Meredith College’s faculty and staff production of Alice in Wonderland took the stage during the weekend of January 24, 2020. Occurring only every four years, this tradition is few and far between. This year’s performance of Alice in Wonderland marks 96 years since the first one in 1924. The original production was a gift from faculty to students, and ever since then, it has been an unforgettable experience for every attendee. From waiting in line for hours to seeing professors in crazy costumes, Alice in Wonderland is an experience that every Meredith student treasures. Here are some thoughts from Honors students who attended the 2020 production of Alice in Wonderland!

Photo Courtesy of Abby Black

“I got in line at 6:30 in the morning, but because I was with my friends it was totally worth it!  I was expecting to just see the normal Alice in wonderland story, but what I experienced was so much more. My favorite part about Alice would be all the references to the Lillian Parker Wallace lecture in the fall, where we heard from Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. I was also so surprised to see one of my professors in the play- I had no idea she was in it! Alice in Wonderland was 100% worth the wait and something I will never forget.”

– Abby Black, Class of 2023  

Photo Courtesy of Taylor Walker

“Waking up early to get the tickets was definitely a part of the experience. I will probably never again wake up that early. My favorite part about the play was seeing my English Professor Dr. Walton dressed as a Knight and reciting Shakespeare. I think that everybody did amazing in the play, and made it memorable for the audience. I can’t believe that Jo Allen was in the play either! She did amazing, and I was so excited to get a photo with her after the performance. I know that next time marks 100 years since the first Alice, so I will want to be there. If you are not 100% bought into this crazy Meredith tradition, you have to go. You will not regret it!               -Hannah Weigle, Class of 2023

Meredith College’s well-known tradition, Cornhuskin’, took place this year on Saturday, November 2. Beloved by all, the day started with a parade at 3:30 pm, where all of the classes showed their school spirit. Additionally, many clubs and organizations at Meredith participated in the parade. The night of Cornhuskin’ began at 6:30 pm in McIver Amphitheater. It was entertaining and fun for many, with the Class of 2020 winning the competition overall. All of the classes performed well in their dances, skits, as well as their apple bobbing and cornshucking competitions. Leading up to Cornhuskin’ were a variety of events to celebrate the occasion. These included hall raids from every class, Can Art, and the President’s Raid. Cornhuskin’ does a great job of promoting unity among all students at Meredith College. It also connects the alumni community with current students, since many alumni return for the tradition. Below, read a few stories from Honors students who participated in the festivities!

“I participated in Can Art, the parade, the Skit, Hog Callin’, and Tall Tale! I think it went absolutely amazing! I love participating in Cornhuskin, as it’s such a unique and special event. It gives me such joy to see all of our hard work finally pay off. It’s also so exciting to see all of the other classes and their hard work! Seeing the unity between all of the classes and the constant support we give one another is truly special. Cornhuskin’ is just another reminder of how truly lucky I am to be at Meredith, surrounded by supportive, empowering, and strong individuals. I have met so many wonderful people and formed new and unbreakable bonds with friends. I’m sad that I only have two Cornhuskins left, but I can’t wait to make the absolute best of each one of them.”

-Kiley Van Ryn, Class of 2022

“I’m a junior in the Honors Program majoring in Math and Psychology. I had the opportunity to participate in Cornhuskin’ for the junior class in multiple capacities this year! For one, I was the class corn-shucker, where I shucked seven ears of corn in less than a minute! I also participated in the dances and walked in the parade! I have been involved in the Cornhuskin’ tradition since my freshman year and am eagerly looking forward to next year. By going to the late-night dance practices in the parking lot I was able to spend time with many women from my class and connect with them in a special way, sharing in this unique experience together. The parade was very enjoyable – with the massive balloon arches to singing chants among the classes – and encompassed the school spirit of Meredith. This tradition is so personal to Meredith and truly unifies members within a class, and the different classes together as one school of strong women. I recommend that everyone try to join in this tradition in some way or another, it really is suey-t!”

