Students Present Research at State Capitol

Exercise science students Owen Runion ’12 and Kari Whitney ’12 presented their research at Minnesota’s State Capitol as part of the Private College Scholars at the Capitol event in March. The day at the capitol recognizes undergraduate student research, and Runion and Whitney’s poster was chosen as one of two Bethel research representatives at the event. Their research, entitled “The Relation Between Traumatic Brain Injury Testing and Complex Cognitive Motor Response Scores in American DIII Football Players,” informed district state legislators and other presenting scholars about the impact and significance of concussions in football players. The presentation helped increase awareness and sensitivity about this important and timely topic.

The students’ research “was part of the required curriculum and clinical hours in the Exercise Medicine and Prevention Center (EMPC),” says Seth Paradis, associate professor of health and physical education. The EMPC is a new laboratory on campus conducting health stratification and assessments on more than 700 Bethel students a year. Each week, exercise science students spend a minimum of four hours in the clinic, working toward 600 hours for board certification.

After his many hours in the EMPC researching concussions, Runion, a senior, says the Bethel community encouraged him to apply to present the results of his work. “The different facets at Bethel really encouraged my growth. From student managing, many different Bible studies, and the amazing teachers who have always pushed me for more... I was motivated to make my senior research count.”