Bemidji State student wins outstanding poster at Posters at the Capitol

Larson Posters at the Capitol.jpg — Bemidji State University student Fia Larsen, of Hackensack, stands next to her research poster, titled "Enemies in Our Fields: German Prisoners of War in Moorhead, Minnesota, during World War II," which won Outstanding Conference Poster at the Posters at the Capitol event in St Paul.

By Pioneer Staff Report

March 07, 2024 at 10:18 AM

Bemidji State University student Fia Larsen, of Hackensack, recently won Outstanding Conference Poster at the Posters at the Capitol event in St. Paul.

According to the Minnesota Undergraduate Scholars Council, Posters at the Capitol is an annual research event that gives undergraduate students in the Minnesota state college system the opportunity to share their scholarly work with state government officials.

Larsen's research poster was titled, "Enemies in Our Fields: German Prisoners of War in Moorhead, Minnesota, during World War II."

"The first German POW camp established in Minnesota, a branch camp from Camp Algona in Iowa, was established in Moorhead in 1944," reads part of Larsen's poster. "By the request of Hank Peterson and Paul Horn, controversially 150 POWs would later come to work on their farms and live at a nearby camp. Despite the illegality of fraternization with prisoners, the farmers of Moorhead and the POWs quickly established friendships."

Larsen is a Spanish and history double major and her faculty mentor is Dr. Dan Allosso, BSU assistant professor of history.

Other BSU students who presented at the Capitol

Larsen's poster presentation was one of five research projects by BSU students at Posters at the Capitol.

Robert Mangiamele, of Bemidji, and Andrew Rizea, under faculty mentor Dr. Rachel Hellman Whitaker, associate professor of chemistry, presented "Autzy, a Social Media App for People with Autism."

Mangiamele and Rizea Posters at the Capitol.jpg — BSU students Robert Mangiamele of Bemidji, left, and Andrew Rizea, under faculty mentor Dr. Rachel Hellman Whitaker, associate professor of chemistry, presented "Autzy, a Social Media App for People with Autism," at Posters at the Capitol.

Ashley Jensen and Emma Olson, who were also under faculty mentor Whitaker presented, "Biochemical Analysis of Non-Protein Coding RNA LINC00298 and Its Expression in Early Onset Alzheimer's."

Jensen and Olson Posters at the Capitol.jpg — Ashley Jensen, left, and Emma Olson, under faculty mentor Dr. Rachel Hellman Whitaker, associate professor of chemistry, presented, "Biochemical Analysis of Non-Protein Coding RNA LINC00298 and Its Expression in Early Onset Alzheimer's," at Posters at the Capitol.

Grant Gunderson, Grace Haglin, Evelyn Hullopeter and Kaitlyn Kaiser, under faculty mentor Dr. Travis Ricks, professor of psychology, presented "The Relationship Between Missing Classes and Undergraduates Feelings of Belonginess and Mental Health."

Hullopeter, Haglin and Gunderson Posters at the Capitol.jpg — From left: Evelyn Hullopeter, Grace Haglin and Grant Gunderson, under faculty mentor Dr. Travis Ricks, professor of psychology, presented "The Relationship Between Missing Classes and Undergraduates Feelings of Belonginess and Mental Health." Not pictured: Kaitlyn Kaiser.

Kaitlyn Kaiser, under faculty mentor Dr. Travis Ricks, professor of psychology, presented "Exploring Belongingness among Online and On-Campus Students at Bemidji State University."

Kaiser Posters at the Capitol.jpg — Kaitlyn Kaiser, under faculty mentor Dr. Travis Ricks, professor of psychology, presented "Exploring Belongingness among Online and On-Campus Students at Bemidji State University," at Posters at the Capitol.

For more information and to view these students' research posters, visit

By Pioneer Staff Report

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