By Isa Riano, Advertisement Manager
On Thursday, April 4, Saint Leo University hosted its annual celebration of Academic Excellence Day. During the event, students from various majors delivered oral presentations, explained, and summarized their research findings through posters, displayed artwork and literature, and performed musical pieces.
Presenters seized the remarkable opportunity to interact with faculty, step out of their comfort zones, and engage in outstanding activities beyond the classroom. Follow along to discover what participants found remarkable about their experiences on this special day.
Students that presented in previous years noticed their improvement this year.
“The first time I presented last year, I wanted everything I said to be perfect,” said Jillian Falvo, a senior majoring in psychology with a general specialization. “This year, I tried to not put so much pressure on myself and focused on connecting with the audience.”
In her presentation, Falvo explained the effects that processed foods have on mental health and anxiety. She acknowledged that she is working on not using filler words such as “like,” but she felt confident delivering her presentation.
It is never too early or too late for students to present at Academic Excellence Day. In fact, Dr. Tammy Zacchilli, a psychology professor at Saint Leo, explained that she was happy to see that her students were an inspiration for other lions.
“Many of my students said the presentations they saw motivated them to do their own research,” said Zacchilli.
It is helpful for those who plan to present, to prepare their presentations in a timely fashion and work closely with their faculty.
“My biggest piece of advice for students is to practice with family or friends and get comfortable with their project,” said Falvo. “I would also stress that being hard on yourself will do more harm than good.”
Another crucial piece of advice for students is to capitalize on the networking opportunities available to them on Academic Excellence Day.
“I enjoy learning what has helped our lions be the students they are today,” said Natalia Edmonson, a freshman majoring in criminal justice.
Edmonson prepared a presentation in which she explained how the honors program has helped her get out of her comfort zone, improve her writing skills, and be more confident in herself.
This year’s celebration of Academic Excellence Day highlighted the talents and skills of many of our students. Presenters were grateful for everything they learned and were excited to share it with other students.
Regardless of the lions’ class standing, presenting at Academic Excellence Day is a great opportunity for them to grow personally and academically. Let us consider the presenters’ advice and continue growing in the Saint Leo community!
