Category: Academics

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“Professor Poppins”

“Our thoughts make to be our actions. You are so worthy. Think positive and step outside your comfort zone everyday to grow to our true potential,” said Trisha Pritchard to her public speaking class. Starting just last fall at Grove City College, Pritchard has already had 10 years of teaching under her belt at Butler Community College, along with time at Duquesne University. She had finished a class one day when she received a Facebook message from Dr. Kimberly Miller, asking if she would be interested in teaching a few classes in need of an instructor. Pritchard described how important this situation was in terms of connections and the good of social media. “My friendship with Kim really started back when our daughters were in dance together. So to stay connected through social media was useful not only to help maintain that friendship but also for connections such as with my position now,” Pritchard said. She further discussed how the Department of Communications and Visual Arts can rely on these social medias to bring about networking among people who would not previously link together.

Pritchard teaches public speaking and writing for the media classes here at Grove City College, two of her strong suits and passions. She stresses the importance of conversational skills in everyday situations, whether it be speaking to a group of people or even just a casual conversation. With many years of her involvement in teaching and emphasizing communication techniques, Pritchard is able to work hard in her new classes. In the past year she has found original ways to improve the classes and make them as relatable to the students as possible. For instance, she did several impromptu exercises where the students were presented an idea and delivered a pitch to the class. The students’ final grade was an elevator pitch in which they spoke in front of a room full of Pritchard’s professional colleagues. Classmates learned about open networking, casually talking, and learning about the importance of conversational skills. Pritchard had her professional colleagues give elevator pitches as well, which placed further emphasis on communication is in the real world. From a professional photographer to a journalist to an entrepreneur, students could see how whatever the career, the ability to work alongside others and transmit information is most essential. “Public speaking is important no matter the major. Working outside of Grove City College helps me to know and understand these conversational skills to then relay it to my students,” Pritchard said.

Upcoming plans for her classes include her writing for the media students working with the Butler Eagle to compile articles on small businesses for the June issue. As an active member of the Butler community, Pritchard is always connecting people in order to better society as a whole. Since starting her position as a Communication Consultant at the Butler Family Bowlaway, she’s raised revenue by 300% and has hosted a multitude of events for people of all abilities. Her most recent event was organizing bowling for blind people, something so powerful to watch as they knocked down pins. The 11 organizations, many specialties, and several awards showcase the Pritchard’s passions. Her heart for people and helping them in whatever way she can is a quality that makes her so unforgettable.

With her extremely positive and bubbly personality, students have dubbed her with the nickname of “Professor Poppins.” Pritchard plans to continue bringing happiness, fun, and relatability into her classes in hope that her students will carry it regardless of their path in life. “You can take a class just to get it over with or you can use the time you have to take it to the next level and grow. I am never satisfied and always want the best for my students. If that means completely changing my syllabus overnight because that’s a calling I hear from God, I will definitely do it,” Pritchard smiled.

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Reel Life at Grove City College: A Chat with Mark, Founder of Té Amo

Mark is an Entrepreneurship major at Grove City College and the founder of Té Amo Organic Tea. This socially conscious venture donates a percentage of its proceeds to plant trees in Haiti. For every tea bottle sold, Té Amo promises to plant one tree.

On this episode of Reel Life at Grove City College, I sat down with Mark to ask him about his business, the professors who inspired him, and the classes that helped him along his journey. Mark’s college experience is an adventure filled with risk and reward. By listening to his story, I hope you get the sense that college students can take many paths toward success, even toward entrepeneurial success, while still attending classes in a four year program.

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Dr. Augspurger: Chemist, Chair, Commissioner

If you walk past the gym at lunch time on any given day of the week, you will probably see a collection of middle-aged-looking professors running around, playing basketball in the infamous “faculty basketball lunch league.” Included among this motley crew is their fearless commissioner, Dr. Joseph Augspurger. When he is not breaking ankles and taking names, he spends his time being the chair of the Department of Chemistry at Grove City College. I had the opportunity to interview him and learn more about his life, as well as his time at Grove City.

After growing up on a farm outside a small town, “much smaller than Grove City,” in central Illinois, a young Dr. Augspurger traveled to the University of Illinois (Champaign) to complete his undergraduate degree in chemical engineering. He would eventually return to receive his Ph.D. in physical chemistry, and he would then travel to Cornell University for his post-doctoral work. In 1996, after living in five states during 11 years of marriage, he came to Grove City College to become a professor.

During his 22 years here at the College, Dr. Augspurger has seen a lot. He has seen the transition from Rockwell Hall of Science to the new Science Technology Engineering and Math building, he has seen life as both a regular professor and a department chair, he has seen his children grow up and come to college here at Grove City, but most of all, he has seen a lot of students through their time in the chemistry department. He recounted to me many stories of alumni who have gone off into wildly different directions with their chemistry degrees, all of whom have found success in the fields they have chosen (including at least 70 students who have obtained Ph.D.’s). The most interesting thing he noted was how he has seen two students get their degrees in biochemistry at Grove City and end up getting their Ph.D.’s in biology and returning to Grove City as biology professors.

