2023 Symposium Winners

First Place

“Traveling Against the Current: From Marianismo to Chicanismo”

Yudith Salas
UHCL/independent scholar
Advisor: Dalel Serda


Second Place

“Generational Violence Against Black Men in Candyman”

Ysel Alcala
Lee College
Advisor: Georgeann Ward


Third Place

“Graham Crackers and Kellogg’s Cereal in Relation to Sexuality”

Deannery Dior Muankaew
San Jacinto College – South Campus
Advisor: Abbie Grub


Fourth Place

“The Importance of Financial Literacy”

Cameron Lanier
College of the Mainland
Advisor: Elaine Childs


Honorable Mention

“Exploring the Workplace Feminism That Changed it All: The 9 to 5 Movement Through Media and Modern-Day Perception”

Rebecca Currie and Diego Moreno
Lee College
Advisor: Georgeann Ward


Honorable Mention

“The Inherent Contradiction Within Feminism”

Rawan Aljaouni
Houston Community College
Advisor: Brandon Williams

2022 Symposium Winners

2022 Symposium WinnersDalel Serda, COM; Sydney Joy Dado, Lee College; Cheery Chukwukelu, HCC; Maressly Garcia, Jennifer Freyaldenhoven, San Jacinto Central; Thomas Elder, COM; Victoria Murphy, Sophia Flores; San Jacinto Central, Kayleigh Hasselmeier, COM; Shinya Wakao, COM

First Place – $200

1st place winner photo

“Freedom Writers: Demonstrating the Shortcomings in Education”

Sydney Joy Dado
Lee College
Advisor: Georgeann Ward and Javier Ramirez


Second Place – 150

2nd place winner

"AntiWork and the Inevitable Effects of COVID-19 on the Working Class"

Cheery Chukwukelu
Houston Community College
Advisor: Dan Flores


Third Place – $100

Third place winner

“The Effects of Mental Health on Student Success”

Jennifer Freyaldenhoven, Maressly Garcia
San Jacinto Central
Advisor: Judith Maima


Fourth Place – $75

Fourth place winner

“Sea Glass Research”

Thomas Elder
College of the Mainland
Advisor: John Mohr


Honorable Mention

Honarable Mention winner

“The Effects of COVID-19 on the Mental Health of Teachers and Students”

Sophia Flores, Kaitlin Meier, Victoria Murphy, Lyzatte Zuniga
San Jacinto Central
Advisor: Judith Maima


Honorable Mention

Honarable Mention winner

“Gender, Sex, and Religion: A Study of Shifting Views”

Kayleigh Hasselmeier
College of the Mainland
Advisor: Dalel Serda


2019 Symposium Winners

First Place – $225

“Love and Politics: How Political Party Affiliation Changes and Takes Shape over Time”
Zane Stewart
College of the Mainland
Advisor: Dalel Serda

Second Place – $175

“Expression of Love: Gender”
Mia Brown
College of the Mainland
Advisor: Dalel Serda

Third Place – $125

“The Photographic Narrative of Relationships”
Faith Wisner
College of the Mainland
Advisor: Kristy Peet

Fourth Place – $75

“Awareness for Living”
Rosecel Robles
College of the Mainland
Advisor: Stacey Burleson

Honorable Mention – $50

“Unplanned Surrender: Exploring the Sacred Encounter in Raymond Carver’s ‘Cathedral’”
Jennifer Fonck
Lee College
Advisor: Georgeann Ward

“Love: Abstract or Concrete?”
Brenda Hagans Ratliff
Shadow Creek High School/Alvin College
Advisor: Stacey Burleson

2018 Symposium Winners

First Place

  • "Beauty" by Fatima Salahuddin
    College of the Mainland
    Advisor: Dalel Serda

Second Place

  • “High-Skilled Versus Low-Skilled: The Perception of Immigrants Based on Skill Composition” by Maizie Fernandes
    College of the Mainland
    Advisor: Professor Shinya Wakao

Third Place

  • “A Self-Narrative of the Human Footprint: The Evolution of the Selfie” by Madeline Meylor
    Brazosport College
    Advisor: Professor Carrie Pritchett

Fourth Place

  • “Gifted Education: The Label” by Morgan Turley
    Clear Falls High School
    Advisor: Professor Elaine Childs

Honorable Mention:

  • “Act Like a ‘Lady’: The Consequences of Gender Roles” by Trekaria D. James
    College of the Mainland
    Advisor: Professor Dalel Serda

  • “Finding One’s Mind in the Cave: Clifford Beers’ Struggle for Personal and Social Enlightenment” by Maria Gelves
    Lee College
    Advisor: Professor Georgeann Ward

2017 Symposium Winners

First Place

  • Divya Singh
    Lee College: "Distinguishing Imitation from Reality: The Boy Code in 'Rite of Passage'"
    Advisors: Professors Georgeann Ward and Jerry Hamby

Second Place

  • Diana Lopez
    COM: “No More Excuses, Hollywood: The Importance of Honest Representation in Film"
    Advisor: Professor Stacey Burleson

Third Place

  • Kendal McLaughlin
    COM: “Truth by Design”
    Advisor: Professor Kristy Peet

Fourth Place

  • Isis Rendon
    COM: “The Ultimate Deception: Christopher Marlowe as William Shakespeare”
    Advisor: Professor Dalel Serda

Honorable Mention

  • Lauren Buchanan and Harry Hathaway
    COM: “Social Constructionism and the Arbitration of Truth” -
    Advisor: Professor Cody Smith

  • Chyna Lewis
    Lee College: “Perpetuating a Persona: The Mask of Masculinity in ‘How to Date’” -
    Advisors: Professors Georgeann Ward and Jerry Hamby

