Success StoriesStudents in a creative writing class learn how to create rich fiction by connecting with seniors who witnessed history in the making.
Students in a creative writing class at Minnesota School of Business’s Richfield campus are partnering with residents at Village Shores Senior Campus, also in Richfield, to gather real-life stories that span decades and chronicle historical milestones. Sarah Prochaska (85) is sharing details of her past with 21-year-old student Chris McCoy, who later weaves “threads” of her stories into his own creative writing projects. These personal accounts—from hiking the hills of Machu Picchu in Peru to readying horses to march in a Rose Bowl Parade to the great battles of World War II—are rich in detail.
Several residents at Village Shores are enthusiastically participating in the school’s service-learning project, each paired with an equally enthusiastic student.
Based on interviews with Bob Rose at Village Shores, student Chase Buntgen is creating a story about a relationship between a man and his horse. Both Bob and Chase share a love of the outdoors, especially hunting and fishing.
Innovative teaching and learning
Service learning is an innovative teaching and learning strategy that integrates meaningful community service with instruction and reflection. Our students are hearing first-hand accounts from people who witnessed the birth of the industrial age, the Great Depression, and a world at war. The seniors have an opportunity to share their stories, providing a learning experience that could never be gleaned from a textbook or lecture. For both, it means forging intergenerational friendships.
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