Student Showcase

Ball Peen Hammer | Demonstration

• Student(s) Calvin Clark
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Nathanael Farrell | AIM CTE
• I have made a ball peen hammer and I will talk the people visiting through the process of making it. And maybe I'll demonstrate with a small wooden board and a nail.

Hammer | Other

• Student(s) Jackson Frear
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Nathanael Farrell | AIM CTE
• The project comes with many steps and is put together after separate pieces are cut.

Screwdriver | Other

• Student(s) Mark Marshall
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Nathanael Farrell | AIM CTE
• An aluminum screwdriver handle, with storage for extra bits. It was cut, drilled, and knurled on a lathe.

Center Punch | Other

• Student(s) Nicolas Seguin
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Nathanael Farrell | AIM CTE
• I took the skills I learned on a lathe to make a prick punch and then hardened the tip to make it more durable and can use it in future projects.

Wind Chimes | Other

• Student(s) Ze Maynard
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Nathanael Farrell | AIM CTE
• Wind chime tubes made from 1" diameter aluminum pipe differing in length, hung from an oak star shaped piece of wood with twine. Tuned to a Major scale.

Screwdriver Handle | Other

• Student(s) Jordan Barnard
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Nathanael Farrell | AIM CTE
• Screwdriver handle with coarse knurl for grip and drilled hole in back with 3D printed cap for other bits

Tap Handle | Other

• Student(s) Ethan Riker
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Nathanael Farrell | AIM CTE
• A small combination of two handles in order to hold a tap bit in order to give thread to a desired hole.

Hammer | Other

• Student(s) Sam Townsend
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Nathanael Farrell | AIM CTE
• The hammer is machined in two parts the head and the handle. The way to make the head of the hammer is to use a special tool bit to cut it. The way to do this is by grinding one to use. The prosses to do the hammer handle is to cut it to size then shape it up the knurl it and cut an angle on the front. That is the project in going to be doing.

Other | Other

• Student(s) Jeffrey Richardson
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Nathanael Farrell | AIM CTE
• One aluminum screw driver

Lapis Lazuli | Artwork

• Student(s) Storm Gallagher
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Nathanael Farrell | AIM CTE
• I created a one sided block of Lapis Lazuli from the game Minecraft. Using math to find the distances, I made the grooves by programming while using a very small end mill. It is decorated with blue layout dye.

Lightsaber | Other

• Student(s) Brandon Sischo
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Nathanael Farrell | AIM CTE
• A lightsaber that can be disassembled, made out of steel and aluminum with a PVC blade. The saber also has a working button.

Engine rebuild and Fuel injection install | Demonstration

• Student(s) Darrin Cooper, Silas Springer, Jordan McCarty
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Richard K Hollister | AMS 110
• Students will show an engine they rebuilt and added fuel injection to.

Heating and Air Conditioning Automotive | Demonstration

• Student(s) Jody Brown, Andrew Elliot
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Richard K Hollister | AMS 124
• Students will display an automotive heating and air-conditioning display

Automatic Transmission Assy | Demonstration

• Student(s) Abigail Saxton, Calvin Rice, Richard Gulley
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Richard K Hollister | AMS 214
• Students will display and automatic transmission and the internal components

Sushi Cell | Demonstration

• Student(s) Jacqueline Pine, Stephanie Lorence
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Marcia Wiseman | BIO 138
• To present a biological cell effectively, start by clearly stating its type—prokaryotic or eukaryotic, plant or animal—and provide a labeled diagram or 3D model for visual reference. Highlight the key organelles, such as the nucleus, mitochondria, and cell membrane, and explain their specific functions in maintaining the cell’s life processes. Use analogies, like comparing the nucleus to a control center or mitochondria to power plants, to make the information relatable. Finally, summarize how these structures work together to keep the cell alive and connect its function to the larger organism's health, ending with a quick Q&A to reinforce understanding.

Be Positive....or Negative! | Poster

• Student(s) Melissa Clever, Abby Benmark, Lydia Kastenschmidt, Savannah Woods
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Trish Finerty | BIO 138
• Our project is about the different human blood types and the determination of the ABO and Rh blood antigens on the surface of red blood cells. We learned how to differentiate blood types based on reactions with antibodies. We will present data and pictures on blood typing and why blod typing is important.

Under Pressure: Physical Activity and the Effect it has on Blood Pressure | Poster

• Student(s) Nicole Johnson
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Trish Finerty | BIO 138
• This presentation will discuss the links between physical activity levels and blood pressure readings.

My Drawings | Artwork

• Student(s) David Johnson
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Eric Sander | CAD 101
• This project is a 3D drawing that i drew and want to print. I am in the beginning course of CAD which is 101.

Patterns and objects for leather working | Other

• Student(s) Spencer Miller
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Eric Sander | CAD 101
• Different patterns and objects to assist with leather working. Some examples include tool holders, shaping domes for shaping wet leather, patterns made of acrylic, plastic or wood to then be traced onto leather for cutting.

1910 Buick Model 16 Toy Tonneau Water Pump Gears | Other

• Student(s) Elliott Blair, Blake Blair
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Eric Sander | CAD 210
• The water pump failed in our families 1910 Buick. Obviously we can’t buy parts for it, so using CAD knowledge we designed new gears for the pump, and found a machinist to cut new gears for us. We are bringing all revisions in the gears, along with the tools need to create the new gears.

