​22nd Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium

School of Humanities and Global Studies


​Armenian Genocide: Examining International Commemoration through Religion, Gender, and Ethnonationalism (1915-2021)
​Armenian Genocide: Examining International Commemoration through Religion, Gender, and Ethnonationalism (1915-2021) Poster
By: Payton Viegut
Faculty Sponsor: Valerie Barske
In this research project, I examine commemorations of the Armenian Genocide, more specifically how Armenians around the world commemorate this history. Recent studies by Dr. Ben Aharon, has found that this history fails to receive sufficient attention and acknowledgement by countries around the world. My research seeks answers to further analyze the commemoration through intersectional identities specifically focusing on the overlaps of religion, gender, and ethnonationalism. By examining newspapers articles on the commemoration of the anniversary of the genocide, I compare different intersectional identities to argue for reasons why the Armenian Genocide remains so controversial and thus less recognized by communities around the globe. In conclusion, the Armenian Genocide is an omitted history by national political governments, but a communal birthplace of remembrance.

​​Collective Memory in Crisis: Remembering the Tortured and Disappeared in 20th Century Chile (1960-2020)
​​Collective Memory in Crisis: Remembering the Tortured and Disappeared in 20th Century Chile (1960-2020) Poster | Discuss via Zoom
By: Cecilia Cabrera
Faculty Sponsor: Valerie Barske
In this research project, I examine the struggle to maintain a collective memory of those tortured and killed under the Chilean dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet (1915-2006). I examine the creation of Colonia Dignidad in the 1960s as a religious compound established by emigrant Nazi Germans that served as one of many detention and torture centers for political opposition during the Pinochet regime. I demonstrate that the actions of the regime and the failure to convict the dictator of human rights violations supported in his 27-year reign leaves contemporary Chile in a conflicting position. The memory of Chile's past may be divided by competing personalities based on socio-economic status, “city vs. slum” neighborhood associations, as well as military experiences vs. no military service. In order to analyze the challenges Chileans face when commemorating the past, I focus on the concept of “dark tourism” for analyzing Colonia Dignidad, the unstable democratization of Chile, and the apparent competition between the military and political right versus civilians to create a national identity. The violence and competing narratives of the past that surface yearly on the September 11th anniversary of the Pinochet coup serves as evidence that research and understanding the effects of the traumatic past of Chile remain relevant today.

​Controversial Dark Tourism and Commemorations of the Troubles in Northern Ireland (1968-1998)
​Controversial Dark Tourism and Commemorations of the Troubles in Northern Ireland (1968-1998) Poster | Discuss via Zoom
By: Ashley Reuter
Faculty Sponsor: Valerie Barske
In this research project, I consider the impact of dark tourism on commemorations of the Troubles in Northern Ireland. The Troubles represent the violent struggles between Catholics and Protestants from 1968 until 1998 in Ireland surrounding the issue of “Home Rule” that led to the implementation of “peace walls.” Throughout this project, I argue that dark tourism, although controversial, plays a vital role in commemorating the Troubles. I focus on the intersectionality of age, gender, and religion as essential to understanding the impact of dark tourism in Northern Ireland. I analyze primary sources such as oral histories, TripAdvisor reviews, popular news articles, and blogs. I utilize dark tourism as a theoretical framework to analyze how those who experienced the Troubles feel about the commemoration of these events in areas they interact with every day. More specifically, I argue that commemoration of the Troubles by maintaining the peace walls and the murals advocates for the improvement of the nation’s dark tourism. Improving the dark tourism of Northern Ireland in areas concerning the Troubles could be a quintessential tool in supporting the commemoration of this challenging yet critical time in Northern Ireland's history.

​Commemorating the Korean Independence Movement, Remembering "March 1st" (1919-2021)

​Commemorating the Korean Independence Movement, Remembering "March 1st" (1919-2021) Poster
By: Fong Thao
Faculty Sponsor: Valerie Barske
In this research project, I examine the Korean Independence Movement as an attempt to resist Japanese imperialism.  I explore how contemporary activists, scholars, and political groups commemorate the movement after 100 years.  On March 1, 1919, Korean political leaders and student activists formed a group to reject Japanese colonial dominance and demand independence in Seoul.  Syngman Rhee (1875-1965) became the acting first President of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea and announced Korea’s independence. The year 2019 marked the 100th anniversary of this historical movement. In contemporary South Korea, politicians, scholars, activists, and students celebrate the two million people who fought for Korean independence.  This project considers these commemorations as central to the ongoing construction of national identity especially at the intersection of postcolonialism and gender.

