Elizabethtown College's Summer Creative Arts and Research Program (SCARP) was created to support independent student scholarship under the sponsorship of a faculty or staff mentor. The program is a non-credit experiential learning program designed to enhance professional skills and provide a competitive advantage to participating students in the pursuit of career opportunities and graduate studies.
Participating faculty scholars and researchers also benefit from student involvement in support of professional scholarship and research agendas.
JayWing Academy: An AI-Powered Student Learning System Leveraging GPT in Cloud Infrastructure
Computer Science majors Kaiden Miller ’28 and Joey Wagner ’26 spent the summer working with Assistant Professor Dr. Jessica Wang to build JayWing Academy, an AI-powered tutoring platform. The tool uses class materials uploaded by professors to help students get course-specific support anytime, while also making tutoring easier for faculty. By integrating ChatGPT with campus resources, the students hoped to create a user-friendly, always-available tool that not only supports students academically but also streamlines the tutoring experience for faculty.
The Best Handwriting Method to Avoid Cramping and Arthritis
Engineering major Arden Kiner ’28 worked closely with Professor of Engineering Dr. Kurt DeGeode on campus this summer, researching handwriting techniques that could help reduce cramping and the risk of arthritis. Kiner and DeGeode analyzed various ways of holding a writing instrument to determine which grips placed the least strain on the hand. The two were exploring which writing styles are preferred among college students and how different ways of holding a pen affected how the hand moved, how tired the muscles got, and how clear and fast the writing is.
ELA Analysis of Curriculum and Benchmarks Within Different Districts
Early Childhood Education and Special Education Dual Major Molly Kleinert ‘26 researched English Language Arts (ELA) curriculum, assessments, and benchmarks across different schools. Working with Associate Professor of Education, PK-12 New Literacies Kathryn Caprino, Kleinert conducted a content analysis focused on how these curricula align with the Reading Rope, a foundational framework in the “Science of Reading” literacy movement.
From Aisle to Apiary: Analyzing the Chemical Profiles of Store-Bought and Local Honey
Chemistry major Ella Powers ’27 was investigating what’s really inside the honey we eat, and whether local honey might hold additional health benefits. Working alongside Professor of Chemistry, Department Chair, and faculty mentor Dr. Jeff Rood, Powers was comparing the chemical makeup of three honey samples: two store-bought brands and one harvested locally.
Energy Conservation at Elizabethtown College
Biomedical Engineering major Pedro Menezes de Castro Miranda ’26 researched energy efficiency in Founders Residence Hall alongside Professor of Engineering Brenda Read-Daily. This past summer, Menezes de Castro Miranda explored the possibility of transitioning Founders Hall’s resistive heating system to a more sustainable geothermal or cogeneration system with the goal of helping Etown’s Department of Facilities Management assess the financial feasibility of this hypothetical initiative.
Investigation of Protein Kinase Allosteric Sites for Targeted Therapeutics
Spencer Mefford ’26, Kellie Simon ’26, and Samantha Small ’26 investigated how protein kinase allosteric sites can be targeted for new therapeutic treatments. Working under the guidance of Assistant Professor of Biochemistry Amy Defnet, the students conducted in-depth cellular and genetic research that could lead to more personalized and effective treatments for conditions like cancer, asthma, and steroid-resistant inflammation.
Unconventional Sexual Desires, Evolution, and Environmental Factors
Psychology major Lin Bangs ’27 studied how social identity and environment relate to expressions of sexual dominance and submission. With guidance from Associate Professor Shannon Haley-Mize, Bangs used national survey data to explore how society and evolution may influence these behaviors, aiming to reduce stigma and expand understanding.
Structural Brain Correlates of Intrusive Memories Following Exposure to Distressing Events
Neuroscience major Chloe Haldeman ’26 studied how trauma may change the brain. With support from Assistant Professor Jennifer Wittmeyer, she used brain scans and data from a public study to look at how stress affects areas linked to memory, attention, and sleep.
How is Creativity Related to Success in College and Beyond?
Psychology major Melany Bedoya ’26 studied how creativity relates to life success. With guidance from Professor Jean Pretz, she explored how creativity connects to life satisfaction, independence, and achievement—hoping to show it’s an important factor in both college admissions and future careers.
Preparation of novel peptide nucleic acid nucleobases aimed at improving PNA-RNA2 triplex stability for RNA containing pyrimidine interruptions
Chemistry majors Isabell Anderson ’26 and Arianna Lepratto ’28, along with biochemistry major Jaqueline Hammond ’28, were developing new synthetic tools to help scientists better target RNA. Working with faculty mentor Dr. James MacKay, A. C. Baugher Professor of Chemistry, and in collaboration with Binghamton University, their research focused on creating new molecules that could one day aid in disease research and reveal new biological functions.
Hybrid Luminescent MOFs: Bridging Metal Complexes and Porous Solids as Routes to Potential Sensor Applications
Chemistry majors Matthew Lamb ’26 and Robert Lynch ’27 explored how hybrid luminescent materials can detect different ions. Working alongside Professor of Chemistry, Department Chair, and faculty mentor Dr. Jeff Rood, the students were building special structures called metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) that can hold glowing metals like Osmium and Zirconium.
