STEUBENVILLE, OHIO—On Friday, April 7, the smell of coffee floated through the air and voices hummed in the background as students and faculty showcased their academic projects in the J.C. Williams Center at Franciscan University of Steubenville.

GRACE—Gallery of Research, Artistry, and Community Engagement—was planned by Dr. Regina Boerio, chair of the Psychology, Sociology, and Social Work Department, and Dr. Kaybeth Calabria, director of Advancement of Excellence in Teaching, with additional help from Dr. Kyle McKenna, biology professor. At GRACE, students and faculty presented academic projects of research, community engagement, multimedia, and artistry.

Erin Baxley, a junior humanities and Catholic culture major, shared the findings of a study she conducted with Dr. Daniel Kuebler, chair of the Biology Department, on Christian denominational differences on the acceptance of evolutionary origins of humans. Baxley and Kuebler’s data suggested that Catholic students were more likely than their Protestant counterparts to integrate evolution with their beliefs, but that Catholic and Protestant students who rejected human evolution shared similar concerns.

Junior psychology major Clarke Peterson presented the website he created after his semester in Gaming, Austria. The Gaming Guide offers logistical guidance for transportation, lodging, and budgets, as well as personal advice on stress management and spirituality.

Senior biology major Christina Camilleri shared the research she conducted with Dr. Stephen Sammut, professor of psychology, on the behavioral consequences of pregnancy termination in an animal model.

“I want to go into neuroscience research after I graduate, so I’m doing exactly what I want to do with the research here at Franciscan,” said Camilleri.

Junior psychology major Alexandra Oliver and freshman psychology major Nicole Olson created a mash-up of three popular songs: “Sound of Silence,” by Simon and Garfunkel, “Jolene,” by Dolly Parton,” and “Little Talks,” by Of Monsters and Men.

After graduation, Olson hopes to research how music can help those with traumatic brain injuries and mental illnesses.

“I’ve had concussions myself, and one thing that really helped me was music and band,” said Olson. “Music gave me a way to speak when words were hard to form. Being able to read and create music helps create pathways in the brain, which helps strengthen the memory, and that is so important for people with brain injuries and mental illnesses.”

Several faculty members also presented academic works. Dr. Debra Facello, director of the MSN Program, presented her research on resilience in nursing students. Linus Meldrum, assistant professor of fine arts, staged an exhibit titled “Iconography and the Sacramental Nature of Image,” including a presentation and student examples from his Iconography class. Dr. Alan Schreck, professor of theology, presented on the history of the Catholic charismatic renewal and its role in transforming Franciscan University.

Other professors exhibited dramatic presentations, research projects, and community engagement endeavors, alongside students’ research, multimedia projects, an archaeology presentation, writings, historical and informative presentations, and works of art, photography, and dance.

“We organized this event to celebrate the work that the students and faculty are doing and share it with the wider community, so they aren’t hiding their light under the proverbial bushel,” said Dr. Calabria.

The following students received awards for their GRACE presentations:

THE DR. JAMES COYLE MEDIA AWARD

• • 1st Place: Maria Tizedes, freshman, communication arts and education – Project: Beautiful You
  • 2nd Place: Kate Janney, freshman, communication arts – Project: What Next?

THE DR. JOHN CARRIGG AND PROFESSOR JACK BOYD HUMANITIES AWARD

• • 1st Place: Kristina Frandson, senior, anthropology and classics – Project: Franciscan University Ancient Coin Collection
  • 2nd Place: Francesca Santos, senior, Spanish – Project: The Rescue of Culture During the Spanish Civil War

THE PROFESSOR JOHN KORZI SOCIAL SCIENCES AWARD

• • 1st Place: Christina Camilleri, senior, biology – Project: Behavioral Consequences of Pregnancy Termination in an Animal Model
  • 2nd Place: Anna Judge, junior, psychology; Mark Hanlon, junior, philosophy and psychology; Britta Bender, junior, psychology – Project: Impulsivity and Gambling Behaviors and Attitudes

THE POPE SAINT JOHN PAUL II FINE ARTS AWARD

• • 1st Place: Alexandra Oliver, senior, psychology – Project: The Power Project
  • 2nd Place: Matt Wagner, sophomore, undeclared; Maddie Appleby, senior, sacred music; and Nathan Hart, senior, psychology – Project: A Devotional Concert for Lent

THE DR. ROSE CERRONI AND DR. WINIFRED DICKINSON SCIENCE AWARD

• • 1st Place: Rebecca Bentz, senior, biology; Grace O’Brien, sophomore, biology; and Ethan Pitney, sophomore, nursing, – Project: Evaluating the Immunosuppressive Activity of Macrophage-Derived Exosomes
  • 2nd Place: Erin Baxley, senior, humanities and Catholic culture – Project: Denominational Differences on the Dangers of Darwin

THE JOHN MADIGAN COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AWARD

• • 1st place: Clarke Peterson, junior, psychology – Project: The Gaming Guide
  • 2nd place: Megan Salzano, junior, psychology – Project: The Underground Railroad (Human Trafficking Awareness)

In total, there were more than 45 GRACE presentations across the spectrum of academic disciplines. Judges included Franciscan University faculty and professionals in the local community.