Location: Morrie Jones A-B
C38. “The Price of Participation: Who Can Afford to Be Politically Active?”
2:40 – 3:00 p.m. | Classic
Student Presenters: Andrew Traeger, Cale Bauer
Mentored by: Dr. Nicholas Howard
Abstract
Democracy centers upon on the idea of the consent of the governed, and the American political experiment is no different. However, there is a rise in the U.S. of unequal levels of political participation among individuals of different socioeconomic backgrounds and demographics. As a society, we have built barriers that hinder the most basic functions of democracy – if individuals participate less, they are less likely to be represented. To address this important differentiation in representation, this project asks how resources and opportunities shape an individual’s ability to engage in democratic life. This study uses the Civic Voluntarism Model to examine how socioeconomic status and media consumption shape political participation, drawing on data from the 2022 Cooperative Election Study. We expect that more resourced and informed individuals are more likely to participate in political acts. Our results reflect that higher socioeconomic status is associated with greater political participation. Additionally, media consumption emerges as one of the strongest predictors of political participation. These findings aim to uphold the Civic Voluntarism Model while simultaneously highlighting the evolving information and resource landscape that reshapes how political participation is understood, underscoring the importance of engagement pathways in shaping contemporary political participation.
C39. “Community in Practice: An Ethnographic Review of Service and Connection at Churches United”
3:00 – 3:15 p.m. | Nano
Student Presenter: Kaelyn Van Dellen
Mentored by: Dr. Karla Knutson
Abstract
The relationship between people experiencing homelessness and/or food insecurity and those who devote their time and energy to helping them is one that is riddled with nuance and complications. For many volunteers, it is easy to develop a prejudiced view of those receiving services and a savior mentality about the work that they are doing. Ethnography offers a methodology to immerse oneself in this culture to learn from and about these people and their dynamic. My creative scholarship was an ethnographic research project, that is a genre of writing based on participant observation and interview during immersion in an unfamiliar group with the purpose of documenting and discovering how members of the group interact with one another. I hypothesized that by doing so, I could gain valuable insight into my chosen community; Churches United for the Homeless. My research process consisted of over 24 volunteer hours with instantaneous jottings about the events that transpired and full field notes written after the fact. After careful reflection on my field notes, I will write a full ethnography that makes a claim about the staff and volunteers at Churches United. Once I am done with my research, I anticipate finding a significant pattern in interpersonal relationships within the organization, which I can use to flesh out a claim about the organization. I predict that I will find a significant pattern related to how the regular staff and volunteers treat one another, new volunteers, and guests differently.
C40. “Compassionate Care: An Ethnographic Review of the NICU Community”
3:15 – 3:30 p.m. | Nano
Student Presenter: Eleanor Culloton
Mentored by: Dr. Karla Knutson
Abstract
To shed light on the powerful and positive effect of NICU staff on families, I have been conducting an ongoing ethnographic research project studying the NICU community at Essentia Health in Fargo. Ethnography is a research methodology defined as the systematic study of the customs of a group. Branching from anthropology, the purpose of this project is to immerse myself through participant observation into a group, writing fieldnotes, and conducting interviews along the way. To better understand this community through an ethnographer’s lens, I have been conducting an ongoing project consisting of getting access to the group through extended communication and actions, conducting at least twenty-four hours of in-person observations, writing a set of detailed fieldnotes from jottings made in the field, and writing the final ethnographic essay based around a common theme discovered during time spent in the field. In my research thus far, I have found the NICU staff and providers to value teamwork between departments to achieve their shared goal of patient discharge, communication during rounds and throughout the day, and compassionate, unbiased care as the standard. Anticipated results will bring focus and light to the selfless efforts of those working in the NICU to provide families with exceptional patient-centered care, and the effects of their efforts on families. The project will culminate in an oral presentation and an ethnographic essay, which will serve as a written chronicle of my research and fieldwork.
