Student Academic Conference hosts 300 student presenters for its 27th year

Could turkeys take over the city of Moorhead? Who really settled the Great Plains? Are cadavers or models more effective for anatomy instructors? Why do guys cry? These are just a few of the questions students are answering at Minnesota State University Moorhead's Andrew B. Conteh Student Academic Conference (SAC).

This event provides student researchers with an opportunity to present their work to faculty, administration, peers, and the community in a formal academic setting. Below are previews for a few of the unique presentations you can find at the 2025 Student Academic Conference on April 15.

Why do Guys Cry? A Thematic Analysis of the Reddit Forum "Legacies of Men" by Rafael da Silva

Mental health has received an increasing amount of attention in American society as of late, but in the past, it has been considered inappropriate or 'unmanly' for men to express their feelings in this way. Rafael is investigating the causes of Male mental health issues through studying a Reddit forum called Legacies of Men (r/GuyCry), where men engaged in the community express their mental health challenges.

Storytelling and Game Creation for Interactive media by Aidan Kolehmainen and Lauryn Wurscher

Lauryn and Aiden were students of Interactive Media Studio in the fall semester of 2024. Both are presenting their unique video/interactive games they created.

"We are two very passionate Graphic Design students who worked really very hard to create these projects, using existing skills and learning new ones along the way," Lauryn says.

Lauryn created a visual novel inspired by a work she wrote called Strangers and Souls. In her project, users are able to experience the world of the novel and travel with the protagonist of the book to catch ghosts.

Aiden created a platformer game with a character who used stretchy arms to pass obstacles and complete the three levels in the game.

Cultural Exchange Between Norwegian Settlers and Indigenous People During the Homestead Act by Mark Norduane

This project is focused on proving a clearer picture of the lives of both settlers and indigenous tribes around the time of 1862, the time the Homestead Act was passed. Using a broad range of sources, Mark is analyzing who exactly settled in the Great Plains and how they interacted with native populations.

Assessing the Impact of Cadaver vs. Model-Based Learning on Pre-Nursing Students by Melisse Kowalzek

Human anatomy is one of the foundations of pre-medical and nursing programs. MSUM has a cadaver lab that is accessible for students enrolled in the course, but also has anatomy models for students to learn on. This study is about testing the effectiveness of both the models and cadavers on student learning outcomes, ultimately finding out which is better for students to learn with.

The Turkey Takeover: A Mathematical Model of Population Growth by Alyse Bailey, Janae LaFerriere, Donna Thayer, Katelyn Utecht

If the turkey population in the Fargo-Moorhead area went unchecked, would turkeys eventually surpass the human population? This team used mathematical models to predict when the populations would level out, and how long it would take turkey populations to reach certain numbers in Norman, Becker, and Clay counties.

"It's a crazy thing to think about," Alyse says. "Could the turkeys actually take over the Moorhead area?"

Find out by attending this year's Student Academic Conference.