Arcadia University hosted the annual Southeastern Pennsylvania Consortium for Higher Education (SEPCHE) 2018 Honors Conference for students from the eight participating colleges and universities on March 24.

More than 160 students from the eight SEPCHE schools– Arcadia, Chestnut Hill and Rosemont colleges, and Cabrini, Gwynedd Mercy, Holy Family, Neumann, and Immaculata universities– presented on academic topics and showcased their musical and artistic talents during the conference.

“SEPCHE is an opportunity for students to present their hard work in a relaxed environment,” said Arcadia’s Dominic Bierwisch ’18, a Chemistry major. “It also builds a community across universities and disciplines, which can help students find jobs or future colleges.”

Students presented research on a variety of topics, including how the portrayal of suicide on television impacts mental health, how nonprofits like Girls on the Run promote youth development and leadership, and environmental factors that have caused declines in honey bee populations.

“When you share your voice, your talents, your research, your experiences with others you are making small imprints in the world around you,” said Helene Klein, director of the Arcadia Honors and Accelerated Programs. “These kinds of opportunities remind students why they are learning and how their voice can have positive reverberations. On a professional note, it is also essential that students practice the craft of presentation. While it can be challenging, those that learn to be comfortable sharing in front of an audience build the confidence to be trusted leaders in their fields.”

SEPCHE schools collaborate to improve the quality and efficiency of academic programming, student access, faculty development, institutional operations, and community outreach in Greater Philadelphia.