Graduate Profiles

Grand Valley State University

Class of Fall 2012

Congratulations Graduates! The Frederik Meijer Office of Fellowships commends you on the completion of your

undergraduate studies at Grand Valley State University and reminds you that we also serve alumnae. We know you

have a bright future ahead and will look forward to the many great things you will accomplish in the years to come.

Nationally competitive scholarships and fellowships are highly selective funding opportunities to pursue study,

public service, foreign service, research opportunities, and more at both the undergraduate and graduate level in

the U.S. and abroad. They are an award for past performance, recognition of your future promise, and are often

springboards to greater opportunities. A non-exhaustive list of award opportunities can be found under the Award

Opportunities tab at www.gvsu.edu/fellowships.

If you have interest in applying for nationally competitive scholarships and fellowships in the future, please call

(616) 331-3219 or e-mail fellowships@gvsu.edu. We look forward to working with you!

Wishing you continued success,

Amanda Cuevas

Director

Katherine Anoyiannakis: Psychology

Senior Project: Progression of Supports for Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder

and Other Developmental Disabilities Through the Use of Technology: A Review of the

Literature

Summary: Review of the literature on the use of technology, such as iPads and tablets,

with individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ADS) and other developmental

disabilities. New technology applications may allow professionals to expand the use of a

number of different visual systems, including picture communication systems, self-management programs, and

reward systems that can benefit these students.

Activities/Awards: Member of Psi Chi, the psychology honor society

Study Abroad experience: Journey to Greece through the America Hellenic Educational Progressive Association

(AHEPA) and the University of Indianapolis. I volunteered at the Special Olympics World Summer Games 2011 in

Athens, Greece with other students of Greek-American decent.

Internship/Practicum experience: Huntington Woods Early Childhood Center, working under school psychology

Dr. Lillian Cummings assisting in the special education classrooms.

Greatest accomplishment while at Grand Valley: Succeeding in my major and graduating early.

Plans after graduation: Attend graduate school for a specialist degree in school psychology.

Jacob Blossfeld: Accounting and Finance

Senior Project: Inside Internships

Summary: A website aimed towards helping GVSU students attain internships with local

companies.

Research and presentations: Back to Basics: the Biomechanics of Barefoot Running

(Student Scholars Day 2011)

Leaderships Activities: Treasurer of Seidman IPO.

Activities/Awards: GV rowing team/ Seidman College of Business Study Abroad

Scholarship/ 2x Intramural Sports Champion

Study Abroad experience: Summer School in Shanghai

Internship/Practicum experience: Finance Intern at Haworth

Greatest accomplishment while at Grand Valley: Accepting a position at Rehmann for after graduation.

Plans after graduation: Work in public accounting and earn my CPA

Grace Bommarito: Cell & Molecular Biology

Senior Project: “Revealing Expression of cAR1 protein in Dictyostelium discoideum”

Summary: The central focus of this project will be to “clean up” an anti-receptor

antibody batch and ultimately present the data at Student Scholar Day 2013. These

antibodies were used in a BIO 406 lab during the summer 2012 semester and did not

produce the desired results, but instead had a lot of non-specific background. My

project for this semester was to use two different techniques to attempt to purify the

batch so that it may be utilized in BIO 406 in the future.

Research and presentations: “Defining the Basal Phylogenetic Relationships of

Commelinaceae” worked under Dr. Tim Evans. Attempted to clarify the phylogeny for the plant family

Commelinaceae through the analysis of the chloroplast gene ndhF

Leaderships Activities: Helped organize Soccer for Sudan and Freedom Formal to raise awareness and donations

for Sudanese refugees and women involved in sex trafficking here in West Michigan as part of my honors junior

seminar with Prof. Kravitz.

Activities/Awards: I am Grand Valley Award, 2010

Internship/Practicum experience: Currently interning at the Michigan State Police Grand Rapids Crime

Laboratory validating the Spermfinder microscope.

Greatest accomplishment while at Grand Valley: Finally being able to intern at the MSP Grand Rapids crime lab

after applying 3 years in a row.

Plans after graduation: Find a forensic biologist position, ideally with the MSP, and eventually go back to earn my

Master’s degree in Forensic Biology.

Katelyn Buchholz: Psychology

Senior Project: Psychotherapy as Treatment for Depression in Aging Populations

Summary: Comprehensive literature review of psychotherapy as treatment for

depression in aging populations. Research on various therapy modalities including, but

not limited to; interpersonal, mindfulness, solution focused, rational emotive behavioral

and cognitive-behavioral therapies. Outcomes related to aging populations will be

specifically targeted, and an integrative multi-modal treatment model will be

conceptualized. My research will culminate in an approximately twenty to twenty-five

page paper, and a poster presentation at the eighth annual Art and Science of Aging

Conference hosted by Grand Valley State University.

