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| Landon Lauder Class of 2017 |
This blog marks my last entry in a series of posts concerning my time as a McConnell Scholar at the University of Louisville. I have been fortunate in receiving this scholarship, in addition to all of the benefits it entails, and how it has supplemented my undergraduate education.
Despite my fluctuations in my academic foci, the McConnell Scholars Program has been a stable, influential fixture in my tenure here at UofL. No matter whether I was in my pre-medicine kick my freshman year or taking a graduate course on Feminist Theory, the seminars on politics, history, and society the McConnell Program offers were always there for me. It has provided a strong intellectual foundation that will stay with me in my matriculation to graduate school.
Furthermore, the McConnell Center has provided something much more personal and fulfilling for me. The social environment the McConnell Program has created and maintains introduced me to some of my best friends and colleagues of my life. Professionally and personally, the people I have met in this program truly brought me out of my awkward high school self into a truer version of myself. I look forward to keeping contact with the folks I have met, both older and younger than myself.
Yet, although the experiences and opportunities offered through the McConnell Center were incredibly beneficial, it was not without its challenges from both inside and outside. From within, there have been times were I felt short of requirements or missed deadlines. However, the excellent staff has ensured I always got back on track (especially nodding to you, Sherry Allen). Also, when I was facing a difficult decision—whether in my personal life or my professional one—there was always an ear to listen and advice to be given.
From the outside, the McConnell Center has faced and continues to face smear campaigns from those most unfamiliar with the enriching environment the McConnell Center provides for the Scholars, the UofL student body at large, the community of Louisville, and the state of Kentucky. It is not some sort of mysterious think tank or some asinine conservative indoctrination program. Put simply, the McConnell Program is what the students and staff make it. While there may be brief moments of political slants or speakers, we have always been keen to correct the course. I encourage the students and the staff to continue to broaden our horizons to address contemporary issues. We owe it to the state of Kentucky to provide the best education and information to all who come across our path. I welcome all who are critical of our program to see it for what it is: an exceptional program for Kentucky students.
Looking to the future, it is incredibly clear the opportunities offered by the McConnell Center—both academic and personal—have shaped my intellectual development that will guide my transition to graduate school. At some times, I was excited to delve into a particular seminar or lecture; other times, hearing opposing viewpoints have provided me an opportunity to hone arguments and my own viewpoints. Yet, perhaps one of the best parts of the program is the solidarity formed around liberal education and the pursuit of knowledge. This has provided a unique and fulfilling undergraduate experience that has helped me develop socially no other program could. While we may face criticism, we stand strong in our commitment to the overarching goal of education of society and we improve with each day because of the Scholars and staff working together to understand the human condition.
Looking to the future, it is incredibly clear the opportunities offered by the McConnell Center—both academic and personal—have shaped my intellectual development that will guide my transition to graduate school. At some times, I was excited to delve into a particular seminar or lecture; other times, hearing opposing viewpoints have provided me an opportunity to hone arguments and my own viewpoints. Yet, perhaps one of the best parts of the program is the solidarity formed around liberal education and the pursuit of knowledge. This has provided a unique and fulfilling undergraduate experience that has helped me develop socially no other program could. While we may face criticism, we stand strong in our commitment to the overarching goal of education of society and we improve with each day because of the Scholars and staff working together to understand the human condition.
Landon Lauder, of Russell, Ky., is a senior McConnell Scholar studying political science, psychology, and social change.