Senior Symposium Demonstrates Intellectual Mastery and Curiosity

Each spring, Heathwood Hall Episcopal School honors a longstanding tradition that underscores the heart of its academic mission: the Senior Symposium. More than just a milestone, the Symposium represents the culmination of each student’s intellectual journey—an opportunity for seniors to present their capstone research and demonstrate the depth, discipline, and curiosity that have defined their time at Heathwood.

In front of peers, faculty, and invited guests, students share not only the findings of their work, but also the personal significance behind their chosen topics. This year’s Class of 2025 took on topics that spanned disciplines, cultures, and contemporary issues. From the neurological effects of sleep deprivation to the ethical consequences of fast fashion, and from debates over NIL policies to the future of nuclear energy in the United States, each presentation reflected a deep engagement with both research and relevance.

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Some students tackled pressing societal issues—such as childhood obesity reform, military sexual violence, and online gambling among adolescents. Others explored intersections between science and society, including topics like genetic screening for Alzheimer’s disease, ultra-processed foods and public health, and digital immortality. Still others turned their attention to the arts, athletics, and culture, analyzing political rap, karaoke ethnography, and the mental health of student athletes. What united these projects was not only their range, but their depth. Every paper was grounded in months of rigorous research and sharpened through the guidance of a faculty mentor. Students were challenged not only to study their subjects but to articulate why their work matters—what questions it answers, what debates it advances, and what impact it might have. Described by Head of Upper School George Scouten as “the culmination of a student’s academic journey at Heathwood,” the Symposium is more than a final assignment—it is a rite of passage. As these students prepare to take their next steps beyond Heathwood, the lessons learned in their research and presentations will serve as a foundation for continued exploration, growth, and impact.

The Heathwood Hall Approach

Public Policy, Law & Society

Student	Topic
McCullough Adams	Women in Policing: A Look at Female-Targeted Recruitment Policies
Sofia Basile	When Will It End? An Examination of Solutions to End Military Sexual Violence Against Women in the United States Armed Forces
Taylor Brave	The Tension Between Morality and Constitutionality in America’s Prison Healthcare System
Grayson Hawn	Free Speech in the Modern Public Square
Hunter Hodges	(Un)bearable Arms?: What the Second Amendment Means in 2025
Joseph Hauk	The Next Dot-Com?: Examining AI in Light of Past Tech Crashes
Priya McLaughlin	The Breath Beneath the Bark: An Ethical Examination of the Respiratory Consequences of Selective Breeding in Pedigree Dogs
Robert Tighe	Sportswashing in the Middle East: Political Influence Through Mega-Events

Mental & Physical Health

Student	Topic
Matthew Black	Running for Neurogenesis: An Age-Based Analysis of Aerobic Exercise on Brain Function and Development
Louise Christian	Alcohol Use Among Adolescents: Lasting Impacts on Brain Function, Development, and Mental Health
Josiah Coney	The Effects of Stress on Adolescents: A Neurobiological Perspective
Shamarie Hayes	Lost in the High: The Long-Term Consequences of Early Substance Use
Riley Livingston	The Physiological Effects of Poor Sleep on Adolescents and Young Adults
Natalie Johnson	Genetic Screening for Alzheimer’s: Advantage or Disadvantage?
SaBreya Monsanto	Mental Health in High School Student Athletes: Challenges and Support Strategies
Nic Nichols	ACL Ruptures: How Faster Recovery Times Improve Mental Health
Nellie Stuckey	Beyond Words: The Power of Dance Movement Therapy for PTSD Recovery

Youth & Education

Student	Topic
Daryn Binns	Understanding the Decline of Black Male College Enrollment: Causes and Consequences
Camillea Gore	The Neglect of Athletes’ Mental Health
Matthew Golden	Bridging the Technology Gap for Low-Income Students
Tristen McCleary	Children in Nature: The Benefits of Outdoor Play
Kaitlyn McFarland	Orphan Diseases: Building Community in a Digitized World
Cal Peterson	Our Children Are Growing: School Policy Reform to Combat Childhood Obesity
Kate Tucker	The Benefits of Music Education for Students with Autism