Research and presentations: Research assistant for both Mary Bower Russa, Ph.D. and Tara Cornelius Ph.D.

Projects for Dr. Bower Russa focused on predictors of punitive parenting, and those for Dr. Cornelius involved a

campus wide assessment of interpersonal violence within dating relationships.

Activities/Awards: GV Students for Fair Trade, jobs at Hope Network Behavioral Health Services & Pine Rest

Center for Psychiatric Residential Services. 2009-2012: Dean’s List, 2009-2012: Faculty Scholarship Award of

Distinction

Study Abroad experience: Psychology of Social Inequality, Nicaragua, Summer 2011

Greatest accomplishment while at Grand Valley: Being approached to co-author a book chapter with Dr. Ellen

Shupe. The Effects of Not Working: A Psychological Framework for Understanding the Experience of Job Loss, was

accepted into The Psychology of the Recession on the Workplace, currently in press.

Plans after graduation: Currently applying for Ph.D. programs in clinical psychology. I would like to research

efficacious treatments for mood and anxiety disorders in adults. Career goals include becoming a licensed clinical

psychologist, and working within academia at the undergraduate or graduate level.

Megan Drahos: Psychology and Spanish

Senior Project: Emotion Socialization Strategies in Spanish Mothers

Summary: Over 30 interviews from Spanish mothers from Spain on emotion socialization

strategies were collected, transcribed, translated, and then coded. The purpose of the

project was to explore the differences of emotion socialization strategies among cultures.

Research and presentations: Terror Management Theory Laboratory, Self-

Administration with Ethanol in Male Wistar Rats, Emotion Socialization Strategies in

European-American and Hispanic-American Women, Perceived Exertion Studies

Comparing Dancing and Stationary Cycling.

Activities/Awards: Psi Chi Member, Women’s Rugby Athlete, Intramural Athlete,

Backpacking Club.

Study Abroad experience: Studied abroad in Madrid, Spain. While studying abroad I traveled to Ireland, Portugal,

Hungary, Poland, England, Majorca and the Aran Islands.

Internship/Practicum experience: While studying abroad in Spain I interned at Hospital Niño Jesus – a children’s

hospital. I worked in the newborn ward. Also I worked with hospitalized patients with eating disorders.

Greatest accomplishment while at Grand Valley: Graduating early with a double major and completing the

Honors program.

Plans after graduation: I plan to stay in the Grand Rapids area working as a sales representative, and to continue

lab work at Grand Valley.

Ashlee Forde: Integrated Science (Elementary Education)

Senior Project: ‘Earth, Moon & Sun: A Fourth Grade Unit Plan’

Summary: My senior project, ‘Earth, Moon & Sun: A Fourth Grade Unit Plan’, serves as a

culmination of my Integrated Science and Elementary Education studies. The unit

combines my personal learning philosophy with the current research in education to

produce an original, effective piece of curriculum. The lessons are comprehensive and

inquiry-based, taking a hands-on/minds-on approach to learning about our planet and its

place in the solar system. Included within the unit are the research, pedagogy, and

materials necessary for the lessons to be implemented successfully as well as ample

opportunities for differentiation in order to address the specific needs of students in a variety of settings.

Leaderships Activities: GVSU Student Council for Exceptional Children, Trio M-Power Tutor, Honors Freshman

Mentor

Activities/Awards: Dean’s List all semesters

Internship/Practicum experience: 1st grade Teacher Assistant at Knapp Forest Elementary (Forest Hills Public

Schools) in Grand Rapids, MI (January – April 2012), 3rd grade Student Teacher at Godfrey Elementary (Godfree-

Lee Public Schools) in Wyoming , MI (September – December 2012)

Greatest accomplishment while at Grand Valley: I co-presented at the 2011 GVSU Fall Science Update with Dr.

Doug Furton. Our presentation was titled ‘Construct and Use a Moon-Phase Manipulative’ and included and

expanded on pieces of my Honors Senior Project.

Plans after graduation: In January 2013 I am moving Philadelphia, PA to start my teaching career!

Elizabeth Kuchenmeister: Behavioral Science, with minors in Middle East Studies and

International Relations

Senior Project: “Palestinian Society and How it is Perceived”

Leaderships Activities: President of Peace Means 2011-2012

Activities/Awards: I Am Grand Valley 2010, 2011.

