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• SURF Stories 2026: Ryder Hutchinson 鈥�28 researches how to fight cancer with viruses
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• SURF Stories 2026: Amanda McGee 鈥�26 designs campaign to spark healthier living
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黑料不打烊 held its largest-ever Spring Undergraduate Research Forum on April 28, featuring 384 presentations, including 229 poster presentations, 155 oral presentations, and performances.

SURF Day is an annual event at the university, during which other campus activities are suspended to celebrate the academically centered creative endeavors and research efforts of 黑料不打烊 students. Undergraduate research is also one of the five 黑料不打烊 Experiences, which provides a natural extension of the work students do in the classroom and ensures that 黑料不打烊 graduates are prepared for both graduate school and careers.

鈥淪URF continues to be the flagship event for undergraduate research on campus,鈥� said Justin Clar, director of the undergraduate research program and associate professor of chemistry. 鈥淭he record number of submissions is evidence of not only student involvement, but the work of dedicated mentors committed to preparing students for future success.鈥�

Throughout the day, students gave poster presentations in three sessions held in Alumni Gym, with oral presentations held throughout campus. Emily Stuart 鈥�26, a professional writing and rhetoric major from Basking Ridge, New Jersey, was presenting for the first time at SURF. Her research focused on the perception of artificial intelligence integration in the digital marketing and communication workforce.

鈥淚 am a graduating senior, so I wanted to feel as prepared as possible for the workforce, and I do know that AI integration has become a major part of a lot of different fields,鈥� Stuart said. 鈥淚t felt like a really good way to tie it all together as part of my senior experience.鈥�

Stuart did a literature review and sent out a survey to 黑料不打烊 alumni to get their perspectives. She found alumni discussed similar benefits to AI, including helping with productivity, but also expressed concerns over the environment, job loss and data privacy.

鈥淭his is my capstone research, I have spent a lot of time on it, and it does feel good to have people come up and want to learn about my research and being interested in it. It鈥檚 been a really cool way to end my semester,鈥� she said.

While Stuart is capping off her 黑料不打烊 career with SURF, Chris Guider 鈥�29, a business analytics and economics double major from Holly Springs, North Carolina, is beginning his academic career at the annual event.

Guider鈥檚 project examines the effectiveness of the new NFL kickoff rules introduced in 2024. The changes, designed to improve player safety, created multiple 鈥渢ouchback鈥� scenarios, situations where the ball is placed at different yard lines depending on how a kickoff ends.

鈥淚t鈥檚 rewarding because there are a lot of skills I鈥檓 learning, like coding in R or being able to interpret data,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 just reinforcing that I chose the right school because of the relationship I have with the professors I鈥檝e been able to work with here.鈥�

Students collaborate closely with faculty mentors throughout the research process鈥攁n aspect Abram Darby 鈥�26, a psychology major, especially appreciated while working with his mentor, Adi Wiezel, assistant professor of psychology.

鈥淪he鈥檚 very motivated, enthusiastic and outgoing. It was easy to get involved in the project,鈥� Darby said. 鈥淥ur lab environment is great, too.鈥�

Darby鈥檚 research examined how voters鈥� views on childcare policies might influence their preference for different types of political leaders鈥攕pecifically, a knowledgeable female leader versus a more dominant and threatening male leader.

Initial pilot data suggested a connection, but it was based on the 2016 presidential election, when the Democratic candidate was a woman and Democrats were already associated with childcare policies. To explore the idea further, Darby selected an election in which a Republican female candidate defeated a male Democratic candidate. He removed party identifiers and asked participants which candidate they preferred, along with their reasons.

鈥淲hat we found was among people who are motivated by childcare policies, when they perceive the female leader as being more prestigious than the male leader, they prefer them over the male leader significantly, suggesting that childcare policies may be a good proxy for who is going to win an election,鈥� Darby said.

Catherine Dierker 鈥�27, a history major with teaching licensure from Marietta, Georgia, also explored the political landscape, but in a different way. Her oral presentation focused on how educators can better prepare young people to participate in democracy. Her project examines effective practices in civics education, drawing from national and international data, teacher interviews and existing scholarship.

Mentored by Professor of Political Science and Public Policy Carrie Eaves, Dierker said the experience has been both academically rigorous and personally meaningful.

