Anoka-Ramsey Cambridge Campus Celebrates Student Innovation At Annual OSCARS Symposium

Anoka-Ramsey Cambridge Campus Celebrates Student Innovation At Annual OSCARS Symposium

Celebrating Undergraduate Research at Anoka-Ramsey

Anoka-Ramsey Community College recently concluded its highly anticipated annual Outstanding Scholarship, Creative Activities and Research Symposium (OSCARS) for 2025. This significant event served as a premier platform for showcasing the high-quality learning and innovative projects undertaken by the college's undergraduate students across various disciplines. The Cambridge Campus played a pivotal role in this celebration, hosting an in-person event on May 7, offering a dedicated opportunity for the community to engage with student scholarship.

The 2025 OSCARS adopted a dynamic hybrid format, blending virtual and in-person opportunities for engagement. Virtual presentations were accessible online from April 28 to May 11, providing flexibility for attendees. On-campus events were held on April 30 and May 2 at the Coon Rapids Campus, culminating with the Cambridge Campus celebration on May 7. This inclusive approach ensured broad accessibility, allowing the public to attend free of charge, whether in person or virtually, by visiting www.anokaramsey.edu/OSCARS. The college's commitment to making this event widely available suggested a deliberate strategy to maximize community involvement. By offering both in-person and virtual access, Anoka-Ramsey aimed to reach a broader audience, including prospective students and their families. This allowed them to witness firsthand the caliber of academic work and the supportive learning environment, which could directly influence future enrollment decisions. This broad accessibility also positioned Anoka-Ramsey as a leader in fostering undergraduate research within the community, thereby enhancing its reputation and potentially attracting a national or even international virtual audience.

At its core, the OSCARS symposium was designed to highlight the significant learning outcomes students achieved through undergraduate research, project-based learning, and various scholarly and creative endeavors specific to their fields of study. The event underscored the college's dedication to fostering deep engagement with academic material, moving beyond traditional classroom settings to cultivate critical thinking and applied knowledge.

What is OSCARS? A Deep Dive into Undergraduate Scholarship

OSCARS, an acronym for the "Outstanding Scholarship, Creative Activities and Research Symposium," stands as Anoka-Ramsey Community College's premier event for students to present their academic and creative work. This comprehensive symposium extends beyond traditional scientific research to embrace a wide spectrum of scholarly and artistic pursuits, reflecting the diverse talents and intellectual curiosity of the student body.

The symposium is explicitly designed to showcase the "high-quality learning" that students achieve through various pedagogical approaches. This includes research integrated into classroom curricula, independent research projects, and direct collaborations with faculty members. This hands-on approach provides students with invaluable practical experience, allowing them to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world problems and creative challenges. The college's commitment to undergraduate research is further solidified by its membership in the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR). This affiliation aligns Anoka-Ramsey with a national standard that champions faculty engagement in research and robust student participation in scholarly endeavors, ensuring that the college's programs meet recognized benchmarks for excellence in undergraduate inquiry.

The college's long-standing membership in the Council on Undergraduate Research and the consistent hosting of the OSCARS event, which dates back to at least 2016 (as the 2018 event was already the "3rd Annual Student OSCARS" ), reveal a deeper commitment. This indicates that undergraduate research is not a peripheral activity but a deeply embedded and institutionalized component of Anoka-Ramsey's academic mission. The sustained investment in programs like OSCARS, evolving over the years to include faculty presentations, demonstrates a foundational pillar of the college's academic identity. This strategic focus aims to provide students with university-level research experiences within a community college setting. This institutionalization is a direct contributor to the "high-quality learning" outcomes observed, as it ensures that resources, dedicated faculty mentorship, and prominent platforms like OSCARS are consistently available to students.

