Converse Celebrates 2024 RISE Symposium
Converse University held its third RISE (Research, Internship, and ArtS Experiential Learning) Symposium from April 8 through April 12, 2024. All student projects were displayed in the Montgomery Student Center.
The 2024 RISE Symposium saw a record number of students participate, with 106 Converse students submitting 98 unique projects and performances. This year, in addition to our standard categories of Internship, Research, Photography, and Music Performance, the symposium showcased projects in Creative and Playwriting, Dance—Original Choreography, and Dance and Theater Performance, as well as two new graduate subcategories in Music Performance and Research.
Sponsored by a Creativity, Community, and Cultural Enrichment Grant, the RISE symposium celebrates student scholarly activities and achievements across all areas of study at Converse University. The first RISE symposium was held in 2022.
Open to all undergraduate, graduate and Converse II students, the RISE symposium empowers students to share their ideas, discoveries and artistic work with our campus and local community.
Converse’s 2024 RISE symposium featured internships and research studies in Visual and Performing Arts, Creative Writing, Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Data Science, Humanities, Languages and Cultures, and Behavioral and Social Sciences. Participating in the symposium prepares Converse students to become transformational leaders for demanding professional and academic careers.
Dean of the School of the Arts and Associate Professor of Flute, Dr. Chris Vaneman, said the RISE Symposium is one of his favorite displays of student work at Converse. “The whole campus is filled with the evidence and results of the extraordinary research and creative work and our students’ internship experiences,” Dr. Vaneman said. “On many campuses, this kind of original research and creative engagement is exclusive to a small handful of elite students, but at Converse, nearly 100 students — over one in eight of our undergraduate student body — are represented. The time and effort that all those students, and all their faculty mentors, in evidence today is extraordinary.”
This year, RISE collaborated with First Generation Student Programs, for the inaugural First Generation College Students contest. All full-time, first-generation Converse students had the opportunity to submit original art or original music that expressed the theme of ‘I am First: Being the First in Your Family to Attend College.’
2024 was also the first year for the Underrepresented Minority (URM) Student Contest. Students were invited to submit original art and original submissions along with an artist or musician statement.
“The success of the RISE Symposium is largely a result of the tireless contributions of the Converse faculty and staff, the unwavering support of student families, and the generous participation from our internship partners.”
Dr. Neval Ertürk
Dr. Ertürk, Associate Provost for Research and Engagement, and Professor of Biology, said, “The success of the RISE Symposium is largely a result of the tireless contributions of the Converse faculty and staff, the unwavering support of student families, and the generous participation from our internship partners. Our mentors have devoted countless hours to nurturing students and ensuring the scholarly excellence reflected in the work presented here.”
This year will be Dr. Ertürk’s last time spearheading the RISE symposium. She said there are many things she will miss about the event, particularly the student presentations. “I love the intellectual buzz and the energy we experience during the presentations,” Dr. Ertürk said. “When I receive the final version of the RISE Symposium Booklet, I like to make a cup of coffee and sit down with the book to read it cover to cover to understand each student’s entry. I am proud of their work achievements.”
The weeklong symposium included research and creative activity exhibits, creative writing readings, poster presentations and music performances. It culminated with the Awards Ceremony in the Weisiger Center.
2024 RISE Award Winners
Best in Internship Award- School of Business and Data Science
Logan Nichols
Internship Mentor: Reed Chewning
Internship Partner: Union Power Cooperative
Best in Internship Award- School of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Frankie Malafonte
Internship Mentor: Reed Chewning
Internship Partner: GirlUp GVL
Best in Internship Award- School of Arts
Hailey Ellis
Internship Mentor: Jerome Gomez
Internship Partner: Interior Elements
Excellence in Creative and Play Writing
Graci Barga
Title: What Remains
Advisor: Susan Tekulve
Best Research Poster Award- Natural & Mathematical Sciences
Sloane Kinley
Title: Flexible Tile Modeled DNA Self Assembly with Bonding Probabilities Dictated by Enzymes
Advisor: Dr. Jessica Sorrells
Best Research Poster Award- Humanities and Society
Caroline Blair
Title: Belle W. Baruch’s Influence on Women’s Rights
Advisor: Dr. Allison Vick and Dr. Jeffrey Howard
Best Research Poster Award- Political Science
Samantha White and Kimberlain Williams
Title: IMNATO NAC Findings: The 360 Degree Approach and Enlargement
Advisor: Dr. Joe Dunn
Excellence in Dance – Original Choreography
Zoi Palmquist & Rylie Budnick
Title: Girlhood
Advisor: Allison Roux
Excellence in Dance and Theater Performance
Serger Jimenez Sanchez
Title: Quien Soy? (Who am I?): BIOinstallation
Advisor: Jenna Elser
Best Musical Performance Award – Undergraduate
Claire Cathey
Piece: Fish Are Jumpin’ by Robert Dick
Advisor: Dr. Chris Vanemon
Best Research Poster Award- Graduate Studies
Meirav Goldhour
Title: Evidence-Based Design Impact on Emotional & Cognitive Wellbeing Within Higher Education Interiors
Advisor: Dr. Jeff Martin
Best Musical Performance Award – Graduate
Catherine Black
Piece: Piano Concerto in A Minor, Op.16: I. Allegro molto moderato by Edvard Grieg
Advisor: Dr. Steven Graff
Excellence in Photography Awards
First Place
“Outlook Good” by Mia Easler
Honorable Mention
“Heart of a Valkyrie” by Patrick Treharne
Honorable Mention
“Growth” by Sara Bailey
First Generation College Student Award
Isaiah Caston (Original Composition)
Title: “Ascent”
Underrepresented Student Award
Mable Ni (Art)
Title: “Folding Gold”
Model Programs Outstanding Research Award – 1st Place
S. Feser, Ainsley Cua, and Tim Baerwalde
Title: IMModel NATO
Advisor: Dr. Joe Dunn
Model Programs Outstanding Research Award – 2nd Place
Chelsea Palotta, Steven Greer, & Sunny Bostwick
Title: Nuclear Planning Group: Portugal (Model Programs)
Advisor: Dr. Joe Dunn
Model Programs Outstanding Research Award – 3rd Place
Victoria Hoyos and Isabella Moreno
Title: Model NATO conference
Advisor: Dr. Joe Dunn
Excellence in Historical Research Award
Caroline Blair
Title: Belle W. Baruch’s Influence on Women’s Rights
Advisor: Dr. Allison Vick and Dr. Jeffrey Howard
Dr. Joe P. Dunn Excellence in Research Award
Lanah Parker
Title: Healthcare Communication Experiences in Young Adults 18-25 with Chronic Pain Conditions
Advisor: Dr. Laura Brown
Student’s Choice Award
Jemma Van Jaarsveldt (Internship)
Organization: Glow Lyric Theatre
Position: Dance Captain