hemmesch-Breaker

Hanmin Kim
Suicide Intervention for Young Individuals with Mood Disorders in Minnesota
Advisor: Younsook Anna Yeo

Jennifer Jedlicka, Miranda Beutz, Dustin Becker, Melissa Whitcomb and Trisha Zimmerman
SNAP Coupon Reward Card (CRC)        
Advisor: Younsook Anna Yeo

Kholood Abuhadid, Emily Barbaro and Kate Kopeck 
Does Garcinia Kola Treatment Exhibit Anti-diabetic Properties in a Mouse Model of Type 1 Diabetes?
Advisor: Marina Cetkovic-Cvrlje 

Josh Thomes
Atwood Art Explorer 
Student Art Exhibit celebrating St. Cloud State’s 150th year 
Professor: Bill Gorcica

Anne Chase
Gatherings
Student Art Exhibit celebrating St. Cloud State’s 150th year 
Professor: Bill Gorcica