Study Abroad experience: Arabic language and culture in Amman, Jordan

Internship/Practicum experience: Taught English at Paidia International Development’s

summer camp in the West Bank, 2012; Applied for grants for GoodTemps Temporary Staffing

Services, Fall 2012.

Greatest accomplishment while at Grand Valley: I am proud to have played an integral role

in bringing in guest speaker Dr. Norman Finkelstein in Winter 2012.

Carla Landhuis: English Language and Literature and Spanish Language

and Literature

Senior Project: Could Our Culture Be Killing Us? An Observational and

Intellectual Review of U.S. and Spanish Food Cultures

Summary: In the spring of 2011, I studied abroad in Bilbao, Spain. During my

five-month stay, I noticed fewer obese and overweight citizens than in the

United States and wondered why. I was compelled to examine the discrepancy

when I felt I was eating more in Spain yet not gaining weight. My aim in this

project was to explore the differences between the food cultures in the U.S. and Spain to discover if our weight and

health issues are affected by our cultures, if it is our culture that is “killing” us and if we could escape from it. I

determined that our culture does make it difficult for us to be healthy, but it is the individual’s choice to strive for a

health life.

Research and presentations: “Enchanted by Fairy Tale Retellings”-English capstone thesis

Leaderships Activities: Honors mentor from 2010 to 2011, Co-led a spring break team to Alabama in 2012,

Campus Ministry leader since 2011

Activities/Awards: Worked various campus jobs, including the writing center from 2010-present, Dean’s List

every year, volunteered at the Conference for the Asociación Internacional de Literatura y Cultura Femenina

Hispánica

Study Abroad experience: Bilbao, Spain, January to May 2011

Internship/Practicum experience: Student researcher and transcriber for the Young Lords of Lincoln Park

Project, Intern with Campus Ministries @ GVSU

Greatest accomplishment while at Grand Valley: As nerdy as it sounds, I have not missed a class for any reason.

My college education has a monetary value fixed to it but I also value the valuable knowledge that can only be

learned during each class, and so I made it a priority to be present for every class.

Plans after graduation: Travel to Guatemala for five months to work with a local church outside of Guatemala City

to lead after-school programs.

Danielle Marie Lucksted: Psychology, with a minor in English

Senior Project: “Comparative Social Policy: Women in the U.S. and Ireland, through the lens

of the Catholic Church” (Advisor: Dr. Joan Borst of the Social Work department).

Summary: Tied in with a two-week study abroad program on Social Work in urban and

rural Ireland, this comparative social policy paper involved extensive research on

contraceptive and abortion legislation, employment laws, female poverty, childcare, social

expectations, and the role of religion on attitudes, perceptions, and legislation of women in

the United States and Ireland.

Research and presentations: Undergraduate Social Psychology Research Assistant to Dr.

Todd Williams and Dr. Kristy Dean in the Psychology department for one year each. (Areas: Terror Management

Theory, Ego depletion, Embodied cognition). Student Scholar’s Day Poster Presentation 2012 with advisor Dr.

Kristy Dean: “Ignored, Vulnerable, and Invisible: Evidence for an Embodied Social Metaphor” (Social Psychology)

Leaderships Activities: Psi Chi (Psychology Honors Society) President

Activities/Awards: Organizations: Psi Chi, Women’s Center internship. Scholarships: Award for Excellence,

Faculty Scholarship, State Competitive Scholarship, Study Abroad Grant through Padnos International Center

Study Abroad experience: Academic Year 2010/2011 in Kingston, England (Kingston University). Faculty-led

Social Work summer trip to Ireland.

Internship/Practicum experience: Undergraduate VAWA Grant Intern to Theresa Rowland in the GVSU

Women’s Center, on-call Shelter Assistant at Safe Haven Ministries (Domestic Violence shelter)

Greatest accomplishment while at Grand Valley: Studying abroad twice (which included article publications for

Grand Valley and my hometown newspaper on the Royal Wedding while in England), and organizing the various

events and programs associated with Domestic Violence Awareness Month for October 2012 through the Women’s

Center.