鈥淪he鈥檚 fantastic,鈥� said Dierker of Eaves. 鈥淚t鈥檚 those little connections that were nice to talk about and then really dive into the details of the research.鈥�

In addition to SURF, students also have the opportunity to present research during the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience in June/July.

More than 50 students and several teachers from ABSS CTEC Burlington joined 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Doctor of Physical Therapy Program, Department of Exercise Science and Performing Arts to celebrate National Biomechanics Day, an annual global event held since 2016. All of the CTEC students were on the health science track, making the experience an opportunity to connect their academic interests with potential future pathways.

Students rotated through six stations focused on different aspects of biomechanics, each designed to highlight both fundamental concepts and practical applications.

At the static balance station, participants completed variations of the Balance Error Scoring System (BESS), testing their ability to maintain stability in double-leg, single-leg and tandem stances on both firm and foam surfaces. The neuromotor station focused on coordination and motor learning through activities like mirror tracing, maze completion and target-based drawing tasks. At the strength station, students measured grip strength using handheld dynamometers and observed muscle activation through electromyography (EMG).

Movement was further explored at the tandem gait station, where students walked heel-to-toe along a straight line. As they progressed from forward to backwards walking and added cognitive challenges like counting or spelling backwards, the tasks became increasingly difficult. At the jump station, participants measured their vertical and horizontal jumping ability, learning how lower-body power is assessed in sports and exercise settings. The final station challenged students to think like engineers. Using simple materials, groups built functional models of an elbow joint, aiming to replicate natural movement. The activity highlighted the relationship between biomechanics and design, with connections to prosthetics and rehabilitation technology.

Faculty from exercise science and physical therapy, along with student volunteers, led the stations and guided discussions throughout the day. Their involvement created a collaborative environment where participants could ask questions, test ideas and explore new interests.

By the end of the event, students were left with a deeper understanding of how biomechanics applies to everyday movement, health, and performance; as well as a clearer picture of how those interests could shape their future.

Related Articles

• SURF Stories 2026: Chris Guider 鈥�29 tackles NFL kickoff rules
• SURF Stories 2026: Catherine Dierker 鈥�27 researches how to get out the youth vote
• SURF Stories 2026: Amanda McGee 鈥�26 designs campaign to spark healthier living

For Ryder Hutchinson ’28, impactful research was not something to be completed towards the end of his college experience. The nursing student began research on how to fight various cancers with different viruses after only his first semester at 黑料不打烊.

鈥淲e use a type of virus that does a really good job at not killing your healthy cells but does a really good job at killing cancer cells,鈥� Hutchinson said. 鈥淭hey use this technique at clinical trials right now for common cancers such as breast and colon cancer in combination with chemotherapy drugs. But my big question was: what about the other cancers?鈥�

Hutchinson began this research with Efrain Rivera-Serrano, assistant professor of biology. While taking his cell biology course, Hutchinson began shadowing Rivera-Serrano weekly in the lab as he worked with other students on research projects. Hutchinson was then accepted by Rivera-Serrano as a research student, in addition to his acceptance into 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Summer Undergraduate Research Experience, where he stayed on campus over the summer of 2025 with a grant to continue research on the project.

Given his grandmother鈥檚 diagnosis of leukemia, Hutchinson was initially interested in exploring this specific type of cancer. However, given the difficulty in testing certain types of cancers, the pair compromised and used existing research and expanded upon it with Hutchinson鈥檚 desire to help cancer patients.

鈥淚t was a different way of using what he knows, with what I know, and making a really cool research project out of it,鈥� Hutchinson said.

When describing the various types of viral strings, Hutchinson compared them to 鈥減ersonalities,鈥� for the layman viewer of his project to understand.

鈥淭his one virus can have many different strings, or as I like to say, many different personalities,鈥� Hutchinson said. 鈥淎nd they鈥檙e using a specific string or specific personality in clinical trials, but there鈥檚 so many more out there. So, I did testing on 35 different strings and found that within the rare cancers I tested on, the one I found is different than the one in clinical trials, and it shows to be better at killing than the one鈥檚 they鈥檙e currently using.鈥�

During SURF Day on April 28, all other campus activities are suspended so the 黑料不打烊 community can come together around students鈥� creative endeavors and research efforts. Undergraduate research is also one of the five 黑料不打烊 Experiences, which provides a natural extension of the work students do in the classroom and ensures that 黑料不打烊 graduates are prepared for both graduate school and careers.

