The 19th annual Ranger Research Day saw its highest participation since 2017 on Nov. 22 in the J.W. Martin Library on the Northwestern Oklahoma State University-Alva campus.
Aubrey Runyan, Groom, Texas, senior, and Eli Runyan, Claremore senior, with “Vaccine Hesitancy and Refusal Among Parents for Their Children” in the nursing section received the top marks from the judges out of 36 projects entered by 60 participants.
Graduate and undergraduate students created poster presentations of academic research papers conducted in one of their classes.
Winners with classification, hometown, research project name and sponsor include:
American Studies: First place: Paige Swatek, Woodward graduate student, Alyssa Overpeck, Alva graduate student, and Jaden Brunnemer, Stillwater graduate student, “The Heart of the Problem, An Art Piece;” Second place: Lisa Turner, Alva graduate student, “Giving a Voice to the Voiceless, An Art Piece.” Both entries were sponsored by Dr. Steven Mackie, professor of education.
Biology: First place: Johnathan Ylitalo, Enid senior, “Effect of Stress and Traumatic Brain Injury on Neuronal and Glial Cells in Rats,” sponsored by Dr. Kelly Standifer, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center; Second place: Kenzie Doane, Okeene senior, “Halo Bacterium in Gypsum Crystals,” sponsored by Dr. Piper Robida, associate professor biology.
Chemistry: First place: Amanda Lane, Oklahoma City junior, and Alaina Pierce, Alva sophomore, “Study of Iodine Distribution and Concentrations in Western Oklahoma Brine Waters and Recycling of Used Chloroform,” sponsored by Dr. Jason Wickham, professor of chemistry.
Psychology: First place: Chellsie Quinn, Enid senior, “Client Loyalty in Beauty Salons;” Second place: Abriana Braley, Sharon junior, “Parenthood and Academic Success;” Third place: TIE – Patricia Boeckman, Blanchard senior, “The Impact of Active and Passive Music on Anxiety,” and Beatriz Penaflor, Shattuck senior, “Depression and Coping Methods Used by College Students;” Honorable mention – TIE – Ashley Ailey, Blackwell senior, “ACT Scores and College Success;” and Damian Doerr, Waukomis senior, Angela Horner, Enid senior, and Rhonda Hobbs, Weatherford senior, “Selfies to Scholarships: The Grand Inquiry into Social Media’s Intellectual Feat (or Famine)?” Dr. Taylor Randolph, chair of the psychology department and assistant professor of psychology, was the sponsor for all psychology award winners.
Nursing: First place (Ranger Research Day Overall Winner): Aubrey Runyan, Groom, Texas, senior, and Eli Runyan, Claremore senior, “Vaccine Hesitancy and Refusal Among Parents for Their Children;” Second place: Shay Collins, Bison senior, Maggie Swann, Garber senior, and Rebekah Skoda, Waukomis senior, “Effects of Ketogenic Dietary Therapy on Pediatric Epilepsy;” Third place: Morgan Poust, Alva senior, Bridget Wilhite, Cherokee senior, and Talia Wright, Wichita, Kansas, senior, “Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Compared to Traditional Wound Therapy.” All winning entries were sponsored by Heidi Ritchie, instructor of nursing.
All presenters are encouraged to attend Oklahoma Research Day on March 8, 2025, at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah.
The mission of Oklahoma Research Day is to promote cross-campus and cross-disciplinary research and scholarly work among all institutions of higher learning in the state. In doing so, the event seeks to encourage networking among scholars and the exchange of ideas among those studying and researching in their respective academic disciplines.
For more information on Ranger Research Day contact Dr. Shawn Holliday, associate dean of the graduate studies office, at (580) 327-8589 or spholliday@nwosu.edu. A list of all entries is available in the abstract book at www.www.nwosu.edu/ranger-research-day.
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