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 2025
Investigating Cold Homicide Cases in Michigan: Combining Systematic Research with Experiential Insight, Jaqueline Chavarria
Senior Clarinet Recital, Canon Cochran
Utopia, Lindsey Cook
Latino Student Engagement in RSOs at HCOB, Angel Cordero
Confronting Racial and Ethnic Implicit Bias in Healthcare: Included Examination of Practices and Interventions to Help Reduce Disparities, Andrea Cosgrove
From First Draft to Final Frame: Exploring Storytelling Across Mediums, Lydia Cowan
Behavioral Training History Modulates Amphetamine-induced Impulsive Action, Tracie Crenshaw
Getting an Airman Medical Certificate with Cerebral Palsy, Stefan Crisp
Supporting Doctoral Research in Aging: From Exercise Barriers to Geropsychology Competencies, Alexandra Crites
Online Mindfulness in Higher Education: Examining Perceived Stress in Traditional vs. Nontraditional College Students, Ellary Darling
Sumak Kawsay: un argumento para el empoderamiento de los pueblos indígenas y sus cosmovisiones, Charlie DeGraves
Emmett Deur - Senior Recital, Emmett Deur
Variable Volume Refrigerator, Ryder Dietz
Expressionism in Theatre, Jade Downey
The Impact of Marijuana Edibles on Fetal Development in Pregnant Adolescents and Young Mothers, Rachel Doyle
Verlan: Resistance to French Linguistic Standards by Maghrebi Communities, Phaedra Dunnigan
The DPE Shortage and How to Fix It, Paul Dye
Impact of Witnessing Intimate Partner Violence for Elementary Age Children: Counseling Recommendations, Makayla Essington
Evaluating the Potential for Reusing Process Waste Fiber, Elisha Ewing
The Laureate, Nadia Famiano
Organizational Actions and Perceptions on Scope 3 Emissions and Regulatory Impacts on Measurement, Griffin Fill
The Relationship Between Yoga Practice and Sports Performance of High-Level Athletes, Molly Freeman
Psychological Variables that Best Predict Health Related Behaviors in College Students, Arianna Gamaggio
Exploring University Students’ Work Experiences, Leo Gingerich
The Role of Sustainability in Family and Consumer Science Curricula, Emily Hill
In the Corner, Hunter Hogue
The Laureate, Brooklyn Hoover
Investigating the Mechanisms by Which Gut Microbiome Dysbiosis Contributes to the Autoimmune Response in Multiple Sclerosis, Abigail Houtrouw
WMU Hilltop Village Development, Keila Howard
Synthesis and Characterization of Polyoxometalate-doped Carbon Material for Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) Fuel Cells, Luis Jacobo Mejia
Gene Regulation of Annual Killifish in Diapause, Andrew Kaczmar
Exploring the Mediterranean Diet's Impact on Alzheimer's Disease Risk in Racial and Ethnic Populations, Sukhmanpreet Kauer
Low Power Magnetically Shielded Krypton Hall Thruster Design, Grace Klang
Student Project Labs User Management System (SPLUMS), Kaden Kramer
Reflections: An Exploration of the Body & Its Mind, Kayla Lambert
Using Picture Books in The Kindergarten Classroom: A Unit Plan, Madison LaPlante
How Systemic Inequalities in Flint, Michigan, Perpetuate Poverty and Crime, Eliana LaRocca
The Use of Stress Testing in Evaluating Systemic Risk: Lessons from the Global Financial Crisis, Katherine Laws
Effects of Age and Sex on Glial Cell-Derived Neurotropic Factor and Neurotropic Growth Factor Content in Cardiac Tissue, Caleb Learman
Prevalence of Imposter Syndrome among Undergraduate Students at Western Michigan University, Thomas Leasure
WMU Rec Center GroupEx Advertising Design Campaign, Gianna Lepore
Exposure to Nature Imagery and Human Aggression, Claudia Ligman
Western Student Association Structure and Governing Processes: Evaluating Success for Student Government Associations, Samuel Longlet
Design, Analysis, and Testing of an Offroad Triangulated 4-Link Rear Suspension Trailing Arm, Jared Lubieniecki
Emergent Insect Family Richness and Biomass Across Ludington State Park's Interdunal Wetland Successional Stages, Erica MacQueen
Between the Calm Lake Waters, Adrian Martinez
The effects of regenerative agriculture on soil and crop health on a small-scale vegetable farm in Kalamazoo, MI, Marie McKinney
Identifying the SABATH Methyltransferase that Carries out the Final Step of Bixin Biosynthesis, Samantha McLean
