CP
Clarissa Paquette
  • Business Administration
  • Class of 2016

Eastern Student Clarissa Paquette of Glastonbury Presents Research Poster at CREATE Conference

2016 May 3

More than 250 talented students at Eastern Connecticut State University presented research and creative work at the university's second annual CREATE conference this past April. CREATE stands for Celebrating Research Excellence and Artistic Talent at Eastern, and is the university's premier, academic year-end showcase. At the culminating event, students of all majors presented professional posters, live music, dance performances, artwork, photography, documentaries and panel discussions.

Clarissa Paquette '16 of Glastonbury, who majors in Business Administration, presented a research poster at the event. Paquette's poster presentation was titled "Connecticut Wine Industry Structural Dimensions and Its Wine Tourism Product."

"Wine is a growing industry in Connecticut, and wine tourism is a fundamental explanation of this growth," said Paquette. "This poster presentation examines all aspects of the wine industry and tourism in the state. Last semester, interviews were conducted with individuals at all 36 state wineries, and survey questions were asked in order to gain first?hand knowledge regarding all aspects of the winery, property, and wine tourism strategies. This information is useful in better understanding a relatively new wine region and the definition of its wine tourism product. The information gathered will be used in order to compare the different wineries in the state, focusing on their wine tourism strategies."

Remarking on the variety of presentations, Professor Dickson Cunningham, conference co-chair, said, "CREATE encapsulates the essence of the liberal arts in one afternoon. It is an intellectual smorgasbord."

Speaking to the value of CREATE, Eastern President Elsa Nunez said, "It takes a very strong and dedicated student to produce this quality of work, and it's important for other students to see this output." Praising the faculty, she added, "It takes a committed and skillful mentor to guide students to the work that is on display. Mentorship is such an integral part of undergraduate research."

During the one-day conference, the Student Center crawled with artistic and scholarly activity. Students in professional attire addressed their peers, faculty and family. In the cafe, ensembles performed; in the theatre, student-produced documentaries were shown; in the Betty R. Tipton Room, aisles of posters depicting scientific research were displayed; across the hall, a gallery-worth of paintings lined the walls; and on the ground floor, panel discussions and oral presentations about the humanities took place.

In celebration of students' exemplary research, experiential learning and creative activity, CREATE serves to reinforce high-impact practices such as mentored research; increases the number of students presenting their work in a professional forum; raises public awareness of Eastern's liberal arts mission and student accomplishments; and contributes to the intellectual richness of the campus community.