2023 Spring Symposium highlights student interests, successes

2023 Spring Symposium highlights student interests, successes

LA GRANDE, Ore. – The 2023 Spring Symposium got underway Wednesday, May 17 with the keynote speaker, CJ Coffee, who introduced “Frances Grimke: A Forgotten Rhetorical Giant.” 

Coffee’s speech highlighted Grimke, who was a prophetic voice against American racial codes in the early twentieth century. Coffee explored Grimké’s published sermons at the Fifteenth Street Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C. from 1898 to 1921.

Spring Symposium is an annual gathering where students present their scholarship. The event represented an opportunity for students to share their unique contributions to the disciplines they have been studying and to get an approximation of professional conference experience.

Presentations included anthropology, biology, chemistry, computer science, costuming, creative writing, education, health and human performance, mathematics, psychology, and rhetoric.

“I’m happy to help support this long-standing tradition at 米博体育. The Spring Symposium is an annual opportunity for students to share their creative and scholarly efforts with 米博体育 and the La Grande community. It is inspiring to see the results of their work and to help celebrate their achievements,” Organizer and Associate Professor of Mathematics Steve Tanner said.

At least 132 students were involved. Some presented information via posters, some delivered talks, while senior Art students hosted an open studio.

Oregon Teacher Pathway poster sessions were held in the Badgley Hall Simmons Gallery.

The event concluded with a performance by “45th Parallel” an 米博体育 student jazz band.