Bridgewater College Bridgewater College
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Bridgewater Magazine Journals and Campus Publications
Spring 2019
Vol. 94, No. 2 | Spring-Summer 2019
Vol. 94, No. 2 | Spring-Summer 2019
Bridgewater CollegeBridgewater College prepares students for the future by offering real-world experiences that set them up for success
Bridgewater is published twice a year by the Office of Marketing and Communications for alumni, parents, faculty, staff and friends of Bridgewater College.
Office of Marketing and Communications College Box 16, Bridgewater, VA 22812 [email protected] I bridgewater.edu EDITOR Jessica E. Luck [email protected] EDITORIAL BOARD Liisa Franzen Colby Horne Anne T. Marsh James S. McCumber
Ellen Burkholder Miller '79 Abbie Parkhurst Dr. Maureen Silva ART DIRECTOR Debra L. Sheffer '80
SENIOR DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI RELATIONS AND ANNUAL GIVING Colby Horne
PRESIDENT OF BRIDGEWATER COLLEGE
Dr. David W. Bushman
ALUMNI ASSOCIATION OFFICERS
Jeffrey K. Miller '93 - President R.Jeffrey Postans '79 - President-Elect Bradley S. Hallock '86 - Secretary Sherrie K. Wampler '85 - Past President BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Dr. D. Cory Adamson The Hon. G. Steven Agee Nancy M. Bowman Pamela S. Brady J. Russell Bruner D. Bruce Christian Mense! D. Dean Jr. Michael D. Del Giudice William S. Earharc Carl R. Fike A. Wesley Graves VI The Rev. Lawrence M. Johnson Dr. Michael K. Kyles J. Allen Layman
Nathan H. Miller The Rev. Dr. Paul E. Mundey The Rev. Wilfred E. Nolen Bonnie F. Rhodes Robert I. Stolzman Donna P. Walker James H. Walsh Dr. G. Benjamin Wampler James L. Wilkerson Dewey M. Williard Kathy G. Wright
Connect with Bridgewater through:
To update mailing address, call 540-828-5448 or email
[email protected]. © 207 9 Bridgewater College, Bridgewater, VA
A Bridgewater College education centers on connecting students with the best resources and learning opportunities to prepare them for what's next. This issue of Bridgewater highlights the ways in which students gain invaluable, real-world experiences while still on campus.
11
Immersive Learning
Master of science in athletic training students help provide patient-centered care
14
Coach Knows Best
For 34 years, Curt Kendall has prepared his student-athletes for life on and off the field
16
Professional Practice
Internships allow students to build confidence and skills while preparing/or their careers
21
Oxford Experience
Flory Honors students expand their horizons with one-on-one teaching abroad
26
Realistic View
Professional Practices class paints a picture of what it takes to become a working artist
29
Magic Touch
Former Disney World events manager says Eagle Productions helped her soar professionally
Departments
2 Message from the President 3 In the BC Spotlight
6 Across the Mall
32 Class Notes 36 Memorials
FRONT COVER: Kwadwo Donkor '12 and Jasmine Pinder MSAT '19 provided athletic training services to all student athletes at Robert E. Lee High School in Staunton, Va., this spring. Donkor, athletic trainer at the high school, served as Pinder's preceptor for her clinical immersion.
(Photo by Ben Wyrick)
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BRIDGEWATER
1111
·
COLLEGE
---- Br i d g e w a t e r, Vi r g i n i
Message from the President
This is an important moment for our College and our country. The virtues and value of a liberal arts education have never been more important-or under more scru tiny. The economic return on investment in a college education is well-supported by data. And yet, that intrinsic value is being questioned. The central message is often that professional programs are the only way to go. Students must focus on science, technol ogy, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and narrowly focused career training for higher education to pay off. But those of us in higher education-and business leaders from across the sectors of our economy-know better.
While students at BC certainly receive those career-focused, hands-on skills working as athletic trainers alongside their professional counterparts at Division I schools; interning in the political epicenter of Washington D.C.; discovering how to coach by learning from some of the best; and producing, installing and promoting area art exhibitions-it is those skills combined with the soft skills of a liberal arts education that make our students desired by employers and truly successful.
Collabo-ration, creativity and communication are among the most desired skill sets of employ ers today, and these are also the skills that a Bridgewater education cultivates-regardless of academic major. These are the reasons-along with great experiential learning opportunities like undergraduate research, internships and study abroad-that our graduates get their first jobs and then progress in their careers in ways they never imagined. A Bridge water education never becomes obsolete; it equips our graduates with the habits of mind to be lifelong learners and to grow in careers that take many different directions.
A Bridgewater education doesn't just prepare students for the real world, it IS the real world. It's about teamwork, leadership, creative thinking, and the ability to develop connections. The connections fostered and developed at BC are what set our liberal arts education apart. These connections-in labs with faculty, in internships on campus and through out the country, in May Term experiences across the globe-provide an additional and crucial layer to the skills devel oped in the classroom. That powerful combination results in student and alumni success in every field imaginable.
In this issue, we share a sampling of the exciting outcomes of our students and alumni. I hope you'll recognize and appreciate that the skills and connections developed during their time at BC are making a difference in the "real world." These stories should help put to rest any questions about the value ofliberal arts. I hope you enjoy this look at the suc cesses that originate with a Bridgewater College education as much as I have.
With best regards,
s�-w�
David W. Bushman, Ph.D. PresidentIN THE
BC
Spotlight
A
s the graduates processed two by-two down the center aisle of the giant tent in the middle of the campus mall, shouts of "I see her!" and "Look over here!" could be heard from eager parents lining the walkway. Students ascended to movie star status ascamera clicks were a constant while they made their way to their seats before the start of Bridgewater College's 139th
Commencement ceremony on May 4. After Grand Marshal Dr. Scott
Con-g rad-u lations,
Classes of 2019!
Suter called the ceremony to order, six seniors took the stage to share an invocation in their native languages: English, Creole, Spanish, French, Kyrgyz and lsiZulu.
After College President Dr. David Bushman welcomed the thousands of students, family and friends to the ceremony during his opening remarks, he introduced Sarah Hendrix MSAT '19, one of the College's first master of science in athletic training degree recipients. Hendrix said one of the biggest draws of the College's master's program was the opportuni ty to gain real-world experience aiding numerous student athletes at Bridgewater College as well as off campus (she spent two semesters at Coastal Carolina University, a Divi sion I school in South Carolina, and Myrtle Beach High School). Each hands-on clinical immersion experience was unique, she said, and Hendrix thanked her professors for giving her the tools and knowledge she needed to succeed, both during her master's program and in the future.
Classes of 2019
394 graduates; 6 master of science in athletic training degrees
1 S1 bachelor of arts degrees 16S bachelor of science degrees *78 students will have completed degree requirements by May 24 or July 26, 2079
GRADUATING WITH HONOR: 17 summa cum laude (3.9 GPA or
higher)
30 magna cum laude (3.7 GPA or higher)
61 cum laude (3.4 GPA or higher)
*Undergraduate honors
IN THE
BC
Commencement speaker R. Mark Laursen
"Everyone at Bridgewater College has made an impact on my life that has forever changed me to be a better athletic trainer and person;' Hendrix said.
