NW Valley Times

Students from Grand Canyon University recently participated in the Canyon Undergraduate Research Symposium, presenting research on a variety of topics including health, religion, and athletics. The event featured five presentations by undergraduate students and was attended by GCU President Brian Mueller, Provost Dr. Randy Gibb, college deans, staff, and faculty.

Among the presenters were sophomores Logan Demeter, junior Allison Rogers, and senior Sedina Hayes. They explored how religious identity can help athletes manage stress in their presentation titled "Examining the Correlation Between Athletic Identity, Religious Identity and Stress." Demeter explained that they wanted to provide scientific evidence to support the idea that religion reduces stress and performance anxiety in athletes.

Rogers elaborated on how an athlete's identity tied solely to sports could lead to psychological challenges when faced with injuries or declining performance. She emphasized that turning to religion helps athletes separate their identity from sports-related stress. Surveys conducted among Club Sports athletes supported their findings.

Honors College Dean Dr. Breanna Naegeli noted efforts to expand undergraduate research opportunities at GCU. “Over the last few years, we have really made an effort to grow all things undergraduate research,” she said.

Other projects presented included Kennedy Kerbs and Dalton Lesser’s study on "Impact of Time of Day and Gender on Power Output in Division I Athletes," as well as works by Melissa Hannay and others examining neuroprotective effects of certain substances.

The symposium provided students with a platform to share their work beyond academic circles. Honors College program manager Katalina Inzunza Herrera commented on the value of students discussing their projects outside their fields: “Sometimes students get so invested in what they are working on that they don’t always get the opportunity to talk to somebody not involved in their field about what they are doing.”