The Stomper | Demonstration

• Student(s) Jonathan Hoffman
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Eric Sander | CAD 210
• The Stomper is an alternative device to the common, everyday door handle. As the name suggests, the Stomper is a door handle used by the foot. This contraption comes in handy in low-hygienic areas and high-traffic, industrial doorways that require a latch. As concerns rise about unhygienic environments, the Stomper may just replace the common doorknob and latch.

Barometer | Demonstration

• Student(s) Cayson Higley
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Eric Sander | CAD 210
• To show off a personal project to show proficiency with small form factor electronics and tolerances.

3D Printed Lamp Base Project | Other

• Student(s) Jadon Mayer
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Eric Sander | CAD 216
• The base part of an old desktop lamp was broken into pieces. Using SolidWorks, a replacement base was reverse engineered, 3D modeled, and then 3D printed.

3D Catapult | Demonstration

• Student(s) Evan McKenzie
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Eric Sander | CAD 216
• This is a 3D printed catapult that was designed with a gear system so that the energy could be stored and released at the users discretion.

Advancements in 3D Scanning and Printing Technology | Demonstration

• Student(s) Dakota Hadanek
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Eric Sander | CAD 217
• Demonstration of new technologies such as the ability to 3d scan objects and print using the full color spectrum to create nearly identical counter parts.

Stories of Reflection | Other

• Student(s) Marlene Wolber
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Bill Reader | ENG 226
• A gathering of stories that express meaningful journeys I've taken and life-changing choices I've made as a result of these experiences. Algonquin Park, San Francisco, alcohol and mental health treatment are some of the roads I've traveled, and these writings reflect what I learned along the way.

Between Hunt and Horizon | Other

• Student(s) Erick Austin
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Bill Reader | ENG 226
• Throughout this portfolio is a collection of stories from my experiences, thoughts,
  and feelings in a life lived immersed in the outdoors. Included are two separate memoirs covering both recent and distant times in my life, a personal essay detailing why public lands are important to me and why I think they should be important to everyone, and a story about a place that has helped mold me into the person and father I am today. These stories are my exploration of the outdoor world and the deep connection I have with it. Hunting is just a hobby for some, but for me it is a way of life. It is ultimately what led me back to college in pursuit of a career in the outdoor industry. I hope that within these stories you are able to see just how passionate I am about the outdoors and how exactly they have made me who I am. I also hope that during or after reading these, you will find that you share a sense of relation, maybe not in the outdoor or hunting space, but in any other aspects of life where it's as though you felt like you were figuring out where you belong or what you were passionate about.

Salty Radish | Poster

• Student(s) Brendan Bear, Alexander Worthing, Hailey Hulliberger
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Trish Finerty | ENV 200
• Our group tested the effect of 4 different substances (salts, juices, soda, and household cleaner)on the seed germination rates of radish seeds.

Daphnia Resilliance Waterlife Unfolds | Poster

• Student(s) Cheyenne Buker, Alexis Kailing, Aliah Cinco, Jack Shearer
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Trish Finerty | ENV 200
• We measured the rate of death for Daphnia when introducing different substances (vinegar, salts, cleaners) to their water.

Behind the Hunt: A Reporter's Look at the Grand National Inventional Grouse and Woodcock Championship | Video

• Student(s) Jessie Hollister
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Jason Brown | HAS 105
• This documentary project presents an immersive, first-person account of reporting at the Grand National Grouse and Woodcock Invitational Championship, held April 7–10 in Philipsburg, Pennsylvania, at Black Moshannon State Park. Recognized as one of the most prestigious competitions for grouse dogs in the United States, the event features an elite field of invited participants, showcasing the highest level of skill, discipline, and tradition within the sport. Serving in the dual role of videographer and field reporter, the filmmaker documents both the competitive action and the human stories that define it. Over three days, the production followed 16 one-hour braces on foot—covering more than 30 miles—capturing the event in a dynamic and physically demanding outdoor environment. This approach provides an authentic, ground-level perspective that places the viewer within the rhythm and intensity of the trial.
  Interviews with trainers, judges, and past champions offer firsthand insight into the dedication, preparation, and heritage behind the competition. These perspectives add depth beyond the field, revealing the emotional and cultural significance of the event. Through varied cinematography, natural sound, and in-the-moment reporting, the film weaves a narrative that balances the exclusivity of the championship—featuring only 14 of the nation’s top grouse dogs—with broader themes of perseverance, passion, and tradition.

Range Day | Video

• Student(s) Ryan Pearce
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Jason Brown | HAS 105
• This is a Day in the Life video project that focuses on a trip to the shooting range.

HRA Brazing & Soldering | Demonstration

• Student(s) Garrett Baxter, Domanic Hannaford
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Casey Schmid | HRA 104
• Precision Copper Fabrication: Advanced Brazing and Soldering Techniques

Plenum Imitation | Demonstration

• Student(s) Daniel Miller, Gauge Mitchell
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Casey Schmid | HRA 104
• A complete HVAC ductwork assembly featuring a custom-fabricated plenum, branch ducting, and terminal boots. This project demonstrates precision in layout, metal folding, and the implementation of airtight connections for efficient air distribution.

