* Indicates Hawk Talk speaker is an Honors School student
Viviana Ayuso*, Senior, Business Administration
Cafeteros: A Direct Payment Platform that Puts Coffee Farmers First
The global coffee supply chain traditionally operates through a complex network of intermediaries which often leave farmers with a small percentage of the final retail value of their product. This project introduce Cafeteros, a Colombian-themed coffee shop supported by a direct payment platform designed with financial transparency, efficiency and stability for coffee farmers. Cafeteros Coffee Shop serves as a retail space and a proof of concept, the platform enables payments to flow more directly from consumer to producer, reducing barriers and strengthening trust across the supply chain. Research methods include market analysis, evaluation of ethical consumer trends, and financial feasibility to assess the practicality of integrating a direct payment system within a specialty coffee shop. Findings suggest that by implementing a direct payment system with a culturally authentic coffee shop a profitable and socially impactful result is possible. By testing the system through a coffee shop model, the project shows how an entrepreneur idea can work as a test for redesigning the coffee supply chain.
Sophia Bartko, Junior, Health & PE – Secondary Education & Michael Fowler, Junior, Health & PE
Advocating for Youth Physical Activity
For our school-based physical activity course, we created a video in which we interviewed college-aged adults in order to understand how well-informed they were about topics like youth physical activity levels and trends. Within this video, we connected students’ responses to our experiences in the All Stars Moving Together service-learning program and discussed how this program increased our understanding of equity, diversity, and inclusion issues in physical activity programming. This was especially prevalent in the ASMT program because it took place in an underserviced community in Asbury Park. By highlighting college students’ misconceptions regarding physical activity and obesity levels among the youth in underserviced communities, we explained how there is a need for more physical activity programs. We then shared the video to other college-aged students to increase their awareness of this need. We also examined how the ASMT program contributed to our professional development as aspiring teachers. Through the experience, we learned how to create lesson plans that integrated social-emotional learning principles. Overall, this project helped us learn how we can serve as advocates for increasing youth physical activity in underserviced communities.
Flavia Daniels, Junior, Computer Science
Interactive Quantum Computing: A Scratch-Based Learning Tool
Our project introduces middle school students to fundamental quantum computing concepts using interactive, block-coding lessons that are Scratch-based. By combining games, simulations, and hands-on activities, students can explore ideas like qubits, superposition, and entanglement while developing critical STEM skills such as logical thinking and computational reasoning. Early exposure to quantum education is essential, especially as other countries are already teaching these concepts to young learners, ensuring students are prepared for future opportunities in emerging technologies. Currently, there is a lack of quantum education for elementary, middle, and even high school students in the United States, which limits both access and awareness of this rapidly growing field. Through classroom implementation, we aim to define and evaluate learning outcomes that demonstrate how middle schoolers grasp quantum concepts, engage with problem-solving activities, and develop curiosity and confidence in STEM.ties.
Marwan Elgoghel, Junior, Software Engineering
Every Seed, Every Result: Intent-to-Treat Reporting for Financial Reinforcement Learning
Empirical results in financial reinforcement learning (RL) can vary widely across random starting conditions (“seeds”), yet studies sometimes report only the strongest run. In a U.S. large-cap portfolio setting, selecting the best of five seeds inflates performance relative to the seed-complete median by 15% in Sharpe, 94% in CAGR, and 137% in information ratio (a risk-adjusted performance measure), enough to change a study’s headline conclusion without changing the underlying algorithm. To address this, I propose an intent-to-treat (“report-all-runs”) evaluation and reporting standard for financial RL: pre-register seeds and configurations, prohibit post-hoc reruns or exclusions, and publish a complete run ledger. To reduce test-set feedback, I use a two-phase design that selects configurations on a validation year and evaluates once on a separate held-out test year, with uncertainty estimates appropriate for time-series data. Across 28 pre-registered runs with zero exclusions, the held-out test results show meaningful seed-to-seed dispersion: for the primary configuration (five pre-registered seeds), the median test performance is Sharpe 1.73 and CAGR 36.8%, while the best seed reaches Sharpe 1.99 and CAGR 71.4%. These findings motivate minimum reporting standards intended to make financial RL claims auditable, reproducible, and resistant to cherry-picking.
