Writing Sample: STC Newsletter, Summer 2007
Here’s an article I wrote for the Society for Technical Communication Summer 2007 newsletter. The subject: to announce the winner of the annual Donald Cunningham scholarship. I don’t think it was my most “ambitious” piece of writing (save that for my seminar papers and portfolio defense during my last year of graduate school), but I think I achieved my aims: it is a short piece that showcases the work of the scholarship winner, as well as the philanthropic spirit of the STC, and the academic rigor of Auburn University. It is the kind of writing I would be happy to do for a NPO, community, or arts organization.
Looking back, I think the writing could be a lot tighter, but I like the introductory sentence a lot. When I wrote this, I had just recently finished writing a series of literary papers, so I was prone to more flourishes in my writing than usual.
Robin Gosser Wins Acclaimed Cunningham Award
Robin Gosser, a student in the Masters’ in Technical and Professional Communication (MTPC) program at Auburn University, and this year’s Donald Cunningham Award winner, knows that stamina and patience are essential to academic accomplishment. Of her achievements as a student she says, “I think a key to success in anything we approach is to have an attitude of perseverance. There were times this past year when I thought I just couldn’t do everything that needed to be done! But I was determined, and I decided that I would not give up…I viewed school as a full-time job.”
Perseverance is a difficult quality for most students to achieve, even when they have all the time in the world to study. But for Robin, a wife and mother of Bailey, age six, time is even harder to find. In addition to her studies and family life, Gosser also works as a graduate teaching assistant. Says Gosser, “I’ve found that the obligations of my many roles often compete for the limited time I have. Not a minute of the day is wasted as I take care of my family and complete my graduate studies.”
It also helps to be a talented student. Dr. Joyce Rothschild, the coordinator of the MTPC program at Auburn, notes: “Robin impressed me consistently by her professionalism, intelligence, and good humor. Her ‘real-world’ management background enabled her to contribute invaluable insights during class discussion. Because of her consummate professionalism, she seemed the right choice for the award from the Society for Technical Communication–Birmingham Chapter.”
Gosser is quick to thank those who have helped her to succeed: “I’ve had the privilege of working with some wonderful professors at Auburn, and I’ve learned so much from them. My family has also been a huge supporter of my academic endeavors.”
Robin received her Bachelor of Science in Business from the University of Alabama, where she majored in Marketing, and minored in English. She then spent some time working in banking, and worked as a commercial credit analyst before deciding to return to graduate school. Gosser originally planned to pursue a Master’s degree in English, but found herself attracted to the MTPC program: “I thought that it was a perfect fit with my business background and my love of writing,” she explains. After finishing her degree next semester, Robin hopes to teach writing classes at the junior college level, and also to work in editing.
The selection of recipients for the Donald Cunningham Award is done by a committee of Auburn University faculty members. Candidates are chosen based on their success in all coursework, with particular emphasis given to those courses taken in the field of technical and professional communication.
The Donald H. Cunningham Scholarship for Excellence in Technical Communication was named to honor Dr. Cunningham, who retired from his position as professor of English at Auburn in 2005. Previously, the award was known as the Scholarship for Excellence in Technical Communication. Dot Fowler, a Birmingham STC member, created and coordinates an annual silent auction to raise funds for the scholarship. Sara Beth Scudder, the current president of STC-Birmingham, is glad that the organization she represents is able to give back to the educational community: “The Society for Technical Communication is a society you can take with you from college into your profession. We, in the Birmingham Chapter, support you defining your career and broadening your professional possibilities.” Karrie Brock, former president of STC-Birmingham, agrees: “Birmingham STC is honored to award the Dr. Donald Cunningham Technical Communication Scholarship each spring. It is a privilege for our
members to contribute to the education of future technical communicators.”
In addition to the Cunningham Award, other Auburn students were honored for their hard work in technical and professional writing coursework. Jessica Smith was awarded the Betty Travis Naugle Fellowship for Academic Excellence in Technical Communication, and Emma Mulvaney received the Department of English Fellowship in Technical and Professional Communication.
More information about the Master’s of Technical and Professional Program, and the Donald Cunningham Award and other honors can be found at www.auburn.edu/english.
