A team of six students from Nazareth College recently presented at the 7th Annual Conference for Undergraduate Research in Communication on April 14 at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). Their papers were competitively selected from undergraduates submitting from a number of institutions nationally. This year also marked the first year Nazareth earned a top paper award. Kaitlyn Oudt’s paper, “Common Place in Disney Channel’s Hannah Montana” won an award for Top Paper in Criticism.
Anna Beasley of Holland Patent, N.Y., is a sophomore and communication and rhetoric major. Her paper’s title is Effective Classical Rhetoric in the Speeches of Barack Obama.
William Blye of Lima, N.Y., is a junior and communication and rhetoric major. His paper’s title is Encomium of Rhetoric.
Jake Giovanini of Solvay, N.Y., is a junior and communication and rhetoric honors major. His paper’s title is Blame it on the Puppet: Incongruity in Ventriloquism and Why It’s Okay to Cross the Line.
Kaitlyn Oudt of Schnectady, N.Y., is a junior and communication and rhetoric major. Her paper’s title is Common Place in Disney Channel’s Hannah Montana.
Lauryn Recchia of Fairport, N.Y., is a senior and communication and rhetoric major. Her paper’s title is The Evolution of ‘Natural’ Beauty: How Media Portrays Beauty and the Lack of Role Models in Teen Magazines.
Casey Tamimie of Nunda, N.Y., is a junior and communication and rhetoric major. Her paper’s title is Where have all the Parents Gone: A Narrative Criticism.
The students were part of various classes taught by Carlnita Greene, assistant professor of communication and rhetoric, and Lisa Perks, assistant professor of English. Greene and Perks assisted the students in preparing their papers for submission and worked with them on their presentations for the conference.
Established in 2004, the Conference for Undergraduate Research in Communication and functions to renew a shared commitment to communication research and to underscore an appreciation for the students whose research touches all edges of the discipline’s broad boundaries.

View more: Academics, English