Robert Federico*, Junior, Health Studies
Athletic Performance V02 Max Research Study
Objectives: This study assessed the acute cardiopulmonary differences of a treadmill walking warm-up (WW) versus a suspension training warm-up (SW) immediately preceding cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) in active college-aged adults. The primary aim was to determine whether a SW produces equivalent physiological responses in peak oxygen consumption (VO2) and heart rate (HR) compared to a WW. We hypothesize that the SW will produce equivalent cardiopulmonary responses during CPET as those following a traditional treadmill WW. Methods. This study is a randomized counterbalanced two-condition equivalence crossover trial. A total of 13 participants (6 females and 7 males) with an average age of 21 years of age (range between 19 and 25) and a body mass index of 24.3 kg/m2 (SD=3.42) were enrolled in the study. Participants completed two separate maximal CPET sessions over two non-consecutive test days (=48?h, =7?d) at the Human Performance Lab of Monmouth University (New Jersey, USA). During each visit, participants were blinded upon arrival and randomized to complete either a WW (6?min at 3 mph on a treadmill with 0% incline grade) or an SW (6-min dynamic sequence of TRX exercises), followed by an incremental treadmill CPET protocol up to maximal exertion. A portable metabolic analyzer (VO2 Master Pro) was used to analyze VO2, and HR was recorded via a chest strap monitor (Polar). Differences among primary outcomes were analyzed using paired t-tests and linear mixed-effects models. Two one-sided tests were used to test equivalence with a priori equivalence bound of ±1 MET (±3.5 mL·kg?¹·min?¹) for VO2. Results:11 participants completed both conditions with no adverse events and were included in the analysis. Mean peak VO2 values between SW (57.6 mL·kg?¹·min?¹; SD= 10.09) and WW (58.7 mL·kg?¹·min?¹; SD= 11.43) did not differ significantly, and effect sizes were trivial (p = 0.592, d = 0.17). Similarly, mean peak HR of SW (195.5 bpm; SD= 7.37) and WW (195.0 bpm; SD=5.60) showed no statistical differences with a trivial effect size (p = 0.669, d = 0.13). Linear mixed-model analysis revealed no effect of warm-up order (p=0.778), suggesting no carryover effect. Equivalence testing ±1 MET demonstrated that although the peak VO2 difference among warm-ups was small (mean difference= 0.88 mL·kg?¹·min?¹), the statistical equivalence was narrowly missed for the predefined equivalence upper bound (p = 0.066). Conclusions: A brief, dynamic SW is a practical and physiologically comparable alternative to a traditional treadmill warm-up before CPET for active young college-aged adults. Ethics/registration. IRB SP2553 (June 25, 2025), clinical trials Identifier: NCT07215052
Jessica Kipnis, Junior, Biology & Timothy Buckley, Junior, Mathematics
Spatial and Temporal Distribution of the Atlantic Mole Crab (Emerita talpoida) Across Monmouth County Beaches
Atlantic mole crabs (Emerita talpoida) are bioindicators of sandy beach health, and their abundance and distribution reflect coastal hydrodynamics and sediment structure. This study examined trends from a multi-year dataset in order to evaluate potential threats to their population, specifically looking at correlations between beach nourishment events, temperature, and man-made structures such as groynes.
Danielle Klaus, Senior, Speech-Language Pathology
Vivian D. Capogrosso, Junior, Speech-Language Pathology
Sarah Godbout, Senior, Speech-Language Pathology
Mealtime Communication: Alternatives to Screens to Improve Communication at Restaurants: A Pilot Study
This study is an initial systematic review exploring the current role of communication during mealtimes and the potential impact of screen use on language development. Searches were conducted using databases such as Monmouth University Libraries and Google Scholar using combinations of key terms such as screen-time, communication, and mealtime. Findings across the literature highlighted three primary areas of concern: the importance of communication at dinner, the influence of screentime on a child’s language development, and various patterns of screentime use during family meals. The intention of this study is to build upon this review through an observational study that will be conducted to examine whether the introduction of materials designed to encourage conversation in a restaurant setting reduces child and adult screen use. Data collection will include pre- and post-observation of mealtime interactions at two local restaurants, as well as parent surveys documenting how the provided materials were perceived regarding their impact on communication opportunities. While the results of the study are not yet available, this research aims to contribute to the understanding of strategies that promote family communication and minimize screen use in everyday lives. The information obtained through this study will benefit not only our surrounding community, but the field of speech-language pathology as a whole. We are seeking funding that will be used to create and distribute materials to families of young children, provide participants with surveys that will allow them to provide confidential and honest feedback regarding the provided strategies, support restaurants within our community through collaboration, and subsidize the cost of participants meals as a gesture of gratitude for their feedback. It is our hope that this research will not only educate young families in our community but also encourage further research in this area of language development.
