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Roach Honors Seniors Showcase Research

2026 Boller Competition

By Texas Christian University

April 29^th, 2026

This spring, seniors in the John V. Roach Honors College presented their Departmental Honors theses at their college- and school-level research and creative project symposiums.

The 12 finalists from each college/school advanced to the final round of the college’s annual Boller Competition, which was established in 1982 by Paul Boller, Ph.D., professor of history at TCU in memory of Rev. and Mrs. Paul F. Boller .

Faculty judges from each college selected the best senior Roach Honors project presentation and presented the Boller Award to the winner at the annual Honors banquet.

SABA ANJUM, BIOCHEMISTRY, BOLLER AWARD WINNER

“Developing Metal-Based Antioxidants to Target Oxidative Stress in Aging”

Departmental Honors in Chemistry | Faculty Mentor: Kayla Green, assistant dean of undergraduate affairs, professor

As people age, harmful molecules known as free radicals can accumulate and damage cells, contributing to visible aging and diseases such as Alzheimer’s. While the body naturally produces enzymes to combat this damage, their effectiveness declines over time. Anjum’s research explored how synthetic compounds can replicate these natural defenses and help neutralize harmful radicals.

Focusing on metal-based compounds, her research evaluated their antioxidant activity through chemical assays to identify candidates with strong therapeutic potential. Her findings pointed toward promising strategies for developing treatments that could slow or prevent damage caused by oxidative stress.

With a growing aging population, the need to better understand and address age-related diseases is increasingly urgent. Her research contributed to that effort by advancing potential therapies aimed at improving long-term health and quality of life.

She credits the John V. Roach Honors College for shaping her growth as a researcher. Funding from the Honors Undergraduate Research Grant (HURG) allowed Anjum to present her work at the American Chemical Society’s national meeting, furthering her engagement within the scientific community.

“I believe scientific research reaches its fullest potential when it extends beyond the lab and is shared through accessible and meaningful narratives,” she said. “Receiving the Boller Award affirmed this conviction and strengthened my commitment to communicating science in ways that resonate beyond the scientific community.”

Saba Anjum presenting at the Boller Competition.

Saba Anjum, biochemistry major, works in a lab, wearing safety glasses and black gloves, using a pipette to handle a purple liquid in a test tube. — Saba Anjum in a lab. Photo by Rodger Mallison.

JALYN GRYSKIEWICZ, EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

“Supporting Students’ Ability to Understand and Label Emotions: A Case for Social-Emotional Learning in the Classroom”

Departmental Honors in Education | Faculty Mentor: Robin Griffith, professor and chair of the Department of Teaching and Learning Sciences

Elementary students are still developing the skills needed to express their emotions as an essential part of academic and personal growth. Gryskiewicz’s research examined how structured social-emotional learning lessons can strengthen students’ emotional vocabulary and understanding.

Through an eight-week intervention with third- and fourth-grade students, Gryskiewicz's project used pre- and post-assessments, along with weekly application checks, to measure growth. Her findings showed a clear improvement in students’ ability to identify and express emotional vocabulary, as well as use that vocabulary in literary contexts. Her findings showed how targeted instruction in emotional vocabulary can be meaningful in supporting students’ social and emotional development.

Jalyn Gryskiewicz presenting at the Boller Competition.

GRANT MASTIN, FINANCE AND POLITICAL SCIENCE

“The Renewable Fuel Standard’s Impact on the Agriculture Industry in the Central United States”

Departmental Honors in Finance | Faculty Mentor: Ashley Titus, associate director, Ralph Lowe Energy Institute

Federal energy policy can have far-reaching effects on agricultural markets, particularly in regions where crop and livestock production work together closely. Mastin’s research examined how the Renewable Fuel Standard, which requires ethanol to be blended into the U.S. fuel supply, has shaped key aspects of the agricultural industry.

Mastin’s research analyzed the relationships between ethanol pricing, corn demand and feed costs, as well as the downstream effects on cattle herd dynamics. Interviews with cattle and grain producers across multiple states provided even more context into how these policy changes are experienced at the industry level.

Mastin’s research showed how federal decisions affect producers and help inform future policy for agriculture and energy.

Grant Mastin presenting at the Boller Competition.

MICHAEL WRUCKE, PSYCHOLOGY AND KINESIOLOGY

“The Anxiety Acceptance Paradox: Can a State of Surrender Protect Against Panic Symptoms?”

Departmental Honors in Psychology | Faculty Mentor: Cathy R. Cox, professor, Louise Dilworth Davis College of Science & Engineering

Anxiety is often managed by trying to control or suppress distressing thoughts and feelings, but this approach may unintentionally intensify them. Wrucke’s research explored the alternative of embracing a “state of surrender,” defined as accepting experiences without resistance, which may help reduce vulnerability to panic symptoms.

Using an online experiment, his project tested the effects of a guided surrender meditation on factors linked to panic disorder. Participants who were induced into a state of surrender reported higher levels of distress tolerance compared to those in a control group, particularly among individuals meeting criteria for panic disorder.

The findings also suggest that individuals who naturally adopt this mindset may be less affected by underlying risk factors for panic. His research ultimately pointed to the potential value of acceptance-based approaches in strengthening emotional resilience and reducing the impact of anxiety-related conditions.

Michael Wrucke presenting at the Boller Competition.

Michael Wrucke presenting his research for Psi Chi.

GENE HERRMANN, ECONOMICS AND POLITICAL SCIENCE

“The Loneliness Epidemic: An Economic Perspective”

Departmental Honors in Economics | Faculty Mentor: Robert Garnett, professor, AddRan College of Liberal Arts

Herrmann’s research approaches loneliness through an economic point of view, focusing on how relationships contribute to overall well-being. Drawing on relational models in economics, the project explored how social interactions can be understood as productive processes that generate “relational goods,” such as connection and empathy.

