Finnish School System
C-SC students recently embarked on a unique eight-day study abroad program that helped them compare Scandinavian educational systems to those in public schools in the United States.
The nineteen students traveled to Finland and Sweden with C-SC professors Dr. Cindy Whiston and Dr. Lindsay Uhlmeyer. During the study abroad course, EXP 301, Improving Educational Systems and Structures, students had the opportunity to visit three schools where they met with students and staff members at the elementary and high school levels. C-SC students were given background information about each school and then were invited to ask questions and interact with students as they visited the classrooms.
To supplement the information gathered in the classrooms and help them gain a better understanding of Finnish culture, the C-SC students also visited museums, religious buildings and historical sites. A highlight for many students was an experience in one of the Finnish public saunas, followed by a dip in an ice-cold lake. The practice is believed among the Finns to rid the body of toxins and increase relaxation.
The students also attended a workshop where they learned about the Finnish education system and national standards from a teacher and a consultant from the National Agency of Education. Upon their return from the trip, the student participants said they learned how students in Finland and Sweden achieve higher scores on standardized testing, keep graduation rates high and develop techniques to prevent burnout. Additionally, C-SC students reported the experience enabled them to expand their knowledge about other cultures and begin to grow their perspective on global education.
Finland, 2023
C-SC students recently embarked on a unique eight-day study abroad program that helped them compare Scandinavian educational systems to those in public schools in the United States. The nineteen students traveled to Finland and Sweden with C-SC professors Dr. Cindy Whiston and Dr. Lindsay Uhlmeyer.
Reefs & Ruins
In December, twenty-three Wildcats packed their suitcases and set out for a rainforest expedition to explore tropical ecology and environmental history. Led by Dr. Giltner and Dr. Schellenberger, this travel study experience would mark the sixth anniversary of this expedition for Culver-Stockton College. Giltner said since the expedition began in 2010, nearly 130 students have experienced the Belize and Guatemala trip. He shared, “This is a great opportunity for students to experience the world and expand their horizons, which I think is invaluable. Selfishly, for me, it's a great opportunity to do something really engaging with students and build a community.” Giltner explained that the group that forms from these expeditions would create a family and, most times, will stay connected for years to come.
Throughout their ten days in Central America, the group interacted with volcanoes and coffee plantations and explored Mayan civilization before finishing their travels in Belize in the rainforest. There, students will explore marine habitats, rainforests, and coral reefs.
Senior Abbi Done was most anticipating the travel because she had never traveled internationally. She said the 12-week class allowed her to secure a passport while gaining ground knowledge of environmental history. During the 3-week session, she connected classroom knowledge to real-world learning. She said, “This class has given me the opportunity to learn about different cultures while experiencing tropical ecology. We get to travel to see rainforests, and coral reefs, meet different people and eat new foods, and that’s awesome.”
Belize and Guatemala, 2023
"This class has given me the opportunity to learn about different cultures while experiencing tropical ecology. We get to travel to see rainforests, and coral reefs, meet different people and eat new foods, and that’s awesome."
Abby Done '22
Belize and Guatemala, 2023
"This is a great opportunity for students to experience the world and expand their horizons, which I think is invaluable. Selfishly, for me, it's a great opportunity to do something really engaging with students and build a community."
Dr. Scott Giltner, Professor of History
Community Action
Each semester for the past five years, students have continued the momentum established from EDM throughout a class known as “Community Action.” Seeking to affirm and strengthen the relationship between campus and the community, the students serve as volunteers in the community to enhance our beautiful town. Instructor Chad DeWaard said that class fills most semesters, and seats must be added because students enjoy learning new skills while taking an active role in the local area. “Our students are adding to the community's “curb appeal” through landscaping, cleaning the walking trails, and painting around town. I often hear that they like the flexibility of the projects and are satisfied how they are serving others throughout the food pantry, or working at the playhouse.” DeWaard said the connections students make with local organizations contribute to networking skills, civic engagement, teamwork, and also life skills that are valuable as an adult. Senior Tanner Caddady said the class taught him how to adapt to new people and work environments and that every project he completed made a difference. “This work matters because somebody’s got to do it. There will always be work to do, so volunteering is important. This class has allowed me to get out in the community and help. Learning experiences like this set Culver-Stockton apart.”