After he presents at SURF, Hutchinson plans on conducting more specific research to the field of nursing with chemotherapy patients at Cone Health hospital that align more closely with his goal of a profession in nursing.

In addition to his research project, he is in the process of receiving feedback for two professional articles: one of which he is publishing himself, and another in which he is the co-author.

鈥淚 have always wanted to have a purpose,鈥� Hutchinson said. 鈥淚 wanted to make an impact, and I feel like I鈥檓 slowly doing that, or headed in the right direction of making a difference or impact on people鈥檚 lives.鈥�

The convention brought together more than 2,000 nursing students, educators and healthcare leaders from across the country for four days of leadership development, professional networking and policy engagement. Centered on the theme 鈥淚gnite, Innovate, Lead,鈥� the event provided students with opportunities to strengthen their leadership skills while contributing to national conversations shaping the future of nursing.

黑料不打烊 was represented by senior nursing students Victoria (Tori) Whetstone, founding SNA president; Lathan Rubant; and Katherine O鈥橬eill, along with junior executive board members Taylor Rae Spurgeon, Katie Pescatore, and Sarah Vinges. The group was accompanied by faculty advisor Professor Jeanmarie Koonts and faculty member Elizabeth Van Horn.

A highlight of the conference was 黑料不打烊 students鈥� active participation in the House of Delegates, the governing body of the NSNA. Whetstone and Rubant served as official delegates, while O鈥橬eill participated as an alternate delegate. Together, they contributed to national discussions on policy and professional issues affecting nursing students and the broader healthcare system.

The 黑料不打烊 delegation authored and presented a resolution titled 鈥淎ddressing Bias by Changing 鈥楻efusal鈥� Language in Clinical Documentation.鈥� The resolution calls attention to how language used in healthcare documentation can unintentionally introduce bias and impact patient care. Rubant served as the lead author, with Whetstone and O鈥橬eill contributing as co-authors. The students formally presented and advocated for the resolution before peers from across the nation.

In addition to presenting their own resolution, 黑料不打烊 delegates participated in voting on multiple proposed resolutions, parliamentary matters, and the election of the 2026鈥�27 NSNA national executive board.

For Whetstone, the experience marked a meaningful milestone in her leadership journey and in the growth of 黑料不打烊鈥檚 SNA chapter.

鈥淚t has been such an incredible honor to serve as the founding president of the Student Nurses Association, and I could not be more proud of how far we have come,鈥� Whetstone said. 鈥淲hat started as a vision has grown into a thriving, passionate community of student nurses dedicated to leadership, advocacy, and service.鈥�

Since its founding, 黑料不打烊鈥檚 SNA has rapidly expanded its impact, growing to more than 70 members in its first year and engaging in a wide range of initiatives. These include professional development programming, mental health awareness efforts, community-building events, and fundraising to support organizations such as the American Cancer Society, the American Diabetes Association, and the National Black Nurses Association.

Participation in the NSNA Convention reflects 黑料不打烊 nursing students鈥� commitment to leadership beyond the classroom鈥攅ngaging in policy, advocacy, and professional development at a national level while preparing to enter the nursing workforce.

As the organization continues to grow, its student leaders remain focused on advancing patient-centered care, fostering professional excellence and development, and shaping the future of nursing through advocacy and innovation.

黑料不打烊 students鈥� presentations spanned both the ages and the globe, with presentations ranging in focus from ancient Maya society to generative AI鈥檚 role in online public relations discourse, and spanning both the experiences of Syrian refugees and the indigenous politics of Peru.

The setting in Richmond offered a unique opportunity for mentor/mentee pair Amanda Kleintop, assistant professor of history, and Athena Vizuete ’26, a history major from Carrboro, North Carolina, who study Civil War history. In addition to presenting, they built in time to tour local historical sites that inform their research projects.

鈥淚t was amazing to see the quality of 黑料不打烊鈥檚 undergraduate research in our students鈥� presentations,” said Kleintop. “I was very proud of Athena, who presented on her research on Reconstruction in North Carolina that was threeyears in the making! Plus, there nothing like visiting Richmond as a Civil War and Reconstruction scholar!”

