By Heather Horton/south news editor

Scholarships will be awarded to the top South student exhibits by SE’s liberal arts dean Nov. 21.

Cultivating Scholars — Student Research Showcase will be 6-8 p.m. in the SSTU Living Room.

Education associate professor Barbara Coan said approximately 35 students participated in creating 19 poster presentations. All plan to be K-12 teachers and are working toward their Associate of Arts degrees.

“Students learn about basic research techniques from choosing a topic, creating a hypothesis, surveys, literature review to presentation of their findings,” she said.

Topics range from methods of teaching sex education in public schools to research on teaching autistic children.

“Their research will be a foundation for future recommendations in the real world of education as they move toward completing their academic degree program at TCC, graduate from a university and become a teacher in our school system,” Coan said.

Keynote speaker will be SE liberal arts dean Jerry Coats.

Coats is the “perfect speaker to talk with students about broadening their academic career through research,” she said. “[He has] extensive research experience, broad academic background and well-known speaking expertise.”

The top two demonstrations will receive scholarship awards of $250 each.

The showcase is organized by South’s philosophy and education department in collaboration with academic affairs and student services.

Student development services vice president Larry Rideaux said he is excited to offer students the opportunity to succeed.

“Cultivating Scholars is a marvelous opportunity to support students who understand the meaning of using data for the purpose of making change,” he said.

Coan and other event organizers hope to make this an annual event. For more information, email barbara.coan@tccd.edu.