September 2011 Vol. 6, No. 1
IMPACT Inspiring Students to Pursue Lives of Purpose
Traveling the nation to “Spread the Word to End the Word” Road trips are a staple in any college student’s carrier of experiences. From daily excursions with friends to traveling abroad, opportunities abound at Waynesburg University. This past summer, three Waynesburg ladies took a road trip like none other – a mission to spread one message of love and acceptance.
P
artnering with Best Buddies International, a nonprofit organization that creates a
variety of opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, sophomores Sarah Blais and K Scarry, along with senior Sam Civitate, joined the organization’s “Spread the Word to End the Word” campaign. The ladies spent 78 days traveling through 36 states to faithfully serve those living with disabilities by teaching others about social acceptance. Drawing attention to an issue that is close to each of their hearts, the campaign specifically focused on why the use of the word “retard” in everyday speech is offensive. Scarry has coached in the Special Olympics for five years, Blais’s older brother has Asperger’s syndrome and Civitate, like Blais and Scarry, believes the campaign’s message is something every person should hear. “People with intellectual and developmental disabilities want what we all want - to be accepted and loved,” Civitate said. “Everyone can make a
difference by making the decision to love
getting ready to go to Greece to cheer her
Buddies Leadership Conference in
others just as they are.”
sister on in the Special Olympics World
Bloomington, Ind., where Scarry, Blais
Throughout their inspirational trip,
Games.”
and Civitate built relationships and
Scarry, Blais and Civitate stopped at
Blais, Civitate and Scarry took their
presented a workshop about putting
schools, summer camps and shopping
message to a variety of groups across the
ideas into action.
malls to speak about social acceptance
country including places in California,
As these ladies now reflect about
to young people and anyone who would
North Dakota, Wisconsin, and many
the time they spent pouring out their
listen.
others.
passion, they continue to want those
The women began their 1,950-hour
It was those who are directly affected
they met along the way to know that
journey in Richmond, Va. They used
by “the r-word” who inspired so many
anyone can make a difference in the lives
a variety of social media outlets to
listeners, including the Waynesburg
of others.
keep their families, friends and recent
ladies who helped spark conversations
“The trip was so much more than a
acquaintances informed. They put more
about social acceptance across the
road trip,” Blais said. “It was a way to
miles to their story by continuously
nation.
show love through our actions.”
updating a specialized Facebook page,
“One of my favorite memories was a
And that is how one lives to make a
Twitter post and blog.
boy who stood up after our presentation
difference and embrace the Waynesburg
“We met some really awesome people
and spoke about how he felt when he
University mission to pursue lives of
from all over the world…and [we were
gets bullied for his disability, in front of
purpose through faith, learning and
able to] hear so many stories about why
an assembly of 500 students,” Blais said.
serving.
social acceptance matters to those we
“He definitely made a bigger impact than
To read more about their mission, visit
got to meet,” Scarry wrote in a blog
the three of us!”
the official blog at:
post. “We even met one girl who is
The trip culminated at the Best
http://stwroadtrip.bestbuddies.org/.
Wheeler’s “Colbert” essay receives international attention
A
spring semester assignment has
An avid fan of both the Colbert
to research specifically one aspect of
For Wheeler, the achievement was
translated into two published
Report television series and Stephen
rhetoric; I knew immediately my focus
“unexpected but exciting.”
pieces for a senior professional
Colbert, Wheeler’s focus for her
would be Stephen Colbert.”
“Connotation Press’s original
writing major at Waynesburg University.
History and Theory of Rhetoric
Trapp, chair of the Department of
publishing of my article was quite
Sarah Wheeler’s essay, “Rev. Dr.
course essay assignment was an easy
English and Foreign Language, said the
an achievement, but to have the
Stephen T. Colbert: The Embodiment
choice. Her essay analyzes Colbert’s
Department is delighted to work with
article republished by another online
of Truthiness,” recently went global
rhetoric through the examination of
young writers and to help them see their
journal, an international one at that,
after being picked up by a UK online
his evaluation and effect on American
work into publication.
is something I had never expected to
publication: Denis Campbell’s UK
political discourse.
“One of the best things about teaching
happen. I was honored,” she said.
Progressive, a magazine with more than
“I have always found Mr. Colbert’s
and mentoring students is watching
Wheeler credits her major courses
30,000 monthly readers known as “the
reporting style and tactics interesting,
them do well outside the University
at Waynesburg and the “firm critics
home of independent, critical insight.”
both of which are critical in
walls,” Trapp said. “Sarah’s success with
and constructive criticism” within
Prior to the UK publishing, Wheeler’s
understanding the comedic and rhetoric
this essay thrills all of us. She’s always
the Department of English for the
essay was published in the student
genius of Mr. Colbert,” Wheeler said.
had the potential, but the actualization
improvement of her writing and research
edition of Connotation Press.
“Dr. Trapp’s assignment allowed me
is what mentoring is all about.”
abilities.