Senior Class President Anwar Muhammad' 19 presented the class gift, a fire pit for future students to gather around, that was given in honor of Missy Bailey-French, a housekeeping staff member whose positivity and joy inspired the senior class.
In his speech, Chair of the Bridgewater College Board of Trustees Jim Walsh '68 gave the graduates three pieces of advice: Believe in something larger than yourself, cherish relationships with family and friends, and live life with no regrets.
Commencement speaker R. Mark Laursen urged the 400 graduates to determine what makes them come alive, and then
to pursue that passion.
Speaking at Bridgewater College was especially significant for Laursen, whose father worked and coached at Warren Wilson College, a liberal arts college in Asheville, N.C. The foundation of a liberal arts education in educating the whole person
and empowering them to be purposeful and ethical in life produces graduates who make our country and world-better, Laursen said.
Laursen serves as Clinical Associate Professor in Boston University's Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Services as well as Director of Athletic Training Services. His 30-year career has been focused on aiding athletes on both a collegiate and professional level, as well as teaching and guid ing future athletic trainers at several colleges and universities.
"I can think of no better profession than athletic training;' Laursen said, specifically addressing the six master of science in athletic training graduates. "You are lucky to have been developed into health care professionals at this type of college. Your education will prepare you to serve your patients well and will prepare you to be a patient-centered provider that our health care system so desperately needs."
In his address, titled "What Makes You 'Be Alive;" Laursen shared his own journey in finding what brings him true fulfillment: being a servant to others. He also told of hardships he has had to over come, including volunteering at the 2013 Boston Marathon, during which terrorists detonated two bombs at the finish line, killing three people and
wounding hundreds more. Laursen says he witnessed acts of unbelievable courage that day that forever changed him.
"The question I have for you is not, 'what are you going to do?:' Laursen told the graduates. "The ques tion I have for you is, 'what are you going to be?"'
Among the 394 undergraduate students in the Class of 2019, 151 earned bachelor of ans degrees and 165 earned bachelor of science degrees. Dr. Bushman conferred the undergraduate and master's degrees at the ceremony.
As a special tradition at Bridgewater, four faculty and staff members awarded their children with their degrees onstage: Facilities and Support Services Grounds staff member Bob Carpenter and his son Joshua '19; Admissions Applications Manager Kristen Crickenberger and her daughter Ashley '19; Professor of Biology Gavin Lawson and his daughter Samantha' 19; and Information Technol ogy Center Help Desk Operator Shay Kelley and her daughter Lauryn '19.
Bridgewater Soccer Star Mentors
Young Player in Soccer and Life
E
lizabeth Smith McNeal '99 wanted to help andencourage her daughter Addyson, then a fifth grade soccer player who was struggling with anxiety and the consequences of her food allergies. McNeal reached out to Bridgewater College women's soccer Head Coach Mike Van Horn to see if he happened to have an athlete on his team with food allergies. Bailey Kratz '19 has a dairy allergy and was happy to speak with Addyson about everything from school and soc cer to having food on hand that is safe to eat when you get hungry.
The McNeals became dedicated fans of Kratz and the women's soccer team and attended every game they could. The women's soccer team even invited Addyson to run out on the field with the team before a game. Kratz, in turn, cheered on Addyson at her soc cer games and also went to see her perform in middle school musicals. The two even bonded over their shared injuries.
"Over the past couple of years, the two girls have built an amazing bond that will continue far beyond college for Bailey and far beyond middle school for Addyson," McNeal said.
across the mall
BRIDGEWATER COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS10%
NEARLY 10% MORE OF SC'S 2019 GRADUATING CLASS HAS FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT THAN SC'S CLASS OF 2018
Bridgewater College and Blue Ridge Community
College Sign Articulation Agreement
AT TIME OF GRADUATION. (THE TREND IS IN LINE WITH NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGE'S AND EMPLOYERS' PROJECTED 10.7% NATIONAL INCREASE IN HIRING FOR CLASS OF 2019 OVER CLASS OF 2018.)
To make a bachelor's degree more accessible to local students, Bridgewater College and Blue Ridge Community College signed a new Guaranteed Admission Agreement that will allow students meeting certain requirements to transfer directly from the community col lege to Bridgewater's bachelor's degree program and enter with junior status. Bridgewater President Dr. David Bushman (right) and Blue Ridge Community College President Dr. John Downey (left) signed the agreement on April 2.
Class of 2019 information collected at or before graduation, courtesy of the Office of Career Services
BRIDGEWATER COLLEGE ADOS NEW ACADEMIC PROGRAMS
To meet market demand, offer new opportunities to studentsand provide the College with additional revenue streams, Bridgewater is launching two new master's programs and two new undergraduate programs, following Southern Association of Colleges and Schools accreditation.
The Master of Science in Human Resources Management (MSHRM) will kick off in summer 2020. The degree is intended to be completed in a single year by full-time students. Dr. Roslyn Vargas, Assistant Professor of Economics and Busi
ness Administration, is spearheading the move to add the program. Applications for the summer 2020 admissions cycle will open in August 2019.
The Master of Science in Psychology - Mental Health Profes sions (MSPsy) will launch in August 2020. The degree may be completed in one year by full-time students. Admissions applications will open in August 2019.
c_A"wards
AND ACCOLADESBriana Moore '19 received an
NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship for $10,000. Moore finished her Eagles
women's basketball career ranked No. 5 all-time in scoring with 1,419 points and was a two-time, first-team Academic All-America selection. She was also a finalist for the prestigious Jostens Trophy, awarded to the top student-athlete in Division Ill women's
Undergraduate major in Digital Media Arts
Undergraduate major in Data Science and Analytics Dr. Sam Hamilton, Assistant Professor of English, has been
named Director of the Master of Arts in Digital Media Strategy program (MDMS), effective July 1. The MDMS program kicked off in January 2019 with 11 students who were enrolled in cross-listed undergraduate and graduate courses in commu nication studies, art and professional writing. In June, the core curriculum of the program launched with the first cohort of 12 students. The program has three application deadlines each year: June 1, Oct. 1 and Feb. 1.
Members of the departments of communication studies, art, English and computer science developed this interdisciplin ary program for students interested in designing, managing and measuring the effects of multimodal messages in a web environment.
basketball ... Nine Eagles qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Nationals: Calista Ariel '20, English Jackson '20, Tye Meador '20, Emily Valle '20, Diante Cannon '22, Alex Galloway '19, Davonta Womack '20, Dirk Jones '19 and Jamie Hiegel '19.