ARISE – An AI-powered Real-time Interactive Support for Exercise in Elderly Communities
Can artificial intelligence (AI) improve senior wellness? Computer Science majors Alexander Roop ’26 and Aaron Frist ’28 worked to develop a personalized exercise coach for elderly communities. Working closely with Associate Professor of Computer Science Peilong Li this past summer, the two Blue Jays were designing a fully self-contained system that uses real-time pose detection, conversational AI, and interactive features to encourage safe and engaging physical activity.
The Prospect for Freedom – The Life & Legacy of Civil Rights Leader W. Miller Barbour (1908-1957) Elizabethtown College Class of 1932 A Documentary
Student Researchers
Mechelle Johnson-Reeves ’28
Ava Skye Barton ’27
Faculty Mentor
Jean-Paul Benowitz, Director of Prestigious Scholarships and Public Heritage Studies
The Prospect for Freedom – The Life & Legacy of Civil Rights Leader W. Miller Barbour (1908-1957) Elizabethtown College Class of 1932 A Documentary
International Business major Mechelle Johnson-Reeves ’28 and Philosophy, Politics, and Economics major Ava Skye Barton ’27 created a documentary about one of Etown’s most distinguished alumni, nationally recognized civil rights leader W. Miller Barbour ’32. Working with Director of Prestigious Scholarships and Public Heritage Studies Jean-Paul Benowitz, the students combined historical research with visual storytelling to bring Barbour’s legacy to life. Their film will explore his role in early civil rights work and highlight his impact as one of the first Black graduates of the College.
Using the Invertebrate Hydra to Study Cell Biology
Biotechnology major Callie Asper ’26, Health Sciences major Nicholas Kuhn ’26, and Biology major Kira Koutsouftikis ’26 studied how cells live, die, and communicate using the invertebrate Hydra. Working alongside faculty mentor and Professor of Biology Dr. Diane Bridge, the group investigated cell-level processes important in human health and diseases, including cancer. Two projects focused on a specific type of cell death called ferroptosis. The third focused on the Wnt pathway, a common means of signaling between cells. The students used Hydra, a freshwater invertebrate easy to use in experiments, to address questions that are also relevant to human biology.
Linking Brain Structure to Age-Related Differences in Spoken Word Processing
Why do people understand spoken words differently as they age? Neuroscience and Psychology major Makenna Snyder ’26 explored this question this summer. Working alongside Assistant Professor of Psychology Jennifer Wittmeyer, Snyder analyzed structural MRI scans from younger and older adults to see how changes in the brain might affect how we hear and understand words.
Committee Capacity in the United States Senate
Political Science major Zach Kleinfelter ’27 studied how the previous roles and movements of Senate staffers may have shaped the way the U.S. Senate works today. Working with Assistant Professor of Political Science Nathan Gibson, Kleinfelter built a dataset using 50 years' worth of Senate staff directories. By tracking where staffers have worked over time, like moving between personal and committee offices, his goal was to uncover whether their political connections have influenced the larger decisions and direction of Congress.
Using Music Therapy to Assess Communication and Cognition in Older Adults
How can music therapy better support older adults? Music Therapy major Hannah Fletcher ’26 spent her summer exploring that question by looking at how current music therapy assessments work and where they might fall short. Working alongside Director of Music Therapy Emily Frantz, Fletcher interviewed board-certified music therapists and older adults in the local community. With the goal of improving the way therapists measure communication and thinking skills in older adults, and eventually plans to create her own assessment tool that better fits their needs.
Electrical Stimulation of Nerves in the Wrist for VR and Rehabilitation Applications
Biomedical Engineering Major Hunter Taggart ’27 researched how electrical stimulation of the wrist can create natural hand sensations for virtual reality and prosthetic rehabilitation. Working alongside Assistant Professor of Engineering Mark Brinton, Taggart researched how variations in electrical stimulation, strength, speed, and frequency affect hand sensation at the University of Utah’s Craig H. Nielsen Rehabilitation Hospital. Their research focused on applications for both VR users and amputees using prosthetic hands. Taggart also studied how wrist positioning impacts perceived touch, with the goal of advancing more natural-feeling technology.
The History of People of Colour at Elizabethtown College
Legal Studies major Kalen Tendo ’27 collected and shared the stories of students, alumni, faculty, and staff of color. Working closely with Etown Archivist Rachel Grove Rohrbaugh, Tendo conducted interviews to uncover personal stories about what it was like to be a person of color at Elizabethtown in the past. This research is the continuation of prior SCARP research, with the goal of helping the College better understand its history, both struggles and progress, and to preserve these important voices for future generations.
Miniature Electrocutaneous Stimulator Development
Electrical Engineering majors Emmanuel Attah ’27 and Lilith Wright ’27 built a small device that sends gentle electrical signals through the skin to create a sense of touch. Working with Assistant Professor of Engineering Mark Brinton, the students were part of a team doing research at the University of Utah. Attah focused on the design and coding of the tiny stimulator, while Wright helped design a wristband that can safely and effectively send signals to the nerves in the wrist. Their goal is to turn what’s been mostly lab research into real tools that help people, especially those with limb loss, feel more connected to the world around them.