Author: Behrend Blog

Class of 2017: Meet Yuanheng “Arthur” Wang (English)

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By Heather Cass
Publications Manager, Office of Strategic Communications,  Penn State Behrend

Penn State Behrend’s class of 2017 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 Yuanheng “Arthur” Wang:

 

Arthur Wang

Yuanheng “Arthur” Wang is the definition of a standout student, and he has the accolades to prove it, including the T. Reed Ferguson Award and the Irvin H. Kochel Award. He is also a two-time winner of the Rose Cologne Keystone Citizen Award and, in 2016, received the LaMarr Kopp International Achievement Award, a University-wide honor recognizing students who have contributed significantly to the advancement of the international mission of Penn State.

Yuanheng “Arthur” Wang

Major: English

Hometown: Kunming, Yunnan Province, China

On the value of strong faculty and staff mentors: Many faculty members at Behrend are not only wise mentors, but also thoughtful friends. During the past four years, many of my professors in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, especially those in the English program, have gone above and beyond to help me polish my education, support my intellectual and personal growth, and become a better person. Their guidance has been invaluable.

On choosing to major in English: It is the most versatile major in a liberal arts education. It can give me a solid and comprehensive foundation for whatever I do later in life, such as research, teaching, and mentoring. Moreover, the English program at Behrend features rigorous courses that combine both theory and practice. These courses helped me develop my critical thinking and communication skills, which will be useful in any field I later enter.

Proudest accomplishment at Behrend: The most personally rewarding one has been working with hundreds of international and multilingual students as an ESL (English as a Second Language) teaching assistant and tutor. Mentoring these students and interacting with them really enhanced my teaching and communication skills. It also helped me form an appreciation for multilingualism and broadened my horizons as the students I worked with came from all over the world.

Campus involvement: I was the regional vice president of the Student Penn State Education Association, the co-membership chair of the Lambda Sigma Honor Society and on the executive board of the International Student Organization. For three years, I have been an orientation leader during the International Student Orientation Week program, which is organized by the Office of Educational Equity and Diversity. (Editor’s note: Last year, Arthur even shepherded a group of Behrend-bound international students for 24-hours when their flight to Erie was canceled: Read his first-hand account of the travel nightmare turned bonding experience here.)

What you’d be surprised to know about him: Many people, particularly native English speakers, are surprised when I explain to them the seven different sentence structures of the English Language, which some of them don’t know.

Advice for current students: Try to spend at least one semester living with a roommate who comes from a different country, embodies different cultural values, and speaks a different language from your own. Trust me: You will learn a lot from that person and about yourself!

After his graduation in May, Arthur will attend graduate school at Columbia University in the Applied Linguistics program.

 

Class of 2017: Meet Rachel Sheridan (Mechanical Engineering)

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By Heather Cass
Publications Manager, Office of Strategic Communications,  Penn State Behrend

Penn State Behrend’s class of 2017 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 Rachel Sheridan:

Rachel Sheridan - first choice

Major: Mechanical Engineering

Hometown: Rillton, Pa.

On choosing to major in Mechanical Engineering: I’ve always had a knack for problem solving and my best subjects in school were math and physics. My favorite part of physics was mechanics and when you pair that with my interest in problem solving, Mechanical Engineering is the perfect major for me.

Proudest accomplishment at Behrend: I am most proud of developing a good balance between my involvement on campus and academics. I’ll be graduating with a Grade Point Average of about 3.5.

Campus involvement: I was vice president of Lambda Sigma National Honor Society and Theta Phi Alpha Fraternity, where I held a few other positions, too. I’m a member of the Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society and the Tau Beta Pi National Engineering Honor Society.

Scholarships: I received the William F. Roberge and Shirley Roberge Trustee Scholarship multiple times.

What you’d be surprised to know about her: I own and have worked to restore a 1965 Ford Mustang.

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Driven to excel: I am passionate about exceeding people’s expectations of me. I strive to excel at everything I do and surprise those who may overlook my abilities.

Advice for first-year students: Try to get an internship in your major early on. Seeing what you will do in your chosen field may change your perspective and affect the direction you want to go in.

Rachel has accepted a position as an engineer at BCI Engineering in Pittsburgh, following her graduation in May.

Class of 2017: Meet Emily Brown (Biology)

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By Heather Cass
Publications Manager, Office of Strategic Communications,  Penn State Behrend

Penn State Behrend’s class of 2017 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 Emily M. Brown:

Emily Brown - first choice

Major: Biology

Hometown: Bellefonte, Pa.

