b"Seth Michael Gibbons Winston-Salem, North CarolinaB.S., Lees-McRae College; M.S., East Carolina UniversityInviting the Public into Wildlife Research: Does Participation in Research Projects That Facilitate Interactions with Local Species Change Feelings of Connection?Advised by Dr. Elizabeth BaldwinSeth was awarded a departmental Graduate Student Award of Excellence in 2024 and served as the Clemson University Institute for Parks' Secretary to the Board from 2022-2023.Maira Patino Chicago, IllinoisB.A., University of Illinois Chicago; M.A., Webster UniversityNuestra Comunidad: A Photovoice Study Examining Latino Youth And Outdoor RecreationAdvised by Dr. Corliss OutleyMaira is a Clemson Doctoral Diversity Fellow, Writing Across the Curriculum Fellow, and received the Fran McGuire Excellence in Teaching Award in 2023 from her department. A chapter of her dissertation has been accepted for submission to a peer-reviewed journal, and she has one peer-reviewed publication as a second author while another is under review. She currently serves in the United States Army active duty component with the rank of Major and will attend Command and General Staff College at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas.Derek West Whaley Charlotte, North CarolinaB.S., Western Carolina University; M.S., Clemson UniversityUnderstanding the Experiences of Para-Collegiate Student- Athletes: A Mixed Methods StudyAdvised by Dr. Jasmin TownsendPolicy StudiesJacob David McCauley North Augusta, South CarolinaB.A., California State University, Fullerton; M.B.A., Georgia Southern UniversityExamining Policy Diffusion Mechanisms in the Contemporary Local Government Landscape of a Politically Polarized United StatesAdvised by Dr. Lori DickesHolly Verity Williams .Oakham, United KingdomL.L.B., Lincoln University; M.H.R.D., Clemson UniversityPolicy Solutions for Juvenile Cyber-Deviant Behaviors: Insights from Criminological TheoryAdvised by Dr. Laura Olson and Dr. Bryan MillerHolly is graduating as a Distinguished Ethics Scholar through the Rutland Institute for Ethics. She received a Fulbright Specialist Scholarship for her work with Tampere University and will be visiting Finland shortly after graduation. She will continue her work within criminal justice and seeks to publish peer-reviewed research in the near future.18"