RCAC 2025 Posters

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  Mental Health & Nature

  Joseph DeMoura and Rebecca Poole

  How does exposure to nature influence mental health and well-being? These students will distribute a survey designed to measure these concepts to a sample of Merrimack students. They will ask about time spent in nature and questions about well-being

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  Effective Faith-Based Coping Strategies for Anxiety and Depression Recovery in Adolescents and Young Adults: A Systematic Literature Review

  Christy Derolus

  Anxiety and depression are prevalent mental health concerns among adolescents and young adults. Faith-based coping strategies—including prayer, meditation, religious community support, and scripture-based cognitive reframing—have been increasingly recognized as valuable approaches for promoting resilience and mental health well-being. This systematic literature review evaluates recent empirical studies to determine the effectiveness of these strategies in supporting the recovery of adolescents and young adults experiencing anxiety and depression. The findings suggest that symptom reduction is aided by religious community support rooted in faith traditions and intrinsically oriented religious engagement. However, variations in effectiveness are influenced by religious affiliation, individual belief strength, and integration with clinical interventions. This review also highlights gaps in current research, particularly the need for longitudinal studies, culturally inclusive analyses, and larger sample sizes. These insights provide a foundation for mental health practitioners, social workers, religious leaders, and policymakers seeking to integrate faith-based approaches into comprehensive youth mental health care.

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  Child influencers, two words that shouldn’t be together

  Patricia Nicole Diaz Pena

  This project is a small research paper on how child labor has never ended it has just evolutioned into a different style but the children are still being exploited for money.

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  Active Aging: Proposed Solution to Challenges of Elderly Participation in Recreation Programs in Massachusetts and New Hampshire

  Ashley Doyle

  With the elderly populations in Massachusetts (MA) and New Hampshire (NH) continuing to grow, it is important to provide them with age-appropriate physical activity programming.Many health issues and diseases that affect older people are linked to living a sedentary lifestyle and participation in recreation programs can help to combat this. This needs assessment is to examine the challenges of elderly participation in recreation programs in MA and NH and propose potential improvements.

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  Promoting the Benefits and Importance of Utilizing a Medical Organizational Model in Collegiate Athletic Training

  Valerie Eckenroth

  Athletic trainers play a critical role in college athletics, however many athletic trainers at this level face significant work-life conflicts due to long-hours, travel, and coaching demands. Additionally colleges and universities face staffing problems due to high turnover rates and inadequate salary and benefits. Unfortunately these problems affect not only the athletic trainers, but also the quality of care student-athletes receive. Transitioning to a medical organizational model can help to reduce these issues. In the medical model the head athletic trainer would report to a team physician who works under the college or universities health services instead of reporting to the athletics department. The purpose of this project was to review the current literature and provide evidence for the benefits and importance of a collegiate athletics department adopting a medical model for athletic training services. The literature review was conducted utilizing articles found in the online databases of GoogleScholar, SportDiscus, and PubMed. The findings show that major benefits of a medical model are better work-life balance, role congruity, and increased staffing. The increased staffing also correlates with better quality of care for the student-athletes. This project shows that there are multiple benefits to transitioning to a medical model for athletic training services. Athletic trainers should bring this evidence to whomever they report to and advocate for this change, and organizations like the NCAA and NATA should be advocating for this model as well.

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  Community-Based Interventions for Elderly Mental Health: A Systemic Literature Review

  John Elie

  Challenges related to mental health among older adults are a growing concern, particularly in New Hampshire, where the population is projected to surpass that of children in New Hampshire by 2030. This study conducts a systematic review to examine adults aged 60 or older who experience mild or moderate mental health challenges while living independently without any serious clinical inquiries. The project focuses on revisiting and analyzing previous research and data to highlight the importance of elderly mental health interventions. The background section suggests why this topic is so necessary and the reason behind serious attention and action.

  A review of past studies and previous research regarding different studies and practices that support and enhance the older population’s mental health serves as a guide for developing future projects for New Hampshire on a larger scale. These previous practices support mixed-method research approaches where data and explanations were included to incorporate proposal interventions. Examining secondary data helps to identify key risk, and predisposing factors as well as effective intervention strategies to inform a new and effective program for the aging population of New Hampshire.

