Student Spotlight: Humanities & Communication Day Sees Increased Participation and Student Success

Cowley College’s annual Student Spotlight: Humanities & Communication Day was a strong success this year, welcoming 39 high school students from eight area schools—an increase from 30 students representing three schools last year.

The event provided students with an immersive experience in Cowley’s Humanities and Communication programs. Participants attended small-group activity sessions in either Mass Communications or Creative Writing, based on their individual interests, and toured the campus to learn more about academic and student life opportunities.

During lunch, attendees heard from a panel of five current students and two alumni. The group represented a wide range of backgrounds, including program majors and non-majors, traditional and non-traditional students, and both on-campus and online learners. Panelists shared their personal journeys, successes, and challenges, emphasizing the importance of campus involvement and building strong connections with instructors and peers.

“This was the first year we offered a student panel during the Student Spotlight, and it was a great success,” said Director of Mass Communication, Meg Smith. “Our current and former students had the opportunity to share their Cowley experience with our local high school students considering Cowley as part of their academic journey. The panel was made up of students within the Humanities and Communications department, and they answered questions from the visiting high school students.”

The event concluded with the presentation of student awards in Creative Writing and Mass Communications.

Creative Writing Contest Winners:

• 1st Place Poetry: Thomas Bridgewater, Oxford High School
• 1st Place Prose: Cecily Shull, Oxford High School
• Best Overall: Nathaniel Bohm, Wichita South High School

Mass Communications Contest Winners:

• 1st Place Photography: Savannah Whitson, Oxford High School
• 2nd Place Photography: Eddy Flowers, Oxford High School
• 1st Place Print Storytelling: Aurora Chandler, Campus High School

As a result of outstanding participation and achievement, the Creative Writing Program has extended scholarship offers to Aubrey Justice of Oxford High School and Nathaniel Bohm of Wichita South High School. The students were recently notified and are currently considering their offers.

Cowley staff noted that the increased attendance and engagement reflect growing interest in Cowley’s Humanities and Communication programs.

To learn more about these programs, visit Cowley.edu.

Hunter Ferguson | Integrated Communications Specialist
Cowley College
125 S. 2nd Street
Arkansas City, KS 67005
hunter.ferguson@cowley.edu