The Beacon Conference for Student Scholars at Two-Year Colleges was held Friday, June 2nd at Dutchess Community College in Poughkeepsie , New York .

Thirteen Northampton Community College students had submitted fourteen papers and, of those, eight students were invited to present their papers at the conference. Six students attended with their faculty mentors.

Two Northampton students were chosen as the outstanding paper presenters in their academic categories. From the Monroe campus, Evette Olszyk of East Stroudsburg presented a paper in the Psychology category entitled: "Matthew's World: A Cognitive Perspective on Autism in Our Family." Evi Dobrila, adjunct professor in psychology, was her faculty mentor. From the Bethlehem campus, Alexander S. Radus of Bethlehem presented a paper in the category of Philosophy and Religious Studies entitled "Altruism and Egoism: Sticking Your Neck Out in Casablanca." Professor Harold Weiss was his faculty mentor. The outstanding papers written and presented by these two students will be published in the Proceedings of the Beacon Conference 2006 later this year.

The other students who also presented papers at the conference were Sylvia C. Marohn of Stroudsburg ("Critical Care Case Review" in Allied Health and Nursing) mentored by Professor Mali Bartges, Daniel D. McNamara of Easton ("America's Original Sin Revisited" in Social Justice) mentored by Professor Vertel Martin, Ivy Lynn Fox of Easton ("Theories Behind Harriet Jacobs' Allusive Testimonies of 'Her' Sexual Exploitation" in Literature) mentored by Professor Nancy Trautmann, and Claudia L. Fabiano of Greentown ("Employment Opportunities for People with Special Needs" in Education) mentored by Professor Nancy Moreau.

Next year the 15th Annual Beacon Conference is scheduled for Friday, June 1st at Rockland Community College in Suffern, New York. The deadline for submission of papers is March 1, 2007. More information about how to participate in the conference is available online at: http://www.northampton.edu/academics/beacon/ and from the three Beacon representatives at Northampton -- Elizabeth Bodien, Nancy Trautmann, and Randy Boone.