Kyle Wiebers Participated in Buena Vista University's Eleventh Annual Scholars Day

2015 May 22

Buena Vista University's eleventh annual Scholars Day was held Friday, April 24. The event provided students from all disciplines an opportunity to present their best presentations, original research, academic posters, artistic creations and performances to their peers, professors and the public.

This year's Scholars Day event featured 43 presentations from 86 students, exploring topics from art and business to science and history.

Kyle Wiebers, a sophomore psychology and elementary education major from Cedar Falls, was one of the students who participated. Wiebers's presentation was titled Perceptions of Mental and Physical Disabilities, and the project's abstract is as follows:

This study explores the perceptions college students have of physically and mentally disabled individuals by presenting four vignettes to participants, two vignettes that are mentally disabled and two vignettes that are physically disabled. The survey explored perceived characteristics and moods for each of the disabled individuals, while also inquiring if the participant knew someone who is disabled. It was expected that participants who know an individual who was disabled would perceive the disabled individuals to have more positive characteristics than participants who did not know a disabled individual. It was also expected that participants would perceive the physically disabled individuals to have more positive moods than those with mental disabilities. All results and conclusions will be displayed and discussed.

The keynote speaker for the event was Jeff Anderson, Class of 2003, who is the executive director of communications for the Minnesota Vikings. Anderson is entering his thirteenth season with the Vikings and plays a lead role in the organization's external and strategic communications.

"For some Scholars Day is the culmination of their work at BVU, and for others it becomes the springboard that sends them into a field they had not previously anticipated," said Dr. Steven Mills, assistant professor of Spanish and chair of the events committee who organized the event. "Either way, those who participate find in it a valuable growing experience and a strong sense of accomplishment."

Photos from this year's and previous Scholars Day events, along with a video from this year's event, are available online at www.bvu.edu/scholarsday.