Tin Knockin' Things | Demonstration

• Student(s) Payton Paiz
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Casey Schmid | HRA 104
• Custom sheet metal toolbox fabricated using traditional tin knocking techniques. This project showcases proficiency in manual folding, seam reinforcement, and structural assembly to create a durable, professional-grade storage solution.

Smokeless Firepit | Demonstration

• Student(s) Noah Price
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Casey Schmid | HRA 104
• Custom-built smokeless fire pit with a dual-chamber airflow system. Accompanied by a visual presentation explaining the engineering principles of secondary combustion and efficient wood-gasification.

Tin Knockin' Things | Demonstration

• Student(s) Dawson Babcock
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Casey Schmid | HRA 104
• Custom sheet metal toolbox fabricated using traditional tin knocking techniques. This project showcases proficiency in manual folding, seam reinforcement, and structural assembly to create a durable, professional-grade storage solution.

Smoker | Demonstration

• Student(s) Abbie Lautzenheiser
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Casey Schmid | HRA 104
• Custom-engineered sheet metal smoker. A comprehensive project combining structural fabrication with thermal dynamics to produce a high-performance cooking system.

Guitar Amplifier | Demonstration

• Student(s) Elijah Marrison
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Casey Schmid | HRA 104
• Functional guitar amplifier. Designed and assembled from the ground up, featuring a hand-soldered circuit board and custom housing for a clean, professional finish.

The Heated Box | Demonstration

• Student(s) Braden Lewis
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Casey Schmid | HRA 104
• How effective is your insulation? My project uses a heated plastic tote and a digital temperature probe to track real-time heat escape. I’ll be comparing 'insulated vs. uninsulated' data to show exactly how much energy we can save with the right materials.

Trashcan | Demonstration

• Student(s) Jesse Harrington
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Casey Schmid | HRA 104
• Custom-fabricated sheet metal trashcan. This project involved precise measuring, cutting, and bending to create a durable, functional piece that demonstrates fundamental metalworking techniques.

Soldering Project | Demonstration

• Student(s) Patrick Harrington
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Casey Schmid | HRA 104
• An assembly of copper tubing, precision-fitted and soldered. The unit has been successfully nitrogen leak-tested and verified for water-tight integrity.

Is Newer Really Better? An Audiophile Exhibit | Demonstration

• Student(s) Cameron Letts
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Adam VanDyke/Jackie Justice | PHY 211
• As part of the Honors Program: This is an interactive and mostly non-experimental (on my part) showcase where people can test out two sets of headphones. This exhibit asks: Can the older Hifiman Sundara's beat out the newer Kiwi Ears Altruvas headphones? These headphones are currently comparable in price. For this audiophile exhibit, people can pick from a hand-selected playlist of around 190 songs from many genres and time periods in music to compare each headphone. This exhibit has a section about the physics on these headphones (air movement, ohms law, etc.) and how they work in general as well as sound graphs so people can visualize what they hear.

Flowers | Artwork

• Student(s) Caleb Halstead
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Nick Blackmer | WLD 130
• Flowers

Violin | Artwork

• Student(s) Chloe Roper
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Nick Blackmer | WLD 130
• Violin

Flintstones' Car | Artwork

• Student(s) Hunter Smith
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Nick Blackmer | WLD 130
• Flintstones' Car

Washer Snake | Artwork

• Student(s) Evan Farr
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Nick Blackmer | WLD 130
• Washer Snake

Wright Brothers Plane | Artwork

• Student(s) Caleb Halstead
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Nick Blackmer | WLD 130
• Wright Brothers Plane

Stealth Bomber | Artwork

• Student(s) Gavin VanBuren
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Nick Blackmer | WLD 130
• Stealth Bomber

Toaster Robot | Artwork

• Student(s) Konor Godoy
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Nick Blackmer | WLD 130
• Toaster Robot

Roller | Artwork

• Student(s) Mike Ware
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Nick Blackmer | WLD 130
• Roller

Fork Lift | Artwork

• Student(s) Thomas Hamilton
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Nick Blackmer | WLD 130
• Fork Lift

Service Learning Assignment | Video

• Student(s) Sierra Sterling
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Kelli Butler | AAP 264
• This assignment required AAP 264 Business Communications II students to present their service-learning experience and its connection to business communication. In the presentation, students should have explained who they worked with, what they did, and where the service took place. Students should describe how their service addressed a business communication need or communication issue within the community and evaluate the value of their work for the organization or group served. Each student needed to explain how their service demonstrated civic engagement beyond simply giving charity, such as improving communication processes, supporting community goals, or building partnerships. They should also reflect on what they learned or how they personally and professionally benefited from the experience, identify the most meaningful or rewarding aspect of their service, and discuss how this or future service-learning experiences could benefit an office environment or be applied in their future career.

Manual Accounting Practice Set | Poster

• Student(s) Cloie Bennett, Kiegan White
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Ashlee Ritchie | ACC 231
• Students displaying their knowledge of the accounting cycle by working through a manual practice set.

Charting the Artistic Cosmos | Artwork

• Student(s) Emma Sherman
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Jackie Justice, Peter Stack, Brad Olrich | ART
• Honors Project Submission: An interstellar timeline of my art progression throughout my first year at MID Michigan College. Within the timeline you can see where I started, the ups and downs of practicing skills, the struggles I've faced stepping outside of my comfort zone, and what I was able to learn and accomplish by the end of it all.