The models also introduce the concept of social fitness, which plays a key role in sustaining relationships over time. His research revealed how declines in social fitness can create a self-reinforcing cycle, making it increasingly difficult for individuals to connect with others.

Herrmann’s findings highlight the importance of maintaining social capacities as an essential component of well-being, offering a new perspective on how individuals and communities can address the growing loneliness epidemic.

Man in a suit stands at a podium, holding a phone. He faces left in a room with rows of empty seats. He wears a red and white striped tie.

MATTHEW LORITZ, DIETETICS

“Effect of Prebiotic Sodas Versus Conventional Sodas on Satiety, Glucose, Insulin and GLP-1 Response”
Departmental Honors in Nutritional Sciences | Faculty Mentor: Elisa Marroquín, assistant professor and director of clinical and biochemical nutrition laboratories

Alternative beverages are a booming industry and questions still remain about how different types of sodas affect the body. Loritz’s research compared prebiotic sodas and conventional sodas to better understand their impact on satiety, glucose levels and metabolic responses.

The study found significant variability in how individuals respond to glucose, highlighting the importance of personalized nutrition rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. Loritz found no insulin response was observed following Diet Coke consumption, which challenges common assumptions about its relation to insulin resistance.

His findings suggest that prebiotic sodas like Olipop and Poppi, along with diet soda alternatives like Diet Coke, may serve as viable options in place of traditional sugary beverages, while reinforcing the need to consider individual differences in dietary responses.

WILL CUNNINGHAM, MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

“Structural Acoustic Characterization of a Tenor Trombone”
Departmental Honors in Engineering | Faculty Mentor: Hubert (Seth) Hall, associate professor of professional practice, Louise Dilworth Davis College of Science & Engineering

The sound of a musical instrument is shaped not only by how it is played, but by how it vibrates. Cunningham’s research explores this relationship through the structural acoustics of a tenor trombone, blending principles of engineering and music.

His project simulated the instrument's natural vibration patterns with a detailed computer model and compared them with real-world measurements collected using lasers and sensors. The results showed strong agreement between the model and physical testing, successfully identifying the key ways the trombone vibrates to produce sound.

Any small differences were attributed to the instrument’s handcrafted nature, including years of wear and subtle variations in construction that are difficult to replicate digitally. Cunningham’s research establishes a computational framework that can be refined further, offering new possibilities for understanding and designing musical instruments in the future.

KATIE LILLEY, GRAPHIC DESIGN

“Building a Fantasy Publishing Press”

Departmental Honors in Graphic Design | Faculty Mentor: Dusty Crocker, professor of professional practice

A key part of creating a book is being in control of how the story is presented and experienced. Lilley’s project explores the development of an artisan fantasy publishing press focused on producing high-quality books that emphasize detailed artwork and intentional craftsmanship.

In her project, she explores the marketing and branding of an artisan fantasy publisher, producing high-quality books with detailed artwork and intentional craftsmanship. The project also includes a campaign for a book series she has been developing for the past eight years.

AFRIN SHEKH, BUSINESS INFORMATION SYSTEMS

“The Impact of Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) on Consumer Spending and Debt Accumulation”

Departmental Honors in Business Information Systems | Faculty Mentor: Kelly Slaughter, professor of professional practice, Information Systems and Supply Chain Management Department

As Buy Now, Pay Later services become more common, Shekh’s research looks at who is most likely to struggle with repayment and why. Her research examines repayment difficulty using data from the Federal Reserve’s 2024 Survey of Household Economics and Decisionmaking.

She analyzed more than 1,600 BNPL users and found that Gen Z consumers, women and lower-income households face higher odds of falling behind on payments. The results are not simply due to spending habits, but because they are more likely to rely on BNPL out of financial necessity. Her findings highlight how the rapid growth of BNPL may disproportionately impact those least equipped to absorb financial shocks, offering an important insight into the relationship between financial access, risk and consumer behavior.

KATE SCHEIN, FILM, TV AND DIGITAL MEDIA

“Oklahoma Breakdown”

Departmental Honors in Film, TV and Digital Media | Faculty Mentor: Charity Robinson, instructor II, Film, Television and Digital Media

Schein’s project, “Oklahoma Breakdown,” is shaped by her own experiences in Oklahoma City public schools. The film follows education advocate Erika Wright as she responds to the growing influence of religious policies in the state’s public education system.

Through a personal and on-the-ground lens, the project uses storytelling to explore how policy changes are affecting schools, students and communities.

SARA SCOTT, NURSING

“Barriers and Facilitators to Health Literacy Champions in Pediatric Healthcare”

Departmental Honors in Nursing | Faculty Mentor: Carol Howe, director of nursing research and scholarship and Paula R. and Ronald C. Parker Endowed Professor

Scott’s findings show that health literacy champions play an important role in improving patient communication and overall care quality. Their success depends on strong organizational support and access to resources.

Her research also identifies common barriers, including time constraints, competing priorities and limited resources, which can make implementation more challenging. But over time, health literacy practices can become part of routine clinical care.

Her findings suggest that giving these champions more support can improve patient understanding and overall outcomes.

ISABELLA KERSHAW, SOCIAL WORK

“Hesitant Medicine in Reproductive Healthcare"

Departmental Honors in Social Work | Faculty Mentor: Katie Lauve-Moon, associate professor; affiliate faculty, Women & Gender Studies

Access to reproductive healthcare is shaped by availability and the way care is delivered. Kershaw’s project looks at “hesitant medicine,” focusing on whether patients notice changes in their care after the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

Kershaw used open-ended conversations to research how to better understand patient experiences and help providers, and social workers post-Dobbs.

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