MC-Cal Poly Past Projects

Past Projects

The following students & alumni previously received funding and/or support from MC-Cal Poly to present their projects at destination conferences. 

2025-2026 Cohort

National Communication Association (Denver, CO)

  • Hanna Lee presented:
    • Kit Connor and Queerbaiting: Enacting Heterosexual Hegemony in Public Persona [Author/Speaker]
    • A framework for teaching and assessing communication competency in nurse education [Author/Speaker]
    • Exploring Caregiver Activation in Serious Illness Communication with Healthcare Providers [Author/Speaker]

Western States Communication Association (San Diego, CA)

  • Emily Ip presented Performative Diversity in the Sex Lives of College Girls (Sponsored by the Undergraduate Scholars Research Conference) 

  • Bridget LaPorte & Kaley Scheppler (Alumni) presented The Impact of AI Use on Student and Professor Perceptions in Academic Communication (Sponsored by the Communication and Instruction Interest Group) *Top Paper​​​​​​​

  • Hanna Lee (Alum) presented Reinforcing the Gender Binary in The Circle: Erasure of Gender Uniqueness (Sponsored by the Undergraduate Scholars Research Conference) 

  • Crystal (Dede) Onuwaje presented Jubilee’s Media Logic: The Pitfalls of Digital Deliberation (Sponsored by the Undergraduate Scholars Research Conference) 

  • Ariella Per presented Tyranny in the Name of Virtue: Exploring Internalized Patriarchy and Female Complicity in The Handmaid’s Tale (Sponsored by the Undergraduate Scholars Research Conference) *Top Paper

  • Marshall Piros presented Adoption and Resistance to AI: A Case Study of ChatGPT’s Rollout in the CSU System (Sponsored by the Communication and Instruction Interest Group)

  • Lauren Rosenberg, Hunter Larson, & Kate Mclaughlin presented The Impact of Marketing Strategies: College Student Non-Profit Involvement (Sponsored by the Undergraduate Scholars Research Conference) 

  • Miranda Ward (Alum) presented Community and Motivation in Pokémon GO: Gotta Catch ‘Em All and Keep Playing (Sponsored by the Media Studies Interest Group)

Social Science Student Symposium (CSU Fresno, CA)

  • Grace Carr presented Color Cues and Consumer Elaboration: How Packaging Color Impacts Health Perceptions and Purchase Intention of Soda Products.

    Charis Gray presented Exploring Speech-Language Pathology in the age AI. Recipient of the Best Qualitative Paper Award "Honorary Mention" (2nd place, $200 award)

    Ryan Nakada, Kiran Atwal, & Savanna Batto presented “I’m Sorry.” vs. “I’m Sorry!”: The Effect of Punctuation on Sincerity and Accountability Perceptions.

    Marshall Piros presented Beyond the CSU AI Initiative Rollout: Exploring the Continued Uses, Gratifications, and Literacy of Generative Artificial Intelligence Integration at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Recipient of the Best Qualitative Paper Award (1st place, $1,000 award)

2024-2025 Cohort

Western States Communication Association (Albuquerque, NM)

  • Bridget LaPorte and Kaley Scheppler presented: In AI We Trust: The Effect of Artificial Intelligence on Credibility, Instructor Immediacy, and Future Student Investment  @ The Western States Communication Association, Albuquerque, NM, 2025 (Undergraduate Section).
  • Ty Rivas presented: The Influence of Dry Texting on Evaluations of Interpersonal Attraction in Text Messages @ The Western States Communication Association, Albuquerque, NM, 2025 (Interpersonal & Family Communication Interest Group).

  • Miranda Ward presented: Pokémon GO: Fostering Community in Location--Based Augmented Reality  @ The Western States Communication Association, Albuquerque, NM, 2025 (Undergraduate Section).

Social Science Student Symposium (CSU Dominguez Hills, Carson City, CA)

  • Chloe DeLaura presented: The Effect of Email Style on Professionalism and Etiquette @ The CSU Social Science Student Symposium in Carson City, CA, 2025.
  • Elizabeth DeRuvo presented: The Effect of Fandom Disclosure on Interpersonal Attraction and Perceived Professional Competence @ The CSU Social Science Student Symposium in Carson City, CA, 2025.
  • Marshall Piros and Andrea Valle presented: The Effects of Influencer Type on Purchase Intention, Advertiser Credibility, and Brand Perception @ The CSU Social Science Student Symposium in Carson City, CA, 2025.
  • Maddie Vargas, Koben Bunnell, and Vanessa Ulloa presented: Emojis and Professionalism: Effects on Perceived Competence and Interpersonal Attraction @ The CSU Social Science Student Symposium in Carson City, CA, 2025 (Honorary Mention Best Use of Quantitative Data). 

