Three to be awarded new YSU degree Saturday

The graduate program, launched two years ago, has 15 students enrolled.

YOUNGSTOWN — The first three graduates of Youngstown State University’s new master’s degree program in American Studies will receive their diplomas Saturday.

Jamie Bartholomew of Canfield, Jason Sotlar of Youngstown and Krista Wagner of Fredericktown make up the first graduating class of the program, which was started in fall 2005.

“We have been very pleased with the program, the partnerships it has produced and the energy that has been created between students and the community,” said Stephanie Tingley, YSU professor of English and director of the American Studies program.

YSU’s commencement for undergraduate students will be at 10 a.m. in Beeghly Center. The ceremony for graduate students, including the three American Studies graduates, will be at 2:30 p.m. in Stambaugh Auditorium.

American Studies is an emerging discipline that is generally defined as the exploration of the literature, art, pop culture, history and ideas about the culture and social institutions in America. YSU has offered bachelor’s degrees in American Studies for several years and decided to expand to include a graduate program, which now has 15 students enrolled.

Working in community

Tingley said a major component of the program is getting students to work on projects in the community.

For instance, Bartholomew, who did her undergraduate work at YSU, designed a museum exhibit for the Mahoning Valley Historical Society and an education plan for local middle school pupils based on Benjamin Franklin Wirt’s collection of fine art and artifacts.

Wirt, a lawyer and state senator from Youngstown, was a world traveler and collector of curios. He and his wife accumulated coins, furnishings, artifacts and works of art from all over the globe.

“It has been a challenging experience, not coming from an American Studies background,” said Stolar, a graduate of Ursuline High School who received a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from YSU in 2004.

“I enjoyed it, and I recommended it to a couple of my friends who have degrees in anthropology,” he said.

Wagner received a bachelor’s of specialized study degree in historic anthropology in 2005 from Ohio University. She came to YSU in January 2006 and enrolled in the American Studies program.

“Because it was so interdisciplinary, the program essentially allowed me to make my own program,” she said. “I took classes designed to go with what I want to do with my future.”