Prairie View A&M University News November 30, 2020 PVAMU Honors Program students present research at national conference The Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) community is used to expecting great things from students enrolled in its Honors Program<https://www.pvamu.edu/honorsprogram/>. They certainly did not disappoint this month with their stellar representation at the 2020 National Association of African American Honors Program<https://www.naaahp.org/> (NAAAHP). Eighty-eight students from PVAMU took part in the event. Over the course of the four-day online conference, four PVAMU students got to present their research on such various topics as Black-on-Black crime, machine learning and the accuracy of breast cancer diagnosis, using acetic acid as an organic pesticide, and the impact of a Supreme Court decision on minority candidates for office. In addition, Raven Hollis was named Miss NAAAHP, and Kendall Lemons was named Mr. NAAAHP. "I am elated to be Miss NAAAHP for the 2020-2021 academic school year," said Hollis. "As a scholar, I will continue to develop an undergraduate educational environment that promotes scholarship, knowledge, and an appreciation of African American culture on our campus. Subsequently, my goal for this academic year is to increase the percentage of enrollment into graduate and professional schools." "The conference was an eye-opening experience," said Lemons, a first-time attendee who presented a paper called Accuracy of Diagnosis of Breast Cancer with Machine Learning Classifiers. "To be exposed to hundreds of students and directors with the same goal and like-minded decorum was amazing. In times like these, in which we as a nation are facing both a pandemic and extreme social unrest, events like this one provide hope, displaying a light at the end of the tunnel due to good fellowship and great direction." Trinity Gipson, who shared her research on Black-on-Black crime, agreed that attending the conference offered great insight on future possibilities. "I got the opportunity to ask questions, and I learned that there are some law schools and universities that allow you to do joint programs where you can get a law degree and a graduate degree," she said. "I was also a presenter, and I really loved getting to interact with those who viewed my research. This was overall a great experience." Quincy C. Moore III, Ph.D., PVAMU associate professor of biology and director of the university's Honors Program, who was also named NAAAHP secretary during the event, noted the annual conference offers student attendees invaluable information and the chance to connect to decision makers at universities and corporations from around the country. It also provides them a forum to display their academic work. "Imagine being in an environment with students from various NAAAHP-affiliated universities, backgrounds, and majors, who all share a common factor: each person is enrolled in their University Honors College/Program. This is what the students experience at NAAAHP," he explained. "This platform represents a great networking opportunity for students and an opportunity to gain experience with presenting research on a national level. They were able to receive critiques from various Honors faculty, deans, and directors in a virtual yet engaging environment." He's proud of the work the Honors Program does on behalf of PVAMU students, especially in encouraging them to be part of this important event. "Even during a pandemic, the Honors Program is providing opportunities for the students to continue to pursue educational opportunities," he said. "NAAAHP is a great organization, and this conference served as a catalyst to encourage more involvement in various areas such as student leadership on a national level." PVAMU's NAAAHP student presentations are included below: Ineceia Carter and Ayanna Montegut: "The Responses of Susceptible and Resistant Palmer Amaranth to Acetic Acid as an Organic Herbicide" https://youtu.be/-z1yUk3bNQw Trinity Gipson: "Black on Black Crime" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2lwFgDovpM&feature=youtu.be Kendall Lemons: "Accuracy of Diagnosis of Breast Cancer with Machine Learning Classifiers" https://youtu.be/DpHI93QxIHM Amorae Times: "The Impact of Shelby v. Holder on Minority Candidates" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyuN_zo6FR8&feature=youtu.be Sandra M. Phoenix HBCU Library Alliance Executive Director Atlanta University Center Robert W. Woodruff Library 111 James P. 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