Julie Conlon
Equinox Staff
Parents, peers, and colleagues spread throughout the David F. Putnam Science Center Saturday for the twelfth annual Academic Excellence Conference at Keene State College. Approximately 150 students presented their research on March 31 in a mixture of coauthored presentations and individual projects ranging in all discipline areas.
Kristopher Bucyk, a KSC junior, anticipated his presentation on the subject of the Rubik’s cube before presentations began at 9:10 a.m. Bucyk explained he would break his presentation into two parts; one where he would explain how to think about the cube, and then offer a solution demonstration guide. Bucyk explained his mentor in mathematics, Dr. Beverely Ferrucci, became aware of Bucyk’s ability to complete the cube and offered to sponsor him for the conference.
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“I’m not too nervous about this talk–I’m generally pretty confident talking, especially when it’s something I’m really passionate about,” he said. Similarly confident, junior Matthew Caputo, presented a solo research project titled “Thrust Required and Power Required in Flight: A Mathematical Generalization.”
“I think that this is my idea which has really made it easy to do–it’s been a long process but it went by fast because I was really into it,” he said.
Caputo said it felt good to complete his participation in the conference, but identified this presentation as only the beginning.
“There’s always more work to do,” he said. “It was a lot of fun. Maybe I’m sad that it’s done, but I’m doing another presentation on this next month.” Caputo’s comments launch an underlining theme of the conference, that is, that these students did not seek to end their research with their presentations.
Dr. Margaret Walsh, director of the KSC Honors Program, commented on students like Caputo who have the desire for continued learning. “We’re certainly seeing a growing recognition among students that it says something very positive about their commitment to their field,” Dr. Walsh said, “They’re willing to take that initiative and demonstrate competence by giving a public presentation, whether it’s on and off-campus.”
Before the Presenters’ Luncheon where Dr. Karrie Kalich, Recipient of the 2011 Faculty Distinction in Research and Scholarship award spoke, students from the Honors Program presented reflections from their spring 2011 trip to South Africa.
Rebecca Lazinsk, Alexandra Claus, and Danielle Ireland presented “A South Africa Journey: Twenty-Seven Hours of Flight to a New Perspective,” and focused on their experiences in various classroom settings of South Africa. The presenters shared plans to continue to seek “global knowledge” and ways to improve the chances for a better education for underprivileged students.
Following the presentation, mentor Anne-Marie Mallon praised Bruce and Debbie August from the William T. Morris Foundation for their donations to the program. “We are intensely grateful for them for supporting this kind of education,” Mallon said. “It’s not just about education in the American classroom, it’s an education that opens students up to a sense of their position in the global community.”
Colleague Nancy Lory also mentored the students and commented on the presenters’ research. “I think this research and their projects launch them in some ways,” Lory said. “It’s kind of a springboard for them, for their next step. I think it isn’t done, it is that step forward and who knows where it’s going to take them.”
Dr. Ann Rancourt, associate provost, created the Academic Excellence Conference upon her arrival to KSC 15 years ago. “I have always believed strongly in students being engaged in scholarship and research, and we didn’t have anything like that at KSC,” Rancourt said. “It was pretty obvious faculty here were doing some pretty awesome work with students and it was ending in the classroom,” Rancourt continued. “The goal of the conference from the very beginning has been to give students the opportunity to go through this process, this is our professional conference.” Rancourt concluded with an explanation of what she believed to be unique to the event as she explained the decision to hold the conference on a Saturday.
“One of the things that some of us felt really strongly about was that families and friends don’t have a real opportunity to see the kind of academic work that their children, friends, or family members do. They can watch them play sports, they can watch them perform in a theatrical event, they can watch them do music, but they don’t usually see what they do academically beyond the music and the theater and so on.” Mallon echoed Rancourt’s thoughts and said, “The families can be here and see their sons, daughters, and grandchildren shine. They’ve invested a lot into their children and this is a way for them to feel and see that growth right in front of them.”
Julie Conlon can be contacted at jconlon@keene-equinox.com