Sterling College students were honored for their outstanding undergraduate research at the 157th Annual Meeting of the Kansas Academy of Science, held April 4-5, at Friends University in Wichita, Kansas. Four biology majors - Karlee Jacobs, Phoebi Waller, Delilah Trias, and Joel Godina - presented their original research and received top awards for their work.

“Sterling College was very well represented at this year’s conference,” said Dr. Jonathan Conard, professor of biology. “I was so proud of these students. They really put in the work on their research projects, and it was gratifying to see their efforts recognized at such a high-level meeting.”

Student research topics included:

• Joel Godina presented research on the distribution of longnose and shortnose gar in the Arkansas River, documenting these species further upstream than previously recorded. His project involved fieldwork using a canoe and seine to sample multiple locations along the river.

• Karlee Jacobs collected data on the presence of brown recluse spiders in rural Kansas public buildings. Her project, “Brown Recluse Spiders in Rural Kansas Public Buildings,” earned third place in the undergraduate poster division awarded by the Central States Entomological Society.

• Phoebi Waller explored the potential of using Bacillus bacteria to combat fungal plant pathogens. Her research, “Effect of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and Bacillus mojavensis on Plant Fungal Pathogens,” was awarded third place in the undergraduate poster division by the Kansas Academy of Science.

• Delilah Trias examined the relationship between urban tree canopy and crime rates in Kansas communities. Her research, “The Impact of Urban Tree Canopy on Crime Rates for Communities in Kansas,” was selected for second place in the undergraduate oral presentation division by the Kansas Academy of Science.

Faculty advisors for the student researchers were Dr. Wai-Foong Hong and Dr. Jonathan Conard.

Sterling College continues to promote excellence in undergraduate research and scholarship, preparing students to apply their knowledge and faith to meaningful challenges in the world.

Sterling College is a Christ-centered, four-year college located in Sterling, Kansas, with a mission to develop creative and thoughtful leaders who understand a maturing Christian faith. For more information, visit www.sterling.edu.