What is your favorite Spalding memory?
It’s hard to choose a specific memory. My entire time melded together to create an everlasting fondness that is literally unforgettable.

Which accomplishments are you most proud of during your time at Spalding?
The true friendships I’ve made and cherish, the outstanding grades I’ve worked so tirelessly for, and in general, just how much I’ve thrived here.

The tulip poplar tree in the Mansion Complex courtyard.

What’s your favorite spot on campus?
The giant tulip poplar tree between Mansion East and West. In the 1970s, my grandmother graduated from Spalding. She is one of the biggest reasons why I chose to transfer here. Every day I get to walk past that tree like my grandmother had, and it’s like I am following in her footsteps – looking up through those leaves like she did, knowing that I, too, am in this place and this moment for a reason.

Everyone here inspires me, from the custodians to the president of Spalding herself! Ms. Pat comes to work every day with a smile on her face, and she always asks me about my day. My professors challenge me to grow and examine the world. The president inspires me to push myself harder and make it farther every day.

Is there anything else you would like to share about your Spalding experience?
This is the most amazing institution. I am in awe of everything that is accomplished in this school and everything I have done here. Everyday I am reminded that being here is a privilege!

What is your favorite Spalding memory?
My favorite Spalding memory would have to be attending the Running of the Rodents, aka the Spalding Rat Race, every year. I have attended the last five since starting at Spalding my freshman year in 2014. Kentucky Derby season is my favorite time of the year, and it’s super cool to me that Rat Race kind of unofficially starts the Derby festivities in the city. I enjoy getting friends together and walking in the parade beforehand and cheering on my favorite departments’ rat! Once I graduate, I will absolutely come back and attend the Rat Race every year.

Which accomplishments are you most proud of during your time at Spalding?
My biggest accomplishment will definitely be graduating from this amazing university! But I have also found a degree that I love, and I have already started on my masters in the MSBC program. I have maintained a 3.5 GPA, and I never imagined being 23 years old and working towards getting my master’s. This has taught me that as long as I work hard, I can make anything possible.

What’s your favorite spot on campus?
My favorite spot on campus would definitely be the Mansion. Not only did I love the classes I took in that building, but overall it’s a stunning and historic building on campus, plus and a quiet place to do homework. I love all the different rooms and the big, beautiful three-story staircase. It’s a perfect place to relax during breaks in-between classes, and it has a lovely courtyard area with tables and chairs. It’s a great place to eat lunch and be outside too.

At Spalding, we like to say that, “Today is a great day to change the world.” For many students, Commencement is a world-changing experience. After graduation, how do you plan to change the world, big or small, and who inspires you to be a #spaldingworldchanger?
After graduation, I plan to finish my master’s at Spalding, with a degree focused on Healthcare Management. My dream is to eventually work in a hospital here locally, and do something in administration. I currently work at Baptist Health Louisville as a Personal Care Associate, and I would love to continue my work there. Baptist is such a great community, and they really love and care for their employees. I have loved the patient-care side of work, but I am ready to move on and oversee more of the day-to-day operations of the hospital, in addition to staffing, budgeting and managing other departments.

In addition to that, something small I will continue to do is smile, be kind to others and accept others for exactly who they are. Spalding even says this in its mission statement. Spalding does a wonderful job at welcoming everyone, no matter their race, experience, religion and culture. They promote acceptance and value all experiences of each individual.

The people who have inspired me most at Spalding would absolutely be my advisors. I was lucky to have Jimmy Rowland my first two years at Spalding, then, when I switched over to Health Science, I met Jeffrey Cross. They were always there when I needed help or needed questions answered. Whether it was a scheduled meeting or just a drop-in, they both welcomed me with open arms into their office just to chat and catch up. They definitely made my Spalding experience easier and less stressful.

Is there anything else you would like to share about your Spalding experience?
Spalding truly will hold a special place in my heart for years to come. I have met some incredible people at this university and have made memories that I will treasure for a lifetime. It’s so easy to see that the professors care for you and want to watch you succeed in all that you do. This is definitely something you won’t always find at a large university. I also want to sincerely thank my parents for all the support they have given me through my years at Spalding. There have been tears but so many more smiles. I wouldn’t be here without you.

