²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵAPP

 

 

Heather (H) has been a dedicated student at ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵAPP for almost a decade because they find value within every course they take. Throughout their time attending ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵAPP College, H has experienced a multitude of challenges (health and otherwise) as they continued their education, and whenever they experienced setbacks, they never once contemplated stopping. For H, it is not about the degree alone, but the journey as in their own words, "I like going to ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵAPP because I just like to learn."

Over the course of multiple semesters, from between English and Humanities alone, H has taken ENG-C1000 (English Composition), ENGL-1B (Critical Thinking and Writing), ENG-14 (American Literature I: Pre-Contact through Civil War), ENG-40 (World Literature I: From Ancient Literatures to the Seventeenth Century) ENGL-66 (Queer Voices: A Survey of LGBTQIA2+ Literature), HUM-10 Honors (World Religions), ENG 8 (Introduction to Mythology), HUM 9 (American Voices), and HUM 35 (Philosophy of Religion). Through canes, through walkers, through wheelchairs, and even through battling three separate cancers (among a host of other challenges), if there was a way for H to make it to campus for a 7:20am class, or a 3pm class, they would not only attend, but always actively take part.

Though H is a survivor of domestic violence and religious abuse, and though H has experienced (and continues to experience) tremendous pain and suffering, they persevere through it all while exhibiting a wonderful sense of humor in and out of classroom settings. H does not shy away from discussing difficult topics; rather, they push through it and share for the good of the class and their peers to be made aware of the realities they faced so we can learn and grow together. They have an incredible story, an amazing heart, and they always stand up and/or promote what they believe in.

H embodies everything that ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵAPP stands for. They persist in their educational pathways and complete degrees at ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵAPP as a life-long learning process recognizing that education, literally, is their life. They are open-minded and generous in their ability to share their own experiences and perspectives while listening to their peers and drawing out collective insights. The multitude of challenges they have experienced since attending ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵAPP is nothing short of inspiring, but it is their tenacity and engagement with others, specifically, that distinguishes H as a prime candidate deserving of this recognition.
— Professors Cameron Young & Michael Bobo