Show Your Blue Stripes Conference Highlights Student Research

Student Alicia Malone showcases her poster about housing solutions for homeless veterans at Show Your Blue Stripes 2025 on April 3 at Inman E. Page Library.

Several Lincoln University students showcased their research skills this month at the Show Your Blue Stripes Conference at Inman E. Page Library.

On April 3, students displayed posters and gave oral presentations on papers, with cash prizes available for winners in each category.

Reference and Instruction Librarian Lily Hunter — who organized Show Your Blue Stripes — said the event was started by librarians to give students opportunities to showcase their research skills, practice presenting in a conference setting and collaborate with peers.

“My intent behind it is to foster continuing relationships with faculty and students, especially in times when people are starting to batten down the hatches,” Hunter said. “I want to keep the love of research going.”

She said the conference is important for keeping students informed and showing off their skills. Hunter said students put “so much” effort and practice into the conference and care deeply about their research.

“That should be lauded,” Hunter said.

Travis Barrett — a graduating senior majoring in biology with a minor in anthropology — presented on a paper during the conference. His topic was, “Molecular Techniques to Verify Historical Epidemics and Pandemics: Genomic Identification of Pathological Microbes in Ancient Skeletal Remains.”

Student Travis Barrett receives a certificate for his second-place presentation at Show Your Blue Stripes 2025 from Director of Library Services Jake Durham.

This was Barrett’s third year attending Show Your Blue Stripes. 

He said his professors — initially Dr. Christine Boston and most recently Dr. Keeso Lee — pushed him to participate in the conference and other research events.

Hunter helped him prepare for the presentation, he added.

“There’s just been so much support at Lincoln to do this type of thing,” Barrett said.

Barrett said his paper’s subject stemmed from his passion for paleogenetics — a field that uses genetics to examine the DNA of ancient humans. He was introduced to the subject through an Introduction to Physical Anthropology class and has been passionate about the subject ever since.

Barrett said his paper examined techniques used by other researchers, but he hopes to do his own research one day. He said his dream is to analyze genetic diseases in Neanderthals and compare them to the genetic diseases seen in the present.

This was Barrett’s last Show Your Blue Stripes Conference, and he encouraged other students to participate in the future.

“Other students should go for it, no matter their field," Barrett said. "I know a lot of students are iffy about it, especially in fields where not a lot of papers are written on those subjects. I think it’s absolutely worth it.”

Seven students participated in the conference, either displaying posters or presenting papers. In each category, first place received $150, second place received $100 and third place received $50.

In the presentation category, Madelynn Sechrest and Vanessa Cardenas won first place for their paper, “Improving Golf Performance Using Strokes Gained and Deliberate Practice.”

Barrett’s presentation won second place.

Gabriel Souza won third place with his paper, “Literature Search on Climate Change Inequalities.”

In the poster category, Deyana Chism won first place for her research on “Reducing Stress and Increasing Success: Acclimating First-Year College Students to Their New Environment.”

Alicia Malone won second with her poster, “Addressing Veterans’ Homelessness: An Analysis of the HUD-VASH Program and Other Housing Solutions.”