On choosing to attend Penn State Behrend: The campus is extraordinarily beautiful and there is a friendly, down-to-earth atmosphere at Behrend that you don’t get at most larger colleges.

On choosing to major in Biology: I wanted a major that would challenge me. I decided on Biology after taking BIO 110 Biology: Basic Concepts and Biodiversity. That class opened my eyes to the variety of avenues to be taken in the field of biology. Plus, I loved learning about how organisms function and interact with one other and their environment.

Proudest accomplishment at Behrend: My proudest accomplishment is making Relay for Life an official club on campus and working to get other clubs and organizations involved with the event. It’s really rewarding to see it all come together each spring.

Campus involvement: I helped make Relay for Life an official club in 2015 and have served as the president and event chair for it since. I’m also a member of TriBeta, the Biology Honor Society, and Greener Behrend.

Scientists are creative by nature: I love to draw, paint, and embroider. In high school, I was really involved with the drama club and I plan to get involved in community theatre wherever I settle: acting, singing, and set design.

What you’d be surprised to know about her: I started out as a film major. After two semesters, I dropped out of school to work and figure out what I wanted to do with my life. It only took eight months working in retail to know I wanted to go back to school and earn a degree.

What she’s passionate about: I’m passionate about nature and appreciating the beauty and serenity that can be felt just by breathing in fresh air and feeling the sun on your face. I want to work to protect that. I’m also passionate about learning, creativity, and equality. We all have our differences and that’s what makes this world so interesting.

Advice for first-year students: Make to-do lists to keep track of assignments, and remember to look at the big picture. Don’t stress too much, get a proper night’s sleep, and never underestimate the power of a good cup of hot tea.

After her graduation in December, Emily hopes to work as a researcher in wildlife rehabilitation and conservation.

Class of 2017: Meet Krystal Elliott (Software Engineering)

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By Heather Cass
Publications Manager, Office of Strategic Communications,  Penn State Behrend

Penn State Behrend’s class of 2017 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 Krystal Elliott.

Krystal Elliott - first chocie

Major: Software Engineering

Minor: Computer Science

Hometown: Staten Island, N.Y.

On choosing to major in Software Engineering: It allows me to engage with a few of my passions—language learning and creativity—in a lucrative way.

On second chances and the power of positivity: This is my second degree. I came to Behrend after deciding the first career I had chosen (English) was not for me. I have endured a lot of struggle along the way in both my personal and academic life, but I don’t let failures or setbacks keep me down. I’m a positive person and I turn every challenge into an opportunity to do or be better.

On cheerleading: I enjoy spreading my optimism around. My talent is challenging people to grow and helping them believe that they can.

Her definition of the good life: Doing something that allows me to positively impact the world around me. I think this is why I love front-end development so much. People are directly interacting with whatever I develop. If I can make it a stress-free interface, I’m making their lives better in some small way.

On global perspectives: I was fortunate to have experienced studying abroad in Limerick, Ireland, in my junior year and it really widened my view of the world. I want to continue traveling, engaging, and learning from the places and people around me.

On a little (or a lot) of help from friends of the college: I’m fortunate to have had support from several donors. I received the Lindsay Anne Graygo Trustee Scholarship, the John K. Henne Endowment for International Study, the Charles and Lillian Binder Foreign Studies Grant-in-Aid, and the Black Family and Charlotte W. Newcombe Foundation Trustee Scholarship. I can’t even express how grateful I am. It has really helped to ease my financial stresses and allow me to focus on my studies.

What you’d be surprised to know about her: I’m intensely shy! I’m very good at socializing, though, so people can’t usually tell that it’s difficult for me.

Advice for current students: Seek mentors, both personal and professional. Also, try new things, don’t fear failure, study abroad, express sincere gratitude for those who help you, and don’t limit yourself to the things you can do well; nothing is beyond your reach if you’re willing to work hard at it!

After her graduation in May, Krystal plans to move to Austin, Texas, to be near her family. She plans to look for an engineering position in front-end software or web development.

 

Class of 2017: Meet Josh Sitter (Marketing and PSCM)

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By Heather Cass
Publications Manager, Office of Strategic Communications,  Penn State Behrend

Penn State Behrend’s class of 2017 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 Josh Sitter:

josh sitter - first choice

Josh Sitter

Majors: Marketing and Project and Supply Chain Management

Hometown: Erie

On choosing Behrend: When I was in high school, I took dual enrollment classes at Behrend and fell in love with the campus. Also, the faculty and staff members I came in contact with were always very kind and helpful.