2025 Event Details: Dates, Locations, and How to Attend

The 2025 OSCARS featured a comprehensive schedule of virtual and in-person activities designed to maximize participation and engagement. Virtual events were accessible online throughout the period of April 28 to May 11, allowing for flexible viewing and interaction. For those wishing to attend in person, specific dates and locations were designated: the Coon Rapids Campus hosted events on April 30 and May 2, while the Cambridge Campus held its in-person celebration on May 7.

The entire event, encompassing both virtual and in-person components, was free and open to the public. This open access underscored Anoka-Ramsey Community College's dedication to sharing its students' achievements with the broader community and fostering a culture of intellectual curiosity. Further information, including access to virtual events, can be found by visiting the official event website at www.anokaramsey.edu/OSCARS.

Leadership for the 2025 OSCARS was shared between two dedicated coordinators: Kristen Genet, who oversaw the Coon Rapids Campus events, and Joseph Sabir, who was responsible for the Cambridge Campus activities. Their coordinated efforts ensured the smooth execution of this multi-campus, hybrid symposium.

For quick reference, the key dates and locations for the 2025 Anoka-Ramsey OSCARS are summarized below:

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Presenting this information in a table format is particularly valuable for an online news publication because it significantly enhances readability and allows for quick information retrieval. In a digital environment where users often skim for key details, a structured table provides a highly scannable and digestible overview of the entire schedule. This ensures that critical details, such as dates and locations, are easily accessible and not missed by readers, directly supporting the goal of clear and engaging communication.

A Tradition of Excellence: The Evolution of OSCARS

The OSCARS event boasts a rich and evolving history at Anoka-Ramsey Community College, reflecting a sustained commitment to student scholarship. The event's longevity is evident from the fact that the 2018 celebration was already recognized as the "3rd Annual Student OSCARS," indicating that the program was well-established several years prior to that date. This long-standing tradition highlights the college's consistent dedication to providing a platform for student academic and creative expression.

Over the years, the symposium has undergone significant growth and integration. Initially, there may have been separate events for student and faculty presentations. However, by 2021, a pivotal change occurred: the faculty and student OSCARS were combined into a single, unified event for the first time. This strategic development was aimed at fostering a stronger mentorship environment and showcasing faculty scholarship alongside student work, creating a more cohesive academic community. Prior to the pandemic, in 2019, the event demonstrated robust engagement with nearly 60 students from various programs participating. This steady growth underscores the increasing importance and impact of undergraduate research at the college.

The evolution from potentially separate student and faculty events to a combined symposium represents a significant maturation of the program. This shift is not merely an organizational change but reflects a deliberate move towards a more holistic and integrated model of undergraduate scholarship. By having faculty present their own research and creative works alongside students, the event fosters a powerful mentorship culture. Students can observe their instructors as active scholars, not just teachers, thereby understanding the continuous nature of academic inquiry and the broader scope of scholarly engagement. This integration directly contributes to the "high-quality learning" outcomes that the college emphasizes.

Furthermore, OSCARS has consistently showcased a wide array of academic and creative disciplines, demonstrating the comprehensive nature of undergraduate research at Anoka-Ramsey. Past events have featured projects across diverse fields including Art, Biology, Chemistry, Communication Studies, English, Music, Nursing, Philosophy, Physical Therapy Assistant, Political Science, Psychology, and Theatre. This breadth of representation, categorized into STEM/Health and Exercise Sciences, Social Sciences/Humanities, and Creative Activities and Performances , underscores that "research" at Anoka-Ramsey is not confined to scientific laboratories but is a broad concept encompassing the humanities, arts, and social sciences, promoting a comprehensive view of academic inquiry.

Voices from the College: Leadership and Vision

The enduring success and evolution of the OSCARS symposium are deeply rooted in the dedication and vision of key faculty members and strong administrative support. Kristen Genet, a Biology instructor and one of the original founders of the OSCARS event, has been instrumental in shaping its philosophy and growth. She emphasizes the critical role of faculty as mentors and role models in the undergraduate research journey.

