Honors College
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The mission of the Honors College is to inspire and facilitate an extraordinary education for students of exceptional motivation and ability who seek to be active learners and who will apply their knowledge and skills to critical real-world problems. To this end, the Honors College provides opportunities and challenges founded on meaningful and sustained relationships with faculty, independent learning, undergraduate research, place-based and problem-focused experiences, and intellectual engagement in global contexts. Honors curricula are designed to maximize the disciplinary depth, transdisciplinary capabilities, and purpose-driven engagement that are the hallmarks of the Virginia Tech undergraduate student experience and the VT-Shaped Student.
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- Adderall and Academia: How Amphetamine binds in the Human Norepinephrine Transporter ProteinBell, Ian; Jachimowski, Lindsey; Lewis, Stephanie N. (2019-05-07)Recently, there has been a drastic increase in the use of prescription stimulants by healthy individuals in academia – specifically with undergraduate college students. We wanted to answer why this was phenomenon was occurring. Are there cognitive benefits from taking stimulants when there is no medical need and are these benefits why students are drawn to them? Amphetamine or AdderallTM is a popular misused stimulant and serves as an example to explore this issue. The first question to answer was how amphetamine is processed in the brain. Our chosen transporter was the human norepinephrine transporter (hNET) protein. This transporter controls the uptake and reuptake of both dopamine (DA) and norepinephrine (NE). The unbalance of these two neurotransmitters are believed to play a major role in Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). hNET is often a main target in research studies because of this. To analyze the interaction of amphetamine and NET we built a human 3D model through a process known as homology modeling and docked amphetamine, NE, and DA into it. We found that amphetamine successfully binds in the hNET binding cavity. In impaired individuals this means that amphetamine does in fact have positive benefits. However, the effect on healthy individuals is still unknown. Further research needs to be done to determine whether or not healthy individuals experience any benefits before we can answer why undergraduate college students are misusing the drug.
- Air Pollution in Urban AreasSkelley, Caroline; Luttazi, Sydney; Dennis, Kennedy; Frederick, Julia; Greene, Gershwin (2021-05-05)The goal of this project was to explore the impact of air pollution in urban areas by relaying information in the format of an Instagram page in order to reach, educate, and inspire the audience of young urban populations by considering key elements such as public health, infrastructure, and the environment. A PDF of the images used to compose the Instagram account are archived with this entry. View the full page through the URL: https://www.instagram.com/urbann_air/ This product is a learning artifact from the Spring 2021 semester of the Honors and UAP SuperStudio courses (UH-4504, UAP-4914, and UH-4514). Course instructors: Ralph Hall, Nikki Lewis, Amy Showalter, Zack Underwood, Anne-Lise Velez, and Daron Williams
- Analyzing the Presence of Unmet Need and Depressive Symptoms in Older AdultsButynes, Amanda; Tarr, Nina; Thompson, Caleb; Lewis, Stephanie N. (2019-12-11)This paper works to examine and determine a relationship or association between unmet need from disability and depressive symptoms in older adults. The older adult population is extremely vulnerable to deteriorating quality of life in the presence of unmet need or disability. Older adults are significant members of the population and deserve the right to a healthy, positive quality of life. Data from the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) provided quantitative data for both unmet need and depressive symptoms for beneficiaries of Medicare. The data was processed using descriptive statistics and basic statistical analysis. Dividing up data into subpopulations based on their unmet need and depressive symptoms across time points allowed the team to understand how the behaviors of the participants changed over time. The results of this analysis showed that those with a higher unmet need due to disability score also show more depressive symptoms. The data suggest that depressive symptoms and disability in adults are closely associated. Currently, there are several forms of governance helping this population out with basic needs, but there is substantial room for improvement. The results of this study have the potential to spread awareness and amend government policies to provide older adults with the services they need.
