‘College Tour’ spotlight: Camryn Morrow
Amazon Prime series features University of Cincinnati in upcoming season
Camryn Morrow says she found her community at UC in the university’s identity-based centers, offices and student organizations.
Camryn Morrow | Photo/Andrew Higley/UC Creative + Brand
UC’s African American Cultural & Resource Center (AACRC) and Office of Ethnic Programs and Services are two special spaces for Camryn, a Darwin T. Turner Scholar majoring in human development and community engagement.
“The pride I feel when I walk into these places and can say, ‘This is my home,’ is indescribable.”
Camryn is one of 10 students and alumni featured in UC’s episode of “The College Tour,” an Amazon Prime series that features universities from across the country.
Camryn shares her experience shooting “The College Tour” episode and what being a Bearcat means to her.
Describe being part of “The College Tour.”
I was so excited to be a part of “The College Tour” and have the opportunity to showcase some of the aspects of UC that mean the most to me. When filming, I got to highlight spaces like the AACRC and Office of Ethnic Programs and Services, which have been vital spaces for me and so many students throughout my college journey, and I’m glad I got to share that in the episode.
I also loved having the opportunity to share a little about my book club, Sister Outsiders, and to bring some of my friends along for the filming process, too.
What do you want students to know about UC?
Find your community! UC has so many ways to get involved and find your people on campus, whether through your major or student clubs and organizations. This is a time to explore and UC’s identity-based offices and cultural student organizations are a great place to start if you are looking for passionate and like-minded peers.
Is there a special moment at UC that stands out to you?
When I look back on my four years on campus, I can’t believe how far I have come and how fast it has gone. I am so thankful for my time in the African American Cultural and Resource Center and Office of Ethnic Programs and Services and for how much I have grown since I entered as a shy first-year student.
My favorite memory by far has to be my induction as a Darwin T. Turner Scholar, which I am forever in gratitude for and caught me completely in shock. I was surrounded by the staff of these centers and my mentors, which was such a happy moment.
Camryn Morrow | Photo/Andrew Higley/UC Creative + Brand
What kinds of hands-on learning opportunities did you experience at UC?
I am a part of the Human Development and Community Engagement program in the School of Education, which offers students the opportunity to tailor the program to their specific interests and gain hands-on and practical experience with nonprofit organizations. Throughout my time in the program, I have had the opportunity to intern at five nonprofit organizations” the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, the Grunin Foundation, the Wyoming Fine Arts Center, the Clifton Cultural Arts Center and Breakthrough Cincinnati.
Most recently, I completed the Diversity in Arts Leadership Internship Program, hosted through Americans for the Arts, where I interned with the Grunin Foundation, an arts organization in New Jersey, to support my goal of becoming an arts administrator.
Did you encounter any challenges on your road to becoming a Bearcat? How did you overcome them?
As a graduating high school senior, I had no clue what I wanted to do or even where to go to college. When I arrived at UC, I saw this as a new chapter and a chance to start pursuing my passions. I was very excited to take classes that mattered to me, like courses in adolescence development and school environments, and to then have an opportunity to work with those students that I loved. This helped me find that excitement and that joy that I had missed in school when I was younger, and that is what has made me love UC and my program and involvements so much.
What's next for you?
After graduation in the spring of 2022, I plan to pursue graduate school before entering the arts and culture nonprofit sector.
Related Stories
A newspaper article evolved into a scholarship
October 7, 2020
A newspaper article inspired Elizabeth Burress to reach out to the University of Cincinnati’s College of Education, Criminal Justice and Human Services (CECH). After reading about students in CECH’s Transition and Access Program (TAP) in her local newspaper and its impact on students, Burress wanted to help. As part of Advancement & Transition Services in CECH, TAP is a four-year college program for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. TAP students live on campus, take classes, join student organizations and work on life skills. Reading about TAP’s impact on people’s lives made an impression on Burress because of her personal volunteer history. As a teenager, she volunteered at Camp Stepping Stones, a nonprofit providing pathways to independence for people with disabilities. As an adult, she has been an education aide in the Sycamore Community School District. This experience and a mutual love of UC sparked a conversation between Elizabeth and husband Brian, BS ‘91. “We know the expenses some of these students have—wheelchairs, medicines, speech boards, therapies—and a lot of families can’t afford to send them to school,” Elizabeth said. “We want these students to have access to college.” The kind and generous nature of Elizabeth and Brian caused them to set up a scholarship fund doing exactly this—supporting TAP students and providing life-changing opportunities. By creating the TAP Into The Future Scholarship Fund, the couple are helping students to experience the TAP mission to live, work, learn and lead.
Scholarship funds help mother pursue her dream
October 7, 2020
Monikia Murray’s pursuit of her bachelor’s degree has been a long journey. As a single mother working full-time, sometimes with a second job, her dream of earning a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education hasn’t been easy. “It’s very challenging,” the UC Online student says. “Life does not stop. This is a milestone I really need to complete. I’m almost at the finish line.” Recently, the finish line began to fade because of a lack funds. Not only was she paying for her own classes, but her daughter had started college. Monikia was concerned she would have to defer her dream again but reached out to her academic advisor for help. This future teacher received support from the Frances A. Kemp Scholarship which was established in 1990 by the estate of Hazel N. Kemp to provide scholarships in the College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services (CECH) for students studying early childhood education. She also received help from a CECH emergency fund.
UC Faculty Awards 2021: Bonnie Fisher
April 5, 2021
Criminal justice scholar and victimology researcher Bonnie Fisher is awarded UC's 2021 Distinguished Researcher Award.