  This project proposes improving mental health via physical activity, social engagement, and mental health guidance to help improve overall longevity. By integrating previous studies and analyzing existing data, the study ultimately aims to contribute to developing and enhancing the overall mental well-being and quality of life of those 60 and older in New Hampshire communities.

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  Access and Barriers to Mental Health Care in Correctional Facilities

  Katelyn Fisher

  Incarcerated individuals represent one of the most vulnerable populations. People in prison often grapple with mental health issues, social factors, and other challenges. Without proper mental health treatment and resources, incarcerated individuals may struggle throughout their sentence and during their reintegration into society. To support this growing population, prisons must offer mental health services for their residents (Solbakken & R. Wynn, 2023; Cunha et al., 2023). The current systematic literature review analyzed twenty empirical articles to examine the mental health services available within the prison system, as well as the accessibility and barriers encountered. The lack of services is frequently attributed to stigma, staff shortages, and insufficient resources (Cunha et al., 2023; Hoke, 2015). The results provide recommendations on how to improve barriers and access to mental health care for incarcerated individuals.

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  Live For Liv Foundation

  Norah Foley, Stella Benedetto, Elle Carter, Emma Furtado, Brianna Hood, Grace Magazzu, and Mandie Sweeney

  Our project is for our senior capstone class. For this project, we are working with the organization Live For Liv. This organization raises awareness about domestic violence and offers support to survivors. We are working closely with the organization's founder, Jody Marchand, to support her in her efforts to fundraise and spread awareness. For this project, we are working on assisting her in sharing information about the organization and the upcoming fundraising opportunities, signs of domestic violence, personal testimonies, and other important and impactful information. We are doing this via newsletter. Additionally, we are providing support for Jody in her upcoming events. Along with this, we are working with the fitness rec center to bring a fundraising event to Merrimack. We would like to spread awareness to the Merrimack College community about the pertinent information and the services that are available to those experiencing domestic violence. Jody’s mission as a survivor of domestic violence is to share her daughter’s story. Her daughter passed away due to a domestic violence incident and Jody has a passion for preventing this from happening to others and to honor her daughter’s memory. Our group will continue to support Jody’s mission; bringing awareness to the Merrimack campus. In our presentation at RCAC, we will be sharing what we have learned through our work on this project and further spreading awareness about domestic violence and the support available.

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  Cochichewick River Analysis

  Luke Fournier

  This project focuses on the hydrologic and hydraulic modeling of the Cochichewick River using the Storm Water Management Model (SWMM). The objective is to analyze the river’s response to various rainfall events, assess flow patterns, and evaluate potential flood risks. By developing a SWMM model, the study aims to simulate surface runoff, channel flow, and the impact of land use changes on watershed hydrodynamics.

  The model will incorporate key hydrological inputs, including precipitation, infiltration, and surface characteristics, to generate accurate flow predictions. Calibration and validation will be performed using historical flow data to ensure model accuracy. The results will help identify potential areas of concern, such as flooding hotspots or capacity limitations within the watershed.

  The findings from this study can aid in improving stormwater management strategies, supporting local water resource planning, and enhancing resilience against extreme weather events. This research provides a foundation for future studies on river restoration, climate change adaptation, and watershed sustainability.

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  Marketing Strategy: John Chalino, RE/MAX Realty

  Emma Gannon, Alicia Towne, Mia Dondero, and Angelina Minasian

  I worked with a group of 3 other girls to work with a client who needed marketing help. We designed a plan and some mock ups to help him move forward and become more professional.

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  Senior Design Project Vex High Stakes

  Madison Gant, Cade Collins, Jazzy Moreno, Matt Giannasca, and Zak Mahaba

  This senior design project involved the design, construction, and competitive evaluation of VEX robots by mechanical engineering students. Teams applied fundamental engineering principles to systematically plan, analyze, and simulate robot performance prior to fabrication. Utilizing CAD modeling, structural analysis, and iterative prototyping, students optimized robot mechanisms to achieve efficiency and robustness. Completed robots were subsequently tested through direct competition at the university-hosted robotics event in February, demonstrating practical effectiveness, durability, and competitive success. This experiential approach emphasized not only technical proficiency in robotics but also teamwork, strategic problem-solving, and the integration of mechanical design with real-world constraints and requirements.

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  Are Environmental Justice Communities Shifting in Response to Urban Development?

