Walter M. Williams High School students worked with Elon student mentors on year-long statistics research projects. The students presented their research in the morning poster session at SURF.
This year, 24 students from Walter M. Williams High School presented research posters at Elon’s Spring Undergraduate Research Forum as part of the WE RISE (Williams-Elon Research in Statistics) program led by Ryne VanKrevelen, associate teaching professor of statistics, and Larry Cantwell, assistant teaching professor in mathematics and statistics. The students have been visiting campus twice per month since October to work in groups on research projects with an Elon student mentor. The five groups presented on the following topics:
- Exploring Factors Affecting Reaction Time (mentored by Robert Djonovic ’27 – Engineering and Applied Math major)
- Perceptions of Artificial Intelligence in Academia (mentored by Ella Negley ’28 – Statistics and Data Analytics major)
- The Influence of Weather Conditions on Marathon Performance in Major U.S. Races (mentored by Zach Diamond ’26 – Statistics and Environmental Science major)
- Investigating Associations Between Expenditures and Farm Characteristics Across North Carolina Regions and Counties (mentored by Jordyne Lewis ’28 – Economic Consulting and Data Analytics major)
- Impact of Funding on Academic Outcomes in North Carolina High Schools (mentored by Bunny Ingram ’26 – Data Analytics major)
In addition to the five student mentors, Mira Fitch ’26, a political Science and statistics major, served as a supervising mentor. She helped VanKrevelen and Cantwell design research topics, plan meetings, give groups feedback throughout the research progress and more. This was her third year serving as a mentor in the program.
Both high school students and Elon mentors have found value in the partnership.
“Working with my group of high schoolers through WE RISE and watching them grow and learn was such a rewarding experience,” said Jordyne Lewis, a first-time mentor. “As a mentor, I was able to bond, create memories, and get connected with the local community around Elon in such a special way.”
The WE RISE program has grown from four participants in its first year to 24 students this year (year six). Since the program’s start, over 80 high school students have participated, with more than 20 participating in multiple years. The students have presented 22 SURF posters in that span.
The Department of Mathematics and Statistics and the Data Nexus both helped fund this year’s program.