With 421 projects and 939 students, the annual event celebrated student research, entrepreneurship, artistic performance and hands-on learning across CMU and CMU Tech
Colorado Mesa University hosted its 17th annual Student Showcase on May 1, bringing together student research, creative work, technical demonstrations and innovative projects from across CMU and CMU Tech.
This year’s campuswide event set a new participation record, with 939 students presenting 421 projects. Throughout the day, students shared their work through presentations, posters, performances, demonstrations and exhibits, giving faculty, peers, industry professionals and the community a look at the learning taking place across the university.
Projects came from disciplines across CMU and CMU Tech, including the arts, sciences, health care, education, business, technology, social sciences, environmental studies and technical education.
“The Student Showcase is an incredible opportunity for our undergraduate and graduate students from both the main campus and CMU Tech to showcase their capstone projects and their hard work. It is an opportunity for the campus faculty, staff, students and the greater campus community to celebrate the scholarship and creative endeavors of our students,” said CMU Assistant Vice President for Faculty Success Chad Middleton, PhD.
Science and Sustainability
Several projects focused on science and environmental questions connected to campus, the Grand Valley and the broader region. Ethan Otto’s project, Light Pollution at CMU, used a Sky Quality Meter to quantify and map light pollution on campus and around the Grand Valley.
“Light pollution is a growing concern, not just for astronomical observing, but for human and ecological health,” said Catherine Whiting, PhD, associate professor of physics.
Whiting said the project also connects to broader conversations happening in western Colorado, where dark sky parks and preserves are gaining recognition for their lighting policies and dark sky tourism is becoming an economic benefit to the region.
“The main goal of Ethan’s project was to use a Sky Quality Meter to quantify and map the light pollution at CMU and around the valley,” Whiting said. “This has never been done before, so it provides us with valuable information about the issue to inform future studies and advise CMU facilities about easy changes we can do to improve the lighting conditions at CMU.”
Connecting Culinary Arts and Criminal Justice
One of the Showcase’s more unique projects brought together two fields that rarely share the same table. John Wayne Gacy: His Last Meal was presented by culinary arts major Daira Gonzalez and criminal justice major Mia Felix Medina. The project explored the history of last meals, why they are given to death row inmates and what they can reveal about criminals and society.
By using food to examine a complex subject, the project connected culinary arts and criminal justice in a way that stood out to faculty.
“The project caught my eye when the students submitted it,” said Wayne Smith, associate technical professor of culinary arts. “This presentation highlights interdisciplinary learning and shows how food can bring a deeper understanding of a complex subject such as crime and punishment in society.”
Hands-On Learning at CMU Tech
CMU Tech students brought career and technical education into the Showcase. In Chef Knife Blade Production, Kadin Byus and Zae Kothe used CNC mills to manufacture chef knife blades.
The knives were designed to be included in knife kits for Culinary Arts students. The project connected the technical skills students learned in the Manufacturing Technology program with practical campus use to showcase the applied learning that occurs across CMU Tech’s programs.
Other CMU Tech projects included welding, design projects and research from other technical fields.
Celebrating Student Learning Across Campus
This year’s record participation marked another milestone for the annual tradition and gave the campus community an opportunity to celebrate the commitment students brought to their work.
For more information and a collection of abstracts, visit the Student Showcase website.
