Jack malloy ’28: Looking Forward and Backward

• Presenter Bio: Jack Malloy is a first-year student at Vanderbilt from Wilmington, North Carolina. He is planning to major in Public Policy and English with a minor in Legal Studies. He has always been passionate about reading and writing, specifically interested in US and European History. Post-graduation, Jack would like to study law, with a goal of practicing entertainment law. In his spare time, he enjoys surfing and spending time at the beach.
• Abstract: Frederick Douglass was born in February of 1818 and has become one of the most acclaimed rhetoricians and civil rights activists in United States history. Douglass envisioned a United States that was engineered off of social equilibrium, free from the ills of racism, sexism, and crippling polarization. In some manner, society has progressed across two centuries, yet it remains in the same relatively fractured state. This analytical paper explores Frederick Douglass’s background and impact, working to hypothesize his reaction to the 21st-century political climate. Drawing continuities and discontinuities between two distinct, century-different versions of America, “Looking Forward and Backward” works to foster unification from the perspective of one of the most significant figures in American History.

kathleen olsen ’28: Echoes of Loss, Verses of Healing: Poetry’s Impact on Grieving Hearts

• Presenter Bio: Kathleen Olsen is a first-year student from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania studying neuroscience and medicine, health and society. Though rooted in the sciences, she deeply values writing as a means to connect, reflect, and give voice to our complex experiences. She is especially interested in how language shapes our understanding of emotions, identity, and the human mind. In her free time, Kathleen enjoys a good book, exploring Nashville, and watching sports.
• Abstract: Poetry serves as a powerful tool for processing grief and fostering emotional resilience. Amid the tumultuous and unpredictable grieving process, it offers searching souls a structured yet deeply personal medium to articulate loss, navigate complex emotions, and find solace. Through an exploration of the cultural significance of Japanese death poems and contemporary research on expressive writing, this analysis highlights poetry’s role in bridging tradition and modern psychological insights, reinforcing its timeless capacity to guide individuals through the depths of sorrow toward healing.

Rocco Otto ’28: The Political Role of Universities

• Presenter Bio: Rocco Otto is a first-year student from Pittsburgh, PA. He is planning on majoring in Human and Organizational Development and Political Science. Passionate about social impact, he has interned on a political campaign, worked in business development, and serves as a college admissions consultant. Rocco is also the founder of The No Child Fights Alone Foundation, a nonprofit supporting families of children with juvenile diabetes and cancer. His experiences have fueled his commitment to addressing systemic healthcare inequities, and he plans to pursue a career in law.
• Abstract: Given the volatile political nature of our country, I chose to argue that universities, like Vanderbilt, are inherently political and cannot avoid this entanglement. Through research, I showed this through these institutions’ financial decisions, responses to student activism, and role in shaping civic engagement. With historical and contemporary examples, I argue that institutions of higher education cannot act remain neutral, as their policies and priorities actively influence societal change and by acknowledging this, universities can better align their actions with their stated values of equity, sustainability, and social responsibility.

Joey Ravikoff ’28: The purpose of college

• Presenter Bio: Joey Ravikoff is a Freshman in the College of Arts and Science from New York City. An undeclared major, he is a member of Vanderbilt’s Mock Trial team, the ROCCA Lab, and Scholars of Finance. Post graduation, he hopes to pursue a career in business or law.
• Abstract: This is an essay about my opinion of the purpose of college in today’s age. Specifically, it highlights the value of a liberal arts education that promotes self discovery and personal growth.

callie tuck ’28: humans shaped by the past

• Presenter Bio: Callie Tuck is a freshman at Vanderbilt University, majoring in anthropology with a minor in chemistry. Passionate about forensic pathology and deeply justice-oriented, she is dedicated to exploring the intersection of science and criminal investigation. Through her involvement with the Vanderbilt Association for Student Anthropologists (VASA) and the START Mentor groups, she has gained valuable guidance on beginning research. Callie is eager to apply her studies to the pursuit of truth and justice in forensic science.
• Abstract: The meaning of life can be found in the ongoing confrontation that humans experience with their past. Together, these works illustrate that to be human is to grapple with the weight of our experiences, to confront our pasts, and ultimately to decide whether those memories will define or liberate us. Sarte’s complex characterization in his play, No Exit, and Baez’s experience illuminated in her song, “Diamonds and Rust,” illustrate that to be human is to confront our past continually, but they suggest that how we do so, whether through denial, acceptance, or nostalgia, ultimately shapes our present and future selves.