Although there are countless other institutions of higher education that could both provide him a career and students an education, Dr. Augspurger believes Grove City is the place to be. He highlighted the quality of both the faculty and the students he has encountered over his time here, noting that “we attract strong students” and that the chemistry department has “always had a good department,” which makes his job much more enjoyable and fruitful. He also noted the resources and equipment in place at the College, which are outstanding for a school this size. Something he placed special emphasis on was the community and relational aspect of the department. He talked about the cohesion that exists between students in their classes and labs, and the extra interaction that exists between students and professors since it is a relatively small school. “I think we’ve got a lot to offer people that come this way…if somebody wants to make this succeed, I think we will do whatever it takes to try to make it possible.”

On a more personal note, I can attest to the work Dr. Augspurger does at the school for students. I had him for a class, and during that time he stood out to me as one of the top professors I have had. Although it was only a two-week class for non-science majors, he took the time to learn my name, and get to know me. He was thrilled to be able to open our eyes to science that we had never encountered before, and he wanted to do whatever he could to give us a positive experience. The work he does is exceptional, and everyone who encounters him will soon learn that.

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Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Kimberly Miller

While interviewing Dr. Kimberly Miller, the newly-appointed chairperson for the Department of Communication and Visual Arts, it was extremely evident the passion she has developed for her job over the years and even more so now as she delves into her greater responsibilities. Miller began her career teaching at Grove City College as an adjunct professor in the spring of 2004 and quickly moved to a full-time Associate Professor in 2005.

The previous 10-year chair, Dr. Mobley, while currently on sabbatical, decided to move from that position to focus more on her interests in service learning. Dr. Miller described how amazing Dr. Mobley is in her commitment to the department as she embraced the role to serve and benefit the students of this campus. With Dr. Mobley’s switch, this allows Dr. Miller to carry on the aspects of practical, hands-on learning as she leads this particular division of study.

Immediately, Dr. Miller is excited about the upcoming film fest. Last year’s film fest was a success as it sparked students interests in watching creative short videos and showcased the talented videographers of Grove City College. After teaching a film history and theory class, Dr. Miller was able to explain to her students the enthusiasm she had for all of the aspects in the movie industry.

Her family of four, with one of her daughters as an incoming freshman this fall, makes her even more excited to dive deeper into the comprehensive future decisions of the department. When she was just 20 years old, she was the first female to land a broadcasting internship with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Though it was not easy, her perseverance every single day allowed her the success in the baseball industry and this is a trait she wants to pass on to her daughters and students.

With only three weeks under her belt in the spring semester, Dr. Miller is still adjusting to the newer issues and demands at hand in the department. She discussed how many facets of the job that are not usually realized, even something as slight as unusual classes that count toward a communication credit. Dr. Miller is extremely grateful for Dr. Mobley; her advice and guidance throughout the years has helped shaped Dr. Miller into the person she is today. Along with Dr. Mobley, fellow department professors Dr. Brown, Mr. Mucha, and even the newest adjunct Mrs. Pritchard give support and wonderful reference points. The energies and passion of the professors bring out the best for the department as a whole.  Dr. Miller looks forward to the future growth of the overall program and the ways she can further serve the students of Grove City College.

 

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Reel Life at Grove City College: A Chat with Jonathan, Education Major

At Grove City College, Jonathan Moore is known far and wide as friendly, active, and focused. He brightens every room he enters with a smile and laughter. As an Education major focused in Special Education, a Resident Assistant in a freshman hall, and an involved member of campus activities, he has a lot on his plate. Jonathan is a fantastic example of a college student with varied, balanced interests.

In this episode of Reel Life at Grove City College, I ask Jonathan about his experience. Hear about his favorite characteristic of Grove City students, his Friday night social activities, his one-word descriptor of his time here, and more in the video.

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Public to Private: My Journey from a Small Public School in Ohio to Grove City College

I was born and raised in the small town of New Waterford, Ohio. While growing up I attended an equally small school known as Crestview Local School. Growing up my class size varied but was usually around 90 kids. Crestview, for lack of a better way to say it, was not a prestigious high school. It was your (slightly) above average local school that was part of a close knit, small community that was good at sports and had what I would call “at par” schooling. Does this sound like your current situation? If so, you are not alone.

In growing up and attending Crestview, I was an always an average student. Most people tell you that in middle and high school they put in minimal effort and easily cruised by with A’s and the occasional B. As for myself, I was not blessed enough to be this type of student. I actually worked hard in high school, it was not always easy for me and was rather stressful. I was the not-so-normal kid who had to try at their small public high school to get the grades that I did. At the end of my senior year the class rankings came out and I was 10th out of a class of 89, and believe me when I say it I worked for it.