Spalding University’s Festival of Contemporary Writing, the state’s largest fall-spring reading series, takes place this Saturday, May 25, through Friday, May 31, with faculty and alumni of Spalding’s low-residency Master of Fine Arts in Writing program.

The MFA program’s Distinguished Visiting Writer, Terese Marie Mailhot, delivers a public presentation on Thursday, May 30. She is the New York Times-bestselling author of Heart Berries, a powerful, poetic memoir of a woman’s coming of age on the Seabird Island Indian Reservation in the Pacific Northwest. Her book was also listed as a Best Book of the Year by NPR, Library Journal, the New York Public Library, and the Chicago Public Library and was one of Harper’s Bazaar’s Best Books of 2018. Mailhot is the winner of the inaugural Spalding Prize for Peace and Justice in Literature.

Festival events will be held at Spalding’s Egan Leadership Center and the Brown Hotel, as noted below. Plenty of free parking is available for the campus readings. All readings and events are free, ticketless, and open to the public.

5-6 p.m. Saturday, May 25. (Egan Leadership Center, 901 S. Fourth St.) Reading by Spalding President and MFA alum Tori Murden McClure, author of A Pearl in the Storm, which was released 10 years ago and which recounts her solo row across the Atlantic Ocean 20 years ago. A book signing will follow. Books available for sale until 2 p.m. at the Follett campus bookstore, which is located out the south door of the Egan Leadership Center.

5:15-6:15 p.m. Sunday, May 26. Faculty Reading. (Egan Leadership Center, 901 S. Fourth St.) Greetings by Associate Program Director Lynnell Edwards.

● Greg Pape (poetry), Four Swans: Poems
● Kira Obolensky (playwriting), Why We Laugh: A Terezin Cabaret
● Fenton Johnson (creative nonfiction, fiction), Everywhere Home: A Life in Essays; The Man Who Loved Birds
● Keith S. Wilson (poetry), Fieldnotes on Ordinary Love
● Leah Henderson (writing for children & young adults), One Shadow on the Wall
● Eleanor Morse (fiction), White Dog Fell from the Sky
● Kathleen Driskell (poetry), Blue Etiquette

5:30-6:30 p.m. Monday, May 27. Faculty Reading. Celebration of Recently Published Books by Faculty. Book signing to follow. (Egan Leadership Center, 901 S. Fourth St.)

● Elaine Neil Orr (fiction, creative nonfiction;), Swimming Between Worlds, Gods of Noonday: A White Girl’s African Life
● Lynnell Edwards (poetry), Covet
● Kirby Gann (fiction, creative nonfiction), Ghosting; John Knowles’ A Separate Peace: Bookmarked
● Minda Reves (Bachelor of Fine Arts director)
● Robin Lippincott (fiction, creative nonfiction), Our Arcadia; Blue Territory: A Meditation on the Life and Art of Joan Mitchell
● Julie Brickman (fiction), Two Deserts: Stories
● Larry Brenner (screenwriting, playwriting), Bethlehem; Saving Throw Versus Love

5:30-6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 30. Presentation by Distinguished Visiting Writer Teresa Marie Mailhot, author of Heart Berries: A Memoir. Book signing to follow. Books must be purchased prior to the event at the Follett campus bookstore, located at the south door of the Egan Leadership Center. (Egan Leadership Center, 901 S. Fourth St.)

● Terese Marie Mailhot, Heart Berries: A Memoir

3:30-4:30 p.m. Friday, May 31. Session I. Celebration of Recently Published Books by Alumni. Book signing to follow. Books provided by Follett Bookstore. (Brown Hotel, 1st fl., Citation Room, 335 W. Broadway)

● Teneice Durrant (poetry), Glass Corset
● Angela Jackson-Brown (poetry), House Repairs
● Mary Popham (fiction), The Wife Takes a Farmer
● Karen George (poetry), A Map and One Year
● Katerina Stoykova (poetry), Second Skin