... Meador was named the South/
Southeast Region Field Athlete of the Year while Assistant Track and Field Coach Brian Cunningham was named South/Southeast Women's Assistant Coach of the Year ... Dr. Jamie Frueh, Professor of History and
i
Bridgewater College Bestows
Awards at Founder's Day
In honor of Bridgewater College's founding 139 years ago by Daniel Christian "D.C Flory, five awards were presented at the annual Founder's Day ceremony on April 2. The ceremony. marked the College's 100th observance of Founder's Day, which began in 1920.
across the mall
At the ceremony, Dr. Leona Sevick, provost and vice president for academic affairs, recognized three faculty members for excellence in teaching and scholarship. Inaugural awards for excellence were also given to a staff member and a student Bridge
water President Dr. David Bushman presented the awards to each recipient
Dr. Jennie Carr, Associate Professor of Education, received the Martha B. Thornton Faculty Recognition
Front row: Dr. Jennie Carr, Dr. Erin Morris Miller and Dr. Scott Suter. Back row: Dr. Leona Sevick, Cynthia Howdyshell-Shu/I, Johnny Haize/-Cobbina 'I 9 and Dr. David Bushman. Award; Dr. Erin Morris Miller, Associate Professor of Psychol
ogy, received the Faculty Scholarship Award; and Dr. Scott Suter, Professor of English and American Studies, received the Ben and Janice Wade Outstanding Teacher Award. Cynthia
Howdyshell-Shull, Registrar, received the Daniel Christian Flory Award, and Johnny Haizel-Cobbina '19, an information
systems management major, received the Bridgewater College Founder's Award.
33%
ENROLLED IN OR PLANNING TO ENROLL IN GRADUATE THE CLASS OF 2019'5 PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS AND PROFESSIONAL SCHOOLS (33%) IS HIGHER THAN BC'S PREVIOUS THREE GRADUATING CLASSES OF 2016-18 Class of 2019 information collected at or before graduation, courtesy of the Office of Career ServicesHAWK RETIRES FROM TEACHER EDUCATION
PROGRAM
Dr. Jean Hawk received the President's Medal for her ser
vice to the College at the Commencement ceremony on May 4. After 13 years in the Teacher Education Program, Dr. Hawk retired as a Professor of Education, Emerita. Dr. Hawk has been in the teaching field for 46 years.
Womack and Lempicki Win
National Championships
Davonta Womack '20 closed out his career in the best way possible-as a national champion. Womack took first in the 100-meter dash at the NCAA Division Ill Outdoor Track and Field National Championships in May with a 10.2-second performance. His time is a new school record and a new Old Dominion Athletic Conference record. Melissa Lempicki '20 earned a wild card spot to compete in the Intercol legiate Dressage Association's National Show and rode away with the first national championship for Bridgewater College equestrian program's IDA team. Political Science and Director of theCenter for Engaged Learning, received the 2019 Deborah Gerner Innovative Teaching Award, which is presented annually to a professor who has devel oped effective new approaches to teaching in the international studies
discipline ... Ben Spotts '97 was named Bridgewater baseball's new head coach after Curt Kendall '81 an nounced his retirement after 34 years (more on p. 14) ... Eric Husselbaugh
'21 is Bridgewater's first-ever men's lacrosse All-American selection
Canon Secord '22 was named ODAC Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year in men's tennis ... Michael Golinowski '22 was named the win ner at the inaugural Intercollegiate Horse Show Association Metropolitan Equitation Invitational hosted by the
Longines Masters of New York .
The men's track and field team won the 2019 ODAC Outdoor Champion ship for the second year in a row The women's track and field team took second at the championships ... Bridgewater College students
across the mall
Dr. Robert Bryant, Dr. Nancy Klancher, Hunter Potts '20, Dr. Betsy Hayes, Dr. Jamie Frueh and McKenzie Melvin '21
Bridgewater Delegation
Participates in International
Collaboration
In February, Bridgewater College hosted delegations from the University of Sarajevo and the International Islamic University of Malaysia. Subsequently, six Bridgewater College delegates (two faculty, two staff members and two students), along with delegates from Shenandoah University, traveled to Bos nia and Malaysia for two weeks at the beginning of March. These visits kicked off the Barzinji Project, a collaborative international exchange that seeks to foster cross-cultural understanding as well as innovation in higher education.
Paging All Book Brigade
Participants!
Were you one of the Book Brigade students who helped move books into the Alexander Mack Memo rial Library when it opened? If so, we'd like to hear some of your fond memories ahead of the opening of the John Kenny For rer Learning Commons this fall. Please email:
COLLEGE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION RECOGNIZES HONOREES
At the annual college awards ceremony on April 14, the Bridgewater College Alumni Association honored three of its alumni with awards for achievements and service.
The Distinguished Alumnus Award was presented to Keith Brower '78. Brower, who has logged more than 46 years of service in both a volunteer and employment
capacity for foe departments in Virginia, has devoted his life to helping others. He retired in April 2018 as Fire Chief of the Loud oun County Combined Fire and Rescue System.
The West-Whitelow Humani tarian Award was presented to Dr.
Harold "Hal" Hedley Jr. '70. Dr.
Hedley has 40 years' experience
Keith Brower '78 (left) Dr. Harold "Hal" Hedley Jr. '70 (middle) in education and nonprofit
man-and Dr. Jason Ridlon '02 (right) agement. Throughout his life,
he has served on numerous boards and in volunteer roles, especially those helping children. He served as president/CEO of the Child Protection Center Inc. for 17 years.
The Young Alumnus Award was presented to Dr. Jason Ridlon '02. Dr. Ridlon, Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, has received wide recognition within his field for his research of gut microbiology, specifically on what he has termed the "sterolbiome." In 2016, Dr. Ridlon was awarded the Young Investi gator Grant for Probiotics Research.
BC Alumni Enjoy
Memorable Weekend
in NYC
Fifty-two BC alumni and friends traveled to New York City for three nights over Easter weekend. The group, ranging in gradu
Christopher Loda, Teri Loda Toth '80, lmre Toth, Mary Lee Loda, Dr. Jeff Pierson and George Gordon '70
ation years from 1957 to 2018, took in the Easter Parade, toured the 911 Museum and Memorial, MOMA and the Met, visited Times Square and Central Park, saw two musicals and enjoyed a jazz cruise. They even had time to join NYC area alumni for a happy hour reception.
performed Men on Boats under the direction of Associate Professor of Theatre Dr. Scott Cole at the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Fes tival (KCACTF) regional theatre festival at Montclair State University ... The Bridgewater College Women's Indoor
Track and Field team placed second at the ODAC conference championships.
Emily Valle was named the Women's Track Athlete of the Year while Calista Ariel was named the ODACNa.
Osborne '20 qualified for the IHSA national show and placed third in the individual Novice on the Flat class . Three Bridgewater College professors
published books recently: Dr. James Josefson, Associate Professor of His tory and Political Science; Dr. Hope
Rias, Assistant Professor of Education; and Dr. Johanna Birkland, Assistant Professor of Communication Studies and Theatre
Farm Bureau Scholar-Athlete of the Year ... Equestrian rider Georgia
Showker Prize Winners
Revealed
Bridgewater College's Board ofTrustees was treated to a sneak peek of the John Kenny Forrer Learning Commons the week of their spring meeting. Board members donned hard hats to join Bridgewater College staff for the behind-the-scenes tour that included a walk-through of the building and updates on the construction process.
