Student Project Showcase
This page has information regarding our annual Showcase celebration event. Details for the event are organized into categories of attendees for the event. Information for each group, including what to bring, when to arrive, and other details can be found in those sections. Click the button on the right or scroll down to visit those sections of this webpage.
Questions about this annual event? Contact our staff at [email protected]
General Event Info
What is Showcase?
This annual event is free and open to the public. Groundswell is proud to celebrate the work of student stewards every year in an interactive event with participating K12 schools. This event includes a short keynote from the GVSU Provost and the Dean of the College of Education and Community Innovation; an exhibit fair; indoor and outdoor games for children and families; a picnic dinner; and a raffle for students. Schools and participating community partners host exhibit tables and offer insight for attendees about their community stewardship activities.
Where and When is Showcase?
Wednesday, May 15, 2024
5:00pm-6:30pm
Richard M. DeVos Center, 401 Fulton St. W Grand Rapids MI 49504
Volunteer Sign Up
This event is a success every year because of the many helping hands who work to pull it off. Groundswell is looking for parents or other chaperones to be there to support and help keep students on task. If you know of anyone who wants to help at the event, have them register here:
Showcase Info: Schools & Teacher Teams
School & Teacher Team Arrival Time: 4pm - 4:30pm
Registration for schools/teachers teams is now open!
Groundswell Student Project Showcase School Registration Form 2024
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Make sure all depicted students AND students presenting at Showcase have signed photo releases:
Formulario de Publicación de Fotografía
Submit these releases to Groundswell in whatever way is most convenient. You can:
- Bring these signed releases and hand them to Groundswell staff at showcase
- Scan them and email them to Groundswell staff at [email protected]
- Drop them into your Groundswell School Google Drive Folder
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Exhibit & Artifact Guidelines
Create a table exhibit to educate the public about your project.
Exhibit tables are student-chosen. You can bring a posterboard, diorama, slideshow, photo collage, your choice of interactive activity, or something else that best represents your students’ work on the project. Exhibit displays, posters, artifacts, and other project materials* should include the following:
- Title of project
- Name of school
- Grade level(s) of students involved
- Overall theme of project
- Key outcomes, take-aways, etc.
- Displays are encouraged to include:
- Pictures of projects and students in action
- Models and information used to explain project
- Handouts with information and/or to encourage stewardship in others
- Interactive activities
Schools: Showcase FAQs
Q: Does my school need to be there?
A: Every school (meaning every teacher team) must register for showcase and have students prepare an exhibit table for the event.
Q: What is the purpose of the Showcase?
A: Groundswell requires its participating schools to send student representatives to showcase to present on the year's stewardship project. Members of the community attend, including families, friends, community partners, local businesses, and faculty/staff of Grand Valley State University. Showcase gives the K-12 students a chance to see how their work impacts the adults and members of their community. The event also gives the students the amazing experience of engaging with like-minded peers, and exposes them to other young and passionate scholars there are in their community. The event is also a great way for students to meet the partners and sponsors who made their project happen, and to learn about professional opportunities in the environmental field in their area. It's good experience for students to present in a science fair and semi-professional setting as well. Showcase provides the foundations and grantors who sponsor these projects the opportunity to both observe the great work in action and also to see that the "community impact" requirement of the stewardship projects are honored (see our Groundswell Rubric for a full list of requirements for our Groundswell schools).
Q: What's the Showcase registration deadline?
A: May 1st, 2024.
Q: Will there be food for everyone?
A: Yes. We will provide dinner for all, including parents and families! Picnic style, with multiple dietary options, and food will be available from 5pm-6:30pm (throughout the event).
Q: What is the schedule for the evening?
A: Our Showcase Program is coming soon.
Q: How many students should attend as table presenters?
A: Please have five or more students attend showcase, and at least one student at your table during the event.
Q: Where are the table exhibits located?
A: In Lubbers Hall, which is the atrium space in the GVSU Devos Building. See the map below.
Q: Does my class need to submit a Groundswell video this year?
A: No, there is no video requirement this year. We are only asking your school to bring an artifact (posterboard, diorama, slideshow, photo collage, your choice of interactive activity) for your exhibit table.
Q: I might not get there until 4:45pm because of my school's dismissal time. What do I do?
A: Please arrive as soon as you can, and let Groundswell staff know if you need a volunteer to watch your table and greet students/families on your behalf.
Q: How many students can we bring to represent our school? Do they need to register?
A: We are not asking for kids/families to register and are planning the event based on previous years (about 250 attendees annually). Indicate the number of students you estimate attending on your registration form (above).
Q: Do students need to be at our exhibit table 5:00pm-6:30pm?
A: Yes, student(s) need to be at your table during this time. If they want to step away to be with family/eat, they 1) Need to be supervised at all times and 2) You or another adult need to cover the table during a short student absence. Kids can alternate attending the table too.
Showcase Info: Community, Friends, & Family
Community, Friends, & Family Arrival Time: 5pm - 6:30pm
Every spring Groundswell Stewardship Initiative hosts a special event to showcase the great work happening in our area. Join the Groundswell community at our annual Student Project Showcase, which features a student project exhibit fair, engagement activities for students and families, and special remarks from several distinguished guests. Groundswell strives to center education in our community and empower our students to be leaders in addressing social and ecological issues. This event is designed to celebrate our young scholars, who are making these changes possible. All are welcome at this public event!
What to Expect
- A short keynote, include an event welcome from the GVSU Provost and acknowledgements by the Dean of the College of Education and Community Innovation
- pK12 student project exhibits
- Local community partner exhibits and interactive activities
- Indoor and outdoor games for all ages
- A picnic-style dinner
- A raffle for 18 and under attendees
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Showcase Info: Participating Partners
Participating Partners Arrival Time: 4:15pm - 4:45pm
Showcase is an opportunity for community partners who have worked with Groundswell schools during the academic year to engage with those scholars, answer questions and chat with their friends and family, and get exposure. Over 300 people attend Student project Showcase every year!
All partners are expected to have at least one staff member available at their exhibit table for the duration of the showcase (1.5 hours).
Only partners who worked with a school as part of a Groundswell project this academic year are eligible to host exhibit tables.
Groundswell Student Project Showcase Partner Registration Form 2024
Showcase is meant to be interactive for students, friends, and family this year. If you host a table, please bring activities for K-12 students and parents.