Passion for public speaking, love of learning sparked at Ripon

Ben Firgens ’14, originally from Oregon, Wisconsin, transferred to Ripon from the University of Wisconsin-Fox Valley. As a student at Ripon College, Ben helped welcome other new students as a member of the orientation committee, competed as a member of the Red Hawks mountain bike team and fell in love with public speaking as a participant in the communication department’s Speakers Bureau.

“I chose to start at a two-year campus in order to complete my general education requirements at a manageable scale and price, while allowing myself to later specialize into a major and career path at a school of Ripon’s caliber,” Firgens says.

“I chose Ripon because I wanted to attend a small liberal arts college that was close to home. The transfer process was pain-free. All of my credits transferred, and the orientation session specifically for transfer students helped me jump into student life at Ripon right away.”

After graduating from Ripon College with a major in communication and a minor in English, he nurtured that love of public speaking into a full-ride scholarship into the communication arts and sciences department at Pennsylvania State University in State College, Pennsylvania, where he is earning a Ph.D. in rhetoric and technology.

He also is teaching introductory courses in public speaking, message analysis, and persuasion and propaganda.

“While the academic foundation that Ripon College gave me has proven itself rock-solid, the diverse opportunities to learn outside of the classroom are where I really owe the College thanks,” Firgens says. “Ripon taught me nothing less than a lifelong love of learning.”

Find your spark at Ripon College.


Related Posts

Jesse Lillis, Ripon College Class of 2013, co-artistic director of the touring Starling Shakespeare Company

Jessie Lillis ’13 returns to Ripon for summer residency, presentation of Shakespeare plays

When a series of free performances of plays by William Shakespeare is presented in the Ripon/Green Lake area this summer, Jessie Lillis ’13 will be […]

Andrew Limouris '94

New book by Andrew Linouris ’94 focuses on building a resilient company culture

Culture through Crisis, by Andrew Limouris ’94, recently was released with Forbes Books, the exclusive business book publishing imprint of Forbes. Limouris is the founder, […]

Zachary S. Morris '02

New Ripon College graduates urged to seek joy in life and in careers

The Ripon College Class of 2023 celebrated the 157th Commencement ceremony at Ripon College Sunday afternoon. The theme was “Strategic Thinkers who Ignite Change.” A […]

Zachary S. Morris '02

Zachary Morris ’02 will be honorary degree recipient, speaker at Sunday’s Commencement

Dr. Zachary Morris ’02 will be the honorary degree recipient at Ripon College’s Commencement May 14. Morris is a tenured associate professor and vice chair […]

ben firgens teaching