Amber Brackett participated in Celebration of Learning

2012 May 7

More than 75 Augustana students from all academic areas shared their advanced research projects on Saturday, May 5, at the Celebration of Learning. This on-campus research symposium annually gives students an opportunity to show off their academic accomplishments to their families and the Augustana community.

Among the students involved:

Amber Brackett, a senior from Aurora, Ill., majoring in English, psychology, and women's and gender studies. The research was titled Why Did You Pick Your Major?. The purpose of this presentation is to examine how gender affects a student's choice of major. It's important to provide students with the opportunity to reflect on how gender impacts the decision of their declaration of major as well as other important choices, such as choosing a career path, etc. Many students aren't aware of the number of different influences that impact their decisions, and I will attempt to share those with the Augustana campus and community.

Celebration participants presented their research through a poster display or an oral presentation. Many students expounded on the results of their Senior Inquiry, a multiple-term research project required for most academic programs. Other students shared honors capstone projects or student-faculty research findings. Because of the advanced level of research involved, most of the presenters are upperclass students.

Anne Earel and Stefanie Bluemle, Augustana reference librarians and the event's co-directors, said the Celebration of Learning provided an outlet for students to showcase their accomplishments.

Presentations topics varied greatly and included anthropology, biology, physics, geography, gender studies, theater and more.