Oct. 6, 2010
Marshall University Writing Project
25th Anniversary Celebration
By Sandee Lloyd
Marshall University Writing Project celebrated its 25th anniversary on Saturday, October 2, 2010 with a full day of activities on the Marshall campus. The day began with a marathon writing session. Twenty-five writing prompts were placed around the campus and participants could write as little or as much as they wanted on any or all of the topics. It was a beautiful autumn day and the group scattered across campus to find the prompts. After the writing session they all came together to share their writings.
During the afternoon a gallery walk was held, with displays of projects
completed by the various groups comprising the Writing Project. A video history
of the 25 years ran continuously through the day and evening.
Three members of the Writing Project are recently published authors and were on hand to sign and discuss their books. They are retired Professor of Classics Dr. Charles O. Lloyd, with his book Ruth Etting, America's Forgotten Sweetheart, written with Kenneth Irwin; Eliot Parker, Assistant Professor at Mountwest Community College with his novel The Prospect; and Laura Treacy Bentley with her poetry book Lake Effect.
Peggy Henderson Murphy, a teacher at Ironton High School, and Coordinator of the Three Bridges group, welcomed everyone and talked about the Writing Project. She introduced Dr. Shirley Lumpkin, Professor of English and current Director of the MU Writing Project.
Dr. Lumpkin introduced retired Professor of English John McKernan who, along with her, wrote the first grant that started the Writing Project on the Marshall University campus and was the first Director. Dr. Lumpkin then introduced retired Professor of English Dr. Dolores Johnson, who participated in the first MU Writing Project, came back the following year as a teacher-instructor, then followed Dr. McKernan as Director. They were thanked for their hard work in establishing and continuing the MU site. Dr. Lumpkin thanked the members of the Three Bridges group, especially Peggy Henderson Murphy, Jennifer Stapleton and Hildegard Webb for putting together the celebration, and the Coalfield Writers group from Logan, West Virginia, for all their work as a satellite site. She then introduced Assistant Professor of English Dr. Allison Carey who will be taking over as Director in January 2011.
Dr. Lumpkin read a congratulatory proclamation from Congressman Nick Rahall and another proclamation from the National Writing Project.
Laura Tracy Baisden, a teacher at Logan High School and Director of the Coalfield Writers, spoke about the Logan satellite site, which was the first satellite site in the country, and thanked the members of that group.
Peggy Henderson Murphy introduced speaker Mary Ann Smith, Co-founder of the National Writing Project and the current Director of Government and Public Affairs for the National Writing Project in Washington, DC. Ms. Smith talked about the history of the MU Writing Project, thanking Drs. Mckernan, Lumpkin and Johnson for their efforts in starting and maintaining the MU Writing Project. She said over 600 teachers have been involved with the project and it has changed their lives and their teaching for the better.
Ms. Smith talked about the Electronic Writing Project, started by Karen McComas, Associate Professor in Communication Disorders, and of all the technical innovations they created. She said they were a model for other writing projects in the country to follow in their pioneering use of computer technology in writing.
After the talk a reception was held in the beautiful atrium of the Drinko Library. Dr. Lloyd played the piano as the Writing Project members talked of past projects and plans for new ones.
The MU Writing Project offers summer programs in Huntington and Logan, West Virginia, the Electronic Writing Project and a Writing Camp for students in grades 6 through 12, coordinated by Ian Nolte.
The Writing Project uses the "model of teachers teaching teachers." Their website provides the following information:
MISSION
Through the process of teachers teaching teachers, Marshall University Writing Project focuses the knowledge, expertise, and leadership of local educators on sustained professional growth that enhances writing, thinking, and learning for all.
VISION
Marshall University Writing Project envisions 21st century literacies as vehicles to motivate all persons to understand the relevance of being lifelong learners in a digital, interconnected world.
WHO WE ARE
As a site of the National Writing Project, Marshall University Writing Project (MUWP) is a network of practicing Pre-K through University teachers who provide professional development, develop resources, generate research, and act on knowledge to improve the teaching of writing and learning in schools and communities. Since 1986, MUWP has served teachers across disciplines and at all levels.
Marshall University Writing Project is one of ten sites of the national network supporting a rural satellite. MUWP encompasses Three Bridges, based at Marshall University, and the rural satellite, Coalfield Writers, based in Logan County, WV.
Like the National Writing Project, MUWP believes that access to high-quality educational experiences is a basic right of all learners and a cornerstone of equity. We work in partnership with Marshall University, the Office of the President, the Office of the Academic Vice President, the College of Education, the College of Liberal Arts, the State of West Virginia, Cabell County Schools, Logan County Schools, and other school systems in the tri-state area to develop and sustain leadership for educational improvement. MUWP values and seeks the expertise of classroom teachers and research based practices to enrich and improve both the quality and the satisfaction of the educational experience for all.
The Writing Project would like to thank Marshall University, Cabell County School District and Logan School District for their essential and continuous and generous support.
Pictures feature Mary Ann Smith, Peggy Henderson Murphy, Shirley Lumpkin, Laura Tracy Baisden, the Writing Project Directors and Ms. Smith, the Three Rivers group, authors Charles Lloyd, Eliot Parker and Laura Treacy Bentley, the Coalfield Writers Group, members participating in the marathon writing event and scenes from the reception.
