Reading Athlete
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Student-Led Research:
Can building the conditions for reading and peer-led bibliotherapy improve a team culture? Reduce stress? Aid in mental health interventions? Improve academic and athletic performance?
These are a few of the questions I have been asking for years.
In 2026, I ran anIndependent student research project supported by Morgan's Message Ambassadors and Educational Directors at the Kevin Love Fund that asked:
After one peer-led picture book session, does a student-athlete report better well-being, and does the change appear in beliefs about reading itself?
- Original research presented as the only youth presenter at the world's largest library conference: 150th Anniversary American Library Association Annual Conference in Chicago, IL (June 28, 2026)
- Additional Statistical Analysis from initial Spring 2026 study supported in conjunction with 2025 & 2026 Mentor Immersion program through Vanderbilt Program for Talented Youth (Mentor: Dr. Ashleigh Maxcey)
- Poster presentations for literacy and mental health symposiums planned for 2027.
Concurrent Enrollment & Intellectual Curiousity
Vanderbilt Mentor Immersion (MI) , Program for Talented Youth (PTY) 2024, 2025, 2026
Summer 2026- Communicating Neuroscience: Mental Health Data Visualization with Professor Ashleigh Maxcey
FINAL PROJECT> Peer Study with Morgan's Message Spring 2026
* Reading Athlete: Utilizing the influence of picture book bibliotherapy as a tool to model vulnerability, inspire connections, and build community for student athletes
Spring 2025- The Psychology and Neuroscience of Happiness withProfessor Ashleigh Maxcey
FINAL PROJECT> Beta Test with Athletes For Hope HSLA
*Book Clubs for Elite-Level Team Environments: The Correlation Between Improved Literacy, Social Connection and High-Level Performance, Happiness, and Well-Being through an Implementation Plan in Elite-Level Athletic Team Scenarios
Summer 2024- Fundamentals of Neuroscience with Dr. Anne Taylor.
FINAL PROJECT
*Neural Plasticity Difference Between Elite Athletes and the General Public: A Study using fMRI and EEG Scans to Explore Neural Pathways and Activity" by Q. Kelley 6.2024
* Letter of Recommendation from Professor Ashleigh Maxcey available upon request.
VSA/ PTY Evaluation 2024, Neuroscience (age 15.2):
" Quade's final project was exemplary. He went above and beyond, creating a research proposal that was at the level of senior undergraduate students. The topic* was unique and he was very thorough and creative with his experimental design. It was very impressive to see how well he synthesized data from scientific literature and even came up with alternative explanations for published findings.
I was very impressed by Quade's research proposal, both the content and passion for which he presented his work. I would suggest reaching out to local universities and seeing if Quade can participate in any biomedical research. I think he would be an asset in the lab and it would provide a unique challenge." -Anne Taylor, PhD
*Neural Plasticity Difference Between Elite Athletes and the General Public: A Study using fMRI and EEG Scans to Explore Neural Pathways and Activity" by Q. Kelley 6.2024