Celebrating Student Achievement (CSA) Day is an annual event on campus in which students’ successes and dedication to the college are celebrated by the Meredith community. This year, the 21st annual CSA Day is being held on April 13, 2023. The Herald reached out to Dr. Carolina Perez-Heydrich, Director of Undergraduate Research, for more information on the event.
In order to best celebrate CSA Day, students have the day off of classes. However, the schedule includes numerous events that will keep students busy and involved on campus. On CSA Day, students can expect to see “research presentations, posters, performances, creative projects, awards, exhibits and more,” according to the Undergraduate Research Program website. Attendance at CSA Day can also count as one Academic and Cultural event for general education requirements.
When asked how students can get involved with CSA Day, Dr. Perez-Heydrich said, “Students can attend an oral presentation session in a particular field they're interested in to see the type of research projects students are working on, or they can grab some snacks at one of the poster session receptions and look over some of the research posters or talk to some of the student researchers about their work.”
Events on CSA Day are expected to last from about 8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., with exceptions for some award ceremonies that will take place later that evening. Dr. Perez-Heydrich added that “between 12 p.m. and 2 p.m., we'll also be hosting an Arts Showcase with exhibits, performances, food trucks and door prizes to bring the community together.” The coordinators of the Arts Showcase were unable to comment by the time of publication.
CSA Day 2023 will look different from the past few years as Meredith transitions out of the regulations established during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Perez-Heydrich said that “last year, with COVID-19 still looming over us, CSA Day was held as a hybrid event, with oral presentation sessions conducted over Zoom and awards ceremonies posted online. This year, CSA Day will be held fully in-person, with a greater focus on community rebuilding post-pandemic.”
According to Dr. Perez-Heydrich, “[CSA Day is] a day that showcases the academic and leadership achievements of your fellow classmates, which we should all celebrate and support. And it should be fun, particularly the events scheduled for the middle of the day.”
Students are encouraged to get involved with CSA Day as their schedule allows as a way to celebrate their peers. For more information, visit the Undergraduate Research Program website or email cperezheydrich@meredith.edu and kpleasant@meredith.edu with any questions.
By Freya Dahlgren, Associate Editor