These pictures and others are available at http://lloydphotography.ifp3.com.
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25th Anniversary Celebration
By Sandee Lloyd
Marshall University Writing Project celebrated its 25th anniversary on Saturday, October 2, 2010 with a full day of activities on the Marshall campus. The day began with a marathon writing session. Twenty-five writing prompts were placed around the campus and participants could write as little or as much as they wanted on any or all of the topics. It was a beautiful autumn day and the group scattered across campus to find the prompts. After the writing session they all came together to share their writings.
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Three members of the Writing Project are recently published authors and were on hand to sign and discuss their books. They are retired Professor of Classics Dr. Charles O. Lloyd, with his book Ruth Etting, America's Forgotten Sweetheart, written with Kenneth Irwin; Eliot Parker, Assistant Professor at Mountwest Community College with his novel The Prospect; and Laura Treacy Bentley with her poetry book Lake Effect.
Peggy Henderson Murphy, a teacher at Ironton High School, and Coordinator of the Three Bridges group, welcomed everyone and talked about the Writing Project. She introduced Dr. Shirley Lumpkin, Professor of English and current Director of the MU Writing Project.
Dr. Lumpkin introduced retired Professor of English John McKernan who, along with her, wrote the first grant that started the Writing Project on the Marshall University campus and was the first Director. Dr. Lumpkin then introduced retired Professor of English Dr. Dolores Johnson, who participated in the first MU Writing Project, came back the following year as a teacher-instructor, then followed Dr. McKernan as Director. They were thanked for their hard work in establishing and continuing the MU site. Dr. Lumpkin thanked the members of the Three Bridges group, especially Peggy Henderson Murphy, Jennifer Stapleton and Hildegard Webb for putting together the celebration, and the Coalfield Writers group from Logan, West Virginia, for all their work as a satellite site. She then introduced Assistant Professor of English Dr. Allison Carey who will be taking over as Director in January 2011.
Dr. Lumpkin read a congratulatory proclamation from Congressman Nick Rahall and another proclamation from the National Writing Project.
Laura Tracy Baisden, a teacher at Logan High School and Director of the Coalfield Writers, spoke about the Logan satellite site, which was the first satellite site in the country, and thanked the members of that group.
Peggy Henderson Murphy introduced speaker Mary Ann Smith, Co-founder of the National Writing Project and the current Director of Government and Public Affairs for the National Writing Project in Washington, DC. Ms. Smith talked about the history of the MU Writing Project, thanking Drs. Mckernan, Lumpkin and Johnson for their efforts in starting and maintaining the MU Writing Project. She said over 600 teachers have been involved with the project and it has changed their lives and their teaching for the better.
Ms. Smith talked about the Electronic Writing Project, started by Karen McComas, Associate Professor in Communication Disorders, and of all the technical innovations they created. She said they were a model for other writing projects in the country to follow in their pioneering use of computer technology in writing.
After the talk a reception was held in the beautiful atrium of the Drinko Library. Dr. Lloyd played the piano as the Writing Project members talked of past projects and plans for new ones.
The MU Writing Project offers summer programs in Huntington and Logan, West Virginia, the Electronic Writing Project and a Writing Camp for students in grades 6 through 12, coordinated by Ian Nolte.
The Writing Project uses the "model of teachers teaching teachers." Their website provides the following information:
MISSION
Through the process of teachers teaching teachers, Marshall University Writing Project focuses the knowledge, expertise, and leadership of local educators on sustained professional growth that enhances writing, thinking, and learning for all.
VISION
Marshall University Writing Project envisions 21st century literacies as vehicles to motivate all persons to understand the relevance of being lifelong learners in a digital, interconnected world.
WHO WE ARE
As a site of the National Writing Project, Marshall University Writing Project (MUWP) is a network of practicing Pre-K through University teachers who provide professional development, develop resources, generate research, and act on knowledge to improve the teaching of writing and learning in schools and communities. Since 1986, MUWP has served teachers across disciplines and at all levels.
Marshall University Writing Project is one of ten sites of the national network supporting a rural satellite. MUWP encompasses Three Bridges, based at Marshall University, and the rural satellite, Coalfield Writers, based in Logan County, WV.
Like the National Writing Project, MUWP believes that access to high-quality educational experiences is a basic right of all learners and a cornerstone of equity. We work in partnership with Marshall University, the Office of the President, the Office of the Academic Vice President, the College of Education, the College of Liberal Arts, the State of West Virginia, Cabell County Schools, Logan County Schools, and other school systems in the tri-state area to develop and sustain leadership for educational improvement. MUWP values and seeks the expertise of classroom teachers and research based practices to enrich and improve both the quality and the satisfaction of the educational experience for all.
The Writing Project would like to thank Marshall University, Cabell County School District and Logan School District for their essential and continuous and generous support.
Pictures feature Mary Ann Smith, Peggy Henderson Murphy, Shirley Lumpkin, Laura Tracy Baisden, the Writing Project Directors and Ms. Smith, the Three Rivers group, authors Charles Lloyd, Eliot Parker and Laura Treacy Bentley, the Coalfield Writers Group, members participating in the marathon writing event and scenes from the reception.
These pictures and others are available at http://lloydphotography.ifp3.com.
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