Plans after graduation: Education: Pursuing a Master’s Degree in Human Rights in the UK and/or an MSW in the

United States. Career plans: Direct a university Women’s Center or work for the Office of the High Commissioner

for Human Rights

Kathryn McEachin: Accounting

Senior Project: The Business of Wedded Bliss

Summary: The Business of Wedded Bliss examines the cost of marriage today and in

1962 (exactly 50 years ago). This research has determined if the average price of a

wedding in 2012 is greater than the cost in 1962, with adjustments for inflation, or if the

cost has risen parallel to inflation, and no change has occurred. The Business of Wedded

Bliss also examines the society influence that marriage holds, specifically from a

religious, legal, and generation perspective, and the changes that have occurred in

society in the last half-century.

Leaderships Activities: Resident Assistant – Ravines Apartments & Winter Secchia

Downtown Apartments, Beta Alpha Psi Member, Honors Community Council Service Chair

Activities/Awards: Dean’s List, I Am Grand Valley

Internship/Practicum experience: Tax Internship with Deloitte Tax LLP, Winter 2012

Greatest accomplishment while at Grand Valley: Graduation with Bachelors of Business Administration in

Accounting in 6 semesters

Plans after graduation: Tax Internship with BDO USA LLP, Winter 2013 & Graduate School at Walsh College for

Masters of Science in Taxation

Aubrey McMahan: International Relations, with minors in German Language &

Literature and Middle Eastern Studies

Senior Project: “Coping with a War Never Seen: How the Youth Are Rising Out of the

Lebanese Civil War’s Aftermath”

Summary: This project is a combination of an academic research paper, multiple in-class

presentations, and an online blog. Based on a Lebanon in-country study visit fellowship

with the National Council on US-Arab Relations, this project provides a historical analysis

and an overview of the daily culture and lifestyle of the people of the region with an

emphasis on Lebanon’s youth.

Research and presentations: Independent Project: “Austrian Youth Involvement Trends:

An Analysis”; Facilitator of “Show & Tell: Combining the Beauty of Cultures to Create and Interfaith World”;

Facilitator of “The Immigration Issue”; Facilitator of “Exploring the US Foreign Service and State Department”;

Speaker of “From Satisfactory to Superb: Writing Good Personal Statements” workshop at the Michigan Writers

Center Association Conference (2011); article publication “Why Chinese Neo-Confucian Women Made a Fetish of

Small Feet” in the Grand Valley Journal of History (December 2012)

Leaderships Activities: Chief Justice and Head of State, National Council on US-Arab Relations Model Arab League

Summits (2011-2012); President, GVSU Arab Culture Club (2011-2012); Resident Assistant (2010-2012); Member,

Delta Phi Alpha German Honor Society (2011-Present); Writing Consultant, GVSU Writing Center (2011-Present);

Lead Peer Research Consultant, GVSU Libraries (2012-Present)

Activities/Awards: Award of Appreciation from US Ambassador to Austria William Eacho III (2010); Truman

Scholar Finalist (2011); Delta Tau Delta “Committed to Lives of Excellence” Scholarship (2011); 2nd Runner Up,

Miss Grand Valley State University, part of the Miss America Scholarship Program (2011); “I Am Grand Valley”

Exceptional Leader Awards (2012); Scholar, “Ibn Battuta Merit Scholarship for Peace & Diplomacy” to study the

Arabic language in Rabat, Morocco (one of five recipients worldwide for Summer 2012); Fellow, National Council

on US-Arab Relations Fellowship to study Lebanon (one of ten recipients nationally for Summer 2012)

Study Abroad experience: Graz, Austria; Ottawa, Canada; Vienna, Austria; Rabat, Morocco; Beirut, Lebanon

Internship/Practicum experience: Parliamentary Intern on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Canada;

Economic/Political Analyst for the US Embassy in Vienna, Austria

Greatest accomplishment while at Grand Valley: immersing myself in so many opportunities and resources at

Grand Valley and abroad

Plans after graduation: serving as a change agent in international affairs for a US agency before returning to

school for a Master’s degree in international diplomacy and human rights

Brittney Mohnke: Mathematics, Secondary Education

Senior Project: An Exploration of the Maasai People

Summary: During the month of May 2011, Stephanie Petersen and I travelled to Arusha,

Tanzania on a faculty-led Study Abroad program. While there, we spent one weekend in

Monduli, a Maasai village. We experienced the Maasai culture and way of life firsthand. We

camped at the base of Mount Terosero with a Maasai family, ate traditional Maasai food for

the entire weekend, and hiked through the village with a Maasai guide. Our Maasai guide

shared with us his knowledge about the plants and livestock while on our hike. Later that

weekend, we listened to stories and legends about who the Maasai people are and where

they come from. Also, we went to the Maasai market multiple times where we interacted and

bartered to buy handmade Maasai products. Through these experiences, we became interested in the Maasai

people and we began conducting interviews and holding conversations with Maasai people who we saw on a daily

basis which we then used to compose a comprehensive research paper.