Sarah Yun ’28: Narratives, Identity, and the Human Quest for Meaning

• Presenter Bio: Sarah Yun is a first-year student at Vanderbilt double majoring in Psychology and Medicine, Health, and Society. She is interested in holistic and culturally competent mental health care and plans to become a clinical psychologist.
• Abstract: This essay explores the human drive to construct meaning through narratives, drawing on Oliver Sacks’s “A Matter of Identity” and Friedrich Nietzsche’s On Truth and Lies in a Nonmoral Sense. By analyzing how storytelling shapes identity and provides emotional fulfillment, the piece argues that creating meaning is a defining aspect of being human, connecting personal resilience to larger cultural patterns.

Cole Patterson ’28: Thou Read’st Black Where I Read White: Christ the Poet, Blake the Prophet, and Reading Between the Lines of Creation

• Presenter Bio: Cole Patterson is a freshman from Nashville, Tennessee. He plans to major in Physics, in the College of Arts and Science. He is also fluent in Latin and enjoys reading both Latin and world literature. His interests include writing, gaming, politics, and ancient numismatics.
• Abstract: This essay tries to understand the artistic and religious system of William Blake (1757-1827), a Romantic painter, poet, engraver, and prophet who believed man’s capacity for imagination was God, and published works of unprecedented depth, opacity, and ecstatic visionary instinct. It mainly focuses on how Christ fits into his ideas.

Prisha Punjwani ’25: Building Bridges, Facing Barriers: The Formation and Challenges of Refugee- and Immigrant-serving Coalitions

• Presenter Bio: Prisha is a senior majoring in Public Policy Studies and Human and Organizational Development. Originally from Mumbai, India, she is passionate about tech policy issues relating to data privacy, content moderation, and artificial intelligence. Outside of academics, Prisha is involved in dance organizations and campus initiatives focused on community building international student advocacy.
• Abstract: This study examines the Coalition for Better Futures, a refugee- and immigrant-serving initiative in Southeast Nashville, through the lens of the Community Systems Solutions Framework. By analyzing data from semi-structured interviews, observation notes, and the coalition’s website, the research identifies structural features, collaboration challenges, and the role of Nashville’s urban environment in shaping coalition dynamics.

Pax Poggi ’25: The Epistemological Ramifications of a Neuroscientific Theory of Knowledge

• Presenter Bio: Pax Poggi is a senior at Vanderbilt University, double-majoring in Psychology and Philosophy. His early research focused on integrated information theory, the first fully formal scientific framework for studying consciousness. This work deepened his interest in how the brain models the world and its implications for philosophical questions. Currently, Pax is pursuing an Honors Thesis in Philosophy, examining how neuroscientific models of information processing inform epistemological questions—such as what we know and how we know it. Looking ahead, he plans to continue scientific research while integrating it with a broader philosophical perspective.
• Abstract: Epistemology, the philosophical study of knowledge, traditionally examines questions such as what knowledge is, how we acquire it, and what we can know through analytical definitions and introspection. This paper takes an alternative, inside-out approach, leveraging insights from neuroscience to redefine knowledge. Neuroscience reveals that the brain constructs detailed models of the world using high-dimensional neural reference frames, which organize information to guide perception, action, and thought. Based on this, I propose a brain-based definition of knowledge: to know is to possess an accurate mental model of the world that affords effective interaction with it.

