BRIDGEWATER, Va. – From April 7 to April 15, Bridgewater College hosted its annual ASPIRE week, a campus-wide event highlighting student and faculty accomplishments across all areas of study.
According to Bridgewater College’s ASPIRE page, the weeklong event showcases student and faculty research, creative work and academic achievements through research presentations, panel discussions, performances and art exhibitions.
ASPIRE week requires extensive planning and coordination behind the scenes. Professor of Communication Studies Jeff Pierson, who is the primary organizer of the event, said his role includes creating schedules, coordinating presentations and managing communication across departments.
Pierson said organizing the event can be challenging due to the number of students involved and their varying schedules.
Senior Josh Payne presented a project focused on local history, drawing from his volunteer experience at Rocktown History. His research included Emmanuel Klingstein who was referred to as the “Al Capone of the Shenandoah Valley.”
Payne said preparing for ASPIRE required condensing a 30 to 40 page research paper into a 10 to 15 minute presentation, focusing only on the most significant points. He said the most meaningful part of the project was bringing attention to a lesser-known historical figure.
The Senior Thesis Art Exhibition features graduating art majors exhibiting their work in locations across campus.
Senior Rosie Clark presented a series of paintings in acrylic paint described as abstract portraits. Clark said her work is based on observing people in candid moments and trusting instinct to capture meaningful moments.
“I get a secret glimpse of their life or a secret entrance into who they are, or their expression, without them realizing it,” Clark said. “If you’re just following what you notice, you’re completely trusting your instinct, that it will find something important.”
Pierson said ASPIRE has developed over time, building on events that existed before it became the weeklong program it is today. Earlier versions of student presentations were eventually brought together under one organized event.
Pierson said the purpose of ASPIRE goes beyond presenting finished projects. It is also an inspiration for younger students.
“It’s really a chance to celebrate the bigger projects that our students do,” Pierson said. “It also gives newer students the chance to see what that kind of work looks like and imagine what they could do later in their time here.”
