Denison is less populated and more laid back in the summer, but there’s no shortage of activities for students working on campus or conducting scholarly research.
They can (deep breath):
Hone their culinary skills. Attend quiz nights, karaoke nights, movie nights. Drain jump shots and smash shuttlecocks. Make use of a car-share service to shop and sightsee with new friends. Maybe even get a driver’s license.
It’s about being creative with your spare time and, in some cases, stepping outside your comfort zone to try new experiences.
A sampling of students who spent the summer of 2025 at Denison offered their thoughts to help guide those considering doing the same next year. What follows are lessons in self-sufficiency and exploration.
Let's eat!
Jonathan Westfall ’27 had no trouble picking his most valuable birthday present. Knowing their son was participating in the Summer Scholars program, his parents bought him a Costco membership.
Westfall, a chemistry major, worked up a healthy appetite researching sustainable alternatives to 3D printing that don’t involve polymer plastics. He also needed the proper nutrition for his offseason training as a track-and-field javelin thrower.
During the school year, that’s not an issue because he eats in the dining halls. But in the summer, students – who receive stipends for their summer work and research – are responsible for their meals.
Armed with his Costco card, an air fryer and instant pot, Westfall returned to campus ready to cook for himself.
“I’d say just be prepared for that adjustment,” Westfall said. “During the weekdays, it’s all pretty basic — ground beef, chicken, white rice, and some sauces. On the weekends, me and my roommates will make meals together. Maybe a fun pasta dish or getting a bit more creative with chicken and rice.”
Some students have surprised themselves with how handy they have become in the residence hall kitchens.
“If I told my parents that I’m cooking, they would not believe me,” said Pierce Patterson ’27, a data analytics major. “In my family, I do the least amount of cooking — they don’t think I can cook eggs — but I’ve reached a point where I can make a mean chicken parm.”
Get fit
On a late July afternoon, sounds of squeaking sneakers echoed through the Mitchell Center auxiliary gym. Students played pickup basketball on one hardwood court and badminton on another.
“We get together every Friday for basketball around 5 p.m.,” said Huy Phan ’27, an applied mathematics and computer science double major. “We also play badminton when we have spare time. We’ll send out a text message and see who’s available.”
Summer schedules are more relaxed than the school year. Basketball and tennis courts, swimming lanes, and exercise equipment in the Mitchell Center are often open and waiting.
Duy Anh Nguyen ’27, an applied mathematics and data analytics double major, says he spends his mornings walking across campus before starting his research. Natalie Fieberg ’27, a data analytics and environmental studies double major, has not let steamy central Ohio days slow her down.
“Summer on campus is a blast,” she said. “Me and my roommates are outside playing pickleball, sand volleyball, and going on runs. You’ve got to take advantage of time like this.”
And the answer is...
Summer research is challenging. Walking into the village for quiz nights at The Loft and Seen-No-Further Cidery is a fun-filled education.
Students said trivia is a great way to unwind and meet students who they might not interact with during the school year. Even professors make an occasional guest appearance.
“I went once this summer with a team of other faculty to support my students since I knew they went,” said professor May Mei, chair of the mathematics department. “It came up like this: I was discussing the nature of knowing something, really knowing it. A mentor of mine, professor emeritus Frank Hassebrock, talked about the difference between recognition and recall. So I asked my students, ‘have you ever played trivia at a bar?’ It’s the difference between being able to answer the question and then saying, ‘Oh I knew that’ only after the correct answer is read.”
Wanna get away?
Bea Chadwick ’27, a biology and visual arts double major, said it’s important to make plans with other students. She arranged off-campus trips to go shopping and dining outside of Granville. Sometimes, she drove to a Licking County eagles’ nest and soaked up nature.
Westfall spent his free time fishing.
Not all students have cars on campus, but there are other avenues to get away. Fieberg made use of shuttles to nearby Columbus to attend events like soccer games.
Some students rented cars through the university’s CarShare program, using the service to spend a night out in Columbus or Newark. Linh Bui ’27, an economics major, rented a car to take a driver’s test and earn an American licence.
Students said they have enjoyed their summer at Denison. They learned valuable research skills, became better acquainted with their professors, and made money through hard work. Ultimately, they said the experience is what you make of it.
“Summer on campus gives you a chance to hang out with different people,” Patterson said. “I’ve made new friends that I may not have met had I gone home.”
