BEHREND BLOG

Penn State Behrend’s Class of 2024 is ready to make its mark on the world!  We’re proud of our students and all that they have learned and accomplished here at Behrend. Over the next several weeks, we will introduce you to a few of our remarkable seniors who have engaged in college life in a big way, conducted valuable research, pioneered innovations, and overcome challenges during their time at Penn State Behrend.

Today, we’d like you to meet Samhita Chitturi.

Major: Creative Writing

Minor: Crime, Law, and Psychology

On choosing Behrend: It chose me. In all of Penn State, the B.F.A. in Creative Writing is only offered here. And, thank God, it is! I love Behrend. It was the best decision I (n)ever made.

On choosing her major: I decided in eighth grade that I wanted to be a professional writer. Writing and storytelling are what I am most passionate about.

Her proudest accomplishment at Behrend: Being a Learning Resource Center tutor and earning the Outstanding Tutor in Humanities Award in Spring 2023. I love tutoring in both writing and math. I also tutor in French, ethics, chemistry, and other subjects. It’s a great way to meet people, to inspire them, and to be inspired by them. Not only do I get to help my peers, but I often learn new approaches to solving problems or out-of-the-box thinking. Anything that opens you up to new perspectives is always a worthwhile activity.

Campus involvement: I’m currently Features Editor at the Behrend Beacon. I started the “Created by Behrend Students” column to showcase students’ creative works, such as poetry, paintings, and more. I have also written the Local Eats pieces, interview articles, and Arts and Entertainment reviews. I’m also a School of Humanities and Social Sciences ambassador.

Awards and recognition: I have won four awards for my writing in the last two years: third place for the Fall 2022 Smith Fiction Award for my short story, “One Night in New York,” which is the second piece in my thesis collection; the SalisMania 2023 Best Romance Book Award for my debut novel, “When You Saved Me”; the Fall 2023 Farrell Nonfiction Award for my essay, “Two Angles on Arts and Ethics: An Exploration into What Determines Artistic Success”; and a 2024 LiFT Award in Contemporary Romance for “When You Saved Me.”

Her talents: I like to do a lot of different things, but I think the one thing I’m best at is daydreaming. It fuels my creativity, it helps me remain open to new perspectives, and it’s a coping mechanism when I need it.

Believe in yourself: Some think I’m pretentious, but what I am is confident. The only way people are going to recognize your value is if you recognize it. That said, just because I recognize my value, doesn’t mean I disvalue others. Everyone has talent, has an interesting personality, and is beautiful on the inside. You just have to look for those qualities sometimes.

Her definition of living a good life: Living it with autonomy and respecting others’ autonomy. I subscribe to Kantianism. I believe autonomy is the key to goodness.

Advice for first-year students: College (and life) is only as difficult as you make it. Rule No. 1 to reduce that difficulty? Communicate! It makes everything more efficient and effective. If you feel like you’re going to fail a class, talk to the professor and make a plan. If your roommate and you are having conflicts, discuss them respectfully and work out a solution. Whatever the problem is, I guarantee you there is a solution or a change in perspective waiting for you that will make everything OK.

Parting thoughts for new students: Take an ethics class with Dr. Joshua Shaw, professor of philosophy and bioethics; an algebra class with Dr. Dan Galiffa, associate professor of mathematics; and at least one English class with Dr. Sara Luttfring, associate professor of English. Taking a class with each of these three professors will help prepare you for the rest of your academic life.

After graduation in May, Samhita will attend the University of New Hampshire to earn an M.F.A. in writing. She plans to work toward a Ph D. and hopes to eventually become a professor at Behrend.

Penn State Behrend’s Class of 2024 is ready to make its mark on the world!  We’re proud of our students and all that they have learned and accomplished here at Behrend. Over the next several weeks, we will introduce you to a few of our remarkable seniors who have engaged in college life in a big way, conducted valuable research, pioneered innovations, and overcome challenges during their time at Penn State Behrend.

Today, we’d like you to meet Kelly Cass.