The team of Syrga Kanatbek kyzy '19, Alan Bowman '19, international ex change student Sofia Martinez Garcia del Real, Joshua Matheney '19 and Luke Morgan '20 took top prize in the Showker Prize competition with "Mov ing Borders;' their project to increase awareness of and opportunities for internships for BC students. The team received a $5,000 prize. The second place team won $2,000 for their "Green house on the Go" project.
The Forrer Commons, an update and expansion of the Alexander Mack Memorial Library, is set to open this fall.
58%
RATE OF INTERNSHIP PARTICIPATION (58%) INCREASED 5% FOR BC'S CLASS OF 2019 COMPARED WITH CLASS OF 2018. THE INTERNSHIP RATE IS AT ITS HIGHEST POINT IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS. Class of 2019 information collected at or before graduation, courtesy of the Office of Career ServicesLEGACY FAMILY: THE BOWMAN FAMILY
James "Jim" Owen Bowman '57 and Sylvia Kline Bow
man '57 have enjoyed a long history with Bridgewater College as well as the Church of the Brethren. Many members of their families attended college at BC, and the couple established the Kline
Bowman Institute for Creative Peacebuilding at the College, which advocates for the study and understanding of peace and justice issues in local and global communities. In addi tion, the Kline Campus Center is dedicated to Sylvia's ancestor,
the martyr Elder John Kline, a 19th-century leader in the
Church of the Brethren. Sylvia's parents are also part of the proud Bridgewater tradition: the late Wilmer M. Kline '23
and the late Nora Harley Kline '23.
In this photo, the Bowmans are pictured with their grand daughter (the newest family graduate of BCI) and their
daughter: Angela Lynn Harner '19 and Lavonne Bowman Harner '88. In fact, all of the Bowmans' children graduated
from Bridgewater College: Carol Bowman Weaver '81, Dale Owen Bowman '84 and Lavonne.
The couple's siblings are all proud BC alumni as well. Syl
via's siblings are Wilma Kline Robertson '47 and her late
husband, Jesse. D. Robertson
'45, the late E. Harley Kline
'49 and the late Leon Miller Kline '51. All of Jim's siblings and their spouses attended BC: Fred M. Bowman '46 and
his late wife, Wanda Martin
Bowman '49, Freeda Bowman Snavely '50 and her late husband, Royal Snavely '59, and Lois Bowman Whitmore '61 and her husband, Joe Whitmore '61.
Many of the Bowmans' nieces and nephews also attended Bridgewater College.
Want to be considered as a Legacy Family for this space in the magazine? It's easy. Gather the Bridgewater College graduates in your family, take a high resolution (1 MB or larger) photo and email it to us with a description of who's in the picture. You can submit Legacy Family photos to [email protected].
Oh, what a night!
On Thursday, March 21, the Bridgewater College Alumni Association hosted the inaugural Eagles' Night Out event. Alumni and friends of BC joined together simultaneously that evening at various host sites across the Mid-Atlantic region. Events were held at 14 venues with more than 25
hosts and 250+ attendees! Thanks to you, Eagles' Night Out was a huge success!
Visit bridgewateralumni.com!EaglesNightOut2019 to see highlights from this year's event and to learn about how you can host next year's event!
WE ARE THE
REAL WORLD
Dr. Chase Hale and Justin Zimmerman MSAT '7 9
In the Field, continued from page 11 Hendrix was one of
six students who walked across the stage at gradu-ation on May 4 to accept their diplomas as gradu ates of the College's first MSAT class. The program,
Kwadwo Donkor '12 and Jasmine Pinder MSAT '19
which launched in 2017, is the College's first master's program and will be one of
Taylor-Rae Danforth MSAT'79 (left)
four master's degree options within the next two years. Dr. Barbara Long '88, Division Head
for Professional Studies and As sociate Professor of Health and Human Sciences, helped start the College's undergraduate athletic training degree program in 1999. Long, who has been involved with the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE)
since 2007, foresaw a shift in the athletic training field as requiring a master's degree, and said that Bridgewater's faculty and administration embraced the proposed pro gram change. The undergraduate program is currently in a teach-out phase; the College's last class of athletic training undergrads will graduate in 2020. The MSAT class of 2020 will double in size to 12.
The transition to a master's program has been fairly straightforward, as the infrastructure for coursework and practical-based learning was already in place. A main component of the master's program is the opportunity for master's students to complete offsite immersions that allow for varied experiences, as well as additional learning opportunities from preceptors (athletic trainers or physi cians who oversee the students). The master's students complete three clinical experiences on campus within their first year in the program, followed by a general medical clinical experience and two semesters of clinical immersions, most of which are off-campus, their second year. Bridgewater students have been placed at
Robert Banks MSAT '20 with Dr. Robert Hammill colleges, high schools and physicians' offices.
"I think our year-long clinical immer sions set us apart from most programs in the country," said Long. "We truly believe students learn best by having the op portunity to do things. And their good, sound clinical placements will help them transition to practice better than any classroom experience we can give them:'
Master's students sit down with Bridgewater faculty early in their studies to discuss what kind of career within the field they'd like to pursue and are able to tailor their offsite clinical immersions to their interests. Athletic trainers don't just work in traditional athletic settings. They work in the performing arts, military, physician's offices, rehabilitation sites, public safety and industrial sites.
Kwadwo Donkor '12, an athletic train ing undergraduate major, says he wishes he had the opportunity to complete an offsite clinical immersion experience while at Bridgewater because he would have felt better prepared for his first ath letic training job in a high school setting. His goal as Jasmine Pinder's preceptor in spring 2019 at Robert E. Lee High School in Staunton, Va., was to let her take the lead in assessments when situations arose in a practice or game. Pinder has been involved with treatments for every thing from ankle sprains and shin splints to more serious injuries. She even had input on how the school's new athletic training room should be designed.
"The hands-on experience is amazing," Pinder MSAT '19 said. "You get thrown into real-life situations where you have
to take charge and take command and have those leader ship skills to diffuse and control the situa tion. He's been push ing me to make those decisions I would have to make on my own in
a month or two."
Donkor's biggest
teaching takeaway for Pinder is learning how to think clinically and creatively. He said the knowledge he learned at Bridgewater is constantly evolving and changing with each health care evaluation he performs.
"Athletic training is not just about ice and taped ankles," Donkor said. "There's
a lot you need to take into consideration when you're dealing with athletes. Even if you have two people with the same ankle injury, how you treat them is com pletely different. That's a big thing."
