Students earn top awards for exceptional research presentations at this year’s Fulton Conference - BYU College of Family, Home, and Social Sciences Skip to main content
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Students earn top awards for exceptional research presentations at this year’s Fulton Conference

On Thursday, April 10, the floor of the Wilkinson Center Ballroom was transformed into a space of academic learning and discourse during this semester’s Mary Lou Fulton Mentored Student Research Conference.

Hosted semiannually by The College of Family, Home, and Social Sciences, this event highlighted the innovative research of its 304 undergraduate and 81 graduate presenters.

With the help of their 113 mentors, each participating student prepared research that was evaluated by faculty judges. This year, 54 winners were selected across the college’s nine departments for their impressive work.

Brik Royce, a junior studying sociology, conducted his research on whether counseling has a significant effect on depressive symptoms causing screen time with the help of his mentor, Lance Erickson.

“He helped me work through the theoretical framework of my question and narrow it down to where it needed to be. He also helped teach me the skills and knowledge to interpret all my findings,” says Royce referring to his mentor.

This year’s conference also featured a new center for BYU’s upcoming Sesquicentennial titled, Becoming BYU.

Eliza Hammari presented her research titled “Urban Heat islands Across Major U.S. Cities and the Relationship Between Surface Temperature and Socioeconomic Status” as part of the new center.

As a first-time presenter, the geography junior described her experience as one of learning and growth. “It has been awesome to see other students and connect with them through our research focuses,” says Hammari.

After presenting their posters in the morning, student researchers, faculty mentors, university leaders, and college supporters gathered for lunch in the Garden Court. During the meal, a short program celebrated the collaborative efforts between mentors and students and announced the recipients of this year’s conference awards.

Dean Laura Padilla-Walker also addressed the group, discussing the college’s unique opportunity for publishing mentored research. “Mentored research is just one of many ways—but an important way—that our students are able to engage in inspiring learning. We feel that the opportunities students have to engage with faculty research is a real strength of the programs that we offer.”

The Dean then recognized the contributions of donors, specifically Brent and Cheri Andrus, who offer resources and financial support to fund research projects and student research assistants such as those who participate in the Mary Lou Fulton Conference.

Some of that funding went to the increased financial rewards for students who won within their respective departments and centers as well as to those whose posters were voted for by student attendees. A complete list of winning projects appears below, and all research presentations are available to view online at fultonconference.byu.edu.

Participating in the conference has many benefits for students. Simply going through the research process and organizing the information in a presentable format, and then talking to others about the research probably brings the biggest benefit. But, as noted, students can win cash prizes. All student presenters with major in the college also become eligible for up to $250 to assist with graduate school application fees.

Talk to your professors about how to participate in future conferences or discover more about the process online. The next conference is Thursday, December 4, 2025.

Undergraduate Awards

AwardPresenter(s)Mentor(s)Title

Anthropology

1stJuliana MerkleyDavid JohnsonFossilized Through Life and Death: An Analysis of Fossils as Votive Offerings in Nabataean Burial Ritual
2ndRae LarsonDavid JohnsonTypologies: A Case Study of Petra Jordan Tomb Facades

Economics

1stBritton Davis, Maxwell Dunbar, Bryson Mumford, Josh Nicholls, Conner WilkinsonRich Patterson, Joe PriceEffect of World War 1 Veteran Status on Earnings

Family Life

1stKate Rich, Cara WilkeyJocelyn WikleDigital Literacy: Bringing It to Utah's K-12 Classrooms
2ndKate Glover, Sydnee Hunt, Amanda Nikoline Poulsen, Ada Romney, Cambria Siddoway, Aubrey TewSarah CoynePainful Parenting: The Toll of Psychological Control on Teen Mental Health
3rdEmily Anderson, Lindsey BlakeJocelyn WikleBalancing Books and Babies: Supporting Student Parents at Brigham Young University
4thKegan Adams, Brooke Baugh Lacey Krantz, Aubrielle Miner, Emma Roberts, Lauren Roberts, Hailey StoddardJeremy YorgasonIt's Not All Bad: Covid-19 and Marital Satisfaction

Geography

1stJeremy Bennett, Adam CarsnerGrayson MorganA Predictive Model for Fremont Trade Routes
2ndSamuel Badal, Dallin HartsellGrayson MorganSubmarine Cable Vulnerability

History

1stConnie VanceJay BuckleyPetals of Resistance: a Florist's Fight Against Wartime Bias
2ndDawson MuranakaAaron SkabelundTopaz in Memory: The Evolving Representation of Topaz Internment Camp
3rdTravis Ashby, Kathryn BlauAaron Skabelund"Because We Shared Topaz": Shared Identity and Interracial Memory of an Internment Camp School

Political Science

1stMary MoodyCeleste BeesleyUnder Threat, Overwhelmed: How National Security Crises Impact Support for Right-Wing Populism
2ndKendra PinegarDarin SelfDemocracy: Lost in Translation? Measuring Perceptions and Support for Democracy
3rdLaura PachecoChris KarpowitzHow does Partisanship Influence Views on Teaching Abut Racism
4thShari FrankeDarin SelfDo Polarizing Strategies Actually Help Opposition Parties? Sometimes, it Pays Off

Psychology

1stHannah Fell, Quinn Mitchell, Jackson WolferBob RidgeMind Games: The Immediate emotional consequence of gaslighting
2ndMeg Elvidge, Elsa LonghurstJared WarrenThe Effects of Awe and Wonder on Well-Being: A Pilot Study
3rdJonah Burch, Abigail Christensen, Ryan Cluff, Braden Fairbanks, Zach Flore, Jordan Harmon, Kate Woodruff, Jenson ZauggSteven LukePersonal Biases Fall Short; AI-Generated Images Elicit Greater Preference and Visual Engagement
4thJared Miskin, Kaylee RadfordAdriane CavalliniAnxiety Severity Levels in a Clinical Population: The Role of Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation

