Local College of Wooster graduate comes full circle
Its fall, and that means Connie Storck is back at school at The College of Wooster. Ive taken a class every semester since I retired, the perpetual student said. Storck loves to learn and has strong generational ties to the local college. She grew up playing on the campus. I remember jumping in the leaves right here, Storck said, pointing to an area outside Kauke Hall on the College of Wooster campus. I could look up and see my dads office. Clearly she enjoys the memory and loves being on the campus again (and again and again); yet, its not about nostalgia or going back. Its all about going forward as a curious, inquisitive retired adult. Storck loves the learning, and she thoroughly enjoys the opportunity to interact with the students. I love the students here. The interaction is great. They are friendly and welcoming. They are smart. You can have very interesting, in-depth conversations with them, she said. Any local resident can do what Storck does: audit one class per semester at the College of Wooster campus. The cost? Free. Although it is the responsibility of the student to acquire or borrow any needed books or materials. The necessary form can be found online at www.wooster.edu/_media/files/academics/registrar/community-audit.pdf, or prospective students can do what Storck does and drop by the registrar to pick up the form in person. Storck does remind adult learners that you have to plan ahead to get the needed approvals for an audit.Growing up as the child of a College of Wooster professor, Storck was well steeped in the value of education at an early age. Her father was chair of the Education Department. His daughter continued the legacy of learning by attending the college and becoming a teacher, and the connection doesnt end there. Storck shares more of her story while sitting in the very hall where her father had an office in a cozy nook where she now often likes to study. I met [my husband] here ... Our son went to school here. While the two COW grads were young parents, they would often come to campus with their youngster for a wide variety of activities including his first academic experience: attending the college preschool. He would grow up to attend COW for his undergraduate degree. Clearly the Storck family are lifelong fans. The College of Wooster is a great school. It gives a great background in anything you might want to do. It is so valuable to students whether or not they go on to graduate school. Im a huge proponent of a liberal arts education. As a teacher I always extolled the benefits of the liberal arts, and I still avail myself of those opportunities now. Storck has taken 11 classes thus far, and she has no plans of stopping. When I retired from teaching, I knew I would miss interacting with younger people, so I was trying to think of things that would foster that kind of connection. When she looked at the college audit program, it seemed to fit the bill. I dont have to worry about requirements. I can take whatever is interesting. The retired high school teacher reflects on her experience being on the other side of the desk. Instead of being the teacher, Im the student. Its a lot of fun. The students are totally accepting. Instructor approval is required ahead of time, so the professor is more than happy to have an audit in the class. Angie Bos, the chair and associate professor of political science at the College of Wooster, currently has Storck in one of her classes. Bos office also happens to be located in Kauke Hall. I love the community audit program. Ive had Connie in three courses now, and Ive been teasing her that shes going to run out of courses to take with me. Not only are older students fully accepted by the student body, but also they can provide a wealth of first-hand knowledge that brings events to life for younger class members. When Professor Bos class discussed the 1960 presidential debate between Kennedy and Nixon, Bos said, Students started giving the narrative theyve heard and were stunned when Connie stated, I watched that debate live. It was so amazing for her to share her perspective. Connie, like other community auditors Ive had in my courses, is able to offer our traditionally aged students an opportunity to participate in intergenerational learning about course topics.Storck smiled with notebook in hand and said, Theres always been this thread of campus through my whole life ... when my parents moved here, me as a student, then the parent of a young child and then the mother of a student. Though its changed and evolved ... Its always been a really comfortable place ... Im a kid again.