Major: Elementary and Early Childhood Education

Hometown: Erie, Pennsylvania

Scholarships: Erie Insurance Scholarship Award, PASSS Scholarship Award

Behrend from the beginning: I live just a few minutes from campus and basically grew up at Behrend where my mom works in the Office of Strategic Communications. Since I was a child, my family spent time on campus–walking, biking, sledding, and hiking in the gorge. In middle and high school, I participated in a lot of Youth Outreach programs, like Math Options, the STEAM Fair, Business Day, and College for Kids in the summer.

On choosing her major: I have a big family with a lot of younger cousins, and I have always enjoyed teaching them something new or helping them figure things out.

All the world’s a stage: I participated in theatre throughout middle and high school. I loved being on stage, and being a role model for those who were just starting out in the program. I realized teaching would be a similar experience, allowing me to share knowledge with young students while “performing” and presenting information.

Her proudest accomplishment at Behrend: My proudest accomplishment at Behrend was being the Immersive Administrator for the Virtual/Augmented Reality Edu classroom. Although the immersive classroom no longer exists as VAR Edu, I am very proud of the work I did there. I started as an attendant, finding programs and helping students get set up in headsets during integrations. I was promoted to Immersive Administrator where I practiced working with faculty and staff to find programs and design integrations in our classroom, as well as managing the attendants and daily work we had in the classroom. We started with only 200 integrations for the first semester. We finished with an astounding total of more than 1,000 integrations and a 59 percent increase from the semester before. I continue to work in the VAR Lab and have shifted my work to other projects such as creating a podcast for VAR Studios.

Campus involvement: I was involved for a year in the Tone-acious a capella group, and part of a Behrend rock band called “Group Therapy.”

Awards and recognitions: I have made the Dean’s List every semester since fall of 2021.

What makes her unique: I love to bake. Fancy cupcakes are my specialty, and I make them for all family events. I also love to sing and was in the Erie Philharmonic Chorus for a year.  I was in every musical in high school, with my final and most fun role being Ursula in “Little Mermaid.”

What you might be surprised to know about her: I’m the lead singer in a Butler-based rock band that creates original music.

Her next top priority: My highest priority for the coming years is to find a job teaching in a community that supports its teachers and students. I’m also looking forward to getting my own house someday so that I can get my own dog to spoil.

After her graduation in May, Kelly plans to teach at a local elementary school and possibly attend graduate school for a master’s degree in an educational field.

Penn State Behrend’s Class of 2024 is ready to make its mark on the world!  We’re proud of our students and all that they have learned and accomplished here at Behrend. Over the next several weeks, we will introduce you to a few of our remarkable seniors who have engaged in college life in a big way, conducted valuable research, pioneered innovations, and overcome challenges during their time at Penn State Behrend.

Today, we’d like you to meet DeseRai D. Sweat.

Major: Psychology, B.S.

Minor: Crime, Law, and Psychology

Certificates: Child Development, Behavioral Health and Counseling Psychology

Hometown: North East, Pennsylvania

Scholarships: Osher Reentry Scholarship, Black Family Trustee Scholarship, Fryer Psychology Scholarship

On choosing Behrend: While looking to further my medical education, I wanted to go where I would not have to uproot my children and family, where I felt at home and was able to get the best education. I found all that at Behrend. The curriculum far exceeded my expectations, I knew without a doubt after meeting with people that this was my home and the path God set for me.

On choosing her major: My major chose me. I’ve spent most of my life in the medical field as a medical assistant and phlebotomist. It seemed only natural to go into nursing. One day in between classes, I was thinking and praying about the path I was on. I just wasn’t sure what direction to go in, so I left it to God’s hands. He put me in the science building where I was working on an assignment in the hallway while I waited for my next class to start. I overheard a professor – Dr. Charisse Nixon, professor of psychology, finishing up her class and decided to go listen. By the end of the semester, I switched to Psychology, a major I never saw myself being in that I am absolutely in love with now.

True crime shows lead to calling: My love of true crime shows, like Criminal Minds inspired me to take a forensics class taught by Dr. Shariffah Sheik Dawood, associate teaching professor of psychology. That class encouraged me to add a minor in Crime, Law, and Psychology.  After that class, I realized that I wanted to work with children with special needs children in the judicial system and to be a voice and an advocate for them.

Her proudest accomplishment at Behrend: I’m most proud of a lot of little moments all added together, from being a mentor for younger students, to being an older student, mother and wife and still managing to accomplish what I did semester after semester, to the moment I was asked to be an undergrad researcher.

