International Thomas Merton Society

Bellarmine University

Daggy Scholars

Feedback - ITMS Conference

Rochester, June 11-14, 2009

 

        

“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

  

Photograph of Daggy Scholars by Michael Brennan

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

Photograph of Daggy Scholars by Michael Brennan

   “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		    

“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

“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

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