Digital Archive: Undergraduate Research Symposium 2021
Ben Rader
Ben Rader is a senior majoring in outdoor education at Montreat College. He is also a member of the honors college. He works as a climbing, backpacking, and white-water rafting guide as well. He enjoys spending time in the great outdoors whether it is on the rock, river, or trail.
Faculty advisor: Dr. Dottie Shuman
Caroline J. Courtney
Caroline J. Courtney is an English Literature student at Montreat. Throughout her time in college, she has gained an interest in writing about Catholic literature after converting into the Roman Catholic Church. She enjoys hiking, rock climbing, and considers herself a novice outdoors woman. Her research on C.S. Lewis was conducted under the supervision of Dr. Don King as a part of a Special Topics course at Montreat.
Faculty advisor: Dr. Don King
Dan O’Dell and Hank Yelton
Dan O’Dell is a junior majoring in exercise science at Montreat College. He has plans to earn his masters degree in the human performance and nutrition field. He also currently competes on the track and field team specializing in long distance events ranging from 1500-10,000 meters.
Hank Yelton is a junior at Montreat College. Hank is pursuing a degree in exercise science and plans to continue his education in the exercise field. Hank is also on the track and field team at Montreat College, where he competes in the decathlon and the hurdles.
Faculty advisor: Dr. Robyn York
Douglas Reed
Douglas Reed is a junior at Montreat College. He is thirty-one years old and is interested in Earth’s natural benefits. Douglas dares to question the limits of the human mind and the mysteries held deep within. He also enjoys a nice cup of tea.
Faculty advisor: Dr. Dottie Shuman
Garret Welsh
Garret Welsh is from Black Mountain, North Carolina and is a senior at Montreat College. He is majoring in outdoor education. He is also a part of the cross country and track and field team at Montreat College.
Faculty advisor: Dr. Dottie Shuman
Hope Ramsey
Hope Ramsey is currently a junior at Montreat College studying exercise science with a concentration in health and while also working on a minor in physical education. Hope also plays women’s basketball at Montreat. She has always been active in sports and very intrigued about the body and the effects that physical activities can have on the body. She is pursuing a career as a physical education teacher and coaching.
Faculty advisor: Dr. Robyn York
Kaylee McMillian and Katie Weaver
Kaylee McMillian and Katie Weaver are first semester seniors in the exercise science program at Montreat College. Kaylee has been a member of the volleyball team since her freshman year. Katie helps with the volleyball team as the manager and does stats for the team during home games. They will be graduating in December of 2021 with degrees in exercise science and concentrations of pre-professional. Kaylee is planning to go into an accelerated nursing program after she graduates, while having a personal training business. Katie Weaver is planning to go into PA school to become a surgical PA.
Faculty advisor: Dr. Robyn York
Kaylie Bean, Kaitlyn Adams, and Maria Camilo
Kaylie, Maria, and Kaitlyn are all juniors at Montreat College and are a part of the women’s soccer program. Kaylie is majoring in exercise science with a concentration in health and fitness, while Maria and Kaitlyn are pre-professional.
Faculty advisor: Dr. Robyn York
Kyle Sturgeon, Jesus Ramos, and Yin Ksor
Kyle Sturgeon is from Seaford, Delaware but moved to Orlando, Florida as a freshman in high school. Kyle is a senior at Montreat college and he will be graduating May 2021. . He is majoring in health science with a pre-concentration in physical therapy. Kyle has also played basketball for the college all four years while atMontreat.
Jesus Ramos was born in Nayarit, Mexico. A very poor place where he and his family were struggling financially. His dad decided to bring them all to the U.S. in 2010. They left everything in Mexico and started a new life. Jesus didn’t speak any English but was able to learn it well in only six months time. He is now a senior at Montreat College and will graduate with an exercise science degree.. He will be the first person in the family to graduate from college. Jesus Ramos is also a good soccer player and is looking forward to coaching or playing professionally after graduation.
Yin is from Charlotte, North Carolina. Yin is twenty-one years old. Yin plays soccer for the Montreat men’s soccer team. He was enrolled at Montreat in the fall semester of 2019, and currently a junior. He is studying exercise science and in the future would like to work as a physical therapist. He is planning to graduate next year and move forward with his degree.
