NOAH BRAMLETT '23
MAJOR: BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
FACULTY SPONSOR: PROFESSOR MICHAEL FILAS, ENGLISH
Nella Larsen Biography
In the novel Passing by Nella Larsen, she brings attention to race, sex, freedom, and more. She shows us how life as an African American was and how whites have no shame in mistreating blacks. After doing research on Nella Larsen herself and seeing how her life was as a whole, the things she writes about in her novel Passing are so relatable to her life growing up. For example, “Larsen's exploration of race was informed by her own mixed racial heritage and the increasingly common practice of racial passing in the 1920s” (Passing (novel) Wikipedia). This quote shows how Larsen used her own personal issues and hardships and put them down on paper for us all to experience. She brings us into the body of an African American and makes us feel the pain she and others like her went through. This novel is so powerful to today’s day and age because we have the BLM or Black Lives Matter movement happening and Passing can bring light to how much things have not changed in society. We as Americans still have not united fully and racism and sexism continue to terrorize the streets.
JOSEPH CAMMARATA '23
MAJOR: BIOLOGY
FACULTY SPONSOR: PROFESSOR MICHAEL FILAS, ENGLISH
A Biography of Walt Whitman
Walt Whitman is one of the most celebrated poets in American History. He once called America the “Greatest Poem”. The egalitarianism expressed in his poetry is what drove his posthumous success. Coming from an agricultural family in Long Island New York, he dropped out of schooling at age 11 to help support his family. For years he worked as a printing devil for his local paper “The Patriot”. It was here he took on a passion for writing. Throughout his life he worked for various newspapers and printing companies until he used his resources to publish his own work. Some of his works include Life and Adventures of Jack Engle (1852) and Manly Health and Training (1858). It was Leaves of Grass (1855) that really shed light on his talent. He spent over 30 years revising this work up until his death. Famous poems include “O’ Captain! My Captain!” and “I Sing the Body Electric”. His poetry expressed an egalitarian view on race and gender, and for it’s time was highly controversial. The nature of his writing was natural and explicit, but gave equality and criticism for the ignorant facets of society during the time. Although these poems were inspiring, Whitman is not immune to criticism. Some argue that his work painted a portrait of America that was hierarchical. It’s also said that he was racist and was generally against abolitionism, which is surprising considering the wholesome content of his poetry. All in all, Walt Whitman continues to inspire many.
DANIEL CANDIDO '21
MAJOR: BIOLOGY
FACULTY SPONSOR: PROFESSOR EMILY POLLINA, BIOLOGY
Drivers of Tick-Borne Disease Infection
Prevalence of Tick-Borne Diseases (TBDs), such as, Lyme Disease, babesiosis or anaplasmosis, are frequent and un-contained with human exposure risk scaling with increased visits to tick present locations. Consequently, abundance of TBD carrying tick species, such as I. scapularis, are in consistent growth and expansion due to specific drivers, such as habitat fragmentation and climate shift. Habitat fragments characterized by prevalent forest edge because of urbanization leads to development of dense population clusters exacerbated by decrease in terrestrial predators, known as tick reservoirs. Additionally, reduction of harsh winter and spring conditions with increased precipitation, due to climate shift, results in both increased larvae survival and territory expansion. This study aims to utilize the identified tick abundance drivers to predict which Massachusetts counties have the highest risk for TBD infections with inferred increase in cases per year because of climate shift. Analysis of TBD infection rate data provided from NEON data sets and Mass.gov annual reports will determine relationship significance between fragmentation and climate shift as would be expected per county.
JACKELINE CURET '21
MAJOR: PSYCHOLOGY
FACULTY SPONSOR: PROFESSOR THOMAS A. DANIEL PSYCHOLOGY
Effects of Caffeine Consumption in College Students
Caffeine is the most commonly consumed stimulant in America, and it provides several psychological benefits including increased alertness and concentration. The purpose of this study was to determine whether college students identify caffeine as something that helps boost their level of concentration. Participants were tested on a hand-eye coordination task, while we recorded their accuracy and speed. Participants were then asked to drink 12oz can of a soda (non-energy drink or coffee) and repeat a similar hand-eye coordination task. Upon finishing these tasks, participants were then asked a series of self-report questions about their self-efficacy regarding productivity before and after ingesting the caffeine. We hypothesized that students’ performance was better (more accurate and faster) after ingesting the caffeine.
