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Elyse Ibata, a second-year genetics and cell biology major in the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, will present at the Central States Communication Association (CSCA) undergraduate honors conference as a Top Three Paper in their undergraduate honors research session. Ibata is an honors student under the guidance of Jessica Hutchins, PhD, interim director of SIUE Honors College, in the John Martinson Honors Program. Ibata's paper is titled “Music and Protest Through CCR’s ‘Fortunate Son’" and her faculty mentor is Deborah Sellnow-Richmond, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Applied Communication Studies. The conference will be held in Grand Rapids, Mich. in April. 

Before Ibata travels to the conference, she answered a few questions about her submission, her experience in the John Martinson Honors Program, and the honor of being selected as part of the Top Paper panel for the conference. 

What made you apply?  

The paper was my final for one of my Honors rhetoric courses last semester. Throughout the semester we were required to write a few different papers about the rhetorical analysis of pop culture. My professor, Dr. Deborah Sellnow-Richmond, continuously encouraged the class to reach out if we wanted to submit one of our papers to the conference. I was hesitant to have her submit my paper because I didn’t think it would be good enough but decided that the worst they would do is decline my paper.   

How did you prepare?  

I chose to analyze music the entire semester, so by the time my final paper came around I had a pretty good understanding of the “Music Perspective” in our book. I didn’t really “prepare” because I had no intention of submitting it. The most preparation I did was in class during lecture and working with that perspective throughout the semester.   

To prepare for the conference I plan to reread my paper multiple times and touch up on the “Music Perspective” that my paper focuses on.   

The source for this perspective is:  

Sellnow, D. S. (2018). Chapter 8, A Music Perspective: The Illusion of Life. In The rhetorical power of popular culture: Considering mediated texts. essay, SAGE.  

What was your reaction when you found out that you won? What was the reaction of friends/family/professors?  

I was honestly surprised that my paper was even selected, let alone picked as a top three. My first assumption was that they had practically no one even submit papers. I haven’t talked about it much with other people, but I would say that my mom and Dr. Deborah Sellnow-Richmond were very proud.   

How has SIUE contributed to your pursuing this degree?  

I am a genetics and cell biology major with minors in chemistry and classical studies. I had chosen this degree well before I even applied to colleges, but the opportunities for STEM students here at SIUE keeps me interested in my chosen path. The classical studies minor is something I recently decided on after taking a semester of Latin. My Latin professor encouraged me to pursue this minor, and I am very grateful for that. It really is an interesting area of study.   
 

Any lessons learned from this experience? 

This experience so far has helped remind me to just go for it and try, even if you don’t think you’re good enough. Like Wayne Gretzky said, “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” 
 
PHOTO:  Second-year CAS major and student of the John Martinson Honors Program, Elyse Ibata, will present at Central States Communication Association undergraduate honors conference as a Top Three Paper