Join us for the 2026 LAND Conference at HFC

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ASCC
LAND image of young people and technology.
HFC graphic design student Gabrielle Brown won First Place in the LAND Conference Program Cover Contest. This year’s theme was “Common Ground.”

Register here for the 2026 LAND Conference
We strongly recommended you register for this conference. Please indicate if you will participate in-person or remotely. The livestream link will be sent in a separate email.

The LAND Conference will take place on the first floor of the Andrew A. Mazzara Administrative Services & Conference Center (ASCC) (Building L on the main campus) and also remotely:

  • Wednesday, February 18, from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m.: Student Film Screenings
  • Thursday, February 19, from 8:45 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.: Faculty Presentations
  • Thursday, February 19, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.: Off-site dinner
  • Friday, February 20, from 8:45 a.m. to noon: Student Scholar Presentations
  • Friday, February 20, from 12:15 to 2 p.m.: Student Awards Banquet

This is the LAND Conference’s 41st anniversary. The event opens on Wednesday evening with a Social Hour and Student Film Presentation. On Thursday and Friday, it includes:

  • Lightning Talks
  • The LAND Institutional Excellence Award
  • Creative Expressions Night
  • A Creative Writing Workshop
  • Panel discussions on current issues in higher education and liberal arts
  • Student Scholars Lightning Talks
  • Student Scholars Poster Sessions
  • Student Awards Presentations
  • Student Art Exhibit

HFC student recognitions this year

Creative Writing Contest Winner

One HFC student was a winner in the LAND Creative Writing Contest category. HFC English instructor Ruth Ann Schmitt served as her faculty mentor.

  • Alana DeMaggio won Third Place for Poetry with “Girlhood.”

Film Contest Winners

Two HFC students were winners in the LAND Film Contest category. HFC Media and Communication Arts (MCA) chairperson Susan McGraw served as their faculty mentor.

  • Anthony Ashcraft won Second Place for Non-Fiction/Documentary with “Hi, Everybody.”
  • Keidan Ashley won Honorable Mention for Non-Fiction/Documentary with “Motor City Muskies.”

NOTE: HFC will host a screening of the film winners on Wednesday, February 18, at 6:00 p.m. in the Michael Berry Auditorium (Room L-115) on the first floor of the ASCC. Light refreshments will be provided.

Art Contest Winners

One HFC student was a winner in the LAND 2-D Art Contest category. HFC fine arts instructor Nemanja Rosic served as her faculty mentor.

  • Sophie Bertini won First Place for 2-D Art with “Dreamweaver.”

Two HFC students were winners in the LAND Graphic Design Contest category. HFC fine arts instructor Vicki Shepherd served as their faculty mentor.

  • Autumn Sternberg won Second Place for Type Spec Poster Design and Third Place for Magazine Design.
  • Maria Alejandra Marranzini Arnaud won Honorable Mention for Poster Design.

Two HFC students were winners in the LAND Conference Program Cover Contest category. This year’s theme was “Common Ground.” Shepherd served as their faculty mentor.

  • Gabrielle Brown won First Place.
  • Megan Lambert won Honorable Mention.

Student Scholars for Academic Excellence

Four students were winners in the LAND Student Scholars for Academic Excellence category.

  • Holly Collins for “Shakespeare and Feminism: Was He Subverting or Upholding Social Norms?” HFC English instructor Pedro San Antonio served as her faculty mentor.
  • Sedra Mourad for “AI at HFC.” HFC English instructor Dr. Peter Kim served as her faculty mentor.
  • Aalillian Jones for “Making Tracks: Mapping Memory Through Music and Migration.” HFC English instructor Dr. John Rietz served as her faculty mentor.
  • Mira Nasrallah for “Narrative Identity and Childhood Development.” HFC mathematics instructor Sam Bazzi served as her faculty mentor.

Student presentations of winning projects

HFC student scholars will present their winning projects on Friday, February 20, at 10:00 a.m. in Rosenau Rooms A and B on the first floor of the ASCC, followed by the student awards luncheon at 12:15 p.m. in the atrium, also on the first floor.

“Hosting LAND for the second year is a great honor,” said Kim. “I am especially proud of the wonderful student work that is being recognized, not only from our HFC students, but all the students from the participating Michigan community colleges. Much gratitude to the wonderful faculty mentors and staff, particularly in food service, facilities, and marketing for helping make this event a success."

For questions or more information about the LAND Conference, contact LAND President Dr. Becky Roberts at RobertsBeckyL@jccmi.edu.