Seniors in EKU's Honors Program participate in a faculty mentored process that demonstrates the students' ability to locate, evaluate, analyze and synthesize information, in an ethical manner, in order to produce meaningful scholarship. The Honors Senior Thesis, typically a capstone paper or creative project, is the culmination of this process.
Honors Theses from 2020
Surviving Cancer is not the end of the story: Effects of Chemotherapy on Heart Function., Jacey S. Griffith
Music From the Dark and Silence: Incorporating Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Visually Impaired Students into the Music Education Classroom, Emily Grindstaff
Writing Systems as a Reflection of Ancient Societies, Sarah M. Gripshover
The Comic Book Conundrum: Defining Comic Books as a Literary Genre, Dylan C. Guffey
A Bigger Pond: The Mental Health of Honors Students, Austin E. Hacker
The Cost of Healthy Living: Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Crime, Max Hargett
Tax Administration Characteristics’ Impact on Taxpayers’ Perception and Compliance, Kelsie Head
Incorporating Diverse Literature Into the Middle Grades Classroom, Katheryn A. Heinrich
Bringing the Indie Music Scene to Lexington, KY: A Marketing Research Plan, Randall Heite
Gender Through Generations: How Gender Stereotypes and the Portrayal of Women in Children’s Literature Has Changed Over Time, Abigail Hester
The Relationship Between Gut Microbiota Diversity, Body Weight, and Plant-Based Dietary Patterns, Hannah Hillard
The Effects of Yoga on Balance for Elementary School Aged Children Receiving Occupational Therapy, Amelia J. Hunley
Developing a Paradigm for the Measurement of Cortisol, Megan N. Hurley
You’re Feeding Your Dog What? An Investigation into the Dog Food Industry, It’s Recalls, and The Market, Madison Hutchens
"Foreign" Language: Examining systemic attitudes, xenophobia, and foreign language anxiety, Olivia Jennings
The Extraction of Bovine DNA From Dermestid Beetles, Lucy Jones
Preserving a Heritage: Clog Dancing in Appalachia, Lacy Justice
Negative Perception of Generic versus Name Brand Pharmaceuticals, Rebecca Kavalauskas
Slipping Through the Cracks: Addressing Mental Health Needs of Students in the K-12 Classroom, Emily H. Kerr
Explaining the Role of Social Media in Political Polarization, Sarah King
The Shifting Imagery of St. Alexander Nevsky and Tsar Ivan IV and Their Implications for Russian and Soviet Culture Thirteenth to Twenty-First Centuries, John P. Kinnett
Substance Abuse: The Impact of Maternal Drug Use on Families, Anne Kinsman
A Brief History of the Social Construction of Terrorism Through Media: September 11, 2001 to Present, Laura Kirk
Arthurian Legend and its Connections to the Present Through Analyzing the Literary Themes of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Arthurian Legend, Kimberly D. Kukla
Vaccinate her? I hardly know her!: Understanding Vaccine Hesitancy, Zachary M. Marcum
Puerto Rico Versus Florida, Emergency Operation Plans: Comparative Analysis Between Puerto And Florida, Kelli Mason
Investor Interest In CAT and Death Bonds, Kevin A. McKnight
A Heartbreaking Loss: An Analysis of the Long-Term Negative Cardiometabolic Effects of Unhealthy Bulking Practices in American Football Players, Brianna McManus
“What Did You Say to Me?” – Social Feedback, Body Image, & Eating Disorders in Modern Day Society, Caitlin N. Mehs
Metamorphosis: A Representation of Life Mistakes Through Portraiture, Alexander S. Mesones
Hugs, Not Drugs: A Program for Volunteers to Hold Infants Diagnosed with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome, Brandon W. Messamore
Fostering Success: What Happens After the Transition Out of Foster Care?, Paige N. Mikels
Booked Up: An Appalachian Graphic Novel, Brandi K. Mills
Build A Website for AYU International Hotel, Dagmawi Negesse
Teaching Creatively: The Role of K-12 in Encouraging Student Creativity, Rebecca M. Norton
Reviving Clay in the Classroom: A Hand-Building Handbook for Art Educators, Josey M. Owens
Comorbidity of Childhood Sexual Abuse and Infertility, Brenna Payne
The Lynchpin of the Scottish Reformation: St Andrews’ Role in the Protestant Conversion of Scotland, Jennifer Perkins
Nothing Has Changed Since Yesterday, Why the Role of Social Media in Radicalization is more Complex than it Seems, Robert T. pollard
Understanding the Misunderstood: An Analysis of Special Needs Dentistry, Emma C. Reister
Going in Circles: An Exploration of Functions into the Circle Group, Renee O. Richburg
The Role of a Resident Advisor: Creating Residence Hall Communities that Foster Positive Mental Health, Leslie A. Richie
Insurance in a Pandemic: An Analysis on the Impact COVID-19 has had on the Insurance Industry, Brianna G. Robinson
Solutions to Dissonance: Solutions to the Gaps in the Cognitive, Social, and Emotional Development of Students with Disabilities in the Music Classroom, Matthew T. Robinson
The Four Color Problem: The Journey to a Proof and the Results of the Study, Rebecca M. Rogers
Sexy Ed: An Analysis of the U.S. Sexual Education System and its Effects on Various Demographics in Relation to EKU Students, Danielle L. Rowe
More Than Meets the Eye: Why is it Difficult to See the Symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Children?, Rachel Schworer
Meeting the Needs of Gifted Students in Central Appalachia, Lauren M. Shoemaker
