Category: Stories In Focus

While it may appear to many undergraduate students that research conferences are reserved for professors and graduate students only, one benefit of a Houghton College education is participating in these conferences as an undergraduate. On April 2, 2016, five Houghton physics majors presented their research at the Rochester Symposium for Physics Students (RSPS). The annual symposium, which took place at the University of Rochester this year, is specifically designed so that undergraduate physics students can present their research orally. Students from all over New York state attend and participate in the type of conference setting that they might not otherwise encounter until graduate school.

Research is a key element of Houghton’s physics program. Every student majoring in physics or applied physics takes on a research project, often starting the work in the second semester of their sophomore year and continuing until graduation. This research is typically done in tandem with physics professors and takes up approximately forty-five hours every semester, which is essentially the equivalent of a one-credit class. The end result of their work is a thesis between forty and sixty pages, as well as presenting orally at RSPS.

For the past sixteen years, Houghton students have given twelve to fifteen-minute talks on their project lab research at RSPS as a graduation requirement. According to Mark Yuly, professor of physics and associate dean for natural sciences and mathematics, the experience is one that will prove invaluable for these students as they prepare for their careers.

“It gives the students a real-world experience doing something they will be doing all the time as professional physicists or engineers – speaking in public,” he said. “They get lots of practice presenting their work here on campus in their classes, but this is a chance to present for the outside world.”

Kurt Aikens, assistant professor of physics, added that the benefits of this program are self-evident. “It provides them with the opportunity to deliver a quality talk on their individual research project,” he said. “We help them to do the research, prepare their talks, we give them feedback, and generally ensure that they are prepared to do well. All of this is important because the ability to communicate one’s work is essential—you can be the best scientist in the world but no one will understand your results or how you obtained them if you cannot speak and write.

This year, five graduating physics majors including Kyle Craft, Thomas Eckert, August Gula, Margaret Kirkland and Jonathon Yuly presented their research orally. Craft, along with Andrew Redman ‘17, also presented a poster.

Eckert, who will begin a Ph.D. program in nuclear physics at the University of Rochester this fall, agrees that conferences like RSPS are a unique opportunity for Houghton students to gain experience. In addition to RSPS, Eckert has attended two international conferences as an undergraduate hosted by the American Physical Society (APS) Division of Plasma Physics.

“By going to conferences, you see first hand how important it is to talk about your work in an effective manner,” said Eckert. “If you can’t explain it simply enough for those outside of our field to understand it, you don’t really understand your work. And if you can’t do that, funding is harder to come by since the people you interact with most likely won’t have physics degrees.”

In a job market that places an emphasis on practical experience, symposiums and conferences like RSPS are more and more attractive on a resume. Participating in these events as undergraduates allows students not only to represent Houghton and to add to their personal resumes, but to begin building skills that will prove useful in the years to come.

Being a student athlete comes with many challenges, but four Houghton athletes in particular have managed to excel in the classroom and on the court or field. Basketball players Maisie Pipher ‘16 and Tyler McQuaid ‘15 have each reached a significant milestone, scoring 1,000 points in their athletic career. Volleyball player Hattie Burgher ‘16 has also reached the milestone of 1,000 kills and women’s lacrosse player Jennifer Zacchigna ‘17 has scored 100 goals and counting. This means that every season these athletes have stayed consistent at a high competitive level, while also improving at the same time. It should come as no surprise that all of these athletes are just as  successful in the classroom as they are in their sports, each student holding an exceptional GPA.

Pipher ended her season with 1,068 career points and was recognized as an honorable mention selection to the Empire 8 Women’s Basketball All-Conference team. Additionally, she finished second in the Empire 8 conference in rebounding and blocked shots, and was named the Empire 8 Player of the Week earlier in the season. In Highlander history, she is third all-time rebounder and second all-time in blocked shots. She is also a biology major and has served as a team captain for two years. “Maisie has been such a pivotal player in our program the last four years and has found success on the court individually, and has always kept a clear mindset on what’s most important,” said Alicia Mucher, Head Women’s Basketball Coach. “She has served as a great encourager on our team and always made notable efforts in lifting up her teammates.”

McQuaid finished his career with 1,013 points, which he achieved in his final game.

With strong performances at the end of his season, he was named the Empire 8 Men’s Basketball Player of the Week. His key role in the Highlanders’ recent wins largely influenced this honor, as did the Highlanders winning the majority of their games over the past twenty seasons and achieving the most Empire 8 wins since Houghton joined the conference four years ago. McQuaid also places an emphasis on his education. Majoring in education, he wants to teach adolescent education. “Tyler was the consummate teammate and player who would do everything and anything to help ensure the success of the team,” said former head men’s basketball coach, Andrew Hannan. “He served his teammates more the older he became; sometimes it was as an academic advisor, other times it was as a spiritual mentor, and often it was just simply as a friend.”

