Growing by Doing: First Year of College Brings Opportunity, Success
Student Snapshot: Jack Scantland ’28
“It takes a village, and Dickinson’s is strong and welcoming” says Jack Scantland ’28 (international studies, Spanish & Portuguese, education), a tour guide, RA, photographer, tutor and chair of special events for MOB, a student group that brings live events to campus. He was recently named the inaugural winner of Dickinson’s Public Speaking Contest.
Hometown:
Louisville, Ky.
Majors:
International studies and Spanish & Portuguese, with a minor in educational studies.
Clubs and organizations:
MOB (chair, special events), Norman M. Eberly Multilingual Writing Center (tutor), Children’s Center, Liberty Cap Society (tour guides), Office of Residence Life (RA) and Spanish Club.
Honors/scholarships/awards:
Academic Merit Scholarship, Academic Excellence Award, Engagement Award, Dean’s List and Dickinson Public Speaking Contest (winner, 2025)..
Best thing about my Dickinson experience so far:
"I’ve gotten to meet people from all over the world, and I’m so lucky to call them my friends. My professors have been equally supportive, and with Dickinson’s small class sizes and accessible office hours, I’ve truly gotten to know my professors. It takes a village, and Dickinson’s is strong and welcoming."
Best thing about my majors:
The best part of my majors are their diverse and multidisciplinary perspectives, which give me a broader and deeper understanding of the subjects. For international studies, I get to take classes related to international relations, history, economics and languages. My Spanish courses range from creative work by women to Spanish in business professional contexts to intense writing classes. These diverse classes help me acquire not only linguistic skills but cultural and historical competency as well.
Favorite class/learning experience so far:
When I shadowed, co‑tutored and led tutoring sessions in the Writing Center for the class Working with Writers: Theory and Practice (WRPG 214), which is part of Dickinson’s writing program. The class blended academic subjects surrounding tutoring and professional development. I had the opportunity to observe tutoring sessions and then later apply what I learned.
About my research:
After my time in the WRPG 214 course, I decided to continue researching my interest in linguistic diversity and accent perception in academic spaces. I am looking into how code‑meshing the blending of multiple languages and dialects in writing could be used to foster linguistic empathy and challenge standard academic English in college writing centers. I am being advised by Lucy McInerney, assistant director of the writing program, and Writing Program Director John Katunich, who teach the WRPG 214 class. I am hoping to submit my essay to a journal this coming fall semester
Hobby/little known talent:
I’ve been a senior-portrait and concert photographer for the past five years. I’ve done shoots in Kentucky, Tennessee and Pennsylvania.
Most important thing I’ve learned so far:
You can’t grow without doing! When it comes to taking part in opportunities on campus, I’ve adopted the mindset of “the worst thing they could say is 'no.'” It’s made me more outgoing and confident.
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Published July 18, 2025