12/01/17

HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State University graduate assistant Ashley Templeton recently received Best Communication in the national graduate student case study competition at the NODA: Association for Orientation, Transition, and Retention in Higher Education national conference in Louisville, Kentucky.

Templeton, a first-year graduate student for New Student and Family Programs in the Office of Transition and Student Conduct, is from Wilson.

“The graduate student case study competition is designed to challenge graduate students by applying their experience, training and critical thinking skills to examine complex issues within the realm of new student orientation, transition and retention,” said Dr. Brett Bruner, director of transition and student conduct.

“Teamed in pairs from across the nation, students work to discern major players, themes and possible solutions to a case study during a timed presentation to a panel of seasoned new student orientation, transition and retention professional judges.”

Templeton partnered with John Goebel, a first-year graduate student from the University of Pittsburgh.

"As a first-year graduate student, I really went all in with the case study competition, and I am so excited about how it turned out, especially competing against first- and second-year students,” said Templeton. 

“I not only gained more presenting experience, but I learned a lot about the student affairs profession and new theories I had not yet heard of," she said.