Several students have been honored for projects presented at Trine University’s third
                                 annual STEM Research and Design Symposium, held Dec. 6 on the concourse of the MTI
                                 Center.
                              
                              The symposium featured 55 student projects from the Bock Department of Biomedical
                                 Engineering, the McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, the Department of Science,
                                 the Department of Exercise Science, the Department of Psychology and Social Sciences
                                 and the Department of Humanities and Communication.
                              
                              Projects included departmental freshman and research projects as well as Research
                                 Experiences for Undergraduates (REU).
                              
                              About 150 total attended the event.
                              
                              Awards were presented in the following categories:
                              
                              Best REU Project: Alex Pessell, a biomedical engineering major from Arcadia, Ohio,
                                 for “Cross-Linker Geometry Influence on Mucin-Based Hydrogels.”
                              
                              Honorable Mention REU Project: Robert Dick, a chemistry major from Lawrence, Michigan,
                                 for “Effect of Electron Donating Ligands on Ruthenium Complexes for Use in Photochemotheraphy”;
                                 and Anna Favalon, a biology major from Wooster, Ohio, for “Developing RNA Interference
                                 in Soybean Aphid to Evaluate Genes Involved in Adaptation to Host-Plant Resistance.”
                              
                              Best Trine Research Project: Kennedy Baugh, a biomedical engineering major from Walton,
                                 Kentucky, and Alex Pessell for “Bioconjugated Iron Oxide Nanoparticles as a Platelet
                                 Aggregation Technique.”
                              
                              Honorable Mention Trine Research Project: Sydney Camfield, a forensic science major
                                 from Decatur, Illinois, Haley Zumbrun, a biology major from Albion, Indiana, and Kaylyn
                                 Forrest, a biology major from Cassopolis, Michigan, for “Relationships Between Nutrients
                                 and Primary Producer Biomass in Steuben County Lakes”; Austin Shepard from Angola,
                                 Indiana; Colleen Bell from West Unity, Ohio, and Lauren Beebe from South Bend, Indiana,
                                 all biomedical engineering majors, for “Kinematic Gait Analysis of Lower Limb Joint
                                 Angles in Orthopedic Boot Versus External-Rigid Support”; and Karina Bruce from Findlay,
                                 Ohio, Devon Kelly from Dearborn Heights, Michigan, and Olivia Coyne from Allison Park,
                                 Pennsylvania, all biomedical engineering majors, for “The Effect of Gender on Trunk
                                 and Lower Limb Kinematics of a Slap Shot.”
                              
                              Best Trine Research Project (Work in Progress): Christian Horton from Goshen, Indiana,
                                 Terry Ratliff from Onsted, Michigan, Matt Seasor from Fishers, Indiana, and Lauren
                                 Wiegand from Plymouth, Indiana, all design engineering technology majors, for “Paint
                                 Booth System Redesign.”
                              
                              People’s Choice Award REU Project: Joe LeSueur, a biomedical engineering major from
                                 Northfield Center, Ohio, for “The Effects of Fatigue on Impact Accelerations in Ballet
                                 Dancers.”
                              
                              People’s Choice Award Trine Research Project: Graeme Basey from Greenfield, Indiana,
                                 Adam McHenry from Zionsville, Indiana, and Elijah Swingley from Albany, Indiana, all
                                 biomedical engineering majors, for “Novel Use of Electromagnets in Recapitulating
                                 Muscle Fiber Action.”
                              
                              People’s Choice Award Freshman & Informative Projects: Bethany Ulring from Dayton,
                                 Ohio, and Paige Schiebel from Saint Charles, Minnesota, both biomedical engineering
                                 majors, for “Balloon Popping, Heart Stopping.”
                              
                              People’s Choice awards were determined by attendees, while other awards were selected
                                 by a panel of judges.
                              
                              Photo: Olivia Coyne, a biomedical engineering major from Allison Park, Pennsylvania, explains the research
                                 project she was part of to some of those attending the STEM Research and Design Symposium
                                 on Dec. 6 at Trine University. (Photo by Dean Orewiler)