The Academic and Creative Excellence (ACE) Festival, in the works for several years at EMU, is finally here. With at least 270 people presenting their works, it is worth a visit next Thursday, April 19. The presentations will include 68 oral presentations, 107 posters, artwork and performances from 70 students, and 25 professors sharing their published works. These presentations represent the work that people from every department of EMU have been completing throughout this school year, making the festival a great opportunity to see the fruits of their labor.
This event not only benefits those attending; it also offers exposure for those presenting. For example, one first-year presenter Haleigh Monahan is very excited to have her pottery on display in the Sadie Hartzler Library. One sentiment that Monahan noted is that artists are rarely given the chance to put their work on display for all to see, making this a fantastic opportunity. These art exhibits will be on display all day in the University Commons and the library.
The posters and published works of professors will also be on display all day in the Suter Science Center and Campus Center respectively, although the presenters will only be there to explain during specified times. The schedule can be found at emu.edu/ace.
Another student presenting is senior Cerrie Mendoza, who will be presenting two projects, including one completed with a group. The group project, completed with sophomore Elliot Bowen, junior Justice Kiser, and senior Jack Hummel, involved analyzing the health of soil around EMU. Mendoza completed her own project during her summer internship with The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. She has put in over 100 hours of work both in the field and the lab with the Smithsonian, and is very excited to have a chance to show her fellow students what she has found.
Along with student and professor presentations, EMU will also host keynote speaker Fania Davis on Wednesday, April 18 at 7:30 p.m. in Lehman Auditorium. Her extensive credentials include decades of social activism, study and teaching of restorative justice, a law degree, and years of being a civil rights lawyer, as well as a PhD in indigenous knowledge. EMU is ecstatic to have her as a guest and encourages every student to attend her presentation. Students are required to attend her presentation, at least one oral and one poster presentation, and an art show, although there will not be repercussons for failing to attend.
The ACE festival will be a huge event and provide the chance to explore research both within and outside of various departments. This is EMU’s first ACE festival, so it is strongly encouraged that everyone attend and enjoy.
