The students and leaders shared adventures in a host of settings, traveling well over 9000 miles combined, and interacting with professionals and alums in a range of disciplines. At the risk of missing someone, we'll still give a quick snapshot of each experience and highlight the leaders:
Libby Hainrihar: The Wittenberg Choir Tour is back! Libby and the students kicked off FIRE Week with an excellent concert in Weaver, and then took their show on the road. It was a welcome return for an old tradition, and their social media takeovers set the bar for the rest of the groups.
Joi Garrett Scales and Chad Sloss: Traveling to Washington, D.C. to explore Black History, this group bunked at the house of an alum, and also connected with a few other alums in town to learn about their work. They also managed to visit a whole lot of places: the African American History Museum, Ben's Chili Bowl, in an area that was known as Black Broadway; the Molina Family Latino Gallery; the Sweet Home Cafe; the National Archives; the White House; the Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian.
Marie Bashaw, Catherine Short, Stacy Gilson, and Jessica Johnson: Once again, Nursing created two FIRE Week opportunities. The first combined with Habitat for Humanity to help provide housing opportunities for those in local communities. There was, this year, a lot of paint involved. The second collaboration was with a nursing home, and this group made connections between the generations, helping some of the residents tell their stories, and allowing the students to more fully appreciate the human aspect of health care.
Mike Daiga, Stephanie Eveland-Parrott, and Layla Besson: Traveling in a tour bus packed with supplies, this huge group (30+ students) made it to the Smoky Mountains, where they sang campfire songs, watched the stars, and, most importantly, learned about teaching STEM subjects. The fact that it involved a roller coaster was just an added bonus.
John Ritter and Rob Baker: Back for an encore, this trip went to the Coachella Valley in California to examine water rights—who owns the water, who uses it, and who gets to decide those questions?
Amy McGuffey and Alyssa Hoofnagle: This group gambled that there would be interest in Las Vegas, and they were right. Students roamed from the Hoover Dam to the Strip, and learned what it took to build a city in the desert. There might also have been a Cirque du Solei performance.
Rachel Scherzer: Collaborating again with the Fuller Center, this group helped build a house in Georgia, doing everything from framing to roofing. They also had the most snow upon their departure, but managed to dig both vans out and find warmer temperatures down south.
Rachel Wilson and Lindsay Meermans: From the mayor's office to the offices of the NBA, this group connected with as many alums as possible in NYC, and managed to make significant connections for all the students. They also had the most postings on LinkedIn, so do see what some of the students had to say.
Ray Dudek: What is craft beer? Well, the best way to find out might be to brew some, and this group did, both in the Science building courtyard, and then down at Yellow Springs Brewery. We assume it was a Witt beer style . . . but these students expanded their understanding of the beer-making process, as well as the business of running a brewery.
Katelyn Hammond: From ride-alongs to interviews with a host of people involved in the criminal justice system, the students in this group got to have some first-hand insight into how law enforcement works. From police cars to crime labs to courtrooms, they learned about the process and how they might be involved with it.
Richard York and David Leapley: Though music students can find opportunities for large-group ensembles and individual lessons at Witt, they really don't have a chance to play in small groups. With the Chamber Music Intensive experience, they can. Both woodwinds and brass were represented this year, and last Thursday's concert proved how much progress can be made in a few days with intensive mentorship.
Andy Graff and Marlo Starr: What's the most important thing a writer can do? Write. And this group spent the week writing in Yellow Springs, having workshops on both the craft of writing as well as the business of writing. Then, to finish things off, they presented an excellent reading in Founders last Friday.
Stefne Broz: True, it seems like sun and sand, but this trip also has civic engagement, and the students worked with children and sea turtles, helping both in different ways (one group did not need to be ushered into the ocean). This trip allows students who might not get to study abroad have a trip outside the country, and it also stokes interest in others to attempt a longer program.
Jim Welch and Kathy Reinsel: Traveling to Duke and its Marine Lab, this group learned what all is possible with an interest in marine science. There are a host of opportunities available to people who study in this area, and there were connections made to a variety of occupations. There might also have been sea turtles involved in this one, too.
Jay Owen is once again leading the men's lacrosse trip for their FIRE Week experience this week, and the students are making alumni connections, engaging in reflected readings, and having a chance to develop leadership skills by running team meetings and breaking down game film.
In short, the week was full. We are surveying both the leaders and the students, but early comments have been overwhelmingly positive. These experiences have the potential to profoundly impact students (and leaders), and they can help launch students into careers and opportunities after graduation. Do feel free to compliment the folks above for all their work, and, if you're interested, ask them their advice about planning such an experience. We will be sending out a call for FIRE Week 2025 later this semester. Student interest has grown each year in the programs, and we hope to be able to offer even more opportunities next year.
Finally, a tremendous shout-out to Katherine Horstkotte for helping to make all these experiences happen—so many small pieces need to be fit into place for things to run smoothly. And, of course, the bucket hats.
Written By: Michael Mattison, Associate Provost
