Gardner-Webb Students Demonstrate Academic Excellence at Life-of-the-Scholar Multidisciplinary Conference

Annual Conference Showcased Outstanding Research Across Multiple Fields

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—Gardner‑Webb University students brought curiosity, creativity, and months of hard work to the spotlight during the annual Life‑of‑the‑Scholar Multidisciplinary Conference (LOTS-MC). With research spanning everything from freshwater snails to historical propaganda, the event showcased the depth and diversity of student scholarship that has defined LOTS‑MC for nearly three decades.

“I’m always amazed at the incredible level of scholarship our students display,” noted Professor of English Dr. Shea Stuart, a member of the LOTS Advisory Board. “They research in depth and present a topic in front of students and professors with professionalism and poise. Sharing research and knowledge with each other—this is the ideal of a university education.”

The faculty showcase highlighted research by Professor of Paleontology Dr. David Campbell. His presentation was titled, “Snailless in Seattle and Aiders of the Lost Arks: Adventures with Snail and Clam DNA.”

Presentation Prizes

Dr. Elizabeth Amato, director of Undergraduate Research, sponsored prizes for the People’s Choice Presentation and the Best Paper. Each award has a first ($125), second ($75), and a third place ($50). The People’s Choice ended in a three-way tie, with each winner or group receiving the first place prize of $125. Winners included:

People’s Choice

• Undergraduate Roundtable, featuring the members of the Ethics Bowl Team; Mentors: Dr. Anna Sieges Beal and Dr. Shea Stuart
• Bethany Durham.
• Dana Ijames.

Best Paper

• First Place – $125, Andrea Stampone.
• Second place – $75, Daniel Bennett.
• Third place – $50, Leanna Tally.   

The members of the LOTS-MC steering committee were Holly Mabry, Dr. Bruce Moser, Hannah Wylder, Dr. Meredith Rowe, Dr. Melissa McNeilly, Dr. Heather Wright, Dr. Elizabeth Amato, Noel Manning, and Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Dr. Robert Prickett. Debbie Hill provided administrative support.

Student Presentations

PowerPoint slides for the presentations are available in Digital Commons.

Undergraduate Roundtable:

• Issa Cogdell
• Hodges McCathern
• Brock Nikkari
• Maeve McGinley
• Alaena Locklear
• Sophie Boss

Natural Sciences

• Andrew Wilson—”Elucidating Elimia: Affinities of North Carolina Freshwater Snails”; Mentor: Dr. David Campbell.
• Daniel Bennett—”Isolation of Cuminaldehyde from Cuminum Cyminun and Subsequent Reduction to Cuminol: Characterization by IR-Spectroscopy and GC-MS”; Mentor: Dr. Ben Brooks.
• Matthew McCoy Stowe—”Review of Dihydroartemisinin and Its Potential as a Neutral Chemotherapeutic”; Mentor: Dr. Meredith Rowe.
• Bella Harding—”Morphea Skin Disease”; Mentor: Dr. Meredith Rowe.
• Jada Pittman—”Red Light Therapy: Mechanisms, Benefits, and Emerging Applications”; Mentor: Dr. Meredith Rowe.

Social Sciences

• Andrea Stampone—”Propaganda and the Italian Battle for Wheat”; Mentor: Dr. Elizabeth Amato.
• Bethany Durham—”Women’s Role as Perpetrators of Genocide and Why the Media Doesn’t Portray Them as Such”; Mentor: Dr. Elizabeth Amato.
• Allie Johnson—”Press Control and Censorship Throughout the Reign of Terror”; Mentor: Dr. David Yelton.

Religious Studies

• Leanna Tally—”Corporate Personality and Sin in the Old Testament”; Mentor: Dr. Paula Qualls.
• Brandon Richmond¬—”A Black Comparative Religious Study of Christianity and Islam”; Mentor: Dr. Scott Shauf.
• Dana Ijames—”Battle for the Womb: Reimagining Revelation 12 The Woman Clothed with the Sun Through a Black Womanist Hermeneutic Lens”; Mentor: Dr. Robert Canoy.
• Carson Ford Gruber—”A Comparison and Analysis of Heaven and Hell in the New Testament, New Testament Apocrypha, and Dante’s Divine Comedy”; Mentor: Dr. Scott Shauf.
• Joy Axelson—”Unchanging Gospel Message, Changing Context: Contextualization Strategies in Lukan Paul, Irenaeus, and Althanasius”; Mentor: Dr. Scott Shauf.
• Avery Marie Sharpe—”Hospitality in an Old Testament Lens”; Mentor: Dr. Paula Qualls.

Education and Psychology

• Persaius Stringfield—”Childhood Academics: It Takes a Village”; Mentor: Kara Alves.
• Morgan Lilly—”Fantasy Audiobooks and Medieval Aural Tradition”; Mentor: Dr. Josh Pittman.

Gardner-Webb University is North Carolina’s recognized leader in private, Christian higher education. A Carnegie-Classified Doctoral/Professional University, GWU is home to nine colleges and schools, more than 80 undergraduate and graduate majors, and a world-class faculty. Located on a beautiful 225-acre campus in Boiling Springs, N.C., Gardner-Webb prepares graduates to impact their chosen professions, equips them with the skills to advance the frontiers of knowledge, and inspires them to make a positive and lasting difference in the lives of others. Become More at gardner-webb.edu.