MADELINE ROGERS '21
MAJOR: PSYCHOLOGY
FACULTY SPONSOR: PROFESSOR THOMAS A. DANIEL , PSYCHOLOGY
Effects of Caffeine Consumption in College Students
Caffeine is the most commonly consumed stimulant in America, and it provides several psychological benefits including increased alertness and concentration. The purpose of this study was to determine whether college students identify caffeine as something that helps boost their level of concentration. Participants were tested on a hand-eye coordination task, while we recorded their accuracy and speed. Participants were then asked to drink 12oz can of a soda (non-energy drink or coffee) and repeat a similar hand-eye coordination task. Upon finishing these tasks, participants were then asked a series of self-report questions about their self-efficacy regarding productivity before and after ingesting the caffeine. We hypothesized that students’ performance was better (more accurate and faster) after ingesting the caffeine.
HANNAH STERLING '23
MAJOR: PSYCHOLOGY
FACULTY SPONSOR: PROFESSOR THOMAS A. DANIEL , PSYCHOLOGY
Effects of Caffeine Consumption in College Students
Caffeine is the most commonly consumed stimulant in America, and it provides several psychological benefits including increased alertness and concentration. The purpose of this study was to determine whether college students identify caffeine as something that helps boost their level of concentration. Participants were tested on a hand-eye coordination task, while we recorded their accuracy and speed. Participants were then asked to drink 12oz can of a soda (non-energy drink or coffee) and repeat a similar hand-eye coordination task. Upon finishing these tasks, participants were then asked a series of self-report questions about their self-efficacy regarding productivity before and after ingesting the caffeine. We hypothesized that students’ performance was better (more accurate and faster) after ingesting the caffeine.
DANIELLE DEACON '23
MAJOR: MUSIC EDUCATION
FACULTY SPONSOR: PROFESSOR SONYA LAWSON, MUSIC
Leo Ornstein's "Prelude and Minuette in Antique Style for Flute and Clarinet" Presentation
As a classical clarinetist, I have always aspired to broaden my understanding of what it means to communicate with my other classical musicians- to portray what the composer was trying to express to their audience with as much musical accuracy and musical detail as possible. It was so interesting to learn how composers would string together voice parts and how they would thus communicate with each other on a musical and emotional level. As a result, my fellow peer and classical musician, Danielle Deacon, and I created our own chamber ensemble at Westfield State University. It was our goal to create a safe, explorative and inventive environment in which we could explore chamber music and learn how to communicate with each other on both a physical and musical level. Prelude in Antique Style by Leo Ornstein (1895-2002) immediately caught my ear. Having been given this piece in chamber ensemble, Danielle and I instantly found a unique attachment to it and we fell in love with how the piece communicates between the flute and clarinet, with a lot of complex duple and triple rhythms and melodies, it almost sounds like they are having a conversation. Having been given this piece in chamber ensemble, Danielle and I instantly found a unique attachment to it and we fell in love with how the piece communicates between the flute and clarinet, with a lot of complex duple and triple rhythms and melodies, it almost sounds like they are having a conversation. Also, having never been professionally performed and analyzed, it was up to the two of us to analyze and interpret just how Leo Ornstein wanted the conversation to flow. It was such a unique experience learning this piece and we hope that you enjoy the performance!
DEAN MOCCALDI '22
MAJOR: GENERAL MUSIC
FACULTY SPONSOR: PROFESSOR SONYA LAWSON, MUSIC
Leo Ornstein's "Prelude and Minuette in Antique Style for Flute and Clarinet" Presentation
As a classical clarinetist, I have always aspired to broaden my understanding of what it means to communicate with my other classical musicians- to portray what the composer was trying to express to their audience with as much musical accuracy and musical detail as possible. It was so interesting to learn how composers would string together voice parts and how they would thus communicate with each other on a musical and emotional level. As a result, my fellow peer and classical musician, Danielle Deacon, and I created our own chamber ensemble at Westfield State University. It was our goal to create a safe, explorative and inventive environment in which we could explore chamber music and learn how to communicate with each other on both a physical and musical level. Prelude in Antique Style by Leo Ornstein (1895-2002) immediately caught my ear. Having been given this piece in chamber ensemble, Danielle and I instantly found a unique attachment to it and we fell in love with how the piece communicates between the flute and clarinet, with a lot of complex duple and triple rhythms and melodies, it almost sounds like they are having a conversation. Having been given this piece in chamber ensemble, Danielle and I instantly found a unique attachment to it and we fell in love with how the piece communicates between the flute and clarinet, with a lot of complex duple and triple rhythms and melodies, it almost sounds like they are having a conversation. Also, having never been professionally performed and analyzed, it was up to the two of us to analyze and interpret just how Leo Ornstein wanted the conversation to flow. It was such a unique experience learning this piece and we hope that you enjoy the performance!
