ROYAL FILES
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
FESTIVAL SHOWCASE A few friendly faces in the audience helped senior social work majors Eliana Tejedor and Jakya Jones through their presentations during a session on Virginia legislation at the Academic and Creative Excellence (ACE) Festival. Tejedor’s husband and mother-in-law took off time from work to hear her speak about the Equal Rights Amendment, a bill she followed as part of a project for Professor Carol Hurst’s social policy class. Jones, too, had familiar listeners. "I’m a Community Assistant, so some of my hall came out to watch," she said. "But it’s not hard to talk about something you’re passionate about." The senior hopes to work with juvenile offenders and shared about the experience of lobbying lawmakers against solitary confinement. In its second year, the spring semester festival has blossomed into a university-wide showcase of STEM and humanities research and arts performances and exhibitions. Events ranged from a keynote by Clemson wildlife conservation professor Drew Lanham to the quirky STEM Games Quiz Bowl (won by the Salticids), a documentary pre-premiere screening, a senior art show and a concert. Approximately 80 students were selected by a committee to give oral presentations in themed sessions moderated by faculty members. More than 100 students participated in poster sessions describing research and projects across all disciplines, while exhibits and performances involved another 90 students. Many students chose to focus their research on aspects of their curriculum or campus infrastructure, noted Provost Fred Kniss. "This high level of interest and attention says to me that EMU is a community where students know they are valued and their work can make an impact," he said. "Our faculty, too, are helping to create spaces where intellectual curiosity is rewarded and where their own practices can be influenced in ways that mean our students’ impact is present here long after they graduate." A sampling of such related projects included senior Dylan Grove’s design of a subsonic wind tunnel for the engineering department; senior Mario Hernandez’s research into retention in EMU STEM programs; and several senior environmental sustainability capstone projects focusing on Park Woods. Junior Anastasia Dronov conducted research with Professor Tara Kishbaugh into how chemistry students used (or didn’t use) the arrows of the Electron Pushing Formalism. Dronov, a chemistry tutor, joined the project not only to puzzle out a pedagogical problem and hopefully develop a new instructional strategy, but because she also knows teaching will be a big part of her future career. "Doctors have to explain a lot, and if they do it well, the patient is much better off," she said. The ACE Festival showcases "the riches of a liberal arts education," said Kniss. "Our students have well-rewarded us with their efforts. If you missed it this time, mark your calendar for next year!" The next ACE Festival is April 16, 2020. — LAUREN JEFFERSON
4 | CROSSROADS | SPRING/SUMMER 2019