10/27/2022 Aaron Seidlitz, Illinois CS
Garima Sharma and Sumedh Vaidyanathan found a common sense of pride in this year’s Reflections|Projections – which included the second largest turnout in event history and a prevailing dedication to empowering students interested in computing.
Written by Aaron Seidlitz, Illinois CS
Student co-directors of this year’s Reflections|Projections event, Garima Sharma and Sumedh Vaidyanathan, were thrilled with the result. More than 2,200 attendees became the second largest turnout in event history, 12 speaker talks occurred, more than $70,000 was raised, and 16 companies visited.
The return to in-person engagements allowed for a remarkable impact. Not only did the event prove a success, but, according to each director, it served to represent just how valuable their educational experience has become here at Illinois Computer Science.
For Vaidyanathan, a senior in the Statistics & Computer Science program, it was an honor to serve as co-director, while he also benefitted greatly from the experience.
“Reflections|Projections was a major highlight to my experience at the University of Illinois. It influenced my growth as a leader, enabled me to meet other student leaders and Illinois CS community members, and served as a great way to make friends,” Vaidyanathan said. “Student-run events are vital through the empowerment they provide to students. They allow us the chance to support a cause we believe in, gain additional perspective on the subject matter, potentially perform impactful work, and network.
“I implore students to check out student-run events and organizations that they are interested in, while also supporting fellow talented Illini.”
Meanwhile Sharma, in her third year as a CS+Advertising major, said that Reflections|Projections and other student-run events have helped her find a sense of belonging.
“Directing Reflections|Projections has been the highlight of my college experience,” Sharma said. “If it wasn’t for student run organizations at the University of Illinois – events like Reflections|Projections and HackIllinois or organizations like WCS, ACM, and more – I would not have felt as welcomed in the CS community.
“That’s why I encourage any student interested in technology, regardless of their major, to check out the student run events on campus, and to witness the power our students have in shaping the community around them.”
Sharma came to Illinois with the goal of finding a program that would provide a multidisciplinary approach focused on both technology and the humanities, which led her to the CS+X program in Advertising.
Shortly after starting her time as a student here, Sharma also began looking for outreach opportunities despite the limitations of the COVID-19 pandemic. That led her to initially attend Reflections|Projections virtually, where she was impressed by the quality of perspectives shared.
Sharma said she immediately applied to become a staff member after attending. Her first task was to find speakers who could discuss tech expertise through the lens of creating social good.
“Throughout that experience, I was able to learn not only about new aspects of computer science, but about the people that make the computer science community what it is today,” she said. “Being a staff member, afforded me the chance to witness the power University of Illinois students have in shaping events – which truly affirmed my love for the community. It also inspired me to apply to be a director.”
Over the past year, Sharma and Vaidyanathan worked together as directors to make the event as impressive as possible.
Vaidyanathan said that he and Sharma focused on inspiring staff members to build off an amazing foundation for this event. And they both attributed the resulting success to the staff that surrounded them.
“Considering this was the first in-person Reflections|Projections since the COVID pandemic, there was a lot of communication between Garima and I that went beyond our vision to specifically focus on ways to transition the conference from being hybrid to in-person,” Vaidyanathan said. “At the same time, we wanted to build avenues through which we could empower our staff. That occurred as they created multi-channel marketing campaigns, contacted sponsors, hosted speakers, built logistic plans for events, designed promotional items, or developed the website.
“Their efforts contributed ideas to drive the event forward and their role played a huge part in ensuring the smoothest experience possible for attendees.”
The resulting experience exceeded Sharma’s expectations.
“We had an incredible turnout from our event,” she said. “Not only did students have a positive experience, but our sponsors and speakers all expressed genuine interest in the University of Illinois and our fellow students. We even had attendees from other schools come to our event, and that honestly took me aback.
“I hope students feel inspired in new aspects of technology and empowered to continue following their passion for technology.”