--- title: Coker Students Present Research at SCICU Research Symposium description: Four Coker students presented research at the South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities (SCICU) Student/Faculty Research Symposium at the Milliken and Company in Greenville, S.C. on Feb. 22, 2024.  image: https://blogs.coker.edu/hubfs/cropped%20IMG-0046.jpg --- # SEARCH COKER.EDU [![](https://blogs.coker.edu/hs-fs/hubfs/images/coker-logo.png?width=266&height=85&name=coker-logo.png "coker-logo.png")](https://coker.edu/) - [Campus Bookstore](http://bookstore.coker.edu/home.aspx) - [Visit Coker](https://coker.edu/visit) - [Giving](https://coker.edu/after-coker/give-coker) - [Media](https://coker.edu/news-stories) - [Contact Us](https://coker.edu/contact-us) ![Coker University Logo](https://blogs.coker.edu/hubfs/2022%20Images%20and%20Icons/coker-university-logo.svg) - [About](https://coker.edu/about-coker) - [Why Coker?](https://coker.edu/why-coker/) - [Academics](https://coker.edu/academic-programs) - [Admissions & Aid](https://coker.edu/admissions-aid) - [Student Experience](https://coker.edu/student-experience) - [After Coker](https://coker.edu/alumni) - [Athletics](http://www.cokercobras.com/landing/index) [Prospective Students](https://coker.edu/admissions-aid) - [Traditional Students](https://coker.edu/admissions-aid/traditional-students) - [Adult Degree Students](https://coker.edu/admissions-aid/adult-degree-program) - [Graduate Students](https://coker.edu/admissions-aid/masters-programs) - [Online Learners](https://coker.edu/admissions-aid/online-learners) - [Admissions & Aid](https://coker.edu/admissions-aid) - [Academic Programs](https://coker.edu/academic-programs) - [Campus Life](https://coker.edu/student-experience) - [Housing](https://coker.edu/admissions-aid/housing) - [Campus Map](https://coker.edu/campus-map) - [Military & Veteran Benefits](https://coker.edu/admissions-aid/adult-degree-program/understanding-financial-aidplanning/military-veteran-benefits) [Current Students](https://coker.edu/student-experience) - [Student Solution Center](https://coker.edu/campus-culture/student-solution-center) - [Campus Calendar](https://coker.edu/students/current-students/campus-calendar) - [My Coker](https://coker.edu/students/current-students/my-coker) - [Trans4mations](https://coker.edu/academics/trans4mations) - [Student Experience](https://coker.edu/student-experience) - [Housing](https://coker.edu/admissions-aid/housing) - [Career Services](https://coker.edu/student-experience/career-services) - [Student Resources](https://coker.edu/student-experience/campus-life/locations/student-center) - [Counseling Services](https://coker.edu/about/offices-services/campus-services/counseling-services) - [Commencement](https://coker.edu/students/current-students/commencement) - [Blackboard](https://blogs.coker.edu/campus-culture/student-resources/blackboard) - [Coker Email](https://accounts.google.com/ServiceLogin?continue=https%3A%2F%2Fmail.google.com%2Fmail%2F<mpl=default&service=mail&sacu=1&hd=c) - [WebAdvisor](https://webadvisor.coker.edu/WebAdvisor/WebAdvisor?TYPE=M&PID=CORE-WBMAIN&TOKENIDX=2502543381) - [Campus Bookstore](http://bookstore.coker.edu/home.aspx) - [Library](https://library.coker.edu) - [Campus Safety](https://blogs.coker.edu/about/offices-services/campus-safety) - [Career Services](https://blogs.coker.edu/student-experience/career-services) - [Student Resources](https://blogs.coker.edu/academic-resources) - [Final Exam Schedule](https://coker.edu/sites/default/files/pdf/academic_records/2016-17_Final_Exam_Schedule.pdf) [Parents](https://coker.edu/parent-page) - [Parent Association](https://coker.edu/parent-association) - [Parent Weekend](https://coker.edu/parent-weekend) - [Parent FAQs](https://coker.edu/parents/parents/frequently-asked-questions) - [New Student Orientation](https://coker.edu/student-experience/orientation-0) - [Campus