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Four С����Ƶ seniors and one junior have been selected to receive the 2016-2017 Undergraduate Research Scholar Awards, which come with $5,000 to assist them in pursuing their research. Topics touch on Medicare, cancer and the legacy of novelist Harper Lee, among others, in a variety of subjects such as music education, psychology and health care management.

“The URSA committee was very impressed with the quality of all applications and faced the difficult task of selecting five scholars for the prestigious award,” says Gabriela Smalley, URSA chair and associate professor in the Department of Geological, Environmental, and Marine Sciences. “The five URSA recipients impressed us with their high-quality proposals and their passion for their projects, and we look forward to hearing about their progress over the coming year.”

Senior Johnathan Jackson of the College of Business Administration will study the “Impact of Population Characteristics on the Sustainability of Medicare.” He will explore the effects of an increasing population in America on the total cost of providing Medicare given the current cost structure, ultimately judging if the current structure is sustainable over the next 10 to 15 years. Jackson’s faculty advisor is Associate Professor of Finance and Economics Anne Carroll.

Senior Natalie Strucinski of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences will examine “Walk the Talk: Developing and Assessing Health Programming Designed to Change Both Attitudes and Behaviors in At-Risk Youth.” She proposes to adapt and combine existing health programming curricula related to the period of adolescence in local at-risk youth. Topics will include nutrition, exercise, stress, safety, and substance use. Associate Professor of Psychology Stephanie Golski is Strucinski’s faculty advisor.

Senior Mallory Murphy of Westminster College of the Arts (Westminster Choir College) is undertaking research on a project called “Finding a Home in Music: Culturally Responsive Teaching for Homeless Youth.” She plans to combine a literature review with interviews of elementary-aged children housed at the HomeFront Family Campus in Ewing, N.J., to develop a culturally responsive music curriculum for after-school music programs at the shelter. She plans to teach the curriculum at HomeFront during the summer of 2016. Murphy’s faculty advisor is Assistant Professor of Music Education Donna Gallo.

Junior John Modica of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences will tackle the controversial release of a new book by beloved novelist Harper Lee for his research project, “Setting the Watchman: Unifying the Legacy of Harper Lee in High School Classrooms.” The ultimate aim of his research is to synthesize an instructional guide for teachers on presenting lessons on Go Set a Watchman alongside To Kill a Mockingbird. Modica’s faculty advisor is Matthew Goldie, professor of English.

Finally, senior Elissa Lomakova of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences will examine “Activation of T Cells Within the Tumor Microenvironment.” Her research centers on the imperative to develop novel cancer therapies to help the scourge of cancer as America’s elderly population increases. (Aging is one of the main risk factors for cancer.) James Riggs, a professor of biology, is Lomakova’s faculty advisor.

“These scholarships allow us to foster independent creativity and critical thinking outside of the classroom by mentoring our undergraduate students through scholarly research projects,” Smalley says. “The awards encourage students to think creatively about research problems and strengthen communication and presentation skills.”

The Undergraduate Research Scholar Awards program was established during the 2003-04 academic year to encourage and award excellence in independent student research and scholarship, to enhance collaborative work between students and faculty, and to heighten the intellectual atmosphere on campus. This $5,000 research scholarship supports student work above and beyond ordinary course work performed under the supervision of faculty members across the entire array of disciplines at our various colleges.

The recipients and their research proposals were announced at the annual Independent Scholarships & Creative Activities presentations (ISCAP) Day, held this year on May 4, 2016, in Sweigart Hall. Congratulating the recipients, President Gregory G. Dell’Omo, Ph.D., wrote in a letter to students, their families and faculty that their efforts sent “a strong message about the academic excellence students can achieve at Rider."

Each of the recipients will present their findings next year at the 2017 ISCAP Day.