Posted on Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Westminster College students won numerous awards at the Dec. 2 Student Symposium on the Environment. The event was hosted by Westminster and co-sponsored by the Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition.
Among the award winners were Westminster students Karen Humphries (Best Poster/Display, Science Category); Katherine Farley, Rachael Hoffman, Nicole Jodikinos, and Kelly Matune (Best Poster/Display, Non-Science Category); Cassandra Treshok (Best Oral Presentation); and Nicole George, Zachary Smith, and Treshok (Honorable Mention Poster/Display, Non-Science Category).
Additional Westminster students who participated were Andrew Clark, Ashley Durham, Caitlin Roberts, and Cory Seese.
Dr. Helen Boylan, Westminster associate professor of chemistry and chair of Westminster's Environmental Science Committee, was one of the symposium organizers and gave the welcome.
"The Student Symposium on the Environment is a great showcase of student projects related to the environment and the natural world," Boylan said. "The event now includes presentations from a variety of disciplines, which makes for a rich symposium experience."
Peggy Cox, Westminster professor of art, displayed nature journals, plant prints, and tree rubbing collages from students in her Art and Nature course.
Special music was provided by Dr. David Cushman, professor and chair of Westminster's Department of Economics and Business, who played "Half Moon at Checkerboard Mesa: Fantasy for Oboe, Frogs, Crickets and Coyotes."
Awards were sponsored by Westminster's Drinko Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning.
Keynote speaker was Andy McAllister, regional coordinator for the Western Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation, who spoke on "Western Pennsylvania's Abandoned Mine Legacy: Understanding Our Past to Help Shape Our Future" and showed clips from his documentary, Out of the Ground: Western Pennsylvania's Coal Mining Experience.
Additional award winners included Travis Battiest (Youngstown State University) and Rayan Yarington (Slippery Rock High School).
Contact Boylan at (724) 946-6293 or e-mail boylanhm@westminster.edu for additional information.