Charcoal Portrait | Artwork

• Student(s) Gideon Sacco
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Faith Freedom | ART 105
• This piece of art is from my Drawing I class first semester. The picture is of my girlfriend, and I created it using charcoal. It was my first experience with the medium.

Portrait | Artwork

• Student(s) Elliot Ratkos
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Faith Freedom | ART 130
• Portrait oil painting

Landscape Painting | Artwork

• Student(s) Elliot Ratkos
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Faith Freedom | ART 130
• It is a landscape painting

Self Portrait | Artwork

• Student(s) Gideon Sacco
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Peter Stack | ART 205
• This piece of art is from my Drawing II class. It is a self-portrait composed of charcoal. I used an electric eraser and a white gel pen to add highlights.

Sciuridae | Artwork

• Student(s) Gideon Sacco
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Peter Stack | ART 205
• This piece of art is from my Drawing II class, created with a black pen and highlighted with a white gel pen. I used cross-hatching and stippling to shade this drawing.

Stay Awake | Artwork

• Student(s) Medi Lipar
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Faith Freedom | ART 230
• Stay Awake is a mental health piece meant to describe my battles with sleep and what I assume is narcolepsy as a whole. The piece is meant to showcase how I feel during a sleep spell, how it feels to cradle up and cry because of the inability to control when I fall asleep at times. One moment I'm awake, another I'm out, nothing in between.

The Heartbeat | Artwork

• Student(s) Medi Lipar
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Faith Freedom | ART 230
• The Heartbeat is a reminder of how much I love music and what it means to me within life. How I feel when I listen to nearly any song, especially those played by my band in my high school years. It's as if my heart beats along with the music itself. It's apart of me, my body, my mind, and my soul.

The Shapes That Shape You | Other

• Student(s) Griffin Meas
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Faith Freedom | ART 230
• We are told to never judge a book by it's cover, but today with my portrait pieces I would like you to do that! The first thing some of us might notice when looking at someone is the shapes and small details on someones face that tell a story of who they might be. With my portrait painting I would like to capture those emotional details, so the brush strokes are gonna be messy and awkward, but if you went back and "fixed" those details, you wouldn't have you!

The Taxidermic Process | Artwork

• Student(s) Carson Jarman
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Bradley Olrich | ART 240
• Student will be showcasing several pieces of taxidermy, and the artwork that goes into making the inner mannequin. It will showcase various methods for various different species, and will emphasize sustainability within the craft.

"The World Isn't In Your Books and Maps, It's Out There" (Gandalf) | Video

• Student(s) Kameren Osborn
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Lucia Elden | ART 283
• This video is about my experience at the Detroit Institute of Art (DIA). It highlights some of my favorite pieces, with descriptions of each, and appreciates and connects them to different or similar art forms, particularly animation and film. It includes both analysis of art and reflections of the art museum experience.

Bloodstained Canvases | Other

• Student(s) Kameren Osborn
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Lucia Elden | ART 284
• Blood—a political statement, a religious movement, a declaration, no matter what it may be or what it may stand for—blood can be a—powerful storyteller. This newsletter analyzes how blood is painted in art history—Artemisia Gentileschi, Caravaggio, Jacques-Louis David, Goya—but also connects it to contemporary film.

Landscapes Across Time | Artwork

• Student(s) Katrina Bucao
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Lucia Elden | ART 284
• This triptych explores landscapes across various art movements during the 17th-19th centuries. Not only did the student paint the landscapes based on paintings and movements of the time, but she also built the wood panels for the triptych. The project shows how artists viewed the landscape from the perspective of art

The Human Figure in Art History | Poster

• Student(s) Judee Dabas
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Lucia Elden | ART 284
• This project explores how the human figure is represented across different art styles. I chose Baroque, Rococo, and Neoclassical to compare how artists from each period show the human body in unique ways. Baroque art emphasizes realism, and strong contrasts of light and shadow. Rococo focuses on elegance, softness, and decorative beauty. Neoclassical art shows order, balance, and idealized forms inspired by ancient Greece and Rome. Through these three styles, my project shows how artistic choices reflect different values, emotions, and ideas about the human figure.

How Mathematics Changed Art in Renaissance | Poster

• Student(s) Gideon Sacco
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Lucia Elden | ART 284
• This paper presentation explains how mathematics began to be a feature in art and architecture including linear perspective, orthogonal lines, and grids in the Renaissance after an interest in Greek, Roman, and Muslim philosophers.

The Macro-Headache Relationship | Other

• Student(s) Chance Breault, Caleb Stevens
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Jeremiah Wagner | BIO 111
• This study investigated whether macronutrient deficiency is a contributing cause of headaches by analyzing large-scale health data from the All of Us research program. The research examined the relationship between dietary deficiencies and three specific conditions: migraines, chronic headache disorder, and chronic tension-type headaches. Despite a hypothesis predicting a direct correlation, the results indicated no apparent link between macronutrient deficiency and the headache groups studied. These findings suggest that while these specific dietary factors may not be primary triggers, further research with broader demographics is needed to fully understand the complex causes of chronic headaches.

