Class of 2020 Presentation Archive

I love Jesus. I also love bad movies. Why not put the two together? As entertaining as terrible films may be, they aren’t what they should be. Christian movies are some of the worst at the box office, and in some cases, it’s not even close. I believe film is a great way to spread the gospel, so why not make good Christian movies?

Favorite Research: "I'm A Christian And I Hate Christian Movies" by Alissa Wilkinson

Last summer, I found myself spending too much unnecessary time on my phone. While the thought of cutting back screen time was on my mind, I noticed that no matter where I went, almost everyone around me had the same problem. I began to realize the profound impact the phone has on our lives. With further research, I was led to the deeper issues that come with these devices and was inspired to use my thesis to shine light on them.

Favorite Research: iGen: Why Today's Super-Connected Kids Are Growing Up Less Rebellious, More Tolerant, Less Happy - And Completely Unprepared For Adulthood by Jean M. Twenge

Throughout my entire life, the topic at hand has impacted my close family every day. This is an issue that I believe is not highlighted enough and should be brought into the spotlight.

Favorite Research: "The True Story of America's Sky-High Prescription Drug Prices" by Sarah Kliff

Sports have been a big part of my life. I see value in the life lessons they offer. When deciding on a topic, I wanted to focus on some aspect of youth sports. I realize that some kids do not have the positive outcomes that I have experienced, and found in my research that early specialization can interfere with the positive aspects that can come with youth sports participation.

Favorite Research: Range: Why Generalists Triumph In A Specialized World by David Epstein

Throughout my time in high school, I have looked for opportunities to take business courses. I saw my thesis as yet another opportunity to expose myself to the business world. I chose my topic, the detrimets to the global economy of implementing privatized currency, because I enjoy learning about the subject and intend to pursue a finance major this coming fall.

Favorite Research: The Intelligent Investor: The Definitive Book On Value Investing by Benjamin Graham

The majority of our society has lost sight of what marriage is. And because of this, the general view of relationships has been altered as well. Our culture is constantly teaching us that marriage can easily be broken. The outcome of this is a generation that views relationships as just that: a relationship. Many do not take marriage with the weight it deserves causing messy divorces all over the country. I chose the topic of no-fault divorce because I believe that this bill is a major component in the marriage decline. I hope that my thesis can help shine a light on the problem and save the meaning of marriage.

Favorite Research: "End No-Fault Divorce?" by Gallagher and Whitehead

I was drawn to the topic of illegal immigration because my dad was raised on the Mexican-American border, where my grandparents still live. I have seen first-hand the impact that illegal immigration and the drugs that come with it have on a community. In addition to this, I chose illegal immigration because of the misconceptions surrounding it. Lastly, I chose this topic because it is a serious problem that must be solved.

Favorite Research: The River And The Wall by Ben Masters

I began considering my topic when I was deejaying a party, and some children under thirteen were repeatedly requesting songs with extremely inappropriate lyrics, especially for their age. It was so shocking to me that they even knew these songs. So I began to research the science behind explicit music’s impact on the young mind, which further piqued my interest and led me to choose it as my thesis topic.

Favorite Research: "The Problem with Exposing Kids to Sexual and Violent Content" by Justin Coulson from the Institute for Family Studies

There are many reasons why I chose to write my thesis on animal abuse in the meat market. For one, this is a very common subject in my household. My mom is a huge advocate for animals and their well-being. I've adopted the same passion as I have seen the issue growing in urgency. I wanted to dive into this topic to make people aware of what is really going on in this industry. Everyone buys and eats meat but few know what actually goes on behind closed doors, and I want to expose that and inform people on the truth.

Favorite Research: "Highways To Hell" by Lorraine Murray

I originally was going to do my thesis over abolishing automatic admissions into colleges, but after the El Paso shooting this past August I felt compelled to address mass shootings. I found out about that shooting (and many others) through Twitter, so I wanted to dive deeper into the media's role in mass shootings. It turned out to be a lot bigger than I had anticipated.

Favorite Research: "Mass Shootings And The Media Contagion Effect" by Jennifer Johnston and Andrew Joy

I was inspired to write my thesis on the subject of organ donation when my dad had a kidney transplant. I was very intrigued by the process and grew interested in learning more about the system and all it entails. When I discovered the amount of lives lost due to organ failure while still on the waiting list, I knew something had to be done.

Favorite Research: When Death Becomes Life: Notes From A Transplant Surgeon by Joshua D. Mezrich, MD

The discussion of Capitalism and its merits has been one that my family has had around the dinner table for a long time. I find American culture fascinating and love to challenge the common ideas that we as Americans have grown up believing. I think it is important to question all aspects of our society to determine if they truly do line up with the teachings of Jesus.

Favorite Research: “Lifting Society from the Bottom Up: A Distributist Agenda for the American Solidarity Party” by John Medaille

I have always loved nature and being outdoors, so for my thesis, I wanted to do something that captured both.

