2020 Academic Symposium winners

Symposium Winners

When organizers for the Wiggins Memorial Library Academic Symposium added a virtual presentations category three years ago, they were unknowingly preparing for the curve ball thrown at them this year. 

When Campbell University’s main campus essentially shut down to face-to-face interaction in early March, this year’s Symposium — previously scheduled for March 18 — became a completely virtual experience. The 10th annual event went live online on March 27, with 101 virtual presentations out of the 133 students and groups who originally signed up this year. 

“It was important for the campus, our community and prospective students to see the good work that is happening at Campbell University,” said Sarah Steele, head of research and instructional services and associate dean of the library. “We should take every opportunity to connect and engage in scholarly conversation. Expanding the virtual symposium this year provided a great way to engage at a ‘social distance.’”

When the original event was postponed, students were invited to submit their virtual presentation materials through the symposium site. Faculty was to incorporate the symposium presentations in their online classes — one assignment idea was to have students view one presentation within and one outside of their discipline and review them through a Blackboard discussion thread. 

According to Elizabeth Dobbins, reference and online instruction librarian, the transition to online was an easy one, and the core of the symposium — the student work — was unchanged. The only change, she said, was in the way the presentations are being viewed. 

“I have been so inspired by and impressed with our students,” Dobbins said. “We offered them a chance to still present, and the vast majority have opted in by submitting digital content, even during a challenging time of transition.”

The excellent work of Campbell’s students and faculty can be viewed online at the 10th Annual Wiggins Memorial Library Academic Symposium’s site. Winners are listed on the site and below: 

High Merit Winners scored within the top 10 percent of their category. Merit Winners scored within the top 25 percent of their category.


UNDERGRADUATE ORAL PRESENTATIONS

High Merit

Merit


GRADUATE ORAL PRESENTATIONS

High Merit

Merit


UNDERGRADUATE POSTER PRESENTATIONS

High Merit

Merit


GRADUATE POSTER PRESENTATIONS

High Merit

Merit


ADULT & ONLINE EDUCATION

High Merit

Merit

Applying Healthcare Improvement Methodologies to Increase Colorectal Cancer Screening Rates at a Federal Qualified Health Center by Ebony Harris (Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jan Lee Santos)


ART EXHIBITS

High Merit

  • Mariah by Cameron Giddens (Faculty Mentor: Prof. Breck Smith)

Merit

  • Owl’s Good by Erendira E. Ramirez (Facutly Mentor: Prof. Maggie Horvath)