By: Morgan Rizzo | Staff Writer
Classes were suspended Wednesday March 24 for the annual Sryou Student Exposition highlighting the academics, extracurriculars, community service, and research of various student presenters. Presentations took place in O’Hare Academic Building, McAuley Hall, the Dorrance H. Hamilton Gallery and virtually due to the ongoing pandemic.
SRyou Student Exposition is a yearly tradition for undergraduate students to share their hard work with fellow peers and faculty members through poster board presentations, table displays, and live performances. Students enhance their presentation skills, build their resumes, and learn about other areas of studies from other students by participating in SRyou day.
In the various buildings, presentations ranged from biology and chemistry research to extracurricular clubs like the Willow Literary Magazine, jury bias studies, and much more. Each presentation touched upon one or more of the Five Critical Concerns of Mercy: Immigration, Racism, Women, Nonviolence, and Earth.
The SRyou committee planned a fun, interactive scavenger hunt on the app Goosechace for the students to engage with presentations from the different Critical Concerns of Mercy and to find special people who helped with the success of the event. Students who participated had the chance to win Apple Products, local restaurant gift cards, and more.
The yearly exposition had to be altered in order to fulfill the COVID-19 guidelines and precautions. Sadly, visitors out of the Salve community were not able to attend the student exposition. However, the committee did a great job handling the current situation and putting on an event keeping the presenters, volunteers, and attendees safe.
“After such a challenging year for our community, it was so refreshing and inspiring to have everyone together celebrating the accomplishments of our undergraduate students. Canceling SRyou Student Exposition last year was so disappointing and felt like a major defeat, but I think our committee came back stronger because of that. That setback made us determined to bring this treasured campus tradition back to Salve in an engaging and safe way,” said chairwoman of SRyou Student Exposition, Anita Lahue.
Despite only having attendees from the Salve community, the new virtual environment allowed parents and members outside of the community to be involved through Zoom.
“I think we saw some new possibilities emerge through utilizing virtual tools this year. For parents, friends, and other extended community members to be involved in Sryou by attending presentations virtually is something so special that we’ve never had the means to do before” explained Anita Lahue.
Multiple Salve social media accounts had students showcase takeovers of the exhibition by posting on the Instagram stories. This allowed for current students, alumni, and future students to have a student perspective on what SRyou day is and why it is so special to the Salve community.
The SRyou committee is proud of the turnout both in person and online despite the unprecedented circumstances. They are hopeful for the return of a fully in person SRyou day along with additions using the new online technologies incorporated this year.
Check out the SRyou Student Exposition’s Instagram for photos from the event @salve_sryou.
Photos here by George Corrigan, ’22.
