UA journalism class works with non-traditional students
Lindsey Pruitt
Issue date: 4/28/08 Section: News
Jonathan Harrop, a senior journalism major, wrote in his exhibit about England, "Simply being older than the average age of students doesn't make one any less or more important than those who conform to the average."
Another nontraditional student involved in the project was Bernard Sulliban.
Sulliban, 37, balances a college education while raising two children and working part-time at the Walton Arts Center, according to his display at the exhibit.
Sulliban, unlike many students at the UA, is at an age where family has become his main focus. He calls his children "my heroes" and always makes sure he is home in time to be with them after school, according to the exhibit.
Sulliban said he feels like traditional students, and students that came to college right out of high school, need to learn to be more appreciative of their education.
In reference to these students, he said in the exhibit, "Their participation in class discussions is often disappointing, as though they don't grasp the value of the opportunity to learn that is right before their eyes."
Larry Ash, who worked on the display about Sulliban, is a nontraditional student focusing on journalism. Ash called the project "an adventure in learning."
Apryl Okoroafor is another nontraditional student with a family pursuing a college education.
Okoroafor is working on her bachelor's degree in fine arts and calls her life "a balancing act," juggling two daughters and a husband while entering art competitions and attending class, according to the exhibit.
She, too, mentioned she is disheartened by the actions of many traditional UA students.
"I am discouraged by so many young people that don't take advantage of the many opportunities to advance their careers, even without the commitments that nontraditional students have," Okoroafor said, according to the exhibit.
Corbin Otwell, who wrote Okoroafor's feature story, said, "This was a very worthwhile project that helped me get more in depth with my subjects."
The other two nontraditional students featured were Karen Ament and Carole Boyd, two ladies who chose to use their education to work with children.
Ament hopes to become a teacher and "help kids discover their talents and increase their confidence." While Boyd abandoned a high-paying job in marketing to "give back and be a social worker," according to the exhibit.
Spencer Presley, who was assigned to work with Ament, found "going far out of town and covering someone's life is very satisfying," according to the exhibit.
As Boyd's assigned journalist, Andrea Parnell summed up the exhibit by saying, "I can honestly say that my eyes have been opened to a whole new aspect of what a nontraditional student struggles with."
Gorder said he plans to continue doing service-learning assignments with his journalism students.
Another nontraditional student involved in the project was Bernard Sulliban.
Sulliban, 37, balances a college education while raising two children and working part-time at the Walton Arts Center, according to his display at the exhibit.
Sulliban, unlike many students at the UA, is at an age where family has become his main focus. He calls his children "my heroes" and always makes sure he is home in time to be with them after school, according to the exhibit.
Sulliban said he feels like traditional students, and students that came to college right out of high school, need to learn to be more appreciative of their education.
In reference to these students, he said in the exhibit, "Their participation in class discussions is often disappointing, as though they don't grasp the value of the opportunity to learn that is right before their eyes."
Larry Ash, who worked on the display about Sulliban, is a nontraditional student focusing on journalism. Ash called the project "an adventure in learning."
Apryl Okoroafor is another nontraditional student with a family pursuing a college education.
Okoroafor is working on her bachelor's degree in fine arts and calls her life "a balancing act," juggling two daughters and a husband while entering art competitions and attending class, according to the exhibit.
She, too, mentioned she is disheartened by the actions of many traditional UA students.
"I am discouraged by so many young people that don't take advantage of the many opportunities to advance their careers, even without the commitments that nontraditional students have," Okoroafor said, according to the exhibit.
Corbin Otwell, who wrote Okoroafor's feature story, said, "This was a very worthwhile project that helped me get more in depth with my subjects."
The other two nontraditional students featured were Karen Ament and Carole Boyd, two ladies who chose to use their education to work with children.
Ament hopes to become a teacher and "help kids discover their talents and increase their confidence." While Boyd abandoned a high-paying job in marketing to "give back and be a social worker," according to the exhibit.
Spencer Presley, who was assigned to work with Ament, found "going far out of town and covering someone's life is very satisfying," according to the exhibit.
As Boyd's assigned journalist, Andrea Parnell summed up the exhibit by saying, "I can honestly say that my eyes have been opened to a whole new aspect of what a nontraditional student struggles with."
Gorder said he plans to continue doing service-learning assignments with his journalism students.
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