“NCUR is a wonderful opportunity,” Vizuete said. “I am so happy I got to present my research on a national scale and attend so many fascinating presentations by my fellow students.”

Senior Professional Writing and Rhetoric major Caden Halberg is mentored by Travis Maynard and presented his work entitled, 鈥淭he Whey Forward: Successfully Advocating for the Galactosemia Community.鈥�

鈥淧resenting at NCUR allowed me to raise awareness about rare disease advocacy while connecting with students across disciplines, many of whom had never encountered this topic befor,” said Halberg.

Several students presented their work from the School of Communications. Senior strategic communications and public policy major Teresa Cao is mentored by Shanetta Pendleton, and presented her project entitled, 鈥淪orry, Not Sorry: Exploring Communication Patterns and Perceived Authenticity of Influencer Apologies on Social Media.鈥�

“NCUR was great because I loved being able to see the range of students and how the chose to pursue their interests,” said Cao. “It reinforced to me how there鈥檚 always something to learn or dig deeper into, and in my case, that was influencer apology videos. Pop culture is often a mirror to what’s happening in society on a broader scale, so I loved being able to share my insights on something that’s seemingly very superficial. It was also really encouraging to be around students from other disciplines since I got to hear their perspectives on my research, what they admired, and advice on how they’d do things differently.”

Students were accompanied by faculty members Eric Hall, Justin Clar, CJ Fleming, Jen Hamel, Amanda Kleintop and Judy Folmar. Folmar presented two mentor-led sessions accompanied by her research students in which they shared their research process with other student-mentor pairs.

NCUR was first held at the University of North Carolina at Asheville in 1987 and 黑料不打烊 students have been attending the conference since 1993. 黑料不打烊 typically has more than 40 students present at NCUR each year. Next year鈥檚 conference will be held April 12-14, 2027 in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

The event began with an introduction from the Dean of the School of Health Sciences, Maha Lund.

鈥淵our accomplishments reflect not only your individual commitment, but also the high standards and shared purposes that guide you and all of us here at the School of Health Sciences,鈥� said Lund. 鈥淪o even if you don鈥檛 receive an award today, you are all winners in my mind.鈥�

Grateful Award: Monica Isbell, director of academic accommodations and accessibility

This award recognizes any person who is not a full-time member of the School of Health Sciences who has an established pattern of support and who provides services to the greater School of Health Sciences community. It was presented by Janet Cope, professor of physical therapy education.

鈥淲ith more than seventeen years of experience in disability services, Monica has strengthened systems that expand access and opportunity for all learners. She has worked closely with SHS faculty to ensure accommodations are not only timely and appropriate but also integrated thoughtfully into the learning environment,鈥� said Cope. 鈥淲hat sets Monica apart is the genuine care she brings to her work. She consistently reminds us that accessibility is not just about policy鈥攊t is about belonging, dignity and ensuring every student can fully participate in our academic community. Through her leadership, advocacy and compassion, Monica has made a lasting impact on the School of Health Sciences and beyond.鈥�

Excellence in Scholarship Award: Jack Magil, assistant professor of physical therapy education

This award is designed to recognize a full-time faculty member who exemplifies excellence in scholarship that advances the knowledge of one鈥檚 discipline or supports one鈥檚 teaching as the hallmark of the 黑料不打烊 Teacher-Scholar model. Scholarship is broadly defined to include scholarship of teaching and learning, interprofessional work, and community-based scholarship, as well as peer-reviewed traditional disciplinary work. The award was presented by Srikant Vallabhajosula, professor of physical therapy education.

鈥淪ince joining 黑料不打烊 in 2021, he has quickly established himself as a productive and influential scholar in sports and orthopedic physical therapy, with research focusing on pediatric and athletic performance, return-to-sport testing and clinical decision-making. His growing body of work includes multiple peer-reviewed publications in leading journals such as the Orthopedic Journal of Sports Medicine and 20+ published abstracts that advance evidence-based practice in injury epidemiology, rehabilitation outcomes and functional performance norms,鈥� said Vallabhajosula.

His research also extends to teaching and learning, investigating the predictors of the national licensure examination to improve educational outcomes in the health-care field. Additionally, his commitment to student mentorship is evident through his participation in the American Physical Therapy Association Combined Sections Meeting, guiding students through data collection, analysis and presentations.

