Bay College student Adrian Rhode, left, discusses his poster on the synthesis of isopentyl acetate with Dr. Matthew Krynicki. (Courtesy photo)

ESCANABA – Bay College’s 9th Student Poster Symposium, held April 22, 2026, was a resounding success, drawing students, faculty, and community members to Café Bay on the Escanaba Campus for an engaging evening of academic exploration and achievement. The event provided a vibrant forum for students to display their coursework through professional poster presentations, sparking thoughtful discussions and highlighting the depth and diversity of student research across disciplines.

Throughout the two-hour symposium, attendees had the opportunity to interact directly with student presenters, who shared insights into their projects and answered questions in an open, collaborative environment. The poster format–commonly used at national conferences–allowed students to build valuable communication skills while gaining experience that will support their continued academic and professional journeys.

“This event continues to be an incredible opportunity for our students,” said Bay College Instructor Matthew Krynicki. “They are not only strengthening their presentation abilities but also preparing for the next level of their education. Participating in something like this enhances their resumes while giving them the chance to share their work and learn from their peers.”

This year’s competition expanded its reach by welcoming remote participants in addition to those who attended in person. Students participating remotely discussed their projects with on-campus judges via video conference. The updated format was enthusiastically received, enhancing accessibility and allowing the event to draw participants from a broader geographic area. Judges assessed student posters on clarity, depth of content, and presentation quality.

The college is proud to recognize the outstanding work of this year’s participants, who created a dynamic and inspiring showcase of student achievement.

The winners of the 2026 Student Poster Symposium are as follows:

First place: Differential Equations in Music
Authors: Adrian Rhode, Wyatt Carlson, Kurtis Reath
Course/Program: Differential Equations

Second place: Seizure Safety is Michigan School Safety
Author: Julie Rexford
Course/Program: Early Childhood Education

Third place: Acylation of Ferrocene
Author: James C. Maxwell Jr.
Course/Program: Organic Chemistry

Third place: The Tongass National Forest: Ecological Integrity, Carbon Storage, and the Ethics of Industrial Logging
Author: Travis Mills
Course/Program: Environmental Science

Honorable Mention: Teddy Bear Clinic
Authors: Mya Zimmer, Nick Brown, Alayna Krumery
Course/Program: Nursing

Honorable Mention: Play Without Limits: Advocating for Loose Parts in Every Classroom
Author: Cassandra Szukalowski
Course/Program: Early Childhood Education

Honorable Mention: The Ideal Gas Law
Authors: Reagan Barnhart, Riley Martin, Riley Jacklovitz, James Maxwell
Course/Program: Physics

Honorable Mention: Newton’s Law of Cooling and Regression Analysis Applied to the Cooling of Coffee in Read-World Mugs
Authors: Sophia LaCosse, Michael Colavecchi
Course/Program: Differential Equations

Bay College extends its congratulations to all participants for their hard work and dedication, and thanks the faculty, staff, and community members who helped make the event a success. The winning posters are on display in the hallway of the Math/Sciences building on the Bay College campus, and a photo gallery of these posters can be viewed on the news page of this article on the Bay College website.

For more information about the Bay College student poster symposium, please contact Dr. Krynicki at 906-217-4103 or krynickm@baycollege.edu.