As their first college assignment, students wrote reflections on
All Bonaventure Reads book ‘Little Princes’
ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. — Months before they would attend their first class at St. Bonaventure University, incoming freshmen were handed their first college assignment by SBU Provost Dr. Michael Fischer: Read this year’s All Bonaventure Reads selection and write a reflection about the book.
The 2011-2012 book is “Little Princes: One Man’s Promise to Bring Home the Lost Children of Nepal” by Conor Grennan, a nonfiction account of Grennan’s life-changing experiences helping the victims of child trafficking in Nepal during its civil war. What began as a three-month stint volunteering in Nepal turned into a lifelong commitment by Grennan to reconnect trafficked children with their families.
Thirteen winning essays were chosen, enabling the authors the opportunity to meet with Grennan when he was on campus Monday for a public lecture. Their reflections were published in a keepsake book that was presented to Grennan, and the essays are posted on the University website (click here to read the essays).
In their essays, the students shared their connections to the themes in “Little Princes” — global issues, human rights and the power of volunteer service. The freshmen wrote about their own service experiences along with hopes of future self-discovery.
“Reading the essays was humbling; freshmen wrote heartfelt, uplifting, and comical reflections about how ‘Little Princes’ impacted them,” said Jean Trevarton Ehman, All Bonaventure Reads chair. “Our 13 finalists reflect the character and showcase the promise of St. Bonaventure’s class of 2015.”
The student essay winners are:
- Vanya Aggarwal, a biology major from Leesburg, Va.
- Jordan Davies, a sport studies major from Freedom, N.Y.
- Erin Dempsey, an English major from Glenwood, N.Y.
- Samantha DiBenedetto, a biology major from Friendship, N.Y.
- Andrew Dugan, an undeclared business major from Erie, Pa.
- Mackenzie Jordan, a biology major from Rochester, N.Y.
- Julie Kirk, an early childhood education major from Pompton Lakes, N.J.
- Koty Mann, a theology major from Buffalo, N.Y.
- Alexandra McCumiskey, a history major from Belfast, N.Y.
- Nicholas Murphy, an undeclared business major from Ridgewood, N.J.
- Patricia Rosetti, an undeclared arts major from Dryden, N.Y.
- Jake Shattuck, an undeclared business major from Rochester, N.Y.
- Quinlan Shoen, a physical education major from Waddington, N.Y.
Grennan had dinner with students, signed copies of his book and posed for photos with the students before giving a public presentation in the Reilly Center Arena.
For more about All Bonaventure Reads, go to www.sbu.edu/AllBonaventureReads.
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About the University: Inspired for more than 150 years by the Franciscan values of individual dignity, community inclusiveness, and service, St. Bonaventure University cultivates graduates who are confident and creative communicators, collaborative leaders and team members, and innovative problem solvers who are respectful of themselves, others, and the diverse world around them.