Excellence in Service, Leadership and Collaboration: Melissa Scales, associate professor of physical therapy education

This award is designed to recognize a full time School of Health Sciences community member who has served through service, leadership and/or collaboration. The award was presented by Bethany Fearnow, stimulation coordinator for the Interprofessional Stimulation Center.

鈥淪cales has demonstrated strong leadership at the university level through her service on the Academic Council, where she represents the School of Health Sciences and will begin serving as chair-elect in August 2025. She also serves as co-chair of the Academic Council鈥檚 Service Working Group, helping develop university-wide guidelines and rubrics for faculty service. Her university service further includes work on the Committee on Committees, the Residential Campus Advisory Committee, and the Health Professions Advisory Committee, where she has mentored undergraduate students interested in health careers since 2017,鈥� Fearnow said. 鈥淗er breadth of service, from university-wide leadership and policy development to mentorship and student engagement, exemplifies the spirit of service, leadership, and collaboration that strengthens the School of Health Sciences and 黑料不打烊.”

Staff Excellence Award: Bethany Fearnow, stimulation coordinator from the Interprofessional Stimulation Center

This award recognizes a full-time staff member of the School of Health Sciences who significantly advances the work of the school and their department. This award was presented by Gytis Balilionis, laboratory and donor coordinator.

鈥淏ethany joined 黑料不打烊 in 2022 and quickly became an inseparable part of the IPSC team, contributing her talent, dedication, and collaborative spirit from the very first day,” said Balilonis. “Bethany consistently goes beyond the expectations of her role, and her evidence鈥慴ased approach, commitment to continuous learning, and dedication to quality improvement have directly enhanced the effectiveness, consistency, and overall impact of simulation鈥慴ased learning across the School of Health Sciences. Bethany creates a welcoming, inclusive environment where students and colleagues feel supported, valued, and empowered to grow. Her calm presence, clear communication, and genuine care help others stay supported and confident, even in high鈥憇tress situations.”

Excellence in Teaching and Mentoring: Jeanmarie Koonts, assistant professor of nursing

This award highlights a full-time community member who exemplifies excellence in teaching and mentoring. It was presented by Rob Slaughter, assistant professor of nursing.

鈥淥ver the past several years, Jeanmarie Koonts has consistently demonstrated what it means to be an exceptional teacher, mentor, and colleague. Her impact reaches far beyond the classroom, shaping not only knowledgeable nursing students but confident, compassionate future professionals,鈥� said Slaughter. 鈥淭hose who know Jeanmarie also recognize the energy and presence she brings to her work every day. She approaches her teaching and mentoring with optimism, warmth, and a genuine enthusiasm that is truly contagious. She always has a smile, always brings positivity, and always makes time for others.鈥�

Koonts serves as a faculty advisor for both the Student Nurses Association and Club Nursing. Additionally, her commitment to experiential learning has been demonstrated through leading a study abroad course for student in Puerto Rico, immersing them in real-world practice of nursing to develop cultural competence.

Nominations for faculty and staff awards remain active year-round. Read more about the School of Health Sciences.

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• 黑料不打烊 welcomes ninth class of Multifaith Scholars

At 黑料不打烊, faculty say preparing students means helping them understand the people they will interact with throughout their lives, and that includes the influence of faith and religious identity.

That commitment to multifaith understanding is a primary goal of the university鈥檚 Multifaith Strategic Plan, which strives to 鈥渟upport opportunities for multifaith learning and engagement for all members of the academic community.鈥�

鈥満诹喜淮蜢肉�檚 Multifaith Strategic Plan is a promise to our students, faculty, staff and the wider community that we will take them seriously as whole, complex people,鈥� said Brian Pennington, director of the Center for the Study of Religion, Culture, and Society.

The multifaith experience

The Multifaith Scholars Program is a two-year program, founded in 2016, that emphasizes interdisciplinary learning as student scholars undertake original research projects and study in global contexts connected with religious diversity and multireligious societies.

