Whitworth Honors Students to Present Capstone Projects May 2

Whitworth University is pleased to present the Whitworth Honors Exhibition on May 2 at 6 p.m. in the Hixson Union Building Multipurpose Room. 

Six seniors in the George F. Whitworth Honors Program will present brief vignettes of their capstone projects to demonstrate the various styles of problem-solving projects undertaken in the program. Following these presentations, 22 honor students will disperse to stations and share project details with attendees. 

“The honors program prepares students to thrive in the world as it is and to develop the world as it should be,” says Bert Emerson, director of the Whitworth Honors Program. “The Honors Exhibition is the culminating experience for honors students, and it will display a wide variety of student-led projects that aim to contribute some measure of solution to a host of problems in our world today. Whether driven by methods anchored to the fine arts, to the STEM fields, to the humanities and social sciences, they all draw upon the wealth of their liberal arts education. Come on out to support and to learn from these inspiring leaders!”

Here is a brief synopsis of their projects:

Aaron Bratt: From the Grounds Up – Less than 10 percent of plastics ever produced have been successfully recycled. Bratt’s project looks at how well local coffee shops are standing up to the recycling test. 

Tricia Cebotari: Enhancing Accessibility and Design on the Whitworth Website – This project investigates the current state of the Whitworth University website, addressing its alignment with the typical university website purpose and its accessibility for both potential and current students.

Keri Roney and Corinne Vasiloff: Preventing Chronic Illness through Youth Sport: Epigenetics and Athletics – Many parents struggle with anxiety surrounding a history of chronic family illness, but current research in the field of epigenetics might provide new insight into long-term prevention. Physical activity and sports starting at a young age can cause small modifications to a person’s genes, preventing future illness. Roney and Vasiloff’s goal is to share this knowledge to help improve the health of future generations.

Michael St. Marie: Created Creators: The Imago Dei in the Eyes of the Ancients and the Moderns – There has been much discussion over the history of both Judaism and Christianity about what it means to be made in the “image and likeness” of God. This project seeks to compare both the ancient and modern interpretations in order to see what similarities and differences can be found. 

Caitlin Teeter: Creating a Narrative to Engage Young Readers – As children get older, there is an increasing trend of losing interest in reading. This project aims to create a novel about dinosaurs that can meet the interests of older kids and blend together specific interests and an appreciation of reading. 

To learn more about the Whitworth Honors Program, click here. 

About Whitworth University:

Located in Spokane, Wash., Whitworth is a private liberal arts university affiliated with the Presbyterian church. The university, which has an enrollment of about 2,500 students, offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. 

Contacts: 

Trisha Coder, media relations manager, Whitworth University, (509) 777-4703 or tcoder@whitworth.edu.