Trinity Valley Community College celebrates students with the Third Annual Learning Symposium on Friday, April 26 in the Learning Resource Center on the TVCC – Athens Campus.

The symposium’s mission is to recognize and celebrate the knowledge students bring and learn and provide them with a venue to showcase their work. Participants of the symposium are part-time, full-time, and dual-credit students enrolled at Trinity Valley. Each student is paired with a TVCC faculty or staff member who mentors the students’ participation in the symposium.

Each participant can present a classroom or table presentation and are judged on multiple criteria including oral presentation, enthusiasm, creativity, and the presenter’s growth of knowledge. Based on the criteria, judges chose two winners for a $500 prize and the symposium attendees voted on their favorite presentation to receive "The Peoples Choice Award."

TVCC Board of Trustees Vice-President and Learning Symposium judge Michael Hembree congratulated the students and mentors all their hard work before announcing the winners.

“Thank you to all the students,” Hembree commented. “You did a marvelous job! To the mentors, thank you for mentoring our students.”

Arin McNeel won “Most Creative Award” for her presentation of “Cardinal Harmony: The Convergence of Science and Art Through Pressed Flowers.” Professor of Biology Sheree Daniel-Huddleston mentored McNeel.

Daniil Tikhonov, Delana Rosberg and Sarah Sepulveda won “The People’s Choice Award” for their presentation of “A Visual Representation of the Sugar Found in Various Foods and Drinks.” Huddleston mentored the students.

Nicole Richards, who is a dual-credit student at TVCC, won “The Impact Award” for her presentation of “A World Without Smartphones.” Professor of Speech Jennifer Hannigan mentored Richards.

The symposium also included presentations from:

• Abbie Stokes presented on Catharsis Through Spirituality in Art and mentored by Art Department Coordinator and Professor of Studio Art September Kirk
• Racine Gyles presented on Texture Depicted with Different Mediums and mentored by Kirk.
• Ashley Crittenden presented on Synthesis of Technology and Tradition in Art Making and mentored by Kirk.
• Gabe Guzman presented for his team that includes Cody Gibson, Sarah Eastep and Lauren Rios on their research of “The Effect of Algal Population Density and Growth on Dissolved Oxygen and pH in Aquatic Habitats.” Professor of Biology Brie Day mentored the students.
• Brooke Hurley presented on “Hair Therapy in all Walks of Life” and was mentored by Cosmetology Instructor Valarie Holmes.
• Karen Engle presented on “Neglect You Don’t See” and was mentored by Hannigan.
• Jheanelle Brydson, Lizette Rodriguez, Anna Caren Hernandez and Ariel Rivera presented on “The Effect of Synthetic Fertilizer on Aquatic Ph, Nutrient Concentration, and Aquatic Plant Photosynthetic Rate.” Professor Day mentored the students.

Associate Vice President of Instructional Innovation and Support Holley Collier shared her excitement for the growth in participants and ability to give students the opportunity to showcase their research and projects.

“These students are setting new standards in learning, creativity and impacting our communities,” Collier expressed. “I was inspired and in awe of their work.”