John C. Young Scholars present research

RELEASED: April 26, 2007

DANVILLE, KY—Centre's 2006-07 John C. Young Scholars presented their research to the public at the College's annual John C. Young Scholars Symposium on Saturday, April 28.

The John C. Young Scholars Program at Centre is a senior honors program that enables a select group of outstanding senior students to engage in independent study and research in their major field or in an interdisciplinary area.

Each scholar works closely with a faculty mentor and receives financial support for research and travel. In addition to the scholars presenting their results at the spring public symposium, their papers will be published in journal form by the College. The program represents the very best that Centre has to offer academically: strong, motivated students working closely with faculty mentors on projects of compelling intellectual substance.

"Selection as a John C. Young Scholar is one of the highest achievements a student can attain at Centre," says W. David Hall, assistant professor of religion and director of the program. "While the project is overseen by a faculty mentor, the proposed research is generally initiated by the student and the credit goes to the student. It's one of the many really special opportunities that Centre College offers to its student body."  

This year's participants conducted a wide range of research, from the history of electronic music to a study of carbon monoxide.

Miles Barger of Brandenburg, Ky., will present his work, "The History and Mystery of Contemporary Electronic Music." He worked with Larry Bitensky, associate professor of music.

Ben Durham of Crestwood, Ky., will present "Choral Music in Kentucky's Public High Schools" with Barbara Hall, professor of music.

Mary C. Morgan of Douglass, Wyo., will present her research, "Bali: The Anthropology of the Exotic and the Exotification of Anthropology." Her faculty mentor was Gareth Barkin, assistant professor of anthropology.

Brandon Stephenson of Falmouth, Ky., will present "Ideals of Kingship in Fifteenth-Century England: Political Reality and Literary Invention," with Mark Rasmussen, professor of English, and Amos Tubb, assistant professor of history.

Joseph C. Yeager of Louisville, will present his research, "A Spectroscopic Study of Carbon Monoxide on a Thin-film Salt Surface." His faculty mentor was Keith Dunn, associate professor of chemistry.

The John C. Young Scholars for 2007-08 are:

Kerri Howard of Mt. Sterling, Ky., will collaborate with Beau Weston, National Endowment for the Humanities Professor of Sociology; Anne Maggard of Catlettsburg, Ky., will collaborate with Lisa Williams, assistant professor of English; Joshua Qualls of Danville, Ky., will collaborate with Andre Wehner, assistant professor of mathematics and physics; Will Rall of Murray, Ky., will collaborate with W. David Hall, assistant professor of religion; Mandy Smith of New Carlisle, Ohio, will collaborate with Anne Collins, assistant professor of mathematics; and Candice Steiner of Louisville, will collaborate with Nathan Link, assistant professor of music, and Larry Bitensky, associate professor of music.

The John C. Young Scholars program was initiated through an Excellence-in-Undergraduate-Education grant from the Knight Foundation. Centre was one of eight leading liberal arts colleges (Carleton, Macalester, and Swarthmore, for example) to receive the first of these awards to encourage increased collaboration between faculty and students on extra-class intellectual activities.

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Founded in 1819, Centre College is ranked among the U.S. News top 50 national liberal arts colleges. Centre alumni, known for their nation-leading loyalty in annual financial support, include two U.S. vice presidents and two Supreme Court justices. For more, visit http://www.centre.edu/web/elevatorspeech/

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