The Williams-Elon Research in Statistics Experience (WERISE) began in 2018 and is led by Professors Larry Cantwell and Ryne VanKrevelen. This partnership brings students from Walter M. Williams High School in Burlington to Elon’s campus throughout the academic year to work in groups on guided statistics research projects with Elon Math/Stats faculty and majors. Participants range from 10
th through 12
th grade and have varying levels of math/stats backgrounds coming in, but they are all enthusiastic to learn more and to apply that to a topic of interest. The experience culminates in the high school students presenting their research posters at Elon’s Spring Undergraduate Research Forum
SURF each spring.
Through 2025, the program has led to over 70 participants presenting 17 posters.The program’s first four years were funded through a one-time Mathematical Association of America Dolciani Mathematics Enrichment Grant. During that time, we grew from four to over twenty high school students and added multiple Elon students as mentors. We are looking for funding to help sustain this now-established program into the future.
| Poster Title |
Students |
| Education in North Carolina: Funding, Resources, and ACT Performance |
Nataly Guardado, Isaac Wu, Sawyer Jones, Claudia Gonzalez, Jack Dooley |
| The Impact of Education Funding on Health and Well-Being |
Yaziel Aleman, Cindy Flores Lopez, Chelsea Melendez, Hillary Mendoza, James Powell |
| Investigating Factors Impacting Student Education in North Carolina |
Bisan Abu Khalaf, Sonia Lopez Ramos, Edwin Martinez Bahena, Sophia Sowles, Victoria Lemus-Alfaro |
| Leading Factors of Success at the Olympics |
Inaaya Siddiqui, Lauren Turner, Naje Gray, Kosi Anthony, Mary Giles |
| Comparing Rookie Contract Earnings and NIL Deals for Division 1 Men’s and Women’s Basketball Players |
William Escobar, Jonathan Gonzalez, Avery LaPlante, Lawrence Matkins, Elikya Matsouaka, Aaden Wright |
| Poster Title |
Students |
| Comparing College Class Experiences and Preferences |
Alexa Jacobo, Hellen Portillo Franco, Ivy Robinson, Kiefer Winter |
| Investigating Factors That Impact College Satisfaction Among Graduates |
Grace Gabrielli, Gracie Hartle, Walker Hicks, Kenna Talhelm, Scout Winter |
| How Elon Students Balance Social Life With Other Factors |
Naje Gray, Abigail Choi, Chelsea Melendez Liapa, Thomas Fasan |
| Investigating Factors Related To Stress in College Students |
Avery LaPlante, Sofia Anaya Becerra, Jaden Wilson, Olivia Sharpe, Ella Vaught |
| Stress and Mental Health of High School Students Through the COVID-19 Pandemic |
Zainab Elzibair, Lelia Wilson, Lauren Turner, Bisan Abu Khalaf, Inaaya Siddiqui |
| Poster Title |
Students |
|
| Analyzing the Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Adults’ Anxiety Levels with Children and Without Children |
Keriann Croy, Saffie Hollingsworth, Madison Horner, Molly Hunt, Olivia Pozytko |
| Investigating Food Security in Local High Schools and Universities |
Abigail Choi, Eman Dweik, Samantha Fish, Rana Ligue |
| Analysis of Factors That Affect a Billboard Hot 100 Song’s Popularity |
Thomas Fasan, Grace Gabrielli, Gracie Hartle, Britton Isley, Ella Porfilio, Lauren Turner |
| How Fan Attendance Affect Home Team Win Percentage |
Bobbi Foster, Santiago Herrera, Franklin Nguyen, Kenna Talhelm |
| Poster Title |
Students |
| Analysis of Scoring in Women’s and Men’s College Basketball |
Luc Boswell, Rebekah Choi, Timothy Felten, Oddesciey Rone, Phil Vo |
| Predicting Goal Differential in NCAA Division I Soccer |
Ty Cryan, Lizbeth Guaman, Kassidy Liggins, Kenzie Talhelm, Max Van Fleet |
| Poster Title |
Students |
| Predicting Professional Sports Team Records with Confidence Intervals |
Ty Cryan, Karan Patel, Yousuf Siddiqui, Kenzie Talhelm |