Since 2011, the University Honors Program at Olivet Nazarene University has graduated 183 students, all of whom completed a capstone research project and thesis supervised by a faculty mentor in their respective disciplines. These significant undergraduate research experiences open the door for leadership opportunities in academia and industry.
Each cohort of around 30 academically gifted students kicks off the college experience at Olivet with a unique freshman Honors Program welcome weekend and then caps coursework with a cultural excursion to Chicago during the sophomore year. Students in the program participate in a sequence of team-taught, discussion-based classes during their freshman and sophomore years that satisfy four of Olivet’s core general education curriculum requirements. These courses explore what it means to be human and expose students to the Christian liberal arts tradition.
During their junior and senior years, students who continue in the program engage in a faculty-mentored capstone research project. The following capstone projects of the eight members of the 2026 graduating cohort represent a range of academic disciplines as well as potential practical applications of their work.
ShayLynn Baniszewski | International Business
Negative Externalities and Their Relation to Regenerative Farming in the US
“My project examines the need for climate-friendly farming methods in commercial-level farms, using an economic lens to assess potential problems and solutions to these problems. Using the Coasé Theorem to understand the effect of policy intervention versus free-market shifts, my project looks for the best possible solutions going forward as we begin to integrate more regenerative farming methods. After graduating, I hope to pursue further education in economics abroad.”
Sadie Blaszcyk | Biology
Optimization and Validation of a LAMP Assay for Cost-Sustainable Detection of High-Risk HPV in Papua New Guinea
“Under the mentorship of Dr. Nicole Vander Schaaf, my project involves the development and validation of a low-cost cervical cancer screening test for high-risk human papilloma virus. Our aim is the ability to detect the two most cancer-causing strains of HPV in Papua New Guinea. This is a promising method to serve God’s people through diagnostics in low-resource settings globally. I feel very blessed to have sought the Lord in this work and called to continue cancer research in my career. I plan to attend graduate school for a Ph.D. in molecular and cellular biology after graduation.”
Jessica Gill | Electrical Engineering
Examining Sense of Belonging for Students of Color in STEM
“My honors project explores the sense of belonging among students of color in STEM by combining survey and interview data. Through this research, I aim to understand what factors help students feel connected and how a more inclusive environment in STEM fields can be fostered. After graduation, I plan to spend a few years gaining experience in electrical engineering before pursuing an MBA to prepare for leadership roles that bridge technology and business.”
Ava Gorman | Mechanical Engineering
Mechanically Designing a Lower-Limb Robotic Exoskeleton With Bionic Applications Intended To Aid Those With Paraplegia To Control Their Lower-Limb Movement
“I have been digitally creating the mechanical design for an exoskeleton with the hope that it could help those with paraplegia to not only walk again but also regain other movements such as criss-cross-applesauce. I plan to be a design engineer and work in a design engineering firm to design solutions for other companies.”
Jamie Graves | Early Childhood Education
Paving the Way to Walkability: A Meta-Analysis of Urban Planning Practices To Promote Active Transport and Practical Recommendations for Bourbonnais, Illinois
“I am identifying common themes among studies that evaluate urban planning practices related to increased walking and biking. I will then apply those themes to a real-world context by providing Bourbonnais with recommendations for urban planning practices that can be implemented to encourage walking and biking and discourage car usage. After graduation, I want to teach English abroad, preferably in an early childhood setting in Germany, and am considering a master’s in linguistics.”
Tyler Hall | Mechanical Engineering
Design of a Continuous Noninvasive Blood Glucometer Using Existing Technology
“Working with Dr. Jonathan Weber, we were able to take a large step forward in diabetes technology by prototyping a continuous, noninvasive blood sugar monitor for an affordable cost. We designed and tested a method for measuring and tracking glucose levels by using near-infrared light and properties of glucose in the interstitial fluid. We look forward to see where God will continue the research path. After graduation, I will work in project engineering with Milwaukee Tool.”
Amy Johnson | Environmental Science
Organic Constituents of Bourbonnais Creek Watershed
“My project involved taking water samples from Bourbonnais Creek over an eight-month span and analyzing them for organic compounds. My data shows how humans have introduced various contaminants, such as plasticizers, into surface waters, with seasonal trends of pesticides also observed. I plan to pursue a job after graduation based on the opportunities that God provides. I am keeping an open mind and growing in trust in the Lord, as He has always continued to provide.”
Megan Mussard | Criminal Justice
Factors Influencing Police Officers’ Access to Mental Health Resources and Willingness To Seek Departmental Support
“Police officers are trained to intervene during times of crisis and emergency. Heightened awareness, high stress levels and poor coping mechanisms pave the way for negative outcomes when on duty. Shifting towards prevention and support allows officers to maintain [their] mental health while supporting our community’s safety and cohesion. This project aims to make a public call for action — which legislators and policymakers cannot ignore — a demand for preventative departmental mental health care for police officers.”
To be eligible for application to the Honors Program, students must meet at least one of the following qualifications: have an ACT score of 28 or an equivalent SAT score; graduate in the top 10 percent of their graduating class; or have an unweighted GPA of at least 3.75 on a 4.0 scale.
From Olivet The Magazine, Abundant Life – Spring 2026. Read the full issue here.
