For Megan Stiffler, choosing the University of Lynchburg meant stepping outside of her comfort zone, both geographically and personally. What she found was a community that pushed her, supported her and ultimately helped her discover who she wanted to become.
Stiffler, a double major in English and Business Administration, first came to Lynchburg for its nationally recognized competitive field hockey program. But the moment she stepped foot on campus, she knew it was the right place for her.
“The small campus community, the one-on-one relationships with professors, the chance to take rigorous courses, and the opportunity to be both a student-athlete and involved in other organizations were everything I wanted,” she said.
Her academic journey has been shaped most deeply by the English department, where she rediscovered her love of writing, researching and the kind of texts that challenge her to think differently.
“My English professors have pushed me out of my comfort zone,” she said. “I’ve picked up books I never would’ve chosen on my own and learned to consider situations from various perspectives. These skills extend far beyond the classroom.”
One professor in particular, Dr. Aubrey Plourde, has left a lasting impact on Stiffler’s development as both a student and a thinker.
“Her hard work, dedication, curiosity, and appetite for knowledge inspire me tremendously,” Stiffler said. “Her classes challenged me with complex texts like Lolita, but she always fostered a safe environment for conversation and critical thinking. Even when I ‘fail,’ she pushes me to seek a different perspective.”
This year, Stiffler worked as Dr. Plourde’s research assistant, exploring Victorian literature and religion; an experience that has expanded her academic interests and deepened her passion for research.
Beyond academics, Stiffler has built a wide-ranging and meaningful presence on campus. She is a supervising tutor at the Wilmer Writing Center, a Alpha Chi Omega sister, a part of Westover Honors College and a student-athlete for the field hockey team.
“My time as a student-athlete, a tutor, a Westover student, and a sorority member has tremendously improved my confidence,” she said. “I have support systems that make me comfortable in my own skin.”
Those experiences and the people that shaped them are what motivated Stiffler to apply for the Sommerville Scholarship.
“I have the utmost respect for previous finalists, and my fellow finalists this year are among the brightest, most determined, and kindest people I know,” she said. “It is simply an honor to be recognized among them.”
After graduation, Stiffler plans to pursue a career in publishing, specifically editing, with hopes of going back to school to earn her master’s degree in English, possibly abroad.
Her work in the Writing Center and her role as a National Editor for UReCA, an undergraduate research journal, has provided early professional experience and helped affirm her path.
For Stiffler, every step of her Lynchburg experience, from the rigorous classes, the mentoring relationships, the leadership roles and the moments of challenge, has shaped her into the person she is today.
And as she prepares to graduate, she carries with her a deep sense of gratitude for a community that helped her grow, supported her ambitions, and encouraged her curiosity at every turn.
The Class of 2026 Richard Clarke Sommerville Scholarship Award will be given on November 17, 2025 at 4:00 pm in the Daura Museum of Art.
