Hiram has completely transformed my outlook on becoming an educator. The people here believe in me and push me to be my best.

For Jenna Patton, choosing Hiram College was all about finding a place that felt like home. “Hiram’s smaller size creates a more personal and supportive environment,” she shared. “I love that I can stay close to my family and friends while being part of such a welcoming, accepting community.” 

As a transfer student, Jenna was looking for a welcoming community where she would know her professors and feel like more than just a number. Jenna found her home here at Hiram through campus involvement, on-campus jobs, and a welcoming education department. 

Now a junior majoring in P–5 Elementary Education, Jenna’s passion for teaching shines through everything she does. Her favorite class so far is Diagnosis & Intervention, where she’s learning to become a more effective educator through hands-on clinical experience. 

living on the hill

Beyond the classroom, Jenna is deeply involved in campus life. She serves as president of Student Senate, works at both the Career Center front desk and Library, and helps plan and run events at TJ’s Dog House. When she needs a moment of calm, you can find her in her favorite study spot, the clocktower of the Library, especially in the fall when the leaves change color and you can see across campus. 

Her favorite course she’s taken in her time at Hiram has been Diagnosis & Intervention, which has helped her to take experiences in her field experiences and interpret and understand them to make her a better future educator. However, Jenna is grateful for all of the skills she is learning and the education she is receiving here at Hiram.  

“The coursework is challenging and pushes me to think critically and manage my time well. I know those skills, along with the personal support I’m getting here, will prepare me for both my career and life after college,” Patton said. 

As she puts it, “the people here believe in me and push me to be my best.”  

When she’s not presiding over a Student Senate meeting or answering questions at the Career Center desk, you can usually find Jenna hanging out with her friends, reading a romance novel, or studying in the clocktower of the Library, especially in the fall when you can see the leaves changing across campus. 

There is something magical about life on the hill!