2009-2011 Student Spotlight

Carissa Rae Fry

(Class of 2014)

photo of Carissa Rae Fry reading 'Catcher in the Rye'One of the most rewarding experiences I've had at Miami is mentoring at-risk youth from the Talawanda School District (Oxford's district). I've learned so much from the kids and they've instilled in me a new vivacity for life. I like to think that I've served as motivation or inspiration for them to pursue goals that they feel are too 'far out' to achieve.


Read what Carissa had to say about her interests and projects.


Jeff Folz

(Class of 2014)

photo of Jeff FolzInstead of telling students what they need to take and do in order to get a degree, Western asks students to provide the answer … I'm in the process of creating my own major, which will combine physics and philosophy in an effort to examine how we as humans measure, define, and try to make sense of this crazy world in which we live.


Read what Jeff had to say about the uniqueness of Miami's Western Program.


Chelsea Fought

(Class of 2013)

photo of Chelsea FoughtWhen I came to Miami, I wasn't sure what I was going to do ... After going down a long path, I landed in Individualized Studies. It was one of the best choices I ever made.


Read about Chelsea's passion for her self-designed major.


Andy Stiebler

(Class of 2009)

photo of Andy StieblerBy recording and sharing what Western College Program alumni have achieved with their Western degrees, I hope to inspire potential students to think creatively about their college education options.


Read what Andy had to say about his senior thesis project and the value of the Western Program.


Audree Riddle

(Class of 2010)

photo of Audree RiddleAs part of the Western community, I discovered my own views and learned how to stand up for them, to embrace the different perspectives of my peers and, most importantly, to respect them.


Read what Audree had to say about her Western and study abroad experiences.


Amy Peterson

(Class of 2009)

photo of Amy PetersonYour time at Miami is what you make of it, and I decided very early on that I would take advantage of a variety of opportunities ... Through these experiences, I developed my language skills, met people from all around the world, had exposure to people and issues that challenged my viewpoints, and learned how to better work with various people.


Read what Amy had to say about her study abroad experiences.