April 25, 2005

Holy Cross Holds Fifth Annual Student Academic Conference

300 Students Will Present Research and Independent Work with Faculty Mentors

WORCESTER, Mass. – The College of the Holy Cross will host Academic Conference 2005 from Wednesday, April 27 through Saturday, April 30. Now in its fifth year, the conference has expanded to encompass four days of programs, projects, poster sessions, and performances by students - all designed to showcase students’ independent work in the performing and visual arts, social sciences, humanities, and physical sciences over one or two semesters under the guidance of Holy Cross faculty.

Approximately 300 Holy Cross students will be involved in the conference this year. The events are free and open to the public.

"The whole purpose is to celebrate the academic development of our students - and give them an opportunity to publicly display the fruits of their labors," said William Morse, associate dean. "It really is the culmination of their work at Holy Cross, and allows their professors, friends, and family to celebrate with them."

The conference will open with a lecture by this year’s Fenwick Scholar. The Fenwick Scholar Award is one of the College’s oldest and most prestigious academic distinctions. Departmental nominees design, with several advisors, a program of study leading to a significant research or creative project that will be an entire senior-year curriculum. Ordinarily, one Fenwick Scholar is selected each year after intense reviews. This year’s scholar is Mark Ferraguto, who has spent the academic year working with Jessica Waldoff, professor and chair of the music department. His lecture, "Reading the ‘Program’ in Beethoven’s Instrumental Music," will be presented at 4 p.m. in the Rehm Library on Wednesday, April 27.

A reception open to the entire Holy Cross community will follow the lecture at 5:15 p.m. in Moran Lounge, on the 4th floor of Smith.

Other highlights of the conference include:

• On Thursday, April 28, eight studio art majors will participate in Synthesis: Works From the Senior Concentration Seminar at the Cantor Art Gallery. The opening exhibition and reception for the artists will be held from 5-6:30 p.m. Preceding the opening will be presentations by the students from 3-4 p.m. The exhibition will be open to the public through May 27.
  
  
•  American Sign Language/Deaf Studies - this year celebrating its tenth anniversary at Holy Cross - will present In the Deaf Community: Students’ Experiences in Language and Cultural Immersion through Community Based Learning on Thursday, April 28, from 4:30-6:30 p.m. in Hogan, Room 408. Twenty-three students will speak about their research and field work in a variety of locations, including the Boys and Girls Club in Worcester, The Learning Center for Deaf Children in Framingham, with the Big Brother/Big Sister Program, and in computer tutoring with deaf adults.
  
  
• Readings by Bill Roorbach, Jenks Chair in Contemporary American Letters, and three of his creative writing students will take place in the Dinand Browsing Room on Thursday, April 28, from 7:30 - 9 p.m.
  
  
• 75 students studying dance at Holy Cross will present a series of short programs in concert at Fenwick Theatre on Thursday, April 28 from 8-10 p.m.
  
  
• China: An Inside View is the title of a panel discussion by the seven students who participated in the College’s first-ever study tour to China, which took place over Spring Break. The discussion will be held on Friday, April 29 from 3:20 to 4:30 p.m. in Hogan, Room 328.

Sponsored by the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College, Academic Conference 2005 is free and open to the public.

A complete schedule of events is available at: http://www.holycross.edu/publicaffairs/features/academic_conference_05

For additional information contact Cristal Perriello at 508.793.2419