The Honors Capstone represents a culminating academic and creative achievement required for graduation with Full University Honors. Through this significant research or artistic project, students collaborate closely with a faculty mentor to design personalized learning outcomes while strengthening their communication, analytical, and critical thinking skills.
Each semester, faculty mentors nominate exceptional capstone projects, and Honors leadership carefully selects a small group to receive the Outstanding Capstone Award. These honorees represent the highest levels of intellectual curiosity, innovation, and dedication across disciplines.
This semester’s Outstanding Capstone Award recipients are:
Michelle Carbajal Hernandez, “Navigating End-of-life Decisions: Cultural Considerations for Latine Patients” advised by Dr. Ibette Valle (Department of Psychology) and Dr. Lisa Finkelstein (Department of Psychology).
Gina Fiorenza, “Colonialism, Conflict, Capital, and Coups: Drivers of Medecins Sans Frontieres Operations in Mali Post-2022” advised by Dr. Alesha Porisky (Department of Political Science) and Dr. Mark Schuller (Department of Anthropology)
Angelina Gutierrez, “Lives in Ruins? Assessing College Tuition and Wage Prospects for Careers in Archaeology” advised by Dr. Dana Bardolph (Department of Anthropology).
Maryana Kopyt, “Is More Better? The Influence of Visual Entropy and Color on Brand Identity and Engagement” advised by Dr. Andy Jeon (Department of Marketing)
Rachel Stowers, “Educator Perceptions and Uses of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) in Middle Level, Secondary, and Higher Education Classrooms” advised by Dr. Melanie Koss (Department of Curriculum and Instruction)
Charlie Vazquez Acosta, “A Two-Phase Perspective on a Related-Rates Paradox” advised by Dr. Sien Deng (Department of Mathematics).
