Twenty-first century skills are important for secondary students to experience during school. The purpose of this qualitative study was to gauge the perception of senior students regarding their exposure to the Virginia 5C's (5C's) and the 21st century skills through a senior project experience. The central research question was, Did the senior project at a rural high school in Virginia expose students to the 5C's and 21st century skills? According to the Virginia Board of Education, the 5C's (critical thinking, creative thinking, collaboration, communication, and citizenship) are essential for every public high school student to learn. The 5C's have been incorporated into all public high schools in Virginia, beginning with the freshmen class of 2018-2019. Information was gathered to identify improvements that could be made to a senior project at a public secondary school to determine if 21st century skills and the 5C's were exposed. The senior project coursework included an introduction to 21st century skills and the 5C's, resume workshop, interview training, and an actual interview. Seniors worked 30 minutes each day with an instructor that totaled 2 hours for the senior project experience. After completion of the senior project, 22 students voluntarily completed an electronic survey that contained 12 questions. Results were analyzed and four specific findings were evident. Participants agreed that the senior project exposed them to the 21st century skills and the 5C's. Although the researcher could not prove that the students are better prepared for post-graduation because of the senior project, participants agreed to the survey question that the senior project helped better prepare them for post-graduation. Also the participants agreed that they enjoyed the senior project overall. The results of this study could support leaders with implementing a senior project if the desired outcome is for students to gain knowledge of the 5C's and 21st century skills. / Doctor of Education / Twenty-first century skills are important for secondary students to experience during school. The purpose of this qualitative study was to gauge the perception of senior students regarding their exposure to the Virginia 5C's (5C's) and the 21st century skills through a senior project experience. The central research question was, Did the senior project at a rural high school in Virginia expose students to the 5C's and 21st century skills? According to the Virginia Board of Education, the 5C's (critical thinking, creative thinking, collaboration, communication, and citizenship) are essential for every public high school student to learn. The 5C's have been incorporated into all public high schools in Virginia, beginning with the freshmen class of 2018-2019. Information was gathered to identify improvements that could be made to a senior project at a public secondary school in the western portion of Virginia to determine if 21st century skills and the 5C's were successfully addressed. After completion of the senior project, 22 students voluntarily completed an electronic survey that contained 12 questions. Results were analyzed and it was found that the overall senior project experience exposed students to the 5C's and 21st century skills. Although the researcher could not prove that the students are better prepared for post-graduation because of the senior project, participants agreed to the survey question that the senior project helped better prepare them for post-graduation. Also the participants agreed that they enjoyed the senior project overall.

A computerized clustering algorithm, DIVIDE, was used to gain insight into the relationships between physical site factors and existing forest communities in southwestern Virginia. A pair of dichotomous keys was produced that "predicted" the forest type most likely to occur in an area based on topography. Maps of predicted forest types, using the Trayis (1982) and SAF (1980) vegetation classification systems, were produced for the entire study area. Accuracy levels of 57 to 78 percent were obtained. There were no significant differences in classification accuracy between Trayis and SAF forest type predictions (P > 0.25). Herbaceous understory was sampled on the basis of cover, and mast production was estimated in each of the forest types. Forest types on sites had significantly greater amounts of forb and fern cover than those on drier sites. Production of grasses and leaves of woody plants was probably similarly affected, but differences were not significant. Estimates of acorn production were highest in old stands containing a high percentage of oaks. Oak stands on moist sites appeared to have higher estimated mast yields than those on dry sites, but differences were not significant. Based on the results of these analyses, forest types were rated tor deer suitability using compatibility matrices. Deer habitat suitability maps vere produced for the entire study area based on these matrices. Differences between overall suitability values for the Travis and SAF systems suggest that selection of an appropriate forest type classification system is important for wildlife managers. / M.S.

M.S.

A polyperiod model was developed for investigating production investment decisions associated with firm growth. A fifteen year planning horizon divided into three production periods was used. Initial resources were those of a large-size livestock farm (410 acres of open land) located in Southwest Virginia. The model maximizes the present value of net returns. A twelve percent discount rate was used to obtain a basic solution. The effect of varying the discount rates or maximizing net worth at the end of the planning period were analyzed. Growth was measured in terms of net returns and net worth at the end of the planning period. Family consumption affected capital accumulation by the withdrawal of fixed amounts of capital per period from returns generated during the period. The effect in the amount of initial debt was studied. Growth was associated with changes in enterprise organization, added investments and finance policies. A high discount rate and a high initial debt were the variables that most affected growth. When land purchases were restricted growth was reduced considerably. The dry-lot steer enterprise was more profitable and had a greater potential for expansion than the beef cow enterprise. A major proportion of investments were financed with capital generated within the firm. The greatest amount of investments were done during the last production period. This stresses the importance of time in the capital accumulation process for the growth of the firm. / M.S.

The current status of the Appalachian Trail in the Commonwealth of Virginia is presented, and the role that easements will play in promoting Virginia's efforts to protect the Trail is investigated. Various aspects of easements are analyzed, including approaches to the appraisal of easements, and the effect of easements on income and property taxes. In concluding, easements are compared with fee acquisition of recreational lands and purchase and lease back. Both positive and negative aspects of easements as reflected in the Virginia Appalachian Trail program are discussed. / M.S.

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Rye seedlings grown on differently fertilized plats at Chatham, Virginia, and at Fishersville, Virginia, for the year 1928, and tested by the Neubauer seedling method for phosphorus gave no clue to the amount and availability of the phosphatic fertilizer added. Therefore, the Neubauer seedling method as devised by Neubauer did not prove to be of value in determining the phosphorus availability of Virginia soils under the conditions prevailing in 1928. / M.S.

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This thesis gives (1) a review of literature on pastures and hogging off crops, (2) a description of the farming system of the Peanut Section of Southeastern Virginia as it relates to swine production, and (3) an outline of procedure for two experiments dealing with swine production problems in the Peanut Section. / M.S.