Five Seward students participating in teacher Wendy Anderson’s college US History course took advantage of a unique program where they presented the findings of independent research projects on March 8 in front of an audience of college professionals.

The SUNY Orange Achievements in Research and Scholarship program gives students the opportunity to participate in an academic research project that they then present to SUNY Orange college students and professors, while also getting to see other students’ works which Anderson said helps broaden their
horizons.

“There is no grade attached, however, they will get the experience of presenting their work at the college and can put it on their resume,” Anderson said. “The students are doing it because they want to, not because they have to.”

Anderson has had students participate in years past who touted the conference as an incredible experience. She praised this year’s cohort of students for their professionalism while presenting.

“They were poised, professional, and enthusiastic about their research and it showed,” Anderson recalled. “They did a fabulous job.”

Junior Autumn Montanez presented about the dehumanization of Chinese, Russian and Korean citizens during imperial Japanese experiments from 1937 to 1945 referred to as “Unit 731” and the impact they had on those societies afterward. Montanez enjoyed the experience of presenting about a part of
history that is not widely known.

“People who came up to me were shocked and horrified,” Montanez said. “I’m glad I could give them a deeper understanding of the horrors in our world.”

Junior Sophia LaBelle’s project, “The Hunger Games: The Corruption of Morality Bleeds Through the Page,” looked at similar horrors, but in literature. LaBelle appreciated presenting, but also left eager to learn more after seeing the other projects presented.

“I had an incredible experience with SOARS,” LaBelle said. “Being able to do a project on something I’m so passionate about and incorporate it with one of my favorite books was so much fun.”