CDAE Student Showcase
Established in Spring 2026, the CDAE Student Showcase is an annual celebration of student creativity, scholarship, and community engagement. Each spring, students from across the Department of Community Development and Applied Economics come together to share projects, research, designs, and applied learning experiences with faculty, peers, alumni, and community partners.
The showcase highlights the breadth of work taking place across CDAE's undergraduate and graduate programs. Student presentations and exhibits feature projects developed through coursework, internships, capstones, independent studies, and community partnerships, demonstrating how students apply their learning to address real-world challenges and opportunities.
Projects represent a wide range of disciplines and interests, including community development, public communication, public administration, landscape and environmental design, sustainable innovation, applied economics, and interdisciplinary research. The event provides students with an opportunity to present their work in a professional setting while engaging in conversations with community members, alumni, and industry professionals.
Students presenting design, research, and applied projects
The 2026 CDAE Student Showcase featured projects from courses such as Planting Design, Design Innovation, Community Design Studio, Sustainable Fashion, and Public Communication Caps.
The showcase reflects CDAE's commitment to experiential learning and community-engaged education. Many featured projects are developed in collaboration with local organizations, municipalities, businesses, and nonprofits, allowing students to gain hands-on experience while contributing to communities in Vermont and beyond.
In addition to poster sessions and project displays, the event includes undergraduate and graduate presentations that highlight student research, creative work, and applied problem-solving. A closing reception offers attendees the opportunity to connect with presenters, learn more about their projects, and celebrate student achievement.
As a signature annual event for the department, the CDAE Student Showcase brings together the many ways students learn, create, and make an impact through their work while highlighting the department's commitment to preparing graduates to lead positive change in their communities.