2008 Participants:

Alexander Avtgis ’11, of Munster, IN, is a double major in political science and philosophy.  Avtgis is the Treasurer of the Pre-Law Society, the alumni secretary for Unidos Por Sangre, as well as active member of his fraternity, Phi Gamma Delta.  He also fills his schedule by being an active member of the Progressive Students Movement, and the college’s Inter-Fraternity Council.  Avtgis’ project will focus on the recent immigration of Hispanics into the state of Indiana.  This project will focus on the social capital, entrepreneurial ventures, and vast culture that Indiana’s emerging Hispanic population has offered the state.

Joel Bustamante ’11 of Stockbridge, Georgia, is an English major with a Spanish minor. He plays baseball for the Little Giants, draws the editorial cartoons for The Bachelor, writes for The Caveman, and is an active member of the Independent Men’s Association. As a cartoonist, Joel will be researching “Garfield” creator and Muncie native Jim Davis, as well as his multimedia reach across the world.

Lijie Ding ’11, Shanghai, is a double major in economics and mathematics. He is the secretary of the International Student Association. His project is on Indiana exports. He will focus on the uniqueness of Indiana ’s global export industry.

Seth Einterz '11, Zionsville, will be a sophomore physics major this next year.  He is active on the track and cross country teams, as well as the theater department.  Seth will research the growing opportunities for rails-to-trails in the state of Indiana.  In highlighting the success stories throughout the state - the Cardinal Greenway, the Monon Trail, and the Fort Wayne Trails - Seth hopes to share the economic, social, and health values that rails to trails contribute to our State
 

Kyle Frederick ’10, Hammond, Indiana, is a biology major, music and chemistry minor. Kyle occupies his time at college with Glee Club, Alpha Phi Omega, Bio Society, and being an active member of his fraternity, Kappa Sigma. Kyle’s project will focus on the emergence of Jazz music in Indiana. He will concentrate on how Jazz music came to be in Indiana and how it affected Indiana culturally and economically.

Sean Huston ’10, Indianapolis, Indiana, is a history major with a political science minor. Sean is the managing editor of the Legalis and member of Delta Tau Delta fraternity. Sean will research the political history of Indiana, concentrating on the year 1816 and the process of joining the Union. His project will look at the significant contributions of the pioneers and statesmen that were instrumental in organizing the state of Indiana out of the Northwest Territory.  

Kevin Long 10, Crawfordsville is a Philosophy major, minoring in Economics. While being active in his fraternity Beta Theta Pi, he is also apart of the Pre-law Society, as well as Best Buddies. Kevin will be researching BioTown Indiana, a town previously named Reynolds that is attempting to run all of its energy needs off of alternative sources. The innovative town is leading the way on the fight to renewable energy and creating a cleaner environment for us all.

John McGaughey ’11, is an English major, religion minor ,from Bedford, Indiana. John is on the Philanthropy Committee of his fraternity, Theta Delta Chi, as well as being a student blogger for the Modern Language Department, a member of Wabash Christian Men, President of the Ping Pong Club, and writes for the Bachelor. John will be researching the lives of three astronauts, Gus Grissom, Kenneth Bowersox, and Charles Walker, who hail from Lawrence County. Also, John will be looking at other astronauts from the Hoosier State.

Alex Moseman '11, Bloomington IN, He is a Political Science Major and an English Minor, and a member of the track and field team. Alex is creating a photo essay of the state, that captures Indiana's cultrual and natural beauty. He is also working as the staff photoagrapher for the Present Indiana program. 

George Padgitt '09 is a political science major and economics minor from Fishers, IN.  He is a former member of the Wabash soccer team and a current member of Delta Tau Delta.  His research will be focused on Indiana high school basketball gymnasiums.  He hopes to learn their stories and identify the qualities that make them unlike any other gymnasiums in the world.

Joel Patterson '09, Granger, Indiana, is a Math and Art double major with a minor in Economics and a Business Sequence Area of Concentration.  He is a member of Wabash Christian Men and the Malcolm X Institute of Black Studies in addition to being a senior basketball manager.   Joel's Present Indiana Project outlines the diversity between art museums of Indiana.  Museums of interest include the Indianapolis Museum of Art, Eiteljorg Museum, Indianapolis University Art Museum, Snite Museum of Art, and Swope Art Museum.

Greg Slisz '10, Indianapolis, IN, is an economics major with minors in Spanish and literature. He is a member of the Wabash basketball team, writes for the Bachelor, and is an active member of Phi Gamma Delta.  Greg's project will focus on the 1955 Crispus Attucks High School Boys' Basketball team, which was the first all-black team in the nation to win a state championship. The project also examines the team's win within the context of the Civil Rights movement in Indiana.

Cody Stipes ’11, Bunker Hill, IN., is a Mathematics Major. He is active in Student Senate, Progressive Students Movement, and the founder of the Clean Air Coalition. Cody is on the Board of Directors for the AHEAD Coalition of Montgomery County and volunteers his time as a leader for VOICE, the youth-driven Indiana anti-tobacco movement. Cody is excited about becoming a future educator and hopes that through his project, the Unique High Schools of Indiana, he will be able to illustrate how much Indiana has to offer in Education. Cody will be researching three unique high schools of Indiana, which include the Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics, and Humanities, Culver Military Academy, and the International School of Indiana.