The Lone Star College-Tomball Honors College has awarded three students Honors Day Scholarships for their academic achievement during the Spring 2015 semester. Megan Gallego, Rachel Willborg, and Quashawn Sterling will each receive a $500 scholarship to put toward their further academic pursuits.
Members of the Honors College work together with faculty mentors on semester-long research projects of their own devising. The students deliver end-of-year presentations describing and summarizing their research and it was from these presentations that this year’s scholarship winners were chosen by Honors faculty for their high levels of critical thinking and high quality delivery. Some of the scholarship winners from around the System will be invited to present at system-wide and regional conferences in the following semesters.
Megan Gallego’s presentation was titled “Music to the Boss’ Ears.” She studied the physiological impacts of music on the listener, specifically in a work environment. She concluded that the benefits of music may not influence an individual, but an entire workplace. ”Beginning with stimulating the brain then provoking physiological responses, music maintains significant influence over its listeners. Much can be gained from harnessing the changes produced by music, namely increased productivity.” Megan was mentored through her research by Music program director Dr. Lisa Morales who said, “Megan was a wonderful student to work with. She was very interested in exploring the impact of music in the workplace, discovered related research, and through our work together came to meaningful conclusions.”
Dr. Morales also mentored harpist Rachel Willborg whose research titled, “Mind and Body: The Efficacy of Music,” examined the benefits of music to those effected by dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. She wrote, “The efficacy of music, whether listening to or performing songs, lies in the simple melodies and rhythms that can bring relaxation and joy to Alzheimer patients and their families.” She examined the growing role of music in hospitals and rehabilitation centers. “Rachel was extremely thorough in her research and is such a thoughtful student. The Honors College provides an important mechanism for advanced study at LSC-Tomball and it is thrilling to support student scholars in discovery of cutting edge research!” Dr. Morales said.
Quashawn Sterling’s project, ““Zom-Biology: AMC’s Series The Walking Dead,” examined the characteristics of zombies in the television program and linked them to those of actual diseases prevalent in today’s world. “The zombie is commonly accepted as a symbol of societal fears, from our fears of the effects of radiation to new and misunderstood viruses,” Quashawn writes. “As our fears change, the zombie figure changes.” English professor and Honors College Director Ava Veselis served as mentor for this project. “Quashawn actually came up with two brilliant ideas for her Honors project,” Professor Veselis said. “The one she settled on makes it clear to most that she has a very creative mind!”
The Honors College at Lone Star College offers a wide range of opportunities for high-achieving students seeking to graduate with honors distinction as well as for students interested in earning individual honors course credit. Each year, a limited number of incoming freshmen will be admitted to The Honors College at LSC as Honors College
Chancellor’s Fellows. Additionally, this fall, the LSC-Tomball Honors College will begin offering scholarships to non-Honors Fellow students who are enrolled in Honors courses. Visit LoneStar.edu/HonorsCollege to learn more about eligibility criteria and view application materials for the Honors College at LSC.