See some of the ways Pitt students turn classroom learning into real-world projects

If you've ever imagined building a race car, dreamed of immersing yourself in new countries and cultures while studying abroad or wanted to test ideas from your courses in real-world settings, Pitt's Experiential Learning Student Showcase offers a glimpse of what learning beyond the classroom can look like.

The event is sponsored by the Gismondi Foundation as part of a broader effort to make experiential learning more visible to students as Pitt continues to evaluate ways to connect undergraduate learning to career-ready outcomes and personal growth.

In conversations with faculty, staff and students, Belkys Torres, associate vice provost for curricular innovation, said one theme kept surfacing: Pitt already offers many of these high-impact opportunities across schools and campuses, but they are often scattered across programs and departments, making them harder for students to discover.

"Our community talked a lot about the fact that we're an institution that cares about educating well-rounded students, both inside and outside the classroom," Torres said. "We do a lot to support students' learning, not just on the theoretical side of the house - but through hands-on learning."

Questions about the role of higher education, Torres said, are becoming more common as students and families ask how colleges and universities prepare graduates for their careers.

"We are answering that question very concretely by showing students what it means not only to learn theory, but how to apply that theory in practical ways, with an eye toward solving real world problems, working in teams, and engaging across diverse communities and experiences ­­­­­­­­- all of the competencies that we know are important for students to succeed in their personal and professional lives in the future," she said.

The showcase will feature projects that span disciplines, from engineering design to global leadership experiences. One thrilling example is Panther Racing, Pitt's Formula SAE team, where students design, build and test a race car each year.

The student-run engineering team will display its 2025 vehicle, PR-037, which placed sixth overall at the Formula SAE Michigan competition. The project gives students hands-on experience managing a complex engineering build from design to competition. The team will also highlight recent engineering developments, including its transition to an electric vehicle in 2024 after 35 years of internal combustion cars and a new hub motor all-wheel-drive system introduced this year.

"Every aspect of Panther Racing revolves around the creation of a high-performance, formula style car capable of reaching 100-plus mph," said Celia Bayer, a business and operations director for the team and a junior double majoring in marketing and business analytics. "The true value of this experience is the hands-on creation, as by the end of the year, every design decision you've made will be tested on the track."

Also among the featured presentations are global learning opportunities like the Vira I. Heinz Program for Women in Global Leadership, which supports students from universities across Pennsylvania as they study abroad and develop leadership skills. Participants in the yearlong program attend leadership conferences before and after their international experience, travel abroad (often for the first time) and complete community engagement work after returning from their host countries.

The program also brings students together as a cohort to build leadership skills while experiencing new cultures and communities abroad.

Kylin Smith, a senior emergency medicine major and Vira Heinz scholar who will present during the showcase, studied abroad in India through the program and will share reflections on how the experience taught her some aspects of effective leadership and influenced her approach to leading.

"The community engagement portion of the program … allowed me to implement leadership while connecting global and local contexts of health care," Smith said. "My experiences have strengthened my skills in leadership and appreciation for making the most of a situation."

Smith said she hopes attendees see how opportunities like the Vira Heinz program encourage participants to step outside their comfort zones. Engaging with different communities and cultures is essential to leadership development, she added.

"I also hope people leave inspired to get involved in their own communities and recognize that leadership is a journey built through service, growth and learning," Smith said.