2009 Honors Summer Research Projects
Click here to see a list of reading recommendations from the summer research faculty and students participants. Click here to see a photo.
Courtney Cunningham, Class of 2010
Faculty sponsor: Prof. Eric Casey
The division between mortality and immortality in the ancient Mediterranean was neither stable nor static; there were numerous immortal beings that shared the world with humans, but their status was by no means exclusive. One of my main interests is the transitional period between the mythological past and the Hellenistic Age, when the religious and political barriers between man and god began to erode. The project will begin by looking at the original concept of the semi-divine hero and then tracking the development of the religious movement known as “hero cults” that spread throughout the classical Greek world. Another primary focus will be the Hellenistic king Alexander the Great, who was the innovative progenitor of many influential ideas of divine kingship. The last few weeks will explore the impact the idea of the divine king may have had on the rise of the Roman Empire and its imperial cults.
Laura Hanold, Class of 2010
Faculty sponsor: Prof. Abraham Yousef
The purpose of this research is to synthesize 3(2H)-furanones and study their photochemical properties. The proposed research is a continuation of the honors summer research performed in 2008, in which 2-benzylidene-5-methyl-3(2H)-furanone was successfully synthesized and later shown to possess potential anti-diphtheria properties. The potential medicinal properties of this compound have led to the proposed synthesis and exploratory studies of similar analogs, namely 2-(4-hydroxybenzylidene)-5-methyl-3(2H)-furanone, in hopes of elucidating the structural aspects that may contribute to its function against diphtheria. In addition to the synthesis, photochemical studies will be performed on 3(2H)-furanones. Irradiation of 5-phenyl-3(2H)-furanone resulted in dimerization; however, previous photochemical studies of alkyl-substituted 3(2H)-furanones resulted in photorearrangement. Thus, this research will include a photochemical study of 2,2-dimethyl-5-phenyl-3(2H)-furanone in order to explore the effect of the alkyl substitution at the 2 position on photorearrangement.
MaryAnne Haslow Hall, Class of 2010
Faculty sponsor: Prof. Scott Pierce
This summer I propose to design and construct a prototype of a prosthetic hand. The hand will be made of plastic parts and will have fully-articulated joints and tendons. The thumb and index finger of the hand will be driven and controlled using closed-loop, DC servomotor system. My work will build on research that has been started by a group called the Open Prosthetics Project. We will be contributing to the Open Prosthetics Project by adding servo motion controls to the hand.
Maggie Mae Nase, Class of 2010
Faculty sponsors: Professors Christian Carr and Carrie Brown
The ultimate goal of this project is to produce a critical biography of Daisy Williams, daughter of Indiana Fletcher Williams, who founded Sweet Briar College in Daisy's memory. Original documents concerning Daisy will be organized, other critical adolescent biographies will be read, and critical sources concerning child biography and life during the turn of the century will be considered before a critical, academic biography of Daisy is written.
Tiffany Rapetsky, Class of 2011
Faculty sponsors: Professors Pam DeWeese and Margaret Stanton
This summer I will be studying the field and process of translation as well as the works of Spanish author Ana Maria Matute. While researching both the subtleties of translation and the intricacies of Matute's children's literature, I will be working to produce an original translation of a piece by Matute as well.
Tania Salas-Platt, Class of 2010
Faculty sponsor: Prof. Bill Kershner
My Honors summer research project “Desvelada” consists of a play I am writing based on the last few days in the life of Dolores Veintimilla, a female Ecuadorian poet, from the 19th century. This is a play about life, love, poetry, ideals, politics, power and death. It is a play about the struggle and suffering of a woman to make her voice heard in a conservative, intolerant society.
Caroline Sapp, Class of 2009
Faculty sponsor: Prof. John Ashbrook
Today Spain is considered one of the “problematic” member states of the EU, bringing personal agendas to the table, that inhibit progress. My project seeks to gain an understanding of the current political situation in Spain, and how Spain’s historical domestic conditions have affected its agenda within the EU, specifically its objection to the further enlargement of membership. My project also traces Spain’s entrance into the EU and how its own road to the EU might have affected the current enlargement policies it pursues.
Sarah Strapp, Class of 2010
Faculty sponsor: Prof. Tracy Hamilton
My Summer Honors Research is exploring and experimenting with 12th to 15th century manuscript production in Europe. I will be practicing the techniques including the manufacture of papers, inks, and paints in historically accurate methods. I will apply these skills by making replicas of manuscript pages from selected texts: one in Latin, one in Arabic, and one in Hebrew. These three texts will not only exemplify the world’s three major monotheistic faith traditions, but the major schools of European illumination.
