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Kansas Wesleyan University

Kansas Wesleyan University will recognize exemplary student research and scholarship during its annual Best of KWU presentation at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 22, in Fitzpatrick Auditorium, Sams Hall of Fine Arts. Award winners represent exceptional works of original student research.

Any KWU student who completed original research or creative work during the Spring and Fall 2017 semesters was invited to submit their work for consideration. Faculty, representing multiple academic divisions, reviewed submissions to select those who will present during Best of KWU. Selected work also will be included in the Best of KWU publication.

Darren Woodson, of Bentley, KS, will present “Machine Learning.” He majored in Mathematics, Physics and Computer Information Systems and graduated at the end of the Fall 2017 semester.

Alissa Kim, of Salina, KS, a senior majoring in Psychology, will present “Motivational and Personality Characteristics Optimal for Academic Achievement and Achieving an Academic Flow State.”

Zachary Kyle’s presentation will be “Terror Management Theory: The Effect of Death of Criminogenic Thought Patterns.” Kyle, of Concordia, KS, is a senior majoring in Criminal Justice. 

Brianna Brooks, of Oskaloosa, KS, and Anilese Hayes, of Payson, AZ, both Psychology majors, explored “The Use of Metacognitive Strategies to Improve Memory Recall.” Brooks is a senior and Hayes is a sophomore.

Sarah Eurit, of Salina, KS, a senior majoring in Elementary Education, will present “Whole Group Integrated Social Studies/Reading Unit.”

Will Liu, of Beijing, China, will present “Introduction of Z-function.” Liu graduated with degrees in Math and Physics in Spring 2017.

The evening will also include presentations from two students who recently completed internships through The Washington Center in Washington, D.C. Emma Reitz, a senior studying Graphic Design, took a Media and Communications-related internship at the International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children. Joseph Layton-Santos, a senior studying Communications and Business Management, interned at Double R Productions through the Media and Communications track.