Campus involvement: I’ve been involved with multiple organizations, including the Student Government Association, Lion Ambassadors, the National Society of Leadership and Success, Commuter Council, Beta Gamma Sigma, and Phi Alpha Theta.

Scholarships/support: When I was a sophomore, I received the Erie Insurance Group Leadership Scholarship and a the Kurt and Janet Cavano Award. This year, I received a Council of Fellows Leadership Scholarship. I never realized that donors saw my campus involvement as having a positive impact on others; I was just doing things I enjoyed. Their support, however, inspired me to get even more involved and try things I otherwise might not have.

Proudest accomplishment at Behrend: Being involved in the creation of the SGA Leadership Scholarship. In the SGA, I worked with a great group of students, many of whom had received scholarship funds, and we realized that we had an opportunity to give back to others through the SGA. It’s nice to be able to leave a legacy like that.

Advice for current students: Don’t be afraid to fail. The things I learned most from during my time at Behrend were things that I failed at. Go out and do the things that are new to you or hard for you. Challenge yourself. Go outside your comfort zone and meet new people, and you’ll get a lot more out of your college experience.

Josh has accepted a position as an associate I.T. analyst at Erie Insurance following his graduation in May.

 

Class of 2017: Meet Christa Schonthaler (Communication)

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By Heather Cass
Publications Manager, Office of Strategic Communications,  Penn State Behrend

Penn State Behrend’s class of 2017 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 Christa Schonthaler:

christa schonthaler (2)

Major: Communication

Hometown: Erie

On choosing to major in Communication: I originally came in as a Nursing major, but quickly realized it wasn’t for me. At that point, I had to seriously consider my interests as well as my strengths and weaknesses. I’m very passionate about music and want to work in the music industry. I’m also very comfortable talking with people and realized that Communication fit my personality, my desires, and my future career plans. I love my major.

Happy at Happi 92.7: I’m currently an intern at Happi 92.7, an Erie “Top 40” radio station, where I do a little bit of everything, but am mainly focused on promotions and social media. I’ve learned a lot and had a great time at Happi.

Proudest accomplishment at Behrend: I’m proud of being on the Dean’s List for the past six semesters. It’s not easy to do that while balancing classes, work, and extracurricular activities.

(The only) girl in a band: I’m a singer in an eight-member band called The Romantic Era. I’m the only woman in the group, so it’s like I have seven big brothers. We sing all-original pop-EDM music and have performed all over Erie and beyond. We did shows at Stadium Red in Manhattan, and Fenway Park in Boston, and we have a show coming up in Beverly Hills, California! I’ve been in the band for four years and it’s my life right now.

christa schonthaler - the romantic era1

Beyond the band: Outside of the band, in my free time, I love to play my guitar and ukulele, read mystery novels, and do yoga. I also have three sisters and a family that means the world to me.

Inspirational sister in song: There are a few female artists who inspire me. Ariana Grande is number one because she’s an incredible vocalist and she is also a huge advocate for female empowerment and equal rights for all. I also look up to Hayley Williams from Paramore, Jessie J. and Demi Lovato because they are all strong women in the music industry.

Scholarships: I received the Anonymous Friend Trustee Scholarship in my first year and the Michael Jude Woods and Tracy Kimes Woods Family Trustee Scholarship last year.

Advice for current students: Don’t stress! College is a huge adjustment and you’ll figure it out eventually. Once you master time management and study skills, everything gets much easier.

After her graduation in May, Christa hopes to find a position at a radio station in promotions/social media.

Secret lives of staff members – Nate Magee, yoga instructor in training

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By Heather Cass

Publications Manager, Office of Strategic Communications, Penn State Behrend

There’s much more to Penn State Behrend’s faculty and staff members than what you see on campus. In this occasional series, we’ll take a look at some of the interesting, unconventional, and inspiring things that members of our Behrend community do in their free time.

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Nate Magee, research technologist at the Susan Hirt Hagen Center for Community Outreach, Research, and Evaluation (CORE), was stressed out and nursing a mild back injury when he stumbled upon an ancient Indian remedy for what ailed him—yoga.

“Penn State Behrend offers free yoga and Pilates classes for faculty and staff twice a week at lunchtime and I had heard that yoga was good for recovering from injuries and decided to give it a try,” Magee said.

Bearded and a little burly, Magee doesn’t fit the stereotypical image of a yoga enthusiast. But he said he was sold from the first downward dog.