Sociology

1stHannah HendricksMichael Cope"Please Respect the Balance Between Progress and Protection": Content Analysis of Public Comments Regarding The Bears Ears National Monument Designation
2ndTala Alnasser, Rachel VogelmannScott SandersOn the Sociology of Faith and Culture: Morocco and Spain PEAT Study Abroad
3rdMerelin LesovskaEric DahlinDeveloping a GPT for Program and Product Design in Low-income Communities
4thJane Henderson, Zander Kahuhu, Emma RovertsBen GibbsCLASS CROSSED LOVERS: THE INFLUENCE OF CLASS DIFFERENCES IN MARRIAGE ON PARENTING

Graduate Awards

AwardPresenter(s)Mentor(s)Title

Anthropology

1stRufus PearceJacob Hickman, Jenny Pulsipher"Go and Kill Them": The Extermination of the Timpanogos

Family Life

1stSofia Suxo-SanchezAshley LeBaron BlackFinancial Captain: How Locus of Control Bridges Financial Socialization and Self-Efficacy
2ndKhiara Cardoza, Rylie SpeirsSarah Coyne, Ashley Larsen, Joseph Olsen, Jeremy YorgasonThe COVID Catalyst: Did the Pandemic Transform Gender Attitudes?
3rdChenae DuerdenSarah CoyneDigital Pacifiers: The Longitudinal Influence of Using Media to Regulate Children's Emotions
4thJulia ChristensenShayne AndersonThe Relationship Between Therapeutic Alliance, Relationship Satisfaction, and Presenting Problem Severity in Heterosexual Couples

Psychology

1stAnna WheelerMichael Larson Executive Functioning Following a Randomized Controlled Trial of Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback in Individuals with Traumatic Brain Injury

Social Work

1stIsabel Larisch, Carter ReevesJoseph Olsen, David WoodLife Fulfillment, Post Traumatic Stress, and Suicide Risk Among Explosive Ordinance Disposal Technicians
2ndMary BroadbentJoseph Olsen, Stacey ShawStrength in Community: Social Support, Emotional Regulation, and Easing Distress in Syrian Refugee Women in Türkiye
3rdMacy PaxtonGordon LimbParental Enculturation and Ethnic Identity Development in Native American Adoptees and Youth in Foster Care
4thSierra GraySteven HoffmanOpening Doors: Parental Involvement and Youth Mental Health Help-Seeking in Mexico

Sociology

1stGreta AsayMelissa S JonesSchool Connectedness and Delinquency: Examining Gender Differences

Center Awards

AwardPresenter(s)Mentor(s)Title

Belonging and Diversity

1stCamden Carter, Parker DavisQuin MonsonReligious and Political Identity Conflict Among Black Latter-day Saints
2ndEllie MitchellLisa Argyle, Ethan Busby, Joshua Gubler, Christ Karpowitz, Jessica PreeceHow Gender and Context Shape Persuasion
3rdLacey PaulsenJane LopezPathways of Privilege: How Advantage Drives Identity & Worldview Formation for Utah Immigrants
4thEmma Bills, Beth Mitchell, Nicoline RobertsJon FeltCaptured in Light: Helen Snow's Compassionate Portrayal of Women and Children in Yunnan

Civic Engagement

1stSam LeeBrigham RandsenCulster-Robust Variance Estimators for Instrumental Variables: Theory and Application for Assessing the Legislative Role of Women in Reducing Carbon Emissions
2ndAbiWagner, Cara WilkeyAaron SkabelundThe Hidden Crisis: Senior Malnutrition in Utah County
3rdMartha Bown, Carley Flake, Lana OstaszewskiJeff NokesBridging the Gap Between Critical Thinking and Civic Action Through Semi-Structured Civics Inquiries in Social Studies Classrooms
4thAsia ReidMichael BarberSigned, Sealed Delivered: Analyzing the Individual Mobilizing Effect of Vote-by-Mail in Utah's Municipal Elections

Gerontology

1stJaime DickJeremy YorgasonAssessing Ageism in Media Coverage of the 2024 Election
2ndEliza BrooksMichael LarsonImpact of Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback on Executive Function in Older Adults

NEW! Becoming BYU

1stParker PetersonRuth KerrySocial Gaps & Urban Divides: How Social Factors Shape Economic Disadvantage in American Cities
2ndCamille ElderAshley FraserChildren's Observed Hope Predicts Parents' Goal-Coaching and Authoritative Parenting Style: A Child-Centered Approach
3rdIsaiah Bates, Cambria HayesJohn HoffmannParent Family Variables and Cyberbullying
4thDaniel Boggess, Savannah Lowe, Sofia Suxo-SanchezSarah Coyne, Ashley LeBaron Black, Adam RogersMore Than Just a Money Mindset: Socioeconomic Status as a Barrier to Financial Socialization Success

Redd Center

1stTravis Ashby, Kathryn BlauAaron SkabelundThe Ram-bler: A Space for Student Dissent in the Topaz
2ndTravis Ashby, Kathryn BlauAaron Skabelund"Because We Shared Topaz": Shared Identity and Interracial Memory of an Internment Camp School
3rdHannah HendricksMichael Cope"Please Respect and Balance Between Progress and Protection": Content Analysis of Public Comments Regarding The Bears Ears National Monument Designation
4thAlexa MerrillMichael Cope, Carol WardLet Utah Manage Whose Land?

Winners Photo Gallery