2016 Symposium Winners

First Place

  • Lauren Buchanan
    College of the Mainland (advisor: Professor Dalel Serda)
    “From Wikked Wyves to Courtly Ladies: The Evolution of the Female Role in Medieval English Literature”

Second Place

  • Drager Landry
    College of the Mainland (advisor: Professor Herman Trivilino)
    "The Physics of Ion Propulsion"

Third Place

  • Santiago Gutierrez
    Brazosport College, (advisor: Professor Carrie Pritchett)
    "Conflict as Context: Mexico’s Journey Towards Self-Identity Through Revolution and Art"

Fourth Place

  • Kereece McLean
    College of the Mainland, (advisor: Professor Brian Anderson)
    "Salem Witch Trials Revisited: The Ongoing Troubles of False Confessions"

Honorable Mention

  • Freyja Coe
    Alvin Community College (advisor: Professor Elizabeth McLane)
    "The Vegan Experience"

  • Mandy Solombrino
    Lee College (advisor: Professor Georgeann Ward and Professor Hamby)
    "The Shackles of Societal Standards on Masculinity in Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic"

  • Cody Kelemen
    College of the Mainland (advisor: Professor Brian Anderson)
    "The Declaration of Independence as a Document of Context: Review of the Initial Changes Made to Jefferson’s Draft"

2015 Symposium Winners

First Place

  • Bertrand Ebang
    Alvin Community College (advisor: Professor Elizabeth McLane)
    "Using Ultrasound to Treat Children with Sickle Cell Disease”

Second Place

  • Alaina Spiers
    College of the Mainland (advisor: Professor Stacey Burleson)
    "Humanity's Pride and Prejudice"

Third Place

  • Jason Hayes and Valarie Robson
    College of the Mainland, (advisor: Professor Veronica Sanchez)
    "Artful Evolution of Alluvial Fans"

Honorable Mention

  • Drager Landry
    College of the Mainland (advisor: Professor Dalel Serda)
    "Utilizing Optimism: A Tool Encompassing Motivation and Academic Success"

  • Jordan Bryan
    College of the Mainland (advisor: Professor Mark Greenwalt)
    "Preservation through Art and Science"

  • Drager Landry
    College of the Mainland (advisor: Professor Dalel Serda)
    "Utilizing Optimism: A Tool Encompassing Motivation and Academic Success"

2014 Symposium Winners

Best Presentations

  • Josie Howell
    Communication and Humanities (advisor: Dalel Serda)
  • Siera Blankenship
    Fine Arts (tie) (advisor: Dalel Serda)
  • Natalie Jimenez
    Fine Arts (tie) (advisor: Mark Greenwalt)
  • Andre Rivers
    Social and Behavioral Sciences (advisors: Veronica Sanchez; Bridget Walton)
  • Sara Robertson
    STEM (advisor: Ann Guess, Alvin Community College)
  • Sveta Roady
    Best Scholarly Project overall (advisor: Dalel Serda)

Honorable Mentions

  • Misty Jackson
    Communication and Humanities (advisor: Ann Guess, Alvin Community College)
  • Michelle McManama
    Communication and Humanities (advisor: Dalel Serda)
  • Callie Rankin
    Fine Arts (advisor: Brian Anderson)
  • Rosie Hallaway
    Social and Behavioral Sciences (advisor: Ann Guess, Alvin Community College)
  • Alaina Spiers
    Social and Behavioral Sciences (advisor: Elaine Childs)
  • Lisa Camacho
    STEM (advisor: Ann Guess, Alvin Community College)
  • Theresa Chandler
    STEM (advisors: Serda and Sanchez)

Winners of our 2013 Symposium

Best Oral Presentation

  • Kristin Barnes
    STEM – “Living on Borrowed Land” (advisor: Dr. Veronica Sanchez)
  • Austin Eldridge
    Social and Behavioral Sciences – “Galveston Bay: 1979 to 1981 - Racial Terrorism in a Small Texas Town” (Advisor: Professor John Britt)
  • Matthew Kyle Suggs
    Communication and Humanities – “High School College Credit Opportunities: The Foundation of Post-Secondary Academic Inequality” (Advisor: Professor Dalel Serda)
  • Lizz Dobson
    Fine Arts – “Sustained Through Time” (Professor: Mark Greenwalt)

Best Poster Presentation

  • Trey Gammon, Zach Martin, and Abby Ficklin
    STEM - (Advisor: Professor Jim Dobberstine)

Honorable Mentions

  • Abigail Dickson & Twila Johnson
    STEM – “The Texas City Disaster: The Molecular Level” (Advisor: Dr. Tom Johnson)
  • Andrew T. Carter
    STEM – “A New Direction for the Gulf Coast” (Advisor: Professor Stephen Wethington)
  • Cheryl Lauersdorf
    Social and Behavioral Sciences – “Galveston's Balinese Room Presents Bootleggers, Big Bands, High Rollers, and Headliners” (Advisor: Professor John Britt)
  • Emma Brant and Kelly Jones
    Social and Behavioral Sciences – “Kindergarten Literacy: Pre-School Advantages” (Advisor: Professor Dalel Serda)
  • Lizz Dobson
    Communication and Humanities – “Interaction Increasing Retention: Our Need for a Community-Based Classroom” (Advisor: Professor Dalel Serda)
  • Grace Schwarz
    Communication and Humanities – “Translating Thoughts into Words” by (Advisor: Professor Dalel Serda)
  • Marcus McGowen
    Fine Arts – “From New Orleans to Galveston, How Two Wharf Workers Became Papa Joe & Grandma Gertrude” (Advisor: Professor Dalel Serda)
  • Deanna Gardner
    Fine Arts – “Galveston Through My Eyes” (Advisor: Dr. Ann H. Guess)