The first Academic Excellence Showcase was held in 2006. Here’s the official origin story from the 2006 Proceedings:

“The Program for Undergraduate Research Experiences began in 2004, when a group of faculty formed a task force to look at ways we could better institutionalize undergraduate research at Western Oregon University. We define research in its broadest sense to include research, scholarship, and creative activities. Institutionalization refers to the process of making undergraduate research part of a structured and well-established system within the university.

“The PURE Taskforce identified many ways to help facilitate and enhance undergraduate research experiences. One of the proposed mechanisms was to facilitate greater participation by the entire campus in celebrating our students’ accomplishments. The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, which has organized an Academic Excellence event for years, has partnered with PURE in sponsoring this year’s celebration. With our combined resources and through planning provided by an Academic Excellence Showcase Planning Committee, which includes Phi Kappa Phi and PURE members, as well as representatives from across campus, the 2006 Academic Excellence Showcase has been developed.  The campus community has responded very favorably to this call for participation as evidenced by this impressive Proceedings volume. The Faculty Senate passed a statement encouraging faculty to reassign class time so students could attend the Showcase, over 20 faculty members volunteered to chair a session in their respective fields, many faculty encouraged their students to participate, and approximately 250 students submitted applications to present at this year’s Showcase of Academic Excellence. This exciting event celebrates our students’ many academic accomplishments. We are very proud of their success and hope you will join us in attending as many of their presentations as possible.”

Source: 2006 AES Proceedings, p. 3