By Otterbein Granville resident Dave S.
Otterbein Granville has been home for my wife Becky and me for the past 11 years. Our lives have been enriched by the many new friendships we have developed in the campus community with an array of talented, accomplished folks. The on-campus programs and opportunities for sustaining our physical, mental, and social lives have been amazing.
In addition, the village of Granville and surrounding communities offer chances to contribute our life experiences and interests to a wide variety of groups. An example of such an opportunity has been my involvement with junior high students as a mentor in the National Science Olympiad program at Granville Middle School over the past 5 years.
Extensive Background in Teaching
Becky and I planned to be married at Christmas, following our graduation from Denison University in 1962. So, I accepted a position teaching junior high math near my childhood home in northern Kentucky.
I planned to attend graduate school later. This period in our lives is what students now refer to as a “gap” year. As our fortunes unfolded, Becky and I ended up in New Concord to begin our careers at Muskingum College for the next 42 years.
My interest in psychology has always centered on social behavior, experiment design, and statistics. Much to my delight in fall 2016, I became aware of a need for mentors to assist Granville Middle School students competing in the Science Olympiad program.
Volunteer Experience at Granville Middle School
One of the 23 events is experimental design, a subject area I had experience with for more than 50 years. Wow, what a joy these past six years have been, to mentor groups of energetic, engaged students in a discipline of critical thinking. These skills will allow them to better understand the world where they will become leaders in the next generation.
The Granville Middle School Olympiad program is guided by Josh Grischow, social studies instructor, with the assistance of many parents and members of the Granville community.
Science Olympiad Program in Ohio
The team competes with middle schools all around the state of Ohio. A typical Saturday competition begins at 5:30 a.m. with a bus ride to Mentor, Toledo, or Dayton for a full day of events, followed by an award ceremony.
The students love to stay for the award presentations, as the Granville team competes very well. In Feb. 2022, they finished in fourth place among 36 other teams from all over Ohio and two from out of state. Then, they advanced on to be the 2022 Middle School Champions of the Central Region of Ohio.
I look forward to every week's practice with this remarkable group of young women and men. This relationship helps to keep me young.
Life at Otterbein Granville
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