​Developed in Germany, Optimized in Wisconsin: Transformation of the Humble Lamp Post
​Developed in Germany, Optimized in Wisconsin: Transformation of the Humble Lamp Post Poster | Discuss via Zoom
By: Helen Fojut, Graeme Gross, Frederick Meer, Kyle Isakson
Faculty Sponsor: Thomas Leek
In this Research Project, German 355 honor students, worked with a family-owned German company named EKS Engel, in an attempt to expand Trans-Atlantic trade and bring their PE Light product into the United States Market. The PE light product is installed in both new and existing lamp posts, which relays various information back to the sources, creating a smart grid anywhere that has these lamp posts. This information and it’s uses include but are not limited to: WIFI, intelligent lighting, weather, traffic patterns, public transportation, first aid, SOS/safety, charging stations and more. This project was not just theoretical, it has been a real-life practice helping this company; including pitch meetings with the City of Stevens Point, UWSP and others. We completed research on the product and its uses, business partners, business competitors, market entry research, product marketing strategies, as well as professional business meeting practices for both Germany and the United States.

​Examining Past Commemorations of World War I, Chemical Weapons, and Global Centennial Remembrance and Celebrations (1914-2019)

​Examining Past Commemorations of World War I, Chemical Weapons, and Global Centennial Remembrance and Celebrations (1914-2019) Poster | Discuss via Zoom
By: Ben Schlichting
Faculty Sponsor: Valerie Barske
In this project, I evaluate how the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Australia, and the United States have remembered and commemorated World War I, including recent centennial celebrations. I also evaluate the use of chemical weapons used in World War I and examine specific ways in which this inhumane practice and those affected continue to be remembered. World War I (1914-1919) represents the first large scale modern war featuring the introduction of new technologies such as machine guns, tanks, planes, and chemical weapons. World War I remains a very significant global conflict that changed the world. Historians, scholars, and activists argue that commemorative practices should continue to honor those who lost their lives and to remember what happened to prevent a similar conflict from happening again. I use scholarly publications from medical and historical journals to learn the affects chemical warfare and the commemorative practices the countries involved in the war utilize in remembrance. The use of chemical weapons in World War I was extremely inhumane as most gas attacks were a surprise and did almost instant damage to its targets whether it was immediate or shortly after death, or severe damage to lungs and other parts of their bodies that negatively affected them long term. Learning about World War I and the chemical weapons used is important not only to honor those who lost their lives and suffered as a result, but to educate people about what these soldiers experienced.

​​Exploring Cultural Appropriation by Examining a Culture of Remembrance in Mexico through Día de los Muertos in Mexico (1990-2020)
​​Exploring Cultural Appropriation by Examining a Culture of Remembrance in Mexico through Día de los Muertos in Mexico (1990-2020) Poster | Discuss via Zoom
By: Dana Bautch
Faculty Sponsor: Valerie Barske
In this research project, I examine the origin and cultural significance of Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) in Mexico and how Latinx use the holiday to celebrate and honor their dead. This day has been celebrated in many countries for hundreds of years, but Mexico has the longest history with Día de los Muertos. My research considers how the media changes and exploits these traditions with a specific focus on 1990-2020. I also explore the issue of cultural appropriation by outside populations who may not understand the important cultural significance of remembering and honoring the dead or view this religious holiday as a spectacle for entertainment. Primary sources such as blogs and newspaper articles show how Latinx feel about people celebrating the holiday without understanding the cultural significance. This study serves two purposes. The first is to educate people on Día de los Muertos by reviewing academic journals, newspapers, and other primary sources. The second is to highlight potential dangers in appropriating cultural and ethnic traditions without proper contextualization. Ultimately, this paper analyzes Día de los Muertos as a commemorative practice while displaying how intersectionality identities, such as age, ethnicity and religion, influence people’s perspectives.

