DOWAGIAC — A group of high-achieving Southwestern Michigan College students put their finest work on display during the second Honors Showcase Dec. 12 in the art gallery of the Dale A. Lyons Building on the Dowagiac campus.

Fourteen students enrolled in SMC’s Honors Program presented posters and answered questions from attendees, simulating a professional conference experience.

Their work represented research done as honors students in SMC classes, ranging from chemistry, calculus, economics and graphic design to popular culture. They worked closely with their primary faculty member, as well as Gary Franchy and Mark Pelfrey, the two faculty members who coordinate the college’s honors program.

The following students presented posters centered on work done in mathematics classes:

• Tanner Bohan, of Marcellus — “Calculus’ Effect on Digital Media”

• Michaella Lei-Sam, of Berrien Springs — “The Mathematics Behind Viral Videos”

• Angela Smith, of Mendon — “How Frequency Analysis Can Detect Fraud”

• David Brogan, of Dowagiac — “Presenting Calculus to High School Students”

Several students had posters and presentations from the world of business and economics, including:

• Brooke Essig, of Bridgman — “Quickbook Analysis of the Construction Department’s Tiny House”

• Hannah Wilson, of Paw Paw — “National Debt”

• Michael Heinisch, of Hartford — “The Financial Crisis of 2008”

Sciences, especially environmental sciences, were represented by multiple posters from the following students:

• Melanie Becker, of Edwardsburg — “Biosorption of Lead From Aqueous Solution Using A Hydrolyzed Protein Extract”

• Jennifer Hinton, of Monticello, Illinois — “Solar Energy”

• Sierra Millword, of Lawrence — “The Cow of the Sea”

• Matthew Reeves, of Berrien Springs — “Mockup of Zinc-Promoted Horner-Wadsowrth-Emmons Reactions”

Other students’ presentations ran the gamut of SMC courses, including:

• Madison Walker, of Paw Paw — “The Representation of Homosexuality
in Film”

• Jenna Proud, of Buchanan — “Nutrition in Pregnancy”

• Allison Richcreek, of Edwardsburg — “Graphic Design Honor Projects”

The Honors Showcase at SMC has become an annual event for the honors program, providing students the opportunity to participate in graduate-style research early in their academic careers.

These experiences ensure SMC Honors Program graduates are at the front of the line for transfer scholarships, internships and job opportunities, college representatives said.

For more detail on students’ research projects, visit southwester.swmich.edu/?q=academics.