鈥淥ur work is richer when we have students bringing questions from their own disciplines,鈥� said Amy Allocco, director of the program and professor of religious studies. 鈥淚t is a sign of a vibrant campus ecosystem when not only students but also their mentors can see their interests and expertise 聽intersect with questions of interreligious contact, religion and society.鈥�

Allocco says that the breadth of disciplines represented by students and mentors participating in the program has widened each year. The current cohort includes students with diverse majors such as psychology, theatrical design, history, economics consulting, political science, religious studies, and international and global Studies. Owen Hayes 鈥�26, a history major with minors in political science and religious studies, is a 2024-2026 Multifaith Scholar studying the historical and contemporary relationship between Christian missionaries and Indigenous Australians.

鈥淚’ve always been interested in understanding the interreligious encounters of the world, like global Christianity and understanding how different communities can come together and understand such an important religious concept in such different, varying ways, but still have that belief of Christianity,鈥� Hayes said.

The interreligious studies minor also allows students to analyze the historical and contemporary encounters between and interactions among religious communities and traditions.

鈥満诹喜淮蜢� has done incredible work in enfranchising multifaith as an academic as well as a student affairs initiative and aligning and even blending those areas in meaningful ways that enhance the student experience,鈥� Allocco said.

Multifaith in the classroom (and clinic)

In the Department of Nursing, faculty don鈥檛 just train future healthcare professionals on specific medical assessments but, as Assistant Professor of Nursing Lori Hubbard says, they 鈥減repare students for the diversity in the populations they will serve,鈥� including religion.

鈥淒iversity in people is understanding their religious background, because religious practices are often infused into health practices and health beliefs,鈥� said Hubbard, who teaches the Healthcare Relationships course, which focuses on understanding diverse backgrounds in healthcare.

The course is just one component of the Department of Nursing鈥檚 commitment to equitable healthcare teaching, which is incorporated throughout the curriculum.

鈥淔rom birth to death and everywhere in between, the people that are going to be important in a person鈥檚 wellness or their healing may come from their church body,鈥� said Hubbard, who says they also want students to understand the role of the chaplain in a hospital setting. 鈥淧eople may have members of a church congregation bring them meals, they may have pastors and friends visit to pray with them. A person’s support network is a social determinant of health.鈥�

In December 2025, a faculty team consisting of Pennington, Jeanmarie Koonts, assistant professor of nursing; Molly Green, assistant professor of public health, and Helen Orr, assistant professor of religious studies, was awarded a $60,000 Faith & Health Campus Grant from Interfaith America to promote awareness of how religious diversity impacts healthcare space and medical decision-making.

Engineering a multifaith course

Along with nursing, several 黑料不打烊 courses across disciplines integrate multifaith understanding. Orr is co-teaching a new course, Engineering A Better World, with Professor of Engineering Sirena Hargrove-Leak on ethical practices in engineering.

鈥淩eligion is an important category for a lot of people, and it informs not only beliefs, but also everyday practice and ritual, including when people fast, how they dress and how they interact in professional spaces,鈥� Orr said. 鈥淥ne of our sessions in the course focuses on the value of multi-faith spaces in professional working environments. Those spaces can be beneficial both for religious people and non-religious people, while also encouraging us to think about how environments themselves can be designed to be more inclusive.鈥�

Hargrove Leak says the engineering curriculum requires an ethics course and, historically, faculty advised students to choose an ethics course through the Core Curriculum. The downside, she says, is they may not connect what they’re learning to engineering practice. This new course, she says, connects the dots directly.

鈥淭he work of engineering professionals has the potential to impact people directly; therefore, ethical practice is critically important,鈥� said Hargrove-Leak.

Communicating religion

While Orr and Hargrove-Leak鈥檚 course is new this semester, Professor of Journalism Anthony Hatcher has been studying and teaching the intersection of religion and media for more than 20 years. His course Religion and Media analyzes how the two interact through media coverage of religious issues and themes, religion’s use of television and the Internet and media portrayals of religious people and traditions.

Hatcher began teaching the course in 2003, coming from a longtime interest in the intersection of the two subjects.

