Nine freshman received First Year Research Awards (FYRA) -- scholarships through Wittenberg University -- and have been working on research projects throughout the 2018-2019 academic year.

Designed to match high-achieving students with Wittenberg’s award-winning faculty, the program pairs students selected for FYRAs closely with a faculty member while pursuing exciting research opportunities during their first year at Wittenberg. Only accepted students who came to campus to participate in special scholarship days were considered for these awards, which provide a non-renewable $2,000 ($1,000 per semester) for the student’s first year only.

 This year’s selected students include Ash Hiser of Cary, North Carolina, majoring in education and social studies, and Kamri-Beth Offutt of Ripley, Ohio, a business and statistics major, both working with Darlene Brooks Hedstrom, Kenneth E. Wray Endowed Chair in the Humanities, professor of history and director of Wittenberg’s archaeology program; Weston Sharpensteen of Louisville, Kentucky, a communication and political science major, and Darryl Stephens of Fairfield Ohio, majoring in communication and psychology, both working with Kelly Dillon, assistant professor of communication; Courtney Buck of Delaware, Ohio, majoring in English and communication, Emily Nolan of Hilliard, Ohio, who is undecided about her major and Jamie Spallino of Rocky River, Ohio, majoring in English, all working with Mike Mattison, associate professor of English and director of the Wittenberg Writing Center; and William Taylor of Springfield, Ohio, majoring in engineering and physics, and Taylor Lasits-Brooks of Perrysburg, Ohio, majoring in physics and mathematics, both working with Jeremiah Williams, professor of physics.

Faculty members volunteered to offer a research opportunity to high-achieving accepted students who then applied during the scholarship visit day. Faculty members then selected student recipients for this unique learning experience. Monthly meetings and possible joint presentation of collaborative work also are part of the experience.

Projects currently being pursued include: analyzing dusty plasmas physics and turbulent behavior; studying the renovation and restoration of the Columbia Street Cemetery; recording the population of different species of turtles in the area; investigating how the press handles cyberbullying cases and bystanders; following the life of female Renaissance artists; investigating Writing Center email responses; examining mice protein production; identifying plastics and particular particles in water with a beam of infrared light; and exploring summer learning loss and the development of a K-12 program.

For more information on FYRA program or to apply for admission to Wittenberg, visit www.wittenberg.edu.