Favorite Research: NPS.gov

While on a trip this summer, I saw an episode of Dateline about John Hinckley Jr.’s assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan. This was my first exposure to both this historical event and the use of the insanity defense. The morality of this plea was an interesting controversy about which I wanted to learn more. After some research, I decided it would be a perfect topic for my thesis.

Favorite Research: "Excusing the Crazy: The Insanity Defense Reconsidered" by Stephen J. Morse

I discovered restorative justice and was very interested in it. The topic relates to my chosen field of criminal justice. Alternatives to imprisonment can help with the problems currently faced in our prison system. Mass incarceration and high recidivism rates negatively affect the community. I believe that restorative justice can have a positive impact on these problems and offer healing for the offender, the victim and the community.

Favorite Research: Until We Reckon: Violence, Mass Incarceration, And A Road To Repair by Danielle Sered

I believe pornography is an addiction that is taking hold of our youth. As a teenager growing up in the age of the internet, I have seen the dangers of pornography, its acceptance and its promotion in society. This issue has grown to be such a pandemic that government intervention is vital in order to shift the mentality of our generation.

Favorite Research: "Neuroscience Of Internet Pornography Addiction: A Review And Update" by Todd Love, et. al.

The spark was initially ignited when I read A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini. After I read the book, things about the Middle East kept popping up around me. I look back now and I can see that it was the Holy Spirit giving me a hunger to learn more about it. I don’t know how God will continue to use this desire, but I know he has placed it on my heart. He is moving in the most incredible ways and I can't help but want to share it.

Favorite Research: "Can Religion and Politics be Separated in the Middle East?" by Colin Chapman

I wanted to do something that would be pertinent and encouraging to Americans. Originally, I thought about a trade school topic. However, I realized that a lot of the difficulties revolving around American teenagers begin with how we are viewed in society. I wanted to try and alleviate the anxiety some parents and students are feeling about this time of life and show that the culture norm in no way has to be personally true.

Favorite Research: The Vanishing American Adult: Our Coming-of-Age Crisis - And How To Rebuild A Culture Of Self-Reliance by Ben Sasse

This has been a topic dear to my heart since I first heard about it when I was eleven years old. Since then, I have learned so much more about the topic and realized the shallowness of my original understanding. After learning more I realized that IVF balances on the edge of numerous ethical issues, which is why I believe Christians should fully understand this topic.

Favorite Research: Get A Life: His & Hers Survival Guide to IVF by Rosie Bray and Richard Mackney

Due to my interest in computer science and technology in general, I have always been disappointed with Geneva’s lack of technological advancement. I always knew classical education and technological advancement weren’t mutually exclusive. I also strongly felt that the people like me, who wish to have the classical education but also go into fields such as computer science, had always been left out of the equation. So, here’s my argument.

Favorite Research: Interface Culture: How New Technology Transforms The Way We Create And Communicate by Steven Johnson

Parental oversight of children's internet usage is really prevalent in the world today. Parents are so protective of their children. They will go to any lengths for them. I think parents need to get their act together, and trust their kids. I was also inspired with the various stories that poeple will tell of their parents, as well.

Favorite Research: "Should You Spy On Your Kids?" by Nick Wingfield

In Sophomore year I did a similar topic in my mini-thesis. I noticed that a topic like mine has not been done yet, so it encouraged me to pick it.

Favorite Research: GreenWave.org

Ever since I was little, I was always fascinated by building things. My eighth grade summer all the way to my sophomore year I built I whole grape vineyard from scratch. I got to see my labor pay off when picking the grapes and then the wine. This definitely showed me what my interest is in with building and I hope one day to be a custom home builder and learn from the architecture of churches to open my mind and come up with better idea for houses.

Favorite Research: Duncan Stroik, Architect

Given how much we talk about mental health, especially with regard to teenagers, we don’t discuss eating disorders nearly enough. At Geneva, students frequently prioritize perfect performance over things like sleep and sustenance. A student predisposed to developing an eating disorder could easily fall into dangerous patterns when they believe their performance is inadequate. And yet we don’t talk about them. My goal is to begin an overdue conversation.

Favorite Research: Unf*%k Your Brain: Using Science to Get Over Anxiety, Depression, Anger, Freak-Outs, and Triggers by Faith G. Harper

I chose to speak about financial literacy because it is not something we are taught in school, but is a skill we need in our everyday lives. After doing a little research I was shocked at how little knowledge most Americans have when it comes to finance. I have a business-oriented mind. To me, if it doesn't make money it doesn't make sense. This topic proved a natural fit for my interests and passions.

Favorite Research: The Millionaire Next Door: The Surprising Secrets Of America's Wealthy by William D. Danko

As someone interested in fashion my whole life, I knew I wanted my topic to address a big problem in the apparel industry. With environmental concerns at an all time high, “sustainability” is the buzzword on everyone’s mind and is a goal for most companies. Consumers are uninformed to the horrible things that happen during the making of their clothes behind the cover of good marketing.

