Miranda Wallace Participates in Buena Vista University's Twelfth Annual Scholars Day

2016 May 6

Buena Vista University's (BVU) twelfth annual Scholars Day was held Friday, April 22. 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 38 presentations from 66 students, exploring topics from literature and business to science and history.

Miranda Wallace , a senior biology major from Carman, Ill., was one of the students who participated. Wallace 's presentation was titled Prevalence of Toxoplasma in Indoor and Outdoor Domestic Cats, and the project's abstract is as follows:

Toxoplasma gondii is a parasite that can cause brain damage among other issues in human fetuses and immunocompromised adults. Although it is currently believed to cause no issues for healthy adults, new research indicates links to altered cognition and mental illness due to infection with Toxoplasma. This parasite has a complex life cycle that involve cats, which in turn can transmit the disease to humans. This research reports the prevalence of Toxoplasma in blood samples from 50 cats, using PCR technology, to determine whether those with more exposure to the outdoors are more prone carrying the parasite.

The keynote speaker for the event was Grant Gerlock, BVU Class of 2004, who is a Harvest Public Media reporter at NET News. Gerlock is recognized as a great storyteller and has visited coal plants, dairy farms, horse tracks and hospitals to cover a variety of stories.

"The students put so much into their research-time, effort, resources-that it becomes a part of them," said Dr. Steven Mills, assistant professor of Spanish and chair of the events committee who organized the event. "As they give their presentations and share their knowledge with the audience, their countenance brightens, their confidence rises and their eyes light up. What has become a part of their identity flows out with energy and enthusiasm; they feel like they have truly succeeded, and this success can be valuable to others, as well. I have seen every student walk away with a firmer step and a deeper desire to turn his or her academic work into something more."

A photo gallery from the Scholars Day event is available at www.bvu.edu/scholarsday.