MBHS Alumni Participate In UA Research Conference

TUSCALOOSA, AL - Nearly 500 students at The University of Alabama highlighted their research and creative projects during the Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Conference on March 27. Many of those students are Mountain Brook High School alumni.

The 12th annual conference is hosted by UA's Office for Undergraduate Research and the Office for Research and Economic Development.

The MBHS alumni who participated are:

• Matt Creighton; Presentation: "An Online Resource for the Prostate Cancer Community - PCHope" in the Computer Science, MIS, Cybersecurity and Statistics category.
• Jeffrey Jones; Presentation: "Colonization, Catholicism, and Cuba" in the Arts and Humanities category.
• Lacy Smith; Presentation: "Transforming Lives through Art" in the Education category.
• Mary Tate Thomas; Presentation: "Mental Healthcare in Relation to Cuba and the United States" in the Health Sciences category.
• John Martin Weed; Presentation: "Mapping the Digital Divide" in the Computer Science, MIS, Cybersecurity and Statistics category.
• Thomas Bugg; Presentation: "Marion on the Move" in the Health Sciences category.
• Elizabeth DeAtkine; Presentation: "Children's Beliefs about theControllability of Thoughts, Actions, and Feelings" in the Social Sciences category.
• Tara Henderson; Presentation: "How to Help Millennials, "Tomorrow's Leaders of America?" The Role of Financial Knowledge and Financial Advice" in the Social Sciences category.
• Emily Hooker; Presentation: "Lessons from the Cuban Healthcare System" in the Health Sciences category.
• Haskins Jones; Presentation: "Professional Development for the Future of Marion, Alabama" in the Education category.
• David Zell; Presentation: "Black Belt Experience Economic Development" in the Arts and Humanities category.

The conference spurs interest in research among undergraduate students and helps students polish their communication skills, said Dr. Kim Bissell, director of the Office for Undergraduate Research

"We have got some pretty phenomenal students who are truly doing great things," Bissell said.