Two Penn State Brandywine Students Present Research in Harrisburg

Two Penn State Brandywine Cooper Honors Scholars presented their research at the 8th Semi-Annual Undergraduate Research at the Capitol Event in Pennsylvania in April.

Twenty-six students from eleven Pennsylvania colleges and universities were selected for this honor, which showcases outstanding and award-winning projects by undergraduate students from Pennsylvania. Penn State was also represented by students from University Park.

Senior communications major Brooke Ballard presented "An Evaluation Measuring the Patterns and Effects of Nonprofit Messaging Through Facebook," and sophomore Abbey Dufoe presented "A Web-Based Visitor Experience to the Tyler Arboretum Tree Houses with Google Earth." Associate Professor of Communications Arts and Sciences Susan Fredricks and Associate Professor of Earth Sciences Laura Guertin, who serve as student research mentors for Ballard, Dufoe and others at the campus involved in undergraduate research, accompanied the students on their trip to the Capitol.

State Representative Warren Kampf and State Senator Andy Dinniman visited the students' posters.

The event, organized by the Legislative Office for Research Liaison (LORL), provides an opportunity to bring together college students, faculty and Pennsylvania legislators and staff to share the experiences of students engaged in scholarship and creative endeavors at their colleges and universities, according to the LORL website.