The Symposium of Student Research and Creative Activity was a daylong event for motivated students on April 24 to showcase research projects to guests, staff and other students through a poster-board gallery, oral presentations and then creative performances.
Hosting a poster in Wilson Lobby at the start of the day, student Cindy Chavarria said she wants to be a teacher for special education students and that her motivation stems from her two children -- her 12-year-old daughter, diagnosed with autism, and her 14-year-old son, diagnosed with ADHD.
"That's my motivation," Chavarria said, "before them I didn't know what I wanted to do with my life, but now that I have my kids and I started learning all these things with their disability, I was like, that's my calling in life."
The event began with an academic gallery in the morning from 10:00 a.m. to 10:50 a.m., in which attenders could ask questions of each presenter, whose poster topics ranged from cybersecurity to inclusive children's books to celebrating Earth Day, including a small group of 3D design students who investigated sustainability and zero-carbon design for turning trash into works of art. Also, chemistry student Sabrina Bernard zeroed in on her analysis of litter trends along Lake Michigan.
Student Matt Marquez said, "I'm not going to lie to you, it's got me extra motivated to get more involved in my studies."
Those in attendance were then directed to classrooms that would host up to three speakers waiting to give research presentations. In one group, students Tooba Shafiq, Larissa Quiroz and Jonathan Pettus presented their separate work on mental health.
After speaking, students sat side-by-side while the audience asked questions. How did they feel now that the presentation was finished? They looked at each other and recited the same answer with smiles on their faces: "Relieved."
After the lunch break in McKeon, guests were directed to the theater. At 1:00 p.m. a panel discussion featured keynote speaker, environmental reporter for the Texas Tribune and Pulitzer awardee for her article "Neglected and Exposed," Alejandra Martinez, who said "I like to be part of places where I can give back in a way that I really needed in college, and in a way that my mentors in college gave back to me."
Following the keynote, student LaChrisa Watts performed "Music and Growth," and said she hoped "the audience can experience the connection that I feel with music and be encouraged to consider their passions wholeheartedly."
Capping off the day was the musical theater workshop performance titled "Anything Goes ... The Living Newspaper," by theater-arts students.
As the symposium came to its end, participants shared smiles and hugs to celebrate their hard work.
"It's gratifying to see the students speak confidently about what they have created and present their work in innovative ways," Gillespie said, rounding off her final thoughts. "In turn, their presentations spark conversations and further questions with the audience. In this way, we hope the symposium creates a space for students and community members to have a dialogue, learn new things and even be inspired to explore their own research or creative pursuits."