It was the culmination of years of research for many students in the Honors Program at the 6th annual Honors Day on April 21.
The presenters, mostly seniors, shared the results of their undergraduate research.
Some students made posters describing their results and others gave 15-minute presentations. Research topics were related to the presenters’ majors and ranged from extra dimensional dark matter to gender role conflict. The event was open to anyone who wanted to attend.
Dr. Isabelle Cherney, professor of psychology and director of the Honors Program, came up with the idea of Honors Day.
“I find it’s really important for students to be involved in undergraduate research, and it’s important for them to communicate their findings to a lay audience,” she said. “It’s a chance for the community to see what students have been doing as undergraduates, and students have the opportunity to present the research they’ve been doing.”
For underclassmen honors students, Honors Day is a preview of what they will be doing when they are seniors.
“My advisor said to just relax my first year,” said Arts & Sciences freshman Seella Nimmo. “[The Honors Program] is really interesting. I have more flexibility with my major. I’m a biology and history double major, and all the problems I would have with the core are easier to overcome.”
For seniors in the program, Honors Day represents all the work they’ve put into the past four years.
“I think it’s a symbol of our careers as undergrads,” said Elizabeth Sokolowski, Arts & Sciences and honors senior, “and it represents how much progress we’ve made since we entered college and how prepared for the future we are.
“It’s more than the work aspect. It’s a chance to share what we’ve learned and come to know and a chance to gain expertise on a topic.”
“I love Honors Program,” said Tiffany Tsai, Arts & Sciences and honors senior. “Honors is the reason I love Creighton and doing research has helped me grow a lot.”
The event also included an awards ceremony where Creighton President the Rev. John Schlegel, S.J., and Dr. Robert Lueger, dean of the College of Arts & Sciences spoke.
Three seniors were honored with awards: Adam Karnik won the Director’s Award, Margaret McGlynn won the Outstanding Research Award and Brian Carroll won the Honors Executive Board Award.
This year’s seniors will be the second class to graduate under the new Honors Program, which is in its fifth year and has its own curriculum.
“It’s very innovative – very different. It was designed by looking at learning outcomes,” said Cherney, who was the assistant director of the program in 2001 and is currently in her second year as director.
“I hope students will see the outcome of something dear to them and have the joy of being able to share their passion with others,” Cherney said. “You can see the passion in their presentations – that alone makes it worth going.”