Research and presentations: Student Scholars Day

Leaderships Activities: Executive Board for Grand Valley Pompon

Activities/Awards: Pompon team, Volunteer Tutor, Mathematics Department Scholarship

Study Abroad experience: Taught Mathematics in Tanzania

Internship/Practicum experience: Teacher Assistant at Central High School, Student Teacher at Portland High

School

Greatest accomplishment while at Grand Valley: Positive experiences and success I found teaching abroad as

well as at my two placements

Plans after graduation: Substitute teaching while looking for a mathematics teacher position for Fall 2013

Megan Motz: English (Secondary Education Emphasis)

Senior Project: “European Language Instruction: Why the United States Needs

to Catch Up”

Summary: What steps the U.S. needs to take to better incorporate English

language learners into curriculum.

Research and presentations: Various psychology and English education

research

Leaderships Activities: Honors College Student Ambassador, coaching,

tutoring

Activities/Awards: Coaching Volleyball, tutoring, GVSU Best Buddies, student ambassador, study abroad, Dean’s

List every semester here, Award of Excellence

Study Abroad experience: Maastricht, Netherlands English education program, Summer 2011

Internship/Practicum experience: Teacher assisting in the Netherlands and in the U.S., and student teaching

Greatest accomplishment while at Grand Valley: meeting unforgettable people (students and teachers alike)

Plans after graduation: Get a teaching job (preferably out West).

Melissa Perla: Biomedical Sciences

Senior Project: Rehabilitation and the Struggles of Holocaust Survivors after the War

Summary: For my senior project I chose to expand on a topic that I explored during my

junior seminar. The body of the paper was composed during that class. In the body of the

paper I discuss the entire rehabilitation process for Holocaust survivors; from the initial

medical problems they had to resolve to the far-reaching psychological issues. For my

senior project specifically, I compiled three case studies of Holocaust survivors to add as

an appendix to this paper. Each person represents a very different perspective of life

after the Holocaust. I used these case studies as small examples within the paper in

addition to including a full case study of each story in the appendix at the end of the paper.

Research and presentations: Presenter at the Grand Rapids Honors Conference Winter 2010

Leaderships Activities: Treasurer of the Pre-Physical Therapy Club

Activities/Awards: Dean’s list, teaching assistant for anatomy and physiology labs, rock climbing club

Greatest accomplishment while at Grand Valley: My greatest accomplish would probably be getting invited to

present at the Grand Rapids Honors Conference when I was a freshman.

Plans after graduation: Hopefully attending physical therapy school in the fall

Stephanie Petersen: Mathematics

Senior Project: An Exploration of the Maasai People

Summary: During the month of May 2011, we traveled to Arusha, Tanzania on a

faculty-led Study Abroad program. While there, we spent one weekend in Monduli, a

Maasai village. We experienced the Maasai culture and way of life firsthand. We

camped at the base of Mount Terosero with a Maasai family, ate traditional Maasai

food for the entire weekend, and hiked through the village with a Maasai guide. Our

Maasai guide shared with us his knowledge about the plants and livestock while on

our hike. Later that weekend, we listened to stories and legends about who the Maasai people are and where they

come from. Also, we went to the Maasai market multiple times where we interacted and bartered to buy handmade

Maasai products. Through these experiences, we became interested in the Maasai people and we began conducting

interviews and holding conversations with Maasai people who we saw on a daily basis which we then used to

compose a comprehensive research paper.

Research and presentations: For my Mathematics Capstone Project, I was able to compare and contrast the

American Educational system with that of the Tanzanian Educational system through primary experience teaching

in both locations as well as secondary research. I had the honor of presenting my Capstone along with my Honor’s

Senior Project to the Grand Valley Department Heads

Leaderships Activities: Student Scholars Day 2012

Activities/Awards: Dean’s List every semester, Mathematics Scholarship—Grand Valley State University, Pi Mu

Epsilon—Grand Valley State University, GVSU Dance Troupe—2009 through 2012

Study Abroad experience: Tanzania, Summer 2011

Internship/Practicum experience: Teacher Assisting—West Ottawa High School, Student Teaching—Spring

Lake Middle School

Greatest accomplishment while at Grand Valley: My greatest accomplishment while at Grand Valley was my

Study Abroad experience. I entered Grand Valley as a timid individual, comfortable with my steady routine. Being

pushed by my advisor and friends to travel to Tanzania had a great impact on my life. Teaching in a foreign country

has augmented my passion for equity in the classroom. It has also forever shaped my personality, making me a

well-rounded, worldly individual.

