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Fall 2002
Honors Colloquium Students'
Abstracts and Autobiographies
NICOLE S. HANJANI
"Matthew Hopkins, Witch Finder in Historical Context"
Advisor: Dr. Linda Taber
Abstract
Matthew Hopkins was England's first and only Witch Finder
General. He lived in the 17th century and while details concerning
all but the last few years of his life are at best uncertain,
much research exists about his career. Hopkins is to this
day a controversial figure and he played an important, if
devastating role in the history of English witchcraft. Hopkins'
methods as a witch finder seem to have been greatly influenced
by Continental ideas of witchcraft and although he was popular
for a time, he was criticized by some, his most outspoken
critic being an Anglican clergyman named John Gaule.
Autobiography
Nicole Hanjani is the daughter of Tammy Hanjani of Minatare,
Nebraska, near Scottsbluff, Nebraska. She attended high school
at Tehran International School in Tehran, Iran, where she
lived for six years. A native of southern California, Nicole
has lived in Nebraska for five years. While attending Wayne
State College, Nicole has been a member of Phi Alpha Theta
and the Honors Program. A history major and English minor,
she is a senior and upon graduating from Wayne State College,
intends to pursue a Ph.D. in Medieval Studies.
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JENNIFER A. HOFFMAN
"Auditor Independence: Is It Time for Change"
Advisor: Dr. Gary Volk
Abstract
Over the past few years, several nationally known companies
have been drawing considerable amounts of media coverage due
to controversial accounting issues. As a result, the accounting
profession is receiving a lot of scrutiny concerning some
of the regulations they follow. My presentation focuses on
the controversy between auditor independence in the auditing
and consulting concentrations. Although accountants realized
the regulations for this area needed to be reexamined, little
was done until the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 was signed by
President Bush in July. An additional aspect I will cover
examines what accountants must do in order to regain the public's
confidence in the profession.
Autobiography
Jennifer Hoffman is the daughter of Dale and Debbie Kuhlman
of Creighton, Nebraska. Jennifer, a graduate of Creighton
High School, is majoring in public accounting and finance.
While attending Wayne State College, Jennifer has been involved
in various residence hall and intramural activities. She has
also been involved in Students in Free Enterprise, Alpha Lambda
Delta, and served as the Phi Beta Lambda treasurer. She was
a 2001 Who's Who in America's Colleges and Universities Recipient
and has been on the Dean's List. Jennifer will graduate in
December of 2002.
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JENNIE L. LACEY
"The Family Influence on Juvenile Delinquency"
Advisor: Dr. Keith Willis
Abstract
For my honors project, I am studying the correlation between
the family environment and juvenile delinquency. I will review
the key elements involving family characteristics, which contribute
to a juvenile delinquent's criminal behavior. I will hypothesize
that the main factor influencing an adolescent breaking the
law is factors of the nuclear family unit. In my research
I have found that along with the environment, numerous other
family characteristics are associated with this issue, such
as the absence of a father in the child's life, a mother who
holds a full-time job, which then affects the amount of supervision
a child is given, deviant acts committed by other family members,
neglect experienced by the child, the amount of family conflict
the child is witnessing, a broken family unit, including abandonment
or divorce, any physical abuse to the adolescent, and finally,
the parent-child relationship. I will give an in-depth case
study supporting the link between the family and juvenile
delinquency from my own experiences as a Family Support Worker.
Then, I will review and describe a survey I conducted with
adolescents involved in counseling and their thoughts and
experiences with their own families. This will further emphasize
the point that most if not all juvenile delinquents are most
influenced and lured into a criminal lifestyle through the
direct experiences and relationships they receive in their
closest environment, the family.
Autobiography
Jennie Lacey is the daughter of Dr. Steffan and Cathie Lacey
of Norfolk, Nebraska. She is a graduate of Norfolk High School
and is majoring in Human Service Counseling with a minor in
Criminal Justice. She is also a member of Alpha Phi Sigma.