Robert Lowther ’25: Dominant No More: The Political Erosion of French in Louisiana

• Presenter Bio: Robert is a senior from Lexington, KY, studying Law, History & Society, Political Science, and French. Apart from his academic endeavors, Robert serves as President of the Vanderbilt Undergraduate Moot Court Board, Chief Justice of Vanderbilt Student Government’s Judicial Court, Editor in Chief of the Vanderbilt Undergraduate Journal of Law and Society, and Senior Editor and Managing Editor Emeritus of the Vanderbilt Historical Review. In his free time, Robert enjoys watching movies, reading, and going on walks.
• Abstract: By recognizing the American identity as a constructed and controversial idea, this thesis performs a novel analysis of the evolution of Anglo-Saxon/Creole relations. I incorporate state constitutions, legislative debate records, contemporary newspapers, and state educational materials to construct a portrait of the Anglophone-dominated government’s playbook of erasure.

Peyton Price ’28: The Power of a Modern Soundtrack: Exploring the Musical Legacy of Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet

• Presenter Bio: Peyton Price is a first-year student at Vanderbilt University studying Public Policy and Communications. Originally from Austin, Texas, Peyton is passionate about using writing to share important values and is specifically interested in the intersection of politics, religion, and entertainment. In her free time, she enjoys playing guitar and writing songs.
• Abstract: This piece analyzes Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet film and how its soundtrack contributed to the film’s popularity and the original Shakespeare story. In order to understand the cultural legacy of the film and its music, I analyzed TikTok videos and film reviews to understand how young people in the 1990s and today engage with the film and Shakespeare.

Katie Sullivan ’25: Cripping Campus Cultures: Disability Cultural Centers, Identity, and Institutional Memory

• Presenter Bio: Katie Sullivan is a disabled student, writer, and friend (et cetera). She is a member of the Critical Design Lab, researching disability culture and critical access. Sullivan will graduate from Vanderbilt University with an undergraduate degree in English and Medicine, Health, & Society in May 2025. This fall, Sullivan will matriculate into a PhD program with intentions to study disability epistemology and feminist science and technology studies. Leisurely pursuits include feeling the sun on her face, plunking out blog posts, making comics, and other things of the crafty-ilk.
• Abstract: This oral history-based thesis traces the nascent and ongoing histories of disabled students’ efforts to establish Disability Cultural Centers on their respective university campuses. This work reveals the ways in which disabled students build community and reclaim institutional resources to create formal sites of disability culture. Weaving together histories of disabled students’ coalitions, anecdotes about administrative pushback, reflections on disability identity development, and details surrounding the operational politics of DCCs, this thesis makes a major contribution to the literature by bridging theoretical lacunae between critical university studies and feminist disability studies.

Andrew Kyung ’25: Straddling the Separation of Powers: The Quasi-Judicial Attorney General

• Presenter Bio: Andrew Kyung is a senior studying in political science with a primary academic focus on the executive branch and the role of federal agencies. He has worked as a research assistant for Professors David E. Lewis and Allison P. Anoll. In spring 2024, he authored “Straddling the Separation of Powers: The Quasi-Judicial Attorney General,” which won the 2024 Avery Leiserson Award for the best undergraduate paper in political science. He has since expanded this work into his senior thesis.
• Abstract: My project uses historical evidence to explore the possibility that the U.S. attorney general was a judicial officer when it was created in 1789. My original historical findings are particularly consequential considering that the modern attorney general is viewed categorically as a member of the executive branch.

Joanne Lee ’28: Information Manipulation Through a Linguistic Anthropological Lens

• Presenter Bio: Joanne Lee is a freshman at Vanderbilt University, studying Economics and Human and Organizational Development, with minors in Psychology and Business. Originally from Los Angeles, California, Joanne is a passionate sports fan, cheering for the Dodgers and Lakers. On campus, she is a part of Phi Chi Theta, Anchor Marketing, Unicef, and the Vanderbilt Asian American Pre-Professional Society. In her free time, she enjoys photography, visiting national parks, and exploring new cafes in Nashville.
• Abstract: This project analyzes the phenomenon of information manipulation through a linguistic anthropological lens, exploring how misinformation, malinformation, and disinformation permeate modern-day media. Analyzing misinformation during COVID-19, malinformation during political campaigns, and disinformation pushed by corporations, this writing piece showcases the role of framing and discourse in spreading manipulative information across these various cases. Following the analysis, the paper offers practical insights on navigating complex media landscapes using frameworks of linguistic anthropology.

