Writing Center Tutor Wins Business Scholarship

By Hilary Donatini

Click here to read about Laurena Shick, a Writing Assistant in the Writing Center, who has won the 2017-18 Business Advisory Council Endowed Scholarship presented by the Dauch College of Business and Economics at Ashland University. I had the pleasure of recommending Laurena for work in the Writing Center after she had taken my freshman composition course. Her commitment to the writing process, hard work on essay revisions throughout the course, and professionalism made Laurena a wonderful candidate for helping others bring out the best in their own writing. 

Congratulations, Laurena!

First Open Mic Night a Success

By Corinne Spisz, Integrated Language Arts major

On Wednesday October 4, 2017, a group of Ashland University students met in Eagles Landing for the first Open Mic Night. Open Mic Night, sponsored by Sigma Tau Delta, the English honor society on campus, is a monthly gathering of Ashland University students to read their creative work. On October 4, four out of the six students who gathered read their creative works. Three read short stories that they wrote and one shared a poem. The students discussed what they liked about the works read and what they plan to work on in the future. The intimate gathering was a lot of fun to be a part of. It was a great experience to hear creative work from students that would not normally be heard. Sigma Tau Delta invites all Ashland University students to join us for the next Open Mic Night on November 1 at 9pm in Eagles Landing. Come share your flash fiction, short stories, poetry, creative non-fiction, or a piece by your favorite author. Not only may you read your work, but you also are able to engage in an academic and creative discussion about writing.

100% Pass Rate for Integrated Language Arts Majors on State Licensure Exams

The English Department is pleased to announce that 100% of the test takers in the Integrated Language Arts and Bachelor's Plus programs passed both exams required for licensure by the state of Ohio in the 2016-17 academic year. The Ohio Assessments for Educators required for our teacher candidates include the Assessment of Professional Knowledge, as well as a subject test in Integrated Language Arts. Our Middle Grades Language Arts students garnered an impressive 94% pass rate on the subject test. 

We are proud of our students' achievements, as well as our academic program. We offer preparation for future teachers that is both broad and deep, working with the College of Education to offer students content and methods courses that prepare them not only for exams but also for careers and lifelong learning. 

Click here for more information about Integrated Language Arts at Ashland University. 

Click here for more information about the Ohio Assessments for Educators.

Freshman English Major Strives for Balance in Her Student-Athlete Life

Sophia Davis and fellow freshman student-athlete Maureen McKeown at their graduation from Wooster High School

By Sophia Davis, English major

For some, sports consume our entire being. Whether watching, coaching, refereeing, or competing, some students become so involved in their sport(s) that they compromise time in other aspects of their lives. Though the collegiate level of sports is demanding, coaches make an effort to make sure their athletes maintain the “student-athlete” mindset over the “athlete-student” mantra. Maureen McKeown, a fellow graduate of Wooster High School, is a freshman here at Ashland and is competing on the Cross Country Team under the freshly positioned coach, Jacob Sussman. McKeown is majoring in Early Childhood Education which, like all majors, requires work outside of the classroom. Her interest in the minds of children sparked a passion for teaching and helping children grow through their early years; however, McKeown also wants to continue growing and developing her gift of running.

McKeown ran all four years in high school, developing a love of running in pursuit of continuing at the collegiate level. School for her often came second, a distant second, thus engraving the “athlete-student” mindset into her as well as other friends who were in the same situation, pursuing similar dreams of competing in college. McKeown continues by stressing the importance of finding a balance in order to perform well academically as well as on the cross country course because the level of intensity is much higher when making the transition from high school to college.

I swam all four years in high school, waking up four mornings a week at five to jump in the pool by 5:30 a.m., then continue on with the school day, following another practice from 3:30-5:30 each day. Twelve-hour school days for five months of the school year made for a busy and draining schedule. While not seeking to continue a swim career at Ashland, I am on the cross country team with Maureen, and am majoring in English. To pursue a Division II sport in college as well as focus on your major is a challenge, yet provides structure, friendship, and a balance between working the mind versus working the body.

By competing in a sport, not only are you able to continue a passion for something physical, but it introduces you and allows you to bond with a group of people with similar interests, making the transition into college easy. For Maureen, she especially looked forward to this aspect of coming to Ashland, but was also forcing herself to readjust to the academic workload. McKeown and I, like many others, anticipated more studying, longer essays, and thicker textbooks. By finding a balance with studying, practicing, and hanging out with friends, we realized the importance of being a successful “student-athlete” in college and hope to inspire friends and family at home to find a similar balance in life to be both happy and successful their freshman year in college.