OCCC will host its first campuswide Scholar’s Day on Nov. 18, giving students the chance to showcase their research, creative projects and scholarly work in front of peers, faculty and the public.
Gena Ford, an English professor who chairs the Scholar’s Day committee, said the event grew out of her experience taking OCCC students to Oklahoma Research Day, a statewide undergraduate conference.
“We took about 11 students, and it was just a fabulous experience,” Ford said. “We were like, ‘We need to do this.’ That’s kind of how it got started.”
The event is designed to highlight the achievements of students across disciplines. Ford emphasized that the goal is inclusivity.
“You do scholarship in every class where you look up sources and validate your claims,” she said. “This is a celebration of the amazing things we’re already doing at our school and a showcase for students to see that their ideas are important.”
Scholar’s Day will open with student set-up at 11:30 a.m., followed by a kickoff reception at 1 p.m. Dr. Coltan Scrivner, a well-known author and psychologist based at Arizona State University, will provide the keynote address at 1:30 p.m., with student presentations set to follow from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. The event will end with an awards ceremony and closing remarks at 4 p.m.
Scrivner’s new book, “Morbidly Curious,” will also be highlighted during the event, with 50 free copies available to students who participate.
Students must register by Oct. 17 to take part, with abstracts due a week later. Final poster files are required by Nov. 7 to qualify for free printing through the OCCC print shop. On presentation day, students will stand alongside their posters or displays to explain their work and answer questions from attendees.
Notably, participation in the event can count as completion of an honors project, so long as it is approved by a faculty member. Ford encourages students outside of the honors program to take the leap and participate in Scholar’s Day as well.
“Just go ahead and do it,” she said. “If you don’t have a faculty mentor, we’ll help you find one. Try it here, where it’s safe and comfortable, so you’ll already have that experience when you go on to a four-year school.”
The projects are not limited to scientific research. Students may submit creative pieces, applied work or other forms of scholarly submissions.
“We’re hoping this becomes uniquely OCCC,” Ford said. “It’s not just a traditional research conference. We want automotive, health professions, arts and more to be represented. It’s a chance for every division to showcase what students are capable of.”
Faculty mentors play a role in guiding students through the process, with resources available on the Scholar’s Day webpage to help them prepare submissions and support the development of their presentations.
Ford said she hopes the event will empower students to recognize their own potential.
“Some students don’t realize how important their voices are, or that their ideas can actually make a difference,” she said. “This is a confidence-builder. It’s transformational – for students, for mentors and for the whole campus community.”
By setting aside a day for student work to take center stage, OCCC aims to create a new tradition that enables collaboration, encourages creativity and highlights the value of scholarly pursuit. The event is open to the public, and students, faculty and community members are invited to attend.