Location: Morrie Jones C-D
C41. “The Ethnographic Study of Adult Ballet Classes”
2:40 – 2:55 p.m. | Nano
Student Presenter: Alexis Miller
Mentored by: Dr. Karla Knutson
Abstract
There are many benefits that can occur from adults involving themselves in dance classes, specifically ballet. I have discovered through studying these dance classes ethnographically that taking adult ballet classes can provide good exercise, a way to build friendships, and a healthy hobby to occupy time. Ethnography is a way to study a group or culture by immersing yourself in the environment. I started my study by researching Gaspers School of Dance, then started taking weekly classes. By participating in these classes I am able to experience and learn about the culture at a different level than you would by simply studying from the outside. I have conducted interviews with a wide range of ages of people in this class, which has given me even more insight into the culture. I have learned how easy it is to integrate yourself into an environment like this, and why others have decided to take classes like this. Overall, in my speech I will discuss the process I went through, interview results, and how the class culture is different than anything I have seen before.
C42. “Coaching for Success: Insights from Athletic Coaches”
2:55 – 3:10 p.m. | Nano
Student Presenters: Kaylie Zimmerman, Dylan Sipe, Xermoua Loranxay
Mentored by: Dr. Shontarius Aikens
Abstract
Our project focuses on interviewing athletic coaches to understand common themes in what help athletes succeed and what challenges they face. The purpose of this project is to learn what works, what doesn’t, and how coaches mentor and guide athletes both on and off the field. This topic is important because coaches play a major role in athlete development, confidence, and long-term success. Throughout these interviews, we explored how coaches support athletes through motivation, communication, accountability, and building strong relationships. A common theme that came up was the importance of trust, consistency, and creating a positive team culture. Coaches also shared challenges such as managing athlete mindset, handling pressure, and helping athletes stay focused during difficult times. The goal of this project is to better understand effective coaching strategies and how mentorship impacts athlete growth. This information can be helpful for future coaches, athletes, and anyone interested in leadership and team development. Overall, this experience helped us better understand the value of strong leadership, communication, performance, growth, and personal development.
C43. “Paul Bissonnette Interviewing Techniques”
3:10 – 3:30 p.m. | Classic
Student Presenter: Chase Rawson
Mentored by: Dominic Meyers, Dr. Kirsten Theye
Abstract
This classic project analyzes the interviewing style of Paul Bissonnette (Biz) on the hockey podcast Spittin’ Chiclets and in his live television role as an TNT intermission analysist. Developed as a part of a media and communication course, this research examines how Biz’s on-air persona influences his ability to conduct compelling and revealing interviews. Drawing from selected podcast episodes and televised segments, I conducted a qualitative analysis of his questioning techniques, tone, structure, and rapport-building strategies. Findings suggest that Biz’s self-deprecating humor and “clown” persona create a sense of comfort and authenticity that allows him to ask direct, sometimes difficulty questions without alienating guests. His credibility as a former NHL player further strengthens this dynamic. However, findings also show a tendency toward lengthy, double-barreled questions that can limit clarity and guest response depth. Overall, this project highlights how personality, credibility and question structure shape effective sprots media interviewing.
Location: ISC 201
C44. “Queer Social Structures in US Women’s Rights Movements from 1889 to 1918”
2:40 – 3:00 p.m. | Classic
Student Presenter: Samwise Tritabaugh
Mentored by: Dr. Madison Clark
Abstract
Queer history is not taught thoroughly at Concordia College. Aspects that are spoken about are hushed and often flawed. In our modern day, queer history is incredibly important; queer individuals deserve to know their legacy and that there are countless valuable lessons to learn from studying and discussing it. By banishing this section of our history, we, as a society, do a disservice to ourselves, the memory of those who we are exiling, and to future generations who may benefit from this knowledge. From the late 1800s till the passage of the 19th amendment, American women’s rights groups were infused with a non-traditional social structure that emphasized bonds between women, both platonic and non-platonic. Many women within these groups embraced a familial title system wherein they adopted mentees and encouraged close-partnerships, often sapphic. Queer relationships, both platonic and non, were so infused within the social structure that these movements cannot truly be studied without them. Through a presentation on queer social structures in women’s rights movements from 1889 to 1918, I will develop the conversation on queer history to Concordia students. My hope is that by continuing this topic in public discussion, Concordia students will be encouraged to freely discuss and learn about this previously ignored segment of history. I intend to continue openly pursuing the education of queer history through a series of presentations I will conduct during the 2026-2027 school year with the partnership of SAGA.