- Artificial Intelligence Powered Facial Recognition in the Public EyeOrr, Jack; Waite, Lucy; Taylor, TJ; Ulmishek-Anderson, Phineas (2021-05-05)Artificial Intelligence’s use in facial recognition has led to improvements in efficiency for many different groups, including law enforcement, however its use in society has been met with controversy due to the general public’s distrust in different entities using the technology. Our research focus seeks to understand why the public may distrust facial recognition AI or find its usage unethical, as well as determining the different cases in which the general public would trust the technology. We aim to study this through a non-experimental research design that distributes surveys to the public measuring their levels of trust in facial recognition AI. Understanding our research focus through this non-experimental design will allow AI users to better understand the cases in which they can use AI ethically without upsetting the general public or violating any essential rights. This product is a learning artifact from the Spring 2021 semester of the Introduction to Honors Quantitative and Qualitative Research course (UH-1604). Primary instructor: Anne-Lise Velez; Secondary instructor: Nikki Lewis; Graduate Teaching Assistant: Joseph Daniel
- Autonomous Search and Rescue Drone Video PresentationAsper, Garrett; Kaplan, Ryan; Mahesh, Rohith; Porter, Daniel (2020-12-09)We researched the benefits of using autonomous search and rescue (SAR) drones during and after wildfires to aid in victim recovery. In this video presentation, we discuss the benefits to your search and rescue firm or agency of investing in such autonomous SAR drones. URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enijWQ2fgT8
- Children’s Book: Life Before the GNDRouse, Maddie; Bernstein, Anna; Smith, Caroline; Thomas, Teresa; Maestrello, Savannah (2021-05-05)The benefits of the Green New Deal (GND), proposed by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, need to be spread equally, with the most historically marginalized groups being the main beneficiaries. For too long, vulnerable communities have been forced to bear a disproportionate amount of environmental burdens created by society. New and interdisciplinary legislation such as the GND have the potential to help bring justice to these disproportionate groups. Our book will address this in a way that is easy for all ages to understand, though our target reading level is children who are six to ten years of age.The goal of our children’s book is to bring attention to the environmental justice movement and to specifically address the disproportionate impact of climate change burdens on minority and low-income communities. We think the mainstream integration of this book would further the goals of the Green New Deal, particularly by empowering and educating a younger generation to protect the environment from resource exploitation and pollution.This book illustrates a set of environmental factors alongside a set of social factors that accompany the socioeconomic and environmental crises facing the United States in the present. The environmental factors mentioned include sea-level rise, wildfires, flooding, and pollution. The social factors include racism and food security (specifically, access to healthy, nutritious food). Set in the state of California, readers join a Grandmother as she reminisces over her youth, a time before the GND. The granddaughter looks out her window in the far future, thankful she never had to endure such injustice. The granddaughter lives in a clean, green city years after the Green New Deal had been enacted. There is less smog in California in the future, less pollution, and life is generally more conducive to an equitable society. This product is a learning artifact from the Spring 2021 semester of the Honors and UAP SuperStudio courses (UH-4504, UAP-4914, and UH-4514). Course instructors: Ralph Hall, Nikki Lewis, Amy Showalter, Zack Underwood, Anne-Lise Velez, and Daron Williams
- Climate Crisis BarbiesLyon, Karson; Tracy, Julia; Ragan, Katelyn; Wikiera, Amy (2020-12-08)The goal of our project was to research ways that we could effectively educate the public on environmental concerns through art. We brainstormed different final products demonstrating the techniques that we learned from our research. Our final art deliverable was created by Julia Tracy depicting barbies in a climate crisis. She played with the idea of reversing roles with animals, and the barbies represent what we have done collectively as a society to harm our environment. This product is a learning artifact from the Fall 2020 semester of the Honors and UAP SuperStudio courses (UH-4504, UAP-4914, and UH-4514). Course instructors: Joanie Banks-Hunt, Ralph Hall, Nikki Lewis, Amy Showalter, Zack Underwood, Anne-Lise Velez, and Daron Williams
