Five seniors from Appalachian State University have participated in the 2021 Brashear Research Competition, and two have been honored with Brashear Prizes for their work.
Housed in the Walker College of Business' Department of Economics, the Brashear Undergraduate Research Program was established in 1995 with the intent to “promote literacy and scholarship in economics.” During the past 26 years, the field of economics has experienced revolutions in computing power, statistical techniques and methods of communication, and, as such, literacy has evolved from the scholarly essay to the description of empirical research.
Brashear Prize Winner: Best Paper
Logan Decker has earned the best paper prize or his work, “Road Salt, Lake Quality and Home Values." Decker will earn a bachelor's in sustainable technology.
Logan Decker
Brashear Prize Winner: Best Presentation
Caleb Garbuio has earned the best presented research prize for his work “The Effect of Pandemic Precautions on NFL Ticket Consumption.” Garbuio also submitted his research paper entitled “The Effects of Achievement Tests on the Accumulation of Human Capital."
Caleb Garbuio
"We are proud of each of the students who submitted their research this year," said Department of Economics Chair David McEvoy. "All five of the submitted papers were of high caliber, and I expect great things from each of these seniors."
Ike Easterbrook's research paper is entitled “Is There a Gender Wage Gap?”
Carlie Smith's research paper is entitled “Does Per Pupil Funding Impact SAT Scores? A Deep Dive Into North Carolina School Districts”
David Vaudo's research paper is entitled “How Covid-19 Policies Affect Unemployment Rates Between States in the U.S.”
Dr. McEvoy said that the Brashear program promotes intellectual curiosity and enhances critical-thinking, analytical, writing and presentation skills, and that students benefit by gaining more interaction with economics faculty outside the classroom, getting a better understanding of research methods, and enhancing their resumes.
Omicron Delta Epsilon
During the Brashear Prize Ceremony, five students were inducted into Appalachian's chapter of Omicron Delta Epsilon, the Department of Economics honor society. Those students are: Christopher Haywood Ferguson, Caleb Garbuio, Connor Lubsen, Aidan McArthur and Charles P. McKenzie.
About the Department of Economics at Appalachian State University
The Department of Economics in Appalachian State University's Walker College of Business is an intellectually vibrant place for students and faculty. As a research-intensive department committed to student learning, the department offers a wide range of courses that provide critical-thinking and problem-solving skills, complemented by student-faculty research collaboration. Our faculty members are engaged in research that contributes locally and globally in areas related to energy, environmental, development, trade, health, sports and tourism. The Department of Economics is ranked among the leading U.S. economics departments for research productivity, and is particularly strong in environmental and experimental economics. Learn more at economics.appstate.edu.
Logan Decker, left, and Caleb Garbuio have earned Brashear Prizes
Decker, Garbuio