C45. “The Pilgrim And The Artist: Connected Through Liminal Space”
3:00 – 3:20 p.m. | Classic
Student Presenter: Henry Skatvold
Mentored by: Dr. Jeff Meyer
Abstract
Are the pilgrim and artist more similar than different? Are their mediums of “travel” through paint, sound, and trail interconnected through similar processes? Liminal space belongs in both the fields of art (audio and visual) and pilgrimage through their transformative structures. Thus, this allows for these venturing souls to consciously transcend their lives through the adventure in their processes and communities. This paper aims to bring correlation between these fields to display the vast experience gained in the liminal space that is crucial in both the arts and pilgrimage, exploring the concept through three structures. First, performance in art and pilgrimage focuses on the ways in which both their subjects present a transformation to their audience as well as to their communities and themselves. Second, communitas brings the lens of the core experiences in community, both in the performance and perception of art, as well as the community experiences along the journey through a pilgrimage. Third, creativity as a facilitator of the liminal space, brings both artist and pilgrim to build their own understood path and is imperative to a transformational experience through their respective mediums. Throughout, this study utilizes scholars work to bridge liminal space and it’s relationships to performance, communitas, and creativity focusing on the conscious contemplative experience of the pilgrim and artist, applying it to the fields of, and adjacent to, art and pilgrimage studies to show that the pilgrim and pilgrimage, is a closely related experience to that of the artist.
C46. “The Medieval Poet-Musicians as Pilgrims: Reimagining the Traditions”
3:20 – 3:40 p.m. | Classic
Student Presenter: Zachary Catalan
Mentored by: Dr. Jeff Meyer
Abstract
The poet-musician traditions of the Middle Ages, making up a significant part of secular music during this period, incorporated physical movement into facets of their work. Among these are their festivals or meetings, known to us through recorded verse or narrative, where these musicians allegedly gathered together. These locations, including the Château de Puivert in Occitania or Eisenach’s Wartburg Castle, served as sacralized space for members of these organizations; these were places where the attendants likely partook in lively activities such as singing, composition of new verse, and competitions between one another. Because of the nature of these gatherings and ritualistic events, the capacity for communitas and the possibility for transformation would be compelling motivations for the poet-musicians to make physical journeys. Motivations for travel are also emphasized through the focus both of self and communal identity at these gatherings. The “pilgrimages” were often powered by these core ideas of communitas, transformation, and identity, ideas that also relate to the historical contexts of the southern French “puys” and German themes of nature. While medieval pilgrimage itself has been comprehensively analyzed within pilgrimage studies, other topics within secular music during the same period warrants more study, which includes the poet-musician traditions. Focusing on the lives of the Troubadours and the Minnesängers, this paper explores the meaning and importance of movement and gathering within the medieval poet-musician traditions and aims at a “re-presentation” (as Simon Coleman describes) of these traditions into the field of pilgrimage studies.
Location: ISC 260
C47. “AI in Fraud Detection and Prevention”
2:40 – 2:55 p.m. | Nano
Student Presenters: Eric Cockhill, Morgan Sauvageau, Emma Ravnaas, Jillian Martinez, Zach Ellerbusch
Mentored by: Dominic Meyers, Lindsey DiFiore
Abstract
Advanced Intelligence or AI already plays a role in fraud detection and prevention. AI can be very helpful if it is used correctly, but there is also so much that we as people do not know about AI. This project analyzes the impact of AI, how we can make it better, and will analyze the current AI usage across fraud detection and prevention systems. The results indicate the potential displacement of humans in this field of work, the privacy of people’s information, and the predictive analysis that AI falls back on when it has never seen the data the user presents to it. The goal of this project is to deepen everybody;s understanding of how beneficial AI can be in everyday jobs.
C48. “The Power of Power: An Analysis of Russia’s Resource Driven Foreign Policy”
2:55 – 3:15 p.m. | Classic
Student Presenter: Grace Phan
Mentored by: Dr. Jan Pranger
Abstract
This research examines the critical juncture of natural resources and foreign policy. As great power global political dynamics continue to intensify, a thorough analysis of global conditions is required to understand the complexity of issues. Russia is one of the world’s largest energy producers. Its vast wealth of natural resources are inextricably linked to Russia’s foreign policymaking, with the two components both shaping and being shaped by each other. These resources are supported by a variety of infrastructure, including pipelines, refining facilities, nuclear plants, and oil fields. In turn, the state’s gross domestic product (GDP) and state-funded energy companies are supported by mass exportation, predominantly to Europe and Asia. Natural resource wealth influences relations with Western liberal-democratic countries ,allows Russia to dominate dependent states, and drives foreign policy through the need for energy security and infrastructure. This research uses literature review to analyze the use of natural resources in policymaking by authoritarian states, with a focus on Russian diplomacy. Through this review, an understanding of the complicated implications on the world stage can be found.
