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Hometown Activities Become Part of College Experience
for Many Chillicothe Students
A distinguishing feature of the Chillicothe Campus educational experience is that many students are able to remain connected to activities they began prior to enrolling in college while pursuing their college degrees. Instead of giving up these activities, the pursuits become a part of the students’ overall college experiences.
Kelsey Post, who has been actively involved in 4-H, continues to travel regularly to fulfill her duties as Jackson County Fair Queen while attending OU-C. Post plans to become a veterinarian and will eventually relocate to the Athens campus to complete her pre-veterinary degree.
“It was really important to me to continue my involvement with 4-H while attending college,” Post said. “I have been able to keep my commitment to 4-H and my connection to Jackson County while attending OU-C.”
She is also able to maintain her connection with her best friend Allison Wellman, a fellow OU-C student and Jackson High School graduate. Both play flute in the local Southern Ohio Symphony Orchestra.
“We are both busy but find time to hang out together,” said Wellman, a nursing student. “It is nice that I am able to stay in touch with friends from Jackson. I am not as involved in activities back home as I used to be, but I am still able to maintain some connections.”
Lindsay Binegar, an elementary education major from Greenfield McClain High School, gains practical experience by helping out in an elementary classroom in her hometown on a weekly basis.
“I love working with the children, and it is great career-preparation,” Binegar said. “I look to return to Greenfield after graduating from college, and this experience will hopefully help me in that regard. OU-C is just the right distance from home. I chose to stay close to home so that I am able to continue doing things I enjoy, and these activities become part of my college experience. I like the close-knit, fairly quiet feel of campus.”
Katie Penwell, an early education major from Washington Court House, remains active in a church youth group in her hometown while pursuing her college goals at OU-C.
“I have been involved in the group since I was in middle school, and it is a big deal to me," Penwell said."My family also means the world to me, and it is important to be able to go home in the evenings and see them. This helps me get through the week in a positive manner.”
For Jason Atkins, 37, the proximity to campus helps to maintain his family connections while pursuing a Bachelor’s of Technical and Applied Studies degree.
“When I have spare time, I usually spend it hanging out with my family or friends," Atkins stated. "It is good that I can relax and spend time with them. It makes for a nice balance with going to college, and I didn’t want to give that up. For example, in a couple of weeks I will be taking a camping trip to Michigan to go mushroom-hunting. I like it that I can arrange my schedule to balance schoolwork and other things I enjoy doing.”
PHOTO: Former Jackson High classmates Kelsey Post and Allison Wellman have maintained their friendship while attending OU-C.
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