“From the very beginning, I enjoyed the peacefulness of the practice,” Magee said. “I learned that I held a lot of stress in my chest and many yoga poses help to open your chest and release it. I also gained flexibility and strength fairly quickly while also noticing a reduction in back pain. It just made me feel great, both physically and mentally.”

Magee found yoga to be so rewarding that he is now studying to be an instructor.

“Practicing yoga is the best thing that I have ever done for myself and I want to be able to share that with others,” he said.

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Becoming a certified yoga teacher is not an easy process. Magee has been training through Soma Movement Arts, an Erie yoga studio, twice a week for a year and has attended several intensive training weekends. In addition to putting in plenty of time on the mat, he has had to hit the books, too, studying the philosophy and language of yoga.

“Even though everything has been translated into English, some Sanskrit terms do not have precise translations, so it’s helpful to know more about the original language.” Magee said. “Also, while yoga poses may have several English names depending on the style of yoga or who is teaching, there is usually only one Sanskrit name for each pose so it’s a more consistent language. It is a hard language to learn though.”

He will have a chance to practice his Sanskrit with other yoga devotees at the end of March when he travels to Canada for the Toronto Yoga Show, a conference and expo that draws participants from around the world.

“I’m registered for thirty hours of workshops over the four days I’ll be there,” he said. “I’ll be learning from some of the best and well-known yoga instructors in the world.”

When asked to name his favorite yoga pose, Magee names most of them.

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“I enjoy inversions, twists, headstands, and backbends…I guess I like them all,” he said with a laugh. “I’m currently trying to master handstands. Even though many poses look relatively simple, there are a lot of details in each one and it takes every part of your body working together with your mind to master the pose.”

Magee is currently teaching portions of classes at Soma and will be required to teach some full classes before he can be certified through Yoga Alliance, the professional organization for yoga teachers in the United States.

He encourages people of all ages, body types, and physical ability to try yoga.

“It’s very accessible and there are always modifications for those who need them,” he said. “Yoga will make you feel better physically and mentally. It is great for stress relief, improving focus, and boosting confidence. I really can’t think of anyone who wouldn’t benefit from the practice.”

Want to give yoga a try? Penn State Behrend offers free yoga classes for faculty and staff on Tuesdays and Thursdays in Erie Hall at 12:10 p.m. The college also offers yoga as a physical education credit for students. Or check out a class at Magee’s fav studio, Soma Movement Arts, or any one of a dozen other studios in the Erie area. Not in the Erie area? Search online for studios in your area.

 

Circle K Club Members Carve Out Time for Community Service

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By Heather Cass

Publications manager, Office of Strategic Communications, Penn State Behrend

Rare is the college student with spare time on their hands. After attending classes, studying, completing assignments, and working at a job or internship, students have precious few hours and little energy left.

Yet some Penn State Behrend students still make helping others a priority. They say service work is not draining, but inspiring and rejuvenating.

“I always tell people that they don’t know what an amazing feeling community service is until they try it,” said Nicole Overby, president of Circle K, a service club at the college affiliated with Kiwanis International. “The drive home after a volunteer event is the best feeling in the world. Knowing that you helped someone and did something to better the world around you gives you a feeling that cannot be explained, only felt.”

There are at nearly a dozen service-focused clubs at Behrend, and many more student groups and organizations that include service projects as part of their regular activities.

Overby first became involved with Kiwanis in high school.

“I was in Key Club, which is the high school branch of the Kiwanis Club,” Overby said. “Circle K is the name given to clubs at the college level.”

Behrend’s Circle K club includes twenty members from a variety of backgrounds.

“It brings together students from all majors, races, and genders,” Overby said. “It is such a diverse group, which is awesome because it means that we come up with lots of different volunteer ideas and activities.”

Among the group’s endeavors this academic year: cleaning wheelchairs and gurneys at Saint Vincent Hospital; participating in Relay for Life; helping at the Kiwanis’ antique show and bowling night; volunteering at Holy Trinity soup kitchen; taking the Special Olympics’ Polar Plunge; raising funds through the college’s Cardboard City event; cleaning up several local highways; and assisting at Meals on Wheels.

“I think the soup kitchen was one of my favorite events,” Overby said. “Besides prepping the meals, we were also able to distribute them and sit and interact with the clients. It is important to open our eyes and have compassion for the hardships others face. It also makes me much more grateful for my own life and the opportunities that I’ve had.”

Most recently, Behrend’s club hosted the Circle K Club’s spring officer training, drawing newly elected club officers from several colleges in the area including Mercyhurst and Edinboro Universities and the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford.

