Learn, Create Showcase: Symposium Highlights Student Talent
May 8, 2026
- Author
- Mary Elizabeth DeAngelis
There was mariachi in the morning and jazz in the afternoon. Drum, piano, and orchestra music also entertained crowds gathered May 7 as 91¿ì²¥ celebrated the artistic and academic talents of its students.
Students, faculty, staff and visitors donned rain jackets and umbrellas to slosh across campus for the annual Verna Miller Case Research and Creative Works Symposium, one of the college community’s favorite events.
Musicians took over the Alvarez College Union, which also served as this year’s venue for a community lunch. Academic buildings offered space for scientific research talks, play readings and poster demonstrations.
The symposium showcases the diverse array of student interests across the many disciplines of a liberal arts college. The Katherine and Tom Belk Visual Arts Center, for example, hosted a display of student art that included impressive work from not only art majors, but also those whose majors range from math and economics to biology and environmental sciences.
The symposium showcases the diverse array of student interests across the many disciplines of a liberal arts college. The Belk Visual Arts Center, for example, hosted a display of student art that included impressive work from not only art majors, but also those whose majors range from math and economics to biology and environmental sciences.
College President Doug Hicks welcomed the crowd during the traditional community lunch.
These future Wildcats made a rainy day splash in their 91¿ì²¥ finery.
The symposium's namesake Verna Miller Case and family members.
Seen on Social: It Was A Good Day...
Members of the 91¿ì²¥ community shared what made it a good day at this year's Verna Miller Case Research and Creative Works Symposium. The event highlights the incredible depth of student inquiry, showcasing projects that span from complex scientific data to moving artistic performances.
As visitors move through the presentations, the energy of collaborative learning is palpable. The symposium serves not just as an academic milestone, but as a celebration of the curiosity and dedication that defines the 91¿ì²¥ experience. Students often spend months, if not years, preparing the research presented here, working closely with faculty mentors to push the boundaries of their respective fields.
