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 2026
Biofeedback Visualizer, Drew Abbo
Reconstruction of Butterworth Street, Lorraine Esosa Aigboduwa
Access Control List Management System, Aus Al-Rasbi
Access Control List Management System, Rua Hamed Salim Al Rasbi
Ethnicity, Culture, and the Epidemiology of Eating Disorders, Rebecca Atwell
Space Degradable Pyrotechnic Fastener, Jonathan Baker
Carla Autonomous Driving Application, Meaghan Baker
Analyzing Social Media Content Strategies That Drive Engagement for Independent Hairstylists, Aurora Batts
Modeling Anthropogenic Electromagnetic Noise from Transmission Lines in VLF-EM Geophysical Surveys, Vaughn Beauvais
Repurposing an Old PC Into a Self-Hosted Cloud and Media Server, Riley Biggins
Digital Shop Floor Transformation, Luke Borowski
Mason Avenue Culvert, Caden Boynton
Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) Concentrations in Biosolids from Michigan Wastewater Treatment Facilities, Mara Chalifoux
Access Control List Management System, Ridha Chehime
The Unique Challenges of Adult Third Culture Kids During Reintegration into the United States, Molly Cochran
Creative Campaign Strategy, Emily Cook
Cultivating the Future: The Similarities Between Thomas Jefferson and Voltaire's Candide, Natalie Craft
Exercise as a Non-Pharmacological Intervention for the Prevention and Delay of Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia, Eden Culver
Therapeutic Applications of Tabletop Role-playing Games in Treatment of Depressive and Anxious Symptoms in Young Adults, Dash DeGrote
The Little Helper, Erica DesJardins
Optimized Hydraulic Valve Manifold Design, Ella Dill
“As Though You Could Never Sink”: Gender Euphoria through Aquatic Embodiment in The Sun Also Rises, Devan Edwards
Evolutionary Retention and Functional Divergence of Xanthine Methyltransferases in the SABATH Gene Family, Brenna Hagenbarth
Analyzing Proposed Unmanned Aerial System Regulations and Their Impact on Manned Aircraft Operations, Kordell Irish
Interventive Learning, Riya Jain
Examination of the Hiring Process: Bias in Selection, Conor Johanson
Ergonomic and Material Flow Improvements for a Medical Device Assembly Line, Matthew Kobus
Students' Preferred Teaching Methods, Hannah Lancaster
The Importance of Trauma-Informed Care in the Juvenile Justice System, Kalinowski Lillian
The Benefits of Handcrafting, Madison Mallory
Development of a Grease Resistant Barrier for Food Industry Applications, Mira Marino
The Ethical Limits of Physician Autonomy in Reproductive Medicine, Isabel Martens
Muscle-Specific Neuromuscular Endplate Fragmentation Index Changes, Drew Martin
From Novice to On-Air: Developing a Student Radio Personality at 89.1 WIDR FM, Travis Melson
Investigating the Cost and Efficiency of Two Chemical Pathways to Produce the Plant-based Coagulants, Taylor Nixon
The Laureate - An Undergraduate Literary Journal, Amelia Perleberg
The Impact of Cannabis Use on Pulmonary Function Among Young Adults: A Literature Review, Ava Petersen
Pictures of Us - Narrative Short Film, Aidan Ralko
How Mindfulness and Yoga Practices are Implemented in Occupational Therapy, Madeline Roberts
Disparities in Policing Through the Lens of Indigenous Communities in Michigan: A Research Proposal, Abigail Ruddle
Oil and Grease Resistant Barrier Coatings for Food Applications, Abbygayle Ruggiero
Modulating Acute Stress Reactivity: Behavioral Interventions and Caffeine-Linked Stress Physiology in College Students, Kaitlyn Smith
Understanding the Level of Self-Efficacy and Optimism of Aviation Students in Comparison to Non-Aviation Students, Alayna St. Clair
Exploring the Intersection of Emotional Dissonance and Burnout Among Human Resource Professionals, Madeline Suttle
The Implementation of the Therapeutic Alliance in Aphasia Rehabilitation Research: A Narrative Review, Shelby Swiercz
International Travel Effects from United States Aviation Policies, Dominik Tamez
Blockchain Technology in Supply Chain, Travis Thorhaug
The Benefits and Barriers to Expanding CRNA Programs in Michigan, Grace Van Zweden
How the Primary Ethical Dilemmas Posed by COVID-19 Vaccination Mandates Impact Individual Autonomy and Public Health Goals: A Literature Review, Emily Wachowiak
Rethinking Modern Motherhood: Citizenship, Gender Equality, and the Case for Federally Paid Maternity Leave in the United States, Hannah Wardin
GPI Heat Exchanger Design, Oliver Wasson
Does Moneyball Still Win Games? A Twenty Year Analysis of MLB Success, Kevin Wright
Why Western Michigan University Should Implement a Women's Varsity Ice Hockey Program, Lauren Young
Theses from 2025
A study of the stratigraphic and petrological characteristics of Section (10,323-10,325 ft), Prevost 1- 11, Bay County, Michigan, Hajir Al Harthi
Preservation and Integrity of Laboratory Solutions: Understanding the Impact of Storage Practices on Chemical Stability and Experimental Accuracy, Azza Al Jahdhami
Spanish Education: Teaching Philosophy learned from best practice and student and teacher engagement., Olivia Anderson
Trauma Among Youth Offenders in the Kalamazoo, Michigan Juvenile Justice System: Strategies, Challenges, and Outcomes, Malia Applegate
Comparing Disability Services Across the United States, Larsen Brooke
How High School Athletic Directors in Southwest Michigan Paths Differ, Lily Browning
Sync, Lauren Brown
Investigating soil organic matter fractions and carbon pools associated with different land management practices, Maggie Bryant
Who Was It Truly For?: Bernard Bragg, David Hays, and National Theatre of the Deaf, Eni Buckhanan
Postmortem Vitreous Humor as an Alternative Matrix to Peripheral Blood for Benzodiazepine Detection, Sara Bussey
Implementing a Circular Supply Chain: Challenges and Takeaways, Maclaren Cady
A Thorough Documentation on the Role of a Stage Manager via WMU Theatre’s Production of Legally Blonde, Harriet Carr
The Impact of Gamified Learning Approaches on Intrinsic Student Motivation: A Comparative Study Emphasizing Student Choice, Janet Cencer
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
Variable Volume Refrigerator, Ryder Dietz
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