-Paige Lawrence, Class of 2021

With the start of the new semester and throughout its progression, Honors students and staff have been in the full swing of classes and assignments. Fall break took place last week, and no classes were held on Thursday, Oct. 10 or Friday, Oct. 11. This was a nice break for many members of the Meredith College community. Below, read how a few students in the Honors Program decided to spend their Fall Break.

Katie Thompson, Class of 2021

Pictured above is Katie Thompson at a crab feast in Annapolis, Maryland.

“Over Fall Break, I visited my family at home in Lorton, Virginia where I took some day trips with friends and family to the historic town of Occoquan along the Potomac River, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania as well as an apple orchard in Maryland along the way. We also went to Annapolis, Maryland. It has been a tradition in my family to have a crab feast in the Fall since that’s when crabs are in season and this year did not disappoint! As someone who loves to explore places both near and far, getting to spend time with friends while traveling was such a great way to spend my Fall Break. It was definitely one that I won’t forget, especially with Ring Week starting just days after!!”

Miranda Demers, Class of 2022

“I spent my fall break catching up with my family. I went home and hung out with my mom, my sister, and my grandparents. One thing my family did all together is we made pretzels from scratch. They were super yummy, and I had a great break!”

Raynor Dail, Class of 2022

Raynor Dail is pictured at right in Greece. Olivia Slack, another Honors student, is standing second from left.

“I am in Sansepolcro, Italy this semester with the Meredith study abroad program. Over our break, a few of my friends and I traveled to Greece. It is such a beautiful country, and I am so glad I was able to visit during my abroad experience!”

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

On behalf of the Honors Program, we hope all students enjoyed their short break to celebrate the midterm mark of the semester. Honors students, continue to work hard. Keep going strong in your studies and beyond!

[The author, senior Nola Grace Brown, applied for an Honors study abroad scholarship (SAS) and received one. How about you?  Do you want to study abroad in Summer or Fall 2020? Watch your email inbox in early Dec 2019 for Honors SAS application materials. Applications are due by 15 Feb 2020. This summer, she completed an eight-week internship in Ireland.]

At this writing, I have just finished my seventh full week of interning at the Irish Wheelchair Association.  It is so hard to believe that I have only one week left!

Some highlights from the last few weeks at IWA include working the “Members Camp,” helping to organize and run a team-building event, and stepping into the role of personal trainer for a variety of new individuals.  

While the IWA hosts inclusive sports camps for kids of all backgrounds all summer long, the Members Camp is only for children with disabilities.  The week was so much fun!  I had a blast playing games and going on field trips with the kids while simultaneously learning so much about caring for upwards of 20 young individuals in wheelchairs, all at the same time!  

Participants in the Members Camp pose for a photo. Nola Grace is pictured in the back row, towards the middle of the group.

The opportunity to help orchestrate the team-building event was so exciting as well!  The IWA hosted an evening of playing wheelchair basketball for employees of a local company.  The event helped to push the participants outside of their comfort zones while also teaching them lessons in working together and giving them a new perspective on the life of a wheelchair user.  After putting themselves in the position of a wheelchair user for only a few short hours, all of the people in attendance said that their appreciation for what wheelchair users go through on a daily basis had skyrocketed!  They confessed how frequently they find themselves taking life on two legs for granted. 

Employees and interns play wheelchair basketball to simulate what it’s like to not be able to walk. Nola Grace is pictured in the background.

Then I started to wonder: How often do I do the same?  How often do I overlook the blessing of an able body and the independence that that provides?  How frequently do I complain about what isn’t there when there are so many things to be thankful for?  Even in the realm of travel, how much do I take for granted with my place in the world at home, or with the chances I have had to see brand new, fascinating cultures?  

Finally, I have learned immensely more from my personal training clients than I ever anticipated!  I have been working one-on-one with many people, but two in particular have captured my heart with their determination and desire to grow!  One is a man who suffered a 40-foot fall: Pat shattered his lower spine, cracked every rib on his left side, punctured his lung, fractured his pelvis and forearm, and had a great deal of nerve damage.  Even after all of this, Pat is a walking man.  He is a miracle, and my work with him has taught me so much about pushing the limits of what is said to be “impossible.”  

