The Benefits of Applying Early

Join the rapidly growing number of transfer students who recognize the benefits of connecting learning to life.

The number of students transferring to Sterling College from colleges and universities across the country has doubled in the last few years. Most crave a college education that links academics and real world experiences. Many desire to be challenged in a way that traditional colleges and universities just can’t offer. Grounded in an awareness of the world and its communities, Sterling College demands a forward-looking approach to learning, to growing, and to living. We are now accepting transfer applications for the spring and fall of 2006.

Kelsie traces her interest in the outdoors to her childhood experiences camping and hiking. She continues to enjoy these and other outdoor activities as she pursues a degree in Outdoor Education and Leadership. She feels her experiences at Sterling College are providing her with the necessary skills she needs to fulfill her desire for a community-oriented lifestyle. Outdoor Education and Leadership is about learning how to function within a community of people—it’s more about problem solving and communication, than it is about technical skills in the outdoors. The communication skills Kelsie has developed through her studies are useful to the activities she is involved with on campus. In her role as Student Union Representative Kelsie has had opportunity to lead and facilitate group communication and problem solving.

Last January, Kelsie took advantage of Sterling’s Global Field Study to Belize. Students spent one week on the island of Wee Wee Caye studying marine ecology and another week participating in a research project in the Monkey River watershed. Students visited a banana farm and learned about the pesticides that are used to produce bananas. Kelsie was so disturbed by these unsustainable practices that she has strengthened her commitment to make more informed food choices.

Weekend Road Trip to the Common Ground Fair

Every year during the third weekend after Labor Day the small town of Unity, Maine, becomes the host of a Festival of Rural Living—the Common Ground Country Fair. Since 1977, Common Ground has attracted vendors, educational speakers, artisans, musicians, political activists, and more than fifty thousand people who come to participate in the three-day celebration and exchange of ideas. Some of the highlights include sheepdog demonstrations, concerts, dancing, a bewilderingly wide selection of food (all of which is grown in Maine), artwork exhibitions such as stonecutting, pottery, and photography, and talks on political and environmental issues.

For Sam Auciello, a stonecutter and vendor, Common Ground is a family tradition—he has been attending since he was a child. Sam believes, “This fair is a chance for people with progressive views to get together, share information, and have fun.”

Admission is free for anyone wishing to volunteer for jobs like collecting trash, washing dishes, or assisting vendors. Attending Common Ground is a bit of a Sterling Tradition, more than twenty Sterling College students attended Common Ground this year. These students had the opportunity to speak to a wide variety of people who routinely apply the environmental, social, and political concepts taught at the College.