Community Action
"This class teaches you how to work with each other to get stuff done efficiently. the three weeks are spent with a lot of new people that I haven't met before so we have to adapt on the fly and figure stuff out together. This work matters because somebody's got to do it. There will always be work to do so volunteering is important. This class has allowed me to get out in the community and help put. Learning experiences like this set Culver-Stockton apart. "
Tanner Cannady, Senior
Community Action
"As a criminal justice major, this class has prepared my team building skills. My hope is to work in crime scene investigations and I know that I'm going to be working with all kinds of people from all over the world. The Community Action course has provided good experiences for that."
Rachel Haiduk, Sophomore
2023
“Our students are adding to the community's “curb appeal” through landscaping, cleaning the walking trails, and painting around town. I often hear that they like the flexibility of the projects and are satisfied how they are serving others throughout the food pantry, or working at the playhouse."
Chad Dewaard, Professor of Political Science
River Life
Rivers serve a tremendous purpose around the world, and for some Culver-Stockton College students, an additional purpose of the Mississippi River is used to elevate their educational experience.
Students in Dr. Alissa Burger’s three-week “Literary Nonfiction” course spent a May afternoon picking up litter along the riverfront. The event was held in conjunction with the college’s “My Mississippi Life” learning community, responsible for adopting miles 342-344 of the river as a cleanup area through the Living Lands and Waters organization. The national nonprofit’s Adopt a River Mile program has been operating since 2014, fostering clean-up of the nation’s rivers and their watersheds.
In addition to Burger’s course, the “My Mississippi Life” learning community at C-SC includes Aren Van Houzen’s First-Year Experience and Dr. Scott Giltner’s “Stories in Blue and White” courses.
Burger said the opportunity to clean up the riverfront allows students to connect with the local community as well as the environment with a service project while following their coursework focusing on the river. Throughout the clean-up efforts, Burger was able to educate students about how pollution in the Mississippi River affects the larger bodies of water it flows into. The opportunity, she noted, was a way to show students how actions from students on the Hill can contribute to the greater good around the world.
The clean-up effort was also a hands-on way to connect what the students learned through their coursework with the river.
River Life
Students in Dr. Alissa Burger’s three-week “Literary Nonfiction” course spent a May afternoon picking up litter along the riverfront. The event was held in conjunction with the college’s “My Mississippi Life” learning community, responsible for adopting miles 342-344 of the river as a cleanup area through the Living Lands and Waters organization. The national nonprofit’s Adopt a River Mile program has been operating since 2014, fostering clean-up of the nation’s rivers and their watersheds.
River Life
Culver-Stockton College Adopted River Mile Markers
5 Years of Honoring Heroes
In April, C-SC criminal justice students marked the 5th consecutive year in program history for the Fallen Officer Project. Created in 2017 by senior lecturer Seth McBride, the “In the Line of Duty” course provides students an authentic learning experience that encompasses the historical context and emotional impact of the commitment first responders make when taking a personal oath as a professional. The class final, better known as the “Fallen Officer Project.” honors fallen law enforcement officers and firefighters killed in the line of duty.
The 12-week class takes a deep dive into the psychological components of a first responder, focusing on law enforcement by reviewing case studies and officer-involved shootings and honoring other front-line responders in the firefighting field. The course's objective is to recognize fallen heroes who have made the ultimate sacrifice. C-SC students select a fallen officer who lost their life in the line of duty to represent throughout the class. The national organization Supporting Heroes, Inc facilitates matching students with family members of fallen first responders to create relationships amid tragedy. Students represent their assigned hero during the class through written assignments, speeches, social media responsibilities, and the Fallen Officer walk. In 2022, for the first time in program history, the event also memorialized firefighters killed on duty while continuing to honor law enforcement officers who suffered a line of duty death.
