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FSC students give presentations at honors program

LAKELAND, Fla. (Oct. 4, 2002) - Ten Florida Southern College students gave presentations at the FSC Honors Program on Sept. 27. Participants summarized their internship, summer research, and class projects during the afternoon event, "Fiat Lux: A Celebration of FSC Scholarship." 

Under the direction of Dr. Nancy Morvillo, professor of biology, students Joseph Capetillo, Jennifer Samuel, and Tatiana Yero presented "The Secret to a Rose's Beauty," exploring the genetic makeup of one variety of rose on campus that has differences in the number of its petals. This project was funded by a grant from the Community Foundation of Greater Lakeland. Capetillo, a freshman, is the son of Fernando and Norma Capetillo of Brandon, Fla. Samuel is a junior majoring in biology. She is the daughter of Febby and Elsey Samuel of Lakeland, Fla. Yero, a junior, is also a biology major from Lakeland. Her parents are Emilio and Mirta Yero. 

Shawn Nelson, a senior history major, presented "Recycling a Discarded Idea: What Happens When Students Want to Make a Difference?" as part of his honors program class work. He discussed the process for beginning FSC's campus recycling program last spring, its results (555 inches of office paper collected in a semester) and plans for the future. Nelson is the son of Earl and Linda Nelson of Lakeland, Fla. 

"Supramolecular Chemistry" was presented by Houda Darwiche and Dalitso Nyalani, under the direction of Dr. Carmen Gauthier, chair of the chemistry and physics department. The students discussed the making of molecules that they believe had never been constructed before. This research was funded by the FSC dean's office. Darwiche is a junior chemistry and biology major. She is the daughter of Abdul and Hind Darwiche of Winter Haven, Fla. Nyalani, a senior biology major, is the daughter of Dominic and Dorothy Nyalani of Malawi, Africa. 

Joy Beurrier, a junior English major in the honors program, presented "Latin Lives!", arguing in favor of teaching Latin at FSC. She suggested that a knowledge of Latin would help students in many ways, and her research revealed a sizable number of students interested in the course. Beurrier is the daughter of Jim and Paulette Beurrier of Stuart, Fla. 

Bradley Serata and Rosalie Lathers presented "The Folklore of Florida Southern College," under the direction of Dr. Alexander Bruce, English professor and assistant dean of the college. The students shared a range of tales that had been collected about ghosts and Greek life on campus, discussing why people tell these stories and why they are perpetuated. This project was funded by the dean's office. Serata is a senior criminology and sociology major. He is the son of Robert and Judith Serata of St. Petersburg, Fla. Lathers, a senior music education and music performance major, is the daughter of Glen and Cheryl Lathers of Tampa, Fla. 

Kelly Aurich presented her research on "Experimental Design for the Study of Water Hyacinth Growth" as part of her internship. Under the direction of Dr. Eric Kjellmark, biology professor, Aurich studied growth problems of water hyacinth planted in specific areas to absorb bad chemicals from the water. Aurich, a senior biology and environmental studies major, is the daughter of Robert and Roberta Aurich of Lakeland, Fla. 

Bruce explained the program title, "Fiat Lux" - Latin for "Let there be light!" - as it applied to the intent and structure of the program: "As God's first command in the story of Creation from Genesis, it reminds us of FSC's religious grounding; it is in Latin, the traditional language of scholarship; and it is a command to create light from chaos - just as our creative students have helped illuminate us with their scholarly work."


About Florida Southern College
Florida Southern is a four-year, private, co-educational liberal arts college affiliated with the United Methodist Church. The college offers more than 40 undergraduate majors and a master of business administration degree accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Located in Lakeland, Fla., the college is home to the largest, single-site collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture in the world. 

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