Ilana Drake ’25: It Takes a Village: The Public Advocacy that Propelled the 19th Amendment

• Presenter Bio: Ilana Drake is a senior at Vanderbilt University.
• Abstract: My paper researched the ways in which pro-suffrage and anti-suffrage groups advocated for and against the 19th Amendment. Specifically, my paper focuses on both groups’ public advocacy by providing insight into each group’s strategies, effects, and success. I argue why and how the pro-suffrage group succeeded with providing women the right to vote in the United States.

Justin Schwab ’28: Mammies to Zombies: The Evolution of the “Magical Negro” and Racial Stereotyping in Film

• Presenter Bio: Justin Schwab ‘28 is studying History of Art and Culture, Advocacy, and Leadership. His current research interests center around minority justice in museum spaces.
• Abstract: “Mammies to Zombies” analyzes the evolution of racial stereotyping in film, specifically re-evaluating the role and origin of the “magical negro.” Beginning with The Birth of a Nation and ending with Black horror, the paper compares the fetishization of Black bodies in film with the primitivization of Black culture that permeates the struggle for autonomy in representational media.

Alana Smith-Farrell ’28: No, Really: Explorations and Manipulations of Reality in the Works of Saint John Perse and Jorge Luis Borges

• Presenter Bio: Alana Smith-Farrell is a first year at Vanderbilt University majoring in Molecular and Cellular Biology and Medicine, Health, and Society. She is passionate about oncology and the power of modern technology to solve vital issues on a global and individual level. Outside of academics, she is an animal lover and a science fiction enthusiast.
• Abstract: This piece highlights the accomplishments of two prolific writers of the 20th century, Jorge Luis Borges and Saint John Perse. This essay compares the style and themes of both authors, arguing that Borges, like Perse, deserved the Nobel prize for effectively conveying concepts of metaphysics—such as time, emotion, and knowledge—with a similarly abstract approach.

Jarrett Gath ’27: I Missed the Birds Today

• Presenter Bio: Jarrett Gath is a sophomore from Bedford, Massachusetts, studying Economics and Business. While he is passionate about pursuing entrepreneurship and business as a career, he has always had a deep love for creative writing and storytelling. His interests began with screenplays and episode pilots but have recently expanded to transforming personal experiences into creative narratives. Outside of school, he is a dedicated Boston Celtics fan, enjoys photography, and hopes to one day write and produce a full-length script for a comedy series.
• Abstract: In the last five or so years, my grandmother has suffered from memory loss due to dementia. At times, I wonder if the moments we spent sitting in her backyard in Cape Cod, listening to the birds, ever diverged from her current life in a nursing home. I’m not sure, and unfortunately, I don’t know if I’ll ever know. However, I tried to encapsulate a piece of that understanding in this piece.

Davis Works ’25: The Cracking Room

• Presenter Bio: Davis Works is a senior from Dallas, TX studying English: Creative Writing and Spanish. On campus he serves as the director for Tongue ‘N’ Cheek: Improv Comedy. After graduating from Vanderbilt, he plans to attend law school.
• Abstract: “The Cracking Room” recounts a day in the working life of Peggy Allen in Maine’s lobster canneries at the outbreak of World War I. While enduring backbreaking labor, Peggy searches for beauty and love as a respite from the unimaginably dire physical conditions of the cannery.

Amanda Maeglin ’25: The Kitchen

• Presenter Bio: Amanda Maeglin is a senior at Vanderbilt majoring in Physics, Creative Writing, and the Communication of Science and Technology. She is currently completing an English honors thesis in poetry. After graduation, she plans to pursue a PhD in condensed matter physics. In her free time, Amanda enjoys bouldering, running, and cooking.
• Abstract: These poems are pieces from the honors thesis in Creative Writing that I am currently working on. My thesis centers around queer ordinariness, showcasing the quiet ordinary to demonstrate that it can be just as important as moments of loud resistance. The poetry in my thesis is united around a central location of a kitchen and a garden, and probes questions of identity, sexuality, gender, intimacy, and the body.