Listening to patients' concerns is criti cal, whether about pain from an injury or the fear of lost playing time. Dr. Chase Hale, Athletic Training Program Director and Associate Professor of Health and Human Sciences, said athletic trainers are in a unique position as health care professionals to develop stronger bonds with their patients, especially in an athletic setting where they see the same
players for multiple hours each day. Pro viding compassionate, patient-centered care is a big part of the curriculum at Bridgewater. And both Long and Hale attribute Bridgewater's foundation in
the liberal arts to developing necessary critical-thinking skills as a health care provider.
"It's not just about the professional skills-anyone can learn the professional skills," said Long. "It's about how to treat people and how to make people know you care about them."
Justin Zimmerman MSAT '19 was
a member of Ferrum College's first recruited class for wrestling. Although he experienced multiple injuries in high school, it wasn't until his junior year of
college when he started working with Assistant Athletic Trainer Brian Duclos that he saw first-hand the impact an athletic trainer could have.
In the master's program, Zimmerman completed offsite clinical immersions at University ofTennessee, a Division I school, and his Division Ill alma mater, Ferrum. Although he appreciated the opportunity to work with Tennessee's football team, he says he gained more experience working with Bridgewater's men's soccer and lacrosse teams in addi tion to athletes from multiple sports at Ferrum. Because there are fewer health care professionals at smaller schools, Zimmerman was able to be directly in volved with rehab treatments and clinical decisions.
"Working at a Division Ill school by far is a much better education," he said.
Before graduation, Zimmerman was hired by Work Right NW as an injury pre vention specialist in an industrial setting, an emerging field for athletic training. He started work in early June at a Tesla factory in Reno, Nev., and will help devise preventative care plans for employees who undergo repetitive motions that can lead to injury. Although the company rarely hires new graduates, Zimmerman believes his education from Bridgewater and clinical experience was key in his hiring.
Pinder hopes to work for a D-I school or for a professional sports team, while Hendrix is pursuing jobs at a D-III school or high school. No matter the career goal, each MSAT student said the lessons learned from Bridgewater professors and preceptors as well as professionals at other institutions all contributed not only to an increase in their skills but a boost in their confidence in applying their knowl edge and care in any situation.
"From your first day in the program to the last day, you're going to be shocked at how far you come, how much you grow during that time as both a person and a professional;' Zimmerman said. "I don't think there's a better place to learn athletic training."
Coach Curt Kendall celebrates Senior Day this spring with graduating players. Below: Kendall received a framed jersey with the number from his playing days at Bridgewater.
COACH'S TEACHINGS GO
BEYOND THE FIELD
E
very Old Dominion Athletic Conference championship winhas felt the same to Cu rt Kenda 11 '81. It's not that they weren't special in their own right, as the path to winning 12 times under Kendall's watch has varied. But the formula for winning remains consistent. Kendall, who has led the baseball team as head coach for the last 34 seasons before announcing his retirement this spring, has told each team the same thing: You can beat anyone.
Forget the stat sheets, forget the match-up predictors. You can beat anyone. Any team, any time, any place. Kendall's
coach-1978-1981
YEARS CURT KENDALL
PLAYED BASEBALL FOR THE
BRIDGEWATER EAGLES
1 3
KENDALL'S JERSEY NUMBER1986
YEAR CURT KENDALL TOOK OVER AS HEAD BASEBALL COACH, AFTER HAVING SERVED FOUR
YEARS AS ASSISTANT COACH
34
SEASONS AS HEADCOACH OF BRIDGEWATER'S BASEBALL TEAM
ing principles are rooted in
instilling in his players how important executing the fun damentals and doing things right in practice are, because that translates to prepared ness and success for every game.
Kendall was a multi-sport athlete in his high school days in Greencastle, Pa. He played baseball and basketball and ran cross country; he even toyed with the idea of playing basketball in college. But as he entered Bridgewater Col lege in 1977, he was drawn to the sport that he says is
more challenging than most.
For one, there's the totality of it. Each player has to hit, catch and throw And each player has to do his job for a team to be success ful Then, there are the nuances of the game. Drilling down to
how every decision on each play can change the course of the game. Former Assistant Coach Ben Spotts '97 (newly named head baseball coach at Bridgewater College) said Kendall taught him to be organized in everything you do and how to be prepared for any situation that can arise. And, of course, always expect to win.
But winning to Kendall was not about the scoreboard. It's not about the numbers, even though Kendall's 790 career wins make him the winningest baseball coach in D-111 history. For Kendall, winning meant he had succeeded in helping his players realize their potential.
"We always say we're trying to prepare you for life after college, so hopefully we've given them the tools through their experience as an athlete to go out in the world and be leaders," Kendall said. "Athletics teaches you how to deal with adversity, handle tough situations and fight through difficult times."
Kendall certainly knows what it's like to be part of a champi onship-winning team, and going into the fall season, his goal as
Bridgewater's Athletic Director (Kendall has been the College's athletic director since 2000) is to help each coach, each player experience that same feeling. To reach their potential.
-WHAT I LEARNED FROM COACH KENDALL ...
TYLER HOFFMAN Hoffman said the Division I team has won two Metro-Atlantic being a part of Conference championships, two regular season
General manager
for the Waynesboro Bridgewater's base- championships and qualified for nine
con-I Generals ball team was one of ference tournaments. Davis, with a 933-620
'
Member of the greatest experi- career record, has been a head coach for 30t
Bridgewater's ences of his life. He years, having led three different programs atbaseball team from was a member of the three different levels. He was inducted into the
2011-14 2014 team that won Bridgewater College Athletics Hall of Fame in
the ODAC Championship and was one win 2014.
away from making the final 8 of the College "We have a friendship that lasts to this day. I
World Series. Today he oversees recruiting for consider him a mentor and friend. If I have a
the coaching staff and 30-man roster of college problem, he is at the top of the list for me and baseball players of the Waynesboro Generals, a always will be."
summer Valley League team.
"Coach Kendall taught us all how to compete BEN SPOTTS Ben Spotts was
and how to face adversity. He held us to high Head coach for named Bridgewa-ter College baseball's standards, instilled an expect-to-win attitude Bridgewater
and challenged us to continue a storied tradi- College's baseball new head coach in
tion:' team May 2019. Previously,
Member of Spotts served as head In fall 2018, Hearn Bridgewater's baseball coach at
SCOTT HEARN was named coach baseball team from Eastern Mennonite
of Mary Baldwin 1993-97 University from
2013-Head baseball coach
at Mary Baldwin University's inaugu- 19, after serving as an
University ral baseball team assistant coach at Bridgewater from 1998-2012.
