The 2017-18 academic year at University of Wisconsin-Stout begins to wrap up the week of April 30 through May 5 with commencement and several special events.
The spring semester ends with final exams the week of May 7-11.
Commencement will be held in three ceremonies at 9:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Saturday, May 5, at Johnson Fieldhouse.
Special events for the week that feature student projects include the semiannual Stout Game Expo, Research Days / STEMM Expo and the semiannual Senior Show for art and design students. All are free and open to the public.
Monday: Stout Game Expo
The Stout Game Expo will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Monday, April 30, in the Great Hall of the Memorial Student Center.
Attendees will be able to play 53 games by 160 game design and development students, including 36 digital games and 17 analog games.
The event will feature, for the first time, mobile-based games from a new class that “incorporate the unique interactive abilities of smart phones with multitouch displays, allowing players to tap and swipe,” said Associate Professor Andrew Williams.
Also, there will be a human-scale game, an interactive virtual reality game, Birdseed, and senior 3D games Small Hours, Umbrella Mondays and the Shadow Crisis: Heroes United.
Wednesday-Thursday: Research Days / STEMM Expo
University research by students, faculty and staff will be highlighted at the annual Research Days and STEMM Expo Wednesday, May 2, and Thursday, May 3, at the student center.
The main event is from 1 to 4 p.m. Thursday in the Great Hall, with approximately 180 research projects by several hundred students.
The event kicks off Wednesday from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. with an introduction by Elizabeth Buchanan and Renee Howarton, followed by a research keynote address by Professor Jim Burritt, “Stout Students and Honey Bee Research.”
Buchanan is director of the Center for Applied Ethics and acting director of the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs. Howarton is director of the campus Nakatani Teaching and Learning Center.
From 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Cedarwood and Maplewood rooms will be the WiSys Quick Pitch business idea competition. Students must present their research in three minutes or less and will compete for a variety of prizes. Judges include Provost Patrick Guilfoile and Discovery Center Director Randy Hulke.
From 9 to 11:30 a.m. Thursday will be three presentations:
- “Advancing a Research Agenda while Engaging Students through Effective Instruction,” by Doug Margolis, UW-River Falls
- “Locally Sourced: Using Archives to Explore Fake News, Privacy, and the Evolution of Spaces and Professions,” by faculty and staff members Heather Stecklein, Daisy Pignetti, Peter Reim, Christina Shane-Simpson, Kate Edenborg and Jessy Polzer
- “Growth Mindset and Student Learning: An Interactive Mini-workshop,” by faculty members Krista James, Arthur Kneeland and Innisfree McKinnon
Three students and two faculty members will receive awards at 2:45 p.m. Thursday:
- Roselyn Anderson, of Eagan, Minn., Outstanding Student Researcher of the Year, College of Arts, Communication, Humanities and Social Sciences
- Bailey Kramer, of Elk Mound, Outstanding Student Researcher of the Year, College of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Management
- Samuel Grassman, of Sun Prairie, Outstanding Student Researcher of the Year, College of Education, Hospitality, Health and Human Sciences
- Associate Professor Thomas Pearson, social science, Outstanding Senior Researcher of the Year
- Associate Professor Devin Berg, engineering and technology, Emerging Researcher of the Year
Friday: Senior Show
About 100 graduating seniors from the School of Art and Design will exhibit their final projects from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, May 4, throughout the Applied Arts Building.
The event is a chance for visitors to talk with the artists and designers. Senior capstone projects include various disciplines, including graphic, game, interior, industrial and entertainment, along with studio artwork.
The Year-End Juried Student Art Show will be open in Furlong Gallery.
Snacks and refreshments will be available.
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Photos
A student explains his robotic arm research project at the 2017 STEMM Expo.
Thomas Pearson
Visitors hear about a student’s shoe design at a 2017 Senior Show.
