All Presenters & Abstracts
American College Theatre Festival - Scenic Design
Presentation Year:2026
Amanda
Coorey,
Undergraduate Student,
Dance, Music & Theatre
I traveled to Pasco, Washington to attend the American College Theatre Festival in Region 7 in February, 2026. While there I attended workshops, regional productions and participated in the Design, Technology, and Stage Management Expo where I was awarded the "National Design Excellence Honorable Mention for Scenic Design".
Arcata House Partnership Needs Yout Support!
Presentation Year:2026
Adam
Ibarra,
Undergraduate Student,
College Corp
We are showcasing the beneficial impact of our College Corps site. - Arcata House Partnership - on the community of Arcata including the Food Bank that operates there every Wednesday. We are also illustrating the obstacles that Non-Profits face while relying on gramt funding and how they need support and inclusion in legislative policy.
Black Humboldt
Presentation Year:2026
Bailey
Linares,
Undergraduate Student,
College Corp
This project explores my work as a College Corps fellow with Black Humboldt, a nonprofit supporting Black residents in Humboldt County. Through community events, outreach, and relationship-building, I contributed to creating safe, inclusive spaces in an underrepresented region. This work addresses issues of visibility, isolation, and access to culturally relevant resources. By translating concepts of equity and representation into practice, the project highlights how grassroots efforts can strengthen community connection, belonging, and support.
Breaking the Chains of Oppression: Early Abolitionists, Public Protests, and the Quakers who Led the Way in Igniting the Fires of Freedom for All
Presentation Year:2026
William
Seniff,
Undergraduate Student,
History
When someone thinks of abolition, the first things that come to mind are Abraham Lincoln, Harriet Tubman, or the Underground Railroad. However, many of the early abolitionists in the North American colonies were, in fact, Quakers. Quakers were the first to lead the charge in the pursuit of abolition as early as the mid-seventeenth century. There is much more to Quakers and their history than the white-haired, stuffy-looking gentleman in a big hat on the box of your morning oatmeal. One of the main tenets in The Religious Society of Friends is a vow of pacifism, and many Quakers saw slavery as a major affront to this tenet. Early abolitionists brought the concept of anti-slavery to many people who had never even contemplated it before. Although abolition took the entire nation becoming embroiled in a bloody Civil War to become reality, it is only because these pioneers of social justice had led the way for over two hundred years. Clearly presenting these exceptional figures, their efforts to end slavery, and the major events that occurred in the colonies resulting from their actions, in chronological order, is key to understanding their significance in the history of the early abolitionist movement.
The list of Quakers who were early abolitionists included figures with such prominent names as George Fox, the founder of The Religious Society of Friends, more commonly known as the Quakers. Fox wrote a letter to England in 1657, titled To Friends Beyond Sea, that have Blacks and Indian Slaves, speaking out against slavery. Some of the key documents and events in this fight against slavery include the first written document in protest of slavery in the North American colonies in 1688, which is titled the Germantown Quaker Petition Against Slavery. An Exhortation and Caution to Friends Concerning Buying or Keeping of Negroes written in 1693, is the second anti-slavery protest document written by the Quakers and the very first ever printed.
Benjamin Lay was a very radical and vocal Quaker who was in loud opposition to the idea of slavery. He used what became known as “Guerrilla Theater” to protest slavery to the public. Some of these theatrical protest events would be known as the “Bloody Book Stabbing” as well as the “Sit-Down Strike.” He even went as far as kidnapping a local child in an attempt to show the slave owning parents the grief felt by enslaved parents who had their children forcibly taken from them. Benjamin Lay himself wrote a book in 1738 titled All Slave-Keepers That Keep the Innocent in Bondage, Apostates, where he posed many deep societal questions about the concept of slavery itself.
Anthony Benezet, an eighteenth-century Quaker who was a teacher, played a huge part in educating many young Black children and exposing all levels of society to the horrors of slavery by creating his educational pamphlets. Benezet took education very seriously and believed everyone had a right to be able to receive one. He fought very passionately to give as many people as possible the chance to better themselves through studying and hard work.
Another very prominent figure in the early years of abolitionism was the son of a very successful slave trader, but unlike many others discussed, he was not a Quaker; his name was John Laurens. In a letter to his father, Laurens talks about his disdain for the system of slavery so readily accepted in the Southern colonies. A very well-known South Carolina statesman and soldier, Laurens, even fought alongside George Washington and other historically notable figures during the American Revolution. He would go on to be a vocal advocate for the abolition of slavery, which was extremely rare in South Carolina at the time. Near the end of the war, Laurens proposed the amazing idea of recruiting over three thousand enslaved men from South Carolina and Georgia to create an entire regiment of enslaved soldiers. The idea was that they would be granted their freedom upon completion of their military service fighting against the British. Unfortunately, the Continental Congress shot down Laurens' idea in the end because many in the South feared arming the enslaved population would cause more harm than good.
