Capstone Festival
The Capstone Festival is an annual showcase of the best senior projects, honors theses, and special research projects completed by Mary Baldwin University students.
A Historic Festival
The first annual Capstone Festival took place on May 3, 2006, as a revival of a Commencement tradition from the earliest days of the Augusta Female Seminary.
All final examinations were held in public and members of the board of trustees and the townspeople attended to view students parse sentences, do intricate math problems, and recite soliloquies.
Professor Emerita of History Patricia H. Menk in her book To Live in Time: The Sesquicentennial History of Mary Baldwin University 1842-1992
How it Works
Nomination
MBU seniors can be nominated by MBU faculty or departments for their senior projects, honors projects, High-Impact Practice projects (such as study abroad experiences or internships), or special sponsored projects (such as VFIC Summer Science Award, Russell Scholar, etc.).
Presentation Styles
Working with their faculty advisors, students may choose to present their capstone via paper, poster, or artistic performance at the festival to be judged for awards.
Festival Attendance
Students, faculty members, friends, family, and local residents are welcome to attend capstone presentations and the award ceremony on campus.
FAQs
The festival is held annually near the end of the spring semester and includes presentations, speakers, and an award ceremony. Dates are announced several months in advance.
A team of approximately three faculty and staff judges will evaluate each session (faculty judges will not judge their advisee’s presentation). Presenters will be judged on the overall merit of the project as well as how well they condense and communicate their key concepts to a lay audience. Special awards will be given to capstone presentations considered best in their discipline or methodology.
Regardless of whether students win a specific award, it is a significant achievement to be nominated for and to present at the Capstone Festival.