Artificial Intelligence for better in-game NFL performance, Christopher McManus
A Harmonious Equation: How to Facilitate the Interdisciplinary Nature of the Arts in a High School Math Classroom, Myah Medendorp
Becoming Her, Paris Meller
An Exploratory Evaluation of the Kalamazoo River Watershed Council: Assessing Organizational Impact and Value, Alexander Mendez
Police & Civilian Interaction: Developing A Survey of Social Attitudes Toward Law Enforcement for Public Administrators, Austin Mendez
Balancing Parental Rights and Child Welfare in Custody Decisions Involving Mental Health, Colette Methling
Benefits of Intergenerational Programming in Occupational Therapy, Rachel Mitchell
The Difference in Financial Literacy Between Students of the Business College and the Rest of the Student Body at WMU, Ivane Mkheidze
DACA’s Impact on Recipients: Interviews with Three DACA Recipients from Michigan, Jazmin Moron
Possibilities of Dreamscapes, Luke Mortensen
Voting Rights Expansion to Achieve Voting Equity: Comparing Michigan's 2020 and 2024 Elections, Quinn Murphy
Analyzing the Drivers of Airline Profitability, Brady Noble
Immersive Mixed-Reality Anatomy Lab, Cassidy Norkett
Early Warning Detection of Gravitational Waves with SGNL, Megan Norris
Using Video Models plus Feedback to teach Interview Skills, Zoe Odom
Impact of Humor vs. Seriousness in Advertising: The Role of Product Type in Consumer Recall and Purchase Behavior, Cian Ortega
Optimal Starch Properties for Improved Oil and Grease Resistant Coatings, Andres Pastoriza
Design of a Retaining Wall for M-10 Freeway, Anthony Paul
Characteristics of Unintentional Injuries in Young Children in Low Socioeconomic Status Families, Annabelle Pederson
Engineering Barrier Coatings for a Sustainable Future, Emma Perrin
The Effects of Trazodone on Canine Behavior: A Systematic Review, Elsa Peterson
The Interaction Between Parenting Styles, College Adjustment, and Decision Making in Undergraduate Freshman and Sophomores, Taylor Phillips
Integrating Generative AI into a Public Relations Workflow: Experiences across the industry, Daniel Pruitt III
How Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Techniques Affect Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: A Literature Review, Piper Ritke
The Heterogeneity of Healthcare and Insurance in the Midwest, William Robb
Idlewild Documentary, Arise Rock
The House That Will Not Stand: Preparation to Performance, Arise Rock
Reap (her), Madalyn Rockwell
How certain is the continuity of the Panama Canal and how will it affect the global supply chain industry?, Enmanuel Rodriguez Correa
Analysis of Disparities Within the NCAA’s Name, Image, and Likeness Rule, Madison Salzenstein
An Exploration of the Use of Tier I Occupational Therapy Services in an Elementary School, Emilee Schumacher
Deaf community, Cochlear implants, and Language Access, Amelia Segroves
Using Generative Artificial Intelligence to Improve Software-Defined Network Security: A Brief Survey, Anthony Smith
CATS Costume Design, Perris Stachlewitz
Plant vs. Animal Protein: Effect on Recovery, Performance, and Long-Term Health, Claudia Stachura
How life enrichment farms promote independence, health, and well-being through vocational skills and sensory processing skills, Olivia Stanek
Becoming Effie White: A Journey of Evolution, Aniya Thompson
Voting Rights Expansion to Achieve Voting Equity, Emily Tuller
Identifying Draft-Worthy Pitchers: A Statistical Analysis of Northwoods League Performance Metrics, Stephen Tyrpak
Holistic Approaches to Lyme Disease Symptom Management, Leah Van Antwerp
How Discriminatory Housing Policies Segregated Kalamazoo, Jacob Walsh
Who NEEDS More than 1 Water Bottle? Apparently, Everyone., Jazmyn Weddig
Boeing 747 Fixed Drive Link Redesign, Eric White
The Effectiveness of Telemedicine as a Pivotal Tool in Providing Accessible Medical Care, Peyton Wilt
Artificial Intelligence in the Secondary Classroom: Exploring Teacher Perceptions, Malachi Windemuller
FD&C Red Dye No. 40 (Allura Red) effects on non-human animal testing: A systematic review, Vilate Winfrey
Senior Recital, Therese Wisniewski
High School Science Experience for Students with Cognitive Disabilities: A Pilot Study, Cassandra Wychers