Another notable non-Quaker figure in the early abolitionist movement, who was a former slave herself, is the remarkable woman named Elizabeth Freeman, also known as Mum Bett. She became the first Black enslaved woman to sue for her freedom in the state of Massachusetts and win. This was an extraordinary case and had massive repercussions throughout the colonies that set a precedent in the court of law for years to come.
To present these exceptional figures and events in the early years of the anti-slavery movement that took place in the North American colonies clearly and concisely, it needs to be done chronologically. All this is done in the hope that everyone will see that even when you are outnumbered by many people who oppose your deepest beliefs, if those beliefs are rooted in justice and liberty for all people, you can overcome even the greatest obstacles. Abolition was viewed as completely impossible by many people and even caused America to be split in half and cause the bloodiest war in U.S. history, but in the end, it was successful. All you need to have is determination, an iron will, to never give up hope, and a little luck never hurts either.
Built by Community: How Serving Others Has Inspired My Future
Presentation Year:2026
Naomi
Garcia,
Undergraduate Student,
College Corp
As a College Corps Fellow, I served at Centro Del Pueblo (CDP). The projects and work I was a part of allowed me to serve Indigenous, Migrant, and Latinx families and communities throughout Humboldt. Through advocacy, cultural preservation, and decolonial practices, I was able to experience the elements of creating and collaborating on community-led initiatives, as well as learn how to be in service of others as an aid, artist, translator, educator, organizer, and human.
Cal Poly Parkless, Critically Examining Commutes in Humboldt County
Presentation Year:2026
Liam
Blackburn,
Undergraduate Student,
Geography, Environment & Spatial Analysis
Cal Poly Humboldt is experiencing a significant parking shortage. With a clear intent to increase enrollment and expand the campus, demand for transportation infrastructure will continue to grow. While expanding existing parking options may seem like a popular solution to address the issue, studies have shown that it may only further exacerbate parking-related problems. My research project aims to analyze the current public transit system and model students' daily commutes to the Cal Poly Humboldt campus if they didn't have a personal vehicle. With this study, I aim to provide an overview of the public transport situation in Humboldt County, uncover the true extent of the transit crisis, explain why building more parking lots isn't a good long-term solution, and share my own insights from my studies about how Cal Poly Humboldt can travel into the future instead of getting stuck driving in circles.
Celebrating Black Excellence: The Impact of the High School Sash Ceremony
Presentation Year:2026
LaTasha
Amos,
Undergraduate Student,
College Corp
The High School Sash Ceremony significantly enhances Black graduates’ cultural identity, community belonging, and educational aspirations. In a study using surveys, interviews, and focus groups with 87 participants, 94% reported increased cultural pride, 89% felt stronger connection to the Black community, and 78% noted positive impacts on their educational goals. These findings highlight the ceremony’s role in fostering belonging, addressing systemic inequities, and promoting educational equity in predominantly white institutions, suggesting that expanding and integrating such culturally affirming celebrations can strengthen support for Black students and their families.
Clarke Historical Museum
Presentation Year:2026
Bo
Bacon,
Undergraduate Student,
College Corp
I served at the Clarke Historical Museum in Eureka. I helped to assess, photograph, and catalog over 600 maps, documents, and photographs donated to the museum by Oscar Larson & Associates, a local engineering/consulting firm. This work matters because while the museum recieved these pieces in 2022, they have been understaffed and unable to deal with them until now. Also, these pieces would have been thrown away if not taken in by the museum, leading to the loss of a ton of valuable history. Through this experience, I have learned a great deal about Humboldt County and its infrastructure.
Community-Based Approaches to Health: Addressing Food Insecurity Through Open Door Gardens Levit Cantu Castillo
Presentation Year:2026
Levit
Cantu ,
Undergraduate Student,
College Corp
Open Door College Corps Fellowship
Curtains Up on a Future Teacher! My College Corps Fellow Experience
Presentation Year:2026
Evan
Pierce,
Undergraduate Student,
College Corp
As a College Corps fellow, I worked with Arcata High School, particularly the theatre strand of the Arcata Arts Institute. In this program, I have been supporting students in the classroom and in the theatre productions. Looking to become a high school theatre teacher myself, working with Melanie Zapper has been truly a wonderful and incredibly meaningful experience. Theatre programs provide students with a fun, creative outlet while also preparing them with real-life skills such as time management, collaboration, flexibility, and public speaking. I am so grateful to have gotten an opportunity to use my passion and experience to support the thriving theatre scene at Arcata High School.
