For better or worse, our smartphones have become extensions of ourselves. And one of the most defining characteristics of the device is the power to capture photos at any time in any place. But there are still some young people who, despite relying on smartphones most of their lives, seek something more precise, artistic, and professional grade. Meet Ridgley Cannon, a senior at Greenwood Laboratory School. Ridgley is a young talent who impressed us with his classic approach to photography and his heart for service. The images below, taken at the ILL-Abilities performance during the 2023 Public Affairs Conference are just a couple examples of his work: Ridgley's journey into the world of photography began when his father handed him a Nikon D60, igniting a spark that would fuel his creativity for years to come. Outside the classroom, where Ridgley immerses himself in history and science, photography is his passion project. Despite the convenience of cameras embedded in a smartphone, Ridgley prefers the tactile feel of professional equipment, capturing high quality … [Read more...] about High school student explores professional photography as a service-learning project
By Charles Whitaker and Ethan Gambriel There are many things in life that make wildly successful, yet unlikely combinations: dessert and breakfast, chocolate and peanut butter, Romeo and Juliet. Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy? Yeah, we’ll stand by that. In other words, life often reminds us that, despite our differences, our uniqueness can bring new opportunities that encourage us to grow as humans together. This was exactly what two roommates discovered when they took an Honors College service-learning course taught by CASL’s very own, Dr. Kathy Nordyke, in Spring 2023. Abby Bennett and Vaeya Nichols have fundamentally different academic interests. “I’ve always wanted to do [something] with biology,” says Abby, a microbiology student who grew up on a farm about an hour north of Springfield. On the other hand, Vaeya, who has a background in art and design and majors in Illustration, is interested in working on children’s books. One could argue that there are typically not a lot of easy to identify pathways for combining these academic interests. But one of service-learning’s … [Read more...] about Dynamic duos, cross-disciplinary combos, and finding connection through composting
Adam Ghan wants to be a venue manager one day. After chatting with the junior Entertainment Management student about his experience in service-learning with The Gillioz Theatre, there’s every reason to believe he will. Level-headed, driven, and refreshingly chill about the whole future thing, Adam seems to understand that it won’t just fall into place magically. He’s strategically taking on meaningful opportunities and building relationships that will set him up for success. Service-learning has been a significant step on his path, and he’s excited to talk about how it can even lead to helping run a classic theatre during a Rocky Horror Picture Show viewing. "That’s the most beneficial part of service-learning for me – it’s just to see management, see why they make the decisions they make and see how deep it really goes" Adam makes a really good first impression. He's got a rhythmic brand of confidence that seems to be uniquely prone to people who play the drums – which he does. He ducks into the office dressed in dark, casually styled clothes with jaw-length hair and a few … [Read more...] about Community, entertainment and Rocky Horror: Adam Ghan reflects on service-learning at the Gillioz Theatre