The honors thesis is a time-honored tradition in the Lee Honors College. It is an opportunity for students to demonstrate to themselves and others the knowledge and skills they have developed during their undergraduate studies and honors experience. The general purpose of the thesis is to create a capstone work that reflects the expertise they have developed in their major field of study or interest.
Honors theses completed at Western Michigan University are entered into ScholarWorks. Some may be embargoed or restricted by the authors or we have been unable to reach the authors, so the theses may be only available from on-campus computers. If you are an author of an honors thesis and would like to make it available off campus or if you have any questions, please contact wmu-scholarworks@wmich.edu.
Theses from 2019
Relationship of Grip Strength and Quality of Life among Community-Dwelling Older Adults, Melissa Van Omen
Autonomous Vehicle Interior Design, Luis Vargas
Preparing college graduates for Work Success in a rapid changing modern-day business landscape., Benito Vavra
2019 Graduating Presentation "The Lights Have Vanished", Kylie Vinitski
Gender Differences in ADHD, Jillian Vogley
Design of a Thrust Stand for Electric Propulsion, Hannah Watts
Culture Without Borders: Intercultural Awareness Through Interviews and Images from International Asian Students, Zhi Xin Wee
Runway Safety and Runway Incursions at Chicago O'Hare International Airport, Kevin Whelan
Point of Contact, Melina Wilcox
Collaborative Referencing in Wernicke's Aphasia: A Case Study, Rachel Wilgenhof
Alternative Rescue Breather, Brandilyn Wilkinson
Emergency Department Triage Process Improvement, Tessa Williams
Theses from 2018
Examining Social Pragmatic Communication: Evidence from Parent and Professional Questionnaires, Katelyn Adams
Mirror Therapy, a Pain Management Therapy, Gabriella Andrews
Conscious Consumerism: A design process for stylish sustainable apparel, Luz Becerra
Senior Showcase, Olivia Belfie
How To Help Kids Succeed - School-Based Programs and Social Mobility, Theresa Bell
Effective Teaching Methods for Elementary Students with ADD/ADHD, Jane Bensen
Coping Skills, Samantha Blosser
Wisteria, Alyssa Boone
Exploring the transmission of different field sparrow (Spizella pusilla) song types, Eric Branch
Adapting "Gregor the Overlander" for the Stage, Wiegand Brian
An acoustic survey of Fort Drum, New York, for severely declining nocturnal birds, Sydney Brooks
Mental Illness as Portrayed through Art, Brianna Brown
The Context for an Undergraduate Research Program at Western Michigan University, Nathan Browning
Wisteria, Alyssa Brutlag
The Effectiveness of Memory Aids in People Who Have Had a Traumatic Brain Injury, Bridget Bucaro
The Changing Geopolitical Dynamics of the Middle East and their Impact on Israeli-Palestinian Peace Efforts, Daniel Bucksbaum
Food: The Musical, Natalie Burdick
Impacts of Representation on Increasing Flexibility in Understanding Number Composition, Abigail Carr
Distillation Optimization in the Pharmaceutical Industry, Clayton Carter
Graduating Presentation, Tara Charvat
Saving the Earth with Behavior Analysis and Gamification!, Ling Ann Chen
Teaching Body Mapping in the Orchestra Classroom, Gretchen Clemans
American Muslim Women: Feminism, Equality, and Difference, Amber Coniglio
Design of an Advanced Formula SAE Chassis Utilizing Carbon Fiber Laminates, Susanne Crum
Research-based Music Composition for Anxiety Reduction, Carly Crusius
Impact of 2001 - 2016 Supreme Court Establishment Clause Cases, Nicole Cumming
The Rhetoric of Landscape: Through Oil and Water, Alexandrea Davis
The Production of the Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. Integrated Marketing Campaign, Olyvea Davis
Internet Based Interventions for improving mental health on college campuses: A Scoping Review of IBIs, Caceti Dobrowolski
The effects of Feliway on the stress of cats during veterinary examination, Colleen Doonan
Crafting Fear: The Horror Film Trailer, Courtney Dreyer
Nonprofit Leadership: Creating Supply Bags at Universities, Emily Fackler
