Irish scholar O’Connor fan

    Victoria Kennefick is a Fulbright Scholar who is attending GCSU this semester to study Flannery O’Connor. While many may be unfamiliar with what it means to be a Fulbright Scholar, Kennefick has found this program allowed her to further her studies of O’Connor.
    In 1946, the then senator of Arkansas, J. William Fulbright, established the Fulbright Program. According to the United States Department of State Web site, there have been approximately 279,500 “Fulbrighters” from both the United States and other countries since it began over 50 years ago.
    This program is funded through an “annual appropriation by the United States Congress to the Department of State. The Web site also stated, “Participating governments and host institutions in foreign countries and the United States,” help out through housing, waivers, and supplements.
    For GCSU to have its very own Fulbright Scholar is a definite honor; however, that honor is heightened with the fact that she is interested in O’Connor.
    O’Connor shows “strength which is inspiring especially with being a woman,” Kennefick said. “She is witty, straight, honest and forthright.”
    These are all characteristics that Kennefick admires in people whether male or female.
    Having come from Shanagarry, County Cork, Ireland, Milledgeville,  is a long way from home; however, Kennefick has plenty of emotional support from her family, which keeps her going.
    Her parents and siblings, were “proud that I was going somewhere with a different American experience,” Kennefick said.
    “Often when people leave Ireland to come to America, they get an east coast experience,” Kennefick said. “I was very intrigued about Georgia,” and the experience I was going to get from the South.
    Kennefick’s father had visited Georgia before and told her with a Southern drawl, “Y’all (Southerners) were really nice,” Kennefick said.
    After her 2008 dissertation, Kennefick plans to do a research fellowship in Ireland and the United Kingdom as a career. Having always enjoyed researching, reading and going to conferences she feels that this career will fulfill her most important loves.
    “At home resources are not as available. The greatest resources, regarding Flannery O’Connor, are here in America,” Kennefick said.
    While she finds America very helpful towards her studies, she believes at this time, she will only come back to continue to learn. Her calling for research fellowship seems to be centered around her home.
    “At heart, I am a nerd, really. I like going to school,” Kennefick said. “My perseverance has driven me.”
    Outside of her studies, Kennefick seems to be getting used to the American, Southern culture rather well.
    I enjoy “learning about whether, political, and religious views,” Kennefick said.
    Having hobbies such as reading, creative writing, photography and hanging out with friends, Kennefick has come to love Georgia and already knows that she will miss it.
    While she will be finishing her semester at GCSU soon, she is taking several pictures to capture her memories. One animal that she finds very interesting is the squirrel, which does not reside in Ireland.
    When it comes to Milledgeville sites, she “loves the Blackbird Cafe and the fact that it is open until 11 p.m.,” Kennefick said. She also enjoys visiting Andalusia, which is O’Connor’s home.
    “After one month, I am completely at home and was warmly welcomed to this beautiful campus,”  Kennefick said.
    The following people helped her during her studies, and she greatly appreciates them for assisting her: Marshall Bruce Gentry – professor of English, Professor Edmonson -sponsor, Nancy Davis Bray and all the staff in the special collections, Larry and Bill in accommodation, and Craig Amason from Andalusia.
    While her appreciation cannot be completely summed up in words, Kennefick is deeply thankful for all those who have made Milledgeville her home away from home.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Oct 18 2007. Filed under Features. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry