College student studies species, receives scholarship

LIBERTY, Mo. -- What started out as a required research project has turned into a scholarship opportunity for one college student.

Jessica Schwalm, Junior biology major at William Jewell College, has turned her research project -- a graduation requirement -- into a much larger study, which resulted in her being given a TriBeta grant.

The grant, which is actually more of a scholarship, serves two purposes: It allows Jessica to continue her research by giving her funds to purchase much needed supplies and it also gives her money to continue her education.

The project, which Jessica began in December of her Freshmen year, covers the effects of the Coqui frog on arthropod communities and looks into the effects -- positive or negative.

The Coqui frog, which is native to Puerto Rico, has inhabited parts of Hawaii and is disturbing residents because of the loud noise they create. These frogs, which were brought to Hawaii by accident, reproduce quickly and because they are not native to Hawaii, there is not a natural predator to help control their population.

According to the Hawaii Department of Agriculture, www.hawaiiag.org, the male coqui actually makes the noise, which is similar to a two-note whistle beginning in the evening and continuing through out the night. While this "little frog," as it is referred to in Puerto Rico, is disturbing the public in Hawaii, in Puerto Rico it is recognized for it's sound and is a very popular creature. Many organizations including the Hawaii Department of Agriculture are attempting to find ways to control the population of the species or to rid Hawaii of the animal completely. Many people, like Schwalm, are researching the frog to determine if it is merely a nuisance or if it actually causes damage to the environment.

When asked how the species could be removed, Schwalm explained, "It would be too hard to remove the entire species. Since these frogs do not have a natural predator in Hawaii, they are reproducing very quickly year round and their numbers are too high to make such a removal."

Schwalm's project is studying the species and it's reproduction, "to determine what the effect, positive or negative, they (the frog's) have on the arthropod communities in Hawaii."

Schwalm traveled to Hawaii in the Spring of 2007 to further her studies of the species.

"It was so neat to actually get the chance to go into the field, to research the Coqui in Hawaii," Schwalm said. "I actually was able to walk through the rain forest and I understood all of my research better. I observed the importance of what I was doing."

Schwalm collected litter samples, which she took back with her to William Jewell so she could further her research in a lab setting. When she isn't participating in one of her many activities or going to class, Jessica spends much of her time counting the frogs and separating them into families.

The grant, which will be a large asset to her, was awarded to her by honor organization TriBeta. Schwalm worked hard to acquire the scholarship. Requirements for the grant include: A minimum 3.5 GPA and taking three classes in the field of Biology.

She was invited to join the TriBeta Organization and will be required to speak about her research project at a Regional TriBeta Conference during the Spring of her Senior year.

When asked about her future plans, Schwalm said, "I don't want to research forever. I want to go to graduate school and maybe work for a non-profit organization or maybe for the National Parks Service, I'm not really sure."

She also mentioned that she hadn't really decided her plans until this fall.

"I really wasn't sure what I wanted to study, I thought maybe Pharmacy, but I didn't want to have to major in Chemistry. I decided to go with biology and I plan to focus a lot on ecology, because I really like it," Schwalm said during the interview.

Some of her other activities include American Women in Science, FCA, Chaplain Service for her sorority and being a Hall Support, where she was a Christian role model for other students offering her support to them or to be someone to talk to whenever needed.

Schwalm chose William Jewell College for many reasons. One of which William Jewell was the smaller number of students.

"Here there is roughly 1300 students. It's a large enough school that I have lots of opportunities, but it's small enough that I can have a closer relationships with teachers."

William Jewell has also been good for Schwalm because, "sometimes I wouldn't take the initiative to do something. My professors though, would really help me, they would get behind me and sort of give me that push -- they would make sure that I did what I needed to do," Schwalm said.

In regards to her decision to attend William Jewell, "I'm happy, very happy with my decision. The scholarship I received to go here really helped, I didn't have to pay as much and the school has really been the best choice for me."

Schwalm is currently working on her application for another scholarship, where she had to be recommended by a faculty member.

She is the daughter of David and Cindy Schwalm, Hiattville, and is a 2006 graduate of Uniontown High School.