2023-2024 Cohort

Western States Communication Association (Reno, NV)

  • Aidan Ashworth presented: Exploring Gamer Experiences and Motivation to Play High Difficulty Video Games @ The Western States Communication Association, Reno, Nevada, 2024 (Top-4 paper, Media Studies Interest Group).
  • Kimberly Cruz presented: Storytelling and Racial Identity: How First-Generation Students of Color Navigate their Identities at Predominately White Institutions @ The Western States Communication Association, Reno, Nevada, 2024 (Identities & Difference Interest Group).
  • Mackenzie Demay presented: Stereotypical Representations of Gamers in the Guild @ The Western States Communication Association, Reno, Nevada, 2024 (Top-4 paper, Media Studies Interest Group).
  • Gabrielle Low presented: Keys 4 Trees: Using VR to promote learning in climate change and local policies @ The Western States Communication Association, Reno, Nevada, 2024 (Media Studies Interest Group).
  • Kristina Yan presented: Friends? Best Friends? Lovers? Exploring The Need for Friendships in How I Met Your Mother @ The Western States Communication Association, Reno, Nevada, 2024 (Undergraduate Section). 

Central States Communication Association (Grand Rapids, MI)

  • Erika DeAnda & Melian Wong presented: Museum’s Photographic Contents with Ethnically Diverse Photographic Assets @ The Central States Communication Association Conference, Grand Rapids MI, 2024 (Activism, Communication Ethics, and Social Justice Interest Group).
  • Isis Dominguez attended The Central States Communication Association Conference, Grand Rapids MI, 2024.
  • Navyaa Vemuri attended The Central States Communication Association Conference, Grand Rapids MI, 2024.

Social Science Student Symposium (CSU Sacramento State)

  • Cameron Bader & Kate Macpherson presented: The Effect of Punctuation on Communication Competence, Appropriateness, and Annoyance Within Professor-Student Communication @ The CSU Social Science Student Symposium in Sacramento, CA, 2024.
  • Kendall Baebler presented: He’s the Man: Traits of Toxic Masculinity in New Girl @ The CSU Social Science Student Symposium in Sacramento, CA, 2024.
  • Hannah Goudz presented: Guns, Lazers, Aliens, and Murders: The Negative Effects of Violence in Rick and Morty @ The CSU Social Science Student Symposium in Sacramento, CA, 2024.
  • Bridget LaPorte presented: Exploring the Potential Effects of Aggression in 90210 @ The CSU Social Science Student Symposium in Sacramento, CA, 2024.
  • Bridget LaPorte, Kaley Scheppler, & Olivia Thomas presented: The Effect of Artificial Intelligence on Credibility, Instructor Immediacy, and Future Student Investment @ The CSU Social Science Student Symposium in Sacramento, CA, 2024 (Honorary Mention McCall Award for Best Undergraduate Paper).
  • Brenden Jacoby presented: Who Benefits? Charting How Global North States’ Utilize Technology in Asylum Cases @ The CSU Social Science Student Symposium in Sacramento, CA, 2024.

2022-2023 Cohort

Broadcast Education Association (Las Vegas, NV)

  • Saiyushi Kumar attended the Broadcast Education Association (BEA) annual conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. 
  • Gabrielle Low attended the Broadcast Education Association (BEA) annual conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. 
  • Wendy Miyazaki attended the Broadcast Education Association (BEA) annual conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. 
  • Jordan Schumann attended the Broadcast Education Association (BEA) annual conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. 
  • Hannah Varghese attended the Broadcast Education Association (BEA) annual conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. 
  • Ava Whitehorn attended the Broadcast Education Association (BEA) annual conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. 
  • Josh Wiegman attended the Broadcast Education Association (BEA) annual conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. 

2021-2022 Cohort

Western States Communication Association (Portland, OR)

  • Mackenzie Demay presented: History of Hatred: A Media Analysis and Social Examination of the Film The Hate U Give @ The Western States Communication Association, Portland, Oregon, 2022 (Undergraduate Section). 
  • Barrett Lo presented: When Toxic is Typical: Prevalence and Effects of Toxicity in Rainbow Six Siege @ The Western States Communication Association, Portland, Oregon, 2022 (Undergraduate Section). 
  • Chelsie Lui presented: Cultivating Problematic Stereotypes of Asian Americans: Representations of Helicopter Parenting in Fresh off the Boat @ the Western States Communication Association, Portland, Oregon, 2022 (Top 4 Paper of the Media Division).  
  • Berkly Hargon, Delaney Hulshof, & Corey Quillen presented: The Effect of Social Media Messages on Interpersonal Attraction, Judgement, and Wholesomeness @ The Western States Communication Association, Portland, Oregon, 2022 (Undergraduate Section). 
  • Victor Ortiz presented: Portrayals of Mental Health in Video Games: A Content Analysis Examining Celeste & Hellblade @ The Western States Communication Association, Portland, Oregon, 2022 (Media Division). 
  • Matia Mathes presented: Comparing the Effectiveness of Visuals in Medical Education Instruction @ The International Communication Association, Paris, France, 2022

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