Symposium looking for talent - The Rider Newspaper

Students of all disciplines have the opportunity to present their research, art or creative writing at the Engaged Scholar Symposium on both the Edinburg and Brownsville campuses.

The Engaged Scholar Symposium is the largest multidisciplinary gathering of undergraduate scholars in South Texas, according to a UTRGV web page. Students are free to present any kind of research, community engagement ideas, service learning projects or creative works.

“The symposium is our annual conference at the university that highlights creative works … as well as undergraduate research on campus,” said Estela Garza, program coordinator for the Office of Engaged Scholarship & Learning. “So, let’s say it’s a poet or a creative writer and they would like to submit an abstract to have an oral presentation or talk … reading their actual piece, they can.”

This program is held each April for UTRGV undergraduate students. However, this year UTRGV students won’t be the only ones eligible to apply. External undergraduate students, graduate and Ph.D. students, and faculty speakers can apply as well.

Erika Pacheco, administrative assistant for the Office of Engaged Scholarship & Learning, encourages students to take the opportunity this program offers.

“It looks great on their résumé,” said Pacheco. “It’s an opportunity for them to present their work. It’s free, it’s here for you. You have nothing to lose. It’s a great opportunity to show us what you are doing.”

Abstracts should be written for an interdisciplinary audience and should be between 100 and 500 words. Presentations or abstract submissions can be done in English, Spanish or both and students will also be required to write a short 50-word summary of their work. Participants need to submit their abstracts using the Engaged Scholar Symposium online portal.

The last day to submit abstracts is midnight Feb. 5. UTRGV undergraduate student presenters don’t have to pay to participate. However, external undergraduate students have a fee of $20. Graduate and Ph.D. students need to pay $35 and faculty speakers, $50.

Guest speaker Laura Rendon, University of Texas-San Antonio professor emerita, will open the event at 9:30 a.m. April 21 in the PlainsCapital Bank El Gran Salón on the Brownsville campus and at the same time April 22 in the University Ballroom Complex on the Edinburg campus.

For more information, email engaged@utrgv.edu.