EHE News
Undergrads Earn Research Awards
For the love of children
Jackie DeLany
Jackie DeLany was recently rewarded for researching what she loves the most, children. Her undergraduate research found that positive home and school environments are significant predictors of a child's mathematical success.
DeLany, of Upper Arlington, Ohio, received an esteemed first place award for her research in Ohio State's 2011 Richard J. and Martha D. Denman Undergraduate Research Forum.
DeLany won the Social and Behavioral Sciences category of the research forum for "Ecology of Mathematics."
She will receive a bachelor's degree in sociology at Ohio State's spring commencement. Next year, she is enrolled as a master's student of counselor education in the College of Education and Human Ecology,
DeLany has always had a special interest in working with children. "I feel that a child's environment significantly impacts his or her ability to perform and do well in school," DeLany said. The "Ecology of Mathematics" project aims to find the relationship of a child's school life, family life and home environment on mathematical achievement.
DeLany became involved in undergraduate research after attending an "Invite Your Professor to Dinner" night. After the event, she was offered a position in Stephen Petrill's lab as a data enterer. Petrill, professor of human development and family science, later became DeLany's research advisor, along with Andrew Martin, associate professor of sociology.
"The work he is doing will truly help change the way teachers and parents interact with children," DeLany says of Petrill. "But beyond being a researcher, he is a teacher first. He truly cares and is dedicated to the lives of his students. I know that even when I graduate this fall, he will still be there for me and provide me support throughout my graduate studies."
After delving into undergraduate research, DeLany soon realized that she had the opportunity to become involved in many aspects of research. The topic of child development was especially interesting to her. "That is why I have dedicated over a year's worth of work to this topic. After performing literary searches and explaining my methods, I finally get to see the results. It is exciting because I will be able to apply the findings of my research to my work as a school counselor."
More research forum winners
Elan Lieber won first place in the Denman Undergraduate Research Forum Health Professions category for 'The influence of body awareness on physical activity behaviors.'
Other students of the College of Education and Human Ecology who placed in the 2011 Richard J. and Martha D. Denman Undergraduate Research Forum were:
- Elan Lieber of Bexley, Ohio, first place in the Health Professions category for "The influence of body awareness on physical activity behaviors." He was advised by Carmen Swain, Sport and Exercise Sciences.
- Katie Kerns of Medina, Ohio, second place in the Business/ Education/ Speech and Hearing category for "Characteristics of Teacher Child Language Interactions in Preschool Classrooms for At-Risk Pupils." She was advised by Laura Justice and Shayne Piasta, both Teaching and Learning.
- Jacqueline Pennywitt of Columbus, Ohio, third place in the Health Professions- Clinical category for "Simple Suppers." She was advised by Carolyn Gunther, Animal Science and Human Nutrition.
Jackie Pennywitt, left, won third place in the Denman Undergraduate Research Forum Health Professions-Clinical category for 'Simple Suppers.' Her advisor was Carolyn Gunther, Human Nutrition.
The Denman Undergraduate Research Forum was created in 1996 and is a cooperative effort of Honors and Scholars Center, Undergraduate Research Office, and Office of Research. The forum is an opportunity to showcase outstanding student research and encourages all undergraduates to participate in scholarship as a value-added element of their education.
EHE participants in the Denman Forum
- Other participants from the College of Education and Human Ecology are:
- Karen Guo, advised by Martha Belury
- Alisha Lynch, advised by Ouliana Ziouzenkova
- Joseph Meyers, advised by Ouliana Ziouzenkova
- Megan Clapper, advised by Cynthia Buettner
- Abhi Kasinadhuni, advised by Hugo Melgar-Quinoñez
- Melissa Pope, advised by Laura Justice
- Arlyn Zeller, advised by Howard Goldstein and Naomi Schneider
- Ellen Greathouse, advised by Hugo Melgar-Quinoñez
- Morgan Johnson, advised by Edward Martin
- Michelle Clough, advised by Carmen Swain
- Elaina Jones, advised by Diane Habash
- Brittney Keller, advised by Hugo Melgar-Quinoñez
- Rachael Press, advised by Martha Belury
- Kelly Dingess, advised by Lynette Rogers
- Kathryn Smith, advised by Brian Focht
- Katie Smith, advised by Carmen Swain
- Shalise Montgomery, advised by Helen Everts
- Tessa Acker, advised by Hugo Melgar-Quinoñez
- Emily Toutkoushian, advised by Brian Turner
- Allison Haidet, advised by Sarah Schoppe-Sullivan
- Jessica Castronova-Brooks, advised by Lydia Medeiros and Anne Smith
- Kristen Hodgdon, advised by Gail Kaye
- Theresa McCafferty, advised by Claire Kamp Dush and Sarah Schoppe-Sullivan
- Sarah Munther, advised by Carolyn Gunther
- Amand Morris, advised by Amy Bonomi
- Laura Nedorost, advised by Claire Kamp Dush and Sarah Schoppe-Sullivan
- Robert Nichols, advised by Sarah Schoppe-Sullivan and Claire Kamp-Dush
- Trinity Zyss, advised by Amy Bonomi
Writer: Kamilah King, 4th-year student in strategic communications and intern, Education and Human Ecology Office of Advancement.
© 2011 The Ohio State University - College of Education and Human Ecology. All Rights Reserved.
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