{"id":3907,"date":"2016-05-30T17:38:26","date_gmt":"2016-05-31T01:38:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.wou.edu\/westernjournal\/?p=3907"},"modified":"2016-05-30T17:38:26","modified_gmt":"2016-05-31T01:38:26","slug":"spotlights-academic-excellence-showcase","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wou.edu\/westernhowl\/spotlights-academic-excellence-showcase\/","title":{"rendered":"Spotlights: Academic Excellence Showcase"},"content":{"rendered":"
By: Rachael Jackson\r\nCampus Life Editor<\/pre>\n
The 11th annual Academic Excellence Showcase took place this year with over 300 presentations and a total of 390 students presenting. <\/p>\n
The showcase gives students a chance to produce professional presentations while giving other students a chance to explore the scholarships of various departments across campus.<\/p>\n
Alex Kampstra, senior medicinal chemistry major, was excited to share the information he and his partner found on Vyvanse, a new drug for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. <\/p>\n
His presentation, titled \u201cThe Unique Metabolism of Lisdexamfetamine (AKA Vyvanse),\u201d attempted to demystify the drug.<\/p>\n
\u201cI liked informing everyone on this new drug, because people struggle with this condition. It is nice to get more information out there to people who need it,\u201d Kampstra said.<\/p>\n
His partner, Brian Hauenstein, senior medicinal chemistry major, was grateful for all the positive feedback.<\/p>\n
\u201cSeeing the response from people that genuinely care about this information, and didn\u2019t have access to it, was great. You look on the internet and there is a lot of misinformation on how it works.\u201d <\/p>\n
Kwon Su, senior sociology major, shared his feelings on presenting his thesis about the availability of housing for homeless in the Salem area. The worst parts of presenting, in his opinion, were the nerves and stage fright. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter who you are, your heart is going to race when you get up there.\u201d
\nHowever, the best part was the work he produced for his research project.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was able to show my work and show what I have done, and express people\u2019s story. I showed what some people have endured, and yeah, that\u2019s something,\u201d Su said.<\/p>\n
Derek Planell, an undeclared freshman, discussed using AES as a way to explore topics he is already interested in, but also using it as a way to find other possible majors.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of students, like myself, are undecided, and are looking around seeing what\u2019s up,\u201d Planell said. \u201cIt motivates kids to get out and get some easy extra credit. They go out and get to see more and dive in more, and hopefully that guides them a bit.\u201d<\/p>\n
Contact the author at rjackson13@wou.edu or on Twitter @rachaelyjackson.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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