William Ledesma ’25: Boris Yeltsin’s Russia: Constitutional Conflicts, NATO, and the Dawn of Putin

• Presenter Bio: William Ledesma is a senior whose research interests are on U.S. diplomacy, European security, and Russia. He is majoring in Law, History & Society (Honors Thesis) and European Studies: Russia and Eastern Europe (Honors Thesis), with a minor in Business. His history thesis follows post-Soviet Russia from Boris Yeltsin to Vladimir Putin, tentatively titled “Boris Yeltsin’s Russia: Constitutional Conflicts, NATO, and the Dawn of Putin.” His European & Russian Studies honors thesis is “Marx & Engels in the Press: Perceptions of Russia and the Crimean War,” which analyzes journalism on the Crimean War by Marx and Engels—providing insights into the philosophers’ intellectualism, perceptions of Russia, and European international relations in the mid-nineteenth century. Other pieces published while at Vanderbilt include projects on Vladislav Surkov, Catherine the Great, a 53-minute podcast on misinformation & disinformation with co-author Zacarias Negron, a profile interview of a Vanderbilt history professor, and a creative writing piece defining political unity.
• Abstract: The overarching takeaway among the chapters is that, contrary to previous historical narratives on the period, Yeltsin diminished democratic forces and limited Russia’s ability to be integrated with the political West, rather than being “the father of democracy” in Russia. The outcome of the 1990s was a Russia for an authoritarian’s taking. But it was not inevitable, as the primary sources reveal that, in key moments, Yeltsin was an autonomous and hyper-presidential power actor who had divergent options, and from those paths, decisively changed the course of Russia’s post-Soviet trajectory.

Grace Shen ’26: Disjointed Development: Amputation Surgery and Prosthesis Innovation in Roman Antiquity

• Presenter Bio: Grace Shen is a junior majoring in Classical and Mediterranean Studies with a minor in Chemistry. Grace is passionate about medicine across cultures (ranging from modern East Asia to ancient Rome) and the intersections between language, culture, and literature. She is especially interested in the application and revival of Classics within modern medicine and in everyday life. Born and raised in Marietta, Georgia, she is a die-hard fan of the Atlanta Braves, and she has a soft spot for the overseas Lotte Giants, who play in Busan, South Korea. After graduation, Grace hopes to pursue a career in medicine and is particularly interested in working in palliative care.
• Abstract: This piece explores the relationship between amputation surgery and prosthetic innovations in Roman antiquity. Written for CLAS 2300: Ancient Science, this paper examines how modern assumptions of antiquity, drawn from our own understanding of medicine, can be challenged after we examine the details of Roman medicine, science, and society closely.

Maggie Marks ’28: Reconstructing the Early Feminist Movement

• Presenter Bio: Maggie Marks is a member of the class of 2028 at Vanderbilt University from San Francisco, California, planning to major in Economics with minors in Data Science and Spanish. She is passionate about writing as a tool for advocacy and a means to explore history more deeply, using it to engage with complex ideas and amplify diverse perspectives.
• Abstract: This essay examines the start of the women’s rights movement in post-Revolutionary War America, focusing specifically on Elizabeth Cady Stanton’s Declaration of Sentiments and the ways in which it persuasively paralleled the Declaration of Independence. It highlights the racial exclusions that were inherent in early feminist advocacy, and spotlights the contributions of black women like Sojourner Truth who broadened the movement’s scope while fighting for true inalienable rights for all. By exploring the dynamics of these suffragists and abolitionists, this essay stresses the importance of an intersectional understanding of feminism, both historically and today.