Another stand-out was sweet Miss Brid, a remarkable 78-year-old woman with Guillian-Barré Syndrome—a neurological disorder in which the body’s immune system attacks the peripheral nervous system.  She inspired me every day with her radiant positivity and her passion to see improvement. 

As my trip is coming to a close, I am overcome with thankfulness and gratitude for the experiences I have had, the people I have been blessed to meet, the lessons that I have learned, and the gorgeous places I have been able to see!  A huge thanks goes to API, the OIP, and the Meredith Honors Program for helping to make this dream come true!  Cheers! 

[Editor’s note: Nola Grace is a recipient of an Honors study abroad scholarship.]

On June 19, I was greeted in Dublin, Ireland by two staff members from Academic Programs International (API) and 17 other American students who were preparing for internships as well!  All of the American interns and I settled into our student apartments in the heart of Dublin, and after a weekend of touring and getting acquainted with Irish culture, we dispersed throughout the city to begin our internship placements.

Nola Grace Brown, second from left, attends a Welcome Lunch in Ireland with other student interns.

Nola Grace poses for a photo after a full week of interning at the Irish Wheelchair Association.

My placement, hand-picked for me by the wonderful API staff, is at the Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA) in Clontarf, Ireland––a beautiful small town on the coast of Dublin.  IWA is Ireland’s leading representative organization and service provider for people with physical disabilities. On-site at their campus, they provide group exercise classes, personal one-on-one training, occupational therapy, physical therapy, wheelchair services, corporate training, outreach services, enhanced home-care services with specialized on-campus apartments, a driving school with specialized hand-controls, and sporting events with levels ranging from recreational to elite paralympic!

Nola Grace stands at the James Joyce Bridge in Dublin, the capital of Ireland, on her first traveling day.

At the time of my writing this, I have just completed my first of eight weeks of working at this amazing facility! Each day has been very unique and has come with its own challenges and adventures! So far, I have learned so much and been able to apply a great deal of what Meredith has taught me! Thanks to my fantastic Exercise and Sports Science classes at Meredith, I have felt so capable in the tasks I have been asked to take on! Additionally, thanks to the incredible preparation provided by Meredith’s amazing Office of International Programs, I have felt so confident in my traveling abilities, whether it be in my commute to my internship each day or to explore various Irish towns and countrysides on the weekends!

[Editor’s note: The author, Hannah Jones, is a recipient of a 2019 Honors study abroad scholarship. She studied in Sansepolcro, Italy, in May 2019. Below, Jones discusses her experiences, and how she hopes to implement her knowledge into her future classroom.]

Before I even stepped foot on Italian soil, my study abroad group spent a whole semester learning about the country’s culture, history, and customs. I was amazed to discover that so much of how I structure my day is dependent on where I was born geographically. Italians, unlike most Americans, have crafted and cultivated the art of appreciation, especially when it comes to time. Each morning we would drink a cappuccino and eat a pastry at Caffe Gerasmo. Then we were ready to take on a full day.

Because we were primarily studying the educational practices of Italy, we typically headed to a different school each morning to observe and ask questions. Each school was so gracious in sharing with us just what they were learning and how proud they were of their students. In Italy, it is common practice to complete your school day by 1pm, then to head home for a family lunch and an afternoon of homework or other responsibilities. Lunch is the largest meal of the day, typically several courses long and not rushed. Instead, it is the centerpiece for a culture built on family and food, which I am thankful to have caught a glimpse of through our lunches in the Palazzo Alberti. [Editor’s note: at left, students eat lunch in the Palazzo.]

After experiencing Italian culture, I am certain that I want to cultivate a lifestyle and future classroom that value quality work and integrate an attitude of appreciation for each moment that I experience and each person that I encounter. 

A group of Meredith students pose with their Onyx. Hannah Jones is pictured second from left.