OC’s College of Humanities and Bible presented impressive scholarship at the Celebration of Excellence April 4
Numerous students and faculty presented several sessions.
The Celebration of Excellence is an annual event at Oklahoma Christian University, which seeks to highlight impressive scholarship by students and faculty alike. OC describes it as a day devoted to intellectual discovery, academic research, innovative creativity, complex dialogue, extraordinary callings and ambitious progress.
The full-day event allows students, professors and alumni to learn from each other through various workshops and presentations, showcasing accomplishments from every corner of campus. This year, the College of Humanities and Bible had numerous students participate.
Starting in the morning, a panel from the Division of Language and Literature presented in Adam’s Recital Hall. Ann Magner, Kaleb Nadig and Emily Venkatesan discussed "Canon Trouble: Subversion in Literary Classics." This panel emphasized the efforts of upper-level English Majors. The papers and presenters names include "Feminine Lament in Agamemnon and Richard III: Unraveled Dichotomies in Gendered Discord," written by Magner; "Knightly Frailty: A Maturation of Christian Faith in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight", written by Nadig; and "A Substitute Subaltern: George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion and Women as a Colonized Country," written by Venkatesan.
Next, Nathan Shank, associate professor of English, presented the Unaware Project. This session showcased writings from the collaborative project between OC writing students and the Oklahoma Youth Academy Charter Schools.
Tucker Fuller from the Communication Program performed songs he wrote for an EP during lunch. He referred to this as “Tucker’s Tiny Desk Concert.” Along with Fuller, the Dapper Dudes, from the Music Program, performed as a barber shop quartet. This included students Kelan Owen, Jason Coon, Kedrick Gregory and Levi Sailor.
Other Music students and faculty performed later in the day. Lily Blanchard, Breanna Massie, Gena Alexander, Jenny Rucker, Celeste Dvorak and Miho Fisher presented “Women in Classical Music— Selections from Female Composers.” The presentation served as an opportunity to promote previously underperformed vocal and instrumental works by female composers in classical music.
The Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences had three posters displayed in the McIntosh Conservatory. Students Taylor Scott, Aspyn Osburn, Jeffery Logan Riddle and Assistant Professor of Psychology and Family Science Jonathan P. Miller presented “Religiosity Correlates to Value and Enjoyment of Virtual Religious Services.” This is aimed to assess the relationship between attendance of virtual religious services and subjective value and enjoyment of virtual religious services.
Next was students Cade Deister, Ayden Cole, Taylor Scott, Aspyn Osburn, Alex Cash, Aurora Walker and Miller presenting, “Religiosity and Affect Predict Satisfaction with Life.” This display addressed religious beliefs, such as motivation, religious doubt and life satisfaction are influenced by various types of central-route arguments that affect individuals’ relationship with their faith.
Lastly, students Rachel Detherage, Lily Alana Johnson and Miller presented “Problematic Use of Technology and its Relationship to Cyberbullying and Core Evaluation of Self.” This display discussed how problematic mobile phone use has been correlated with other potential problematic behaviors.