Berkeley College Honors Program Explores Hot Button Topics Through Annual Research Symposium
Monday, August 10, 2026
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BERKELEY COLLEGE HONORS PROGRAM EXPLORES HOT BUTTON TOPICS
THROUGH ANNUAL RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM
Photo Caption: The Berkeley College Honors Program hosted its annual Honors Scholars Research Symposium poster presentation on August 5, 2026. Students researched and presented hotly debated social issues such as equal pay, the effects of social media on mental health, and hidden costs in healthcare. Pictured (L to R) are Patianne Stabile, DA, Professor, Berkeley College Division of General Education; Berkeley College Honors scholars Matheus Iwamoto of Harrison, NJ; Ahron Mejia of Union City, NJ; Richie Roman of Clifton, NJ; Abigail Reza of Paterson, NJ; Zahamy Chacon of Middlesex, NJ; Tia Shabsough of Amman, Jordan; and Sixto Gonzalez of North Bergen, NJ; and Pattie Cowan, Director, Honors Program, Berkeley College.
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More than 30 Berkeley College Honors students presented research on hotly debated topics such as equal pay, the effects of social media on mental health, and hidden costs in healthcare, during the annual Honors Scholars Research Symposium. The event included a thesis presentation session on Monday, August 3, 2026, a virtual research symposium session on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, and a poster presentation session on Wednesday, August 5, 2026. Through the symposium experience, students hone their critical thinking, public speaking, graphic design, and professional writing skills.
“The Honors scholars went above and beyond in their research and presentations,” said Pattie Cowan, Director, Honors Program, Berkeley College. “Each year we see improvement in the quality of the work produced, especially as students select topics they are passionate about. Berkeley College seeks to improve the program annually by further challenging students’ skillsets and knowledge both on-site and virtually.”
Presentations featured topics including the risks of genetically modified organisms, the correlation between mental health and social media, the pay gap between male and female athletes, and the consequences of society’s dependence on plastic.
“The Honors Program showed me how to collaborate with my classmates and challenged me to step outside of my comfort zone,” said Honors scholar Ahron Mejia of Union City, NJ. “I felt comfortable asking questions and diving into research. Now I am a more confident, outgoing student who is likely to reach out to support others.”
Mejia presented his poster, “The Impact of Social Media on the Mental Health of Children and Teenagers,” during the Symposium. “My research showed that when it comes to social media and teens, the negatives outweigh the positives,” Mejia said. “I recommend self-monitoring and limiting the number of hours spent on the phone.”
Two Honors scholars, Zahamy Chacon of Middlesex, NJ, and Abigail Reza of Paterson, NJ, will present posters at the Middle States Commission for Higher Education (MSCHE) Annual Conference in Philadelphia, PA, in December 2026. According to the MSCHE, the presentations are an opportunity for students to showcase their research and findings to leaders from across the higher education industry.
An Honors Recognition Ceremony was held on Friday, August 7, 2026, to acknowledge scholars who have gone above and beyond in the program during the 2025-2026 academic year. The following students were recognized for their research:
Best Presentation: “The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Accounting: Why Human Accountants Still Mater” by Dylan Dascoli of Shirley, NY
Best Virtual Presentations:
- Elvira Fred of Huddinge, Sweden
- Angela Mushi of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
- Mai Nitzan of Herzliya, Israel
- Olivia Wolski of Lodi, NJ
Best Title: “Harvesting Uncertainty, Exploring Risks of Genetically Modified Organisms” by Miguel Andrade of Kingwood, TX
Academic All-Stars, First-Year Honors Students:
- Jan Ali Bukhari of Multan, Pakistan
- Brianna Celis of Carteret, NJ
- Zahamy Chacon of Middlesex, NJ
- Elvira Fred of Huddinge, Sweden
- Mai Nitzan of Herzliya, Israel
- Tia Shabsough of Amman, Jordan
Academic All-Stars, Continuing Honors Students:
- Christian Benito of Kearny, NJ
- Elvira Bronaes of Stocksund, Sweden
- Dylan Dascoli of Shirley, NY
Best Honors Papers:
- “Hidden Filters: How AI Hiring Tools Sort Out the People They Were Built to Include” by Jan Ali Bukhari of Multan, Pakistan
- “Sick Care, Not Health Care: The Unspoken Truth of Patients for Profit” by Brianna Celis of Carteret, NJ
Best Honors Thesis: “Eating Disorders as a Social Justice Issue” by Elvira Bronaes of Stocksund, Sweden
Honors Academic MVPs:
- Christian Benito of Kearny, NJ
- Elvira Bronaes of Stocksund, Sweden
- Elvira Fred of Huddinge, Sweden
- Tia Shabsough of Amman, Jordan
Community Service MVPs:
- Zahamy Chacon of Middlesex, NJ
- Mateo Negrete of College Point, NY
Photo Caption: Berkeley College Honors scholar Matheus Iwamoto of Harrison, NJ, stands next to his research poster, “Teamwork and Individualism in Japanese and American Culture,” at the Honors Scholar Research Symposium poster presentation on August 5, 2026. Students researched and presented hotly debated social issues such as equal pay, the effects of social media on mental health, and hidden costs in healthcare.
About the Berkeley College Honors Program
The Berkeley College Honors Program is a credit-bearing academic program within the Division of General Education available to eligible high-achieving, full-time applicants seeking Associate’s or Bachelor’s degrees across most majors in the School of Business and the School of Professional Studies. Honors students are exposed to theme-based interdisciplinary seminars, enhance their research writing and oral presentation skills, and provide community service to the College and community. Themes reflect topics that are timely and relevant and change each year. Click here to learn more about the Berkeley College Honors Program.
About Berkeley College
Berkeley College, founded in 1931, is a career-focused institution accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education that offers students Master’s, Bachelor’s, and Associate’s degree and Certificate programs in more than 20 career fields. The College also offers Continuing Education programs to enhance career credentials.
Berkeley College has campuses in New York City and in Newark, Woodbridge, and Woodland Park, NJ, with more than 4,000 students enrolled. In addition, Berkeley College Online® serves a global population. U.S. News & World Report has named Berkeley College among the Best Colleges for Online Bachelor’s Programs and among the Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Veterans for 13 consecutive years. Berkeley College is also ranked among the Best Regional Colleges/Universities in the North in the 2026 edition of the U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges survey. The website address is https://BerkeleyCollege.edu.
The mission of Berkeley College is to empower each student to achieve lifelong success.
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