Psychosis and Psycoactive Drug Use | Other

• Student(s) Seth Grandy, Mallory Gray, Haley Stiltner
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Jeremiah Wagner | BIO 111
• Psychotic disorders can be caused or aggravated by the use of drugs, making substance induced psychosis a modern health concern and an important area of public health research. Different categories of drugs like stimulants, cannabis, opioids, and hallucinogens have varying amounts of psychotic risk or similar symptoms, and the extent is still not fully understood. The All of Us Database offers a diverse selection of datasets and surveys that allow us to examine mental health diagnoses and drug patterns to study for any associations. We asked whether any specific category of the aforementioned psychoactive drugs are associated with a higher rate of psychotic disorders. Our hypothesis was that hallucinogens and cannabis would have lower associations with psychosis, while amphetamines and stimulants would have a stronger association.

Battle of the Fittest: Mutation Rates and Fitness | Poster

• Student(s) Haley Stiltner, Makenzie Zuiderveen, Mallory Gray
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Jeremiah Wagner | BIO 112
• Avida-ED was used to test whether organisms evolved in high-mutation environments are better prepared for environmental shifts. Our research question asked: if an organism is raised in a high-stress environment, will it be more fit when moved to a new environment? We hypothesized that organisms from a 5% mutation rate would be the most fit. However, our results did not support this. In our bracket-style tournament, the Avidian raised at a 0.5% mutation rate demonstrated the highest fitness in the new environment.

an Artifical Design Surpass Natural Selection? A Fitness Comparison Study | Poster

• Student(s) Lily Pappas, Gabi Johnston
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Jeremiah Wagner | BIO 112
• In this study, Avida-ED was used to investigate whether engineered organisms are more fit than evolved organisms. We hypothesized that if engineered organisms compete with naturally evolved ones, the engineered organisms would demonstrate higher fitness. To test this, we compared organisms evolved naturally against those we engineered by providing them with specific resources. Our results supported our hypothesis that our engineered organisms achieved higher fitness than the evolved organisms.

Vital Pressure The Science Behind the Numbers | Poster

• Student(s) Madison Morrow, Megan Wiggins
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Trish Finerty | BIO 138
• Our project focuses on the effects of sleep on blood pressure.

"Under Pressure" The Effects of Caffeine Intake | Poster

• Student(s) Olivia Sasse, Jadyn Bair, Emily Kailing, Nicholas Felty
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Trish Finerty | BIO 138
• This project examined how weekly caffeine consumption affects blood pressure and mean arterial pressure. Data collected from 40 subjects showed that higher caffeine correlated to higher blood pressure.

Beyond the Shell | Poster

• Student(s) Anna Shears
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Trish Finerty | BIO 299
• My project will be on the importance of protecting sea turtles, and why study abroad trips are so important. Not everyone gets these opportunities and some people don’t even know that this type of trip exists. I will talk about my experiences and what I learned in the BIO 299 Service Learning in Costa Rica class. My project will include why turtles are so important to the environment and what affects their quality of life (habitat loss, plastic pollution, and poachers) and why sea turtles are a key part of ecosystems.

Lego Project | Artwork

• Student(s) Destry Therrell
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Eric Sander | CAD 201
• Presenting a solidworks assembly of a 126 piece lego build.

Chemical Awareness: Teflon | Poster

• Student(s) Josiah Maurer
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Deborah Hasselschwert | CHM 105
• For our chemical awareness project, I decided to focus on one chemical that I knew was particularly important to discuss, that being Polytetrafluoroethylene, also known as Teflon. I first heard about the world’s growing concerns surrounding Teflon while watching an independently produced documentary covering its discovery, mass adoption, and growing health concerns. To summarize, Teflon was invented by accident in 1938 by the company DuPont. It was initially used to coat seals and valves during the Manhattan project due to its incredibly low reactivity. It has since been implemented in all sorts of products from all sorts of industries. Recently, it was discovered that because it doesn’t react with anything in the human body, it can begin to build up, causing complications, including increased risk of cancer, lowered vaccine responses, and potential birth complications. While that’s already bad, what makes it worse is that you have almost definitely been exposed already. Because Teflon doesn’t react easily, it was poorly regulated, leading to production plants dumping their byproducts out into the environment when it then contaminates the animals that drink it water. Those animals then pass the Teflon along the food chain, spreading it beyond the dumping sites and all around the world. With how far reaching Teflon has become, I knew it was the most important chemical I could present on.

Chemistry of NM Cable | Demonstration

• Student(s) Will Moreno
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Deborah Hasselschwert | CHM 105
• This project shows how chemistry is used in electrical wiring. It focuses on the polymers PVC and Nylon used in NM cable, explaining their chemical structure and properties. A working electrical board is used alongside a poster to demonstrate how these materials function in real circuits. PVC provides insulation and flame resistance, while Nylon adds durability and protection. This project connects chemistry to real-world electrical applications.

Red 40 Chemical Research | Poster

• Student(s) Sarah Steinman
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Deborah Hasselschwert | CHM 105
• Red 40 is a synthetic dye that comes from petroleum. It has been linked to a known carcinogen and a possible carcinogen. It has also been shown to negatively affect ADHD, depression, and anxiety. It is used in numerous everyday items, ranging from food to tattoo ink.