Science & Environment

Student	Topic
Sophie Chen	A Rise in Type 2 Diabetes in Youth: Causes and Prevention
Jacob Hanna	Nuclear Energy: The Need for Efficient, Sustainable Power in the U.S.
James Hudson	Protecting Africa’s Giants: Conservation Solutions for Elephants and Rhinos
Mac King	Feral Hogs and Their Environmental and Economic Impacts
James Stone	Delaying Turkey Season: A Conservation Solution for South Carolina
Zane Truesdale	Poisoning From Within: The Impact of Ultra-Processed Foods on America’s Health

Culture, Media & Technology

Student	Topic
Cam Beck	Sure We Never Loved the Devil Here: Trauma and Vigilante Identity in Bendis’s Early Daredevil
Lilly Grace Brown	Media Bias and Public Perception of Cults
Taylor Darby	The Lies Behind the Label: An In-Depth Look at the Fast Fashion Industry
Emma Edwards	Why Ozempic?
Jack Gilchrist	The Importance of Political Rap
Lauren Jacobs	The Negative Impacts of Social Media on Adolescent Mental Health
Penelope Mann	The Counterintuitive Reality of Cancel Culture in Stand-Up Comedy
Molly McVey	Formula One: How Documentaries and Social Media Shape the Future of Sports Marketing
Mary Frances Ruskell	There’s Something About Harry: An Ethnographic Study of Saturday Night Karaoke at Uncle Fester’s
Dakota Shiflett	The Effects of Media Bias in Glamorizing Crime

Sports, Recreation & Performance

Student	Topic
Davis Hughes	Trackman Technology: Helping or Hurting Golf?
Jordan Kennedy	Olympic Weightlifting and High School Athletes
Onis Konanbanny	NIL Rules and International Athletes: Leveling the Playing Field
Sellers McGee	The Impact of NIL on College Football
Wilson Miller	Post-Civil War Reconstruction in South Carolina
Michael Nardella	Sports Betting and Its Effects on Youth
Ramsey Smith	Conference Realignment: The Wild West of College Sports
Michael Tumlin	What Is the Safest Football Helmet for Linemen?

Innovation, Ethics & the Future

Student	Topic
Edgar Jackson	Clipped Wings: Flying to the Dream in Different Directions
Joseph Song	How to Cook a Perfect Steak: A Comprehensive Approach
Noah Smith	Understanding the Decline: Challenges and Solutions for the Future of Military Recruitment
Asher Zhong	A Blueprint for Digital Ascension: Digital Immortality and Safeguarding Against AI Supremacy

Thank You to Our Outside Contributors

We extend our gratitude to the professionals and experts who generously shared their time, knowledge, and insight. Your support helped shape the quality and depth of our students’ research and growth.

Dr. Anthony Alberg, Dr. Carlton Andrews, Dr. Charlotte Anderson, Mr. Adam Balph, Dr. John Baker, Dr. Sang-eun Byun, Dr. Brenton Coe, Dr. Virginia Cooper, Mrs. Patty Daso, Dr. Bryan Denham, Dr. Mathieu Deflem, Mr. Tom Dougall, Dr. Johnathan Engh, Ms. Aisha Foy, Dr. Lacy Ford, Mrs. Judi Gatson, Dr. Gwen Geidel, Mr. Garth Glissman, Mr. Mike Goodwin, Ms. Markeisha Grant, Dr. Michael M. Grant, Mr. Anthony Hampton, Mr. McRay Hunter, Dr. Tupp Iseman, Mr. Adam Kaplan, Mr. Michael Kennedy, Dr. Robert Kopack, Ms. Carson Lillard, Dr. Kevin Mastro, Dr. Alicia McFarland, Dr. Mark Minett, Mr. Matt Moore, Dr. Scott Mourtgos, Jared Muth, Dr. Jennifer Ng, Dr. Frank Noojin, Dr. Melinda O'Leary, Dr. Cara O'Neill, Dr. Russell Pate, Mr. Ryan Peck, Lt. Col. Rachel J. Phillips (USAF), Marissa Porreca MS, RD, LD, Dr. Raylene Ross, Mr. Charles Ruth, Mr. Paulo Senra, Mr. Roger Sipe, Dr. Mark Smith, Mr. Chris Sparrow, Ms. Anita Stevens, Dr. Yi Sun, Col. Bradley Vance, Dr. Sriram Venkataraman, Dr. Jennifer Watson, Mr. Reggie Williams, Dr. Christopher Williams, Dr. Katelin Williamson, Mr. Jason Wolfe, Dr. Qiana Whitted, Dr. Nicholas Younginer

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