By Adrienne Gavula
Ashley White and Katie Parker are graduating seniors and, believe it or not, they are cousins with family ties to the University dating back to the first president and are descendents of one of the first families in Athens County.
They are great-great granddaughters of Ohio University's first president, Jacob Lindley; their grandfather, Glenn von Bargen, graduated in the '40s; Ashley's mother, Anne White, attended Ohio University; Katie's mother, Susan Parker, graduated in the '70s; and three siblings are currently attending the University.
Four years ago, despite all this history, Ashley considered other schools. But with journalism being her area of pursuit, she chose Ohio University and hasn't regretted it since. Katie did the same. She considered other schools, but it came down to the graphic design program that convinced her Ohio University is where she should attend.
"I considered Ohio University because I had friends who went here, as well as my mom," Katie Parker says. "Also, I was used to visiting my great-grandmother here in Athens when I was child, so I was familiar with the area."
"Whenever my mom's family gets together, they tell stories about spending time here with their grandmother in the summer," Ashley White says.
When reminiscing with family, she can see how things have changed. Her mother's sorority is no longer on campus and the houses are no longer in the family.
"I would like to think I made my own ties to Ohio University, not just inherited them," Ashley White says. "You can't pick your family, but you can make memories with your friends. Athens is special to me because I have lived here for four years and had the best time of my life."
After graduation, Ashley White hopes to work for a magazine company in Cincinnati, and Katie Parker would like to move to Boston with a job in graphic design/marketing.
Adrienne Gavula is a student writer for University Communications and Marketing
