Ava Westenfelder ’28
Hometown: Southington, OH
Communication Major
Marketing and Photography Minor
Hiram works to integrate commuters into the campus community and provide them with the resources and opportunities to succeed.
Ava Westenfelder chose Hiram because she was drawn to the small classes and the sense of community surrounding campus. One of the main things that drew Westenfelder to Hiram was the study abroad program. “I have always wanted to travel and study abroad seemed like the perfect opportunity to do so while pursuing my degree. I was really excited about the unique setup of the semesters with the 12-week and 3-week terms,” she said.
This structure, known as the Hiram Plan, allows students to remain focused on their studies during the 12-week with the chance to travel during the 3-week. During this 3-week period, students can dedicate their focus to just one course, surrounded by their peers, with the ability to fully immerse themselves in the culture and community of locations around the world.
Finding a home on campus
Westenfelder is a member of the Eclectic Scholars Honors Program, a cohort representative on the Honors council, a member of Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK), and has served as Vice-President of the Commuter Activities Board (CAB).
In her first year at Hiram, Ava also worked in the Strategic Marketing and Media Relations Office and as a student worker in Sports Information (Athletics).
The marketing office helped her to gain valuable experience in marketing, media relations, and graphic design. She had the opportunity to conduct interviews with Hiram faculty, staff, and students, write articles, practice graphic design skills, and create social media content/campaigns. Working for Sports Information gave Westenfelder the opportunity to take game-day action photos for a variety of Hiram athletic teams and post real-time updates for their games on social media. She also completed office hours working on player bios, graphic design, and information input.
“My on-campus jobs have helped me build my resume and portfolio, providing me with hands-on experience in the field I wish to pursue post-graduation.”
My advice for incoming students would be to get involved on campus! It’s a great way to challenge yourself, meet new people, form connections, and build memories.
The commuter experience
Westenfelder has found many ways to get involved on campus. Here at Hiram, commuter students have so many opportunities to participate in campus life. Hiram works to integrate commuters into the campus community and provide them with the resources and opportunities to succeed.
One of the perks of being a commuter that Westenfelder loves is access to the Commuter Lounge in the Kennedy Center. This place, reserved only for commuter students provides a calm and quiet environment on campus for me to relax. “Right next to the Bistro and in the center of campus, I’m able to grab a meal and then work in the lounge or pack my lunch and eat in there. It’s important for commuters to have their own spot on campus,” she said.
Westenfelder’s favorite spot to study on campus is the library. There are many rooms and unique locations to spend your time working. If you grab a study space, you can have a quiet space to focus or sit with your friends to finish your homework.
