Westminster College was represented by three faculty members and two students at the Undergraduate Research at the Capitol - Pennsylvania held Oct. 2 in Harrisburg.

The poster conference showcased undergraduate and award-winning research projects by undergraduate students from Pennsylvania. The event provided an opportunity to bring together college students and faculty with state legislators and staff to share the experiences of students engaged in research or scholarship at their colleges and universities.

The goals of the event were two-fold: To demonstrate that undergraduate research is important to the educational development of college students; and to show that undergraduate students can produce important and valuable research results that enrich the knowledge, cultural heritage, and economic well-being of our communities, our state, and our nation.

Thirty colleges and universities participated with 47 projects on display. Westminster's student representatives were:

Anna Sparacino, a senior mathematics major with a minor in secondary education, is a daughter of Christopher and Sharon Sparacino of Verona and a graduate of Saint Joseph High School. Her research, "The Evolution of the ABO Blood Group: A Mathematical Model," is a collaboration with Sara Jensen from Carthage College and is the result of her participation in a mathematics Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) at the University of Akron.

Brett Turk, a senior psychology-human resources major, is a son of Debra and the late Robert Turk of New Castle and a graduate of Union Area High School. His poster, "A Content-Based Typology of Idiosyncratic Working Arrangements," is a component of his honors research.

Westminster faculty Dr. Carolyn Cuff, professor of mathematics, and Dr. Jamie McMinn, assistant professor of psychology and chair of Turk's honors board, attended the conference.

Dr. Virginia Tomlinson, director of Westminster's Drinko Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, served on the organizing committee. Participation by the group from Westminster was funded by the Drinko Center.

"This event truly celebrated undergraduate research," Tomlinson said. "It is hoped that this will become an annual event for legislators to see the high quality of work being done by students across the state, and for everyone to recognize the accomplishments of students."

Contact Tomlinson at (724) 946-6033 or e-mail tomlinvm@westminster.edu for additional information. Visit www.westminster.edu/drinko for more information about the Drinko Center. 

Dr. Carolyn Cuff and Anna Sparacino

Dr. Jamie McMinn and Brett Turk

Westminster's Drinko Center