鈥淚t has always sparked my interest how religion intersects not only with a news item, but how it intersects with popular culture,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 tell my students, 鈥業f there is a secular entity of some sort, there is a religious corollary to it.鈥欌��

Finding religious connections in culture is endless for Hatcher, who says he never runs out of material for the course. For one assignment, students must attend a house of worship outside of their own faith and do a research project on the experience. The projects range from more well-known religious practices to lesser-known, like a student who visited a coven of witches in Hillsborough, North Carolina

鈥淚 make it clear: this is not a religion class. I’m not here to teach you about the scripture,鈥� Hatcher said. 鈥淲hen they go (to these houses of worship), it’s not just a religious thing. I say, 鈥榃hat kind of media did they use? Do they have cameras? Do they have a single microphone? Do they use screens and slides? Is it a majestic organ? What are you seeing there? Did they give you a paper program? Everything that’s media.鈥� It gets them thinking about all the mediated ways that they experience religion.鈥�

The course is open to all majors, and Hatcher says it can be relevant for all professions.

鈥淭he subject matter is so important,鈥� Hatcher said. 鈥淚t’s like how study abroad is mind-broadening. I think understanding where somebody else comes from, especially if faith is a big part of who they are, is a big deal.鈥�

And for Pennington, 黑料不打烊鈥檚 approach to multifaith learning is an example for others to follow.

鈥淲e live in a moment where we can clearly see that the faith commitments and religious practices interact with our global politics, our legal systems, our media environments, and our healthcare systems,鈥� said Pennington. 鈥淏y attending to multifaith education across academic departments and programs, 黑料不打烊 is leading the way in preparing its students for a rapidly evolving world.鈥�

This story is part of a series of stories focusing on 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Multifaith Strategic Plan.聽

鈥淢y dad would put me in any recreational sport that was happening in our town. I played softball, basketball, and even track. But I鈥檝e always loved to dance,” Harrison said.

In the summer of her junior year of high school, Harrison attended a summer dance program at Radford University, where she met 黑料不打烊 West African Dance professor Keshia Gee.

鈥淪he told me about 黑料不打烊鈥檚 dance science program, and I did my research and decided to apply,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 cried tears of joy when I got admitted.鈥�

Combining her passions for dance and physical therapy, Harrison decided to enroll at 黑料不打烊 for the opportunities that come with the dance science major.

鈥淚 saw that the dance science program was a way for me to open the door for physical therapy. I found that there was more opportunity in this major rather than a typical path,鈥� she said. 鈥淭his major gives me the background to solidify trust with a patient because I know the body and know how to alleviate the pain they may feel, so they can get back to playing a sport or doing their art.鈥�

Harrison is also pursuing minors in exercise science, African studies and dance. Later in her 黑料不打烊 career, she aspires to conduct undergraduate research involving West African dance with Assistant Professor of Dance Keshia Gee. She has also had her sights set on planning a Winter Term study abroad program to broaden her studies on a global scale.

One of 黑料不打烊鈥檚 opportunities she is using to her advantage is the EMT-Basic certification course done in collaboration with Alamance Community College. Aligned with her physical therapy aspirations, Harrison is excited to complete the course and take the final exam to earn her official EMT certification.

鈥淭he aspect of helping people is why I want to do sports physical therapy. I get to incorporate that into my EMT work,” she said. “I鈥檓 already getting more confident with labs and learning skills from the practice.鈥�

Eager to learn more and advance her career as much as possible, Harrison has connected with 黑料不打烊’s athletic trainer for club sports and performing arts, Christina Yanakis. Harrison recently attended a club hockey game alongside Yanakis, where she saw a professional in action.

鈥淚 was able to observe her scope of practice and see the different dynamics of hockey players and their pain points. It helped me realize that I want to do both sports and performing arts, which is why I think physical therapy is my correct path,鈥� said Harrison.

When asked about what she is most proud of, Harrison replied, 鈥淚鈥檓 proud of how committed I am to the career path I鈥檓 on. I鈥檝e stayed with it, and there have been times where I鈥檝e debated changing, but as I advance, I realize more and more that this is what I want to do.鈥�

Harrison鈥檚 F.W. Beazley Leadership Scholarship has strengthened her resilience in pursuing her passions.

鈥淲ith any experience, you get what you put into it, so I am giving it all my might, and I hope I get that in return,” she said.

This mindset has led to sustained motivation and incredible progress within her studies.