  Melanie Gaudet

  The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has defined dozens of block groups throughout Lawrence, MA as Environmental Justice (EJ) communities based on the population meeting criteria pertaining to income, the proportion of minority groups, and the level of language isolation. Individuals with these characteristics are more exposed to environmental hazards due to systemic injustice and the need to select communities based on affordability. As urban development throughout the city causes increases in property values and the cost of living, do low-income, minority groups become displaced? Will the location of EJ communities shift? I am using data from the American Community Survey and statistical analysis to determine if such displacement is occurring, which will ultimately enable the Massachusetts DEP and any other relevant government actors to track the movement of EJ communities and provide for equitable opportunities.

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  Empowering Children, Strengthening Schools: A Systematic Review of Effective Interventions for Childhood Anxiety

  Sofia Gendreau

  Childhood anxiety is becoming an increasing concern among elementary-age children in school settings. It is significantly impacting their emotional well-being and academic performance. This systematic literature review examines three key school-based interventions in managing childhood anxiety, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), play therapy, and Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) for elementary-aged students (ages 5-11). With childhood anxiety becoming more prevalent, this review explores which interventions are most effective in reducing anxiety symptoms, enhancing coping strategies, and fostering emotional regulation. It also examines how group dynamics, therapeutic rapport, and intervention structure influence student outcomes. By analyzing existing research, this review aims to provide school social workers with evidence-based strategies for addressing anxiety in a diverse student population, taking into account culture, gender, and socioeconomic factors. The findings will help to improve mental health support in schools, ensuring that interventions are both accessible and effective for all students. The review will also explore the role of early intervention, as anxiety during elementary school years can hinder long-term academic and emotional success.

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  The Role of Tumor-Associated Macrophages in the Link Between Endometriosis and Ovarian Cancer: Implications for Early Detection and Treatment

  Madalynn Gilpin

  Endometriosis is a condition in which endometrial-like cells grow outside the uterus, causing lower abdominal and other types of pain from chronic inflammation, infertility, and increased risk of ovarian cancer, a cancer in which most cases are diagnosed at later stages, when the overall 5-year survival rate is only 47%. One possible explanation for this increased risk is that women with endometriosis have immune system abnormalities, including chronic inflammation and immune dysregulation, which impair the body's ability to clear abnormal cells. These immune changes may contribute to disease persistence and an increased risk of ovarian cancer. Increasing evidence suggests that immune cells, including tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) play pivotal roles in the etiology and progression of these conditions. TAMs lie at the interface of the chronic immune suppression, tissue remodeling, and inflammation for both diseases. TAMs help aid in the growth of abnormal endometriotic tissue and immune evasion that could prevent the growth and spread of ovarian cancer. Understanding how TAMs and other immune cells interact in these diseases is key to developing new treatments that can improve the immune environment and benefit patients. This review highlights the potential of TAMs in the involvement in the transition of endometriosis to ovarian cancer and future research will focus on determining the association of endometriosis with TAMs in ovarian tumors.

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  The Role of Mental Health and Lifestyle Factors on Cognitive Function among Older-Adult People with and without HIV

  Skylar Girard

  The of role mental health and lifestyle factors on cognitive function and aging in HIV patients

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  Tasking with a Twist: Turtle Edition

  Berkeley Gore and Holly Angelone

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  C.I.T.E (Campus Integrity Trainings for Everyone) Task Force

  Dolores Goyette

  The C.I.T.E. (Campus Integrity Trainings for Everyone) Task Force will develop academic integrity policies that address the needs of the entire campus community. Ethics accusations can be biased and inequitable, and plagiarism violations are rising at a staggering rate. A recent study at Washington State estimated that between 60–80% of university students have engaged in some form of plagiarism at least once during their time in higher ed. (McIntyre, 2024) As A.I. proliferates and the classroom goes virtual, policies for academic integrity must adapt to include shared responsibility for a culture of accountability.

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  The Climate Gap: How Privilege Shapes Climate Vulnerability in the USA

  Jen Grant

  This systematic literature review investigates the impact of climate change on various communities across the United States of America. To answer this question, a comprehensive literature search was conducted to identify twenty recent empirical research papers. The findings and themes of these papers were then synthesized. Findings indicated that communities that are already experiencing marginalization and oppression will be inequitably impacted by the changing climate due to suffering from increased risks of heat stress and lacking the resources to mitigate the impacts of a warmer climate. From a social justice perspective, this study emphasizes the need for policies to mitigate adverse climate outcomes expected to impact marginalized and oppressed communities.