Jack Torinus ’28: The Power of a Story

• Presenter Bio: Jack Torinus is a freshman at Vanderbilt University. He is studying biology on the pre-med track. Originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Jack loves spending time on the water—whether it’s fishing, wake surfing, or just boating. In high school, he played varsity hockey and lacrosse. He is a member of the Vanderbilt club hockey team. Jack is passionate about science and medicine, and he’s excited to see what his future holds at Vanderbilt.
• Abstract: This essay delves into storytelling and imagination as fundamental elements of what it means to be human. Through analyses of The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat by Oliver Sacks and “The Swimmer” by John Cheever, it examines how narratives shape identity, preserve meaning, and at times distort reality. By exploring the balance between creativity and truth, the work highlights both the resilience and fragility of the human spirit.

Caitlin Kuang ’28: The Outsider Queen: How Catherine de Medici Subverted Norms in Sixteenth-Century France

• Presenter Bio: Caitlin Kuang is a first-year at Vanderbilt University.
• Abstract: Focusing on French society in the 16th century, this paper applies the ideas introduced in Michel de Montaigne’s essays, “Of Friendship” and “Of Cannibals,” to the life of French queen Catherine de Medici. The paper examines two specific periods in her lifetime (her regency and the St. Bartholomew Day’s Massacre) to argue that Catherine’s vilification stemmed from her transgressions beyond gender and social norms.

Iris Holt ’25: Navigating Childhood Bereavement After Parental Suicide: Recommendations for Healthcare Professionals

• Presenter Bio: Iris Holt is a senior at Vanderbilt majoring in Child Studies and is from Franklin, Tennessee. She has always had a passion for writing. After taking a developmental psychology class her freshman year, she formed a strong interest in child psychology and mental health and found that she could combine this academic interest with her love of writing through research. In her free time, she enjoys being with her family and friends, hanging out with her dog, writing poetry, and reading.
• Abstract: This paper examines the unique challenges faced by children and adolescents bereaved by parental suicide loss, highlighting their heightened risk of a variety of negative mental health outcomes throughout their lives. It provides evidence-based recommendations for healthcare professionals who may encounter these individuals, focusing on trauma-informed care, postvention strategies, and fostering supportive environments to promote adaptive coping and resilience during the grieving process. By addressing the effects of a parental suicide loss and by discussing the benefits of community support, open communication, and meaning-making, this paper aims to guide professionals in supporting young survivors through grief and fostering their long-term well-being.

westbrook adams ’28: The Light May be Different, but It Shines on Us All the Same

• Presenter Bio: My name is Westbrook Adams, and I am a member of the class of 2028 here at Vanderbilt. I am from Athens, Georgia, and I am planning to major in economics and math with a minor in business. I have always loved all things creative, especially art, and I have grown so fond of writing as I have gotten older. In my spare time, I love playing basketball and rock climbing, or anything else that gets me outside. I’m so grateful to be part of the Vanderbilt community, and I am excited to grow deeper as a writer and a person in my time here!
• Abstract: This research paper is an analysis of why Plato’s Allegory of the Cave is morally superior and flawed. It includes an exploration of both the cognitive and affective components of happiness and meaning in order to prove the subjectivity of experiencing life, thereby rendering much of Plato’s argument incorrect. By engaging with both scientific and philosophical thought, this essay tackles vastly broad claims while staying grounded in truth. The drawing attached with it depicts a realization of Plato’s allegory, with a focus on the hand of the prisoner in order to convey that despite our perspective and view of his harsh conditions, from his perspective, the light from the fire shines on his hand the same as it would if he was outside with his hand in the sun. This is done in order to capture the central idea of this paper, which is that our perspective on things is the most important and defining aspect of our happiness and meaning.

Nathaniel Kochenderfer ’28: Oliver Sacks, the Neurobiology of Reality, and the Soul

• Presenter Bio: Nathaniel Kochenderfer is a member of the class of 2028 from Bethesda, MD. He is planning to major in neuroscience on the premed track. Outside of school, he likes to explore different genres of music, explore long-form journalism, and hike.
• Abstract: This piece explores neurologist/author Oliver Sacks’ examination of memory, identity, and the soul through the lens of two patients with a debilitating neurological condition called Korsakoff’s syndrome. Through close literary analysis of Sacks’ storytelling, character descriptions, and thematic contrasts, the piece evaluates how he constructs his argument about the loss of identity and the persistence of the soul. Drawing on recent medical research on Korsakoff’s syndrome, the piece ultimately asserts that the soul persists in one’s ability to experience deep, ineffable emotions.

