Grads Visit MHS Writing Center to Work with IB Students

The holiday break and a looming International Baccalaureate (IB) deadline provided the perfect opportunity for six recent grads to come back to on Dec. 19.

The alums participated in a Writing Center Writing Party and worked with current IB juniors on their papers about the book Love Medicine by acclaimed Minnesota author Louise Erdrich.  

The guest coaches provided a unique perspective on the assignment because each of them had read the book when they were in the MHS IB Programme, plus they are all former Writing Center Writing Coaches.

MHS teacher Kelly Bunte organized the Writing Party after catching up with former students. 

“All of the graduates that came back have told me they feel they benefitted from both their IB and Writing Center experiences at MHS. Students tell me the writing they did for IB made them more capable writers across all areas at their respective universities,” says Bunte.

During the event, Anna Sunbo, ’09 a biology and English double major, who has gone on to work in Notre Dame’s writing center, told current students, “I use my IB knowledge every time I pick up a pencil!”

The Writing Center is open daily for student to receive assistance with their essays and papers and Writing Parties are held throughout the year, usually surrounding a particular assignment, author or book.

According to Bunte, however, the presence of alumni Writing Coaches at the recent Writing Party was extra special.

“In addition to getting feedback on their Love Medicine essays, it is our hope is that the IB 11th graders in attendance were also boosted by learning about the successful and interesting paths these graduates have taken.”

Alumni Writing Coaches:
Laura Studer ’11 (University of Minnesota)
Maria Thomson ’10 (Swarthmore College)
Mitchell Jacobs ’10 (Dartmouth College)
Anna Sunbo ’09 (University of Notre Dame)
Rollie Thayer ’09 (Pomona College)
Grace Garvey-Hall '11 (Pacific Lutheran University)