​​“Fading Time Capsules”: Memory, Nostalgia, and Japan’s Jazz Kissaten (1933-2021)
​​“Fading Time Capsules”: Memory, Nostalgia, and Japan’s Jazz Kissaten (1933-2021) Poster | Discuss via Zoom
By: Hope Lory
Faculty Sponsor: Valerie Barske
In this research project, I examine how Japan’s many jazz cafes, kissaten or kissa, instill feelings of memory and nostalgia. Jazz kissaten gained traction following the U.S. Occupation of Japan (1945-1952), before slowly beginning to fade in popularity in the early 1970s, a trend which continues to the present-day. Specifically, I investigate how remaining jazz kissaten create an atmosphere that evokes nostalgia for the height of Japan’s love-affair with jazz, effectively maintaining and expressing memory on both an individual and collective basis. I utilize previous scholarship on the history of Jazz and kissa culture in Japan, as well as scholarship on the relationship between music, environment, and nostalgia. The majority of my research emphasizes the experiences of individuals collected from interviews, blog posts, and reviews, as well as photographs. I seek to showcase how the affective and sensory aspects of jazz kissa preserve the past, making them “fading time capsules” in a world which strives towards the future.

​​Fire and Blood on the Silver Screen: Commemorating the Algerian Revolution through French and Algerian Cinema (1966-2021)
​​Fire and Blood on the Silver Screen: Commemorating the Algerian Revolution through French and Algerian Cinema (1966-2021) Poster | Discuss via Zoom
By: George Christianson
Faculty Sponsor: Valerie Barske
In this research project, I analyze commemorations of the Algerian Revolution through film. More specifically, I assess films produced and/or written by Algerian and French filmmakers to argue that these films commemorate the Algerian Revolution differently depending on which side of the conflict they represent. The Algerian Revolution occurred from the mid-1950s until 1962 when Algeria won its independence from France. The films I analyze include the Italian-Algerian film, The Battle of Algiers (1966), Chronicle of the Years of Fire (1975), an Algerian film, and L’Ennemi Intime (2007), a French film. Through an examination of interviews with filmmakers and the reception of the films during their release, my research explores the intersections of national identity and state memory, collective memory, and postcolonialism. I utilize a theoretical framework that analyzes how people on either side of the conflict represent the past differently through film and what message they seek to espouse through their work. By conducting this analysis, I seek to better understand how traumatic and pivotal events such as revolution involve competing forms of remembrance and commemoration. Academically, I hope to contribute to existing film, postcolonial, and collective memory studies and provide a lens through which to engage these fields in an interdisciplinary approach.

​​Immigrants from the West: The Iron Brigade
​​Immigrants from the West: The Iron Brigade Poster
By: Eric Brey
Faculty Sponsor: Sarah Scripps
This Civil War dress hat was once worn by Philander B. Wright of the Iron Brigade during the Battle of Gettysburg. Normally, Union soldiers wore non-standard kepi hats, but Iron Brigade, composed of solely westerners until after 1863, wore their dress hats into battle. This act was unique to the brigade and highlighted the distinctiveness of its soldiers. Unlike the soldiers of the east that were mainly of English or Irish descent, soldiers from Wisconsin were often German or Scandinavian and also predominantly recent immigrants. The Iron Brigade provided insight into what Wisconsin, a very young state at the time, could contribute to the nation, as well as how immigrants would influence the character of the state in the years following the Civil War. The Iron Brigade's actions made a name for the region and more importantly the state at a pivotal time in Wisconsin and US history.

​​Jeffrey Dahmer: The Milwaukee Cannibal
​​Jeffrey Dahmer: The Milwaukee Cannibal Poster
By: Meredith Abbs
Faculty Sponsor: Sarah Scripps
Jeffrey Dahmer was a serial killer born in Milwaukee and convicted for the murder of seventeen boys and young men. Dahmer was finally arrested in 1991 and died in prison in 1994. Known for the cruel treatment of his victims, Dahmer has gone down in history as one of America’s most infamous serial killers and has fascinated the true crime community for years. In this project, my goal is to understand why Jeffrey Dahmer has attracted so much notoriety not only in Wisconsin, but across America as well.


​Marie Antoinette: Monster, Trend Setter, or Human Girl? Examining the Modern Commemoration and Collective Memory of the Last Queen of France (1770-2021)

