By: Meaghan Roland Photo by: Saziye Gourley-Ozhayta
The Goah Diversity Program is going public this semester, as scholars are encouraged to creatively share their stories with the Milligan College community by the group’s new advisor Dr. Patricia Magness.
Magness, a former Milligan humanities professor, hopes to help the Goah Diversity Scholars voice their stories through a project called “Picture your life as…”
“It’s not just about telling your story,” she said. “It’s about sharing yourself with others, regardless of your background because we all [including non-Goah students] have interesting stories to share.”
The Goah Diversity Scholarship is awarded to full-time undergraduate students who will enhance the Milligan community by sharing their cultural experiences. Milligan alumna Betty Hill Goah inspired this program, a woman who devoted her life to serving the marginalized.
Goah President Luis Treviño said by sharing their stories, scholars will be fulfilling the mission of the fund.
“The whole point of this is to try to get every Goah Diversity Scholar to tell their story,” said Treviño. “The original Goah scholars are gone, and their stories weren’t really told, even though they impacted the campus. We want the campus to see what each person goes through, and what they have gone through because the whole point of the scholarship is for them to bring a different perspective to the classroom, the dorms and to just everyday discussions.”
During the application process, scholars write an essay that answers, “How [do] you believe your diverse background has shaped who you are, and how [will] those life experiences enrich and enhance the diversity of the Milligan College community.” Magness hopes these essays are the beginning of more artistic ways the scholars will tell their stories.
There are 17 incoming freshman members this year, which brings the program’s total number of scholars to 76.
This year’s scholars plan to present their stories in a few creative ways throughout the year. In the fall, four upperclassmen will present their stories at the four mandatory group meetings. One possible idea for the spring semester is an art show that incorporates these individual’s stories with a portrait of himself or herself. Stories may also be revealed through the art of storytelling. This showcase will follow the “Picture your life as…” theme, where the audience will be encouraged to place itself in the shoes of the storytellers.
Senior Anneke Snyder pointed out that this project “is a way to share your point-of-view and life experiences with others in the Milligan community, and not just with the scholarship committee and a select few who read the essays.”
At the recent Goah Diversity retreat Elise King, a senior graduating in December, and fellow senior Shaka Andrew shared their stories to kick the year off. King described her physical struggle of simultaneously shattering her ankle and breaking her leg during her junior year. This injury caused her to take a semester off for recovery. Having her third and last surgery only seven weeks ago, Elise has learned the pain of patience and healing.
“Sometimes life will get you down but it’s up to you what you will do to push through and strive,” said King. “Will you stew or mildew?”
Andrew described his conflict with loving sports but not finding fulfillment after playing football for Albany State University for two years. He knew he wanted to transfer, but was unsure of where he wanted to study. His friends introduced him to the Goah Diversity Scholarship and encouraged him to apply.
“If not for the Goah Diversity Scholarship I’m not sure where I would be,” said Andrew. “We are much more than just a scholarship: We look to spread our loving ways to the campus and community, and our academics are one of our top priorities.”
Treviño explained that his personal vision is, “to at least have one or two people that thought differently of this scholarship, turn around and say. ‘Wow. They’re not just here because of the color of their skin. They’re here because they’re scholars – because they have a diverse background… They’re here because they honor what Betty Goah did.’”
milliganstampede
