Luke Tompkins of East Falmouth, MA, Awarded Theory-to-Practice Grant from Ohio Wesleyan University

2017 Dec 6

Luke Tompkins of East Falmouth, MA, has been awarded a fall 2017 Theory-to-Practice Grant from Ohio Wesleyan University. The grants support research, internship, service, and cultural-immersion opportunities throughout the world.

The Theory-to-Practice Grant awarded to Tompkins supports a project titled "Accounting for Emerging Industries in an Environment of Conflicting Regulation." The project will be conducted in the State of Delaware for four days with assistant professors of accounting Justin Breidenbach and Emily West and four student peers.

Since fall 2009, more than 800 Ohio Wesleyan students, faculty, and staff have used university-funded Theory-to-Practice grants, part of The OWU Connection, to conduct research or complete special projects in more than 60 countries.

Maddy Coalmer, Class of 2018, used a Theory-to-Practice Grant to travel to Iceland over the summer to study land degradation and its relation to tourists and native people. Coalmer plans to pursue a doctoral degree tied to studies of society and the environment.

"When sitting in a classroom, one can begin to stray away from how the theories taught can apply to real life," said Coalmer, a geography and psychology minor from Canfield, Ohio. "Through the Theory-to-Practice Grant program, a student is offered a firsthand chance to see that the concepts our professors teach really do help us succeed in life."

Ohio Wesleyan's Theory-to-Practice Grant program is competitive, with submissions evaluated by an advisory board of professors, staff, and students. A total of $59,500 was awarded to this fall to support eight experiences.

When the grant recipients return to campus, they prepare reports and presentations based on their objectives and experiences. Many present during the university's annual spring Student Symposium.

The OWU Connection, Ohio Wesleyan's unique approach to experiential student learning, links academic theory with real-world practice; crosses disciplinary boundaries to support deeper, interconnected learning; and prepares students for global citizenship and leadership. It includes Theory-to-Practice Grants, Travel-Learning Courses, internships, and more.

Learn more about The OWU Connection at www.owu.edu/owuconnection.

Founded in 1842, Ohio Wesleyan University is one of the nation's premier liberal arts universities. Located in Delaware, Ohio, the private university offers more than 90 undergraduate majors and competes in 23 NCAA Division III varsity sports. Through Ohio Wesleyan's signature OWU Connection program, students integrate knowledge across disciplines, build a diverse and global perspective, and apply their knowledge in real-world settings. Ohio Wesleyan is featured in the book "Colleges That Change Lives" and included in the U.S. News & World Report and Princeton Review "best colleges" lists. Learn more at www.owu.edu.

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