Member of as a club sport for Spotts said Kendall gave him freedom to do his
Bridgewater's the 2020 spring job as a recruiter, which allowed him to grow baseball team from
season. The team as a coach. As a player, Spotts was a member 1999-2003
will become a var- of three ODAC Championship teams in 1994, sity program for the '95 and '96, two of which made NCAA
appear-2020-21 season. As assistant baseball coach for ances. Spotts said he's proud to be a member the Bridgewater baseball team from 2007-18, of some of the best teams in the history of
Hearn worked closely with Kendall and incom- Bridgewater baseball, and is looking forward to ing head coach Ben Spotts (then an assistant keeping that winning tradition alive.
coach) and said their hard work and dedication "I like to be very aggressive as a coach and made a huge impression on him as a young put pressure on our opponents. I believe in
coach. playing really good fundamental defense as
"Curt was the first coach in my life that was well as having a solid pitching staff. This is a
tough on me. Although he pushed me on the lot like Curt's style. Curt has also been very
field, I felt like he truly cared for me as a person good at finding players who would continue to
<$ and wanted what was best for me, not only develop and get better."
athletically but academically as well:' "As a coach I learned from Curt what it meant
.,
BARRY DAVISDavis is entering to be very organized in everything you do .
Head baseball coach his 16th season He was prepared for any situation that would
for Rider University as head coach of arise. He also taught me how to be a great Member of the Rider University communicator and was really good at working Bridgewater's baseball program. with people and explaining to them what they
baseball team from Under his leadership, needed to do."
1984-87
r
'
790-528-10
CAREER RECORD. KENDALL IS THE WINNINGEST BASEBALL COACH IN D-111 HISTORY23
KENDALL'S RANK INTHE DIVISION Ill RECORD BOOK FOR CAREER VICTORIES
ACROSS ALL SPORTS
12
OLD DOMINIONATH-LETIC CONFERENCE TOUR-NAM ENT CHAMPIONSHIPS, THE MOST IN CONFERENCE
HISTORY
13
ODAC REGULAR SEASON
TITLES
10
TRIPS TO THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
36
MOST WINS IN A SEASON IN
BRIDGEWATER HISTORY SET BY
THE 2014 TEAM
6
ODAC COACH OF THE YEAR
AWARDS
3
VIRGINIA COACH OF THE YEAR
AWARDS
60
ALL-ODAC FIRST-TEAM PICKS
8
ODAC PLAYER OF THE YEAR
WINNERS
4
ODAC ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
RECIPIENTS
1
ODAC PITCHER OF THE YEAR
HONOREE
READYFORTHEFUTURE
By Karen Doss Bowman '91
INTERNSHIPS ARE VITAL FOR PROFESSIONAL SUCCESS, offering students valuable job experience and a head start in their careers. The 2018 Internship & Co-op Survey Report by the National Association of Colleges and Employ ers (NACE) found that 59 percent of interns were subsequently offered full-time positions with the 300 responding companies.
Internships offer numerous benefits, including the chance to gain a realistic view of a potential career; enhance pro fessional skills and build confidence; strengthen one's resume; and develop a professional network.
Internships Boost
Students' Chances
of Career Success
"Employers want to see how students behave in the workforce," said Sherry Talbott, Director of Career Services at Bridgewater. "It's not just about book sense. Intern ships give students a chance to see how they fit into a corporate culture. While employers appreciate students' academic achievements, they also want to see their competencies, such as leadership, communication and teamwork skills, tech savvy and understanding of diversity. An internship is not just a working experi-ence-it's a learning experience." Bridgewater College is dedicated to connected learning, and an internship is an ideal venue for understanding how the collegiate experience translates to the world of work.
According to data from Bridgewater's Office of Career Services, 58 percent of the Class of 2019 participated in an internship or practicum as part of their college experience. Talbott would like to see all students complete at least one internship during their time at the College, but encourages them to do two or three for the best outcomes.
Here are stories about four recent graduates whose careers got a jump-start thanks to internships.
Giving Kids a Voice
Tl FFANY WEESE '19
T
iffany Weese has a heart for childrenwhose lives are in turmoil. Inspired by her 5-year-old brother-of whom her mother has had legal guardianship since he was just months old-Weese focused her Bridgewater experience around plans for a career in social work to help foster children.
"My brother's biological mother couldn't take care of him, and seeing what he went through has made me want to help other kids," said Weese, who majored in sociology with a social work minor.
Weese had the opportunity to gain hands-on social work experience through her fall 2018 internship at the Potomac Center. The nonprofit orga nization, located near her hometown of Moorefield, W Va., partners with the
state of West Virginia to provide safe and permanent homes for children. The 12-cred it-hour field experience was required as part of her minor studies in social work. Weese was responsible for managing a caseload of five children, conducting home visits with their foster families and attending court hearings as a children's advocate.
Some of the children she works with eventually will be reunited with their biological parents, while others are to be adopted. The work can be emotional and bittersweet.
"Once the children go home [to their biological families], we lose all contact with them,"Weese said. "Even when it's in their best interest, it's hard to say goodbye. On the other hand, I've been working with a little girl who will be
·,
.t
f
adopted by her foster family, and I'm su per excited for her. So some days are very hard, and other days, it's totally worth it:'
Before Weese's internship ended, a full time service coordinator position at the organization opened up. She was hired for the job on a part-time basis while fin ishing her last semester at Bridgewater. After graduation, she went to full time and manages anywhere from 10 to 25 cases at a time.
"Tiffany has several qualities that made her a very desirable employee-she's
energetic, outgoing, has a willingness to learn, is observant and a quick learner," said Jamie Hedrick, Supervisor of Service Coordination for the Potomac Center. "Tiffany's personality is a plus: She is very good at communicating and has a pas sion for children and the services our pro gram provides. She is a great advocate
for our children. Tiffany stands out due to her ability to get along well with others, her team mindset and her ability to com municate effectively with individuals we work with-families and children."
Social work is demanding, and Weese said the internship gave her a clear sense of what a career in the field would be like.
"The experience itself was extremely helpful because I learned what I would be getting into,"Weese said. "I know what the hours look like-it can get crazy and I'm prepared for that because of the internship. It's also been valuable for net working that might set me up for other opportunities in the future."
-Inside Politics
MARSHALL MILLER '18
Q
ne of Marshall Miller's earliest tion that works within the Republicanmemories is of the Sept 11, 2001, Party to represent the interests of LGBT terrorist attacks on the World Trade individuals. Miller, wanting to be part
Center and the Pentagon. He recalls of"making the Republican Party more seeing footage from the tragedies and inclusive," applied for and landed an
hearing President George W Bush's internship as an executive assistant
speech declaring war on terrorism. to the organization's president His
As a witness to those tragic events in responsibilities included managing
U.S history, Miller realized the impact correspondence, scheduling meetings, politics can have on people's lives. editing documents and coordinating
"I could tell, even at that young social media outreach efforts.
age, that something important was Miller did the internship as a course
happening," said Miller, who gradu- for academic credit and was able to
ated in 2018 with a bachelor's degree live in the District during the semester,
in political science and government spending just one day each week on
and a minor in English. "I was keenly campus for one class and for one-on-aware that politics mattered, and that one meetings with professors for two
people with political power make other courses.
decisions that have a real impact on The LCR internship not only devel-people domestically and abroad. When oped Miller's professional skills, but also
I came to Bridgewater, I wanted to gain opened the door for future employ-an in-depth understemploy-anding of politics ment by building his network. Before
and policy, and to find an area where I he completed the internship, his
super-could fit into that process:' visor connected him with a colleague
Miller wanted to work in Washing- at the Republican National Committee
ton, D.C, the epicenter of American (RNC). After graduating from
Bridgewa-politics. During his senior year, one ter last May, Miller began working for
of his professors told him about Log the RNC as a rapid response research
Cabin Republicans (LCR), an organiza- analyst
"At a small school like Bridgewater, I was able to gain the skills that pre pa red me to work in politics at a level that's high enough to meet my ambi- tions-but until the
internship, the idea of being in D.C
and doing political advocacy was an
abstraction for me," said Miller, who
served as student body president
during his senior year. "Once I started
doing the work and realizing the skills I already had-such as critical thinking,
problem solving and
communicat-ing with people-and seecommunicat-ing where I needed to grow, it really brought it
all down to earth. I made connections between what I learned at Bridgewater and the real world."
