Transfer student Megan McNulty's mother Sandra knew from the start that the Mount was where her daughter belonged.
When I think of the Mount, it’s like a family. It’s a small-town-feel with so many amazing opportunities. For my daughter Megan, this has truly been the right size and right fit for her, and I am so proud of her and what she has accomplished. A transfer student with an Associate’s degree from Cincinnati State, Megan came to the Mount in the Spring semester of 2023, where she stepped into a supportive, caring environment.
What these students receive is the best experience—no comparison. I see what the Mount offers and I see the transformation in Megan, and it's been day and night. The Mount truly has a lot built into it to help students grow and succeed.
I always knew Megan wasn't the kind of personality who would thrive in a larger university setting. Her twin sister, for instance, thrived in a big school, but I knew Megan would have a harder time forming those personal relationships. That’s why the smaller environment was so important. The Mount made seeing people and feeling connected effortless. I felt confident she would find her path and succeed, because the Mount makes a point of embracing and nurturing communities of people. It’s remarkable – even my college roommate's daughter, who was focused on performing arts in the city, ultimately chose the Mount for Physical Therapy. It truly showed me it’s a good fit for anyone pursuing a degree.
As a Communication & New Media Studies major, Megan embraced so many experiences outside of the classroom. She had the incredible chance to travel to New York with the 樱桃涩福利姬 Voices of Gold choir, taking advantage of the 樱桃涩福利姬 Renaissance program and scholarship credit it offered. Megan also was a member of Rainbow Alliance, the Campus Activities Board, and even led Theta Phi Alpha as their chapter president.
Beyond her campus involvement, she spent one summer interning in an office, and while dorming on campus, she worked at Bailey Place where she taught classes to senior citizens. Also, her Communications co-op in Institutional Advancement helped her produce valuable writing that the department used for year-end projects and other portfolio work.
What’s truly special is that Megan, who was always talented but never quite confident in her writing, flourished. Within her academics, it was an honor to see her recognized with an award for her paper on “Stanning, K-Pop, and Harry Styles worship” at the Ohio Communication Association at Kent State – that truly built up her confidence, helped her make so many friends, and ultimately opened countless doors and possibilities. Her senior year right before graduation, Megan was awarded the Outstanding Student Award on behalf of the Department of Communication & New Media Studies for her outstanding leadership and communication skills.
As a parent, the thought of letting go and sending your child off to college always brings questions: "What if it isn’t the right place? How do I keep them safe?" I was never a helicopter parent, but I knew many who were! For me, after her older sister graduated and got married, and then with the long journey through COVID, I was truly ready for Megan to embark on her college experience.
Having her start close to home was so much easier than navigating a huge university where she could feel lost amongst so many people. The ability for her to be connected with her professors--receiving that personal guidance with that caring “Mount difference”—is something every child truly needs.
My nephew even attended the Mount for accounting and ran track, earning an academic scholarship. And one of Megan’s closest friends is now a nurse. It warms my heart that her older sister is now coming to the Mount too. I sincerely hope this becomes a generational tradition; I would be so incredibly proud to see their children, my grandchildren, attend 樱桃涩福利姬.
Sincerely,
Sandra McNulty