She notes that the support through scholarships has given her motivation, adding, 鈥淭he donors believe in me so much that they will spend their resources and time to make sure that I succeed in my education and career. I am striving for greatness, and I promise to make you proud, and I will always be grateful for the financial help from 黑料不打烊 donors.鈥�

On April 4,聽 the 黑料不打烊 Engineering Club, Phoenix Racing Club and the Department of Physical Therapy brought the Go Baby Go Initiative to 黑料不打烊鈥檚 campus for the first time. Founded in 2012 at the University of Delaware, Go Bo Baby is a national initiative that modifies ride-on toy cars to meet the individual physical needs of young children who experience mobility challenges.

Six young children zipped across the pavement in brightly colored toy cars, laughter trailing behind them. These weren鈥檛 ordinary rides; they had been carefully reimagined by those same students inside, transformed into custom vehicles designed just for the kids who drove them.

The collaborative effort between the 黑料不打烊 Engineering Club, Phoenix Racing and the Department of Physical Therapy brought the Go Baby Go Initiative to 黑料不打烊鈥檚 campus for the first time. Founded in 2012 at the University of Delaware, Go Bo Baby is a national initiative that modifies ride-on toy cars to meet the individual physical needs of young children who experience mobility challenges.

Julianna Millett 鈥�26 spearheaded 黑料不打烊鈥檚 effort with fellow engineering majors Diego Hernandez 鈥�26 and Abigail Johnson 鈥�27, after learning about the program through their Tikkun Olam Makers Fellowship. The TOM Fellowship Program is a nine-month international program that supports campus leaders, students and faculty in leading 鈥渃ommunities鈥� of students who use their engineering and design skills to co-create TOM Solutions for problems faced by people with disabilities, the elderly and the poor.

鈥淔or a lot of children, this is their first mobility device. Insurance isn’t going to cover a mobility aid because kids grow so fast,鈥� said Millett. 鈥淲ith this car, it’s giving them almost a first experience of having some autonomy over their movement.鈥�

On Saturday, engineering students adapted the car鈥檚 gas pedal to be a button on the steering wheel so the children could drive the car more efficiently, and physical therapy students helped adjust five-point harnesses so the children could also ride comfortably.

Sirena Hargrove-Leak, professor of engineering, views this work as an extension of 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Engineering Design for Service course, where students work in small teams to design devices for systems that aid a local community client.

鈥淣ow it becomes an extracurricular engagement for students who are really motivated by that type of work to be able to continue it, and it connects them to a much larger organization,鈥� said Hargrove-Leak. “It鈥檚 international and several other institutions of higher education are part of this, so just having that connectivity with other people who are doing similar work and moving it into the extracurricular space broadens and deepens that experience.鈥�

Rebekkah Manning鈥檚 4-year-old son, Henry has cerebral palsy and works regularly with the Department of Physical Therapy. Manning says Henry has not been able to play like other children his age due to his condition.

鈥淎 lot of options are not open to him. Even the rides at the city park are not adaptable and accessible,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 discouraging to try to be the mother and father of a child who wants to play, and he can’t.鈥�

Henry was fitted into his car on Saturday while his father controlled the driving through a remote control, and Henry was also able to use the steering wheel button to drive.

鈥淚t is a dream come true because it’s something that we realized that we couldn’t do with Henry unless we had help,鈥� said Manning. 鈥淲hen he got in, he got a little bit nervous, and everybody was watching, but then after a few laps here, did you see his smile grow? And he started interacting more. So, it is definitely a confidence builder.鈥�

Carrie McCollum heard about the Go Baby Go program through their family鈥檚 physical therapist at Cone Health, who is an 黑料不打烊 alum. McCollum鈥檚 daughter BillieAnn has cerebral palsy, and while her older brother had driven her in his toy car, McCollum says it’s safer and better for BillieAnn to now drive her own.

鈥淚 hope to see her getting outside more often,鈥� said McCollum. 鈥淲e live on a farm, we have plenty of open space for her to move around on, but the wheelchair does not go well on gravel or rough terrain. I hope that this will be a way for her to drive around and see things out in our yard and on our farm.鈥�

Hargrove-Leak says while this experience has been beneficial for the families involved, the students and her find it rewarding as well.

鈥淚t is so fulfilling to be able to serve as a mentor for these students,鈥� said Hargrove-Leak. 鈥淚 have just enjoyed watching them grow as servant leaders, using their knowledge and skills to help other people. That’s always been my dream as an engineering educator, to try to encourage students to use what they’re learning for good in the world.鈥