Speaker of the House
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Contact: Jeanne H. Schmedlen
Director of Special Projects and Chief of Protocol
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 2, 2007
Speaker O’Brien Hosts College Research
Conference at the State Capitol
HARRISBURG – Calling them “Pennsylvania’s best and brightest,” Speaker of the House Dennis M. O’Brien (R-Philadelphia) today welcomed dozens of college students from across the state to the Capitol for a conference featuring undergraduate research.
“I am so impressed with the high level of scholarship these students have produced,” said O’Brien. “The schools they represent can be proud of their intellectual curiosity and we are grateful that they have chosen to share their research with all who visit the Capitol today.”
Speaker O’Brien sponsored the “poster conference” in partnership with the Legislative Office for Research Liaison, the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Association of Colleges and Universities.
The lead organizer of the event was Dr. Carl Salter of Moravian College. He was assisted by representatives from the following institutions: Penn State Hazleton, Widener University, Cabrini College, Indiana University of PA, Westminster College, Dickinson College, Carnegie Mellon University and Susquehanna University.
“The analytical skills that went into these undergraduate projects is a tribute to the caliber of students who attend our state’s colleges and universities and a reflection of the dedication, professionalism and care of the faculty who mentored these students,” said O’Brien.
Titled Undergraduate Research at the Capitol – Pennsylvania, the poster conference showcases more than 40 posters on research in the sciences, social sciences and humanities on both levels of the East Wing Rotunda.
The event has two goals: to demonstrate that participating in research as an
undergraduate is important to the educational development of college students, and
to show that undergraduate students can produce important, valuable research
that helps communities, the state and the nation.
Each participating student created a poster that reflects a thesis. During
the day-long event, the students stood by their posters and verbally “defended” their
conclusions to legislators, lobbyists and other visitors to the Capitol.
Examples of the research include “Effect of Agents that Inhibit Endocytosis and Membrane Trafficking in Herpes Simplex Virus-Type 2 Infection in WB (Rat Liver Epithelial Cells;” “Flame Retardants and Pesticides in Children’s Stuffed Toys;” and “The Creation of the Woman’s Medical College of Pennsylvania.”
The student authors also were recognized by Speaker O’Brien on the House floor during Tuesday’s legislative session.
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NOTE TO EDITOR: A list of student scholars and their institutions is attached.
Berman, Elisa (Widener University)
Bhatt, Radhika (West Chester University)
Birchak, Brian (Moravian College)
Boyar, Jenny (Lafayette College)
Brodkin, Marc A. (Widener University)
Burnett, Johanna (Chatham University)
Butterworth, Andrew (West Chester University)
Cai, Kathy Q. (Fox Chase Cancer Center)
Cappa, Lindsay (Ursinus College)
Charlton, Hannah E. (Millersville University)
Chirayath, Lilyan A. (West Chester University)
Clark, Rose A. (Saint Francis University)
Clark, Ryan (Lafayette College)
Clever, Sheila (Muhlenberg College)
Colman, Katherine E. (West Chester University)
Diulio, Jonathon (Widener University)
Dougherty, Bridget (Immaculata University)
Drebitko, Heather (Widener University)
Druding, Megan E. (Holy Family University and Fox Chase Cancer Center)
D’Silva, Carmeline (Carnegie Mellon University)
Fernando, Sudarshan (Kutztown University)
Foresta, Diana (West Chester University)
Frazer, Richard (Immaculata University)
Frydman, Galit (Carnegie Mellon University)
Geiger, Joshua J. (Allegheny College)
Geletka, Leland (Indiana University of Pennsylvania)
Gephart, Sean (Lock Haven University)
Gibbons, Sarah (Duquesne University)
Gleichgerrcht, Ezequiel L. (Dickinson College)
Goddard-Doms, Dr. Kathryn (Ursinus College)
Gompers, Kathryn (Indiana University of Pennsylvania)
Goonewardene, Anura (Lock Haven University)
Harner, Lindsey (Cabrini College)
Henry, Amanda J. (Slippery Rock University)
Hoffman, Whitney (Dickinson College)
Irwin, Leslie E. (Susquehanna University)
Jekielek, Kristin (Dickinson College)
Jensen, Sara (Carthage College)
Kary, Heather (West Chester University)
Kauffman, Carrie A. (Lebanon Valley College)
Kendal, David (Lafayette College)
Kirby, David J. (Saint Francis University)
Kline, William (Lock Haven University)
Knabb, Maureen T. (West Chester University)
Lake, Dr. Charles H. (Indiana University of Pennsylvania)
Laurelli, J. M. (Clarion University)
Leichner, Theresa (Ursinus College)
Leverett, Beth M. (Indiana University of Pennsylvania)
Lilley, Audrey (Indiana University of Pennsylvania)
Longenecker, Kathryn A. (West Chester University)
Lukowski, Susan (Indiana University of Pennsylvania)
Marchetto-Ryan, Nora (Cabrini College)
Mayer, Ashley (Cabrini College)
Mbuy, Gustave N.K. (West Chester University)
McCormick, Kevin (Seton Hill University)
Merritts, Dorothy (Franklin and Marshall College)
Moreland, Melissa (Dickinson College)
Morkowchuk, Lisa (Duquesne University and Moravian College)
Moyer, Whitney (Dickinson College)
Mudigonda, Swapna (Kutztown University)
Navin, Jason K. (Lebanon Valley College)
Negrin, Kimberly A. (Slippery Rock University)
Oravec, Rick (Muhlenberg College)
Ordog, Steve (Ursinus College)
Oshman, Jason (Penn State University Hazleton)
Patel, Priya (Ursinus College)
Peeler, Jennifer C. (Franklin and Marshall College)
Pickren, Lisa (Wilson College)
Reinhart, Jolyn (West Chester University)
Requa, Eric (Ursinus College)
Rinker, Leah (West Chester University)
Royce, Rebecca (Muhlenberg College)
Sanders, Jonathan (Millersville University)
Scheid, Christopher (Franklin and Marshall College)
Schrock, Kimberly A. (Saint Francis University)
Shearer, Mindy (York College)
Sindelar, R.J. (Lafayette College)
Sirohi, Mohit (Widener University)
Slavick, Joseph (Immaculata University)
Smedberg, Jennifer L. (Fox Chase Cancer Center)
Smith, Elizabeth R. (Fox Chase Cancer Center)
Solomon, Sonia (Widener University)
Sparacino, Anna Maria (Westminster College)
Superneau, Allison (Cabrini College)
Turk, Brett (Westminster College)
Tzolov, Marian (Lock Haven University)
Vatnick, Itzick (Widener University)
Verghese, Eliana (Muhlenberg College)
Villafane, Armando (Moravian College)
Wagner, Rebecca L. (Slippery Rock University)
Weinstein, John R. (Franklin and Marshall College)
Wick, Jennifer (Chatham University)
Woodruff, Richard I. (West Chester University)
Worlinsky, Jill L. (Susquehanna University)
Xu, Siang-Xi (Fox Chase Cancer Center)
Yemelyanova, Anastasia K. (Moravian College)
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