- Drone Technology and University Public Safety Program ProposalHower, Madeline; Makwana, Sunny; Kerrick, Cason (2020-12-08)This report is an initial program proposal for drone technology use for university public safety. Three different areas of focus are addressed in this report by the research team. The three focuses will include an extensive case study of similar programs adopted in other locations, with an analysis of their successes and failures, a proposed survey to be sent to Virginia Tech students on drone technology and the use of UAVs on campus and a CANVAS module outline used to inform Virginia Tech students of the campus drone guidelines, and a description of current Virginia Tech policies related to the proposed program and their challenges and needed adoptions. This product is a learning artifact from the Fall 2020 semester of the Honors and UAP SuperStudio courses (UH-4504, UAP-4914, and UH-4514). Course instructors: Joanie Banks-Hunt, Ralph Hall, Nikki Lewis, Amy Showalter, Zack Underwood, Anne-Lise Velez, and Daron Williams
- Gabrielle and the Green New DealLavoie, Maddie; Boyle, Natalie; Hasan, Mariam; Flanary, Trevor; Harral, William (2020-12-08)The goal of this project was to educate the youth on the U.S. healthcare system and Green New Deal and encourage them to feel empowered to make a change. This was achieved through the creation of a children's novel that follows a young Black girl through her life and journey of learning about and experiencing the healthcare system. Through conversations with family members and friends, she learns about healthcare access, health outcome disparities, history of healthcare, health insurance, and the healthcare systems of the U.K. and Cuba. This product is a learning artifact from the Fall 2020 semester of the Honors and UAP SuperStudio courses (UH-4504, UAP-4914, and UH-4514). Course instructors: Joanie Banks-Hunt, Ralph Hall, Nikki Lewis, Amy Showalter, Zack Underwood, Anne-Lise Velez, and Daron Williams
- Green Energy Transition in West VirginiaFrazier, Elizabeth; Jiang, Leon; Ogle, William; Taylor, Kristen (2021-05-05)Historically, West Virginia has had a large dependency on coal, both for energy and wealth generation (West Virginia State Profile and Energy Estimates, 2020). Rural communities in the area often rely on coal industries for financial stability, as it traditionally has been one of the top suppliers of jobs in parts of West Virginia (Butowsky, 1994). This dependency on coal has created larger environmental and economic concerns which will need to be considered in the future. Political, economic, cultural, and social pressures in the area often make it difficult to find sustainable alternatives to fossil fuel industries, namely coal. This creates issues in terms of economic viability. Local communities sometimes rely on fossil fuel industries, which can create an unsustainable job market. This can create issues with job security, education, and health in these areas. Also, due to rapid technological advancement, workers specifically trained for coal jobs often do not have the vocational skills to transition to new technologies, including the technologies required for the green energy transition. Direct link to website containing embedded hyperlinks within the infographic: https://sites.google.com/vt.edu/green-energy-transition-wva/home This product is a learning artifact from the Spring 2021 semester of the Honors and UAP SuperStudio courses (UH-4504, UAP-4914, and UH-4514). Course instructors: Ralph Hall, Nikki Lewis, Amy Showalter, Zack Underwood, Anne-Lise Velez, and Daron Williams
- Municipal Waste Sites in Baltimore, MD - A Case StudyCarpenter, Camden; Garrity, Sierra; Wells, Jordan; Janowsky, Sandrine (2020-12-09)The project researches the connections between livability aspects, such as socioeconomic status, pollution, and negative health outcomes, found within communities surrounding municipal waste management sites. Baltimore City, Maryland is the scalable example. The three sites included in the research are the BRESCO Wheelabrator Baltimore Waste-to-Energy Facility, the Quarantine Road Landfill, and the Curtis Bay Energy Facility. The final deliverable serves as a resource for community leaders and residents. The original website is attached as a web archive file that can be viewed using a tool like Webrecorder Player.
