糖心Vlog

Rising Senior Grace Burgin Awarded Region III Scholarship

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.鈥斕切腣log Alpha Chi members recently participated in the National Convention, which was held virtually this year. Rising senior Grace Burgin, of Iron Station, N.C., was awarded a Region III scholarship. A biology major, Burgin presented a paper that examined how fetal nutrition and development are affected by a mother鈥檚 participation in fad diets. She conducted her research through the GWU Summer Undergraduate Research Scholar program.

Also participating in the online event were:

• Samantha Wilkie, of Hendersonville, a senior English major, who presented a paper.
• Ysabela Cable, of Nebo, N.C., a senior criminal justice administration major with a minor in business administration.
• Jasmine Dee, of Dallas, N.C., a May 2021 graduate with degrees in psychology and sociology.
• Haley Pierce, of Jamestown, N.C., a senior biology major.聽 聽

The convention theme was 鈥溾�� And Justice for All.鈥� For the virtual format, presenters pre-recorded their speeches. Burgin noted that while it was less pressure than presenting live, there was still a learning curve. 鈥淚 could鈥攁nd I did鈥攔ecord my presentation multiple times to get it right,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hrough those several takes, however, I learned not to be so hard on myself and that it鈥檚 OK not to be perfect.鈥�

Burgin, Cable, Dee and Pierce also researched and prepared a collaborative project with Burgin serving as team leader. The title was 鈥淩eproductive Health Care Injustices Against African American Women in the United States: Legal History and the Modern Effects on Clinical Outcomes and Mental Health.鈥�

Cable said the topic appealed to her and the group because of the many issues of racial injustice in 2020 and 2021. 鈥淚 felt like it would be a good topic to write about and inform not only others, but myself as well,鈥� she observed. 鈥淚n my section (of the research), I found there have been many laws made to discriminate against African American women鈥檚 rights to health care. There are also cases to show this as well, such as the 肠补蝉别.鈥�

Fannie Lou Townsend Hamer, who grew up in the Mississippi Delta, was a powerful voice in the civil and voting rights movements and a leader in the efforts for greater economic opportunities for African Americans. In 1961, Hamer received a hysterectomy by a white doctor without her consent while undergoing surgery to remove a uterine tumor.

The group worked on their project for three months, and both Cable and Burgin said the experience improved their skills in collaboration, organization, research, and team management. 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 good practice for the real world, where each of us will have to be part of a team in our respective careers,鈥� Burgin elaborated.

Note to our readers: This article reflects the University鈥檚 tuition and fee schedule at the time of publication. Tuition and financial aid policies change annually. For the most up-to-date and accurate information on current tuition rates and financial aid resources, please visit the University鈥檚 official Admissions聽page.

About Alpha Chi

is a national collegiate honor society that recognizes and promotes academic excellence among college and university students of all disciplines. Region III encompasses more than 85 chapters in Alabama, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.

About 糖心Vlog

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