Honors Day Celebrates the Liberal Arts
More than 125 Alma College students share their original research, creativity and talent with an audience of their peers during the 10th annual Kapp Honors Day, Thursday, April 6, 2006.
Honors Day kicks off April 5 with the keynote address by Columbia University Physics and Mathematics Professor Brian Greene. Working on quantum gravity and unified theories for nearly two decades, he is widely recognized for a number of groundbreaking discoveries in the field and also for his lucid presentations of cutting-edge research to scientists and fellow physicists as well as to general audiences. His books, The Elegant Universe and The Fabric of the Cosmos, each spent six months on The New York Times bestsellers list and have received much critical acclaim. The Elegant Universe was a Pulitzer Prize finalist and the winner of the 2000 Aventis Prize for Science Books.
Dr. Greene's address takes place in the Remick Heritage Center, Presbyterian Hall, at 8 p.m. on April 5. The speech is free and open to the public.
In sessions spanning eight hours at various locations around campus, students perform music, stage dance productions, deliver oral presentations of scholarly research and lead poster discussions. Some of the presentations are outgrowths of senior theses and some are presented by underclassmen.
The $1000 Ronald O. Kapp Honors Prize will be awarded to a team of three or more students who collaborate to produce the most innovative approach to "A 2020 Vision for Alma College." Teams identify and describe the three most important institutional changes team members think Alma College should adopt between 2006 and the year 2020.Teams can hypothesize proposed changes in the College's academic programs, in its bricks and mortar, and/or conceptual changes in its policies, educational philosophies, and the like. The common thread is that these three changes should be those the group believes are most likely to enhance the long-term sustainability of the campus community and the future quality of the educational experience at the College. The presentations take place at a special Honors Day session on April 5 with the winner of the $1000 Kapp Prize announced during Honors Convocation.
Honors Day Schedule
Wednesday, April 5
- 4:00-5:30 p.m. Kapp Honors Day Prize Presentations, Dunning Memorial Chapel
- 8:00 p.m. Honors Day Keynote Address, "The Fabric of the Cosmos," Dr. Brian Greene, Remick Heritage Center Presbyterian Hall
Thursday, April 6
- 8:00-9:00 a.m. Concurrent Session I
- 9:30-11:00 a.m. Honors Convocation, Cappaert Gymnasium
- 11:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Luncheons
- 12:30-1:30 p.m. Concurrent Session II
- 1:40-2:40 p.m. Concurrent Session III
- 2:50-3:50 p.m. Concurrent Session IV
- 4:00-5:00 p.m. Concurrent Session V
- 5:00 p.m. Retiree Reception, President's Home
The Barlow Trophy, Alma's most prestigious academic honor, tops the college life of one graduating senior. Julie Bolitho of Cadiallac, Cameron Ray of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Kristie Trinkle of Manchester have been nominated as most representative of the Liberal Arts philosophy, successfully blending academics with an active role in campus life.
Honors Day sessions resume at 12:30 p.m. and continue until 5:00 p.m. Topics run the gamut of liberal arts education. Studies of immigration and multiculturism, the European monetary system and literary examinations share the spotlight with scientific research on turtle color determination, investigations of various psychological effects, and research results from Alma's recently-accredited athletic training program.
Abstracts explore various human conditions such as cancer, education and race attitudes. Research delves deeply into historical and current events to explain the world community.
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Posted: Tue, March 28th, 2006 at 2:05PM