Favorite Research: Fashionopolis: The Price Of Fast Fashion And The Future Of Clothes by Dana Thomas

As my mom and I constantly discuss the problem of poverty, I always get frustrated at the lack of a successful solution. I saw this as an opportunity to do more extensive research on something about which I actually cared. I am very thankful now for my decision because I actually enjoy the work I am doing and am passionate about the subject matter!

Favorite Research: "After School Programs And Academic Impact: A Study Of Chicago's After School Matters" by Robert George, et. al.

Many in our society are undereducated on the plethora of positive uses that medicinal marijuana has to offer, and only view the plant with its associated stigmas. I chose this topic to present the way medicinal marijuana should be viewed.

Favorite Research: "A Brief History Of Medical Cannabis: From Ancient Anesthesia To The Modern Dispensary" by Lecia Bushak

I believe those who suffer from mental illnesses are mistreated, falsely viewed, and most importantly not given the resources they need to help themselves.

Favorite Research: "Early Childhood Mental Health" by The Center For The Developing Child at Harvard University

I’ve always loved sports, and I wanted to choose something that had to do with it. Keeping up with the latest news and rumors has always been a hobby of mine. I grew up watching NBA basketball and looked up to lots of players, and learning about their contracts made me realize the importance of the No-Trade Clause.

Favorite Research: "Dallas Mavericks Trade Harrison Barnes Mid-Game, Leading To An Awkward Finish On The Bench" by Tyler Lauletta

I was originally drawn to how the developing technology of automation and artificial intelligence will affect our country because I was curious to see how far the technology would progress, and how it would affect our daily lives. I heard many forebodings about the subject, and wanted to know if I, too, should be concerned for our future.

Favorite Research: "Job Loss Due To AI — How Bad Is It Going To Be?" by Jacky Liang, et. al.

I spent last summer working as an intern for Judge Garcia Marmolejo on the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas. This internship instilled in me a love for the government and the court system. After lots of research, I became intrigued by the Supreme Court and created my topic after learning about some controversies that surround the Supreme Court.

Favorite Research: The Most Dangerous Branch: Inside The Supreme Court In The Age of Trump by David A. Kaplan

Food is a necessity and major part of our everyday lives. I believe that we should not be consuming large amounts of additives and chemicals which are known to be harmful to us and that an initiative should be taken to improve our foods for the betterment of every individual’s health.

Favorite Research: “Chronology of Food Additive Regulations in the United States"

We are now starting to live in a time where national politics are becoming the main topic of discussion and debate while other local and regional topics and issues are starting to fade away - and with them our communities and way of life. The drought of local news leaves our communities uninformed and isolated on the home front.

Favorite Research: Them: Why We Hate Each Other And How To Heal by Ben Sasse

If you tune into any news station or political commentary channel, there is a big chance the commentators are talking about healthcare in some shape or form. With my family's experience in the health and medicine industry, I have chosen to shine some light on the fact that plans which sound good may not actually be good for the country and the culture. Politicians are revolutionizing healthcare and it’s our job to provide the best solutions possible - not necessarily what Washington prefers.

Favorite Research: False Premise, False Promise: The Disastrous Reality of Medicare for All by Sally Pipes

How we worship matters, and when we give thought to the importance of the words we offer up to God, He is honored and we are blessed. I wanted to use this platform to exhort our churches and churchgoers to support theoligically sound worship music.

Favorite Research: www.ibelieve.com/faith/how-to-genuinely-worship-in-church-when-the-songs-aren-t-your-style.html.

I wanted to share a story that is extremely personal to me but carries a powerful message. The medical field has always fascinated me and I am privileged to have the opportunity to speak about End-Of-Life Care, and the tricky medical ethics it entails. I want to portray a side of the medical field of which many people are completely unaware.

Favorite Research: Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End by Atul Gawande

Math is my favorite subject. In fact, I spent part of my Junior year tutoring my classmates and several Middle Schoolers. The phrase I would always hear them say is “I’m just not good at math.” And those few words really made me think. I wanted to prove to them that it is possible. Through my research I discovered the problems created by schools in America and chose to use my thesis work to advocate for change in this critical component of our future.

Favorite Research: Mathematical Mindsets: Unleashing Students' Potential Through Creative Math, Inspiring Messages, and Innovative Teaching by Jo Boaler

As a fairly laid-back person, few things anger me, but this topic is one that has continually intrigued and aggravated me. Having grown up with a brother and close guy friends, I’ve personally witnessed girls mistreat them, and the double standard that results. Once I realized what a growing phenomenon it is in our culture, and one no one seems to acknowledge, I decided to address it through my thesis.

Favorite Research: Save the Males: Why Men Matter And Why Women Should Care by Kathleen Parker