Student Academic Conference highlights student success in professional research

The 2026 Andrew B. Conteh Student Academic Conference (SAC) boasts over 220 unique student presentations across all areas of Minnesota State Moorhead’s vast list of programs. The SAC provides students with an opportunity to present their work to faculty, administration, peers, and the community in a formal academic setting.

Below are previews of a few unique presentations you can hear at the conference held on April 21.

Freedom Seekers: Escaping Slavery in Dutch Revolutionary America by Violet Zirnhelt

Violet Zirnhelt is one of a dozen students who followed the paper trail of runaway slaves to uncover stories about who they were, and the time period they were in. Violet specifically chose to explore the lives of those who escaped Dutch farms, which lead to some fascinating discoveries.

Her research into these stories reveal how Dutch-speaking enslaved people lived, while challenging the assumptions about Northern states’ relationships with slavery.

“Hear the stories of Sambo, Robin, Harre, and Hannah, and how their stories offer unique insights into their culture and the deep roots of Dutch slavery in New York,” Violet says.

Associations Between Social Media Engagement Styles and Social Anxiety by Anna Kitagawa

In this study, Anna examined how different styles of social media use, and the amount of screen time per day, impacts levels of social anxiety. Former nation-wide studies have linked passive social media use and high screen time to anxiety, as well as active social media use presenting benefits.

“Instead of just looking at how much they use, I’ve also considered how they use it, to be able to find a better way to use social media in our daily lives,” she says.

In her 60-person pool, Anna was able to find a significant difference in users’ emotional responses between different engagement styles, whether passive or active. Anna hopes to shed light on how social media affects its users, and how to move forward in a healthy way.

How Data Moves Across the Internet by John Denekamp

While billions of people use the internet daily, the processes that make communication possible isn’t understood by most. In this presentation, John will trace the journey of data from a user’s device to a web server and back. Through diagrams and simplified examples, the technologies behind the transmission of data will be demonstrated to provide a clear understanding of how modern internet communications works.

Dropping the Mask of Impostor Syndrome: Intervention, Barriers, and Prevention by Greta Szczur

Impostor Syndrome (IS), sometimes called the impostor phenomenon, describes the feeling of persistent self-doubt and perceived fraudulence despite consistent evidence of competence. It is closely associated with anxiety and burnout, and decreased job satisfaction. Broad scopes of practice and rigorous educational requirements can contribute to IS, especially within the healthcare profession. Addressing these feelings is important not only for personal well-being, but serving clients and others in the community.

Greta will trace the historical roots of IS, it’s prevalence within the field of speech-language pathology, and address common barriers that prevent individuals from seeking support.

View the full schedule of events and presentations at the 2026 Student Academic Conference.