- The Plight of the American Chestnut: Will it ever reestablish within its native range?DiGiacomo, Paul (2021-05-09)The goal of this project was to launch an in-depth evaluation of Castanea dentata, the American chestnut, in order to develop a well-justified outlook into whether or not the species is likely to regain the capability to regenerate naturally within its native range. Once a dominant species within the hardwood forests of the U.S. East coast, the introduction of the pathogen Cryphonectria parasitica, or the chestnut blight, has led the American chestnut into a state of near-extinction. In order to assess the American chestnut’s prospects for future natural regeneration and spread, several studies were evaluated for a series of important biological and environmental factors concerning the species, including past and current population statistics, effects of the chestnut blight on the tree’s health and natural life cycle, and the effectiveness of current chestnut blight control treatments. While most available population data on the American chestnut depicted a highly threatened species on the brink of extinction, a far more positive outlook for the species was able to be garnered from the examination of studies regarding chestnut blight treatments. Overall, it is found that with modern management treatments, Castanea dentata may very well be likely to surpass the threat of the chestnut blight and regenerate freely in its natural habitat. This infographic was composed as a final assignment for the Spring 2021 Data Collection and Analysis for Honors Qualitative and Quantitative Research (UH-3614) course for Dr. Nikki Lewis. This item is a learning object and should not be treated as a peer-reviewed publication on the topic.
- Potential Opioid Addiction TherapeuticsParras, Isabel; Kidd, Rachel; Merten, Eric; Lewis, Stephanie N. (2019-05-07)Throughout the last thirty years, a severe opioid epidemic has arisen due to the excessive consumption and abuse of these addictive narcotics. Opioids are currently the best analgesic known to man, however the effects of opioids are not all beneficial; they are extremely addictive and are deadly when taken in high doses. Since opioids began rising in popularity in the 1990’s as a prescribed pain-reliever, opioid deaths have skyrocketed. These circumstances have caused the need for the development of both a potent, non-addictive pain reliever and also a way to treat patients with an opioid addiction. To solve this problem, we used computational methods and structural analysis to investigate the µ-opioid receptor binding cavity and its unique interactions with four different ligands: morphine, heroin, fentanyl, and naloxone. From the results, we have created a criterion of interactions that a potential opioid therapeutic should have.
- Prison Labor and the Green New DealWaldron, Trinity; Williams, Amariah; Rivas, Alexa; Mukai, Jessica; Serrani, Kat (2020-12-08)This is a Prezi with supplemental text about the prison labor system in the United States and potential for reform through the Green New Deal. URL: https://prezi.com/view/ERoMJqsnSOjFgcU5eopJ/ This product is a learning artifact from the Fall 2020 semester of the Honors and UAP SuperStudio courses (UH-4504, UAP-4914, and UH-4514). Course instructors: Joanie Banks-Hunt, Ralph Hall, Nikki Lewis, Amy Showalter, Zack Underwood, Anne-Lise Velez, and Daron Williams
- A Proposed Analysis of the Prevalence Rates of Comorbidity Between Schizophrenia and Individual Personality Disorder ClustersWaters, Shelby; Hoffer, Loralee; Ploof, Hayley; Abu-Izz, Judy (2021-05-05)This study seeks to identify the comorbidities between schizophrenia and personality disorders in order to discover which DSM-5 cluster is most prevalent in those with schizophrenia. Cluster A (odd, eccentric thinking and/or behavior), cluster B (dramatic, unpredictable thinking and/or behavior), and cluster C (anxious, fearful thinking and/or behavior) are the three personality disorder clusters specified by the DSM-5. Two designs are presented, with the non-experimental being more appropriate. An experimental approach to the research question entails the random assignment of situations that warrant a reaction from those participating in the study. A non-experimental approach to the research question entails an exploratory case study in which multiple mediums of data are collected. Both designs establish a relationship between schizophrenia and personality disorders, as well as exhibit which personality disorder is most prevalent. This research allows experts in many fields to better understand schizophrenia and subsequently develop accurate treatments. This product is a learning artifact from the Spring 2021 semester of the Introduction to Honors Quantitative and Qualitative Research course (UH-1604). Primary instructor: Anne-Lise Velez; Secondary instructor: Nikki Lewis; Graduate Teaching Assistant: Joseph Daniel