4:45-5:45 p.m. Friday, May 31. Session 2. Celebration of Recently Published Books by Alumni. Book signing to follow. Books provided by Follett Bookstore. (Brown Hotel, 1st fl., Citation Room, 335 W. Broadway)

● Paul Ruben (fiction), Terms of Engagement: Stories of the Father and Son
● Alice Gorman (fiction), Valeria Vose
● Heather Wyatt (creative nonfiction), My Life With(out) Ranch
● Phil Cohen (fiction), Stories in a Flash
● Savannah Sipple (poetry), WWJD and Other Poems
● Flora Schildknecht (fiction), Megafauna: Stories and Screenplay

The reading schedule may change without notice. Check Facebook.com/SpaldingSchoolofWriting for updated information under the “Events” tab. For more information, call 502-873-4400 or email [email protected].

The School of Creative and Professional Writing at Spalding University offers three low-residency programs, including the flagship 65-credit-hour MFA in Writing Program; a 35-credit Master of Arts in Writing, offering tracks in creative writing and professional writing; and a 15-credit graduate certificate in writing, also with two tracks. The School of Writing offers concentrations in fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, writing for children and young adults, screenwriting, playwriting, and professional writing. Students begin the semester in the spring, summer, or fall with a residency in Louisville or abroad, then return home for an independent study with a faculty mentor for the rest of the semester. Students may customize the location, season, and pace of their studies. See spalding.edu/schoolofwriting for more information, or find us on Twitter @SpaldingWriting.

With Commencement approaching on June 1, Spalding is publishing a series of stories and Q&A’s that highlight students from a range of degree programs who are set to graduate. Next up is Cameron Ferguson, who is set to receive a bachelor of science in accounting degree. He is also a member of the Student Government Association and the Social Media Ambassadors program.

What is your favorite Spalding memory?
I have a lot of great memories at Spalding University. I have met a lot of wonderful and awesome people here and have made a lot of awesome friends. I have also joined several campus organizations during my final year at Spalding, including the SGA Senate and the Social Media Ambassadors. I think that my favorite memory at Spalding would have to be when I had the opportunity to portray Spalding’s new mascot, Ollie the Eagle, this past year for the first time ever. I was able to reprise my role as a mascot for the first time since my senior year in high school, where I did it for 2 1/2 years. I had a lot of fun doing it back in high school and not only that, I did it as a way to work on my social skills because of how I have Autism. I was thinking of different ways on how I could work on improving my social skills, and I found that being a mascot was a great idea to do because I had great results each time I did it, I also learned a lot about being a mascot, and I found it to be rewarding. Not only was I able to bring a smile and a laugh or two to people, but I brought a smile to myself afterwards because of how fun it was for me to go out there as Ollie the Eagle and be the silly, goofy person that most people that know me, don’t get to see much in me at all. While I may have gotten to do it for only one time, it was the best time of my life, and I loved it.

What accomplishments are you most proud of during your time at Spalding?
There are a lot of accomplishments that I achieved at Spalding that I am very proud of, but I think one of my biggest was being invited to join the Spalding School of Business’ prestigious organization Sigma Beta Delta. It was such an honor to have joined this organization last year and become a member because of how I was recognized for all of my hard work and good grades. As a result of this selection, I was also given a special graduation cord that I can wear at Commencement. I will be very happy and proud to wear it.

What’s your favorite spot on campus?
That’s a tough one. I don’t know if I do have a favorite spot on campus. I have been to every building on campus, and I have seen almost every part of those buildings, too. It is hard to decide which place on campus is my favorite spot to hang out at. I do know that the library is one of my No. 1 places to go to and just work on stuff and hang out, so I guess you could say it’s my favorite place on campus.

At Spalding, we like to say that, “Today is a great day to change the world.” For many of our students, Commencement is a world changing experience. After graduation, how do you plan to change the world, big or small, and who inspires you to be a #spaldingworldchanger?
I have several different goals that I want to pursue after graduation pretty soon. I am thinking about coming back to Spalding to join the MSBC Program. But I know that I must find my first full-time job and pay off my student loans before I can think about coming back for grad school. I’m hoping that by getting my master’s degree, that I could expand my knowledge and try to make an impact or a difference in the world, by putting myself into new situations that I don’t know much about and try to find a solution to it.