Coal Culture- More Than Just Energy, Kristen M. Smith
Improving Safety Regulations to Decrease Respiratory Health Issues in Construction Workers, Kendall Stiens
A Nuclear Option: An Assessment of U.S. Preparedness for Modern Nuclear Conflict, Carter P. Stovall
Bilingualism in Speech Pathology, Haley J. Taulbee
Investigating the Gap: A Study of the Diversity in Elementary Literature, Sydney N. Taylor
Cuddling and the Born-Addicted Infant: Implementation of volunteer-based cuddling programs for babies experiencing Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Alexis L. Thompson
“Follow the leader?” Exploring the Benefits of Proactive Followership, Suzanna Q. Thompson and Kristen B. Wilson
“Bad Bucks to Sons of Bitches”: An Historical Analysis of Jack Johnson’s Impact on American Sport Media, Kaylee Thornsberry
Poetry as Activism: The Political Implications of Performance Poetry, Kyndall Tiller
Using Multimedia to Counteract the CSI Effect, Haley Wagner
Investigation of Autism Spectrum Disorder, Callie M. Whitus
Honors Theses from 2019
Vascular Flora of Three Wetlands in the Red River Geological Area and Clifty Wilderness in Menifee and Powell Counties of Kentucky, Calvin T. Andries
A Monetary Suite: The Economic Impact of the Orchestra, Katherine A. Anneken
Molecular Phylogenetic Analysis of Arisaema Triphyllum, Kelsey Arthur
Interstellar Travel and Tourism: The Possibilities in the Dawn of the New Face of Business and its Structure, Haley Barber
Cause Related Marketing: An Examination of Consumer Perception, Retailer Profitability, and the Interrelationship Between Them, Jessica B. Blanton
Stage Based Matrix Modeling of Trifolium stoloniferum Restoration Populations at Taylor Fork Ecological Area, Madison County, Kentucky, Theodore J. Brancheau
Searching for a Voice: An Introduction to Transgender Voice and Communication Therapy, Nicholas Brock
Examining Healthcare Disparities in Rural Areas Across the Globe: Appalachia vs Thailand, Peyton A. Brock
Big Fire, Big Water: An Evaluation of Fire Service Tactics in High-Rise and Standpipe Equipped Structures, Nicholas J. Brondum
Mozart To Monroe, Isaac C. Brooks
Voices in the Dark: Shedding Light on Minority Perceptions of Medical and Mental Health Care, Dezjana M. Buntin
Breed Specific: A Comparison of Milk Production and Components of Brown Swiss and Holstein-Friesian Dairy Cows Over an Eight Month Period at Eastern Kentucky University’s Meadowbrook Farm, Jennifer S. Campbell
Childhood Anxiety Disorders: A Look into Selective Mutism, Katelyn R. Campbell Ms.
Bridging the Gap Between Micro and Macro Practice: Suggested Revisions to Nonprofits’ Traditional Approach to Client Intervention, Sylvia L. Carter
Improving Sexual Health Efficacy: A Qualitative Study of Female College Students’ Experience with Sexual Health Education and Subsequent Capacity for Application, Naomi Elizabeth Cheek
Investigating the Proteolysis of p75NTR in Response to Oxidative Stress in Dopaminergic Neurons, Rachel T. Clements
Effects of Gender, Race, and Self-Assessment of Creativity on Attitudes Toward Art Therapy, Sarah Cobble
Measuring the Effects of a Student Teaching-Based Unit on 3rd Graders’ Perceptions of Engineers and Engineering, Taylor Cobb and Scott Townsend
A Solution to Workplace Injuries and Accidents, Reagan C. Cole
A Female's Profession: Gender Disparity in Occupational Therapy, Jodi Collins
What Makes a Detective: Character in Detective Fiction, Jordan Connelly
Nursing Discharge Checklist for Caregivers of Infants with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome, Meghan Corder
Two Sides of the Same Coin: Panpsychism as a Solution to the Mind-Body Problem, Andrew Coyle
Exploring Professional Relationahips in Deaf Education, Cassidy L. Dalton
Autism Stereotypes Among Psychology Undergraduate Students at Eastern Kentucky University, Stephanie B. Darnell
"A Miss is as Good as a Mile": Examining Social Distance as a Predictor of Academic Performance in Kentucky, Anna K. Davidson
Hooked on Life: Recreational Therapy in the Lives of Drug Exposed Children, Sawyer Davidson and Michelle Gerken
Rhythms and Reading: Applying Literacy to the Music Classroom, Makenzie M. Davis
Silicon Eyes: The Moral Agency of Artificial Intelligence in Organizational Settings, William Davis
Developing a Campus Resource Guide for the EKU Latino Community, Kasey N. Dearing
Efficient Clustering for Users’ Brand Sentiment Analysis on Online Social Media, Alex Dixon
Memorable yet Unsung: The Significance of Video Game Music, Sydney Doll
Quilting: A Modern Exploration of a Traditional Occupation, Shelby L. Enlow
Does Birth Order Have an Order on Your Life?, Karagan Feldmeier
Photography and Perceptions of Beauty, Clayton Gibb
The Art of Mental Health: An Investigation of whether the Portrayal of Mental Illness through Art can Help Alleviate Stigmas towards Mental Health, Brandi Cheyenne Gibson
Revealing Ropes: Racism and Stereotypes in Professional Wrestling, Davida F. Gilliam
Funding the Field: A Literature Review of the Kentucky AgrAbility Program’s Financial Need to Assist Agricultural Workers Across the Commonwealth, Leah D. Goodman
The Impact of Anti-Opioid Print Messages on High-Sensation-Seeking Personalities and Behaviors: A Comparative Study of Public Service Announcements and Research, Allison B. Gordon