Bingjun Li, Senior, Educational Counseling & Leadership
From Vision to Impact: Building the SNHS Student Ambassador Leadership Program
Background:The SNHS Student Ambassador Program began as a shared vision to create meaningful leadership opportunities for healthcare students. As a graduate student in Education program working within SNHS, I became directly involved in turning that vision into a structured and sustainable program. This project reflects the journey of transforming an idea into a functioning leadership initiative that now serves more than 20 student ambassadors. Methods: To ensure the program was student-centered, I supported the recruitment process and developed some surveys to better understand what topics or events students were most interested in exploring. Using their responses, we intentionally designed leadership workshops that aligned with their professional goals and personal interests. The workshops were grounded in experiential learning principles and emphasized active participation rather than passive instruction. Analysis: Following each workshop, I reviewed student engagement, participation levels, and informal and formal feedback to assess the effectiveness of the programming. I paid close attention to how students responded to interactive elements such as real-world healthcare scenarios, group discussions, and reflective activities like “Start With Your Why,” which encouraged them to reconnect with their purpose in entering healthcare field. Results: Two leadership workshops were successfully implemented in Spring 2025 and Fall 2025. Students demonstrated strong engagement and expressed appreciation for the practical and reflective components of the sessions. Feedback suggested that the interactive format helped them feel more confident in their leadership roles and more connected to their professional identity as future healthcare providers. Discussion/Significance: This experience reinforced for me that leadership development is most effective when it is intentional, student-informed, and collaborative. As an education student working with healthcare students, I learned how leadership principles can translate across disciplines and how interdisciplinary perspectives strengthen program design. This project highlights the importance of creating structured but flexible leadership spaces that empower students to lead with confidence and purpose.
Robert Milano, Senior, Occupational Therapy
Physical Activity’s Impact on Building Resilience in Children with Neurological Conditions
Children with neurological conditions are at a disproportionate risk for physical inactivity, which is correlated to poor health outcomes, decreased self-esteem, and reduced autonomy in early childhood occupations of play, self-care, and social participation. Although programs exist to support children with neurological conditions from a cognitive and behavioral perspective, physical activity remains an underutilized concept in resilience-building interventions for this population. Limited awareness among therapists regarding the role of physical activity in building resilience contributes to significant gaps in programming and funding for implementation in various settings. This mixed-methods study examines therapists’ perception on physical activity’s role in building resilience in this population. Furthermore, this study explores how perceptions change after an in-service on the intersection of physical activity and resilience building. Physical activity is defined as movement requiring energy expenditure, ranging from participation in structured obstacle courses to isolated motor control in children with severe neurological conditions. Guided by the Canadian Model of Occupational Performance and Engagement (CMOP-E) and the Embodied Cognition Theory, this study aims to conceptualize resilience as a dynamic concept influenced by physical, cognitive, and environmental factors that holistically influence autonomy. Participants include therapists (OTs, PTs, SLPs) who are employed at Intensive Therapeutics and have worked with children for at least one year. Quantitative data were collected using a pre-post intervention survey incorporating questions about the correlation between physical activity, resilience, and children with neurological conditions. Qualitative data were obtained through an in-person focus group and analyzed using thematic analysis to identify shared themes and experiences. Initial findings after initial data collection address an unmet need for structured physical activity programming within day programs supporting children with a variety of neurological conditions and highlight the importance and influence of therapist knowledge for implementation. This study contributes to occupational therapy by emphasizing physical activity’s role in resilience-building. Increased therapist awareness may support integration of movement-based programming, promoting holistic care and quality of life for children with neurological conditions.