Calendar](https://coker.edu/parents/campus-calendar) - [Campus Map](https://coker.edu/campus-map) - [Hartsville Accommodations](https://coker.edu/about/campus-grounds-facilities/hartsville-accomodations) - [Notification of Parents or Guardians](https://coker.edu/notification-parents-or-guardians) - [Benefits for Veterans' Dependents](https://coker.edu/admissions-aid/adult-degree-program/understanding-financial-aidplanning/military-veteran-benefits) - [Buy Coker Merchandise!](http://bookstore.coker.edu/SiteText.aspx?id=11423) - [Financial Planning](https://coker.edu/admissions-aid/costs-aid/financial-aid) - [Outcomes](https://coker.edu/feature-stories/trans4mations-success-story) - [Academic Calendar](https://coker.edu/academic-calendar) - [Campus Bookstore](http://bookstore.coker.edu/home.aspx) ![](https://blogs.coker.edu/hs-fs/hubfs/images/alumni-giving2.jpg?width=300&height=300&name=alumni-giving2.jpg) [Give to Coker](https://coker.edu/gifts) [Alumni](https://coker.edu/alumni) - [Share Your Story](https://coker.edu/after-coker/alumni-stories/share-your-story) - [Give to Coker](https://coker.edu/after-coker/give-coker) - [Get Engaged (Volunteer)](https://coker.edu/academics/center-engaged-learning/community-service) - [Buy Coker Merchandise!](http://bookstore.coker.edu/SiteText.aspx?id=11423) - [The Commentary](https://coker.edu/after-coker/commentary) - [Calendar of Events](https://coker.edu/after-coker/campus-calendar) - [Homecoming and Reunions](https://coker.edu/after-coker/events/homecoming-2017) - [Homecoming 2017](https://coker.edu/homecoming) - [843 Club](https://coker.edu/after-coker/making-difference-giving/843-club) - [Amazon Smile](https://coker.edu/after-coker/amazon-smile) - [Registration](https://coker.edu/alumni-weekend-registration) ![](https://coker.edu/sites/default/files/random-image/alumni-giving3.jpg) [Give to Coker](https://coker.edu/gifts) [Faculty](https://coker.edu/faculty-staff/faculty) - [Faculty Senate](https://coker.edu/faculty-and-staff/faculty/faculty-senate) [Staff](https://coker.edu/faculty-staff/staff) - [Staff Advisory Council (CSAC)](https://coker.edu/staff-advisory-council-csac) - [Leadership & Adminstration](https://coker.edu/about/leadership-administration) [Resources](https://coker.edu/faculty-staff/resources) - [Faculty/Staff Directory](https://coker.edu/directory) - [Academic Catalog](https://coker.edu/sites/default/files/pdf/academic_catalog/2015_16_Academic_Catalog.pdf) - [Academic Calendar](https://coker.edu/academic-calendar) - [Employee Portal](https://workforcenow.adp.com/public/index.htm) - [Careers](https://coker.edu/careers) - [Guidelines and Logos](https://coker.edu/guildelines-and-logos) - [Title IX](https://coker.edu/title-ix) - [Tutorials](https://coker.edu/node/3672) - [Counseling Services](https://coker.edu/about/offices-services/campus-services/counseling-services) - [Campus Calendar](https://coker.edu/faculty-and-staff/resources/campus-calendar) - [Blackboard](https://coker.blackboard.com/) - [Coker Email](https://accounts.google.com/ServiceLogin?continue=https%3A%2F%2Fmail.google.com%2Fmail%2F<mpl=default&service=mail&sacu=1&hd=c) - [WebAdvisor](https://webadvisor.coker.edu/) - [Squid](http://squid.coker.edu/?c=user&f=login) - [Information Technology](http://it.coker.edu/) - [Campus Maintenance](https://maximo.mysodexo.com/maximo/webclient/login/login.jsp) - [Early Alert Reporting System (EARS)](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1nuFU6Geq0o2Vx7dGUo89jjtFElX3SNgk9OTAqpifxVk/formrestricted) - [Home](https://coker.edu/) - [About](https://coker.edu/about-coker) - [Academics](https://coker.edu/academic-programs) - [Admissions & Aid](https://coker.edu/admissions-aid) - [Student Experience](https://coker.edu/student-experience) - [After Coker](https://coker.edu/alumni) - [Athletics](http://www.cokercobras.com/landing/index) - [Visit