Fundamentals of Communication through Illustration | Artwork

• Student(s) Olivia Hooper, Elodie Burl, Evalyn Zagorski, Pyper Braun
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Aimee Hare | COM 101
• Effective communication requires reflective thinking and understanding the unique groups which we find ourselves in everyday. Consequently, perception, listening, evaluating, selecting and processing are skills that all can appreciate and see in our interpretation of illustrations. Moreover, how we have all developed a deeper awareness of what the fundamentals of communication look like through our lenses'.

Why we need to protect our Great Lakes | Speech

• Student(s) Chase Murawski
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Aimee Hare | COM 101
• The Great Lakes are essential for our economy and our own environment. However they are in great danger and we need to act NOW in order to protect them.

The Efficacy of Economic Sanctions | Poster

• Student(s) Mason Cross, Matt Tubbs
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Robert Bejesky | ECO 201
• Dictatorships seek to enhance their power and wealth and use tools of repression to maintain power over populations. Foreign states may place economic sanctions on dictatorships posing global security threats, which can stimulate populace dissent to dictatorships, but the effectiveness in achieving regime change is limited by degree of citizen inculcation, regime control over society, citizen cost-benefit analysis of suppression if dissent emerges, and perception of success. Moreover, like-minded dictatorships self-sustain each other to undermine economic sanctions, while military intervention by sanctioning states poses the risk of further populace suppression or rally-around-the flag dynamics, potentially making citizens even less likely to dissent. In this context, the study assesses sanctions against and support among China, Russia, Iran, Venezuela, Cuba, North Korea, and Syria, with a particular emphasis on current events involving Russia, Iran, and Venezuela.

I Read Myself: Exploring the Importance of Representation and Choice of Text Selection in Secondary English Classrooms | Poster

• Student(s) August Kuhlman
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Lucia Elden | EDU 107
• Students who are not able to see themselves represented in works they read are likely to internalize the message that their stories do not matter, that people like them do not write or are not written about, or that there is only one narrow, stereotypical version of their identity which is allowed to be expressed. There are circumstances in which teachers are not able to freely choose the major works which they study; however, this should not be a circumstance met with apathy, feelings of helplessness, or simple acceptance but with a spirit of problem solving and intellectual opportunity.

Quality of Friendships | Other

• Student(s) Madison Hewens
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Aimee Hare | ENG 111
• Growing up, everyone tells us to watch who we surround ourselves with, and we never really thought much of it. As you get older you realize you want people who believe the same things you do, morally. If you choose to hangout with negative people, you’re going to feel negative. Always question who makes yourself better in so many ways, finding the right people for you is so important on so many levels. As you get closer to certain people, you slowly become them, whether for the better or worse. There are different types of peer pressure, negative and positive. Positive peer pressure will bring out the good in people and will help them with choices and make the right one.

Lack of school funding can affect the entire school culture | Other

• Student(s) Lily Guitar
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Aimee Hare | ENG 111
• School funding as a whole makes many students, staff, and faculty nervous. I believe that when we look at it as small pieces, it is scary knowing the effect it has on schools nationwide. When looking at the pieces to the puzzle, there are many different categories to consider. School morale, home life, and your community should all be factored into the importance of school funding. Your physical, mental, and emotional state should also be taken into consideration. Future and educational opportunities, different classes, and resources can all be negatively impacted from the lack of funding as well. Students can also get the initial cultural shock once they are out of a low-funded school and put into the real world. I believe that through my high school career, I could have had more opportunities if I went to a school that had more funding to be able to give to their students and teachers. By not having AP classes, teachers that genuinely care about their students, and one-on-one help, my education that I deserve was not used to its full potential.

Animal Assisted Therapy | Other

• Student(s) Ava Morell
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Aimee Hare | ENG 111
• Have you ever wondered why you felt calm after petting an animal? Animals actually have a calming effect on the human body, which is one of the reasons that animal assisted therapy exists. Therapy animals can vary from dogs and cats to horses and donkeys. Whether it is a dog that is assisting with physical disabilities or a horse assisting a kid with anxiety by building their confidence, animal assisted therapy has many benefits. Animal assisted therapy is a form of treatment using trained animals to improve social, emotional, cognitive and physical well being of individuals. This type of therapy is not just a temporary fix, it helps increase certain types of hormones in the human body which provides a longer term solution. Animal assisted therapy isn’t just for mental struggles, but also for physical and cognitive struggles. The most common use of a therapy dog is for people with disabilities, physical needs, or mental health challenges. Animal assisted therapy has numerous benefits and should be used more often.

Attention Crisis | Other

• Student(s) Evan Olson
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Aimee Hare | ENG 111
• What we hold valuable to ourselves differs from person to person. The reality is that the most valuable resource for any person to have is their attention. Attention is something that everyone has, it can never run out but it can always shift. It is the building blocks for how we perceive things that are happening around us and how we decide whether or not to act upon and be present in situations. What you pay attention to becomes your habits. If you never pay attention to the importance of sleep then you will never create a sleeping habit. These are all reasons why attention shapes our day-to-day lives and the decisions we make. Attention is more valuable than gold or oil. Because our attention is such a precious commodity it makes it something that people try hard to monopolize. People and businesses know that your attention is the most important and valuable asset that they can attain. So they try their best to distract you and fill your vision with the things that they want you to see, so you will stay in the illusion of importance that they have created. They want to keep you trapped in their domain so they can continue to leach off of your biggest power. The world has become polluted with things that fight tooth and nail to grab your attention and keep it for as long as it can.