Faculty advisor: Dr. Robyn York
Marco Oyarzo Compagnoni
Marco Oyarzo is a Chilean student who came to the United States in 2018 to attend Iowa Lakes Community College where he played soccer and completed a general degree. He transferred to Montreat College in January of 2020. He is majoring in outdoor education and is a member of the soccer team.
Faculty advisor: Dr. Dottie Shuman
Megan Frady
Megan Frady is a current senior at Montreat College. She is studying outdoor education and is minoring in environmental science. Her research topic was storytelling in outdoor and environmental education.
Faculty advisor: Dr. Dottie Shuman
Nathan Warner
Nathan Warner is a senior majoring in outdoor education. He transferred to Montreat College as a second semester freshman due to his passion of the outdoors and adventure. He has worked for multiple years at a summer camp as a counselor and through that experience he was able to grasp the importance of outdoor play for children’s wellbeing.
Faculty advisor: Dr. Dottie Shuman
Noah Coakley
Noah Coakley is a rising junior at Montreat College majoring in cybersecurity with a concentration in penetration testing and a minor in business. In his free time, Noah enjoys helping and serving others, as well as watching movies and spending time with friends. One interesting fact about Noah is that he has a home lab where he hardens the skills learned through the cybersecurity program.
Faculty advisor: Professor Robbie Webb
Rachel Peterson
Rachel Peterson is a graduating senior in outdoor education. During her four years at Montreat College, she not only held a position as a RA, but was an honors student. Rachel spent one summer as an instructor for a citizen science program run by Montreat College called MYLES of Science. Rachel will continue her interest in the outdoors working for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife at Pea Island Wildlife Refuge.
Faculty advisor: Dr. Dottie Shuman
Ryan Rockwell and Evan Dolan
Ryan Rockwell is a junior from Savannah, Georgia and was homeschooled before attending Montreat College in pursuit of an exercise science degree. He is a pitcher for the Montreat College baseball team and a member of the student life team as an RA. In his free time, Ryan enjoys playing guitar, working out, and hanging out with friends either playing games or going outdoors.
Evan Dolan is from St. Petersburg, FL. He is in his senior year at Montreat College and will be graduating this spring. He has also been on the baseball team at Montreat College for all four years that he has attended.
Faculty advisor: Dr. Robyn York
Sarah-May Brooks
Sarah-May Brooks, Class of 2022, was born and raised in Greensboro, North Carolina. Sarah-May is an exercise science major with a concentration in health and fitness with a double minor in biology and physical education. She grew up riding horses also playing travel basketball. Sarah-May was very active in high school being captain of the basketball team while also being involved in numerous clubs and even assisting the athletic director. When she graduates, she hopes to attend the local community college and complete their physical therapy assistant program and begin helping people get back to their best version of themselves.
Faculty advisor: Dr. Robyn York
Savannah Albright
Savannah Albright is a senior at Montreat College studying outdoor education with a special emphasis in health. Savannah is specifically interested in that way that human health is impacted by spending time outdoors. With a special emphasis in health, Savannah has had the opportunity to take classes at Montreat College including physiological psychology, anatomy, nutrition and human health and the natural environment.
Faculty advisor: Dr. Dottie Shuman
Carmen Fraley and Scott Haynes
Carmen Fraley is a sophomore at Montreat College majoring in exercise science. Carmen hopes to become a physical therapist. She loves being outdoors. Some of her favorite things to do with free time are hunting and fishing. She is also a member of the golf team at Montreat, which she loves.
Scott Haynes is a senior at Montreat College. He is a relaxed, easy-going guy who loves the outdoors. He looks forward to graduating this spring with a B.S. in exercise science.
Faculty advisor: Dr. Robyn York
Zharia Brown and Leonie Owona
Zharia Brown and Leonie Owona are student athletes who are both science majors. They both focus on contextualizing the health of exercise science by identifying different regions of the body, its function, and identifying its purpose.
Faculty advisor: Dr. Robyn York