The 16th Annual Student Showcase has officially been set for Friday May 2, 2025. Each year, student exhibitions are set up all over campus to share their hard work and passion with the rest of the school.
“Participating in Student Showcase has been an accessible way for me to extract myself from stacks of books and articles, and share my research with other humans,” said anthropology senior Gabi Arterburn. She presented findings from a research project she conducted while hiking the Camino de Santiago in Spain.
Students can present performances, an art exhibition, on posters, as a lecture or with live demonstrations. There is no fee for entry, and depending on the department that a student submits with, there may be awards. It’s an all day event starting at 9 am and ending with a celebration in the UC Ballroom.
Students must get sponsorship from a faculty member before submitting their application. Some teachers, like faculty in the engineering department, make it a requirement for certain classes. Other teachers are approached by students looking to display their work. Sometimes, students are encouraged by faculty that noticed their promise during the school year.
Applied Anthropology and Geography (AAG) professor Dr. Audrey Lumley-Sapanski has sponsored five students since starting at Colorado Mesa University (CMU) two years ago. In some of her classes, she offers the Student Showcase as a substitute for major projects because she believes there is value in presenting research to peers.
“I think it’s good practice for students who are interested in working in the public sector or public facing positions,” said Lumley-Sapanski. She added that it’s beneficial for students that are looking to apply to graduate school.
“It prepares you for synthesizing research, developing your own research goals, working independently and then presenting it to the public,” said Lumley-Sapanski.
The Student Showcase app is live in MavZone and is where students can submit their abstract and application. The deadline for applications is March 5 at midnight.
“I highly recommend participating to everyone. It’s great practice for presenting at larger conferences and a good way to meet like-minded bookworms,” said Arterburn.
