Thursday, April 16, 2026
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
MCC-Maple Woods
Campus Center 110
2601 NE Barry Road
Kansas City, MO 64156
The deadline to submit the 2026 application form is Friday, March 13, 2026.
The MCC-Maple Woods Student Scholar Showcase gives students the chance to share discoveries and creative work with the MCC community through posters and oral presentations. Students who participate can:
- Strengthen creativity, critical thinking, presentation and performance skills
- Improve their ability to form and defend scholarly conclusions
- Add a scholarly presentation to their list of accomplishments on résumés and university applications
Submission information
If you would like to share a class project at the showcase, please reach out to an instructor to ask if they can serve as a mentor. The faculty mentor will help you develop your project, complete the application form and align it with the discipline’s expectations.
Presentation guidelines
Click on the links below to access guidelines for each format of presentation.
- Creative writing and dramatic performance guidelines (PDF)
- Experiential learning poster guidelines (PDF)
- Research poster guidelines (PDF)
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Students may present class projects or assignments from their time at MCC, including:
- Capstone projects
- Research projects
- Experiential learning
- Poems, dramatic monologues, short stories
- Essays
- And more
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Presenters may create their own poster design in cooperation with their faculty mentor or use an optional template provided by the school. Final posters must be:
- Designed in Microsoft PowerPoint using the standard (4:3) slide ratio
- Sized to 36 x 24 inches in either landscape or portrait orientation
- Typed in a legible font that is large enough to read from a distance of 3-5 feet
- Branded with the MCC-Maple Woods logo (provided to students designing their own poster)
Posters are printed by the school. Submit your poster in Microsof PowerPoint format (.pptx) to lydia.authier@mcckc.edu by Monday, April 6 to allow time for printing.
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- Layout — Use a grid system for a clean, organized look. Consult the provided templates for examples of grid layouts.
- Color scheme — Choose a simple, professional color palette. Avoid bright, low-contrast or clashing colors.
- Font — Use a clear, legible font such as Arial or Helvetica. Recommended font sizes: 72 points for the poster title, 40 points for headings and 32 points for body text.
- White space — Leave plenty of empty space around text and images to prevent the poster from looking cluttered.
- Headings — Format headings so they stand out from body text. Examples include using bold type, a different color or all caps.
- Visuals — Use figures, graphs and tables when appropriate. Avoid dense text.
- Captions — Each visual should have a clear, concise caption explaining what it shows.
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The 1st annual MCC-Maple Woods Student Scholar Showcase will be held on Thursday, April 16, 2026. MCC students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to attend, as well as students’ friends and family.
Students who present at the event will receive a certificate of participation. They will also receive a special graduation cord to signify their achievement and wear when they graduate from MCC.
Students presenting poster projects should dress in professional attire. Dramatic performances have the option to use costumes, if desired. Contact the MCC-Maple Woods Career Center or your faculty mentor for further guidance and resources on dress code.
Presenting students must attend the entire event from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., including set-up and tear down time. Students will also have an opportunity to rehearse their presentation or performance with their faculty mentor before the event.
More event details will be emailed to participants in March 2026.
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Library
Learning Resources Building, 2nd Floor
Our reference librarians can help with research, citations, and how to navigate scholarly databases with confidence. Visit the library or schedule a virtual appointment with a librarian today!
Learning Center
Math-Science Building Room 121 & Humanities Building Room 105
The Math-Science Lab is a resource for developing charts, tables, graphs, and other data representation on your poster.
The Reading & Writing Lab can assist with proof-reading posters, essays, short stories, or other writing projects you would like to present at the showcase.
Career Center
Administration Building, Room 115
Unsure how to dress in “professional attire?” Our Career Center can provide guidance and resources for students on a budget.