MOLLY MALO '23
MAJOR: SOCIAL WORK
FACULTY SPONSOR: PROFESSOR VANESSA DIANA, ENGLISH
The Life of T.S. Eliot
For my English course, I had to complete a pechakucha presentation. This presentation is about T.S. Eliot. He was a well known author during the times of the World Wars. His writing reflected a lot about the the feelings that came about in society during the war and the heartbreak and confusion that came with it. A lot of Eliot's writing is still used in classroom teaching today.
BRADY MARONI '21
MAJOR: MUSIC
FACULTY SPONSOR: PROFESSOR SONYA LAWSON, MUSIC
History Behind "The Star-Spangled Banner"
When I was younger, my father had taken me on road trip around the northeastern region of the United States, site seeing and attending musical performances. Though there wasn’t a whole lot that stood out to me from this trip, one site in particular had stuck with me, and that was Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine in Baltimore, Maryland. During the War of 1812, the fort was able to successfully defend the Baltimore Harbor from an attack by the British navy, in what is now known as the Battle of Baltimore (September 13-14, 1814). The bombardment of Fort McHenry and the subsequent US victory had inspired an American lawyer, by the name of Francis Scott Key, to write a poem about this battle and the American flag that flew over the fort during the U.S. victory. The poem, which was entitled, “Defence of Fort M’Henry,” was later set to music derived from “To Anacreon in Heaven” (a popular British song by John Stafford Smith) and renamed “The Star-Spangled Banner.” In 1931, the song officially became the national anthem of the United States and is now played at ceremonies and various events around the nation. Since this piece has some interesting history behind it and is used so frequently, I decided it would be worth trying a rendition of “The Star- Spangled Banner” on my own.
NATHAN SOLITARIO '23
MAJOR: PSYCHOLOGY
FACULTY SPONSOR: PROFESSOR MICHAEL FILAS, ENGLISH
Keeping the Native Spirit Alive: Leslie Marmon Silko
My goal is to discuss Silko’s view on her culture and how it shaped her work. Not only that but highlight her contributions to the Native American Renaissance and keeping the Laguna culture alive in the public consciousness. Looking at what some of her works represent to her greater career in that respect. Essentially, it's a biography assignment on Silko and an analysis of her work and what her work means in relation to her and her culture.
ALEXIS TAUPIER '21
MAJOR: CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PSYCHOLOGY
FACULTY SPONSOR: PROFESSOR SONYA LAWSON, MUSIC
Using Music as a Political Voice
For my project, I researched and am writing a chapter that could be used as a substitute chapter for the textbook Resonances” Engaging Music in its Cultural Context That we used in our honors Music as a Social Experience class. My research project was Using Music as a Political Voice. In this chapter, I wrote about how music is used to convey political advocacy around the world. Choosing three topics to focus on, I use 3 pieces of music as evidence for how people have used music as a political voice in the past. I provide a contextual cultural context for each piece and write a listening guide for how to hear this music in terms of political advocacy. My topics include music from a popular, Western, and world sphere. I use Lady Gaga’s Born this Way, Christy Moore’s A Long Way From Dublin, and a collection of Chinese protest songs, Songs of Freedom to demonstrate the way that music can be used to speak your voice and opinions.
RAWAN EBRAHIM '23
MAJOR: NURSING & SPANISH
FACULTY SPONSOR: PROFESSOR MICHAEL FILAS, ENGLISH
Yezierska's Stories Context - Lower East Side Culture
New York’s Lower East Side is a physical setting that encompasses the loss of culture and the notions of cultural assimilation and acculturation that were imposed on immigrants. Yezierska’s work primarily focuses on the struggles that awaited immigrants, particularly of Jewish immigrant women. The implication of the conditions of the Lower East Side are reflected through the characters of her works, of who Yezierska is known for portraying in a realistic light.