Franklin Pierce University Hosts 17th Annual Academic Showcase Event

Apr 15, 2026

The Franklin Pierce University community gathered to celebrate its 17th Annual Academic Showcase on Tuesday, April 14, highlighting the scholarly and creative pursuits of students, faculty, and staff. The much-anticipated tradition took on the theme of “Meeting the Moment”, and the day kicked off with President Peter Eden welcoming students, faculty, staff and guests in attendance at the morning poster session in the DiPietro Library. Associate Professor of Criminal Justice Jean Dawson, Chair of the Academic Showcase Committee, also expressed gratitude towards the students, faculty, and staff whose dedication makes the showcase a highlight each year.

In 2024, the University announced the creation of the Dr. Kim Mooney Presidential Prize for Best Poster or Presentation in honor of her contributions and enduring support of the Academic Showcase. This year, Aryonna Parker '29 was presented with the Presidential Prize by Dr. Catherine M. Paden, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs for her poster on “How Perceived Autonomy, Relatedness, and Competence Contribute to Rehabilitation Adherence and Patient Outcomes in Physical Therapy”.

Another staple of the annual event is the Maple Syrup Label design contest, where the winning design is displayed on bottles of Top of the 'Nock syrup, a small-batch, student-run maple syrup brand from Pierce’s the Business Minds Club. This year’s winner was Dylan Boyea ’26.

The day-long event featured an array of presentations that spanned diverse disciplines and interests, including “How Often Do People Take News at Face Value?”, “How A.I. is affecting Franklin Pierce Students; The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Digital Advertising and Marketing in the NFL”, “Individual Freedoms or  Criminalization: State Variations in Restricting Gun and Abortion Rights”, “Fall Activity Patterns and Potential for Non-Cavernicolous Hibernation by Bats in New Hampshire”, “From Interdependence to Strategic Competition: The Role of Military Expenditure and Security Alliances in War and Peace”, “Early Investing; Do Students Who Played Sports as Kids Feel More Confident in College Than Those Who Didn’t?”, and more. The annual event also included the intellectual challenge of the Brain Bowl, and an array of musical performances.

More information on the 2026 Academic Showcase event can be found at franklinpierce.edu/academicshowcase.