The Celebration of Scholars is Northwest’s annual showcase of student and faculty achievement and is the largest showcase of student learning and engagement on the campus. Rooted in the University’s mission of focusing on “student success — every student, every day,” this signature event brings together the campus community to highlight research, creativity, innovation and service across all disciplines.
Through posters, performances, activities, exhibits and presentations, students and faculty share ideas, discoveries and passions — demonstrating the curiosity, collaboration and excellence that define Northwest. The Celebration fosters career readiness, mentorship and pride, while building meaningful connections with alumni, employers and community partners.
The Celebration of Scholars is a signature tradition at Northwest that showcases the outstanding research, creativity and academic achievements of our students. Building on a legacy that began in the late 1990s, the event brings together students, faculty and the campus community to celebrate interdisciplinary scholarship and innovation. The Celebration of Scholars annually highlights the energy, talent and excellence that define the Northwest academic experience and reflects the University’s ongoing commitment to student success.
The annual Celebration of Scholars exists at Northwest to showcase, inspire and connect scholarly, creative and innovative achievements of students and faculty. Rooted in the University’s mission of focusing on “student success — every student, every day,” this campus-wide event highlights the diverse ways Bearcats learn, create and lead through research, applied knowledge, artistic expression, service and innovation. By fostering curiosity, collaboration and community engagement, the Celebration of Scholars empowers students and faculty to share their work, build professional readiness and contribute to a culture of excellence that defines Northwest.
The Celebration of Scholars is open to all Northwest undergraduate and graduate students and may include work completed during the 2025-2026 academic year or before. Students are encouraged to submit their work; faculty and staff are encouraged to recommend the showcase to students and sponsor their work.
Students working on a project they believe will be completed or mostly completed for presentation by April 1 may be submitted for nomination. Graduating students who are working on final projects are especially encouraged to consider submitting work.
The submissions deadline is 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 18, 2026
Students may apply directly, or faculty, staff, community partners and peer students may nominate students to participate.
The annual showcase gives the University community a chance to see the interesting work students are completing across disciplines, and it gives participating students an audience beyond the classroom. In past years, students have presented creative writing, original research and analytical papers. They have given speeches, conducted panel discussions and displayed original works of art and visual summaries of their projects. They have presented dramatic readings and played or analyzed music, and some have presented other original work or projects completed in class or during internships.
The selection committee is open to new and innovative approaches in what students want to present and how they want to present it.
The Celebration of Scholars has added new categories and presentation formats so more students, programs and disciplines may participate. If you have a project, performance, innovation, or creative work — there’s now a place for it.
Academic and Applied Research
Creative and Performing Arts
Professional, Experiential and Community-Based Work
Showcases, Demonstrations and Media
In conjunction with the Celebration of Scholars, the School of Humanities and Social Sciences is sponsoring a Three-Minute Thesis competition at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 24, in the J.W. Jones Student Union Boardroom.
Similarly, the School of Fine and Performing Arts is sponsoring a recital at 3 p.m. Wednesday, March 11, in the Charles Johnson Theater at the Olive DeLuce Fine Arts Building, where a panel of judges will select music students to perform at the Celebration of Scholars. Music faculty nominated students in voice, woodwinds, brass, percussion and piano to audition for the Celebration of Scholars, based on performance-based exams at the conclusion of the fall semester.
Applied Problem-Solving Award — practical solutions to real challenges in the fields of agriculture and natural sciences (biology, physics, chemistry and geology)
Sustainability & Stewardship Award — leadership in environmental and economic sustainability
Experiential Learning Award — excellence in hands-on or outdoor learning
Innovation in Technology and Agricultural Practice Award — creative improvements in systems or processes
Public Engagement and Communication Award — making complex science accessible to others
Collaborative Impact Award — teamwork in applied projects
Entrepreneurial Innovation Award — new ventures or business ideas
Professional Excellence Award — outstanding applied professional work
Technology Implementation Award — real-world tech or systems solutions
Data-Driven Decision Making Award — effective use of analytics and emerging research
Leadership & Team Impact Award — collaborative project leadership
Client or Community Impact Award — measurable positive impact for the community
Browse past programs to see the projects and presentations that have shaped this event. Building on this foundation, the 2026 Celebration of Scholars introduces expanded categories and new ways to participate.
