Month: May 2016

Class of 2016: Meet Lillie Gabreski (Political Science)

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By Heather Cass
Publications & Design Coordinator, Penn State Behrend

Penn State Behrend’s class of 2016 is ready to make its mark on the world!  We’re proud of our students and the things they’ve accomplished and learned while here at Behrend.  Over the next couple months, we’ll be introducing you to a few of our remarkable seniors who have overcome challenges, pioneered new technology, participated in important research projects, and left an impression at Penn State Behrend.

Today, we’d like you to meet Lillie Gabreski:

Lillie Gabreski

Major: Political Science

Minor(s): Women’s Studies, History

Hometown: Jamestown, New York

On choosing to major in Political Science: When I was a senior in high school, I volunteered for a candidate for U.S. Congress and learned a lot about how campaigns work and the issues involved. Although the candidate I worked for didn’t win, the experience motivated me to pursue a career in which I could study and shape policies that could help people and improve their lives.

Proudest accomplishment at Behrend: At Behrend, I learned not just how to be a good student, but how to be a good teacher. I work at least once a week helping students pursue their goals in college, whether through tutoring or coordinating events through the organizations that I’m involved in.

Summer in South Africa: Last summer, I studied abroad at the University of Cape Town. The experience was fully funded by a grant from Penn State Behrend to complete my research in international and constitutional law. While I was there, I participated in the Students’ Health and Welfare Centres Organisation (SHAWCO) Education program and spent 20 hours a week volunteering in the township of Manenberg teaching English and Math to middle schoolers.

On giving back: It feels good to give back, that’s why I enjoy volunteering, teaching, and mentoring. I feel like I’m making a positive impact.

Campus involvement: I have worked as a writing tutor in the LRC and as a student assistant to the Behrend Honors Program. I have also served as the president of Alpha Sigma Alpha sorority and the campus chapter of College Democrats. I’m a member of both the Student Activity Fee and Student Integrity committees.

Good under pressure: I’ve become very good at solving problems under pressure. There are a lot of instances in college when you have a deadline and people with dissenting opinions working on the project with you. I’ve learned how to take chaos and work towards order and how to listen to people on get everyone the same page so that we can come to a resolution.

What you’d be surprised to know about her: I almost pursued music as a major, but in the end, my passion for politics won out. I was able to channel my love for music by participating in the campus choir and musicals.

A very hungry bookworm: I love to read and learn about the world around me. I could spend all day wandering around a bookstore.

Advice for current students: Study abroad! It really helped me find my direction, and I credit the postgraduate opportunities I’ve been afforded in part to my experiences in Canada and South Africa.

Following her graduation in May, Lillie plans to attend Cornell University where she received a fellowship covering half of her tuition to pursue a Master’s in Public Administration degree.

Excellence runs in Schupp family, twice chosen to Marshal

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By Christine Palattella
Marketing Communications Specialist, Penn State Behrend

Kelsey Schupp (3)

Student Marshal Kelsey Schupp

On Friday night, Student Marshal Kelsey Schupp ’16 will lead her fellow Black School of Business commencement candidates into Erie Insurance Arena just as her sister, Brooke ʼ14, did two years ago.

Only five Student Marshals are chosen for a commencement ceremony, one representing each of Penn State Behrend’s four academic schools plus an Honors candidate to lead the college’s Schreyer Scholars. To recognize their outstanding academic achievements, Student Marshals are given the honor of carrying the banners that precede each of the five candidate groups onto the arena floor.

Kelsey will receive concurrent degrees in Accounting and Finance and soon will begin working as a proposal analyst associate at Lockheed Martin’s Missile and Fire Control division in Orlando. Brooke joined GE Transportation after graduating with a degree in Interdisciplinary Business with Engineering Studies; this fall she completes her fourth and final rotation in GE’s Operations Management Leadership Program.

Was being named Marshal a goal for you, Kelsey?

I wouldn’t necessarily say being Marshal was a specific goal I made, but I knew there was a good chance of it happening because my personal goal was graduating with a cumulative 4.0 GPA.

Was Brooke an inspiration? Are you two competitive?

Brooke graduated with a 4.0 GPA too. I’ve always wanted to do my very best in school purely for my own satisfaction, but Brooke’s performance at Behrend pushed me to try even harder. She definitely left me some big shoes to fill.

In my junior year I started a game with myself –I decided to see how much more I could take on while maintaining my GPA. This is when I started working at internships during the school year and participating in academic competitions like the Chartered Financial Analyst Institute Research Challenge. I was captain of the team that reached the global semi-finals, ending as the 21st team out of over 1,000 competing.

I think Brooke and I are more competitive with ourselves than each other. But we do sometimes push each other, to make each other a better person, of course.

Looking back, Brooke, what did the Marshal experience mean to you?

Kelsey summarized it right when she said we are more competitive with ourselves than we are with each other. Being a Marshal allowed me to see that my parents had done an amazing job creating self-motivating adults capable of anything we put our minds to – even a 4.0 in college – a trait I hope I can someday pass on to those around me.

Brooke Schupp (2)

Brooke Schupp, Kelsey’s sister and a 2014 Marshal

How do you feel about Kelsey following in your footsteps?

In college I mainly focused on my coursework, working to prove to myself that a 4.0 wasn’t impossible. Kelsey took that to the next level by being extremely active in other groups and competitions, for example taking her team to Nationals for the CFA Institute Research Challenge competition! The dedication, time management, and leadership she was able to muster over her senior year is beyond incredible to me and proof that my little sister isn’t so little anymore.

Penn State Behrend’s 2016 spring commencement will be held on Friday, May 6, in Erie Insurance Arena, 809 French St. The ceremony begins at 6:30 p.m. and will be streamed live at behrend.psu.edu.