THE BEACON CONFERENCE
A Conference For Student Scholars at Two-Year Colleges
The Beacon Conference is a truly inspirational event which dispels the notion that two-year schools are not the place for high caliber academic accomplishments. It is supported by a coalition of junior and community colleges located in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, currently 20 colleges from Maryland to New York and Pennsylvania to Massachusetts sponsor the Beacon Conference.
Students are invited to submit scholarly work in a number of subject area categories that encompass the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, technical fields, and special areas such as computer applications and multicultural studies. Three community college faculty with expertise in a particular field read and rank the papers in each category. The authors of the top three essays in each discipline are invited to present their papers at the Beacon Conference. Out of three finalist in each subject area, one winner is selected by a judge from a four-year college or university. Beacon winners are chosen on the basis of the quality and originality of research, written work, and oral presentations.
The Beacon Conference is a great opportunity for students and faculty of two-year colleges to receive recognition for their outstanding work. The project also fosters a climate of community through the collegiality that develops among colleagues working on a joint project; the intense relationship that grows between students and their faculty mentors; the interactions among students submitting to, presenting at, and attending the conference; the connections between the two-year colleges and neighboring four-year institutions which supplied panel judges; and finally the communal spirit at the conference itself.
SUNY Ulster County Community College is proud to have had two of our students win Beacon Conference awards in their chosen categories. SUNY Ulster's first award-winning entry came in 1999, when Dennis Covello's presentation, "Stream Study: Stony Creek and Lower Esopus Creek 1998" won the prize in the Technology and Technical Studies category. At the Beacon Conference 2000, SUNY Ulster had two finalists in the Natural and Physical Sciences category, Shannon Beckwith and Patricia Martin. Patricia Martin was selected the winner based on her presentation, "1999 Fourth Lake Water Study ENV 204 Water Quality Laboratory Management II".
For more on the SUNY Ulster winners, and to read their papers, click on their names below.
If you have any questions concerning the Beacon Conference or your support of it, please call Dr. Miho Kawai at 845-687-5000 ext. 5160 or Michelle A. Rodden at 845-687-5000 ext. 5165.
