George Washington Carver Day, celebrated Feb. 3rd at Iowa State, will have new events for all students.
George Washington Carver was a leader in agriculture innovation and an Iowa State alum. Carver was Iowa State’s first black student, earning a bachelor’s and a master’s degree.
Carver is widely recognized for his research and development with products made from peanuts, sweet potatoes and other alternative crops. He aimed to discover new uses for these plants to boost the economy of the Southern U.S.
Carver was also an early leader in promoting environmentalism with sustainable farming techniques and his beliefs on conserving American wildlands.
The “I Can” poster challenge serves as a celebration for George Washington Carver day.
“Sometimes when we talk about great historical figures like Carver, it can be easy to see them as distant from us,” Madelyn Ostendorf, a communications specialist at Iowa State, said.
The goal of the “I Can” poster challenge is to help students connect with and recognize the lasting impact of influential figures like Carver on their lives today.
“George Washington Carver Day is, officially, one day,” Ostendorf said. “But he has an impact every day.”
Carver was not only an accomplished scientist but also an artist and a musician.
Carver was an award-winning artist who worked in various mediums, including painting, drawing and needlework. Additionally, he was skilled in playing the piano, accordion and mouth harp.
“Through this medium of creativity, we hope to honor that artistic part of his legacy as well,” Ostendorf said.
The poster competition includes the three following categories:
- Carver Best-In-Show: awarded to the posters that best highlight the work and impact of George Washington Carver.
- Patterson Best-In-Show: awarded to the posters that best highlight the work and impact of Frederick Douglass Patterson.
- Innovation Inspiration: awarded to a poster that uses a creative format to tell the story of a selected scientist.
Students interested in competing in the “I Can” poster challenge can visit this website.