Campus involvement: School of Humanities and Social Sciences Ambassador; Susan Hirt Hagen Center for Community Outreach, Research and Evaluation (CORE): The Mentor Project mentor and intern; C3 Church intern; Psychology Club.

What people be surprised to know about her: I’m a pretty transparent person and share myself, the good, bad and the ugly. As a Gen. Xer, I am not crazy about learning new technology, but I love sitting with my boys and taking out some zombies on the Xbox.

Her passions: Being a mom fills me with joy. I love being in my kitchen, whether it’s by myself or with my children or husband, and cooking and baking and expressing myself through food. I’m also passionate about educating people on mental health and that it’s OK to say “I’m not OK.”

Advice for first-year students: Breathe! College is a big change, and you’re going to be overwhelmed and stressed. It’s OK to have a little cry now and then. But, also, live in this moment, soak it in, explore, and open yourself up to new challenges and new possibilities. Don’t be afraid to take a class or explore a new subject. You might find a passion you never knew you had.

Advice for new students, part 2: As a mom, I would remind first-year students that college is also a whole new journey for their parents. They’re going to want to check the oil in your car five times, ask you repeatedly if you understand your meal plan and if you have everything you need, and they are going to want to help you unpack and hug and kiss you more than you want them to. Let them!

After her graduation in December, DeseRai hopes to work with youth with special needs in the Juvenile Judicial System.

Penn State Behrend’s Class of 2024 is ready to make its mark on the world!  We’re proud of our students and all that they have learned and accomplished here at Behrend. Over the next several weeks, we will introduce you to a few of our remarkable seniors who have engaged in college life in a big way, conducted valuable research, pioneered innovations, and overcome challenges during their time at Penn State Behrend.

Today, we’d like you to meet Alanna Gillis. 

Major: Creative Writing

Minor: History

Hometown:  Dillsburg, Pennsylvania

Scholarships: Provost’s Award, Corey N. Farrell Memorial Scholarship, Clarence and Eugenie Smith Fund.

On choosing Behrend: Behrend is the only Penn State campus where you can earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Creative Writing, which was really important to me. Plus, the campus is beautiful, and the classes are small, which makes for a great learning environment.

On choosing her major: I’ve been writing stories since I learned how to write, and I’ve been reading for as long as I can remember. Pursuing a major that would allow me to grow my skills and talents, as well as teach me about the professional world of writing and editing, seemed natural to me.

Her proudest accomplishment at Behrend: Becoming a fiction editor for the campus literary journal, Lake Effect, is my proudest accomplishment. I got to represent the journal and the college at the AWP (Association of Writers and Writing Programs) Conference, which is the nation’s largest marketplace for literary presses and journals.

Campus involvement: I tutored at the Learning Resource Center, held an executive board position in two different clubs, and served as a Humanities and Social Sciences Ambassador.

What makes her unique: It’s always hard to identify your own talents, but I’ve been told that I’m a good communicator and that I have a knack for teaching. I would also like to think I have a bit of a talent for writing!

What you might be surprised to know about her: I really like all kinds of music, but my favorite genre is rock. I’ve been to five rock concerts by some of my favorite artists, including Breaking Benjamin, Halestorm, and STARSET.

Her definition of living a good life: Happiness is paramount. If I am happy, healthy, and financially stable, then I will consider it a very good life indeed.

Her highest priority for the coming years: My highest priority is finding a job that fulfills my creative desires while also providing me room for growth. Eventually, I would like to publish the novel I have been working on for my senior thesis project.

Her passions: I am passionate about reading and it never takes much to convince me to visit a bookstore (even less if you promise me an iced coffee with the trip). There are also many political causes I am passionate about, including women’s rights, LGBTQIA+ rights, and environmental protections. Often, my passion for reading and my political passions overlap in the stories, essays, and nonfiction pieces I read.

Advice for first-year students: College is full of change. Your style might change, or your major, or your friends. Learning that change isn’t always a bad thing (especially when it comes to growing into an adult) is one of the hardest lessons I had to learn, but it helped alleviate so much stress and bring me so much joy.

After her graduation in May, Alanna plans to find a job in the writing or publishing field.