On Tuesday, the fourth annual Geneseo Recognizing Excellence, Achievement and Talent Day gave students the opportunity to showcase their creativity, intellect and research.
Provost Carol Long kicked off the day's events by applauding the growth of G.R.E.A.T. Day over the past four years. This was her first G.R.E.A.T. Day as provost. Since the program's inception, the number of students who participate has doubled; this year, over 820 students presented their artwork, research posters, dances, musical performances and panel discussions.
The subject matter of posters and panel discussions ranged from scientific research findings to future sustainability projects to theories on international relations.
Stephen West, director of G.R.E.A.T. Day, said that it is worthwhile for faculty and peers to come out and see students presenting themselves in a professional setting. "It's a one day campus celebration of what students do best: scholarship, creativity, performance," he said.
West was assigned by Katherine Conway-Turner, former provost, to direct G.R.E.A.T. Day three years ago. He said that Conway-Turner had a vision of bringing together all the disciplines at Geneseo to showcase the different types of work that students do throughout the year. Precursors to G.R.E.A.T. Day included a humanities symposium and a math and science symposium.
Each year, students with the approval of a faculty sponsor are invited to submit projects in December. West said once the submission period ends in March, he spends a great deal of time "downloading the information from the submission forms, getting it formatted so I can build a program, make a schedule and make provisions for the performances."
This year's Jack and Carol Kramer Endowed Lectureship keynote speaker was author Helen Epstein.