In looking for a college to attend post high school, I was looking for a smaller college close to home with that warm welcoming feel that would allow me the opportunity to play soccer. In visiting colleges I came across Grove City College and, like a few other colleges, it checked all of the boxes. When it came to making my final decision of my college selection my parents weighed in heavily suggesting that from conversations with others that Grove City College had the best academics (Which Grove City College did, but why would I want that when I knew that “best” only meant hardest?). After taking into consideration all of the factors at hand, I ended up choosing Grove City College and decided to take my talent to Pennsylvania. In coming to Grove City College I felt quite honestly ill-prepared and stressed at the amount of studying I was going to need to do because of the college’s academic rigor. In taking into consideration my little knowledge of what college was (in my small high school mind) and the amount of time and effort I would need to put toward achieving the grades I wanted, I decided that one of the reasons that I choose Grove City College became just a side thought which in the end led to my decision not to play soccer at Grove City College.

So, I was ready. A small town kid from an even smaller high school taking on this over-six-times-larger college as an average high school student at an academically rigorous institution like Grove City College. Needless to say this was an enormous leap for me, both academically and spiritually. If I am being honest, my first semester at the College was rough. I did schoolwork and studied non-stop and spent the time where I was not studying decompressing/resting in my room. It was not until around mid-September of my first semester that some of the kids on the hall reached out to me and got me out of my shell and out of the room. They encouraged me to do more with them and to start lifting and before I knew it I was twice as efficient with my school work and able to spend time out with friends enjoying my college experience.

Moral of this story is that whether you are a hard worker from a small public school in Ohio or a naturally blessed student from some large private school you can be successful. Take this time that you have in college, whether here at Grove City College or whatever college you choose, and have fun. Make friends and enjoy the experience. These glimpses of fun and happiness make the time fly and make the work less work and more motivation, motivation to do well so you can succeed in your future and field and motivation to work hard and be efficient so that you can spend time with people and form relationships. Whether you are my now best friends who needed to go out of their way to help get a shy kid out of his room more or whether you are that shy kid, get out! The best way to do well in college is to enjoy your time there.

If you are interested in hearing more about my story or simply want to just personally contact me about any of your specific worries feel free to at gosstd1@gcc.edu. I would be glad to help a worried younger high school me build up the courage to do things that I never did and to help you succeed to your fullest potential! God bless!

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Senior Design Project: Designing an Airplane

As a student in the Calderwood School of Arts and Letters, I am unfamiliar with the inner-workings of the Hopeman School of Science and Engineering. So I decided to talk to one of my mechanical engineer friends to find out a little bit more about their senior capstone projects.

Every year, Grove City College mechanical engineering students complete a year-long capstone design project. Students work over two semesters in groups ranging from six to nine people to completely design, and in some cases, build a product. The projects vary depending on the interests of the students, but you can find a few past examples in this blog post. This year the projects include a mobile greenhouse, an underwater robot, a turbulence tank to study oceanographic organisms, and an airplane.

The projects are very different from normal classwork, but are much more hands-on. They require a different kind of work compared to just studying for a test or writing a paper. Some projects are more research based and some have a set of specifications to meet.

My friend is a part of the team designing an airplane. Although they do not have the funds or the time to completely build a plane from the ground up, they are designing every piece of it and hope to build a significant portion of it. This is very time intensive – it requires at least eight to 10 hours of work each week from each team member. The students are not entirely on their own, however. Each team has a faculty adviser who answers questions, provides technical help, and ultimately grades the project.

Obviously, each project is different, but they all reflect topics that the students are interested in. The goal is to provide a very practical, hands-on experience for the students. It is a real-world application of the engineering process, regardless of the specifics of the project. Although the projects are difficult, my friend assured me that they are a fantastic learning experience and a very practical transition out of college and into the real world.

 

 

 

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Student Spotlight: Anne Shirley Dassow, All-American

Anne Shirley Dassow

Class of 2020

Double Major Biology: Health and Spanish

Campus Involvement:

  • Varsity Women’s Swim team
  • Pre-Health Society
  • Vice-President of Crown and Sceptre
  • Spanish Club

How do you manage to balance academics and a varsity sport?

Honestly, the balance comes through really careful planning of how to use my time with clear and strict organization. Last year after a class I decided to not do homework on Sundays as a challenge from my Bib Rev class, so it’s been really strict on my time.

 

How was it to get to be named a multiple All-American as a freshman? Tell us about your NCAA experience?