And because I’ve enjoyed it so much, I want to hopefully try to become a professional mascot somewhere for one of the many pro sports teams in the United States, while also continuing to be an accountant, too.

Some of my biggest influences have been some of my closest friends and my family because they have believed in me and they are very proud of me for everything that I have done. Two people who I think are my biggest influences and inspirations for being a Spalding World Changer are fellow classmate, friend, and former SGA President Scotty Brooks, and fellow Spalding alumnus and former SGA President Chris Muncy. They are probably just the most down-to-earth, nicest people I have ever met, and I’m just so happy that I have gotten to know them for the past year I have looked up to these two guys each day since I started my last year here, and they have always believed in me. Scotty would sometimes give me pep talks every now and then, and I would also enjoyed listening to him give them to me because it wasn’t for him and for Chris, I never would have done all of the amazing stuff that I did this past year, and I thank them each day for it because of how awesome they are. Also, if it wasn’t for their hard work for serving on the SGA Executive Board as well, I never would have called Spalding a second home.

Additionally, Spalding Marketing Director Amanda Lucas has also become one of my biggest inspirations at Spalding because she was the person who persuaded me to come to the university five years ago, when I first met her at a college fair at my high school. So thank you, Amanda, for being an awesome person and one of my biggest inspirations. Lastly, I want to say thank you to everyone else whom I’ve met at Spalding throughout the last four years! You have also been a big influence on me and on my college journey, too. I also wish everyone the best of luck down the road and to always have fun! Once again, thank you, Spalding University, and go Golden Eagles!

What is your favorite Spalding memory?
My favorite memory at Spalding University was actually transferring from a different school to here. Everything was so organized and professional. When I needed the help or had any questions I was able to ask people, and within that same day I got the answer that I needed.

What accomplishments are you most proud of during your time at Spalding?
Graduating, of course! I’ve only been here two years to finish out my collegiate career, but graduating is something I am most proud of because I will be the first generation in my immediate family to graduate college.

What’s your favorite spot on campus?
My favorite spot would have to be the Egan Leadership Center, specifically the financial aid office, with the reason being that they work so hard behind the scenes to get everything handled without breaking a sweat. Also, I was able to gather valuable information about student loans and counseling from them as well.

At Spalding, we like to say that, “Today is a great day to change the world.” For many of our students, Commencement is a world-changing experience. After graduation, how do you plan to change the world, big or small, and who inspires you to be a #spaldingworldchanger?
After graduation, my way of planning on changing the world, big or small, would be to help reform employee rights within the workplace. I’ve learned the ins and outs of the human resources field, business ethics, etc. With the knowledge I have I will go forth and make sure that I will reach out to individuals that have been denied certain rights to get them the proper resolution they need in the workplace.

Is there anything else you would like to share about your Spalding experience?
My experience at Spalding University would not have been great if it was not for Jimmy Rowland, my academic advisor. When I first started I had a different advisor, who ended up having to leave, so I was assigned Jimmy. Jimmy literally jumped right into action; every question I had was answered. Every concern I had was turned around to a positive outlook. And his whole vibe sets the mood for it being “a great day to change the world.” Jimmy saw so much drive in me that when I first got there I didn’t see in myself right off the bat. However, he is very encouraging and down to earth and made being a student more enjoyable.

Read more
Commencement Countdown | MSBC student Kelsey Gunther
Commencement Countdown | Art student Maddy Ezell

With Commencement approaching on June 1, Spalding is publishing a series of stories and Q&A’s that highlight students from a range of degree programs who are set to graduate. Next up is Kelsey Gunter, a candidate for a master of science in business communication degree. Kelsey previously worked as an admissions counselor at Spalding and now serves as recruitment coordinator at Assumption High School.

What is your favorite Spalding memory?
As simple as it sounds, my favorite memories are spending time with the people who make up Spalding – staff members, students and faculty. Enjoying lunch on the second floor ELC patio, walking to Ollie’s Trolley for some fries or celebrating milestones together. You will notice food is a common theme, but really it was the kind individuals that made these moments stand out.

