This year’s Research and Creativity Symposium set a record, with 109 students participating. The symposium is an event on Simpson College’s campus where students work with advisors to put together a presentation on research or a project they have been working on. This spans from oral and panel presentations to poster presentations.
Awards were given out to the students with the best oral and poster presentations.
Aidan Jones and Piper Jackman both received the award for best presentation of a poster, Tae Newsome received best design of a poster and Katie Harryman received the Wesley Service Scholar award for best volunteering poster. Ellee Mortensen received the award for the best overall poster presentation for her Power BI dashboard on institutional effectiveness.
Brennan Voss and Brian Rollinson received the award for expertise in an oral presentation with their research on differences across the gravitational spectrum in tetrahymena thermophila. Alivia Eaton and Payton Seo’s research on healthcare access in Warren County received the best overall oral presentation, and Leelia Rudicil received the best overall design firm project.
Linliey Okland, a psychology major and a criminal justice minor, did her first symposium presentation this year. She has been working all year on her independent research project on the fear of missing out and college students.
“Symposium is important because it allows students to share their independent research they have been working on throughout the school year,” she said. “It is also important as an attendee learning about what your classmates have been up to.”
Okland finds that she and other presenters gain many skills, such as public speaking skills and learning how to present future research. For students like Okland attending graduate school, these skills can help them feel better prepared for the workload they’re about to bear.
Aidan Jones, a sophomore majoring in science and political science and the Student Research Club president, is another student who participated in the Symposium for the first time this year. He also helped plan the event in his role with the Student Research Club.
Jones presented research on chronic wasting disease in deer alongside teammates David Lochner and Eric Schmitt under the advisement of Adam Brustkern. Additionally, he presented research on improvements to the data analytics minor at Simpson, under the Advisory of Jesse Wilcox, Ph.D. at the University of Northern Iowa. Jones has been working on the data analytics projects for over a year and a half, and the research on chronic wasting disease in deer as part of the Bryan Summer Research Program this past summer.
“Symposium is important because it gives students a chance to share the work they have been devoting their life here to, and recognizing them for the success they’ve achieved,” Jones said. “[I have] the ability to condense years’ worth of research into a small box and wrap it with a bow, essentially presenting efficiently without losing charm or nuance.”
Jones also found strong support through the student research club, established in the 2025-26 academic year.
“For Students interested in engaging in research on campus or wanting support, join the Student Research Club. You can reach out by email to me,” he said.