C49. “Examining Partisan Congressional Oversight of the Executive Branch”
3:15 – 3:35 p.m. | Classic
Student Presenters: Silas Dahlseid, Robbie Kreps
Mentored by: Dr. Nicholas Howard
Abstract
Modern Congresses have long struggled to advance any significant legislation when it is against the preferences of the President. The inability to pass this type of important legislation poses a long-term threat to the balance-of-power in the American political system. Identifying key factors associated with committee consideration is the first step in identifying bills that have momentum towards becoming law. Therefore, this project asks why bills limiting the executive receive attention in Congress. By having better insight into producing executive limiting bills which gain momentum in the House, the Congress will be better able to legislate on issues that require the curtailment of executive power. Our research hypothesizes several possible factors associated with committee consideration, including whether the bill sponsor is the chair of the committee, the number of cosponsors on the bill, and the presidential support of the committee chair. We identify a sample of bills from the 114-116th Congress based on identified grammatical relationships between the words of bill summaries. We estimate an OLS regression based on the several factors we hypothesize to be significant. We expect there to be a clear advantage for bills that have measurable committee chair support, and a less clear advantage for bills with implied presidential support.
Location: ISC 301
C50. “‘Who Taught You to Hate Yourself’ Malcolm X’s take on internalized racism”
2:40 – 3:00 p.m. | Classic
Student Presenter: Nader Said
Mentored by: Dr. Stephanie Lemmer
Abstract
Internalized racism, the adoption of negative racial stereotypes by members of a marginalized group, remains a significant psychological and sociopolitical phenomenon rooted in systems of oppression. Understanding how self-hatred is constructed and sustained requires examining the rhetorical mechanisms used both to impose and to dismantle it. This paper analyzes Malcolm X’s 1962 speech “Who Taught You to Hate Yourself?”, delivered at the funeral of Brother Ronald Stokes, as a foundational text in the rhetoric of Black identity and resistance. The central argument is that Malcolm X employed repetitive interrogative rhetoric and a deliberate us-versus-them binary not to incite division, but to redirect internalized shame outward toward its true source, systemic white supremacy, while simultaneously calling the Black community toward unity and self-affirmation. Drawing on close rhetorical analysis of the speech alongside Sara Ahmed’s cultural theory of “stickiness,” the way certain words and affects become attached to particular bodies and communities, this paper examines how language like “inferior,” “violent,” and “oppressed” was weaponized against Black Americans and how Malcolm X worked to unstick and reclaim those associations. The analysis reveals that Malcolm’s rhetoric functions as both diagnosis and remedy: naming the external origin of self-hatred while constructing an alternative framework of collective pride and solidarity. This study contributes to ongoing conversations about race, identity, language, and the enduring power of activist oratory.
C51. “Gustave Caillebotte’s Man at His Bath (1884)”
3:00 – 3:20 p.m. | Classic
Student Presenter: Grace Dowden
Mentored by: Dr. Susan Lee
Abstract
Much of the art historical discourse of impressionism focuses on this character who is calm, aloof and apart from the crowd. The flaneur, an upper-class man who was depicted in a nice suit and jacket with a top hat and a cane, he was the subject for many impressionist painters. I center my work on Gustave Caillebotte examining his unconventional male nude painting, Man at His Bath (1884). Male nudes, while very prevalent in neoclassical works, were not as often seen in late nineteenth century paintings. The few nudes that were depicted were done heroically expressing a sure sense of masculinity. I examined this painting as a flaneur in the act of badauderie. The badaud is ungendered and part of a crowd seeking spectacle through the mundane in everyday life. It is only very recently that research has been done on the concept of the badaud as a figure in 19th century impressionist art. I argue that it is through the badaud he can make the man a spectacle to question the overlapping identities people have. I argue Caillebotte uses this unconventional male nude to question the societal boundaries of gender and class in Parisian society because he is personally and politically invested in these concepts. At this time Parisian society was very binary in terms of gender constructs and class hierarchies; overlapping was frowned upon. There was, however, a social idea that allowed for the merging and blurring of boundaries, and this was the concept of the badaud.