Sophomore year of high school I swam really fast times. I was really surprised and I was really excited for how things were going in high school. Junior and senior year I went slower so I thought I peaked in high school. I didn’t expect to get faster in college at all. I was surprised when I qualified in two events for NCAAs. The NCAAs were a week long meet in Shenandoah, Texas. The Grove City team had a couple provisional qualifiers, but I was the only one invited to come to the meet. I was allowed to bring another teammate who was super supportive in a very hands-on way. I competed three days in a row, ended up getting 7th in the 100 butterfly, 6th in the 200 butterfly and 35th in the 200 backstroke. It was crazy because NCAAs were on my radar since high school and being a multiple All American hasn’t changed much in my life. I planned on swimming all four years. I didn’t expect to get faster. I loved swimming. Everything was fun last year and it turned out to be a little bit extra, but didn’t change my viewpoint on swimming. I’ll stay positive and this was just a reward for my hard work.

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Law School Applications: Constant Support

Law School Applications

As a senior at Grove City College I am preparing to graduate and am applying to law schools. At first this process seemed similar to applying to colleges, but I soon realized that I was wrong – when I was applying to colleges every teacher in my high school knew the process and was able to assist me, but not everyone knows how law school functions or how the application process works.

One day I was talking to one of my entrepreneurship professors about how I felt like I was floating along in this confusing process, and he offered to connect me with his son-in-law, a recent law school graduate and a Grove City College alum. He sent me his son-in-law’s contact information and I set up a time for a phone call. This was an incredibly helpful conversation that gave me direction in the application and decision process – I am still receiving advice from my professor’s son-in-law and am so thankful for this connection.

My professor also suggested I contact one of the professors who teaches law classes at Grove City College, as well as the president of our college, President Paul J. McNulty. I was hesitant to contact both of these men – they did not know me, and certainly they were very busy.  I did email both of them, though, and both of them responded with offers to meet with me to help me feel grounded and succeed in this process. The law professor was tremendously helpful in making me feel like I was capable of succeeding in this process and helped me to gain the confidence to continue on with my applications.

Meeting with President McNulty was a great experience. He is a very knowledgeable man and knows a lot about how the field of law works. At first I was intimidated to contact him because of his high position at the College, but then I thought about how many times I had seen him in the dining hall with students and how friendly he was in each of his interactions. I am so glad that I did email him, though, because he scheduled a meeting with me very quickly and offered great advice. Our meeting was informative and comfortable.

Several of my professors and supervisors at Grove City College have graciously written recommendation letters for me, as well, and though I am sure that none of them needed another thing on their to-do lists they all seemed to be excited for me and genuinely happy to support my applications.

These experiences have convinced me that Grove City College is truly a tremendous community and was the best decision I could have made for where to go to college. Each of the people I have spoken to have been very helpful and very willing to assist me – even the president of the college is accessible to students.

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Major/ Minor Mix-Up: Biblical & Religious Studies, Communication Double Major with Computer Science Minor

Grove City College makes it really simple to pursue countless majors and minors. What is interesting is some of the major and minor combinations students choose. Some may be a little out of the ordinary, but they spark an interesting conversation. Rachel Kohnerger ’20 is one of those students with an interesting major/minor combination.

Rachel is a Biblical and Religious Studies and Communications double major with a minor in Computer Science (that’s a mouthful). When I reached out to students to see who has an interesting combination of a major and minor, Rachel caught my eye, so I decided to have a little chat with her and here is how it went:

Why did you choose Biblical and Religious Studies and Communication Studies as a double major?

Like a bunch of kids, I went to youth camps. One day they asked for anyone going into ministry to come up. At that point I decided that is something I want to do. Because of this, I looked into Christian colleges. I knew I wanted to get involved in spreading the gospel whether it was working with a mission agency or with Christian media.

A lot of BARS (Biblical and Religious Studies) major professors recommended a double major as the two compliment each other. The Communication Studies major is a support to the BARS major and it opened up opportunities with both majors.

What was the moment you knew your major was the right choice?

The very first assignment: A 15-page research paper in Contemporary American religion. We had to go to different churches and research the ways they worship and how it had an effect on age-group attendance… [after the project] it showed me that is was something I could do and something I enjoyed doing.

Computer Science and Biblical and Religious Studies? Why Computer Science?

Last year I took programming 1 for my math requirement with no expectations but I really ended up loving programming. There was room in my schedule to add it as a minor. With the direction I want to take it [academic career], I’ll take web design classes that compliment my Communications major.

What moment made you decide you loved Computer Science?

I had professor Al Moakar who is a very hands on teacher. It was the first time I created a program and ran it. It was so satisfying to see the program run and to see and understand how it worked.

Any advice for incoming freshmen that are debating what majors and minors they will pursue?

Don’t limit yourself! Its okay to get in and realize that you aren’t doing what you want to do for the rest of your life. Explore classes in other departments, not just your Gen Ed’s or HUMAs (General Education and Humanities courses). You never know. You may actually love it and decide to minor in it, like me.