-BRIDGEWATER 17
I
W
hen Devin Lattimore '19 first chose a major at Bridgewater College, he admits the process was a little more organic. Presented with the list of majors, he designated account ing as his pick, likely because it was one of the first ones listed. But before the start of classes, Lattimore realized environmental science was his field of choice.The environment had always been
a topic of interest for Lattimore, who grew up in Prince George's County, Md. He watched nature documentaries for fun and always had Animal Planet on in the background.
"So many of our actions affect the environment and we don't realize it," Lattimore said. "There's so much more to it It's not restricted to big topics like
Sustainable Future
DEVIN LATTIMORE '19
climate change."One of those smaller but impactful environmental practices was central to Lattimore's internship with the College's Office of Community Engagement and Sustainability the spring semester of
his junior year. Under DirectorTeshome Molalenge '87, Lattimore focused on identifying and engaging stakehold ers as part of an overall composting program at Bridgewater. The College currently composts pre-consumer waste at the Kline Campus Center in a joint partnership with Parkhurst Dining Services, as well as lawn clippings and
leaves for f1owerbeds around grounds. Engaging students was the hardest part, Lattimore says, and he employed creative ways to bring composting to their attention, such as a Power-Point presentation played during lunch in the KCC
As a result of Lattimore's internship, Molalenge encouraged him to apply to speak about what he had learned at the 30th Environment Virginia Sympo sium, held in March 2019 at Virginia Military Institute. The premier environ mental conference in the state brings together individuals in the govern ment, business, nonprofit and higher education sectors to network and collaborate on solving environmental challenges. After a highly selective application process, Lattimore learned he was one of the few college students chosen to present Lattimore's talk on organic waste solutions on Bridgewa ter's campus was part of a breakout session on waste/recycling on college campuses. His fellow panel speakers
included the director of the Center for Social and Cultural Research at Radford
University, a senior scientist at the Col lege of William and Mary and a senior environmental scientist from Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, a civil engineering consulting and design firm. Lattimore talked about stakeholder engagement regarding composting and discussed both successes and struggles he encountered, including engaging students on campus and the economic costs of creating a larger, post-consum er waste composting program.
"It was very inspiring to see so many people with so much passion for the environment," Lattimore said.
During fall semester of his senior year, Lattimore interned with the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) in Harrisonburg, Va. He per formed various tasks such as database management and visiting businesses
to inspect their stormwater runoff prac tices. In May, Lattimore started his job as a Water Permit Writer at the DEQ.
Lattimore said although internships at a college can be viewed as less pres tigious, it was the internship through Molalenge's office that gave him the confidence in his skills to pursue his passion beyond campus, which led to landing an internship that segued into full-time employment
"It's really cool to have so many op portunities available at a small school;' Lattimore said. "If you really take the opportunity and you make yourself responsible for the work that's being done, it makes a huge difference."
A
n aspiring lawyer, Monica Iturbide'19 is passionate about political issues that impact human rights, inter national law and public policy in Latin American countries. Interning with an immigration attorney last fall allowed her to develop a realistic picture of the plight faced by countless refugees seek ing asylum in the United States.
"These people live in horrible condi tions that no human being should
have to go through;' said Iturbide, who double majored in political science and Spanish with a pre-law concentra tion and minored in global studies. "It's pretty shocking, some of the stories I've
Legal Eagle
MONICA !TURBIDE '19
heard. The U.Shas such a divided political climate over refugees, so I think it's important that we have people who are willing to help them."
Born in California
and raised in Guada lajara, Mexico (where her parents are from), Iturbide handled tasks such as translating documents, interview ing clients and
conduct-ing research for the law firm of John Elledge and Associates in Harrisonburg,
Va.-the only law firm in the area that handles asylum cases. She even made a trip with her supervising attorney to immigration court in Washington, D.C., to watch one case unfold.
"Asylum law is a hard type of law (to practice)-it's hard to win an asylum case because the client has to prove that they have a well-founded fear of persecution or fear for their life that keeps them from going back to their home country;' said Iturbide, who was hired to continue working part-time for the firm after completing the internship for academic credit. "I did a lot of re search on the clients' countries, looking
at issues such as political persecution, domestic violence against women or gang activities."
Though Iturbide appreciates the work of an immigration/asylum lawyer, the internship helped her realize this field of expertise is not the right choice for her. For now, she's moving to Reston, Va., where she'll work for a government contractor as a legal aide for the US Department of Justice. In two or three years, she will attend law school and specialize in international law
"The internship validated that I still, 100 percent, want to become a lawyer," Iturbide said. "I want to help others and do something that's actually meaning ful, but after working with the asylum lawyer, I realized it's not something I can personally do. It's mentally draining and will break your heart. It's too harsh. But the internship helped me see what be
ing a lawyer is really like and how much work and research I'd have to do."
No matter where she ends up, Itur bide is confident that her experience at Bridgewater has prepared her for whatever challenges lie ahead.
"When I started the internship, I didn't know what I was getting into, but because of my liberal arts education, I was ready," she said. "My four years here taught me to think critically and solve problems. I can handle whatever life throws at me."
Taking the Lead
Former Eagles Soccer Player Named Head Coach of Boys High School Team
By Karen Doss Bowman '91
F
or Morgan Keplinger '13, the glass ceiling was once a grassy field.These days, however, Keplinger is breaking ground where few other women have succeeded: as the new head coach of the boys soccer team at Smithsburg High School in Washington County, Md. She's believed to be the first woman to hold the top coaching spot for a male high school athletic program in the county.
Across the country, women are under represented as head coaches at all lev els-from youth to professional sports and it's even rarer to find a woman coaching a male team. The data on high school teams is sparse, but a 2015 survey by the Sports and Industry Association
found that women comprise just
27 percent of the more than 6.5 million adults coaching teams for youth up to age 14. At the college
level, women hold head coaching positions for about 43 percent of all women's teams and just 3 percent for men's teams, according to data provided by the Women's Sports Foundation.
Keplinger, a former Eagles soccer standout, is ready for the challenge.
