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 The convention gave students and faculty members opportunities to
share current research and discuss scientific topics. There are 30
colleges and universities from Illinois and Wisconsin in the
district and six schools had student presenters at the convention,
including eight biology majors from Millikin.
Millikin students swept the oral presentation awards as Kelsey
Going, a senior from Butler, Ill., received 1st Place,
Morgan Kincheloe, a senior from Lincoln,
earned 2nd Place and Mackenzie Peck, a junior from
Livermore, Calif., received 3rd Place. Nicole Koch, a junior from
Morton, Ill., received Honorable Mention.
Kelsey Going’s presentation examined the costs associated with cold
temperatures in two frog species, while
Morgan Kincheloe’s project examined the admission and
post-rehabilitation physiology of raptors at the Illinois Raptor
Center. Mackenzie Peck presented her work on the effects
of water acidification and disease on frog immune defenses, and
Nicole Koch presented her work on the effects of injuries during
development on frog performance as adults.
 “A primary component of the mission of Beta Beta Beta is to promote
scholarship and research in biology for undergraduate students,”
said Dr. Travis Wilcoxen, Millikin associate professor of biology.
“The success of our students at this conference is strong evidence
that we are a leader in this field and that our students not only
take the opportunity to complete research projects, but that they
also embrace Performance Learning.”
Millikin also received two poster awards as Jessica Brinegar, a
senior from Decatur, Ill., earned 2nd Place and T.J. Holmes, a
senior from Decatur, received 3rd Place. Brinegar’s work examined
the early life stress and parasites in birds of prey. Holmes
presented his work on foraging behavior in spiders.
“Presenting at the Tri-Beta Convention was an amazing experience for
me. I have never participated in anything similar to it before, so
it was new to me,” said Kelsey Going. “It gave me the confidence to
present in front of a crowd of individuals, and it will help with
further research I complete in graduate school.”
Two other Millikin students also presented their work. Shelby Chesko,
a junior from Wilmington, Ill., presented a poster on her study of
lead poisoning in birds of prey. Emily Vana, a senior from Elmhurst,
Ill., presented her poster on examining antibodies to disease in
birds that use feeders.
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“As a junior, this was a great opportunity to be able to present my research for
the first time in front of an audience,” said Nicole Koch. “I received good
feedback, and I now know what to expect for the next convention. Performing and
presenting my own research will also help me become a unique standout when
applying for physical therapy school.”
In addition to individual accomplishments, Millikin’s Tri-Beta Chapter, Iota
Epsilon, won three awards including Most Delegates, Spirit Award and the Best
Chapter Award. Millikin’s Tri-Beta Chapter was established in 2011.
“It was very helpful to receive constructive feedback from the judges so that I
would have a better idea of how to improve in the future,” said Mackenzie Peck.
“I plan to attend graduate school after Millikin in the hopes of earning a Ph.D.
and eventually pursuing a research career in marine biology, so I will likely be
presenting research at conferences for a good part of my life. After attending
this conference, it is clear to me that Millikin does a great job of preparing
students for future schooling and careers.”
Dr. Wilcoxen noted, “In these settings, when faced with the challenges of public
speaking and sharing their work with their peers and faculty from other
institutions, our students demonstrate great command of biological knowledge.”
Tri-Beta is a society for students, particularly undergraduates, dedicated to
improving the understanding and appreciation of biological study and extending
boundaries of human knowledge through scientific research. Since its founding in
1922, more than 200,000 persons have been accepted into lifetime membership, and
more than 670 chapters have been established throughout the United States and
Puerto Rico. For more information on Tri-Beta, visit tri-beta.org.
[Millikin University Media Relations]
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