What was your favorite spot on campus?
Anywhere there were free SteelCity Pops giveaways (smiling), or the Admissions Office. The admissions counselors are pretty cool people.

At Spalding, we like to say that, “Today is a great day to change the world.” For many of our students, Commencement is a world changing experience. After graduation, how do you plan to change the world, big or small, and who inspires you to be a #spaldingworldchanger?
Currently, I work at Assumption High School. I am grateful to have the opportunity to build relationships with these amazing young women and to lead and encourage the Assumption students as they discover who they are. I learn so much from them; their passions, dreams and aspirations inspire me daily.

Is there anything else you would like to share about your Spalding experience?
My advice to any student is get to know the people around you. You can make such an impact on someone just by being kind and sharing a little bit of love.

With Commencement approaching on June 1, Spalding is publishing a series of stories and Q&A’s that highlight students from a range of degree programs who are set to graduate. First to be featured is Madison Ezell, a candidate for a bachelor of fine arts in studio art degree, who is also a Spalding residence hall advisor and social media ambassador.

What is your favorite Spalding memory?
My favorite Spalding memory is when I got the opportunity to go to New York with a group of art students. On that trip I was able to see so much cool art, eat some really unique food and made so many fun memories with my friends. This trip gave me the opportunity to see so much art in real life, and I loved being able to get inspiration from everywhere I looked. Having the opportunity through Spalding to travel helped me develop my work and expand my understanding of art and art history.

What accomplishments are you most proud of during your time at Spalding?
I am most proud of the work I have put into my job as an RA. I feel like I have had the opportunity to constantly learn and grow through doing, and I have been able to develop leadership and organizational skills that I will take with me into my future career. I value the work I have been doing to help residents and to make their campus living experience better.

What’s your favorite spot on campus?
My favorite spot on campus is the main gathering area of the Egan Leadership Center. I have spent so much time with my friends there eating lunch and hanging out. It’s always a good meeting spot for us, and of course the POD is very close by if we want to grab something to eat.

At Spalding, we like to say that, “Today is a great day to change the world.” For many of our students, Commencement is a world-changing experience. After graduation, how do you plan to change the world, big or small, and who inspires you to be a #spaldingworldchanger?
I want to be able to bring art to people. I hope that once I graduate I will have the opportunity to expose people to art that will inspire them. I also want to keep making art that communicates ideas and makes people think about important issues. I am inspired by my group of friends because we help one another to create and encourage one another to pursue ideas. I think having a good network of supportive and creative people in my life has greatly contributed to my development as an artist and as a person.

Literature has always held a special place in Taylor Riley’s psyche. Maybe she developed it from her mother, who read books to Taylor while she was still in the womb. Or maybe it was her grandmother, who told her she knew her granddaughter’s name would be in the paper someday. Whatever the cause, Taylor’s passion for reading and writing was evident from childhood, as she watched and reported on things she witnessed in her neighborhood.

On June 1, Taylor will graduate from Spalding University with her Master of Fine Arts in Writing degree. And in addition to serving as a 2019 class representative and receiving an Eileen Egan Graduate Award, she is already making changes in her community.

Taylor, who earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism at the University of Kentucky, is currently using Spalding’s MFA education, along with her writing talent, as a voice for those living in small-town America. Working as the editor of the Henry County Local has given her the opportunity to shine a light on important local stories and issues that might otherwise go unheard and unnoticed.

“We need to be able to keep our government accountable for its actions,” she said. “Keeping the public informed, asking questions and always seeking the truth is the most effective way I know how to do that.”

While studying for her MFA at Spalding, Taylor’s desire to pursue narrative journalism became a need. She began working on a book of essays, Fearful Female, which is currently in the publishing process. The essays focus on her personal fears and how she’s overcome them, as well as broader fears she feels that many women can relate to. She hopes her book will help other women identify and overcome their own fears.

“The MFA program at Spalding really helped me sharpen and hone my writing,” Taylor said. “But it also helped me come out of my personal shell, make new connections and network with others in the industry.”

