KIVA cofounder tells her story to Coker College Community

Inauguration Week at Coker College has been highlight after highlight and the Lois Walters Coker Lecturer Jessica Jackley, co-founder of KIVA made a dynamic presentation that truly demonstrated the theme of this week. Dr. Robert Wyatt, who is being inaugurated as the 16th President of Coker College on March 26, adopted the theme of "redefining ready" for the Inauguration Week. This is the way the theme is described: "Preparing our students for the world as it was, or even as it is, does them a serious disservice. We have to help them to succeed regardless of what the future brings. We have to Redefine Ready. Instead of our graduates wondering, "Am I ready for the real world?" we want them asking, "Is the real world ready for me?"

Jessica Jackley is one of those people making a difference in the world today who could have asked that question. Her KIVA organization is "Changing Lives One Loan at a Time." We will link KIVA so you can learn more. But, Ms Jackley's presentation is educational, energetic and empowering. One person can make a difference!

Photo One -- Jessica Jackley, left, talking with Becky Sullivan, student body president, Steve and Paula Terry.
Photo Two -- View of the stage as Dr. Will Carswell welcomes the speaker on behalf of the Coker Faculty.

It is Inauguration Week At Coker College

Dr. Robert Wyatt, the 16th president of Coker College, which was founded in 1908, will be officially inaugurated on Friday, March 26, 2010. The college has planned a week of activities to celebrate what we discuss as the community of learning that pervades the ethos of this college located in Hartsville, SC, in the northeast corner of the State.

When Dr. Wyatt began thinking about the inauguration he was focused on how the event could highlight all that is Coker. He hoped to make the inauguration just one of many highlights of a week that would draw attention to the achievements of students, staff and faculty. It appears that all is ready to achieve this vision.

It is a fact that some of the activities are getting in the way of regular classes. In my speech classes I am asking the students to take advantage of the week's activities to become more familiar with a variety of speaking goals that will be illustrated by a variety of speaking styles.

This week is, I think, a concrete example of epideictic discourse. We have a variety of ceremonies that will be part of the major ceremony, the Inauguration and the students should have no trouble analyzing some of the major elements that compose effective epideictic discourse.

Students in the public speaking courses have been given assignments and/or extra credit opportunities to pay particular attention to academic talks. These they will be able to do as students present results of their research projects (on Monday)or faculty members read papers, hold panels or demonstrations of some of their areas of expertise and interest (on Wednesday). The entire Coker College community has the opportunity on Thursday evening to hear Jessica Jackley,the co-founder of KIVA, a micro loan enterprise, discuss the real difference KIVA is making around the world. And, of course, there will be the inauguration speech by Dr. Wyatt that will be built around the theme of these inauguration events, "Redefining Ready."

We expect a great many visitors this week, and even the bosses of the college, The Coker Board of Trustees, who are having their regular meetings on Wednesday and Thursday. In addition, the Coker College Board of Visitors will also be on campus this week. There is a Performing Arts Showcase scheduled for Wednesday evening that will be packed with talented performers -- students and faculty.

For the students, this is a unique opportunity because when things are going smoothly and the Coker community is focused on its mission these presidential inauguration events are few and well spaced. Dr. Daniels was with Coker for 22 years, Dr. Dawson for seven years and we are hoping Dr. Wyatt is intent on a long-term Coker presidency.