February 18, 2011
Students honored for their work outside the classroom
Christina Knips ’12 received a fellowship to continue her training as a mentor, Casey Mulcare ’11 was honored for his work with the campus radio station, and Arianna McLaughlin ’14 earned recognition at a recent Mock Trial tournament.
The passion one Bryant University junior has for mentoring has been kicked up a notch thanks to a national program to help first-year college students thrive in their new surroundings.
Christina Knips '12 (Wappingers Falls, NY) was one of just five university students from around the country to receive a fellowship to attend the 30th annual Conference on the First-Year Experience, which each year offers expert keynote speakers and workshops during which participants can share ideas, research and experiences. (Learn more about the conference.)
The conference, held Feb. 4-8 in Atlanta, provides educators, advisors and other higher education personnel ways to help first-year students negotiate the sometimes difficult freshman year. That's the arena where Knips' enthusiasm excels at Bryant.
When not in the classroom, Knips, an accounting major who is minoring in psychology and sociology, is involved as a mentor through a variety of Bryant initiatives that help first-year students adjust. She's served as a lead counselor for 4MILE, a Bryant program that helps incoming multicultural and international students, is a student diversity advocate, and is vice president and captain of the women's rugby team.
‘Countless opportunities’
Knips hoped that by attending the conference, she would expand what she already knows about helping new Bryant students "make the most out of their first year and have a similar experience to my own."
Her own mentor, Professor Laurie Hazard, has encouraged Knips along the way. Hazard, director of Bryant's Academic Center for Excellence and the Writing Center, is among the nation's top experts on first-year transition programs. The author of Foundations for Learning, a leading textbook used in first-year transition programs, Hazard nominated Knips for the fellowship and attended the conference as a guest speaker.
Knips returned to campus filled with fresh energy and ideas.
“Bryant continues to provide students with countless opportunities, and I hope through my experiences I will be able to contribute to its mission to enrich campus life," she said.
Dynasty continues
At the end of the fall semester, another student leader, Casey Mulcare ’11 (Hatfield, MA), unknowingly helped continue a Bryant dynasty of sorts. At the annual conference put on by the Northeast Chapter of the National Association for Campus Activities (NACA), Mulcare was recognized with the Kenneth M. Bedini Student Leader Award, marking the fifth year in a row that a Bryant student took home the honor.
The kicker: Mulcare, the general manager of the campus radio station WJMF 88.7FM, didn’t even know he was nominated. “It is an honor to be recognized, especially since I feel that there are a number of student leaders on this campus alone whose hard work and dedication should be applauded,” he says.
Mulcare, a communication major, became interested in getting involved with the radio station before he was even a student when he saw them at an Organization Fair during a visit to campus.
“Something about being on the air, working with broadcast equipment, and providing entertainment for a number of events and organizations on campus really appealed to me and still does,” says Mulcare, who is also a member of President Machtley’s Senior Advisory Council and active in Relay for Life.
Lessons learned…
During his first year at Bryant, Mulcare hosted a radio show and took part in the annual “Held Hostage” event, when he and several students broadcast for 36 straight hours to raise money for charity.
As a sophomore, he served as the station’s marketing director before studying abroad for a year in Australia. He returned to campus as a senior to assume his current role as station general manager
“I’ve learned lessons in management, finance, event planning, organization, teamwork, and conflict management,” says Mulcare, who plans to pursue an advanced degree specializing in student affairs. “All of the skills I gained are essential for my career.”
The memories and friendships he made through the radio station will stay with him long after graduation day. “It has been a lot of fun and even more work than I could have imagined, he says. “I wouldn’t change it for the world.”
Order in the court
Arianna McLaughlin ’14, a newcomer to Bryant University's Mock Trial Association, recently walked away with an "Outstanding Attorney" award at American Mock Trial Association's regional tournament held at Boston University. (Learn more about the tournament.)
The Moorestown, N.J., native is no stranger to mock trial competitions, having been president of her high school team, but she admits the adjustment to college-level competition was a "completely abrupt transition.”
She credits her Bryant teammates — Jordan Amara ’13 (Johnston, RI), Kaitlynn Campbell ’14 (Shrewsbury, MA), Derek Castello ’11 (North Providence, RI), Daniel Eggimann ’14 (Reading, MA), Sheri Kindel ’14 (Southbury, CT), Michael LaBrosse ’12 (New Paltz, NY), Stephen Levin ’11 (Smithfield, RI), Ryan Miller ’14 (Smithfield, RI), and Thomas Pagliarini ’11 (North Providence, RI) — for helping her make a successful transition to the more-rigorous format required at the collegiate level. (Miller was awarded the "Outstanding Witness" award at a recent tournament held at Tufts University.)
Their mentoring helped her improve her public speaking and critical thinking skills in such a way that McLaughlin was a standout at the regionals, besting students from teams representing such schools as Harvard University, Brown University and Boston College.
In each of the past three years' regional competitions, a member of the Bryant team has earned the designation of "outstanding," and the overall team scores have steadily increased. As Joan Camara, a lecturer in the History and Social Sciences Department and faculty advisor for the Bryant team, notes, "A number of the judges and coaches specifically mentioned how quickly the Bryant team has become a strong competitor."
Brittany Eagar ’11 (Middleton, MA), public relations intern in the University Relations Office, wrote the sections on Christina Knips '12 and Arianna McLaughlin ’14.