Spalding’s MFA program also left Taylor with a new passion. She will begin teaching monthly writing workshops at a local library and classes at Bellarmine University. Taylor believes today’s journalists need to begin thinking differently about their field. The internet and social media have revolutionized the news industry, and learning to adapt to new communication technologies is crucial. She wants to share her wealth of literary and journalistic knowledge with others eager to join the field.

“Spalding is the best thing that ever happened to me,” she said.

It’s been exactly one month since Spalding commencement on June 2, so that’s a great time to hear more from one of our 2018 graduates, Rico Thomas, about his Spalding experience.

Rico Thomas, Master of Science in Occupational Therapy
Hometown: Lexington, Tenn.
Undergraduate institution: University of Tennessee-Martin, bachelor’s in exercise science

What’s it feel like to put the cap and gown on?

It’s kind of surreal honestly. We all talked about this for the past 2 1/2 years, but it’s surreal because we had a lot of assignments due leading right up to commencement. Then it’s like, ‘Wow, this is it. We’re actually doing it.’ We’re still in this zone of, ‘Did this really happen?’ But it’s a good feeling. It’s exciting. I feel like our hard work is showing.

What did you think of the program here at Spalding and the Auerbach School of Occupational Therapy?

The OT program here at Spalding, the first thing I would say is that it’s very flexible and it’s very tailored (to accommodate) for anything you have going on. If you’re very busy, they can definitely accommodate that. That’s one thing that I like about the program. All the faculty members, they are there for you and there to help you. It’s just a wholesome program, and they actually care about you. That’s one thing I looked for in a program. I also looked at the dynamic between the faculty. That shows if they work together to create a program that’s beneficial for their students. This one has been nothing but beneficial to me.

What will be your specialty?

Pediatrics, I think.

What fieldwork have you been doing?

The last one I just finished was in an acute-care setting at Jewish Hospital, which was different from pediatrics, but I loved the experience I got. Here coming, I’m going to start studying for my (National Board of Certification in Occupational Therapy) boards, and that’s what I’ll be focusing on – in order to pass those and be able to practice.

My first Level II fieldwork was at the Wendell Foster’s Campus for Developmental Disabilities: Assistive Technology Center in Owensboro, Ky. I absolutely loved it. The pediatric population there was so diverse.

One aspect of your pediatric training at Spalding was being involved with the KITE (Kosair Integrated Technology Experience) camps and enTECH (Kosair Charities Enabling Technologies of Kentuckiana assistive technology resource center). What did you think of that program and facility? Would you recommend them to parents of children with special needs?

I would definitely refer them to enTECH. It gets a lot of parents to meet other parents. It introduces those kids to being around other people. That helps with a lot of the social aspects when you’re doing things. I enjoy that aspect of it, and I’m definitely going to tell my parents (of clients) that you need to check out KITE. It’s a really good thing for your child to come and be themselves for a day and enjoy themselves, all while working with students who are learning and enjoying what they’re learning. It’s a great place to be.

Where do you hope to get a job?

Hopefully here in Louisville, but if not, I’m willing to relocate. I love to travel. Travel therapy is a good way to see other parts of the country but also give back to what I want to do.

At commencement on Saturday, Spalding President Tori Murden McClure ended the program with a closing charge to the graduates in the class of 2018. Her remarks included a top 10 list of maxims and words of wisdom. Here, again, is President McClure’s top 10:

1. If the carrot is big enough, you can use it as a stick.

2. Road blocks only block the road. … They do not block the grass, the path, the water or the way less traveled. … Road blocks just block the road.

3. Silence is golden, and if silence should fail you remember that duct tape is silver.

4. It’s never too late to have a happy childhood. … I have had several. … I have many more planned. Or the corollary, I may grow old, but I will never be old enough to know better.

5. Not every problem you face can be solved, but no problem can be solved if not faced.

6. Learn from the mistakes of others. You cannot live long enough to make them all yourselves..

7. Do not burn bridges. Just loosen the bolts a little each day.

8. If you have to keep something that you are doing a secret, then perhaps you should not be doing it.

9. This is an important one for university presidents: Don’t take yourself too serious. No one else does.

10. Do not believe everything you think, or as Socrates said, all I know is that I know nothing.