The Honors College Academic Showcase

Overview

The Honors College Academic Showcase highlights the work of seniors completing Capstones, as well as student projects developed in Forum, Cross-Cultural Competency and Contract courses. Students may present their work in a multiplicity of formats: TED-style talks, lightning pitches, research posters, media-documented performances, model displays, and academic panels.

Join us to celebrate Curiosity, Knowledge, and Purpose!

5th Annual Showcase

The 5th Honors College Academic Showcase 
took place on
Friday, April 21, 2023

Register to Present

All Honors College students completing Academic projects are invited to register to present their work in the Honors College Academic Showcase. Register and submit your proposal. 

Students can rank their preferred presentation format and time.

Registration is closed

Presentation Formats

The Academic Showcase presentations will adopt various formats. Please review the following options before registering for the Showcase.

TED-style talk

Length: 10 minutes per talk

Location: TBD

Style: Presenters will have 10 minutes to discuss their Capstone work. Slides can be utilized. Sessions will follow the world-famous TED format: no reading of papers, but an emphasis on strong ideas and direct engagement with the audience. If you don’t know this format, check out Ted.com/talks. Notice that the talks are precisely timed and rehearsed. Many presenters use slides or visuals, and all stand or walk around. They do not read notes from behind a podium.

Research poster

Length: 45 minutes, student standing next to the poster 

Location: South Wing, Druskin Family Lounge

Style: Standard symposium style. Presenters will stand with their easel-mounted poster for the session and connect with the audience to explain their projects. Students may present a traditional poster (3' X 4'), which will be designed according to a standard template. The posters will be printed for you by the Honors College.

Note: If you are selected to present in this format, we will contact you regarding specific details. NOTE: Please review the Research Poster Requirements and Guidelines.

Lightning pitch

Length: 5 minutes

Location: TBD

Style: Quick, three- to five-minute pitches explaining the key elements of a student’s project. May also be done in groups. Many students will be familiar with this format from the Honors College Forum: an individual or small group will take the stage and, with or without slides, describe their project, and explain its purpose and impact in a rehearsed, concise presentation.

Academic panel

Length: 15 minutes

Location: TBD

Style: This format is for more traditional scholarly capstones, such as research theses and Interdisciplinary Honors Theses—classic panels with fifteen-minute papers, chair, and commentator. Students will be introduced by the chairperson, and present their work, by reading parts of their research paper and/ or referring to slides. Time will be allotted for questions to the members of the panel.

Model display

Length: 45 minutes, a student can be with model 

Location: Fireside Lounge

Style: Projects that require display, such as models, artwork, mock-ups, or prototypes will be given set-up space on tables. This format is especially conducive to engineering, design, or fine arts projects that are best experienced as three-dimensional works. Students will be near their work to provide commentary, explaining the nature of the project, its development, and intended purpose. 

Media-documented performance

Length: In video loops, student can be near the monitor

Location: At display monitors: South Wing, Druskin Family Lounge, and East Wing (arts or performance Capstones only)

Style: Looped images or video of Capstones that involve performances in time and space. This format especially supports dance, theatrical, or other enacted forms of scholarly and artistic expression. Students will be near the monitor to provide commentary.

Academic Project Abstract

Any student planning to present at the Honors College Academic Showcase must submit a presentation title and abstract via the registration form above. Students presenting as a group should submit a single title and abstract. 

Please view the Writing Abstracts page for help in writing a strong abstract. 

Academic Showcase Preparation

Honors College Graduate Mentors host 30-minute virtual 1:1’s to help students prepare to present their research. GMs are doctoral-level students dedicated to giving back to the HC community through academic mentorship. They can help students prepare for many different formats of presentation. 

Receive two points toward the Honors College Merit Pin. Sign up dates will be released late March.

 

Registration is closed

 


Questions?

If you have any questions related to the Academic Showcase, please contact Dean Bowers, Dean of the Honors College.