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  Geotechnical Data Compilation for Site Response in the Central and Eastern United States and Seismic Velocity Model Development for New York City

  Irvin Guzman

  The goal behind this research is to compile and analyze depth-to-bedrock and shear-wave velocity data to better inform models used for quantifying earthquake ground motions and seismic hazards in the Central and Eastern United States (CEUS). By employing the use of multiple databases, existing literature and data from infrastructure projects from throughout the CEUS were found. After compiling data for several cities in the CEUS, this project focused on site characterization in New York City, which is in a region of moderate seismic hazard. In New York City, there exists a recently developed depth-to-bedrock model, but shear-wave velocity had to be compiled in order to finalize the model to be used in site response calculation. Ultimately, the finalized model to be used in site response calculations for New York City most closely resembled and was comprised of three separate models, a New York City (NYC)-specific power law model using measured velocity profiles for depths ranging from 0 to 60 meters, a linear gradient transition between the NYC-specific power law model and the Gann-Phillips et al. (2024) Quaternary Pleistocene (QP) model for depths ranging from 60 to 72 meters, and an appended version of the Gann-Phillips et al. (2024) Quaternary Pleistocene (QP) model for depths ranging from 72 meters to bedrock. This work will help improve our understanding of earthquake ground motions in these cities, working toward improving their resilience to future earthquakes.

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  Protecting the Public from the Release of Hazardous Materials due to Climate Related Disasters in Orange County, Florida

  Julia Hamilton

  Due to its geographic location, Orange County, Florida is vulnerable to a number of climate related disasters. Hurricanes, floods, and wildfires are just some of the extreme weather conditions Florida faces at an increasing rate. According to The United States Climate Vulnerability Index Orange County is at a high vulnerability to hurricanes and property damage from floods and wildfires. Property damage is common when a natural disaster works its way through the state. In Orange County there are a number of risk management plan facilities and national priority list sites, and if these places get destroyed by climate related disasters then they could release harmful substances into the air or water. These substances could put the public’s health at risk. Climate related disasters in Orange County, Florida, could seriously damage risk management plan facilities and national priority list sites, which puts the public at pollution exposure related risks. Damage from climate related disasters in Orange County, Florida, to risk management plan facilities and national priority list sites will increase public exposure to hazardous materials.

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  The Ultimate Soccer Assessment

  Patrick Hanlon

  My project is a series of short assessments that can be done for soccer athletes that will get them in a place to perform their best and continue to stay healthy on and off the pitch

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  One Drop of Blood, Two Drops of Hate: The Science Behind Racism

  Kaéla Harrigan

  This project invesitages how science has been used in service of racism and how racism and scientific inquiry are intertwined, causing how we think of race to be thought of as a biological component of identity instead of a social one.

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  Reimagining Relationships: Expanding Our Community to Combat the Climate Crisis

  Megan Hayes

  I will explore the efforts of indigenous teaching methods in environmentalism that could provide structural solutions and the importance of understanding historical precedent that has brought about the anthropogenic climate crisis. The goal of this project is to explain how we got to this point, what needs to be done to limit the severity of the devastation, and to show how indigenous ecological knowledge can combat the climate crisis.

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  Senior Design Vex High Stakes

  Matthew Hendriks, Zachary Hubbard, Aidan Dorgan, Ethan Grella, Jacob Vergow, and John Ryan

  This senior design project involved the design, construction, and competitive evaluation of VEX robots by mechanical engineering students. Teams applied fundamental engineering principles to systematically plan, analyze, and simulate robot performance prior to fabrication. Utilizing CAD modeling, structural analysis, and iterative prototyping, students optimized robot mechanisms to achieve efficiency and robustness. Completed robots were subsequently tested through direct competition at the university-hosted robotics event in February, demonstrating practical effectiveness, durability, and competitive success. This experiential approach emphasized not only technical proficiency in robotics but also teamwork, strategic problem-solving, and the integration of mechanical design with real-world constraints and requirements.

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  How to Physically Train to be a Member of a Law Enforcement Agency/Department

  Ethan Herman

  Investigative report on how best to physically train to be a law enforcement member. What could be down differently to train, how to train, and what you are training to be ready for.