Student Scholarship Recognition Day (SSRD) celebrates exemplary scholarship and performance of Willamette students, providing a venue through which they share their work--in the form of oral and poster presentations, performances, and art exhibits across campus--with the campus community, families, and friends. We believe that student research is at the heart of our educational enterprise, and so we cancel classes for this important day. (And we don't cancel classes lightly!)

At large universities research is typically reserved for graduate students, but at small private liberal arts colleges like Willamette, undergraduates have the opportunity to work closely with faculty designing scientific experiments, creating works of art, and wrestling with age-old conundrums. In all these arenas, students actively engage the questions that feed their intellectual curiosity.

The students whose work you see at SSRD have been supported in many ways during their research. Some have worked as faculty research assistants or collaborated with faculty on research projects. Others complete their work in senior seminars, or devote much of their senior year to their research. Still others create and perform works of art. All have been guided by faculty advisors or mentors.

We are proud of our students' achievements, of their thoughtful engagement with problems, and of their dogged pursuit of truth and beauty. We measure our success by theirs. We sincerely hope that you enjoy your travels through the minds and passions of our students and our university.

The Eighth Annual Student Scholarship Recognition Day will be held on
Wednesday, April 16, 2008.