Hundreds of students will show off their research, scholarship and creative pursuits Friday, May 12, as part of the 33rd annual Steinmetz Symposium.
More than 400 students will participate in the symposium, which begins at 9 a.m. The all-day event features a diverse lineup of oral presentations, poster sessions and exhibits highlighting student research as well as dance and musical performances, an art exhibit and other activities.
Hands-on, faculty-mentored undergraduate research is a staple of the Union experience. Classes are canceled to allow parents, faculty, staff and students to support projects from every discipline.
“Steinmetz Day is a wonderful way to celebrate the amazing talent and accomplishments of our students,” said Heather Watson, director of Undergraduate Research and the John D. MacArthur Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy.
“It is inspiring to see their passion for their work and diversity of projects they have developed in so many fields and disciplines.”
Ninety-five student performers will display their talents and love of dance onstage at the Nott Memorial in the annual Lothridge Festival of Dance.
The hour-long show, created by Dance Program Director Megan Flynn and Assistant Director Laurie Zabele Cawley, and is set for 4 p.m. and includes 14 works in an array of dance styles.
This year’s featured faculty choreography is by adjunct Omonike Akinyemi, whose flamenco practicum students will present their in-class work, titled “A Night in Sevilla.”
Student choreographers are Nishtha Agarval ’24, Trisha Agrawal ’23, Emily Armlin ’23, Shriya Balaji ’23, Ishika Chourasia ’25, Eva Crowley ’24, Janet Fabode ’23, Kim Falcon ’23, Aida Girma ’23 Miriam Rojo Gutierrez ’25, Keerthi (Anuja) Konda ’23, Caitlin LeSage ’25, Emily Juliana Lisi ’23, Abby Resnic ’23, Vaishali Srinivasan ’25 and Zoe Watson ’23.
The student clubs performing are Hip Hop, Bhangra, LatinX Dance Club, Kpop, Dance Team, African Dance Club and Tap Club, making its debut. Union’s dance seniors also will perform their own number.
Attendance is first come, first served, and will be capped at 400. After the performance, the Theater and Dance Department will present the Hedda Hainebach Memorial Prize in Music and Theater, and the Edward Villella Fellowship for dance.
The Steinmetz Symposium Student Art Exhibition fills the Crowell and West galleries in the Feigenbaum Center for Visual Arts with 231 works by 77 students, selected by faculty in the Department of Visual Arts. Mediums include digital art, drawing, painting, photography, printmaking and sculpture.
There will be an artists’ reception 4:30-6 p.m. The exhibition runs through Sunday, May 14.
The day wraps up with a concert featuring the Union College Jazz Ensemble, led by Professor Tim Olsen, at 8 p.m. in Emerson Auditorium in the Taylor Music Center.
For a complete schedule, including a list of presentations, visit the Steinmetz website.
The Steinmetz Symposium is named for Charles Proteus Steinmetz (1865-1923), who taught electrical engineering and applied physics at Union. Also chief consulting engineer for the General Electric Company, he was widely regarded as America’s leading electrical engineer.
The symposium coincides with Prize Day, which begins at 1 p.m. Saturday in Memorial Chapel. Students are honored for achievement in academics and leadership.
Among the top awards given are the Josephine Daggett Prize to the senior for conduct and character and the Frank Bailey (1885) Prize to the senior who has rendered the greatest service to the College in any field.