02/09/18

HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State University students will join their peers from other Kansas Board of Regents public four-year universities for the annual Kansas Undergraduate Research Day from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 14, in the Capitol Rotunda in Topeka.

Participating students will present their research projects to legislators and the public to demonstrate the unique opportunities undergraduate and graduate students have to participate with faculty members in research at KBOR universities.

The event will showcase the work of up to 40 Kansas undergraduate students representing each of the state’s eight public four-year institutions. The event will also emphasize higher education’s role in developing educated citizens and preparing a workforce with the necessary skills to further the economic growth of the state.

"Undergraduate Research Day at the Capitol is an opportunity for our state legislators and other guests visiting the Capitol to see first-hand the quality of research in which undergraduates across Kansas are engaged," said Leslie Paige, director of Fort Hays State University’s Office of Scholarship and Sponsored Projects.

"This prestigious event illustrates the vital role that higher education plays in strengthening the Kansas economy and workforce,” she said.

FHSU students who will present their work are listed alphabetically by hometown.

GREAT BEND (67530): Ashley Lockwood (psychology, senior) “Studying Stigma: Assessing Stigma of Mental Illness Toward Juveniles.”

HAYS (67601): Russell Krug (geoscience, junior) “Petrophysical and Sedimentological Analysis of Reservoir Units in Ellis Central Kansas Uplift.”

Sara Nansel (biology, senior) “Isolation of Soil Microbes to Test Against ESKAPE Relatives for Antimicrobial Properties.”

VICTORIA (67671): Jarred Penton (physics, junior) “Comparison of Laser Damage Threshold Model Experiment.” (Derek Bartlett-Steede, co-investigator).

WICHITA (67209): Annie Hinds (KAMS, sophomore) “Kansas Gifted Education Database.” (Runfan Yang and Dana Kang, co-investigators).

The public is invited to view the posters and talk to the student researchers.

Fort Hays State University provides accessible quality education to Kansas, the nation and the world through an innovative community of teacher-scholars and professionals to develop engaged global citizen-leaders.