Death Through the Eyes of Poets | Poster

• Student(s) Zivah Jorgenson
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Julia Terhune | ENG 112
• Humanity has desired an understanding of death in hopes of overcoming the complicated emotions and fears surrounding it. Religions almost always have some sort of relationship with death, whether it be afterlife or punishment, and cultures around the world have had varied theories about where one’s soul goes. Countless poets have written on their grievances regarding people's reactions, emotions, and actions when death occurs. The range of reactions to death is a topic Mary Oliver, Elizabeth Bishop, Robert Frost, Dylan Thomas, and Emily Dickinson have explored through their writing. To capture the emotions that come with death, they each used certain literary devices that allowed readers to share in the poet's point of view and experience. Poetry justifies humanity’s varied and sometimes unexpected reactions to death.

Manifestations of Fear | Other

• Student(s) Hesston Keim
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Aimee Hare | ENG 112
• A dark shadow, an unsettling thought, a spiritual disruption, a silent prowler. Fear cannot be defined in a single definitive way, yet it’s something that is encapsulated in the core of each of our lives. In literature, fear is often a topic represented in the form of horror, pain, or other physical turmoil. We can take away the power of fear by naming it, confronting it, and placing it within a framework of faith, humility, and honest self-examination. Fear doesn’t have one single remedy, but applying these frameworks to the different manifestations of it can push it away and keep it from reaching oneself. In reality, fear shapes us, but we choose whether it isolates us or strengthens us.

Learning to live in a body I was taught to hate | Artwork

• Student(s) Debreanna Kennedy
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Aimee Hare | ENG 112
• When I first read Ioanna Carlsen's poem “Fat,” I had to stop halfway through. My chest tightened in the familiar way it does when I walk into a classroom and feel eyes scanning me before I even sit down. I didn't just understand this poem, I recognized it. Carlsen writes about body image, shame, and the mental prison created by self-perception, and in doing so she exposes how bullying can turn a person against themselves long after the original cruelty ends. Reading it made me think about my own experiences with bullying and the anger and self-hate I’ve carried from elementary school into high school. It made me realize how those feelings still affect the way I move through the world.Carlsen writes at a time when body positivity exists but comparison is still everywhere. The tension that is between acceptance and shame, is what this poem lives inside. That makes the poem feel personal, but also like it’s part of a bigger cultural conversation. It’s a reminder that the problem isn’t just personal, it’s also societal.

The Illusion of Identity Within Society | Other

• Student(s) Jacob Koroleski
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Aimee Hare | ENG 112
• My creative project explores the theme of the illusion behind identity, and how society places expectations that deeply influence the way individuals present themselves to the world. In many situations, people feel pressure to appear successful and perfect, in order to gain approval or acceptance from others. However, when people tend to hide their true thoughts and emotions, they often begin to struggle internally. For my project, my goal is to show the difference between what we see on the outside, versus what individuals feel like on the inside.

“It’s Just a Joke": Stereotypes, Production, and the Role of Critical Media Literacy in Films | Poster

• Student(s) Kamille Reed
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Lucia Elden | ENG 222
• This project considers how representation in film is affected by production choices and mainstream appeal. Stereotypes are deeply enmeshed in our history; particular tropes are used to get a laugh. However, there is a generational shift with the potential of changing perspectives towards a more ethical future. How can critical media literacy shift the narrative, unlearning damaging representations from the past? The presenter is hoping to engage with Showcase visitors about this important question.

Changing the Paradigm: The Sober Generation | Demonstration

• Student(s) Holly Jones
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Lucia Elden | ENG 222
• This project is based on a multi-round interview held at Central Michigan University for the TEDx talk “Changing the Paradigm.” After writing a research paper in English 222, “How Can Communities, Social Supports and Treatment Options Aid in Substance Abuse Disorder (SUD) Recovery?”, I realized that as a generation we are subtly shifting the habits of this world. For generations, drugs and alcohol have been treated as the default setting to adulthood. Celebrations included it, stress demanded it, and socializing revolved around it. But quietly, across college campuses, among parenting communities and young professionals, a new cultural wave is happening: The Sober Generation. This project aims to examine not only the paper that led me to audition for a TEDx talk, but also the process of video submissions, interviewing, and the preparation

Ethical Poetry: Writing about Feminism and Technology | Poster

• Student(s) Shawna Gallagher
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Jackie Justice | ENG 225
• My work examines society’s sacrifice of critical thinking for convenience, the cosmic beauty of motherhood and femininity, and the threat of trans-humanism—an integration of technology and humanity.

The Mechanics of Memory | Other

• Student(s) Lindsey Ashley
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Bill Reader | ENG 226
• A collection of written works that recounts stories from my childhood, growing up, and why creativity matters so much to me. Through a multitude of different mediums, I share stories of visiting my paternal grandparents, my experiences in high school and my graduation, the dangers of AI on the creative process, and my camping trip to the U.P.

