Southwestern College Collegian

Issue date: 4/23/08 Section: Personal Column

It's a small offering, but I want to publicly thank the staff and professors who have put your time and energy into the lives of students. On behalf of my peers and myself, thanks for investing in the furthering of our education. During my four years here, I have learned inside and out of the classroom from many of you. I would like to thank those of you who have personally affected me. Roger Moon, your Voice and Diction class was my very first to step into a classroom on campus in the fall of 2004. You showed me I had nothing to be afraid of. The "VD Safari's" will never be forgotten. Chris Douglas, you allowed us to expand our Mind, Body and Universe. Dan Daniel, through teaching us how to Research Across the Disciplines you inadvertently taught us all about jazz. Allyson Moon and Tim Shook, you continue to teach our campus to wipe out Creativity-killers and retain the flow. Tim Shook thanks for your patience with me in both Class and Private Piano. Tom Hoffgan, thanks for sharing your in-depth guitar wisdom. Karen Craig, for teaching intervals and key signatures early in the morning. Dr. Claudia Geer, for teaching me the world of Developmental Psychology, while I strove to get a sticker of congratulations for an A on your tests. Thanks for that sticker. Dr. Jill Swartz, thanks for getting us "out of our heads" enough to see Art as Therapy. Dr. Beth Sheppard, your Biblical knowledge astounds me. I am so glad to have had the opportunity to study under you. Pam Green, thanks for helping me through taking Intro and Foundations of Education simultaneously in one semester. I especially enjoyed presentation days because of our "room mother" program. Dr. Gardner, thanks for being flexible and willing to help me complete my minor by adding an independent study to your schedule this spring. Dr. Bill DeArmond, your enthusiasm and knowledge for the History of Television and Cinema has given us ours. Tracy Frederick, who inspired us to write down more than what someone else found to be true, and to expound on it with our own words and findings. May we continue to perpetuate the dominate hegemonic position of communication as both sending and receiving simultaneously. Steve Rankin, thanks for your leadership and guidance. Thank you for helping me learn to lead. Jodi Combs, Todd Moore, Kristina Harding, Leslie Grant, Stephanie Humphries, Sally Benson, Sheleah Taylor, Rodney Worsham, Tami Schmidt, Lai-L Clemons are the past and present staff of the admissions office. You have made representing our school not only fun, but a privilege. Thank you for the opportunity to bring in prospective students. Tom Jacobs, thanks for imparting wisdom that extends beyond the classroom. Every one of those quotes we post of yours has a learning experience behind it. Well, most of them. Thanks for giving us so much of your time, and for putting up with us. I am grateful for the turn-around you have made possible in our department and am glad to have been a part of it. Martin Rude, your excitement and sincerity are contagious. Thanks for dreaming big, pushing us out there, and giving us an opportunity to accomplish much more than I imagined we could have. Jim Helmer, you taught me to persevere, and through perseverance taught me character. You believed in me through the tough times, and encouraged me all the way through the finish line. I am proud to have run for your teams. Thanks Coach. And last but certainly not least, thanks to Stacy Sparks. My only regret is that we didn't have you on faculty earlier in my college career. I have truly appreciated learning how to tell stories in a new way from you. You keep our staff in line, make us do our jobs, and have always been interested in the who, what, and where of our next step as seniors. I'm thankful to have had the chance to learn the ways of professional print and page design from you, and am grateful for both your advice and encouragement along the way. The professors and staff mentioned above turn this small college that could be a rinky-dink place into an institution of big-time, real-life learning. I am genuinely grateful to have had the chance to learn from each of you.

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