Student Showcase 2022 Highlights Work From Students’ FlightPaths

May 16, 2022

Students from across the academic divisions of Arts & Humanities, Physical and Life Sciences, and the Social and Behavioral Sciences recently put their best work of the 2021-22 academic year on display during the College’s 15th annual “Student Showcase.” The day-long celebration features presentations and exhibitions that showcase scholarly achievements of students on the road to their personal FlightPath.

Throughout Showcase, students presented their work in several formats: oral presentations, readings and performances, poster presentations, table talks, panels, class demonstrations, and group discussions. Nearly 80 exhibits were presented throughout the day in Golisano Hall, Johnstone Science Center, Bresee Hall, and the Anderson Center for the Arts.

A sampling of this year’s entries included:

Armando Velazquez ’22 – Art: “The Last Mariachi”
Armando created an animated trailer revolving around an adolescent Mexican-American middle school student named Rico Ramos and his adventures as a mystical crime-fighting folk musician. Rico fights off foes, inspires through his music, and unravels the mystery of his family, all while trying to get to class on time. Armando won a Semenenko-Clark Award for Excellence in Art & Art History his work.

Multiple Students – Political Science: “Political Science in Action: Internships and Real-World Experience”
The Political Science department hosted an event during which five students discussed their real-world experiences. Their co-curricular activities have deepened their understanding of political science and prepared them for their chosen careers. The students and their internship organizations are:

Faith Monticenos ’22: New York State Assembly
Lia Porpeglia ’22: Albany (NY) City Court
Tyler Rivera ’22: Otsego County (NY) Court
Alice Johnson ’23: Two different Congressional campaigns
Jack Mahn ’23: New York State Assembly Campaign/Leading Model UN

Timothy Levy ’22, Danielle Bagley ’22, Rebekkah Dean ’22, and Madison Grefski ’23 – Nursing: “The Effects of Educational and Cognitive Interventions on Children Aged 6-12 Diagnosed With Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)”
Children diagnosed with FASD face many challenges in cognition, executive functioning, and education. The group conducted an integrative review to examine the impact of educational and cognitive interventions on cognition and education in children with FASD. These interventions have allowed children to improve greatly in executive functioning, working memory, inhibition, attention, and math. This research highlights the need for a multifaceted approach to care in order to maximize their educational and cognitive capabilities.

Victoria Spina ’24 – Business: Victoria presented on her recent study abroad J-Term experience in Paris, specifically focusing on the course she took at the American Business School. She also discussed activities in which she was able to participate through the International Studies Abroad program. Spina received a Duffy Family Ambassador Fund Scholarship that enabled her to go on the program.

Devon Brown ’22 – Biology: “The Structure of Face Masks”
Using a scanning electron microscope, Brown examines the structure of three different types of face masks (medical grade, non-medical cloth, and kN95), which are used as protection from the COVID virus. Structural characteristics such as the size of openings in different layers of the masks were examined in relation to the relative efficacy of the masks as reported in the scientific literature.

“Showcase lives up to its name: this one intense day showcases the best a Hartwick education has to offer, and the best of what our students do,” said Student Showcase Co-Coordinator Parker Troischt, professor of physics. “It is easy, as a faculty member, to be narrowly focused on what happens in one’s own classroom or department, but at Showcase, you can sample the breadth of work that is happening on campus. The presentations on research into a huge range of topics give the students a chance to educate us, while students in art, theatre and music share with us their own original and interpretive works.”

For more detailed information on student presentations from this year’s Student Scholar Showcase, visit the Showcase webpage.