2019 Student Symposium on the Environment winners announced

NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. – Westminster College has announced the winners of the 12th annual Student Symposium on the Environment, which featured nearly 100 regional college and high school student presenters.

Held Dec. 5 and organized by Westminster College and the Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition, the symposium featured nearly 50 environment-focused projects, research, service work, internships and artwork. Presentations were divided into four categories: Environmental Project Poster, Environmental Research Poster, Oral Presentation and High School Poster.

Students represented eight regional colleges and universities, including Westminster College, California University of Pennsylvania, Chatham University, Duquesne University, Geneva College, Slippery Rock University, Saint Vincent College and University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg. Students from Greenville Junior-Senior High School also presented.

Winners in this year’s Environmental Symposium were:

•    Environmental Project Poster: “No More Wasting Away: The Reduction of Food Waste and Plastics at Westminster College” by Julia Serbati, Westminster College. Honorable mention: Stephanie Van Horn, Westminster College. Serbati is a junior neuroscience major from Oil City, Pa. Van Horn is a senior biology major from Cranberry Township, Pa.

•    Research Project Poster: “A Review of Risks and Management Options for Cat Colonies in Suburban and Urban Areas” by Bailey Dunks and Kayla Troxil, Westminster College. Honorable mention: Laura Fox, Westminster College. Dunks is a senior biology major from McDonald, Pa., Troxil is a senior biology major from Canfield, Ohio, and Fox is a senior biology major from Roulette, Pa.

•    Oral Presentation: “Sulfate Reduction Using an Encapsulated Growth Environment” by Taylor Rosso, Duquesne University. Honorable mention: Haley Moore, Duquesne University.

•    High School Poster: “Linking Acorn Parasitism Rates with Wood Duck Densities” by Ashley Milleson and Tyler Dickson from Greenville Junior-Senior High School. Honorable mention: Skylar Swartz, Greenville Junior-Senior High School.

Cash prizes sponsored by Stream Restoration Inc., were awarded to the winners of each category.

This was the second year for an employment initiative partnership with Westminster’s Professional Development Center, welcoming regional businesses to attend with internship and job opportunities to the presenting students.

The 13th Annual Student Symposium on the Environment will be held on Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020.

For more information about the Student Symposium on the Environment, contact Dr. Helen Boylan, director of the Center for the Environment at boylanhm@westminster.edu or 724-946-6293.

Winners pictured from top: Julia Serbati; Bailey Dunks and Kayla Troxil; Ashley Milleson and Tyler Dickson. Missing: Taylor Rosso

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