Department of English Invites Middle School Students to Taste the College

Middle school is a time for students to look ahead and dream of the future. Images of everything from high school dances and homecoming games to college classes and university diplomas fill young students’ imaginations at this pivotal time in their lives.

And, for a group of students from Logan’s Cache Valley Learning Center (CVLC), the college life became more than a dream in September when they were invited to Utah State University to hear Department of English faculty member and author Christopher Cokinos speak about his work as a writer.

The topic of the presentation was Cokinos’s recent publication, "Hope is the Thing with Feathers," and his forthcoming book, "Fallen Sky: Eccentrics and Scientists in Pursuit of Shooting Stars." Cokinos spoke to a capacity crowd at the Utah State Haight Alumni Center. Mingled among the overflow crowd were the students from CVLC, and observers were pleased with the students’ reactions.

"The middle school students’ participation was a huge success," said Marina Hall, Department of English Speakers Series director. "They were so engaged and captivated by the material, in some cases perhaps even more than their adult counterparts."

Anne Desjardins, director of CVLC, was also excited with the students’ reaction to the event. "I think they felt special to be invited and to realize they had the skills to listen to the talk and use what Chris had to say," she said.

The invitation was part of a partnership between CVLC and Utah State’s Department of English. Through the efforts of administrators at the middle school and faculty members in the English Department, an alliance has been formed to give middle school students a head start with their writing, as well as with their college careers.

After the event, faculty and staff surveyed the students for their reactions to Cokinos’ lecture. Some of their comments reflect the spark ignited by the experience.

"I really liked his idea that when you are writing about nature, you are also writing about yourself," wrote 8th grader Johanna Jamison. "In nature writing, you are just trying to find a connection, a place where you fit into the big picture."

Montana Judd, 6th grader, was especially impressed. She wrote, "Cokinos influenced me to write. I think since I saw him, I might take writing as a profession."

Another 8th grader, Natalie Podgorski, reflected on the long-term effect of the lecture. "Cokinos gave me big clues in nature writing, and I’ll think about them whenever I’m in nature now."

Judging by reactions and comments, it is clear that all were enlightened by the experience; students’ appetites were whetted and administrator and faculty expectations were realized, Hall said.

Desjardins is excited by the partnership with Utah State as it provides many new opportunities for her students to realize their dreams.

"The partnership communicates to the students how important the professors think writing is," she said. "I think they are stunned that the faculty at Utah State care about their writing and are interested in working with them."

Contact: Marina Hall, (435) 797-3858; mhall@english.usu.edu
Writer: Public Relations and Marketing, (435) 797-1351