"Coaching in general is
chal-lenging, so being a woman coaching a boys team-I
don't see it as a big deal;' said Keplinger, a health and physical education teacher at Smiths burg. "I teach male and female
students all day, and whether in class or on the field, I try to foster personal confidence and
drive in my students."
Keplinger has been an assis tant coach for the girls soccer team at Williamsport High School during the past four seasons, and she also has worked with the track team at Smithsburg.
As Keplinger takes over a struggling soccer team that won only 17 matches in the last seven seasons, she has some per spective on how to build a competitive program. She was part of Bridgewater head coach Mike Van Horn's first recruit ing class in 2009, which came in follow ing a losing season. That group laid a solid foundation and, during their senior year, led the Eagles to the program's first ODAC championship game.
As she plans for the fall season, Keplinger is applying lessons learned while playing for Van Horn.
"It's hard to take a group of people and
get them all to embrace their roles and work together, but Coach Van Horn was very good at that," said Keplinger, who also won a couple of ODAC titles for track at BC "As a coach, he was disciplined, and he had very high expectations. I'm replicating a lot of the things he would do, and he will be an active sounding board for me!'
Van Horn believes Keplinger has what it takes to run a successful program.
"Morgan had a mental toughness about her, and
she wanted to push herself
to get better," said Van Horn. "The biggest growth I saw
in her during her four years at Bridgewater was taking that mindset from
an individual standpoint to looking at the whole picture-making sure her team mates also had that mental toughness and holding them accountable."
Keplinger said playing soccer helps de velop a broad range of life ski I Is, includ ing perseverance and the ability to think on your feet She hopes her players will realize how much the sport can benefit them.
"For me, playing soccer at the college level taught me a great deal not only about the game, but also about myself," Keplinger said. "My experience playing sports at Bridgewater has been a big fac tor in developing who I am. I really want my players to see soccer not just as a game, but as more of a tool and opportu nity to become a better student, a better athlete and a better person.
-FLORY HONORS STUDENTS
LEARN ONE-ON-ONE WITH
OXFORD PROFESSORS
By Karen Doss Bowman '91
I
n May 2018, Joshua Wilt '19 was one of 10 students from Bridgewater's Flory Honors Program to spend the month living and studying at Oxford University, in Oxford, England. For Wilt, the "once in-a-lifetime opportunity"to become immersed in campus life at one of the world's oldest and most prestigious universities was awe-inspiring and trans formative."It's amazing because you're walk-ing down many of the same paths that were once traveled by inf1uential figures throughout history;' said Wilt, an Eagles cross country and track athlete. He was excited to run on the Oxford track, where the late Olympian and neurologist Sir Roger Bannister became the first person
to run the mile in fewer than four min utes in 1954. "It's fascinating to be in that environment where you have so many people from all over the world. And it's amazing to think that most of the build ings there are older than our country."
Wilt made his first trip abroad as part of the inaugural Oxford Experience,
a travel course offered exclusively to Bridgewater's Flory Fellows during May Term. The six-credit-hour course (three academic credits from Bridgewater and three from Oxford) gives students the opportunity to experience Oxford's tuto rial system, a method of teaching done primarily in small groups or one-on-one.
As Wilt prepares to enroll in the doctor of physical therapy program at Mary
Baldwin University's Murphy Deming College of Health Sci ences this fall, he said working with Professor Christopher Garland from Magdalen College's Depart ment of Pharmacology enhanced his critical thinking and reasoning skills. These abilities will be helpful in his future career, as medical scientists' understanding of the human body is constantly changing.
"Professor Christopher Garland was
able to direct our discussions in a way that the content was always related to my career goal," said Wilt, a health and exercise science major from Fishersville, Va. "He is great at figuring out where there were gaps in my understanding. Sometimes he offered an explanation to help connect the dots, and sometimes he sent me off with the assignment of find ing those answers myself and explain ing them in an essay. Our next meeting would then start by expanding further on those answers, then tying them into the next topic of discussion. The style of instruction was fascinating; we were able to fit a surprising amount of material into one month of studying."
Flory Honors Program Director Dr.
Brandon Marsh, department chair and Associate Professor of History, launched the course to build up the honors com munity and to add value to the students' academic experience. He accompanied the students to England and taught Modern British History through the Eyes of the University, an honors course that
all of the Flory Fellows took. Each student also enrolled in specialized tutorials within their academic field and worked one-on one with an Oxford faculty member. TOP RIGHT: Dr. Brandon Marsh and the Flory Honors students in the Oxford Experience visited Buckingham Palace in London.
ABOVE: The group stopped for a photo during a hike along the River Thames in the Oxford, England, countryside.
Jenna Walmer '19, a global studies
major with a concentration in
German studies, focused much
of her undergraduate research on
the Holocaust and genocide. The
Oxford Experience afforded her the
opportunity to study under Oxford
professor Zoe Waxman, one of the
world's leading Holocaust historians.
"The idea was to offer a unique, long-term honors experience that could broaden the students' horizons-es pecially those who have never been abroad;' said Marsh. "We wanted to provide the students an immersive experience where they could learn about a new culture and challenge themselves with this rigorous Oxford tutorial system. They made connections with faculty who are at the top of their fields at one of the best universities in the world . ... This program offers a nice way to encourage the students to investigate and enhance their long-term personal and profes sional goals."
ing critically about the topics for the week:'
Walmer, who starts graduate school this fall at West Chester University of Pennsylvania to pursue a master's degree in
Holo-Jenna Walmer '19, a global studies major with a concentration in German studies, has focused much of her under graduate research on the Holocaust and genocide, with a particular interest in sexual violence during armed conf1ict The Oxford Experience gave her the op
portunity to study under Oxford profes sor Zoe Waxman, one of the world's leading Holocaust historians.
caust and genocide studies, is passionate about serving those who are less fortu nate and helping to break cycles of poverty, lack of education and conf1ict She noticed a
Jenna Walmer '19, outside of Blenheim Palace in Woodstock, England.
"I do not have the words to describe what it was like to work with a renowned scholar in the field of women's studies during the Holocaust," said Walmer, a Lancaster, Pa., native who also studied abroad for a semester in Marburg, Ger many. "Her expertise was very helpful in improving my writing skills and
think-stark contrast between Oxford's presti gious environment and the surrounding areas populated with poor and homeless people.
"At Oxford, every day we would walk by a handful of homeless people asking for spare change;' said Walmer, who ultimately hopes to pursue a doctor ate in Holocaust/genocide studies or peace studies. "I did not expect to see that much disparity in such a renowned place We had a handful of discussions about the culture of Oxford and its pres tige connected to the types of people
who study there. With learning about the culture and elitism, my social justice interests include wanting to expand op portunities of elite institutions to those who are not as fortunate as the people who typically get accepted to places like Oxford!'
Marsh hopes that every Honors Program student at Bridgewater will participate in the Oxford Experience, which is subsidized through the support of generous donors. After this spring, the course will be offered every other year.
