May 2, 2025
Reception & Presentations 2pm to 5pm
Cal Poly Humboldt Library
Search Presenters & Abstracts
Presenters & Abstracts: Search
Sex Ed for Special Ed
Hannah Linderman
Criminology and Justice Studies
Undergraduate Student
College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
People with disabilities are too often preyed upon because of socially constructed ideas of intelligence. It's assumed by many that people with disability don't have the capacity to learn sexual health education or give consent. But these stereotypes cause harm. I would like to educate young adults with disabilities about consent centered sex education so they can better understand their own bodily autonomy.
Arcata High School FFA Chapter
Leslie
Mendoza-Avila
College Corp
Undergraduate Student
Other
With my college corps worksite placement, I was placed in Arcata High School working with 2 AG teachers who are part of a national agricultural program called Future Farmers of America. They have heavy positive influences on the students in the chapter, where many pursue entrepreneurships or higher education opportunities to return home to contribute their knowledge in their former chapter or the Humboldt community. The chapter relies a lot on community support, as its resources are limited. The chapter continues to grow by giving back to the community whether it be helping with floral arrangements at events or even participating in community events.
Preparation and Evaluation of Polylactic Acid-Quinoa Composite films
David
Schmitz
Chemistry
Undergraduate Student
Rafael
Bernard
Chemistry
Undergraduate Student
Priscilla
Gamez
Chemistry
Undergraduate Student
Gavan
Jones
Chemistry
Undergraduate Student
Jenny
Cappuccio
Chemistry
Staff
Frank
Cappuccio
Chemistry
Staff
College of Natural Resources & Sciences
Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Wild.) was evaluated as a starting material for the preparation of biodegradable composites with polylactic acid (PLA), a bio-renewable polymer. Incorporation of natural plant fibers into composite material has been shown to generate active packaging materials with a variety of benefits as well as increasing the rate at which these materials degrade back into the environment. Films with varying amounts of quinoa combined with PLA were prepared and studied in a variety of methods to evaluate their usefulness as bio-renewable materials.
County Wide Assessment of Syringe Exchange Programs
Rachel Waldman
Department of Social Work
Graduate Student
College of Professional Studies
Intravenous drug usage can lead to multiple detrimental health related risks including the transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Hepatitis C, abscesses and infections, and drug related overdose. One of the most crucial interventions proven to reduce rates of these health risks among injection drug users is the syringe exchange program. This project examines the active syringe exchange programs in Humboldt County in order to explore the various practices, policies, and services offered by each. The ultimate goal for this project is to strengthen agency relationships, promote sharing of information and best practices, and maximize our ability to reach people in need.
Snake River Basin Adjudication
Elizabeth McClure
Native American Studies
Undergraduate Student
College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
This poster will display the process and implications between the Nez Perce Tribe, state and federal government agencies in dealing with the settlement process of the Snake River Basin Adjudication (SRBA). The SRBA can serve as an opening to discussing the relationship between the Nez Perce with the state and federal governments, particularly the U.S. serving as a trustee for the tribe and is suppose to protect the Nez Perce tribal treaty-based fishing rights. We will discuss the basis for their claims is within the fact that in stream flow is necessary for the salmon survival. Based within the treaties with the U.S., the Nez Perce holds the exclusive right to fish within the streams.
Evaluation of the Scholars Without Borders’ (SWB) Undocumented Students Ally Training (USAT)
César G. Abarca
Social Work
Faculty
Ruby Aguirre
Social Work
Graduate Student
College of Professional Studies
As a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), HSU lacked a project which served its Undocumented. DACAmented and AB 540 students. Due to the need for staff, faculty and administrators to learn how to better serve this group of students, the student group Funding Resources and Empowerment through Education (F.R.E.E.) organized and advocated for many year to create a student support program. The result was the creation of the Undocumented Students Ally Training (USAT) in 2015 and Scholars Without Borders (SWB) in 2016. The purpose of the program evaluation of USAT was to measure the impact of the training on students, faculty and staff members who participated in the training.
Text, Comment, Message: An Analysis of Support
Makayla Whitney
Anthropology
Undergraduate Student
Benjamin Maceda
Anthropology
Undergraduate Student
College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
While previous research has focused upon how anonymity provides space for aggressive gestures like "trolling," less work has been done on supportive social gestures characteristic of anonymity. From public restrooms to websites devoted to anonymous confession, anonymity can and does enable gestures of support. This research develops analysis of messaging from social media platforms, including Whisper and 4Chan, public commentary, and physical space graffiti to explore anonymous gestures of support. Our research aimed to contribute to work on authenticity, self-presentation, and social interaction by exploring ways in which "support" is offered and taken up within anonymous communities.
Greenway Partners: A Residency for HSU Graduates in Downtown Eureka
Rebecca Ron and James Bradas
Environmental Studies
Undergraduate Student
College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
In growing need to accommodate graduate students' housing issues from Humboldt State University as well as the need for urban revitalization projects in Old Town Eureka, ENST seniors James Bradas and Rebecca Ron partnered with Greenway Partners: an Arcata-based engineering design, consultancy, and facilitation firm to continue with the lead on this project. Through research within the Old Town quarter of Eureka, research in city, county, and state municipal code, and using the lived experiences of the Humboldt State domestic experience with the current housing market, a conceptual framework grew from a critical understanding about the community, place, and placement of prospective housing.
Sociology Students of Higher Education
Zachary Kihm
Sociology
Undergraduate Student
Mary Virnoche
Sociology
Faculty
College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
I'm conducting research for Mary Virnoche. The research has mostly been reviewing qualitative literature on peer mentoring, mentoring, retention rates, and approaches institutions of higher education take in order to have high retention rates among Sociology majors. The focus of the study is directly on Sociology but the literature reviewed is expansive. This project will show the audience the problem(s) with low retention rates of SOC majors and will have the key findings in my review. The research project is still taking place so I'll have plenty of data and analysis of Mary's literature and research. I may add key findings that have helped with my existing research on higher education.
What Frames A Life?
Marti "McFly"
Smith
Other
Undergraduate Student
College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
My dad Ricky Wayne Fischer died on September 8th, 2024, after a lifetime struggle with addiction. An estimated 28.9 million Americans had an Alcohol Use Disorder in 2024 (NIAAA, 2024). Families who have a parent with a Substance Abuse Disorder are “characterized by an environment of secrecy, loss, conflict, violence or abuse, emotional chaos, role reversal, and fear.” (Lander, 2013). To tackle the wicked problem of addiction, this paper focuses on the psychological, biological, sociological, economic disciplines, and my own primary source of having a parent with a Substance Abuse Disorder. Additionally explored, are the creative disciplines of photography and writing to honor his life.