Coker](https://coker.edu/visit) - [Giving](https://www.coker.edu/giving-form/) - [Contact Us](https://coker.edu/contact-us) # Coker Students Present Research at SCICU Research Symposium ![](https://blogs.coker.edu/hubfs/cropped%20IMG-0046.jpg) ## Coker Students Present Research at SCICU Research Symposium ADDITIONAL MENU - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) Mar 06, 2024 [Coker University](https://blogs.coker.edu/news-stories/author/coker-university) Four Coker students presented research at the South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities (SCICU) Student/Faculty Research Symposium at the Milliken and Company in Greenville, S.C. on Feb. 22, 2024.   This year’s symposium featured 21 student presentations from 14 SCICU member institutions. Isabella “Tibby” Hessian, under the mentorship of Dr. Gina Bennett, presented a project titled “Literacy, Charity, and Transatlantic Benevolence Societies:  Tracing Literateness in the Documents of the St. Andrew’s Society of Charleston.”  Hessian examined the Commons House Assembly records (physical copies and digitized resources) from the 1690s to the 1750s to establish patterns, actions, and relationships between the St. Andrew’s Society of Charleston memberships.  After reviewing the documents and comparing them to secondary sources, Tibby found that women, who were portrayed during this time as fragile objects, proved their agency and literacy during their dealings with the Society. Izabella “Bella” Dulaney, under the mentorship of Dr. Jen Borgo-Raia, presented a project titled “Evaluation of Biodiversity at Kalmia Gardens Through Observation of Snags.”   Dulaney investigated the relationship between characteristics of standing dead trees (snags) and cavity-dwelling animals inside them. She examined 139 snag trees, of which over half were in a late stage of decomposition, and 11 had viable cavities to support animal inhabitants.   Delaney Eaves and Jerry Reed, under the mentorship of Drs. Gita Mohanty and Joe Flaherty presented “Isolation and Screening of Microbes for Bioremediation Potential.”   Eaves and Reed collected soil samples from local area fuel stations and applied a soil-enrichment method to isolate bacteria that metabolize diesel fuel.  They found 21 bacterial isolates in the laboratory that could degrade diesel fuel.   Congratulations to these students and faculty members on being awarded a grant from the SCICU Undergraduate Student/Faculty Research Program in 2023 and for successfully presenting their research at the recent SCICU Student/Faculty Research Symposium. ### ### ABOUT COKER UNIVERSITY Coker University is a student-focused, comprehensive institution of higher education with a strong liberal arts core, located in Hartsville, South Carolina. Coker combines round table, discussion-based learning with hands-on experiences to encourage active participation in and out of the classroom. A supportive, close-knit community prepares Coker students with the confidence and practical life skills they need to reach their personal best, in college and beyond. Founded in 1908, Coker is a bachelor’s and master’s degree-granting institution and competes in 21 NCAA Division II sports. Coker is included among the "Best Colleges" in the South by U.S. News & World Report as well as The Princeton Review, and by Washington Monthly as a “Best Bang for Your Buck” college in the southeast. ![](https://blogs.coker.edu/hubfs/2022%20Images%20and%20Icons/coker-university-logo--footer.svg "coker-logo-btm.png")   [COKER UNIVERSITY — 300 E. College Ave., Hartsville, SC 29550](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Coker+College/@34.3765787,-80.0726719,17z/data=!4m7!1m4!3m3!1s0x885575dc095a0ce1:0x26550cd394646c1c!2s300+E+College+Ave,+Hartsville,+SC+29550!3b1!3m1!1s0x885575db8a0db6d7:0x3b89353863175f3d) 1 (800) 950-1908   |   (843) 383-8000 © Copyright 2016   |   Privacy Policy