Genet articulates the profound impact of combining student and faculty presentations, stating, "By hosting the faculty and student events together, it gives our faculty an additional opportunity to be role models for students, share their work and reiterate that we're all in this together. We hope it empowers and motivates our students to be equally proud of their own work as well because they are doing some really amazing things". This statement highlights the pedagogical value of the integrated symposium, fostering a collaborative environment where students feel inspired and validated in their academic pursuits.

The initiative also received crucial administrative backing, as acknowledged by Angie Anderson, a Communication Studies faculty member at Anoka-Ramsey. Anderson expressed her appreciation for "the support the college administration has demonstrated for the OSCARS on both campuses, so all of our students can continue to have an opportunity to display their great research and creative work at the college". This institutional support was vital for providing the resources and infrastructure necessary to host such a significant annual event across multiple campuses.

For the 2025 event, Kristen Genet continued her leadership role as the OSCARS Coordinator for the Coon Rapids Campus, working alongside Joseph Sabir, who coordinated for the Cambridge Campus. This dedicated leadership ensured the continued excellence and smooth operation of the symposium. The longevity and growth of OSCARS, its shift to a hybrid model, and the integration of faculty presentations are not accidental developments. They are a direct result of sustained, passionate leadership from faculty like Genet, who not only founded the event but continue to shape its philosophy and execution. Administrative support is also a critical enabling factor, ensuring that resources and institutional backing are consistently provided for such a significant initiative. This consistent and dedicated leadership is a direct cause of the program's excellence and its ability to effectively empower and motivate students.

Spotlight on Student Achievement: Diverse Projects and Impact

Anoka-Ramsey students consistently demonstrated remarkable intellectual curiosity and academic rigor through their engagement in a wide variety of research, scholarship, and creative activities. The breadth of their work spanned numerous disciplines, categorized broadly into STEM/Health and Exercise Sciences, Social Sciences/Humanities, and Creative Activities and Performances. This diverse range of projects showcased the comprehensive educational experience offered at the college.

The 2025 OSCARS showcased a wide array of student projects, building on the caliber and diversity seen in past events. Past events provide compelling examples of the caliber and diversity of student work. In the Creative Arts category, notable projects have included "A Writer's Life, Students Share their Original Creative Writing" by Mika De Sousa, mentored by Kate Kysar; Zachary McLellan's "The Irony of Love," mentored by Rachel Breen; and Daniel Harms' "How Theophany Composes with Programmatic World Music," mentored by Melissa Bergstrom. Collaborative creative endeavors, such as "The Glass Menagerie Re-imagined" by Tonina-Lee Deloch, Jill Boros, and Mackenzie Wilson, mentored by Kate Maurer, also highlight the depth of artistic exploration.

In STEM/Health Sciences, students have tackled complex scientific inquiries. Examples include Paige Hanson's "Effects of Bait on Animal Attraction," mentored by Jennifer Braido; Andrew Bluth's research on "Determining the Importance of Sex, Age, and Geographic Location on Scute Pair Fluctuating Asymmetry in Painted Turtles Chrysemys picta," mentored by Kristen Genet; and Madison Irons' study on "Water Quality Influences and Variances of the Borderline-Impaired Fannie Chain of Lakes in Minnesota," mentored by Melanie Waite-Altringer. These projects demonstrate rigorous scientific methodology and contribute to a deeper understanding of environmental and biological phenomena.

The Social Sciences/Humanities have seen students engage with pressing societal issues and critical analyses. Projects like Noah Stockert's "Helping the Hiawatha Homeless Camp," mentored by Mo Janzen, exemplify a commitment to community engagement. Group projects such as "Rise Inc. and the Hiring of Direct Support Professionals: Finding the Right People for the Job" by Keeley Auld, Amanda Boyle, Sarah Kaplin, and Carter Sanken, with ARCC Faculty Liaison Angie Anderson, and "Infinite Campus: Researching Student Information Systems" by Alexander Clark, Catherine Nguyen, and Solange Vang, also with Angie Anderson as ARCC Faculty Liaison, showcase the application of communication studies to real-world organizational challenges.

