SCHUYLKILL HAVEN, Pa. — Eight Penn State Schuylkill students and one University Park student presented original research at the Eastern Communication Association (ECA) convention in Pittsburgh. In total, the students presented seven papers, three posters, and three panel presentations. One Schuylkill corporate communication major, Anastasia Rakowsky, had a Top Paper with the Undergraduate Scholars Conference and received an award for her work at the conference.
All students were mentored by Valerie Schrader, professor of communication arts and sciences at Penn State Schuylkill.
“I’m so proud of this group of undergraduate scholars,” she said. “They did a great job preparing and presenting their work, and I’m so glad they got the opportunity to share their research with a larger audience at ECA.”
Emma Wollyung, a third-year student, presented her work during the Undergraduate Scholars Conference.
“Having the opportunity to attend ECA and present helped me learn so much more about what professionals are doing in the field post-graduation, and that really inspired me,” Wollyung said.
Second-year student Christine Weicicoskie also presented her research during the Undergraduate Scholars Conference.
“This experience helped me confront my self-doubt and find a footing in my academic career," Weicicoskie said. "I feel more confident in my academic abilities and feel a renewed sense of hope and inspiration after attending the conference.”
ECA is the oldest professional communication association in the country, having been founded in 1910. The organization celebrates achievement in research, criticism, communication theory and teaching. The James C. McCroskey and Virginia P. Richmond Undergraduate Scholars Conference was established in 2011. Penn State Schuylkill has been participating in the Undergraduate Scholars Conference since 2013.
The students who presented at the conference were:
Madisyn Billingsley
Billingsley is a second-year student at Schuylkill majoring in advertising and public relations. She presented a panel presentation entitled “Emergence through Stories and Songs: 8 Mile and Walter Fisher’s Narrative Paradigm” on a panel programmed by the Media Communication Interest Group. This is Billingsley's second communication conference; she previously presented work at the 2025 Pennsylvania Communication Association conference in Loretto.
Isabella Frederick
Frederick is a third-year student at University Park double-majoring in English and biology with a neuroscience option. She presented a panel presentation entitled “That Gold Mine Changed You: Fame, Facework, and Feminine Pain in Phoebe Bridgers’ Public Persona” on a panel programmed by the Media Communication Interest Group, as well as a paper, “‘All Lights Turned Off Can be Turned On:’ Constructing Belonging Through Burkean Identification and Creating Equipment for Living in Stick Season – Forever,” at the James C. McCroskey and Virginia P. Richmond Undergraduate Scholars Conference. This is Frederick's second communication conference; she previously presented work at the 2025 ECA conference in Buffalo, New York.
Lily Kreiser
Kreiser is a third-year student at Schuylkill majoring in nursing with a minor in communication arts and mass media. Lily presented two projects at ECA this year: a poster entitled “You Have No Power Over Me:” A Rhetorical Analysis of Defying Hegemony as a Woman in the Film Labyrinth” and a paper, “Narrative Theory as Seen in Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show,” which she completed for her honors option in "CAS 101N" in fall 2025. This is Kreiser's fourth communication conference, having previously presented at ECA in 2025 and PCA in both 2024 and 2025, along with a number of campus events. Last year, Lily’s poster presentation was recognized with a third place Top Poster award at ECA.
William Mills
Mills is a first-year student at Schuylkill majoring in business with the accounting option. Mills presented his paper, “The Book of Hebrews from a Rhetorical Perspective,” which he completed for his honors option in "CAS 101N" in fall 2025. Mills is one of the first Penn State Schuylkill students to have a full paper that was written in his first semester of college accepted to ECA. This is his first communication conference.
Jenalise Muir
Muir is a third-year student at Schuylkill majoring in nursing with a double-minor in communication arts and mass media and communication arts and sciences. She presented three projects at ECA this year: a panel presentation with the Media Communication Interest Group entitled “Como La Flor: Burkean Identification in Selena: The Movie,” a poster titled “Burkean Identification and West Side Story,” and a paper called “Burkean Identification and Epic: The Musical,” which she completed for her honors option in "CAS 404" during the fall 2025 semester. This is Muir's fourth communication conference, having previously presented at ECA in 2025 and PCA in both 2024 and 2025, along with a number of campus events.
Veronica Plichta
Plichta is a first-year student at Schuylkill majoring in political science. Plichta presented her paper, “Aristotle and the American Civil Liberties Union: The Use of Ethos, Pathos, and Logos in Immigrant Rights Rhetoric,” which she completed for her honors option in "CAS 210" during the fall 2025 semester. Plichta is one of the first Penn State Schuylkill students to have a full paper that was written in her first semester of college accepted to ECA. This is her first communication conference.
Anastasia Rakowsky
Rakowsky is a fourth-year student at Schuylkill majoring in corporate communication with a double-minor in communication arts and sciences and civic and community engagement. Rakowsky presented her paper, “Breaking Free From Tradition: An Analysis of Three Presidential Inaugural Addresses through the Lens of the Rhetorical Situation and the Commonalities of Presidential Rhetoric,” which she completed for her honors option in "CAS 210" during the fall 2025 semester. She presented it on the Top Paper Panel and received an award for it at the conference. This is Rakowsky's second communication conference; she previously presented work at the 2024 PCA conference here at Penn State Schuylkill.
Christine Weicicoskie
Weicicoskie is a second-year student at Schuylkill majoring in psychology. She presented her poster, “"Bitzer’s Rhetorical Situation in Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings,” at the Undergraduate Scholars Conference. Christine’s poster is based on a rhetorical paper she wrote for "CAS 101N" in fall 2025. This is her first communication conference.
Emma Wollyung
Wollyung is a third-year student at Schuylkill majoring in business with the individualized business option with three minors in human resource management, communication arts and mass media, and communication arts and sciences. Her paper, “Better in Denim: Burkean Identification and Gap’s Viral Campaign,” which she completed in her "CAS 101N" honors option, was presented at the Undergraduate Scholars Conference. This is Wollyung's first communication conference.
In addition to the nine students and Schrader, Janelle Gruber, lecturer of corporate communication, participated in the conference. Dr. Schrader presented her own original research, discussed publication on a panel, and chaired and responded to various panels for the Undergraduate Scholars Conference, as well as to a panel with the Media Communication Interest Group.
At the end of the conference, the students went on a sightseeing boat cruise with the Gateway Clipper Fleet along the three rivers of Pittsburgh, where they learned about Pittsburgh history and culture.
The students’ participation in the conference was made possible by funding from the Schuylkill campus, the Office of the Vice President of Commonwealth Campuses, and generous donors who contributed to the Penn State Schuylkill Fall 2025 Fundraising Campaign.
To learn more about the Penn State Schuylkill ECA Undergraduate Scholars Team, contact Schrader. Find more information about the ECA, and learn more about undergraduate research opportunities at Penn State Schuylkill.