Oshkosh-UW Oshkosh students Jayden Flowers and Lydia Medina were recognized for their research and ideas at their campus WiSys Quick Pitch competition, which was held on Wednesday, April 24.
Jayden Flowers, a senior, won first place and the people’s choice award for her project, titled “A Look Back to Look Forward: The Musical Genius of Black Composers.” During their pitch, Flowers, a saxophonist, discussed how important music is to the African American community and how it has led her to study Black composers who have impacted the music we hear today. She focused on a few Black composers and shared what she had learned about their impact on music during her pitch, and also performed an excerpt from a musical piece by John Rosamond.
Dr. Alphonso Simpson, Associate Professor and Director of African American Studies, is Flowers’ faculty advisor. Flowers will have the opportunity to give her pitch again at the WiSys Quick Pitch State Final, which will take place during the WiSys SPARK Symposium this July.
Senior Lydia Medina earned second place for her pitch, titled “Interventions for Multiple Adverse Childhood Experiences.” In her pitch, Medina cited a study done on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and expands on the original 10 ACEs to include additional traumas not included in the original study. Medina discussed the negative effect that trauma can have on an individual’s mental and physical health, as well as an increased likelihood of participating in risky behaviors. Medina’s goal was to learn the most appropriate interventions for people with multiple ACEs to result in positive life outcomes. Paul Perales, MSW Field Coordinator, is Medina’s faculty advisor.
Judges for the event included:
- Andrew Leavitt, Chancellor, UW Oshkosh
- Edwin Martini, Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, UW Oshkosh
- Kathryn Zuckweiler, Associate Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation and Dean of Graduate Studies, UW Oshkosh
To view photos from the event, click here. To learn more about WiSys Quick Pitch, click here. For questions about Quick Pitch, please contact Margot DeBaker, Regional Intellectual Property and Licensing Associate, at [email protected].