These examples of student projects reveal a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary work and practical application. Many projects are not merely theoretical academic exercises but involve addressing real-world issues, engaging with the community, or developing practical solutions relevant to their fields and the wider society. This approach demonstrates how students apply their classroom learning to solve problems or explore creative expressions that have tangible relevance. This focus indicates that Anoka-Ramsey's undergraduate research initiative is not solely about abstract knowledge creation but also about fostering civic responsibility, developing crucial problem-solving skills, and preparing students for practical careers or further education where applied research is highly valued.

Beyond the technical aspects, student abstracts from previous years also offer personal insights into their creative and research processes. These reflections often highlight themes of connection to nature, the power of self-expression, and the intrinsic motivation driving their pursuit of knowledge, providing a deeper understanding of the student experience at OSCARS.

Engaging with the Community: A Call to Participate

The Anoka-Ramsey OSCARS was more than just an internal academic showcase; it was a community event designed to be as accessible as possible. As previously noted, the symposium was a free event, warmly welcoming community members, prospective students, and the general public to attend both virtually and in person. This open invitation underscored the college's role as a vital community resource and a hub of intellectual activity.

Attending the OSCARS offered a unique opportunity to witness firsthand the intellectual curiosity, academic achievements, and creative talents of Anoka-Ramsey students. It provided valuable insights into the diverse academic disciplines offered at the college and the innovative work being done by its students and faculty. For individuals considering higher education, particularly those exploring Anoka-Ramsey, it served as an excellent occasion to observe the caliber of instruction and student engagement. As noted by faculty, attending could help non-presenting students and community members "identify courses and faculty that you would like to work with in the future".

For those interested in viewing the virtual presentations, all necessary information and access points can be found on the dedicated event website: www.anokaramsey.edu/OSCARS.

The consistent invitation for the public to attend and the encouragement for community members to identify potential courses and faculty suggested that Anoka-Ramsey views the OSCARS as a vital component of its relationship with the wider community. This open-door policy strategically positioned Anoka-Ramsey Community College as a central hub of intellectual activity and a valuable resource for community engagement. It fostered a reciprocal relationship where the college actively contributed to the intellectual life of the region, and in turn, the community gained a deeper understanding of the value of higher education. This engagement could also serve as a source of future students or collaborators, reinforcing the idea of the college as an active participant in, and contributor to, the local learning ecosystem.

Conclusion: Anoka-Ramsey's Commitment to Future Innovators

The annual OSCARS symposium stood as a powerful testament to Anoka-Ramsey Community College's unwavering dedication to fostering undergraduate research, critical thinking, and creative expression among its students. By providing a robust platform for students to showcase their scholarly and creative endeavors, the college reinforced its mission to deliver high-quality learning experiences.

A significant aspect of Anoka-Ramsey's commitment was its provision of unique research opportunities, which have historically been more commonly associated with university settings. By making such experiences accessible at the community college level, Anoka-Ramsey equipped its students with invaluable skills in inquiry, analysis, and presentation—skills that are crucial for both academic advancement and professional success. This initiative directly challenged the traditional hierarchy between two-year and four-year institutions, demonstrating that high-level research and scholarly engagement are not only possible but are thriving within the community college framework. This strategic positioning elevated the perceived value of an Anoka-Ramsey degree or certificate, potentially attracting a wider range of ambitious students and strengthening its transfer pathways to four-year universities. It effectively redefined what is achievable within the community college model.

As an annual highlight on the college calendar, the OSCARS event celebrated the innovative spirit of Anoka-Ramsey's students and faculty. It reinforced the college's vital role in shaping future leaders, thinkers, and creative professionals, contributing significantly to the intellectual and economic vitality of the community it serves.