Plans after graduation: After graduation, I plan to seek employment in Mathematics Education. Once I have

completed a few years of field experience, I will return for my Master’s Degree as well as my PhD in Mathematics

Education.

Hanna Poole: Nursing

Senior Project: Diseases of Poverty in America Over the Last Century: Implications for Pediatric

Nurses

Summary: My essay examines current evidence that American children who grow up in poverty

are at greater risk for developing several long-term poor health outcomes. From the end of

World War I onward, historical perspectives on this phenomenon are discussed, in detail. The

project includes a theoretical case study component, in which I demonstrate appropriate nursing

interventions and resource utilization for an adolescent suffering from Reactive Airway Disease

and Conduct Disorder. I expand on this theme by reflecting on the government and nursing roles

in protecting the welfare of vulnerable children. My goals in writing this are two-fold: I intend to

spark discussion about ways to move our society away from the current milieu of health

disparities, and I aim to reestablish the need for widespread, evidence-based interventions

targeted at children in poverty.

Research and presentations: Eroica and 1812 Overture in the Context of Romantic Europe,

Colonial Attitudes and Haiti, Public Health Nursing Considerations for American Adults with

Comorbid Nicotine Addiction and Depression, Life in the Desert: Research on the Development and Response to

Food Shortages in Urban Areas, Evolving Perspectives Ethical Decision-Making Model and Adolescent

Development

Leaderships Activities: Student Nurses’ Association Delegate and Nursing in the News Committee Member,

Volunteer for Gilda’s Club of Grand Rapids, Making Smiles for Hope, Walk to End Alzheimer’s, Relay for Life, local

flu shot clinics, Renucci Hospitality House, Oasis of Hope Center, and Walk a Mile in Her Shoes

Activities/Awards: Ballroom Dancing Club (Personal Relations Chair and Regional Competitor), Swing Dancing

Club, Capoeira Mandinga/Brazilian Martial Arts

Internship/Practicum experience: Helen Devos Children’s Hospital, Spectrum Health Butterworth Neuro/Spine,

Labor and Delivery, and Mother/Baby floors, Grand Valley Family Health Clinic, Spectrum Health Blodgett

Digestive Disease/Colorectal Surgery floor, and The Other Way Ministries

Greatest accomplishment while at Grand Valley: I will always fondly remember my immersion in various

communities at Grand Valley. I was fortunate enough to find peers and mentors within the Honors College and

Kirkhof College of Nursing who inspired me and helped me grow as a person.

Plans after graduation: I would like to direct my nursing career towards pediatric acute care; I am fascinated

with the wide range of developmental stages encountered in this setting, and I find great satisfaction in helping

children and adolescents reach their physical and psychosocial potentials.

Katie Redes: International Business and Marketing

Senior Project: Action Water Sports Brand Extension

Summary: Marketing plan for a water sports retail location in Cadillac, MI.

Leaderships Activities: President of the GVSU water ski team

Activities/Awards: Club sports female athlete of the year 2011-2012, water ski team,

LINK, students for a peaceful Africa

Study Abroad experience: Winter Semester 2011 – Buenos Aires, Argentina

Internship/Practicum experience: Financial Planning and Analysis internship at

Stryker Corporation

Greatest accomplishment while at Grand Valley: My study abroad experience

Plans after graduation: Exploring options and hoping for adventure

Stephanie Rupinski: Accounting & Finance

Senior Project: The Financial Crisis of 2008: The Key Events & Players

Summary: I looked at what led to the failure and bailout of several of the investment banks

on Wall Street, and who the key players were that played roles in the financial crisis. I

concentrated on the chain of events that began with lax requirements for mortgages, bundling

mortgage backed securities, taking on too much risk, and not being able value these complex

assets on their balance sheets- which eventually led to the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers, as

well as the merger of several investment banks now leaving them with the title of being “too

big to fail.” I also examined the decision to bail out the banks and the controversies with that

decision, as well as developing a supplemental PowerPoint that gives an easy-to-understand presentation of the

chain of events that resulted in this crisis we are still feeling the effects of today.