Development and Validation of the Female Intrasexual Competition Scale (FICS)
Presentation Year:2026
Natalie
Stamper,
Undergraduate Student,
Psychology
Intrasexual competition refers to competition between sexes for status, mates, and resources . The current established measure of intrasexual competition, Buunk and Fisher's (2009) intrasexual competition scale (ICS), is sex and gender neutral®. While the ICS has sufficient validity in certain contexts, it does not capture the nuances of female intrasexual competition, which centers around appearances and is less explicit than male intrasexual competition. Additionally, the ICS does not directly address the four main forms of intrasexual competition: self-promotion, competitor derogation, mate-manipulation, and competitor manipulation. The Female Intrasexual Competition Scale (FICS) is a new, theory-based scale to measure intrasexual competition among cis-gendered heterosexual and bisexual females.
Dows Prairie Elementary School - College Corp Service
Presentation Year:2026
Megan
Jones,
Undergraduate Student,
College Corp
My project is a comprehensive submission of my service at Dow's Prairie Elementary School in Mckinleyville. In this project, I discuss issues I noticed and addressed at my site, such as students lacking understanding of food systems and the challenges presented by screen time with younger students. I also briefly discuss my role as an ESM student, what I have learned, and the impact I have had on students at my site.
Erosion Susceptibility Model for L.W. Schatz Demonstration Tree Farm
Presentation Year:2026
Zachary
Knight,
Undergraduate Student,
Geography, Environment & Spatial Analysis
A model of the L.W. Schatz Demonstration Tree Farm showing areas most susceptible to erosion.
Exploring the Placebo Effect on the Cortisol Stress Response
Presentation Year:2026
Enza
Zeppegno-Mendonca,
Undergraduate Student,
Psychology
The placebo effect is well-studied on pain perception, but not many studies have examined the placebo effect on stress. The current study explores whether a deceptive stress‑reducing tincture (filled with water) influences participants’ cortisol responses and self‑reported stress while undergoing a modified acute stress task: the Sing-a-Song Stress Test (SSST). Given the rise of mental health concerns and misuse of medication, this area of research may provide new directions for developing treatments that incorporate the placebo effect, which may enhance treatment outcomes.
Geospatial Assessment of Urban Tree Condition Using NDVI in Eureka
Presentation Year:2026
Maria
Hurtado,
Undergraduate Student,
Geography, Environment & Spatial Analysis
This project evaluates whether remote sensing can be used to assess urban tree condition in Eureka. NDVI was derived from satellite imagery to represent vegetation vigor, while LiDAR data were used to generate a canopy height model (CHM) to capture tree structure. Additional variables, including proximity to roads, buildings, and impervious surfaces, were integrated to represent urban environmental stressors. Preliminary results show spatial variability in NDVI across the city, suggesting that geospatial methods can help identify areas where trees may require priority monitoring.
How well does Humboldt County incorporate Indigenous values within conservation tourism?
Presentation Year:2026
Ula
Simonsen-Webb,
Undergraduate Student,
Environmental Studies
In what ways and how well does Humboldt County incorporate Indigenous values within conservation tourism? Through this project I applied the term of conservation tourism as a methodology for creating better tourism management strategies. Indigenous knowledge, values and perspectives are at the forefront of this project.
Humboldt International Film Festival Archive Data
Presentation Year:2026
Sawyer
Chrisman,
Undergraduate Student,
Art + Film
My project examines the Humboldt International Film Festival (HIFF) archive, compiling data on two specific categories (narrative and experimental), the countries that submit to these categories for the festival, and the years. The archive of films dates back to 2015. Then I am writing a paper looking at three countries that have submitted and see the global context of why they submitted and what message is being presented in the film.
Off to the Festival! The American College Theatre Festival Region 7
Presentation Year:2026
Evan
Pierce,
Undergraduate Student,
Dance, Music & Theatre
Through the theatre department, I was able to attend the American College Theatre Festival this spring. This was my fourth year attending. It is a wonderful way to get to know students from other colleges as well as professionals in the industry. It is so much fun being surrounded by other people as passionate about theatre making as you for an entire week. Even more of a bonus, you get to explore a new town too! This spring, we went to Pasco, Washington. I attended workshops, saw invited productions, and participated in late night activities like the tech theatre showdown. It was a jam-packed week of theatre and fun!
Oil Painting & Environmental Conservation
Presentation Year:2026
Tobey
Greenberg,
Undergraduate Student,
Art + Film
A detailed overview of wildlife research based painting portfolio and an in depth look into how I've connected environmental/wildlife conservation activism to 2D oil paintings.
Queering Poetry Workshops
Presentation Year:2026
Dobby
Morse,
Graduate Student,
English
To what extent do participants report that a poetry workshop builds connections between poets and strengthen their confidence in writing? What do participants want or expect from a poetry workshop? Through this project I hope to attend and host poetry workshops with an emphasis on the queer community. I will collaborate with campus and community organizations like Queer Humboldt and other organizations that are interested in exploring queer experiences through writing, connection, and meditation. This project will serve as a how-to guide for those seeking to conduct their own workshops.