C52. “Documentary Poetry as a Tool for Rehumanization”
3:20 – 3:40 p.m. | Classic
Student Presenter: Jordon Perkins
Mentored by: Dr. Vincent Reusch
Abstract
Documentary poetry is a genre that appropriates preexisting texts to create poetic works that engage with historical events. Documentary poets utilize base texts in a variety of formats—books, emails, articles, transcripts, etc.—and collage and remediate them to create new poetic works. My project aimed to determine how documentary poetic works alter perception of the events and people they document. I conducted a literature review of documentary poetic collections, interviews with documentary poets, and academic criticism focusing on the genre. I found that through the use of real-world, preexisting texts, documentary poems work to rehumanize previously dehumanized people. In Mark Nowak’s Coal Mountain Elementary, for example, Nowak collages newspaper articles, lesson plans, oral history testimonies, and images to document mining disasters in West Virginia and China. Heimrad Bäcker’s Transcript quotes Nazi documents to call out the Holocaust being referred to as “unspeakable.” In both of these collections, the works aim to humanize those affected by these events, instead of viewing those involved as simply “numbers.” Documentary poetry is a genre that is increasingly connecting poets with broader conversations about social justice in our society and culture. Using the poetic format and tools like appropriation and collage, poets craft new views of real events and challenge hegemonic ways of thinking about them.
Location: Olin 124
C53. “Building a Business with Intention: Cobbertunity Fund”
2:40 – 3:00 p.m. | Classic
Student Presenter: Kiya McLaurin
Mentored by: Heather McDougall, J.D.
Abstract
This presentation highlights the evolution of Key Event Planning and the steps taken to reach this point in my business. It focuses on how clarity in vision, intentional decision making, and investment in growth can reshape both the direction of a business and the mindset of the person leading it. At its core, Key Event Planning was built on meaningful connections and a strong desire to create memorable experiences for clients. The business thrived on personalization and trust, but much of its energy was directed toward immediate client wants and needs. While this allowed for strong service, it limited the ability to focus on long term positioning, scalability, and brand development. A major shift occurred when Key Event Planning received support through the Cobbertunity Fund. This created space to think beyond day to day operations and invest more intentionally in the future. The focus shifted toward strengthening the brand, refining services, hiring staff, and building a more recognizable presence. The fund acted as both a resource and a catalyst, allowing the business to move from reactive decisions to more strategic growth. With clearer direction, the business began to see stronger interest, more aligned client inquiries, and increased opportunities. Just as important was the internal shift. Leading with greater confidence and intention created a more proactive, structured, and aligned business. This presentation shows that meaningful growth is not about doing more, but doing things with purpose, creating a stronger and more sustainable future for Key Event Planning.
C54. “Color Theory’s Role in Marketing”
3:00 – 3:20 p.m. | Classic
Student Presenter: Maya Parkin
Mentored by: Dominic Meyers
Abstract
In marketing color plays a major role in shaping consumer perceptions, influencing people’s emotions, as well as it helps with brand recognition. The purpose of this project is to analyze how brands use color theory in marketing by comparing small brands such as 787 coffee, and Rifle Paper Co. to large brands such as Bubbler, and Starbucks. This project is an extended literature review, in an attempt to answer the research question: How do small and large brands market differently based on their use of color theory? My anticipated results are that while both small and large brands use color as a way to communicate and appeal to consumers their approaches will differ in terms of the use of it. Larger brands will be found to rely on more simplified color palettes that support a global consistency and strong brand recognition whereas smaller brands might be more inclined to experiment with more strong or diverse colors as a way to establish more individuality as well as to attract attention.
