Daggy Scholars - Rochester 2009
Daggy Scholars
Feedback - ITMS Conference
Rochester, June 11-14, 2009
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“The best part of attending this conference
was being surrounded by people who wanted to learn more about
Thomas Merton. While many of the attendees of the conference had
studied Merton for years, the Daggy Scholars were, for the most
part, relative newcomers to Merton and were willing to engage in
the lectures, ask questions and make connections. I very much
enjoyed speaking with the lecturers and meeting new people from
around the country (and the world). . . . I can’t talk about the
conference enough! I talk about the peers I heard and the people
I met and the insights I gained to anyone who will listen and I
know that was because of all the hard working people who
organized the conference and helped it run smoothly. I was
nervous to attend a conference with so many people so
well-versed in Merton, but it was neither intimidating nor
overwhelming in the way I was anticipating. . . . .The
discussions that arose from my interactions with other Daggy
Scholars were deep, thought-provoking, interesting and engaging.
We were able to interact as contemporary scholars with diverse
backgrounds but similar views on both global and personal
issues. They pushed me out of my comfort zone, forced me to ask
my own questions about Merton and allowed me to dig deeper into
Merton’s works on a variety of levels. It was an honor to be
part of the Daggy Scholar’s group.”
- Nicole Hyziak
“I really enjoyed Mass on Sunday morning.
It was very beautiful and a moving finish to the weekend. I
appreciated the open table at the Eucharist.” - Ryan Scruggs |
 2009 Daggy Scholars with ITMS Founding President, William H. Shannon Nazareth College, Rochester, New York |
“I appreciated the spirit of collegiality
among participants. From fellow Daggy scholars to the most
recognizable scholar, everyone seemed interested and open to
interaction with one another. There was no sense of an “inner
circle” that one needed to break into, just a warm welcome by
all. Sometimes, perhaps particularly in academic circles, there
is an intellectual hierarchy that is imposing to young students;
I didn’t sense this at all. . . .I wasn’t expecting to have such
a good time. Conferences can be kind of “stuffy” and even
boring, but there was a variety of events that were interesting,
many friendly people, and a strong selection of papers
presented. I cannot praise the Daggy program enough. The
financial help is the only way I could have attended the
conference, and I was very impressed by how many Daggy scholars
(from other years) attended. To me this sends a very strong
signal that the ITMS wants to see Merton scholarship continue
into the future." - Ryan Scruggs “I very much enjoyed the session on technology
and the developing self as related to my generation (true
self/false self/ digital self). The paper that stuck with me
throughout the entire conference was delivered by none other
than one of the Daggy Scholars, Dan [Horan], and I know the
Daggys were proud to see him there so comfortably delivering
such a provocative paper. He appealed to my generation in the
audience with his examples and insights and I know he appealed
to everyone, no matter what their age.”
- Nicole Hyziak
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“The best part of the conference was meeting
new people who shared my enthusiasm regarding Thomas Merton. It
was incredible to find both peers my own age and experienced
professionals who shared such an interest and approached
Merton’s work from so many different directions. It has inspired
me to think of new avenues of study regarding his writing. I had
an incredible time. I greatly enjoyed interacting with so many
knowledgeable and well-spoken students and scholars. The
presentations were inspiring and provided me with new insights
into Merton’s work and its applications in today’s world. I
greatly enjoyed the opportunity to mix with experienced
professionals in the religious studies field, many of whom were
able to provide me with valuable information regarding my future
educations and career options.”
- Steven Naum
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“The interfaith prayer sharing was a powerful
experience. It was an incredible service which highlighted the
theme of the general meeting perfectly, and prompted inner
reflection on interfaith dialogue and understanding.” - Steven Naum “Friday’s keynote address was a very inspiring
event for me. I really enjoyed hearing Father James Conner speak
since he knew Merton and worked with him. His address enabled me
to get a better picture of Merton the person rather than just
Merton the monk.” - Carolyn Kwiatkowski |