FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MAY 11, 2007
Media Contact: Betsy Brottlund, (760) 591-0700
California State University San Marcos Students Win First Place in 21st Annual CSU Student Research Competition
On May 4 and 5, three students from California State University San Marcos took first place at the 21st Annual California State University Student Research Competition in the Undergraduate Sessions of Behavioral and Social Sciences. Undergraduate and graduate students from 23 universities participated in the event at California State University, Dominguez Hills, and showcased research to a panel of judges in 10 different categories: behavioral and social sciences; biological and agricultural sciences; business, economics and public administration; creative arts and design; education; engineering and computer science; health, nutrition and clinical sciences; humanities and letters; physical and mathematical sciences; and interdisciplinary.
“We’re very proud of all nine of our students who competed,” says Kaine Thompson, Senior Director of Communications at CSU San Marcos. “The fact that they also brought home three first place awards speaks to the quality of their presentations and the education they receive here.”
Aspiring college history professor and freshman Denise Kane received first place for her research paper, “Fighting Ever Since I Came Into this World: A Critical Analysis of the Federal Writers’ Project Slave Narratives." Sponsored by History Professor Dr. Jill Watts, the paper analyzes the slave narratives from the Federal Writers’ Project that were compiled during the Great Depression.
Senior and psychology major Melissa Guaderrama won for her research on the behavioral effects of methamphetamine/morphine and methamphetamine/codeine in laboratory rats. Her presentation, "Enhanced Behavioral Response to Methamphetamine/Codeine ‘Speedball’ in Rats," sponsored by Psychology Professor Dr. Keith Trujillo, proves that combining these two drugs can produce a much greater stimulant effect than if administered alone.
Sandra Gotlaufa analyzed the increased popular support for extreme right-wing parties in Europe, proposing that party organization and prevalence of anti-immigrant sentiments contributes to this trend. Majoring in political science this year, Gotlaufa plans to go to law school to continue her research. Sponsored by Political Science Professor Dr. Scott Greenwood, her paper is called “Why Do Citizens of West European Countries Vote For Extreme Right-Wing Parties?”
Other Cal State San Marcos student research presented in the competition included “Enhanced Response to PCP and Ketamine Following Weekly Administration,” presented by Brian Sullivan, a graduate psychology student; “Interactions of Ketamine and Methamphetamine on Behavior in Laboratory Rats: Implications For Human Use,” presented by Cynthia Garcia, an undergraduate psychology student; “Acute Exercise Response of the Spinal Cord Injured (SCI) on the Flexerciser,” presented by Nicholas Tyerman, an undergraduate of Kinesiology; “Innate Immune Respose in Litopenaeus Sytlirostris Challenged with Infectious Hypodermal and Hemtapoetic Necrosis Virus,” presented by Jessica Berry, a biology graduate student; and “Star Coloring Planar Graphs, presented by Craig Timmons, a mathematics graduate student.
Students presented research to a panel of judges consisting of experts from major corporations, foundations, public agencies, colleges and universities in California. For more information, visit the competition website at http://www.csudh.edu/rf/SRD_statewide_2.htm.
(end)