Mythic and Mimetic Analysis of "Wicked" On Screen | Poster 

• Student(s) Cody Renner
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Iliana Miller | ENG 281
• This individual writing assignment invites students to write an interpretive essay on the movie " Wicked" that we watched in Children's Literature Class. Cody's interpretation of the movie's strong visual elements brings the full power of his cultural, critical, and visual literacy to bear. He problematizes that movie by employing multiple ways of looking and reading, offering a multidimensional approach to its global dimensions and various ethnic, national, and cultural perspectives. Cody's writing takes a deep dive into two of the 14 Critical Approaches for analysis in the humanities.

AI and the Future of Grid Stability | Other

• Student(s) Bryson Hernandez, Ty Phillips, Leo Schrot
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Anthony Sassin | HUM 200
• Growing global use of AI has posed a challenge to energy grid infrastructures. Every step of the process, from the production of materials for data centers to the user experience, impacts grid stability and the communities that rely on those grides

The Burden of Global AI on Local Communities and Ecosystems | Other

• Student(s) Jeffrey Cox, Micah Nickel, John Soeltner
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Anthony Sassin | HUM 200
• The speed of global communication and logistics along with sophisticated algorithms have created a rapidly growing, widespread pandemic of a Fear of Missing Out (FOMO). Companies like Shein and Temu have commodified the psychological experience by simultaneously manufacturing desires as well as the products to fulfill them.

Fast FOMO and the Global Trade of Anxiety | Other

• Student(s) Jesse Bliven, Katelyn LeViere, Addison Smith
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Anthony Sassin | HUM 200
• The speed of global communication and logistics along with sophisticated algorithms have created a rapidly growing, widespread pandemic of a Fear of Missing Out (FOMO). Companies like Shein and Temu have commodified the psychological experience by simultaneously manufacturing desires as well as the products to fulfill them.

The United States, Religion and the Modern Compassion Deficiency | Other

• Student(s) Elliot Ratkos
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Jackie Justice | HUM 242
• It is a slideshow integrating course material with an academic interview I conducted

Moral Blindness | Other

• Student(s) Madison Kanyo
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Eric Chemberlin | PHL 220
• Moral Blindness is a paper that discusses society's unethical treatment of those within the LGBTQIA+ community. Current proposed legislation is compared to previous societal moral blind spots, the ethics of happiness, the ethics of relationships, and the teachings of philosophers Confucius and Gregory Cajete, which is used as evidence to support the claim of unethical treatment.

Study of Waste Heat Recovery Using a Small Scale Stirling Engine | Demonstration

• Student(s) Anthony Tallent
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Nil Upadhya | PHY106/PHY212
• This study investigates the design, construction, and performance evaluation of a Stirling heat engine for small-scale waste heat recovery. The engine operates on a closed thermodynamic cycle using a constant mass of air as the working fluid, where mechanical work is generated through cyclic expansion and compression caused by a temperature difference between hot and cold reservoirs. A prototype was fabricated using readily available materials, including metal pipes, gas valves, and a low-friction piston–cylinder assembly. The system was experimentally tested under varying temperature gradients to assess power output and operational performance. The results demonstrate the feasibility of utilizing low- to medium-grade waste heat from sources such as industrial processes, vehicle exhaust systems, and power plants for decentralized power generation. This work highlights the potential of Stirling engines as an efficient and sustainable solution for waste heat recovery applications.

The 11-Day Nightmare: When Sleep Deprivation Takes Over | Poster

• Student(s) LeeAnn White
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Jackie Justice, Maria Gross | PSY 101
• Honors Project Submission: In 1965, a 17 year old high school student, Randy Gardner stayed awake for 264 hours or 11 days. Every day without sleep started to wear down his physical and mental abilities.

Why Cognitive Biases Are Important: What They Are, What They Do, and How to Work With Them | Video

• Student(s) Jacob Frost
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Steve Ross | PSY 101
• Unfortunately, sometimes people make irrational decisions that are based on their brain’s unique wiring and previous schemas; these decisions are known as cognitive biases. This video project was made to inform the general public about what cognitive biases are and the consequences that occur when we unknowingly hold them. Not enough people know what cognitive biases are, understand when they have them, and understand why it’s important to push against them. This video focuses on how cognitive biases affect minority groups in healthcare settings and offers strategies to overcome cognitive biases in general. It also encourages individuals to speak up for themselves in medical situations and gives real-world examples of what happens when patient advocacy isn’t present for at-risk patients. The main takeaway from this video is that cognitive biases will always be present in everyone, and the solution to mitigating their effects is to be self-critical, reflective, and to actively seek out people with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences that are different from one’s own.

Breaking the Cycle: Why Opioid Addiction Is Hard to Treat | Poster

• Student(s) Calissa Lytle, Kelly Leksche
• Faculty Sponsor & Course Paul Robb | PSY 205
• Opioid addiction is often misunderstood, and many people think it’s just about willpower. This project looks at what is really going on, including how opioids affect the brain and why they are so addictive. We also focus on what helps people recover, including medication-assisted treatment (MAT) and different types of therapy. Another important part of this project is understanding relapse. Many people return to use even after trying to quit, and this is often due to triggers, stress, and the way the brain has changed. By looking at both treatment and relapse, this project helps explain why recovery can be difficult and why support over time is so important.