Beacon: A Conference for
Student Scholars at Two-Year Colleges

The Beacon Conference for Student Scholars at Two-Year Colleges was established in 1993 to recognize, celebrate, and showcase the achievements of outstanding two-year college students in academic research and writing. The conference creates an opportunity for faculty to mentor students as they begin their education at two-year colleges and showcases the work of outstanding students. The conference is held each year on the first Friday in June and students present their work in a wide range of disciplines. Beacon 2009 will be held June 5, 2009 at Montgomery College's Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus in Takoma Park, Maryland.

Students work with mentors from their colleges to prepare and submit papers that demonstrate outstanding scholarship and originality. All submitted papers are read and the top three papers in each category are selected for presentation at the annual conference in June. Presentations at the conference are judged on originality and quality of research, written work, and the oral presentation. The judge for each category chooses an outstanding presenter. Both the outstanding presenter and the presenter's mentor are recognized at the closing session of the conference and each receives $100.

Other Beacon 2009 documents online include the Call for Submissions, a conference poster, and the conference schedule.