During Northern Illinois University’s Celebrating Excellence event, NIU Today will highlight the accomplishments and contributions of NIU students, faculty, staff and alumni to the university’s mission of promoting excellence and engagement in teaching and learning, research and scholarship, creativity and artistry, and outreach and service during the academic year.

Senior Wayne Duerkes is a history major from Somonauk, Ill., studying market development in the lower Fox Valley region from 1833 to 1852. Learn more about Wayne’s research in the video below.

In coordination with Celebrating Excellence, a new video can be found on NIU Today and the NIU You Tube Channel each day this week highlighting student research.

Also see:

• Student research: Brogan Bennett checks metabolic testing on NIU hockey team
• Student research: Zach Griffith steers NIU SAE Supermileage chassis design project
• Student research: Todd Jelinek looks into traditional and modern frame drumming
• Student research: Natalie Cincotta inspects German photographs from World War II