“This is a life course,” McBride said, “We asked college students to go out of their comfort zone to connect with someone who has lost a loved one.” While the conversations may be challenging for the students, the project's outcomes far outweigh hesitations. Jared Henderson, a senior at C-SC, chose to represent a fallen firefighter because he serves as a volunteer firefighter in his community. Henderson said that he knows the project and walk are “important to the families.” He shared, “The Fallen Officer Project lets them know that their family member hasn’t been forgotten- it represents and honors them.”
The collective experiences from the “In the Line of Duty” course impact our students as they enter the workforce and transition into professionals serving their community. As young professionals, they experience perspectives that undeniably differ from the mainstream media because they chose a profession considered a “high-risk career.” The Fallen Officer Project has raised $11,275 to jointly benefit Who’s House Our House and Supporting Heroes, Inc, but the students will argue that their experiences are priceless.
2023 Fallen Officer Walk
In April, C-SC criminal justice students marked the 5th consecutive year in program history for the Fallen Officer Project. Created in 2017 by senior lecturer Seth McBride, the “In the Line of Duty” course provides students an authentic learning experience that encompasses the historical context and emotional impact of the commitment first responders make when taking a personal oath as a professional.
Fallen Officer Project
"This is a life course....We asked college students to go out of their comfort zone to connect with someone who has lost a loved one."
Seth McBride, Senior Lecturer in Criminal Justice
2022 Fallen Officer Walk
“The Fallen Officer Project lets them know that their family member hasn’t been forgotten- it represents and honors them.”
Jared Henderson.
Business Innovations
Students in C-SC’s Innovations in Business class recently traveled over 300 miles from campus to experience Chicago's entrepreneurship and innovation scene.
Participants of the trip had the opportunity to meet with industry leaders, including C-SC alumnus Gabe Sanford, an account executive at Upwork, a freelancing platform headquartered in San Francisco. Sanford provided insights into working in the gig economy and how companies like Upwork are expanding the way the business world hires talent.
The students also visited prominent business incubators, including 1871, a nonprofit business hub supported by engineers, tech founders, and innovators. The trip was a chance to familiarize the students with the resources and support available to startups as well as the challenges facing young entrepreneurs.
In addition to 1871, the group visited Bosch Chicago Connectory, another incubator focused on the Internet of Things (IoT). The visit was a great opportunity to introduce the students to the latest advanced technology and how that tech is disrupting industries worldwide.
Following the trip, the students reported how the experience allowed them to see up close and personal how innovation is driving the economy in Chicago, nationally and internationally. The Chicago trip supplements the classroom instruction for the Innovations of Business course, which is an introduction to entrepreneurial concepts, new products and processes, and new markets.
Chicago, IL
Students in C-SC’s Innovations in Business class recently traveled over 300 miles from campus to experience Chicago's entrepreneurship and innovation scene.
Northern Lights & Fishy Biology
Environmental Conservation Biology and Environmental Psychology synergized when Dr. Sarah Reardon and Dr. Melissa Holt’s courses united this spring in Iceland for what many have referred to as “their greatest experiences as students!” Breathtaking landscapes that provided alternative spaces for learning included the Glanni waterfall, walking the caldera of the Grabrok volcano, and even the Aurora Borealis, at what seemed like an arm’s distance.
Initially planned for 2021 but rescheduled due to pandemic travel restrictions, Laken Hugenberg ’22 shared that the trip was worth the wait! She said, “Iceland was my greatest experience as a student. It was phenomenal!”
Iceland 2022
“Iceland was my greatest experience as a student. It was phenomenal!"
Laken Hugenberg '22
Education & Biology Students
Breathtaking landscapes that provided alternative spaces for learning included the Glanni waterfall, walking the caldera of the Grabrok volcano, and even the Aurora Borealis, at what seemed like an arm’s distance.