Haeun lee ’28: Questioning Education

• Presenter Bio: Haeun Lee is a first-year student at Vanderbilt University studying Cognitive Sciences and Human Organizational Development. Though she has lived in multiple places throughout her life, she calls metro Atlanta her home. Haeun enjoys pursuits that allow her to express her artistic creativity. In her free time, she enjoys painting detailed flowers and landscapes, drawing still life with charcoal, writing about her thoughts and reflections, and singing while playing the piano. At Vanderbilt, she enjoys her class seminars that encourage discourse and allow her to engage with diverse perspectives.
• Abstract: This essay explores what the true purpose of higher education is through the lens of Langston Hughes’ poem “Theme for English B” and Plato’sThe Allegory of the Cave. By analyzing Hughes’ nuanced response to a seemingly straightforward writing assignment as a Black student in a predominantly white institution at the time, I consider Hughes to embody the very essence of true education through his active critique of the assignment. He reflects on his experiences as an African American college student, revealing how his background and identity distinguish him from other students—a distinction that conveys the vast complexities of American society. Hughes’ personal reflection and questioning of the world around him demonstrate the critical thinking and intellectual insight that exemplifies the value of higher education. Drawing parallels to my own experience at Vanderbilt, I came to realize the value of joining this open discourse of perspectives and mutual exchange of knowledge with peers and educators. I argue that higher education fulfills its purpose when it encourages individuals to step out of Plato’s metaphorical cave to gain an intellectual understanding of the world around us, even when it may seem discomforting. This engagement may manifest in different forms such as challenging traditional interpretations, acknowledging hidden biases, or perhaps, even questioning the educational institution itself, as Hughes did.

sophia muller ’28: No Man Is an Island

• Presenter Bio: Sophia Muller is a first-year student at Vanderbilt University studying psychology and violin performance. She is passionate about mental health and the role that community plays in promoting it, which was the ultimate inspiration for her paper. Sophia is a part of the Vanderbilt University Orchestra, a member of Zeta Tau Alpha, and holds an executive position on the board of fitness club Studio V. Away from the books, Sophia enjoys scrapbooking, long runs with friends, and reading on Commons lawn.
• Abstract: This work highlights the common belief held today that education should be a means for self-actualization and improvement. While this is by no means negative, it does bring into question whether we learn for the betterment of just ourselves, or for the betterment of others. For the sake of the world, we must switch from such a limiting scope of education, and transition the end goal from an ideal self to a better world.

Joseph Petkash ’28: An Examination of Suburbia

• Presenter Bio: Joseph Petkash is a freshman majoring in Economics and Psychology. Originally from outside of Cleveland but now living in a suburb of Atlanta, he has always been fascinated by the history and culture of the areas he grew up in, which, combined with his love for writing, helped to inspire this essay. In his free time, Joseph enjoys running, exploring the city, and getting a good meal with his friends.
• Abstract: In this essay, I explore the history of suburbs in America and the troubles plaguing them, ranging from drug abuse, racial, tension, and physical and cultural deterioration. Beyond this, I explored what these issues and history reflect about American values and how these have been depicted in various media to emphasize the existence of the American values.

Cindy wang ’28: Thou Shalt Not Die

• Presenter Bio: Cindy Wang is a freshman from Toronto (pronounced Tronno), Canada, studying economics, communications, while dabbling a little at the Blair School of Music. She enjoys singing, baking, making music commentaries, watching Studio Ghibli, and playing badminton, but nothing beats some good old classical music and a tasty snack.
• Abstract: The piece is a part of the Extending the Conversation project, inspired by Japanese death poetry in the CORE 1010 curriculum. It explores the correlation between death poetry and coping death with denial.