Jennie has previously been named as a Countess in the 2001
Ak-Sar-Ben Ball. She is currently employed at Good Life Counseling
in Norfolk as a Family Support Worker. Upon graduation, she
will begin graduate school here at Wayne State College to
obtain her master's degree in Community Counseling. She has
received extensive experience in the area of the family and
juvenile delinquency due to her internship at Good Life Counseling.
She also assists with a private therapist in the Norfolk area
in co-leading a therapy group focusing on adolescent social
skills. She has independently led another counseling group
with adolescent girls for the purpose of music therapy.
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LEAH M. MANZER
"Women in Computing"
Advisor: Dr. Timothy Garvin
Abstract
This study focuses on the diversification in the Information
Technology field, with an emphasis on women in computing careers.
Technology has helped many people both personally and professionally;
numerous opportunities have been created. However, some people,
women in particular, often consider information technology
a burden, despite its many advantages. Some of the issues
faced by women in the computing industry were analyzed through
literature review and interviews. This history of women in
computing was addressed, as well. Today's economy depends
more and more on a diverse work group. A large portion of
the U.S. workforce consists of women. Getting more women involved
in the technical field is even more important. Oftentimes,
women are faced with a number of challenges in the IT field;
however, research indicates that sometimes these challenges
encourage women to follow their goals. However, sometimes
the challenges can have the adverse effect on females, too.
My study focuses on the reasons women do not enter the IT
field and why the gender gap is not good for the future of
technology
Autobiography
A 1998 graduate of Osmond High School, Leah is the daughter
of Steve and Beth Manzer from Osmond, Nebraska. She majored
in Finance and Computer Information Systems and will graduate
in December.
She has been on the National Dean's List as well as the Wayne
State College Dean's List. Leah was the first place Telecommunications
winner at the State Leadership Conference for Phi Beta Lambda
in 2001. During the summer, she represented the State of Nebraska
in Orlando, Florida, at the National Leadership Conference
and competed in Telecommunications. She has been a recipient
of Who's Who in America's College and Universities in both
2000 and 2001. In the fall of 2001, Leah submitted a version
of her junior honor's project for the Nebraska Economics and
Business Association competition. Her paper won her an award
and was published in the Annual NEBA Conference Book. Her
study focused on Internet Banking in Nebraska.
She also participated in the Service Learning project for
an Analysis and Design class she took. This project helped
the Wayne Chamber of Commerce develop a Small Business Facts
Book for the community. Also, for her Senior CIS Seminar project,
Leah and her father donated their time to network the newly
built Catholic school in her hometown for computer usage by
the students, teachers, and staff.
While attending Wayne State College, Leah has been involved
in a variety of activities. She served as Phi Beta Lambda's
president for two years and secretary for one year. She also
attended the State Leadership Conference for two years as
a WSC representative. She was the president for the Association
of Computing Machinery for one year, as well as the Vice President
and Historian. Cardinal Key and Alpha Lambda Delta have also
been a few of Leah's extra curricular activities. She has
been a Resident Assistant in Morey Hall for five semesters
and served as the Student Representative for the Computer
Information System's Advisory Board for three years. Also,
while at WSC, Leah participated in a variety of intramural
activities.
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CHAD A. MATTOX
"The My Lai Massacre"
Advisor: Dr. Kent Blaser
Abstract
This paper that I have written deals with the event known
as the My Lai Massacre and the cover-up that happened after
the incident. This topic also involves the issue of war crimes
and how many laws have been put into place to prevent such
atrocities from occurring. Through the many books, articles,
and interviews that I have read, I came to a conclusion on
what I thought was one of the biggest war crimes in the history
of all wars.
Autobiography
Chad Mattox is the son of Robert and Patricia Mattox of North
Bend, Nebraska. Chad, a graduate of North Bend Central High
School, is majoring in Secondary Education with a focus in
Social Sciences and a minor in coaching. While attending Wayne
State College, Chad has served as a Resident Assistant in
Berry Hall, Vice President in Pi Gamma Mu, Vice President
of Gamma Theta Upsilon, a member of Phi Alpha Theta, a member
of the Northeast Nebraska Teacher Academy, and also Vice President
of Berry Hall Council. Chad has also been on the Dean's List
and has been involved with the Honors Program for two years.
