Forty of Oklahoma State University’s top students were recognized as Wentz Scholars at the annual symposium held Friday, April 25, in the Edmon Low Library browsing room. Seventeen of the 40 Wentz Research Scholars represented disciplines in the College of Artsand Sciences.

The Wentz Research Program provides students $4,500 a year to conduct innovative research in their respective fields. Each student is paired with a mentor for the yearlong project.

This year’s symposium began with a poster browse session, followed by an award ceremony. Winners were recognized in two categories: Life, Physical and Engineering Sciences, and Arts and Humanities.

Ryan Greenway, a zoology senior, was awarded the best poster in the Life, Physical and Engineering Sciences category. His research was entitled “Xiphophorus helleri in Toxic Sulfide Springs: Patterns of Adaptation like in Other Sulfide Spring Poeciliids”.

Will Bryant, a psychology senior, was awarded the best poster in the Arts & Humanities category. His research was entitled “Short-term Memory Recollection and Aversive and Neutral Images: Does Worry Play a Role?”

The 17 CAS Wentz Scholar recipients, their majors, and their research are presented below.

• Kaitlin O’Hagan, zoology, “The Effects of Shear Stress on cystathionine y-lyase Gene Expression in Human Coronary Vasculature”.
• Tara Blasier, zoology, “Effect of Metal Exposure on Intensity of Pelage Coloration in Lasiurus borealis, Eastern Red Bat”.
• Rebekah Sook, biochemistry and molecular biology, “The Effect of INI-1 on the Phenotype ATRT Tumors”.
• Ryan Rahhal, English, “Ginsburg and Lowell: The Representation of Cold War Madness”.
• Keely Redhage, biology, “Characterization of Whole Cell Enterococcus faecium”.
• Casey Landis, biochemistry and molecular biology, “Molecular Epidemiology of Viruses Contributing to Bovine Respiratory Disease”.
• Abigail Buntin, English, “T.S. Eliot and the Jazz Age”.
• Andrew Romans, psychology and marketing, “Frames of Enchantment”.
• Kayla Davis, biochemistry, “Analysis of PaClp Mutants through Two-Hybrid Assay”.
• Brandi Gallaher, physiology, “Coxiella burnetii Driven Modulation of Host Cell NF-kB Activation During Infection”.
• Megan Reidy, physiology and zoology, “Fungal Flora of Oklahoman Bats”.
• Zoe Austin, zoology, “Operant Conditioning in Anole Lizard Species”.
• Louis Steigerwald, geology, “Magnetic Survey of a Fault Splay of the Wilzetta Fault in Central Oklahoma”.
• Ryan Greenway, zoology, “X. hellerii in Toxic Sulfide Springs: Patterns of Adaption like in Other Sulfide Spring Poeciliids”.
• William Bryant, psychology, “Effect of Worry on Short-Term Memory Recollection for Aversive and Neutral Images”.
• Scott Shelley, geology, “Comparing the Petrographic Characteristics of Mississippian Limestone Outcrops and Subsurface Cores”.
• Brandon Davis, liberal studies, “Throwing Away the Key: Assessing Oklahoma’s High Incarceration Rates.”

Congratulations to our outstanding scholars.