DR Charles Saenz
The Paw Print
Are you working on an exciting project in a course? Do you have a provocative intellectual idea that you would like to share with the campus community? Have you considered pursuing advanced study in graduate school? Consider taking part in Student Scholar Days! Student Scholar Days is an annual multidisciplinary, two-day conference intended to highlight the academic achievements of undergraduate students at Adams State University.
Last year’s 6th annual Student Scholar Days event was a tremendous success. Presentations covered a diverse array of topics, including a Freudian interpretation of the Twilight movie New Moon, a constitution for the world, a mathematical and statistical appraisal of West Nile Virus in Colorado, and the impact of marijuana on student success. All presentations were recorded and are now available for viewing online via the ASU YouTube website. Student presenters indicated feeling a tremendous sense of accomplishment from having completed a successful project and were grateful for the opportunity to share their research with their peers and other community members. Mentors reported feeling a great deal of pride in the achievement of their mentees.
This year’s event has been scheduled for 3-4 April 2014. However, students who plan to present must begin their preparations soon. Project proposals may stem from assignments in upper division courses, work with student organizations, unique opportunities outside of the university, and other experiences. Presenters should seek to convert these experiences into scholarly reflections appropriate to an academic discipline of their choosing. Group presentations are welcome.
In order to participate in the Student Scholar Days event, students must identify a suitable mentor to assist them in their preparations. Mentors will advise in the preparation of the application packet, present feedback in practicing for the event, guide in the specifics of a good presentation, and provide introductions on the day of the presentation. In general, the role of the mentor is designed to serve as a resource for first time presenters.
ASU faculty and staff are eager to work with students on specialized research projects and students should not hesitate to contact prospective mentors to consider an undertaking of this kind. One-on-one research projects are also an excellent opportunity for mentors to learn more about a student’s individual research interests and abilities. Such information would be valuable in the writing of a recommendation letter for graduate school and other professional opportunities.
On the day of their presentation, students will be invited to share their research findings with fellow students and other members of the campus community. Projects will be allocated 20 minutes worth of oral presentation time. During this span of time, students are encouraged to use a variety of presentation formats, though the standard format typically involves PowerPoint slides with an accompanying talk. Presenters often set aside time towards the conclusion of their presentation for questions and comments.
Students will submit application materials in early 2014. In the interim, now is the perfect time to identify a mentor and to begin crafting a proposal. If you have any questions, please contact Professor Jennifer Gawronski (jennygawronski@adams.edu) for further information.
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