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Unstoppable Scholar recipient Hannah Awbrey ’23, an English major, has thoroughly enjoyed her time at Mount Saint Mary’s University but also has her eyes set on her future as a teacher. She grew up in Reedley, California, a small town in the Central Valley, and she’s already contracted to teach English at Reedley Middle College High School, her alma mater, starting this August. It is important to her to teach at high-needs schools in Fresno County.

“I'll be the first student to return to teach,” Awbrey says, “and I'm excited and looking forward to being involved in my community again.” She will also enroll in a credential program at Fresno Pacific University, which enables teachers to earn their credential while working fulltime. The credential program will take two years, and there’s an option to earn a master's in education the following academic year. 

Why the Mount?

Awbrey lives with intention and her future well planned. She was drawn to Mount Saint Mary’s University because of its Catholic history. “My Catholic faith has always been important to me,” she says, “and I believe that service and charity should be at the root of one's faith.”

That belief has made Awbrey an active participant on campus. She serves as a Community Advisor for her residence hall, providing support to students and hosting programs to build community on campus. She volunteers with Campus Ministry, occasionally singing at Mass, and is a member of the Mount Chorus. This year, she began working as a teacher's assistant in the childcare center on the Doheny Campus, which she feels could translate well into a high-school setting. “Working with three- and four-year-olds has taught me how to be welcoming, kind, and joyful in the classroom while also presenting myself as an authority figure,” says Awbrey. “I try my best to speak to the children with respect and expect respect in return. I won't know for sure until I get there, but I think that this approach will also serve me well in a high school classroom.” 

The small class sizes that the Mount touted was another draw for Awbrey, and she affirms that she has been able to participate in active, in-depth discussions and develop strong relationships with her professors. The Honors program has given her the opportunity to take on extra projects in areas like literary criticism and creative writing. She is currently working on her Honors Thesis, an extended academic paper on the works of Kurt Vonnegut, her favorite author. Awbrey discovered Kurt Vonnegut in high school and his perspectives on education, generosity, and family shaped the way she prioritized her life and values.

“His novels speak to me because they package complicated ideas about religion, war, and society in outrageous and bizarre science fiction plots with funny, accessible narration. He doesn't take anything too seriously, and I think he struck just the right balance between genuine distress over the evils of the world and the necessity for joy and hope. The most actionable piece of Vonnegut advice is to notice small moments of happiness even in the midst of struggle.”

For her honors thesis, Awbrey is examining the role of women and gender in Vonnegut's novels. The honors program requires an interdisciplinary lens for thesis projects, so Awbrey has also been working with Emerald Archer, PhD, associate professor, history and political science, and coordinator of the women and gender studies major. “It's given me the chance to view his works through a new lens and learn much more about feminism and feminist literary theory.”

She was also impressed by the small Doheny campus and class sizes. “Every single professor I have had has been so encouraging, creative and knowledgeable,” Awbrey says. “They have inspired me to develop my skills in critical thinking, literary analysis, and both academic and creative writing. I will try to emulate their enthusiasm and professionalism in my own classrooms.”

A few shout-outs to professors

Jessica Roberson, PhD, assistant professor, is Awbrey’s advisor and also the first reader for her honors project. “She assigns original and challenging projects and is great about encouraging creativity. My favorite project: A paper on "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" and its connections to modern-day zombie fiction. She recognized my love for the subject and guided me through a process that taught me so much about scholarship. The paper was incredibly fun to research and write.

Scott Bryson, PhD, professor: “My very first English class at the Mount was with Dr. Bryson, and I loved the way that he guided his sessions. His classes are discussion-based, and he does a great job making sure that everyone has a chance to contribute. He's also great about selecting good books by diverse authors, and I enjoyed sharing my opinions on the texts even (or especially!) when I didn't like the book we were reading. He encourages his students to argue about varying opinions in a civil, intelligent way.”

Matthew Brosamer, PhD, professor and English department chair: “Dr. Brosamer is incredibly intelligent and well-informed. I learned something new in every one of his class sessions, especially his amazing Shakespeare class. I usually get bored during lectures, but his always kept me engaged.”

Marcos Villatoro, MFA, professor and Fletcher Jones endowed chair, creative writing: “I've always loved writing fiction, and I had a great time in Professor Villatoro's classes. He gives honest, encouraging, useful feedback and facilitates great conversations in his workshops. Taking fiction and poetry classes with him has increased both my skill and confidence as a writer.”