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​Marie Antoinette: Monster, Trend Setter, or Human Girl? Examining the Modern Commemoration and Collective Memory of the Last Queen of France (1770-2021) Poster
By: Dianna Broas
Faculty Sponsor: Valerie Barske
In this research project, I assess the public perception and collective memory of Marie Antoinette (1755-1793). The late Queen of France remains notorious mostly for the way her life ended, by guillotine. She was accused of horrible crimes and sentenced to death. Arguably, she is “being forgiven” as more historians gather evidence that show her as a young girl in an unexpected position. At her death, the citizens of France sang execution ballads to celebrate her beheading. In 1867, Empress Eugénie, the wife of Napoleon III created a permanent exhibit at Versailles to memorialize Marie. Now, when one googles “Marie Antoinette” one of the first automated suggestions is “Marie Antoinette aesthetic.” Additionally, the 2006 film Marie Antoinette by Sofia Coppola showed the human side of Marie, transforming historical narratives from hating her to sympathizing with her.  By analyzing case studies such as the Petit Trianon Museum and the film, I argue that public perception and collective memory of Marie Antoinette changes greatly over time.  I examine details of her public perception beginning in 1770 and ending with the current year, 2021. I demonstrate how commemorative practices change and evolve, as well as how commemoration shapes public perception and memory, and how when looking at her story through a gendered perspective, a new light is shed on her history. By re-examining the actions and the current perception of Marie Antoinette, it is clear that it is often forgotten that public or historical figures are what we all are – human. 

​Media Commemoration of Korean and Vietnam Wars : M*A*S*H and Collective Memory (1950-2021)
​Media Commemoration of Korean and Vietnam Wars : M*A*S*H and Collective Memory (1950-2021) Poster | Discuss via Zoom
By: Eve Wenzel
Faculty Sponsor: Valerie Barske
In this research paper, I investigate how films and television shows commemorate the Korean War and the Vietnam Wars, with a specific focus on M*A*S*H (1972-1983). More specifically, I examine how M*A*S*H commemorates a previous war for younger audiences, while commenting on the ongoing conflict in Vietnam that weighed heavily in contemporary politics and popular culture. I analyze  magazine articles from LIFE and TIME and articles from the New York Times. I connect the commemoration that M*A*S*H authors with the collected first-hand accounts of Korean civilians and soldiers, as well as U.S., North Korean, and Chinese soldiers, and other primary sources from 1950-1953. I also examine more somber commemorations of the Korean War, including various Korean War Veterans Memorials. Using these sources, I compare first-hand sources of the Korean War to M*A*S*H’s depiction of life during the Korean War.  Finally, in terms of primary sources, I explore the original M*A*S*H novel and Richard Altman’s original 1970 M*A*S*H film. There are few media sources that deal with the Korean War as M*A*S*H does, and the widespread popularity of this show created a very specific perception of what the Korean War was to millions of people.

​Mightier than the Sword: Remembrance and Embodied Trauma of Afghan Women and Women Veterans in Their Own Words (2001-2021)
​Mightier than the Sword: Remembrance and Embodied Trauma of Afghan Women and Women Veterans in Their Own Words (2001-2021) Poster
By: Alicia Sutherland Crochiere
Faculty Sponsor: Valerie Barske
In this research project, I consider the embodied trauma of women veterans during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars as well as trauma experienced by Afghan women 2001-2021. Far from just a mental condition, trauma is remembered by and stored in the body and requires acknowledgment and expression for treatment. This juxtaposition examines the universal similarities of the experiences of women and trauma as well as the differences influenced by intersectional identities of ethnicity, gender, and nation. I explore the use of poetry and creative outlets as a means for giving voice to embodied trauma experienced by women on both sides of this conflict. Specifically, I consider how gender compounds trauma to address questions about how commemorative practices in different cultural contexts relate to individual healing and resilience. More precisely, I analyze how individual memories and collective remembrance reflect the different positions of female veterans vs. women living in war-torn areas. Finally, I link the individual experiences of women in Iraq and Afghanistan with broader global discussions of commemoration and cultures of remembrance. This research contributes to scholarly work on women’s gendered experiences of trauma as multifaceted and intersectional.

​Reconstructing Mother Earth Imagery
​Reconstructing Mother Earth Imagery Oral Presentation | Discuss via Zoom
By: Julia Czaplewski
Faculty Sponsor: Chris Diehm
Mother Earth imagery is invoked by environmentalists to promote an ethic of care towards Earth. However, this imagery may not serve its function as Western hierarchical dualisms of woman/man and nature/culture have placed women closer to nature and men more fully involved with culture. In historical Western cultural contexts, associations of women with nature and nature with women have functioned to the detriment of both. Some ecofeminist academics have prioritized the reconstruction of one of these dualisms over the other for the imagery to reflect its intention. However, I argue that Mother Earth imagery may be less problematic in non-Western cultural contexts like American Indian ideology where both dualisms are reconstructed to be non-binary. For Mother Earth imagery to foster a true ethic of care, both nature/culture and woman/man dualisms need to be reconstructed as they are interrelated. 

