Annual Burns and Ann Hargis Writers’ Workshop held at OSU Doel Reed Center
Tuesday, January 25, 2022
Media Contact: Katerina Weingarten | OSU Doel Reed Center Graduate Assistant | 518-231-8546 | katerina.weingarten@okstate.edu
The tranquil environment and picturesque views of Taos, New Mexico, provided the perfect environment for a prestigious group of scholars to participate in the annual Burns and Ann Hargis Writers’ Workshop.
All successful applicants who are awarded with OSU institutional nominations for the Truman, Goldwater and Udall Scholarships receive an invitation to participate in the annual workshop hosted at the OSU Doel Reed Center. The setting of the Doel Reed Center offers students an ideal location for the deep reflection and careful articulation demanded by the competitive scholarship application process.
"Working alongside some of OSU's top student leaders and our outstanding Scholar Development staff refined my writing abilities and broadened my perspective of public service,” said Adrienne Blakey, 2020 Truman Scholar.
“The Writers' Workshop provided a change of scenery that afforded the opportunity to realize new things about myself that I didn't know I needed. My time in Taos influenced the shape my application took in the final weeks before submission."
In this unique six-day travel program, students have the opportunity to craft the written components of the applications they began on campus while also allowing time to explore the unique culture of Taos.
"The Writers' Workshop, without question, helped solidify and strengthen my application for the Goldwater Scholarship. It was packed with structured writing time, yet managed to fit in trips to the scenic areas of Taos. I left the trip more confident in my writing, my research, and my future," said Collin Thornton, 2021 Goldwater Scholar.
Whether they are developing a personal statement, research essay, or policy proposal, experienced writers and advisors guide students through all stages of the revision process.
Dr. Keith Garbutt, dean of the OSU Honors College; Dr. Carol Moder, director of the Center; Jessica Sullins, director of Scholar Development; and Latasha Tasci, Scholar Development program coordinator joined forces with previous award winners to support the institutional nominees during this special program.
In the spirit of the workshop format, students share with peers in a supportive, respectful environment.
"The Writers' Workshop was an amazing opportunity to fully delve into the process of writing an extensive national application, which has allowed me to apply these writing skills to other applications as well. I greatly appreciated having the opportunity to collaborate with other nominees of other disciplines ... this has definitely been my favorite experience of 2020, and it has truly helped me figure out what research I plan to pursue," said Ashley Gin, 2021 Goldwater Scholar.
Thanks to funding provided by a generous donor, significant financial support is provided for each nominee to participate in the workshop, which is held in early January, the last week of students’ winter break.
“The Doel Reed Center has been proud to host OSU’s candidates for nationally and internationally prestigi ous scholarships in Taos. This ongoing collaboration between the Doel Reed Center and the Scholar Development office provides unique opportunity that helps to prepare these outstanding OSU students for further distinctive travel and education experiences,” said Carol Moder, Doel Reed Center Director.
A second workshop is set to take place at the Doel Reed Center in May for students applying for awards with fall deadlines.