Anyone who came to the volleyball games this year heard the yelling from the stands “boom” whenever Burgher hit the ball. Cheering then ensued for the kill. In her last season, Burgher finished with 1,320 kills and 1,621 digs along with National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) First-Team All-Midwest Regions honors. She was a four-year starter and two-year captain who earned All-Empire 8 honors all four seasons. In addition, she ranked eighteenth in the NCCAA in kills per set, along with fourth in kills, and fifth in hitting percentage in the Empire 8 conference. Burgher, an art and English major, wants to be a journalist. “Hattie has a tremendous work ethic and a great athlete who cares a lot about her teammates and wanted her team to reach its full potential,” said Nancy Cole, head women’s volleyball coach. “As a coach it is very rewarding to see a player with that athletic ability strive to reach their full potential.”

As a junior, Zacchigna has achieved the milestone of 100 goals and is still increasing her total number of goals every game. She is recognized as a threat, not only in lacrosse games, but in soccer games as well. Last fall, she was a member of the women’s soccer team, who were the first women’s team at Houghton to win a national championship. Additionally, Zacchigna, an art and communication major, is a captain of the women’s lacrosse team. “The best thing about being a student-athlete is having a team around you facing the same challenges and supporting you both on and off the field,” said Zacchigna. “I really enjoy being a part of athletics at Houghton because of the passion for Christ that each team shares.”

Pipher, McQuaid, Burgher and Zacchigna are each humble and distinguished leaders on campus. They serve as mentors to their peers and teammates by exhibiting a strong work ethic and embodying what the Houghton sports programs stand for: excellence for the glory of God.

While a bachelor’s degree has become the standard for entry-level positions, more and more undergraduates are extending their education further by entering Masters and Ph.D. programs. Students who choose this route do not find relief from senioritis, nor are they freed from growing student loan debt. Yet for such students the payoff is worth it; namely, specializing in fields they love (and probably a higher salary, too).

Soon to be Houghton graduate Thomas Eckert, a physics major, will enter a Ph.D. program in nuclear physics at the University of Rochester. He will be doing his work at the Laboratory of Laser Energetics. His research at the lab will begin one week after graduation. “I plan on going into experimental nuclear physics, as opposed to a theoretical branch of physics. I went into college planning on getting a degree in industrial design – which is the design of products like iPhones.” According to Eckert, it was his studies in the science honors program that showed him his love of nuclear physics. “Something in my head clicks with nuclear physics. [It] is elegant, there’s an element of unpredictability.”

Benjamin Yuly, a computer science and music composition major, plans to attend the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. to earn his Masters of Music in composition. When asked why he decided to forego a gap year, Yuly smiled and said, “I’m not done learning.” On his computer science degree, Yuly said, “Everyone knows it’s hard to make a living as a musician, and I’ve always been pretty good with computers. I thought ‘might as well’. The broad liberal arts education I’ve gotten here has prepared me for graduate school. It sets me apart from other graduate students.”

The breadth of a liberal arts education offered at Houghton has also served senior Hattie Burgher well. An English and art major, Burgher has been accepted into the New York University Master of Journalism program. Like Yuly, Burgher “wasn’t ready to stop learning.” She noted that her range of involvement at Houghton, especially her role as a reporter and features editor for The Houghton STAR, was well received by NYU. “I have so many different interests, and I hope grad school will help me hone in on what I’m really meant to do” said Burgher. She continued, “I enjoy writing features, and I’m also interested in writing investigative pieces [for a newspaper]. If I were working for a magazine, I’d love to be a photo editor. I don’t really know where I fit best yet, but I’m looking forward to mentors and professors guiding me.”   

By contrast, philosophy and theology major Holly Chaisson is at this point fairly solidified in her future plans: “I will be entering Yale’s MAR (Master of Arts in Religion) program this fall and plan to concentrate in systematic theology.” Speaking to her decision to pursue graduate work Chaisson said, “I am an academic at heart. The study of theology has become part of who I am.” Chaisson added that she was interested in a professorial career, as well as one in academic administration. Yet, in the interest of avoiding “sitting in a library all day,” she said she may also create a career in writing or do nonprofit work.

A pressing question for the evangelical students who largely comprise Houghton college is, “How in the world will I afford another degree?” While not a faith question, the financial issue is pertinent to those who have already shelled out plenty to attend Christian colleges. Biology major Erin Salati, who plans to attend SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, NY, has pondered this extensively. She admits that while earning her Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT)  will be “super expensive,” especially in light of the loans she has accumulated to finance her undergraduate degree, she feels called by God to pursue her passion for physical therapy. As the DPT degree is the physical therapy field’s professional standard, Salati feels that completing the degree and following her calling are worth the expense and extra schooling. “I’m hopeful that once I have a job as a physical therapist I’ll be able to pay off my loans quickly.” said Salati. “I am trusting in the Lord when it comes to finances though, because I can’t do this on my own!”