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Exceptional Student Research Earns Recognition at Mary Lou 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 each winter and fall semesters by the College of Family, Home, and Social Sciences, this April's event highlighted the innovative research of 587 presenters detailed in 304 posters from undergraduates and 81 posters from graduate students in the college.

With the help of 113 faculty mentors, each participating student prepares research to be 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 research on whether counseling has a significant effect on the relationship between depressive symptoms and screen time.

Speaking of his faculty mentor, Lance Erickson, sociology professor, Royce says, “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.”

This year’s conference also featured a new judging category in celebration of BYU’s upcoming sesquicentennial. The new Becoming BYU category recognizes research inspired by BYU's mission focus on constitutional democracy, freedom of religion, strengthening families, and alleviating poverty.

One entrant in the new category, geography junior Eliza Hammari, presented “Urban Heat Islands Across Major U.S. Cities and the Relationship Between Surface Temperature and Socioeconomic Status."

As a first-time presenter, she describes 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 presenters, 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 recognized 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.”

Dean Padilla-Walker then surprised Brent and Cheri Andrus with an award for their significant donations to support mentored research and learning. Of the Andruses, she says, "They not only contribute resources but also provide personal mentorship and leadership, guiding students as they navigate their academic journeys."

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 learning to talk about their research is an important skill. Students with winning posters also receive cash prizes, which increased this year. All student presenters with a major in the college are also eligible to apply for up to $250 to assist with graduate school application fees.

A complete list of winning projects appears below, and all posters are available to view online at fultonconference.byu.edu.

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 I 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, Chris 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 FrandsenCulster-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 for Western Studies

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?