Leaderships Activities: Represented Grand Valley at the Deloitte Diverse Leaders Program (Detroit, MI), the Ernst

& Young Emerging Leaders Program (Grand Rapids, MI), and the BDO Pathway to Success program (Chicago, IL)

Activities/Awards: Member of Phi Mu sorority; served as Treasurer of Phi Mu- Rho Eta’s Executive Board, as well

as serving on the Discipline, Housing, Social and Finance committees; Member of Beta Alpha Psi (professional

Accounting fraternity); Member of Beta Gamma Sigma (professional Business fraternity); Received School of

Accounting Alumni Scholarship

Internship/Practicum experience: Worked as the Student Assistant for the School of Accounting at Grand Valley

since Winter 2010; Worked as a Summer Assurance Intern at Plante Moran in Auburn Hills (Summer 2012)

Greatest accomplishment while at Grand Valley: Being elected Treasurer of Phi Mu and being able to work with

the rest of the Executive Board and our members to have a successful and fun school year. Also being able to work

for the School of Accounting and to represent Grand Valley at some wonderful accounting leadership programs

where I was able to meet everyone from the CEO of a Big Four public accounting firm to other accounting students

from around the country.

Plans after graduation: I will be completing a second internship with Plante Moran in Auburn Hills this upcoming

busy tax season from January-April. I then plan to go to graduate school to obtain my Master’s in Accounting and

150 credits in order to sit for the CPA exam. I will then start full time as an Assurance staff at Plante Moran in

Auburn Hills in August 2014.

Jeannie Schott: Criminal Justice

Senior Project: The World’s Great Flaw; Glitches in Humanity, The Story of Thomas

Summary: It is a fictional short story about a young man who is an unfortunate victim of

homophobic hate violence. The piece chronicles his life, beginning at the point of assault and

works its way back to his early years. The project ends tying in the realities of hate violence

with official statistics and accounts from victims.

Leaderships Activities: Helped to found S.A.F.E. (Students Advocating Freedom & Equality),

a student organization at GVSU.

Greatest accomplishment while at Grand Valley: Completing my degree a semester early

after having changed my major twice and working nearly full time.

Plans after graduation: I plan to obtain a career within the government, hopefully with the Department of

Homeland Security to start.

Rebecca Schymanski; Mathematics, with a minor in German

Senior Project: A Career in Epidemiology

Summary: For my senior thesis, I interned for an Epidemiologist at the Ottawa County

Health Department. While there, I gained an insight into the field, as well as completed a

project for the Health Department. I tested electronic methods of data collection that

can be used during an outbreak. I also developed my own outbreak and data set to use

to test my data collection methods. I then analyzed each test to determine what methods

I felt worked best in order to give the Health Department insight into the pros and cons

of each method of data collection and what methods might prove most useful to them in

future outbreaks.

Research and presentations: The Effects of China’s One-Child Policy

Leaderships Activities: Dance Troupe Choreographer, ODK, Dance Troupe Treasurer’s Committee

Activities/Awards: Dance Troupe, Dean’s List, German Honor Society, Math Honor Society, ODK

Study Abroad experience: Schwäbisch-Gmünd, Germany, Summer 2012

Internship/Practicum experience: Ottawa County Health Department, Fall 2012, Shadowed in the Spectrum

Health Cytogenetic Laboratory, Fall 2012

Greatest accomplishment while at Grand Valley: My greatest accomplishment while at Grand Valley was

making the Dean’s List every semester.

Plans after graduation: After graduation I plan to continue to investigate my career opportunities. I hope to

eventually attend Graduate School to obtain a Master’s Degree and a PhD, and to continue on in a career that allows

me to combine my love of math and genetics.

Olvi Tole: Information Systems (Emphasis Application Development) and

Finance

Senior Project: An empirical investigation of the factors affecting Web 2.0

adoption

Summary: This project is a research paper that examined the motivations that

led users to adopt Web 2.0. The data used comes from student perceptions of

Web 2.0 expressed in an E-commerce class. A total of 1483 responses were

collected and analyzed in SAS. In conclusion, four were the factors that influence

user adoption of Web 2.0: its ability to provide ‘Business improvement’ and ‘Workplace collaboration’, the

Innovation they offer as well as their ability to be used in personal life.

Research and presentations: Poster Presentation: MIE 24th International Conference of the European Federation

for Medical Informatics “Translational Meta-Analysis Tool for Temporal Gene Expression Profiles”. Guenter Tusch,

Olvi Tole. Pisa Palazzo dei Congressi. Pisa, IT. August 29th, 2012. Poster Presentation: Great Lakes Bioinformatics

Conference (GLBIO) “A Web Interface to Search for Similar Temporal Gene Expression Profiles”. Olvi Tole.

