Conference Presentation: Southern Regional Honors Conference

This past week, Adriana Lutzio, Jessica Sullivan, Jackie Sibila, Abigail Scohera, and Amanda Audette were lucky enough to attend the Southern Regional Honors Conference (SRHC) in Chattanooga, Tennessee and present their research. Students got to attend the Hunter Museum of American Art, a President’s Reception at the Aquarium, and a City as Text Bike Tour of Chattanooga, in addition to attending panels and presenting their posters. Amanda Audette presented Behind the Screen: The Effect of Social Media on Adolescents’ Cosmetic Use. Adriana Lutzio presented “Make it Stand Out! Children’s Memory for Dinosaur Facts.” And Sullivan, Sibilia, and Scohera presented work that stemmed from one of their Dialectics classes. They recount their time at SRHC below:

“This experience was exciting and a first for all of us, we certainly enjoyed the presenters but also had a lot of fun participating in activities such as City as Text. This activity took us on a biking tour where we got to explore Chattanooga and uncover the friendly, diverse, and innovative place we were staying in. The theme of the conference was “Honoring Story,” emphasizing the importance of shared experience but also uniting in our differences. We enjoyed all sorts of presentations ranging from Women & Creative Expression, Scientific Innovations, The U.S. Prison Culture, and Environmental Impacts to name a few. Additionally, we were excited to have the opportunity to present our research that fits perfectly under the umbrella of Honoring Story and discuss a topic that has been historically hidden: The Saltwater Railroad. This figurative railroad was the 713 mile route that enslaved people utilized to escape from southern slave states to the British-controlled Bahamas, and has not received much attention for a few reasons. First, due to its secretive nature resulting in a lack of primary accounts, as well as certain eras of slavery being emphasized while others are overlooked. With that being said, our goal with this project was to highlight and recognize the voices of slaves and their resistance, emphasizing that they were not passive victims and rather fought against their oppression. Presenting our research was certainly nerve-wracking but we were excited to share with peers, answer any questions, and most importantly display to people a small part of history that made a big impact. Overall, the SRHC was an amazing opportunity and Jessica, Jackie and I are all extremely grateful to the honors program for their generous funding.” 

Conference presentation: Shane Petagna

During spring break, I attended the 50th AEJMC Southeast Colloquium on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. I presented my research in progress on the content strategies used by MLB teams on TikTok during the off-season following the 2023 regular season.

My advisor, Sohana Nasrin, was an integral part in helping me craft my presentation for my honors thesis paper and pushing me out of my comfort zone to apply to present at this conference. It was a bit intimidating as an undergraduate student being surrounded by so many scholars, but I was able to both convey my knowledge on my niche topic with confidence and learn more about so many other areas about journalism and mass communication by attending other sessions throughout the three-day event. It was also cool to explore the campus and the town of Chapel Hill, and I was even able to see some of the school’s iconic athletic facilities even when spring break made much of the area feel like a ghost town. This was a valuable experience that I will never forget.

Study Abroad: Sophia Briggs in Costa Rica

Before attending my first year at The University of Tampa, I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to participate in the Honors Program 2 Week Study Abroad trip in Costa Rica! When I got the email to apply, I was shocked that this was even an opportunity offered to incoming freshmen, and it was an opportunity I was grateful to have because I always wanted to study abroad in college. This trip was one of the most memorable moments of my life, and it was an academic experience that I don’t think could ever be replicated during my time at UTampa. 10 students, including myself, were able to take 2 Idea Labs, a main component of the Honors curriculum: HON 253 Idea Lab Health Science and HON 257 Idea Lab Social Science. The professors on the trip, Dr. Meers and Dr. Fridy, educated us during various lectures, during visits to natural areas and landmarks such as the Monteverde Cloud Forest and the Life Coffee Farm, and during other immersive excursions. Additionally, along with the professors, our tour guide, Mark, knew absolutely everything above and beyond about the Costa Rican forests, biodiversity, and history. My favorite part of the trip were the hikes in the Costa Rican forests, specifically the Monte Verde Cloud Forest. We were surrounded by thousands upon thousands of unique species and it was so beautiful to take in! One activity we did that stuck with me the most was a meditation activity we did in the forest. Our tour guide, Mark, educated us about how we were surrounded by many of the unique endemic species in the Costa Rican jungle in that very moment, and he instructed us all to separate for 10 minutes and just be in touch with the jungle. It was a very peaceful moment, and I reflect upon it a lot because it taught me to take a step back and be mindful of where I am, what I do, and how my actions can affect the nature and people around me. Without the Honors Program, I would not have been able to have had this unforgettable experience that opened my eyes to great perspectives. I will always be thankful for the opportunity to study abroad in Costa Rica, and I will continue to carry all the knowledge and memories I gained from the trip in my mind and heart throughout the rest of my educational endeavors.