C55. “Inside Third Spaces: An Ethnographic Review of Brewhalla”
3:20 – 3:35 p.m. | Nano
Student Presenter: Julia Vickers
Mentored by: Dr. Karla Knutson
Abstract
This ethnographic project examines the social and cultural dynamics of Brewhalla, a mixed-use food hall, vendor and shopping hub, community gathering space in Fargo. Through participant observation and conversations with vendors and coordinators, this study explores how Brewhalla functions as more than a marketplace; it operates as a curated social environment that shapes how people interact, consume, and experience local culture. Particular attention is given to spatial design, patterns of movement, and the ways individuals and groups occupy shared spaces. The research also considers how the venue blends elements of craft consumption, regional identity, and entertainment to create a distinct atmosphere that appeals to diverse audiences. By observing everyday behaviors such as vendor behavior, socializing, and navigating the space, this ethnography highlights how Brewhalla contributes to Fargo’s evolving urban culture and reflects broader trends in contemporary communal third spaces. Initial findings conclude that Brewhalla functions well as a third space, with vendors enjoying open concepts.
Location: Hvidsten Christiansen Recital Hall
C56. “The Grapes of Wrath and the Resisting Reader”
2:40 – 3:00 p.m. | Classic
Student Presenter: Sarah Schroeder
Mentored by: Dominic Meyers, Dr. Karla Knutson
Abstract
In her book, Resisting Reader: A Feminist Approach to American Fiction, Judith Fetterley discusses how women are often taught to read literature from a male perspective. Due to this, there are many significant parts of written works that may be overlooked because their importance is not traditionally understood by men. Due to this, Judith Fetterley proposes the idea of being a resisting reader and examining literature from a female perspective. In this project, I examine how the concept of Judith Fetterley’s “resisting reader” can be applied to The Grapes of Wrath, and what it uncovers. Reading John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath as a resisting reader demonstrates the agency and authority that results from the domestic space. For my research, I examine previous analysis of the domestic space in The Grapes of Wrath and connect that analysis to examining literature as a resisting reader. I then do my own analysis of The Grapes of Wrath utilizing the resisting reader perspective. As a result of this research, I am able to see how analyzing The Grapes of Wrath from a resisting reader perspective demonstrates power that is associated with domestic work. It is seen in the consistency of the domestic space within the book, the influence the domestic space allows female characters, and the understanding of collectivism that derives from working in the domestic space and how it impacts the family on their trip to California.
C57. “Growing Music and Business Entrepreneurship”
3:00 – 3:20 p.m. | Classic
Student Presenter: Elisabeth Grack
Mentored by: Bree Langemo, J.D.
Abstract
The crossroads of music and business is where creative and entrepreneurial spirits thrive. Founded in 2021, Concordia’s Music and Business Entrepreneurship program fosters the entrepreneurial spirit of musicians and music industry professionals who will impact our community. This project explores ways to grow the existing Music and Business Entrepreneurship program, bridging the gap between disciplines in a meaningful and effective manner. This research is grounded in interviews with students, faculty, alumni, and music business professionals. The findings will guide us in shaping valuable educational opportunities that best cultivate the entrepreneurial spirit in students who are the future of the music industry.
C58. “Women in Music: Interpreting Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel’s Das Jahr”
3:20 – 3:40 p.m. | Classic
Student Presenter: Maria Clapp
Mentored by: Dr. Jay Hershberger
Abstract
In recent years, increasing scholarly and musicological interest in women composers has led to renewed recognition of Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel (1805–1847). A highly gifted composer and pianist, she wrote over 400 works. Although she was unable to pursue a professional musical career due to societal limitations, she received an exceptional musical education and remained musically active. One of her most significant works, Das Jahr (The Year), is a cycle of twelve character pieces—one for each month of the year—plus Nachspiel (postlude), composed in 1841 as a Christmas gift for her husband, Wilhelm Hensel. Nearly 150 years later, the manuscript was rediscovered and published for the first time in 1989. Due to its relatively recent publication, Das Jahr has received limited analytical and performance attention, which has left room for further exploration. This presentation will provide an examination and performance of portions of Das Jahr. The first part of the presentation will explore her artistic development, education, relationship with her family, while also providing a chronological overview of her compositions to illustrate her evolving compositional style. The second part of the presentation will include a performance of one to two pieces from Das Jahr to further demonstrate Hensel’s musical ideas and let the audience experience her music. Ultimately, this presentation seeks to deepen our understanding of Das Jahr as one of Hensel’s most significant works, highlighting her distinctive compositional voice and her contributions to 19th-century piano literature.
Downloadable PDF of the Concurrent Sessions: