OCCC Scholar's Day 2025

Scholar’s Day is a celebration of OCCC students’ research, scholarly, creative, and applied projects. The afternoon will be full of energy, ideas, and community spirit.

• Set-up (11:30 AM – 12:30 PM)
  Students and faculty mentors (if available) will arrive in the Main Building Lobby to arrange posters, displays, and other materials. Volunteers will be available to help.
• Kickoff & Welcome Reception (1:00 PM)
  The event begins with a welcome from President Jones and light refreshments.
• Keynote Speaker (1:30 – 2:15 PM)
  Dr. Coltan Scrivner will discuss his research and upcoming book, Morbidly Curious: A Scientist Explains Why We Can’t Look Away 
• Poster & Project Presentations (2:30 – 3:30 PM)
  Students will stand by their posters or displays to share their work, answer questions, and engage with attendees as they walk through the lobby viewing the presentations. This is a casual, interactive hour where visitors can browse, comment, and ask questions about your project. You can expect a mix of fellow students, faculty, staff, and community members to stop by, take a look at your poster or display, and start a conversation about your work. Your role is to welcome them, explain your project in clear terms, and respond to their curiosity.
• Closing (4:00 PM)
  We’ll wrap up the day with recognition of outstanding projects and a thank-you to all participants, mentors, and attendees.

Throughout the event, guests can explore a variety of projects from across campus while enjoying a friendly, welcoming atmosphere.

• Greet visitors warmly – A smile and a simple “Hi, would you like to hear about my project?” can break the ice.
• Have a short summary ready – Prepare a 1–2 minute explanation that covers your topic, why it matters, and your main findings or creations.
• Use your poster/display as a guide – Point out key visuals or sections as you talk.
• Be ready for questions – Visitors might ask about your process, challenges, what you learned, or how your work could be applied.
• Engage, don’t just explain – Ask visitors if they’ve seen similar work, what they think of your findings, or if they have related experiences.
• Enjoy the moment – This is your chance to showcase your hard work and connect with others who are interested in what you’ve done.

• It’s not a formal speech – You won’t be on a stage or reading from a script. You’ll simply stand next to your poster or project and talk to people as they come by.
• The atmosphere is friendly and supportive – Most visitors are curious and want to learn from you. Many will be fellow students, faculty, or staff who are excited to see what you’ve been working on.
• You’re the expert on your project – Remember—you’ve spent more time with your topic than anyone else in the room. You don’t have to know everything, just your part of it.
• You can guide the conversation – If a visitor seems unsure where to start, you can introduce yourself, share a quick summary, and then ask them a question like, “Would you like to hear about my results or the process I used?”
• It’s okay not to know an answer – If someone asks a question you can’t answer, you can say, “That’s a great question—I’d have to look into that,” or, “That’s something for future research.”
• A small break is okay.
  If you need to step away for water or restroom, coordinate with a friend so that you do not leave your display unattended.
• Enjoy the networking – This is a chance to meet people who share your interests and to practice talking about your work—skills that will help in job interviews, graduate school, and beyond.

It’s up to you; however, the dress for most academic presentations is professional. Since this is your day to shine, we encourage you to look polished. Slacks or pants, skirt, nice shirt, or dress are all appropriate. We do suggest wearing shoes you will be comfortable standing in for a couple of hours. No funds for a new wardrobe? Check out Dress for Success in OKC.

Website: https://oklahomacity.dressforsuccess.org/about-us/