Water is Essential
Freshman Rylee Loftus knew she was taking a world history class, but she learned that water was responsible for expanding global civilization and ultimately plays a critical role in our community. “We live on one of the most important rivers in our nation, I see barges all the time, but I never really thought about what river traffic meant for our economy,” Rylee said. “This class has changed my perspective about water; now I know how essential it is.” The application of learning in the classroom merged with real-world experiences when the class, taught by Dr. Douglas B. Palmer, toured the Canton Lock and Dam. Students walked onto the structure, overlooking America’s first super highway, where billions of dollars of goods are channeled each day to supply and feed the world. “The management of water resources will be a major challenge and opportunity that our students will have as they graduate from Culver-Stockton and enter the wider world, ”Palmer said. The second-year president explained that he doesn’t believe it is the sole responsibility of the engineers, economists, or politicians to make these decisions. “We believe that solutions to these challenges we face in our world will require a liberal arts solution. They will require knowledge of diverse areas, including sociology, politics, culture, anthropology, political science, and economics.”
Canton Lock & Dam
“We live on one of the most important rivers in our nation, I see barges all the time, but I never really thought about what river traffic meant for our economy...this class has changed my perspective about water; now I know how essential it is.”
Rylee Loftus
Experiencing Art & Religion in Italy
Art, history, and religion were woven together throughout the streets of Italy this spring as Culver-Stockton College students visited Rome, Florence, Pisa, and Venice. “Art and Architecture of Italy,” taught by Deb Myers, along with Dr. Andrew Walsh’s Global Studies class, came together to better understand Italian culture. Student highlights included the Colosseum, gothic art, history of war weapons, and the Venice Biennial. Myers said the experiences her students received on this trip were not like those in the classroom. She shared, “To see the architecture and works of art from previous centuries, as well as contemporary masterpieces, was profound.”
Italy, 2022
“To see the architecture and works of art from previous centuries, as well as contemporary masterpieces, was profound."
Deb Myers, Professor Emerita
DISCOVERING THE LITERAL CORNERSTONES OF DEMOCRACY
Learning about democracy and free market development in the classroom offers one set of learning objectives. For Dr. Matthew Osborn’s and Dr. Jonathan Walker's classes, they determined that the same economic principles would be best obtained from our Nation’s capitol in Washington D.C. The students spent a portion of their seven-day journey at the Pentagon 911 memorial, where they discussed the socio-cultural issues that lead to terrorism and the geopolitical ramifications; watched a war reenactment on the Potomac River at Mount Vernon; and visited Senator John Hawley’s staff at the United States Capitol, where students were able to ask questions and explore topics of interest. Next, C-SC students learned about the United States Institute of Peace and were given a presentation on regions in the world where the USIP is doing its work and the difficulties and successes they have experienced. Wildcats visited the National Mall to pay tribute to each war memorial, analyzed the leadership styles of President Roosevelt and Dwight Eisenhower, and carefully studied Rosa Park’s words to better understand the gap that existed between work for freedom then and now. One poignant event students experienced firsthand was protesting outside the Supreme Court due to the Dobbs vs. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case leak. This led to a great discussion about the importance of the judicial branch of government and why this specific event is a historical occurrence in our society. We are grateful to the Moorman Foundation for their generous grant that helped fund this experiential learning adventure.
Washington D.C.
Students spent a portion of their seven-day journey at the Pentagon 911 memorial, where they discussed the socio-cultural issues that lead to terrorism and the geopolitical ramifications; watched a war reenactment on the Potomac River at Mount Vernon; and visited Senator John Hawley’s staff at the United States Capitol, where students were able to ask questions and explore topics of interest.
Washington D.C.
Students spent a portion of their seven-day journey at the Pentagon 911 memorial, where they discussed the socio-cultural issues that lead to terrorism and the geopolitical ramifications; watched a war reenactment on the Potomac River at Mount Vernon; and visited Senator John Hawley’s staff at the United States Capitol, where students were able to ask questions and explore topics of interest.
NAIA Internship
Students Grant Watts, Kirstin Jannin, and Adam Fowler gained hands-on sport management experiences during the NAIA final four men’s basketball championships in Kansas City, Missouri.
NAIA Internship
Grant Watts, Kirstin Jannin, and Adam Fowler pictured on the court at the NAIA men's basketball championships.
Kirstin Jannin '23
"It was an awesome learning experience and great for networking within the sports world!”
Kirstin Jannin '23
Kansas City, Missouri
Adam Fowler, Kirstin Jannin, and Grant Watts gained hands-on sport management experiences during their internship.