More Than 400 Students Present at 6th Annual Piedmont University Symposium

The Piedmont Symposium, an annual showcase of academic excellence that has more than quadrupled in size since its inception, was held April 11 at Piedmont’s Demorest and Athens campuses. The Symposium celebrates undergraduate students' accomplishments in research and creative inquiry. Students apply and must be accepted to participate in the event.

“Piedmont Symposium is an exciting opportunity for our students to demonstrate they are ready to confront complex issues and make meaningful contributions to their fields, communities, and the world,” said President Marshall M. Criser III.  

Created to encourage deeper learning experiences, the Piedmont Symposium first took place in 2019. That year, students presented 88 research projects. The number of projects and students participating in the event has increased every year since, even amid the turbulence of the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, more than 400 students presented 250 projects.

A few of the research projects from the 2024 Symposium:

  • The Potential Benefits of Dogs in University Classrooms
  • The Effect of Pay on Player Performance
  • Medication Errors in the Hospital Setting
  • The Influence of Social Media Celebrities in Marketing
  • Decomposition of Blood
  • The Structure of Major League Soccer (MLS)

“The Symposium is a highlight of the year at Piedmont University. It’s a chance for students to share their academic achievements and endeavors,” said Dr. Julia Schmitz, Associate Professor of Biology, and lead organizer for the event. “They also gain valuable skills as they prepare and deliver their presentations, answer questions, and interact with judges.”

A full schedule of presentations may be viewed at piedmont.edu/symposium. Oral presentations were livestreamed for family and friends who are unable to attend in person.

For more information, visit:

Athens: https://www.piedmont.edu/athens-symposium

Demorest: https://www.piedmont.edu/demorest-symposium

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About Piedmont University

Founded in 1897, Piedmont University is a private, comprehensive liberal arts institution offering a personalized higher education experience focused on student success, academic achievement, and professional development. Offering a variety of career-oriented majors in the arts and sciences, business, education, and nursing, Piedmont’s supportive learning environment is defined by small class sizes, with a 12:1 ratio, that allow students to create meaningful relationships with their professors, classmates, and the campus community. Piedmont’s idyllic, 390-acre residential campus is nestled in the foothills of the north Georgia mountains, with a satellite campus situated in the heart of downtown Athens. For more, please visit www.piedmont.edu, or follow us on Facebook and Twitter/X.