PELLA — Central College seniors in the honors program presented their projects on April 28. This year, 13 seniors completed honors theses. Presentations made by current Central College students and faculty will showcase leadership contributions made by the Central College community in undergraduate teaching and research.
The honors program at Central College provides a distinct yet flexible four-year plan that encourages student creativity, intellectual engagement and leadership. Beginning broadly, the program gradually focuses by helping students move toward greater independence, more advanced work in a discipline and increased leadership responsibilities.
Honors projects are the culmination of a year-long individual research experience by selected Central College seniors. Students presented their independent research projects to the public. Listed below are the students as well as their presentation topics.
Jotham Arber, a biology major from Kirksville, Mo., presented “Synthesis of a colorimetric phosphate sensor derived from 2,4-diaminopyrimidine.” He was advised by James Shriver, associate professor of chemistry. Dr. Catherine Haustein, professor of chemistry, provided the second reading during the presentation. Arber is the son of Lorne and Tish Arber and was a graduate of Kirksville High School.
Ashley Beck, a biology and mathematics double major and chemistry, CPSC, and Spanish minor from Corning, Iowa, presented “The Relationship Between Science and Faith.” She was advised by Paulina Mena, assistant professor of biology. David Timmer, professor of religion, provided the second reading during the presentation. Beck is the daughter of Brent and Janice Beck and was a graduate of Corning High School.
Justine Celoni, a psychology and Spanish double major and mathematics minor from Tulsa, Okla., presented “Studying with Music? Effects of Music, Personality, and Sex on Arithmetic Performance.” She was advised by Peggy Fitch, professor of psychology. Keith Jones, associate professor of psychology, provided the second reading during the presentation. Celoni is the daughter of John and Lanette Celoni and was a graduate of Cedar Falls (Iowa) High School.
Mitchell Chilton, a chemistry major from Bloomfield, Iowa, presented “Synthesis of 6-amino-7-azaindole Derivatives as Potential Hosts for Phosphorylated Compounds.” He was advised by James Shriver, associate professor of chemistry. Catherine Haustein, professor of chemistry, provided the second reading during the presentation. Chilton is the son of Bradley and Joanie Chilton and was a graduate of Davis County High School.
Devin Delvaux, a mathematics and economics double major and Spanish minor from Altoona, Iowa, presented “The Ineffectiveness of Current Fed Policies on Macroeconomic Variables: A Historical Perspective with Current Implications.” She was advised by Michael Murray, instructor of economics. Brian Peterson, associate professor of economics, provided the second reading during the presentation. Delvaux is the daughter of Jeff and Laurie Delvaux and was a graduate of Southeast Polk High School.
Stephanie Gibbons, a political science and Spanish double major and environmental studies and business management minor from Ankeny, Iowa, presented “The Environmental Inequity: The Injustices Behind Toxic Waste Facilities.” She was advised by Anya Butt, associate professor of biology. James Zaffiro, professor of political science, provided the second reading during the presentation. Gibbons is the daughter of Steve and Marian Gibbons and was a graduate of Ankeny High School.
Brooke Hiemstra, a religion and Spanish double major from Orange City, Iowa, presented “A Critical Evaluation of the Archaeological and Literary Evidence for the History of Canaanite and Israelite Jerusalem.” She was advised by Terence Kleven, professor of religion. Chad Pierce, assistant professor of religion, provided the second reading during the presentation. Hiemstra is the daughter of Dale and Cheryl Hiemstra and was a graduate of MOC-Floyd Valley High School.
Christopher Kleven, a physics and mathematics double major from Pella, Iowa, presented “Reinforcement Learning.” He was advised by Mark Mills, associate professor of mathematics. Michael Littman of Rutgers University provided the second reading during the presentation. Kleven is the son of Terence and Kathryn Kleven and was home schooled.
Raveena Rastogi, a computer science major from Des Moines, Iowa, presented “Comparing The Development of a Robust Website Using Content Management System Versus Client-Side and Server-Side Technologies.” She was advised by Stephen Fyfe, professor of computer science. Mark Johnson, professor of mathematics and computer science, provided the second reading during the presentation. Rastogi is the daughter of Anil Rastogi.
Justin Von Ahsen, a music education-instrumental major from Belle Plaine, Iowa, presented “A History of the String Quartets of Bela Bartok: How His Life, Hungarian Folk Music, Serialism, and Symmetry Influenced Their Creation, and a Theoretical Analysis of the ‘Fourth String Quartet.’” He was advised by Peter T. Myers, assistant professor of music. Mark Babcock, associate professor of music and music connection teacher, provided the second reading during the presentation. Von Ahsen is the son of David and Jeanette Von Ahsen and was a graduate of Belle Plaine High School.
Austin Vondracek, a religion major from Swisher, Iowa, presented “Investigating Bethsaida: Identifying the Site of a Greco-Roman Fishing Community.” He was advised by Chad Pierce, assistant professor of religion. Marie Hopwood, visiting assistant professor of anthropology, provided the second reading during the presentation. Vondracek is the son of Craig and Karen Vondracek and was a graduate of Cedar Rapids Prairie High School.
Jordan Waddell, an actuarial science and economics double major from Guthrie Center, Iowa, presented “Karl Marx: Insight into Today’s Economy from an Unlikely Source.” She was advised by Michael Murray, instructor of economics. A. Chadwick Ray, Professor of Philosophy , provided the second reading during the presentation. Waddell is the daughter of Paula Tews and Cory Waddell and was a graduate of Guthrie Center High School.
Kathryn Williams, a mathematics major from Bemidji, Minn., presented “Mathematics Anxiety and Pre-Service Elementary Teachers.” She was advised by Kris Kilibarda, associate professor of education. Wendy Weber, associate professor of mathematics, and Christine Ray provided the second reading during the presentations. Williams is the daughter of Dion and Janna Williams and was a graduate of Bemidji High School.
