In this year’s Steinmetz Symposium program, President David Harris remarked that “the presentations, exhibits, and performances you’ll see [on Steinmetz Day] reflect the intellectual and creative curiosity of our students.” And that is exactly what I saw on campus.
As the News Editor, my job is to keep tabs on different events on campus. I’ve gone to dance shows, club events, award ceremonies, and more. What made this day special to me is the sense of school pride that I felt on Steinmetz and Prize Day.
When I looked at the program for this year’s event, I felt a sense of school pride. This school has hundreds of talented, passionate students, and lots of them were showcasing their research, art projects, dance routines, and more. I didn’t always understand what each project was about, because I’m an Economics major who hasn’t taken upper level STEM classes, but I did know one thing: my classmates were proud of their work.
I began the day by going around to random classrooms to find presentations. Every room had at least 15 people in there watching the presentation. Some of them were even standing room only. When I went to the dance show, I was initially denied entry because 125+ people had gotten there before me and it was a fire code hazard. And at each of these presentations and showcases, parents filmed their children, friends took pictures of one another, and students enthusiastically answered questions.
This year, I made a poster with pictures that I had taken for the Concordiensis and on my own. I chose to present ones that I felt symbolized Union as a community; athletes supporting each other, friends enjoying a sunny day, students showcasing their cultures, and more. When I presented it in the library, community members appreciated it and talked to me about my work. Between that and what I saw at Steinmetz, I’m glad to say that Union is a supportive community that brings out the best in students.
At Prize Day, there were so many people to clap for that your hands would hurt by the end of it. Friends came to cheer each other on, parents brought flowers and proudly cheered on their children, and faculty cheered as their students won prizes they nominated them for. I am glad that I went there and was able to see my classmates win awards that they deserved.
Steinmetz is a day named after Charles Proteus Steinmetz, a faculty member and America’s leading electrical engineer of his time. Professor Steinmetz represented excellence in his field, and this day is one where students are honored for excellence. I’m glad that this day exists, and is something that students can look forward to.
This 12 page edition of the Concordiensis will show a fraction of what happened at Steinmetz this year. And that’s the beauty of this day; there is so much happening that you can’t capture all of it. Enjoy learning about students’ passions and accomplishments throughout this edition.
