Honors Blitz Competition | Graphic by Rose Taylor | The Wright State Guardian
For Honors students currently immersed in a project related to their major, they can showcase it to the Wright State University community through the Honors Blitz Competition. The event offers an opportunity for Honors students to present their work to a diverse audience while honing invaluable communication skills.
Benefits of participating
Ben Kressbach, member of the College of Graduate Programs and Honors Studies student advisory board, provides some context on the benefits of participating.
“The general idea for preparation for the competitors is to find a way to express their project’s importance—to themselves, to the community or to the subject—in under four minutes. That means their presentations must be very efficient, explaining any necessary background and context concisely to give the audience a general understanding of their project,” Kressbach said. “It’s modeled loosely after the graduate-level three-minute thesis competition and shares similar fundamental goals for its participants with that competition.”
Beyond this, those who participate will be able to develop communication skills applicable in networking, job interviews and more. There is also a chance for winners of each category to win a prize of up to $200.
Eligibility criteria
In adherence to the stipulated guidelines provided on the Wright State University website, prospective participants must fulfill specific eligibility requirements to partake in this competition. Primarily, participants must maintain active enrollment as Honors students during the spring 2024 semester.
Additionally, projects submitted for consideration must demonstrate originality and a direct connection to the student’s chosen major. It is imperative to note that only individual submissions are permissible, with team entries being strictly prohibited. While departmental honors projects are highly encouraged, all types of projects are eligible for consideration.
Competition rules
As per the competition rules, presentations must not exceed four minutes, with failure to comply resulting in disqualification.
Furthermore, all presentation materials must be uploaded onto the designated computer prior to the allocated presentation time, with the use of external personal computers strictly prohibited.
Review and selection
The Graduate & Honors Student Advisory Board will conduct a thorough review of all submissions, utilizing iThenticate to verify originality. It is imperative that abstracts appropriately cite and acknowledge the contributions of others to the work.
The competition will encompass two distinct categories: science, which includes math, engineering and other research-based sciences, and humanities, which covers the arts and social sciences.
Only a maximum of 16 applications will be accepted for participation in the competition. According to an e-mail from Harley Paul, this year’s applicants have already been selected. The lineup includes an even mix of sciences and humanities presenters.
For sciences, presenters include Keisha Barnes, Hannah Davidson, Josh Hivner, Dakota McMeans, Kelia McMichael and Raegan Steele. Humanities presenters include Kyle Channell, Aaron Cline, Xin Lara, Alexis Lewis, Miranda Stidham and Brian Walker.
A panel of judges will assess competitors according to the competition rubric. It is important to note that the decisions made by the judging panel are conclusive.
Presentation tips
When preparing presentations, students should prioritize conveying the “big picture” to ensure clarity for all audience members, regardless of their familiarity with the subject matter.
It is advisable to utilize the university PowerPoint presentation template, which can be downloaded from the PowerPoint and Research Poster Templates webpage.
Diligent practice is crucial, emphasizing clear and concise delivery. Minimize reliance on presentation notes or scripts to avoid the impression of simply reading from slides or a paper.
Define industry-specific terms that may be unfamiliar to a general audience, promoting understanding.
Lastly, exercise caution in utilizing physical and digital materials to prevent distractions and maintain focus on the project’s key message.
The selected participants will present their pieces on April 9 at 4:30 p.m. in the Student Union Endeavour Room.