​​Red Cliff Band Chippewa and Wisconsin History
​​Red Cliff Band Chippewa and Wisconsin History Poster
By: Logan Chelberg
Faculty Sponsor: Sarah Scripps
This poster is inspired by a photograph taken in 1913 by Elizabeth Hull of a Red Cliff Band Chippewa man in traditional clothing during a Powwow on the shores of Lake Superior. Native American tribes have a deep history in Wisconsin. The Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa is one of the eleven federally recognized tribes in Wisconsin, and their contribution to the history of the state is worthy of deeper examination. Through this poster, I will offer a focused look into the Red Cliff Band of Chippewa and how they have shaped Northeastern Wisconsin's history and culture. This topic is of personal interest because my family is a part of this tribe. I hope to show not just the tribe’s history by my family's history as well.

​Remembering the Few: The Exclusion of Intersectional Accounts in Commemorative Practices of the WWII Battle of Okinawa (1945-2021)
​Remembering the Few: The Exclusion of Intersectional Accounts in Commemorative Practices of the WWII Battle of Okinawa (1945-2021) Poster
By: Tucker De Guelle
Faculty Sponsor: Valerie Barske
In this research project, I evaluate the extent and effectiveness of how personal accounts of various intersectional identities are utilized in commemorative practices of the WWII Battle of Okinawa. This infamous battle resulted in an immense amount of lives lost, most of whom were Okinawan citizens. The conclusion of WWII led to various expressions of remembrance of this event; however, some expressions result in creating false narratives by excluding diverse accounts of those involved in the conflict. I argue that the intersectional accounts of the victims and survivors in the aftermath of the Battle of Okinawa (April 1-June 23, 1945) must be collectively utilized in commemoration practice to avoid creating limited narratives, while also preventing any neglect towards the survivors and their accounts. In my research, I construct a framework of analysis based on scholarly research on the usage of intersectional identities and personal accounts in remembrance culture to assess a collection of accounts from people involved in the conflict along with relevant commemorative expressions of the Battle of Okinawa. The results of this research support the inclusion of personal accounts in any expression of commemoration, and likewise calls for more analysis on the inclusivity of modern expressions of memorial narratives.

The Deadliest Wildfire in History
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The Deadliest Wildfire in History Poster
By: Eryka Knutson
Faculty Sponsor: Sarah Scripps
With the recent news headlines of blazes in Australia and California, it might surprise some to learn that the deadliest wildfire in recorded history actually took place in our very own Wisconsin: the Great Peshtigo Fire. In 1871, the Midwest was a hotbed of inferno. Overshadowed by more infamous fires such as the Great Chicago Fire, the Peshtigo Fire would fade in popular memory despite killing an estimated 1,500 to 2,500 people. Here, I hope to examine the untold devastation and address burning questions through the eyewitness account of Reverend Peter Pernin. With so many simultaneous conflagrations in the Midwest, how were Wisconsin and its people impacted by the smoldering wreckage of 1871?


​The Ethics of Commemorating Historical Figures: An Analysis of the Removal of a Statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Ghana (1900-2021)
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​The Ethics of Commemorating Historical Figures: An Analysis of the Removal of a Statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Ghana (1900-2021) Poster | Discuss via Zoom
By: Sara Kalkhoff
Faculty Sponsor: Valerie Barske
In this research project, I examine the installation and removal of a statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Ghana to articulate the complex ethics of commemorating historical figures. The statue, gifted in 2016 to the University of Ghana from the Indian government as a symbol of the countries’ close diplomatic relations, sparked protests from students and scholars who argued that the statue showcased Gandhi’s racism toward Black Africans.  I employ a variety of theoretical frameworks including postcolonialism and the intersectionality of race and nationality to discuss media representation of Gandhi in the forms of petitions, interviews, and photographs. More specifically, I assess Gandhi's harmful attitudes toward Black South Africans as well as his positive influence on various African independence movements. Ultimately, I establish how and if it is possible to commemorate Gandhi and other historical figures without erasing or glorifying their harmful ideologies and controversial histories.