Julianna Nichols, Senior, Occupational Therapy
Hope After Plateau: The Future in Chronic Stroke Care with Vagus Nerve Stimulation Therapy
Introduction: Upper extremity (UE) impairments impact over half of all stroke survivors and severely hinders independence in daily activities. Of these more than half of all stroke survivors, Hu et al. (2024) suggests that about 60% do not experience full recovery within the first six months post stroke, with some individuals experiencing partial to no recovery. Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) therapy is an innovative intervention for stroke survivors that is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and when paired with intensive, task-specific motor rehabilitation, has shown to significantly improve UE function for individuals with moderate to severe impairments post chronic ischemic stroke (Dickie et al., 2019; Fransisco et al., 2023; Kimberly et al., 2025). While ample evidence within the literature illustrates significant improvements in UE function post stroke, a lack of awareness continues to exist regarding the effectiveness of VNS therapy and stroke survivors continue to experience moderate to severe upper extremity dysfunction (Dawon et al., 2022; Malakouti et al., 2023). This doctoral capstone project will gather information regarding barriers to awareness of VNS therapy for improving UE function post ischemic stroke from an expert. Objectives: The purpose of this doctoral capstone project is to understand the perceptions of a current physical therapist having over two years of documented clinical experience with VNS therapy regarding barriers and successes to awareness of the impact of VNS therapy on upper extremity function for individuals who are post chronic ischemic stroke. Examining perspectives from a knowledgeable research subject with inclusion criteria requiring those interviewed to have at least two years of documented clinical experience using VNS therapy within a rehabilitative setting allows for a thorough analysis of the supports and barriers that shape the current scope of awareness for this treatment modality. Methods: The methods employed in this doctoral capstone project involve a narrative, single-subject case-study design with a content expert as the research subject using semi-structured interviewing to gather qualitative data. Following the collection of qualitative data via Zoom’s audio-only recording feature, the interview transcript was analyzed using thematic analysis to recognize themes that best answer the research questions (Creswell & Poth, 2018). Results: Preliminary findings from data collected identify a lack of trust and misinformation towards the technology and surgical procedure, hesitation towards the value of information delivered due to the perceived notion behind a sales pitch of the Vivistim device, limitations within therapists’ professional responsibilities hindering abilities to receive education/training on up-to-date technologies like VNS therapy, and limitations within stroke survivors’ communication with the health-care system as some of the most pressing barriers to awareness.
Tonisha Taylor, Senior, Human Rights Leadership
Shine a Light NJ: Empowering Youth & Families in Jersey City, NJ
In my presentation, I will discuss the creation of Shine A Light NJ, a nonprofit organization in which I founded and currently serve as board president. While I initially wanted to start the organization after graduating, I was inspired by what I learned in SW 735- Theories in Social Innovation and Change to set the groundwork and develop a presence in the community I aimed to serve. In March 2025, Shine A Light NJ was officially established as a 501c3 nonprofit organization that focuses on providing free or low-cost extracurricular activities to low-income children residing in predominantly Black and Hispanic neighborhoods in Jersey City, NJ. Currently, the “Bully the Bully” Sports Conditioning program is the anchor of our organization. Through this program training is provided for youth who desire to play sports for their respective school or local teams. The program is led by an assistant coach for a local high school in Jersey City, who has been responsible for the development of athletes who have gone on to play football at several universities, including here at Monmouth. The most standout athlete, Elijah Williams, now plays for the Minnesota Vikings. Since its establishment, Shine A Light NJ has hosted and collaborated with local community organizations to sponsor neighborhood events, including the Back-to-School Giveaway at Camp ME, Night to Shine (sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation), the Fall Monticello Festival, and the annual Youth Football Camp at Caven Point. Upon graduating, my goal is to develop programming for children of incarcerated parents, which is an extension of my doctoral capstone project. Initially, I plan to offer an 8-week photovoice workshop for up to ten participants at least three times throughout the year. From these workshops, I uphold the participants as experts in their experiences and use their input and data to drive future programming that aids this population.