Willamette students showcase scholarly excellence and creativity

Willamette’s Salem and Portland campuses were full of energy during a special few days in April as the school year draws toward a close. College of Arts & Sciences students celebrated the 24th annual Student Scholarship Recognition Day (SSRD), while PNCA’s Focus Week gave seniors the chance to present their thesis projects and proposals.

From April 15-19, the PNCA community celebrated Focus Week, a time each semester dedicated to presentations of Senior Thesis projects and proposals.

“During Focus Week the entire PNCA community came together to support our seniors as they presented their Thesis Proposals and Oral Defenses,” said Ardis DeFreece, Assistant Professor and Chair of BFA Thesis. “The work created by these students is fantastic and the community really showed up for them!”

Throughout the building, faculty, friends, and fellow students watched and supported students as they presented their works. The community also ate lunch together each day in between presentations.

In Salem, classes in the College of Arts & Sciences were canceled on April 17 in honor of SSRD. SSRD gives space for students to share their work through poster sessions, art exhibitions, performances, and oral presentations.

“Student Scholarship Recognition Day is the culmination of months and sometimes years of work for Willamette students,” said Christopher Smith, Professor of Biology and Chair of the SSRD planning committee. “Students from all disciplines present the outcomes of their senior theses, summer internships, and class projects in public seminars and panel discussions, poster sessions, art exhibitions, and musical performances. SSRD is the signature scholarly event of the year.”

Alumni and special guests were also invited to participate in the students’ research while attending the Student Scholarship Luncheon. Meanwhile, American Studies Program students from Tokyo International University presented posters on topics comparing life in Japan and the United States, such as religion, gender education, and communication style.