Showcasing their ‘last words’

On April 21, the atrium of the Norman and Evangeline Hagfors Center for Science, Business, and Religion was bustling with activity, as students set up giant posters filled to the brim with information. Faculty, staff, alumni, family, and friends wove between presentations to ask questions of students’ research discoveries—often conducted during the previous summer through the Office of Undergraduate Research and Graduate Opportunities (URGO), the McNair Scholars Program, the Partner Relationships to Increase STEM Momentum (PRISM) Scholarship Program, or department-sponsored projects. The last couple years have also seen more academic-year research participants, especially within the humanities and social sciences.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of Zyzzogeton. Back in 2006, the name “Zyzzogeton” was chosen—the last word in the dictionary symbolizing “the last word on student research” at the end of the academic year. According to Lara Crombie, program coordinator for the Augsburg School of Business, the first Zyzzogeton featured 20 posters with information displayed through cut-and-paste techniques. Two decades later, Hagfors was filled with more than 60 posters and nearly 80 participants. Crombie, who has been involved with Zyzzogeton since 2008, credits the university’s continued support for the event’s steady growth.

“I think what makes Augsburg especially unique is its ability, as a small institution with smaller departments, to offer such robust research experiences,” Crombie said. “This is largely thanks to the faculty who work with students during every step of the research process, and a holistic approach to mentorship that continues well beyond the formal end of a project. After all, research is never really over.”

Students from all programs are invited to participate in Zyzzogeton, including those from the humanities and arts. While the majority of projects are based in STEM, this year featured an URGO project from Lily Truebenbach ’26 on the process of writing a musical. For Zyzzogeton, she put together a small cast to perform a selection from her piece. She said the experience left her feeling inspired, seeing her peers engaged in conversation and excited to share their work.

“Augsburg has supported me by giving me the resources and time to prioritize projects that are meaningful to me,” Truebenbach said. “I’ve been able to explore my own artistry through my creative project, and that means so much.”

Zyzzogeton is truly a campuswide collaboration between departments; programs; faculty members, who partner with student researchers; staff members, like Crombie, who are instrumental in organizing the event; and Ben Stottrup, director of the School of Natural Sciences, who secures the financial means to print professional-grade posters. Hundreds of hours of research are represented on each poster, but the students have learned so much more than how to conduct a one-time professional presentation. According to Crombie, they have gained experience that prepares them for graduate school and research fields, the ability to communicate a specific topic clearly and persuasively, translating dense terms into accessible language, and how to identify when a listener is or isn’t following.

Crombie’s favorite part of the event is seeing the posters come to life as the students talk about their research. “I’m always impressed with the level of critical thought and intellectual curiosity that the students express, both visually on their posters and through conversation,” she said. “For the graduating seniors, it’s especially rewarding to hear what’s next after Augsburg and how the opportunity to do research has helped shape their plans.”

For biology major Luís Millan ’26, the student research experience he gained at Augsburg has informed the scientist he wants to become.

“Augsburg’s unique focus on bringing communities and people together has really shaped the biologist I want to be, and I couldn’t be more grateful for the opportunities they have given me,” Millan said. “My mentor, Matthew Beckman, has been so supportive of my research journey, giving me agency in my project and allowing me to be an independent scientist.”

Millan also presented at the 2024 National Diversity in STEM conference hosted by SACNAS, the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science. This opportunity to connect with other Latinx and queer researchers in STEM was made possible by support from URGO and the McNair Scholars program.

The celebratory atmosphere at Zyzzogeton points to something Millan found at Augsburg: a research community. “The [Augsburg faculty and staff] were always there for me when I needed community and to remind me why I started research: to go to graduate school and work in a health equity lab so everyone has treatment that addresses their unique needs.”

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Top photo: Hagfors Center welcomes hundreds of faculty, staff, alumni, family, and friends to campus for Zyzzogeton. (Photo by Courtney Perry)