CUTLINE: Presenting their honors projects during a breakfast Feb. 2 in their honor are Southwestern Community College honors students, from left (seated): Gloria Patterson of Sylva, Brandy Anders of Cullowhee, Meghan Lock of Tuckasegee, Chris Breeden of Cullowhee; (standing) Joy Hutcher of Franklin, Samantha Greene-Frontauria of Cullowhee, David Hall of Waynesville, Dan Riddle and Carly Pearson, both of Cullowhee.
The effects of the woolley adelgid on the mountain hemlocks, development of Judaism, results of OSHA, a lexicon of Spanish/English for use in the court system, radon gas testing, a PowerPoint on development trauma disorder, creation of an art fresco and a sci-fi magazine highlighted honors program projects presented during a breakfast Feb. 2 honoring students and their completed projects.
From a program that begin in 2008 with four students and two founding fathers, Mike Burnette and Allan Grant, the honors program currently has 41 approved contracts. More than 50 faculty members have been engaged with the program and just recently Vance Waggener made his calculus III class the first official honors class.
Samantha Greene-Frontauria of Cullowhee said she had always wanted to learn about Judaism and how it developed into modern-day religion. “I found this project very challenging because I had to separate my own beliefs,” said Greene-Frontauria, who mentored with sociology instructor Bucky Dann.
As part of her honors project with accounting instructor Diania McRae, Carly Pearson of Cullowhee became so interested and involved in the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program for the elderly and low income that she took the exam and became a certified VITA volunteer herself.
Dan Riddle of Cullowhee worked with the Spanish community and the legal system for an honors project to create a Spanish/English lexicon for use in the court system. “It’s not always just about the words; sometimes it takes the subtle understanding of the language,” said Riddle, who was assisted by arts and sciences instructor Serena Herter.
Chris Breeden of Cullowhee worked with Writing Across the Curriculum coordinator Jennifer Hippensteel on a project embodying different writing styles that resulted in a 35-page Sci-Fi magazine. “Through the natural writing process I was amazed to watch how the characters changed and the plot evolved,” said Breeden, who plans to publish the magazine.
Writing longer, in-depth papers with intense research and having to defend that research constituted Meghan Lock’s project with English instructor Chris Cox. “I learned a whole lot about literature but I also learned to take my research and apply it to life,” said Lock, who added that she acquired time management skills as a result of her project.
His research with biology instructor Trevor Rundle on the effects of the woolley adelgid on hemlock trees alarmed David Hall of Waynesville who said that if 50 percent or more of the tree is infected, the tree is lost. “I learned how important a single species is in our eco system and how it intertwines with others. In just a decade the loss of the hemlocks will completely change the ecology of our mountains,” Hall said.
While it’s Gloria Patterson’s second go-around at Southwestern, her research on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration was her first honors project. Working with paralegal technology instructor Kelly Burch, Patterson, who lives in Sylva, discovered why OSHA was formed, how it applies to administrative law and its impact on safety in the workplace.
Joy Hutcher of Franklin started back to school at age 60 and jumped right in to an art fresco honors project with instructor Julie Jacobsen. Since this was a totally new endeavor at the Oconaluftee Institute for Cultural Arts, the multi-disciplinary project involved the collaboration of many different people, Hutcher said.
Mentoring with chemistry instructor Deanne Oppermann, Brandy Anders of Cullowhee
conducted research about radon gas and tested different homes for elevated radon levels. In her lab report presentation Anders said she learned that this gas, although odorless and colorless, poses the risk of cancer for its consumers. “I will definitely use this knowledge to my advantage when purchasing a future home,” Anders said.
Working this time with psychology instructor Steven Wampler, Anders also conducted research about Developmental Trauma Disorder and developed a PowerPoint presentation on the areas in Jackson County that provide assistance to children of abuse and/or neglect. “I learned that children who are victims of abuse/neglect are often over diagnosed with several different
diagnoses such as ADHD, conduct disorder, PTSD, and oppositional defiant disorder. To prevent these multiple diagnoses, a new proposal has been made to include Developmental Trauma Disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.”
Vice President of Instruction and Student Services Thom Brooks congratulated the students on their “engagement in activity for learning and personal growth. We applaud your passion to do more, to push yourself beyond normal expectations.”
Honors students can complete half of their university honors college credits with SCC, said Cheryl Contino-Conner, honors program chair. SCC currently partners with Appalachian State University, Western Carolina University, University of North Carolina-Charlotte, UNC- Wilmington, UNC-Greensboro and NC State in this transfer agreement.
For more information, contact Contino-Conner at 339-4245 or cheryl@southwesterncc.edu.
