February 22, 2007

Gifted writer named Cowley’s February Student of the Month

Having received several journalism awards and been named to the President’s Honor Roll every semester at Cowley College, Chansi Long was recently named the college’s February Student of the Month.

Long, the daughter of Fred and Teresa Jones, is a sophomore journalism major from Sedan. She has two older brothers, Adam, 25, that is a freshman at Cowley, and Andrew, 26. Grandparents are, Jim Marion and the late Kay Marion of Caney.

At Cowley, she serves as the Online Editor and staff writer for the Cowley Press. She is also a member of the Academic Excellence Challenge team, the Temporal Mechanics Union, the Math and Science Club, Campus Christian Fellowship and the Young Democrats.

Her writing for the Cowley Press garnered her first place in series writing and second place in review writing from the Kansas Associated Press. The Cowley Press awarded her their “Drive the Bus” award.

She also helped lead the 2006 Academic Excellence Challenge team to a second place finish at the Kansas AEC Snowbowl.

Despite all of her accomplishments, being named Cowley’s February Student of the Month came as a shock to Long.

“I was really surprised because there are so many talented and accomplished students here,” Long said. “I am very honored.”

Long attended her freshman year at Sedan High School, but was home schooled the remainder of her high school education. She came to Cowley as an education major, but credits Dave Bostwick, journalism instructor and advisor for the Cowley Press, with getting her interested in writing.

“I took Dave’s composition 1 class and I just really had a lot of fun writing the papers,” Long said. “He offered me a scholarship and ever since then I switched gears and have concentrated on writing. Dave has guided me and taught me so much about writing.”

Long has also served as a stringer for the Arkansas City Traveler newspaper for close to a year.

“I am really happy and feel a sense of accomplishment when I am writing something and when I am done,” Long said. “I love doing feature stories because they are people interest and you get behind the scene of what’s happened.”

Long is currently working on a few independent projects, including writing fictional short stories. She hopes to one day write a novel.

“I love to read and have a lot of respect for authors,” Long said. “After I read Lonesome Dove I was so impressed and thought I would like to write a novel someday.”

In her free time, Long enjoys playing Jeopardy on her PlayStation II and watching the television show the Trailer Park Boys.

She cites Bostwick and Social Science instructor Chris Mayer as major influences during her time at Cowley.

“They have really influenced me to be a good student,” Long said. “Their classes challenge you. If a class is offered that they teach I try to take it.”

Long also said she learned a lot from Arkansas City Traveler assistant general manager David Allen Seaton, and managing editor James Jordan.

After Cowley, she plans to attend Greenlee School of Journalism, in Iowa, to attain her bachelor’s degree in journalism.

 “It’s a really awesome journalism school that has produced a lot of successful reporters,” Long said. “I am just going to work on honing my skills and explore my talents and desires. Mainly I just want to be happy.”

Until then, she is going to enjoy her last few months at Cowley.

“It’s been wonderful at Cowley,” Long said. “I really like the atmosphere and have made a lot of friends here.”