Greer Brightbill is an organizational communications major who joined the Akron community before she even saw it, saying she didn’t visit UA until after she had already decided to enroll as a student.
“I visited in the summertime and really liked the campus, the walkability, the open spaces,” Greer says, recalling the campus’ unique, community-feel type of vibe. A Medina, Ohio, resident, Greer says Akron’s educational and cultural experiences showed her the opportunity to succeed and have prepared her for a variety of professional career options after graduation.
Recalling her UA activities, Greer says her best campus experience didn’t even occur on campus. She pointed to her involvement with the XL Center, which helps students emerge as civically-engaged leaders and build sustainable communities through community-based learning. Through the center, Greer took a course on the history of Howard Street, a historic part of Akron that, in its heyday, welcomed such jazz giants as Duke Ellington and Ella Fitzgerald.
“We did a lot of work, researching that historic community, and (studying) the archives – what that area, the cultural and music scene was really like,” Greer says.
She says she will always recall the immersion the UA experience gave her with the city. “I felt a lot closer to the city as a whole just through (studying) that kind of the history; It was really fulfilling to be a student and get a greater introduction to what the dynamic, the history here is.”
Greer says the XL experience is emblematic of how UA actually connects students to the city. She is a recipient of the UA Frank Pixley Memorial Scholarship, generally awarded to students of outstanding ability and promise in the fields of literature, music, and speech.
“I will value most the opportunities here, and how they’ve shaped me. The (campus) community is there for you, it recognizes you and if you’re willing to put in the work, you’ll have a ton of opportunities,” Greer says.
Greer credits her parents with her own ability to make the most of the UA experience. Her dad was an entrepreneur for 20 years and her mother, an industrious stay-at-home mom. They taught Greer to recognize and seize opportunity. “I’m prepared to be flexible in things that happen to me and to understand that the only way out is through. They pushed me to realize that I’m very capable of going to school and of working and to build the career and the life that I want for myself.”
To learn more about scholarships at The University of Akron, click here.