​The Future of Commemoration: How Video Games Impact Commemoration and Remembrance Practices of World War II and the 1274 Mongol Invasion of Tsushima Island
​The Future of Commemoration: How Video Games Impact Commemoration and Remembrance Practices of World War II and the 1274 Mongol Invasion of Tsushima Island Poster | Discuss via Zoom
By: Rayvn Knipple
Faculty Sponsor: Valerie Barske
In this research project, I examine how modern World War II video games commemorate and remember historical events. I examine Sucker Punch’s 2020 award winning video game “Ghost of Tsushima” and how the game impacts commemoration and remembrance practices of the event, but also how the video game resonates in Tsushima Island. I provide a historical background information on the Mongol invasion of Tsushima Island and compare and contrast the historical accuracy of the invasion with the “Ghost of Tsushima” video game. I utilize images from the “Ghost of Tsushima” video game, as well as images of present-day Tsushima Island and historical images of samurai culture to illustrate historical accuracies and inaccuracies. Video games can and have provided an interactive and accessible visual memorial for many different historical events, that has and continues to impact commemoration and remembrance practices. My research displays how critical video games will be in commemoration and remembrance practices going forward.

The Influence of Turkish and Arabic Speakers on Modern German
The Influence of Turkish and Arabic Speakers on Modern German Oral Presentation
By: Ashleigh Anderson
Faculty Sponsor: James Berry
The linguistic diversity of a country changes as more and more speakers of other languages immigrate to the home country. The influence of Arabic and Turkish on the German language has only recently started to be studied, but there is evidence of Turkish language influence on the modern dialect of German. Arabic, on the other hand, is a relatively new addition, as the immigration and refuge of Arabic speakers has only recently started to affect the German language. The main influence of Arabic loanwords comes through in Jugendsprache or Umgangssprache, although that is likely to change as the languages progress together.

​The Lady Germania, Progressive Feminist Icon or Symbol of Misogyny?: An Intersectional Study of German Commemorative Practices since the 19th Century
​The Lady Germania, Progressive Feminist Icon or Symbol of Misogyny?: An Intersectional Study of German Commemorative Practices since the 19th Century Poster
By: Frederick Meer
Faculty Sponsor: Valerie Barske
In this research project, I examine German commemorative practices in respect to “The Lady Germania,” a symbol of the nation and female personification of Germany. I focus on the 19th century as the time period where the most robust development of remembrance culture focused on her. “The Lady Germania” was first depicted by the Romans as a woman in chains around the turn of the millennium. Since then, Germania has been employed by propagandists, leaders in Government, authors and artists to call men to arms, to unite them under one banner, or merely to provoke a return to the supposed better morals of days past.  In my analysis, I synthesize works of art, literature, opera, music and poetry of the era to correlate the general trends and intersectional entities of her development to parallel historical events. I argue that an articulation of this developmental process serves as vitally important to present-day artists, authors, film writers and perhaps most importantly viewers. In the end, I conclude that gendered depictions of female icons of the nation in art, literature and film impact significantly the development of national remembrance culture and global approaches for how to commemorate women.

​​The Northwoods Go To War!
​​The Northwoods Go To War! Poster
By: Hunter Gnatz
Faculty Sponsor: Sarah Scripps
What is a flying tree? And what does Wisconsin have to do with it? Using Sara Witter Connor’s book, Wisconsin's Flying Trees in World War II, I will explain how America’s wartime industry called upon the Northwoods of Wisconsin to supply lumber and other fabricated materials for the aeronautical war effort. In particular, I will discuss the operations of the Vaneer, and Steinway and Sons companies, who harvested various species of timber and manufactured fabricated portions of WACO gliders for the allied airborne forces that proved vital to the victory in Europe. I use sources ranging from contracts drawn in New York to photos and recollections from Wausau in order to highlight how World War II was truly a global conflict that affected regional industries in the Wisconsin Northwoods.



The Rebirth of Israel in the 20th Century: Creating a Nation and Present-Day Implication
The Rebirth of Israel in the 20th Century: Creating a Nation and Present-Day Implication Poster
By: George Klumb
Faculty Sponsor: Valerie Barske
In this project, I examine the recreation of the nation of Israel in 1948, consider the surrounding controversy at the time, and consider what this recreation means for the Arab - Israeli controversy today regarding Israel’s existence and functioning as a country. Due to its turbulent history in ancient times, well after its declaration of Independence, Israel remains a site of many far-reaching controversies originating in ancient times but extending to Israel’s rebirth and even today. This story is well documented through numerous media including maps, legal documents, images, testimony, and debates on many facets of the country. These are accessible from organizations like the Holocaust Museum, Library of Congress, National Archives, Israeli Government, Israeli National Library, and many others. Drawing from such sources provides for a qualitative approach to analyzing Israel’s independence and interactions regarding the controversy of the country’s existence and national identity through such commemorative practices as their Independence Day through their existence since 1948. It is expected that analysis will show a complex set of issues regarding Israel’s existence, but also highlight that the country’s operation and existence are often misunderstood.

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