University of Michigan. Ann Arbor, MI. April 9th, 2012. Software Demo Presentation: MIE 23rd International

Conference of the European Federation for Medical Informatics “Translational Meta-Analysis Tool for Temporal

Gene Expression Profiles”. Guenter Tusch, Olvi Tole. Radisson Blu Scandinavia Hotel. Oslo, NO. August 29th, 2011.

Poster Presentation: Great Lakes Bioinformatics Conference (GLBIO) “Towards Searching for Temporal Patterns in

Gene Expression Profiles”. Olvi Tole. Ohio University. Athene, OH. May 3rd, 2011. Poster Presentation: Student

Scholars Day (SSD) 2011 “Searching for Temporal Patterns in Gene Expression Profiles”. Olvi Tole, Guenter Tusch.

Grand Valley State University. Allendale, MI. April 13th, 2011

Leaderships Activities: Albanian America Student Organization: Treasurer 2010 – 2011, Chess Club: Officer

2009 – 2011

Activities/Awards: Academic Conference Fund 2011, 2012; School of CIS - IS Scholarship 2010; GVSU

International Merit Award 2008 – Present; Outstanding International Student Scholarship 2009.

Study Abroad experience: International student from Albania in the United States

Internship/Practicum experience: Amway – Enterprise Application Developer 2010 – Present; Grand Valley

State University – Tutor 2008 -2010; Design Dreams Studio – Web Developer Summer 08 & 09; Bethany Christian

Services (Albania) - IT Summer 07.

Greatest accomplishment while at Grand Valley: Firstly are the publications where I participated at, thanks to

Dr. Parag Kosalge, Dr. Guenter Tusch and Prof. Maris Stella Swift. Second would be the great level of education

achieved at Grand Valley State University by pursuing a double degree in Science and Business Administration.

Third would be the publication of a fully functional application into Google Play.

Plans after graduation: After graduation I am going to start working right away as a Software Engineer at Amway.

At the same time I am going to pursue a full time Master degree in Information Systems. After gaining some

valuable experience at work I am planning to pursue an MBA in one of the top schools in the country which I hope

will help me participate in the leadership of Global IT projects. In addition to my career goals that I plan to

accomplish, after graduation, I also want that to constantly contribute with any way I can to the developing

countries.

Kyle Wassink: Computer Science

Senior Project: Correlations between Radical Islam and Right-wing extremist attack

methodologies.

Summary: A research paper comparing the attack characteristics of Radical Islamic

terrorists and Right-wing extremists. Should substantial correlations in how these two

entities plan and execute terrorist attacks be found, it could aid in effectively identifying

and preventing Right-wing extremist attacks.

Leaderships Activities: Youth Leader at a local church for 2 years.

Internship/Practicum experience: Web Developer Intern at Meijer Corporate

Headquarters (May 2012 – Current).

Greatest accomplishment while at Grand Valley: Graduating a semester early and having a full time position

secured prior to graduation.

Plans after graduation: I will be working at Blue Medora as a Software Developer beginning this December. I plan

on staying in the West Michigan area and hope to start my own business someday.

Olivia White: Chemistry

Senior Project: Synthesis of a TAAR Regulator

Summary: Certain small molecules produced by the thyroid gland have a

balancing effect on the functioning of many normal body systems. Their imbalance

can produce hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, the latter of which has proven

particularly difficult to treat. Studies have suggested that a small molecule with

structures similar to one studied in the Hart lab could provide a balancing

mechanism to treat this disease. This senior project aimed at the organic synthesis

and purification of a derivative of this molecule. This research was formally presented to both the Grand Valley

Chemistry Department staff and students and at the San Diego ACS National Conference.

Research and presentations: NSF-REU funded summer of research at the University of Toledo working on

synthesizing and incorporating a specially altered DNA base-pair into a DNA sequence, where it was then

characterized and the alterations to the structure of the DNA sequence were analyzed. This research was

presented to the REU staff and students at the University of Toledo.

Leaderships Activities: Small group leader in InterVarsity Christian Fellowship for several years. Mentor for

incoming Honors students.

Activities/Awards: General chemistry facilitator for the GVSU Structured Learning Assistance program. Ballroom

and social dance.

Internship/Practicum experience: Research with Dr. Hart. REU research at the University of Toledo. Student

teaching at Union High School.

Plans after graduation: I will be teaching chemistry and physics at a small high school briefly after graduation,

and then going on to graduate school to continue chemistry studies.