ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I would like to thank Dr. Donald Salter for mentoring me during this research and for being a great advisor and friend.  I would also like to thank Dr. John McCall for taking on the responsibility of being the second reader and helping me out whenever I needed it.  Another great thanks goes to Mary Pagleiro for guiding me through the Honors Program and working with my busy schedule.  I could not have completed this project without these very special people.