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Sarah Unertl Domingus '04 counsels one of her West Carrollton Middle School students. |
The Writing Marathon was an extended "writing process" activity in which students worked with facilitators in small groups of four or five. They either selected or were given topics, and they wrote for 20 minutes. Each group's facilitator led the students through a response process, and the students re-wrote for 20 minutes. The response process was repeated, and the students tried to generate a final copy by the end of the marathon.
"The students who visited campus were chosen as a result of the potential that they demonstrate daily," Domingus said. "It is my hope that this experience will motivate these students to continue to take pride in their education – understanding that even if going to college isn't their personal goal, they will have more opportunities available to them in the future with disciplined studies."
Wittenberg teacher education candidates and English majors serving as group facilitators for the writing groups included Lauren Williams, class of 2009 from Roanoke, Va.; Claire Nolan, class of 2009 from Westlake, Ohio; Karina Duddleston, class of 2009 from Clifton, Ohio; Dani Eller, class of 2009 from Ashtabula, Ohio; Nicole Katze, class of 2009 from Havertown, Pa.; Sarah Piskos, class of 2010 from Wooster, Ohio; Carly Thompson, class of 2010 from Ft. Thomas, Ky.; and Lindsay Pepper, class of 2011 from Edina, Minn.
"I actually got this idea from a school in Texas conducting a similar activity. Although, we have several colleges to choose from in the Dayton area, I felt it was important to take students away from what they know," Domingus said. "Because I had such a positive experience at Wittenberg, and I talk so often of the college experience in my classroom, I couldn't help but share it with my students first hand."
The students arrived on campus at 10:30 a.m. to start their campus experience with an admission guided tour and complementary lunch in the Center Dining Room of the university's Benham-Pence Student Center. At 12:30 p.m., the student convened in the Ness Family Auditorium, Hollenbeck Hall, for the two-hour Writing Marathon.
"This activity was originally scheduled for February but got snowed out. Since then, students have asked daily about rescheduling," Domingus said. "They are thrilled about being specially chosen and having the opportunity to visit a college campus. It is such a blessing that Wittenberg is so willing to host us."
Written By: Phyllis Eberts
Photo By: Robert Gantt
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