Chad will graduate in May of 2003.
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SAMANTHA A. VOLQUARDSEN
"Women Studies Investigation on Wayne State College
Campus"
Advisor: Dr. Deborah Whitt
Abstract
Women's issues affect everyone on a college campus, from female
to male, students to faculty to staff. Research began concerning
body image and women on the Wayne State College campus and
through surveys it was discovered that the majority of women
develop negative body images around the age of 13. At college,
women are more confident and comfortable with their body and
have a higher self-esteem than when they were in their teens.
However, they still voice concerns about body image, self-confidence,
health issues, and development of themselves as individuals.
Upon the realization of the importance of women's issues to
all students the quest began to creat a women's center here
on campus that would bring women's issues to the forefront
of concern and educate everyone about women today at Wayne
State College. Thus, the Women's Circle was established this
semester and is committed to raising awareness about domestic
violence, sexual assault, breast cancer and other health issues,
assertiveness, and of course self-esteem and body image through
providing services and program, speakers, and fundraising
events. A big event next semester will be the organization
and promotion of Wayne State College's first annual Take Back
the Night Event to increase awareness and sensitivity about
sexual assault on campus.
Autobiography
Samantha Volquardsen is the daughter of Randall and Eileen
Volquardsen of Norfolk, Nebraska. She is majoring in Speech
Communication with an emphasis in Communication Studies. While
attending Wayne State College, Samantha has served as vice
president of the National Communication Honor Society, Lambda
Pi Eta. She is currently assistant coach of the Wayne State
College Forensics team. Samantha has also been on the Dean's
List. Samantha will graduate Summa cum Laude in December 2002.
She will begin graduate school at Wayne State College in January
2003.
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ANGELA M. WENNEKAMP
"Number Recognition by Preschool Students"
Advisor: Dr. Judy Lindberg
Abstract
I researched several sources to determine at what age children
should be able to recognize printed numbers and count objects.
Then I developed a variety of activities to assist the students
in their learning process. I will present these activities,
along with my own conclusions about the most successful methods
of teaching preschool children about numbers.
Autobiography
Angie Wennekamp is the daugher of Doug and Mary Reid of Omaha,
Nebraska. Angie, a graduate of Skutt Catholic High School,
is majoring in Early Childhood Education. Angie resides in
Omaha with her husband, Dave, and she currently is a full-time
teacher at Little Lambs Preschool in Omaha. Angie will graduate
in December 2002.
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LIANA L. WHIPKING
"Untapped: The Importance of English as a Second Language
(ESL) Programming"
Advisor: Dr. Barbara Black
Abstract
English as a Second Language (ESL) programs are growing at
a rapid rate in northeast Nebraska schools. With the influx
of Latino students in northeast Nebraska, many institutions
may be unprepared to take on students whose native language
is not English. I researched the ESL programs of three schools
in northeast Nebraska and discovered similarities and differences
as well as strengths and weaknesses among them. English as
a Second Language programs affect not only our schools, but
our communities as well. It is crucial that we, as a society,
become aware of this and obtain knowledge about ESL programming.
Autobiography
Liana Whipking is the daughter of Jay and Leueen Whipking
of Norfolk, Nebraska. Liana, a graduate of Norfolk Senior
High School, is majoring in English with a minor in Secondary
Education. Liana is currently President of Sigma Tau Delta
English Honor Society, Vice President of Wayne State College-Peer
Education Network (WSC-PEN), member of Kappa Delta Pi Education
Honor Society, member of Northeast Nebraska Teacher Academy
(NENTA), and member of Wayne Student Education Association
of Nebraska (WSEAN). She has also been Treasurer of Wayne
State College International Club and member of Circle K. Liana
was chosen for inclusion in Who's Who Among Students in American
Colleges and Universities, and is certified as a BACCHUS and
GAMMA National Peer Educator. She has been on the Dean's List
by maintaining a grade point average of 3.9 at Wayne State
College. Liana will graduate in May of 2003.
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