17th Edition of The Laureate, Jessie Fales
The Criticality of Transactional Cost of Control in Intrastate Conflict, Parker Fleming
Design of Force Versus Displacement Test Stand, Andrew Fritchley
Wishing I Was an English Major: A Collection of Creative Writing, Abrahan Garcia
Vaccine Refusal Dilemmas, Yessica Garcia
Analysis of Opioid Hospitalizations in Michigan Counties, Stephanie George
UAVs for Electric Utility Inspections, Sarah Gill
Comparisons Between Chinese and Japanese Characters, Ahmina Graves
Optimizing Frosted Mini-Wheats' Finished Food Cooling Process, Jessica Graves
Drag: The Herstory and Phenomenon, Avery Green
Investment Casting "In a Box", Kevin Greer
Structural Reinforcement of Streamline Tubing, Peter Grohs
The Litmus Initiative - Enabling Teachers to Recognize Domestic Human Trafficking, Bethany Hansen
Music Keyboard Based on Flexible Hybrid Electronics, Anthony Hanson
Psychophysiology in relation to music and behavior, Chloe Heintz
Party Identification at Western Michigan University, Melissa Heinz
Increasing Waiting and Turn-Taking among Preschool Aged Children with a Verbal-Delay Diagnosis, Alexa Hill
Meal Kits: A Box to Nowhere?, Lauren Hillsburg
Electromagnetic Radiation Shield for Spacecraft, Oseas Hudy-Velasco
Effects of Aging & Exercise on Production of Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Protein by Fast & Slow Skeletal Muscle, Maria Jaramillo
Natural Polymer Barrier Coatings for Oil and Grease Resistance, Andrew Kathan
Facilitating Emotional Regulation in Adults with Developmental Disabilities through Person-Centered Play Therapy, Otis Kemutambah
Midwest Realty Ticketing System, Daniel Kiel
We The People, Anna Kietzerow
A Comparison of Frankenbrew and Traditionally Manufactured Brewing Equipment, Daniel King
Effects of Weak Magnetic Fields on Reactive Oxygen Species Accumulation, Luke Kinsey
Senior Recital, Jaron Kirshenbaum
Implications of Theory of Mind, Feelings of Connectedness, Flow State of Mind Through Active and Passive Music Improvisation Experiences, Jessica Kociba
In the Beholding Eye, Rachael Kollins
Home Run Probability Based on Hit Distance and Direction, Tess Kolp
Improving the Pack Process, Jennifer Komorowski
Pack Process Improvement, Anna Konstant
Effects of Aerobic Exercise on Blood-Brain Barrier Disruption and Ventricular Function in Heart Failure Rats, Victoria Kras
Becoming Your Brand, Blake Kuzma
Guide to Understanding Catalonian Dissent: From Proclamation to Referendum, Andrew Larkin
CIS 6400: Data Analytics Book, Rachel Larson
Mechanisms of Sleep and the Brain, Doungbagai Leo
Morphological mechanics: Studying the relationship between bill morphology and song characteristics in Field Sparrows, Annie Lilac
Marketing Plan for West Hills Athletic Club, Loai Maddah
What's Wrong with the Tap? Examining Perceptions of Tap and Bottled Water at Western Michigan University, Lindsey Makos
Stakeholder Theory in Ethical Business Decisions: The Case of Nestle, McKayla Marcola
School Shootings: A Nexus of Adolescent Masculinity, Bullying, and Homophobia, Jack Marsden
The Clothed Minded: Socio-Psychological Aspects of Dress Through Non-Verbal Communication, Cesia Martinez-Chavarria
Optimization of Toaster Pastry Icing Preparation and Application, Rebecca Martus
Tanapox: A potential oncolytic virus for the treatment of cancer, Joel Marty
Optimizing Water Usage in a Cooling System, Alexander Maurer
The Role of Social Media in Small Museums in Michigan, Kaitlin McGrath
The impact of S. meliloti or other sources of nitrogen on alfalfa growth under osmotic or heavy metal stress, Claire Mears
Nostalgia and Music-Evoked Autobiographical Memories: Salience and Content in Musicians vs. Non-Musicians, Taylorlyn Mehnert
Do Global Diets Affect the Rate of Type 2 Diabetes?, Demetria Meyer
The Effect of High Intensity Interval Training vs Resistance-Based Circuit Training, Matthew Monaco
Business Plan: Consulting Firm focused on Manufacturing Digitalization, Edward Mulford
Rotating Mount for Complex Fluid Flow Research, Kirsten Murphy