Participants ready for Student Scholars Day

More than 400 students will be involved in presentations during the 18th annual Student Scholars Day, set for Wednesday, April 10.

Poster and oral presentations will be held from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. in the Kirkhof Center and Henry Hall. Oral presentations, performances and panel presentations will also be held in the Kirkhof Center. View the schedule online at www.gvsu.edu/ssd.

Susan Mendoza, director of the Office of Undergraduate Research and Scholarship, said it’s thrilling to see this annual event grow not only in numbers but also in diversity of majors and disciplines.

“It’s a true celebration of creative thought and practice,” Mendoza said.

Caitlin Leslie, a senior majoring in geology, said she jumped at the chance to participate again in SSD. Leslie’s mentor was Patricia Videtich, professor of geology. Her presentation focuses on an unusual sedimentary structure collected from northern Kentucky.

Leslie said this project stemmed from a presentation she completed in 2012. “Presenting at SSD last year offered invaluable presentation experience that prepared me for presenting at national meetings this year,” she said. “I was eager to seize the opportunity again to participate in this event and practice presenting my research.”

Andrew Lund, a senior majoring in Classics, is also a returning SSD participant. This year, he will give two presentations; his mentors were Diane Rayor, professor of Classics, and Sigrid Danielson, associate professor of art and design.

Lund said he refocused his 2012 SSD presentation for a conference hosted by the Classical Association of the Middle West and South-Southern Section in Florida.

SSD 2013 will conclude with a presentation from keynote speaker Jonathan Gottschall. His presentation, “The Storytelling Animal: How Stories Make Us Human” is set for 6 p.m. in the Kirkhof Center, room 2204.