The Living Legacy: A New Outlook on an Old Tradition
By Ryann Grochowski ('08) and Melissa Richards ('08)
While trying on the Golden Knights' jacket, sophomore Derek Call closed his eyes and pictured himself as a member of the 1970 National Championship football team. It was a warm reminder of the outstanding legacy of King's he and his classmates will continue in the years to come.
The Mass Communications Department's Practicum I and II classes, composed of sophomores and seniors respectively, worked hand-in-hand to make this Web site a success. Throughout the course of this project we have learned more about the rich legacy of our school, ourselves and our classmates.
Each of us has gained practical knowledge that will help in both our college and professional careers. “This legacy has taught us about King's while helping our writing, researching and interviewing skills,” says Casey Morgan, sophomore.
We didn't find all of the knowledge and skills we acquired in the library among the pages of history; we found that within ourselves. Many of us enriched our understanding of the King's mission, “to offer intellectual, moral, and spiritual preparation for satisfying and purposeful lives.”
“I learned more about the rich tradition of service throughout the college's history. This project has helped increase my knowledge of what it means to be part of King's Catholic legacy,” says Jill Houseknecht, sophomore.
For many of us this is just the beginning of our King's experience, but for the Practicum II class this project marks the end of their career at King's. The class was eager to have a chance to work together to give back to the school that has given them so much.
“Most of us have had at least ten classes together so we know each other really well,” says senior Alan McLaughlin, Web site manager. “It's nice to get together one more time before we graduate and go into the real world.”
Enhancing a Future LegacyAfter months of reflecting on the past successes of our school, we now realize it's up to us to continue the tradition of excellence. Although this project helped us individually by enhancing our writing and interviewing skills, it also enriched the communal atmosphere that King's strives to provide. “By doing this research we all have a better understanding of how King's came to be,” says sophomore Michael McGinley. “We get to see just how enthusiastic students are about their school. Students from years to come will be proud that we worked hard to give them an even better education. Hopefully our project will have a great impact on the entire King's community,” he says. “By doing this research we all have a better understanding of how King's came to be,” says sophomore Michael McGinley. “We get to see just how enthusiastic students are about their school. Students from years to come will be proud that we worked hard to give them an even better education. Hopefully our project will have a great impact on the entire King's community,” he says. |
Mrs. Melissa Sgroi '88, Practicum I teacher with Derek Call '08 and Mike McGinley '08 |
Since 1946, generations of students have come to King's for an outstanding education and to be part of a welcoming, inclusive community. Some of us will be the first in our families fortunate enough to graduate with a King's degree. For others, like sophomore Mallory Nobile, a King's education is a decades old tradition.
“King's is very important to me. I come from a long line of family members who attended school here,” she says. “I feel so fortunate to be able to take part in a campaign that will benefit King's future.”
The Web site you are reading is the accumulation of months of stress and hard work, but every student who contributed was proud to create a unique piece of King's history. “We want to put our names on a piece of history too,” says senior Kelly Henry. “We are excited to interview people, scan and search for pictures and articles that made King's what it was then and what it is today.”
From scanning old yearbook pictures to writing these stories and interviewing past and present staff, alumni and friends of King's, both Practicum classes spent countless hours trying to capture the essence of King's history.
Sophomore Casey Morgan was nervous about how her interview with Fr. Sullivan would turn out. She never imagined she would sit and eat oatmeal cookies with him for over an hour discussing the history of the school. The unique one-on-one relationships between faculty and students provided one of our best lessons: some knowledge just can't be found in a textbook.
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