The next GCC Student Symposium will take place in spring 2027! The GCC Student Symposium celebrates outstanding achievements in research, professional development and creative expression. Participants present a wide variety of projects from across disciplines, including research posters, digital podcasts, and studio art displays. Participation All students are invited to participate in the GCC Student Symposium. Our goal is to put together a vibrant showcase of student research and creative talent. We welcome: Traditional research projects Internship or clinical placement reports Creative projects (such as creative writing, studio arts, musical performance, and drama) How to Participate Eligibility: Individual and group projects are welcome. Form submission: Complete a brief participation form (opens April 2027). Format: Prepare a poster, digital project, oral presentation, or creative work to share on the day of the event. Presentation Formats Posters: Create a digital, printed, or tabletop poster of your own design. Digital projects: Showcase a project created using digital technology (such as audio podcasts, videos, or websites). Oral presentation: Deliver a spoken presentation with or without visual aids. Creative showcase: Share creative work through a live performance, tabletop display, gallery arrangement, or custom format. Alternative project formats: Have a project idea that doesn’t fit into these categories? Contact the symposium organizers to discuss your proposal. Participation Form Details When completing your participant form, you will need to submit a project title along with a brief description (an abstract, summary, or artist statement). These details will be featured in the symposium program.We encourage you to work with your faculty sponsor, site supervisor, or a librarian to refine your writing before submitting. Library staff may reach out after submission to assist with minor edits. Project Title Guidelines Your title should be brief, direct, and clearly convey the main topic or focus of your work. Abstract, Artist Statement, or Summary Depending on your project type, choose one of the following options. All written submissions should be 150–200 words and free of spelling or grammatical errors. Research abstract: A concise overview communicating the core elements of your project: Statement of purpose: What do you aim to discover, prove, or explore? Methodology or process: How did you conduct your work (e.g., experiments, source analysis, interviews, creative techniques)? Results or outcomes: What were your findings or finished outputs? If your project is ongoing, describe your expected outcomes. Significance: How does your work contribute to your field or open paths for future study? Internship or Placement Summary: A structured summary of your off-site or clinical experience:Overview: Location, timeframe, and scope of your placement. Key contributions: Specific tasks completed and responsibilities handled. Key takeaways: 1–2 major learning insights gained from the experience. Artist statement: A description of the creative work(s) you are sharing (include the title, date of creation, and medium, if applicable): Inspiration: What motivated or inspired the piece? Audience experience: What do you want the audience to feel, see, or experience? Technique & materials: Notable details regarding your process, materials, or methods. Context: Any additional background that helps viewers interpret and appreciate your work. General Poster Details Digital/E-Posters, printed, or tabletop posters are all acceptable formats for the symposium poster session. Digital/e-posters: Should be designed in PowerPoint or Google Slides. You will present your digital poster on a TV monitor or other digital display. Printed posters: We recommend using the standard 36″H by 48″W format for your poster but can potentially accommodate other sizes. The library will cover the cost of printing your poster. Note: If you choose to present a printed poster, you must submit a PDF of your poster a few days be to ensure printing before the event. Tabletop posters: These are traditional tri-fold posters. You will need to cover the cost of supplies if you choose to present in this format. Resources for standard research posters: GCC Themed Poster Template (You will need to make a copy. Use of this template is optional.) MassURC: Creating Your Poster Contact librarian Young-In Kim (kimy@gcc.mass.edu) if you need additional help preparing your poster. Internship Poster Details Student interns can either share a traditional research poster (if their internship included a research component) or a poster that focuses on the internship experience (suggested outlined below). We will also accept other project formats. The purpose of an internship poster is to summarize the internship experience for an audience that might not be familiar with the field. Your poster can include the following content sections. Title: Craft a title that succinctly highlights the key aspects of your internship experience, using language accessible to all viewers. Introduction: Provide your name, company/organization name, internship location, position, and dates. Additionally, detail how you secured the internship. Abstract: Provide a concise summary of what was done and learned in the internship and the course. Learning Objectives: Outline 2 to 5 learning objectives you planned to achieve during your internship. Professional Development: Explain what inspired your pursuit of this internship, particularly in terms of its potential impact on your professional development and alignment with your career goals. Description of Key Responsibilities: Summarize the primary tasks, activities, and projects completed throughout the internship. Application of GCC Courses: Explain how your coursework contributed to your internship experience, linking relevant courses, theories, and concepts to their practical applications. Lessons Learned: Reflect on insights gained about the industry, company/organization, career trajectory, and personal growth throughout your internship experience. Acknowledgements: Recognize individuals who supported you, including the internship site supervisor, course instructor, mentors, and funding sources. Provide their full titles. Contact librarian Young-In Kim (kimy@gcc.mass.edu) if you need additional help preparing your poster. Information for Faculty We are privileged to host the symposium annually thanks to our committed faculty, exceptional teachers who inspire and mentor our students towards outstanding achievements. Your students are encouraged to showcase capstone or other research projects, exceptional creative works, or any other work you feel is appropriate for the symposium venue. We welcome traditional research projects but also work that is non-traditional and/or innovative. Previous Symposia For archival purposes only. 2026 GCC Student Symposium Program 2025 GCC Student Symposium Program 2024 GCC Student Symposium Program 2023 GCC Student Symposium Program 2022 GCC Student Symposium Program 2019 GCC Research Symposium Program Please contact library@gcc.mass.edu for accessible versions of these archival documents.