Abstracts for Fall Oral Presentation Session 2

December 3rd 2025 | 1:00pm - 1:45pm | SUB 316
Moderated by Elaine Schnabel

• 1:00 p.m. - Mallory Jeffers - Test Scores as a result of demographics of Middle Schools in 4 Utah School Districts for the 2023-2024 School Year

  Mentor: Eric Ewert
  College: College of Science
  Department: Geography
  Abstract: School boundaries play a critical role in shaping the geography of education in Utah, determining where students attend school and influencing the quality of education they receive. These boundaries are periodically redrawn to accommodate population changes and shifting district needs. However, such decisions have historically reinforced patterns of segregation based on income, race, and other socioeconomic factors, often leading to unequal educational opportunities. This study focuses on middle school students in four Utah school districts—Tooele, Washington, Emery, and Daggett—during the 2023–24 academic year. It investigates the relationship between school boundary lines, neighborhood demographics (specifically income levels and housing prices), and student performance on standardized tests. This research aims to assess how socioeconomic disparities within and across school zones may be linked to academic achievement. It is expected that students in lower-income areas will have lower test scores, underscoring the continued influence of economic inequality on educational outcomes.

• 1:15 p.m. - Zachary Thomas - Downslope Wind Risk Assessment and Resilience Planning for Weber and Davis Counties, Utah: Lessons from the 2011 and 2020 Windstorms

  Mentor: Eric Ewert
  College: College of Science
  Department: Geography
  Abstract: Recurring downslope windstorms along Utah's Wasatch Front, particularly in Weber and Davis Counties, pose a significant natural hazard to infrastructure and community safety. This threat was highlighted by extreme windstorms in December 2011 and September 2020 that caused widespread, catastrophic damage including wind gusts exceeding 100 mph, mass tree loss, prolonged power outages, and millions in economic losses. This study utilizes the 2011 and 2020 events as case studies, integrating damage reports, stakeholder interviews, and GIS-based mapping to conduct a comprehensive downslope wind risk assessment and identify high-risk areas and infrastructure. This assessment informs the development of specific resilience strategies for utility, transportation, and emergency response agencies. This resilience planning framework proposes a strategy to mitigate future risk by focusing on improved early warning systems, critical asset hardening, vegetation management, and optimized inter-agency response protocols.

• 1:30 p.m. - Jennifer Slaughter - Parenting Across Sound

  Mentor: Elaine Schnabel
  College: Telitha E. Lindquist College of Arts & Humanities
  Department: Communication
  Abstract: Parenting Across Sound: Resources and Resilience for Hearing Parents of Deaf Children

  Abstract

  Parenting Across Sound is an interactive online platform designed to support hearing parents of Deaf children by consolidating early intervention and communication resources into one accessible space. The project emphasizes flexibility and choice in communication approaches, reflecting the diverse needs of families while also addressing parental well-being. Many hearing parents report feeling overwhelmed and uncertain following their child’s diagnosis; this program aims to bridge that gap by providing clear, inclusive information and fostering confidence during the early years.

  Grounded in existing research, this project recognizes that early and accessible communication—whether spoken, signed, or combined—is essential for healthy development in Deaf children. Studies consistently indicate that language deprivation, rather than hearing loss itself, leads to developmental delays, while early sign exposure and Total Communication approaches support stronger academic and social outcomes.

  This community-based research project was guided by the needs of the population it seeks to serve. By listening to parents’ experiences and challenges, the methodology evolved into a targeted literature review designed to identify practical, evidence-based solutions. The central research question asks: How can hearing parents foster a supportive relationship with their Deaf child that promotes both academic and communicative development? The resulting online platform translates research into an accessible, user-friendly resource aimed at enhancing parental knowledge, reducing stress, and strengthening early family connections.