Foreword​

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The eighth edition of Illuminate features nineteen original works from honors students and recent alumni representing eighteen institutions across the Northeast Regional Honors Council (NRHC). The fifteen academic papers and four creative works highlight the breadth and depth of intellectual curiosity, scholarly analysis, and creative expression within the honors community. The contributions span a variety of academic disciplines, including Business, Economics, and Technology; Education; Language, Literature, and Philosophy; Natural Sciences, Psychology, and Allied Health; and Social Sciences.

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Our March 2026 NRHC Conference in New Haven, CT, emphasized the idea of honors as a haven for scholarship, creativity, and community—and, in keeping with this theme, this eighth edition explores and honors the connections that bring together diverse perspectives, disciplines, and approaches. While some works explore questions of community, identity, and the world around us, others offer opportunities for personal reflection, critical inquiry, and creative discovery. Together, these contributions demonstrate the power of scholarship and creativity to bridge differences, inspire dialogue, and illuminate new ways of understanding ourselves, one another, and the communities we share.

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The process of assembling this journal began five months ago, back in May, at the close of the submission period. All submissions undergo a double-blind, peer-review process. Pieces are either accepted with minor edits or conditionally accepted pending major revisions. The latter are resubmitted for a second review before final decisions are made. Bringing this issue to fruition required dedication and perseverance from both contributors and the editorial team.​ On our Meet Our Team page, you can find a biography for each member of the editorial team who helped to get this edition across the finish line, as well as biographies of each academic and creative contributor.

If you have any questions or wish to contact any of the contributors, please email us at illuminatenrhc@gmail.com.

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Sincerely,

Dr. Diana H. Polley

Editor-in-Chief, Illuminate
Director of Experiential Learning, Wake Forest University

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2026 Edition Contents

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Click here to access Academic Work.

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Click here to access Creative Work.

 

The following pieces are selected for Volume 8 of Illuminate. They are organized by the author’s last name:

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“Fungi’s Future: Global Warming Consequences on Microorganisms and Mammalian Populations”
Nova Brown, University of Saint Joseph

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“Movement as Medicine”
Nathaniel Dent, Kutztown University of Pennsylvania

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“The Lived Experience of Anticipatory Grief of a Loved One and Reflections of Finitude”
Ava Figueroa, Point Park University

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“AI, Automation, and Labor Market Inequality: Algorithmic Hiring as a Second-Order Displacement Mechanism”
Cece Grimberg, Loyola University Maryland

Co-authors: Cameron L. Grant and John (Jack) Tartamosa, Loyola University Maryland

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“Abjection”
Lily Kearney, Montclair State University

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“Analyzing Maternal and Neonatal Healthcare in Uttarakhand, India: A Transnational Feminist Approach”
Uma Kuwar, The College of New Jersey

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“Mamé: Slavery, Survival, and Strategy”
Samantha Lewis Bullen, Macaulay Honors at Lehman College

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“Everyday Affair”
Michael Lott, Community College of Allegheny County

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“Leveling the Field: Evaluating the Impact of the Student Athlete Level Playing Field Act and Other Legislation on NCAA Governance and Athlete Rights in College Sports”
Justin Marraccini, Elizabethtown College

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“Optimal Investment Portfolio Design via Mean-Variance Optimization”
Prakriti Nepal, William Paterson University of New Jersey
Co-author: Sandeep Maheshwari, William Paterson University of New Jersey

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“Attachment Styles’ Influence on Problem Identification in Romantic Relationships”
Adriana Palagano, Monmouth University
Co-authors: Donna M. Simon and Gary W. Lewandowski Jr., Monmouth University

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“Writing on the Wall”
Jaden Razum, Community College of Allegheny County

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“Nurses’ Perceptions of Faith, Religion, and Spirituality in Healthcare”
Allison Spong, Dominican University New York

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“Preparing ¹⁵N-Labeled LptH for Fragment-Based Drug Discovery (FBDD)”
Hayden Tucker, Thiel College
Co-author: Chih-Chia Su, Case Western Reserve University

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“Writing Women into Madness: Authorship of Women’s Mental Health in Victorian Literature”
Julianna Vockroth, Fairleigh Dickinson University

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“Microbes in Space: Outer Space and Killer Bacteria”
Elisabeth Wachter, Frederick Community College

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“Your Old Room”
Corban (Coco) Wallace, Stevenson University

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“Drunk Driving: A Crisis in Need of Reform”
Mackenzie Wheelock, Salisbury University

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“Healithic: A Patient-Controlled, Blockchain-Secured Electronic Medical Record System for Decentralized Healthcare in Bangladesh”
Jawad Zaman, St. Joseph’s University, New York

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