The Schoolcraft College campus transformed into a hub of discovery and interactivity on Friday, March 20, as it hosted the highly anticipated 2026 STEAM@Schoolcraft Conference. The conference took place from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Wayne State University conference space on the third floor of the Jeffress Center. Organized by the Center for Experiential Learning, the event brought together students, faculty and community members to celebrate projects bridging the gap between Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics.
This year’s conference stood out for its thematic diversity, proving that academic research extends far beyond traditional textbooks. The core mission, integrating the arts and humanities with the rigor of the sciences, was evident in the high caliber of the student presentations.
From Concept to Reality
The conference jury faced the difficult task of selecting top honors among dozens of innovative entries. First place was awarded to Emily Hankins for her project, Microbes in Motion: A Multimedia Exploration of Protist Diversity. Hankins went beyond theory, collecting her own samples to shoot and edit a video of microscopic organisms featuring an original musical score.
For Hankins, the project was about removing barriers.
“It can be really intimidating to use a microscope for the first time,” Hankins shared. “While textbook learning is essential, it’s hard to appreciate something you have no real-world context for.”
Her research even hit close to home; despite freezing February temperatures, she discovered more than a dozen unique species of protists in her own backyard.
Second place was awarded to Gerrit Hartwig, with his presentation on Let’s Get “Sympathetic” – Hijacking our Nervous System to Optimize Studying and third place went to Tobi Lile, with his presentation “From Concept to Flight: Building a 5‑ft Wingspan Electric RC Plane.”
Honorable Mention was awarded to James Saval with his presentation titled, “Bridging the Gap Between Science and Culture: Reframing ADHD.”
Student engagement was a major highlight, with the “People’s Choice” award going to Maha Saeed for her project on “Reimagining Safety Apps for User Protection.” Saeed’s work addresses critical issues like domestic violence and stalking, crimes where over 50% of victims are under the age of 25.
“This is a subject I can talk about for hours because we need to educate our communities regarding this and we need to make sure they feel safe to ask for help,” Saeed explained.
Her project specifically targets “broken” elements in current apps, focusing on anonymity so users don’t worry about getting caught.
“My project aims to create anonymity… so users don’t worry about ‘getting caught’.” said Saedd.
Student award winners received the following prizes for their winning presentations: 1st Place $2,500, 2nd Place $2,000, 3rd Place: $1,500, Honorable Mention $500 and the People’s Choice Award $500.
Challenging the “Soft” vs “Hard” Myth
For conference Steam@Schoolcraft Co-Chairs Rena Yuzon and Kim Masterson, this conference is a platform to combat the myth that the arts and sciences are opposites. The committee pointed out that labeling them as “soft” or “hard” is problematic, as both are crucial for professional success.
“In the professional world, people often need to create or produce a ‘product’ that people will buy, use or consume,” the Committee stated. While sciences provide the foundation for data analysis and troubleshooting, the arts develop the empathy and perspective required to work effectively in teams.
Building Professional Confidence
Winning the top prize carried deep personal significance for Hankins, a non-traditional, first-generation student who struggled in her early education.
“I barely graduated high school. So it feels unreal to accomplish something like this,” Hankins said, crediting the support of her mentors, Professors Holly Greiner-Hallman and Jeremy Salo.
Ultimately, the event reinforces Schoolcraft’s commitment to experiential learning.
“Doing research on a topic close to one’s heart and presenting it in front of people… requires passion, courage and persistence,” the Committee shared.
By participating, students build the confidence to eventually present at national or international levels, making the STEAM experience directly relevant to their future careers.
Those who were unable to attend can view the program at https://www.youtube.com/live/FbWfhsz-bOw.