There was, of course, a service project embedded in the day’s activities. Attendees assembled and prepared coloring books to give to Shriner’s Hospital for Children in Erie.

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Overby, who is majoring in Accounting will be doing an internship at Bank of America in New York City this summer. She expects to graduate in December and sit for the CPA exam before returning to Behrend to earn her M.B.A.

While Overby is still pondering the area of accounting she wants to focus on, she’s sure of one thing: She will continue her service work in the future.

“I will definitely seek out the local Kiwanis Club in whatever city I end up working,” she said. “I love interacting with different people and having volunteer events to look forward to. I feel like community service helps me as much as it helps others.”

If nothing else, Overby’s service work has taught her to find the good in others. When asked who inspires her, she said: “Every person. Every day.”

She further explained: “I have met coworkers who have three jobs to provide for their families. I have met peers in my classes who are taking crazy amounts of classes so they can graduate early and save money. I have met faculty members who go out of their way to help students because they truly care about them. These people inspire me every single day. I hope that I can inspire others someday.”

Did she inspire you?

Circle K meets bi-weekly on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. in Burke 105. To get involved, come to the next meeting on February 28 or email Overby at nmo5050@psu.edu.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Building the STEM Workforce of the Future

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By Heather Cass

Publications manager, Office of Strategic Communications, Penn State Behrend

As the number of jobs in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) fields continues to grow, industry leaders and educators are recognizing the need to start “recruiting” early. Very early, as in, elementary-school early.

In the early years, however, “recruiting” looks nothing like people in ties and suits sitting at desks. It looks more like an engineer in a sweatshirt and jeans overseeing a noisy and boisterous game of life-size Jenga, or a high-school robotics team member encouraging kids to pilot a LEGO robot through a maze, or a chemistry major helping kids concoct a bubble they can hold in their hands.

“It starts with getting young children interested in and excited about STEM concepts,” said Melanie Ford, director of Penn State Behrend’s Youth Education Outreach efforts and a lecturer in computer science and software engineering.

That’s why, for the last three years, GE Transportation and Penn State Behrend have teamed up to host a STEM Fair that is open to the public and geared toward students of all ages. This year’s fair is Monday, February 20, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Junker Center.

In addition to at least a half dozen GE divisions and nearly twenty Penn State Behrend clubs and organizations, a variety of other Erie STEM companies and organizations, including Erie Insurance, the Erie Maritime Museum, Acutec, and Cummins, will also join in the fun.

“Every table will have some sort of hands-on component or activity,” Ford said. “The funny thing is when younger kids are doing these activities, they don’t even realize that they are experimenting and exploring in chemistry, physics, math, and engineering. They’re just learning that STEM can be fun and challenging.”

They are not the only ones having fun. The business and industry professionals, faculty members, and Behrend students who volunteer at the event are having a blast, too.

“Our students really step-up for our outreach events, and they clearly enjoy sharing their knowledge with the younger generation,” Ford said. “They think what they do is cool and they pass that passion on. The added bonus is the college students end up with a better understanding of these concepts as well.”

Join in the STEM fun – Monday, February 20, 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Junker Center

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Rachel Cotton finds niche with BVZ: Behrend’s Voice

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rachel-cotton-bvz-radio

By Steve Orbanek
Marketing Communications Specialist, Penn State Behrend

If Penn State Behrend’s students have not seen their classmate Rachel Cotton on campus, there’s a good chance they’ve heard her.

For listeners of BVZ: Behrend’s Voice, the college’s online student radio station, Cotton’s voice is a hard one to miss.

The junior communication major serves as station manager of BVZ and can be regularly heard across the cyber waves hosting her current show, “Next in Line,” where she previews upcoming artists. She also is happy to jump in and deejay whenever there’s a lull in programming.

She knows that professional radio jobs may not be easy to attain, but that has not stopped Cotton from positioning herself to be an ideal candidate for a future opening in the field.

“If I could ever make it in radio, that would be the best thing ever,” said Cotton, who is originally from the Philadelphia area. “Having a great personality in radio is so important, and you get to create an emotional appeal. I love it.”

Cotton’s love of radio is nothing new. In high school, she actually won a contest where she got to be a deejay on a local station for a day.

She brought her love for the medium to Behrend as she got involved with BVZ, which celebrated its fifth anniversary in November, early in her freshman year. As a sophomore, she served as PR and events manager for the station before becoming its manager this past fall.

In the past, students could not join BVZ or host a show on the station before first completing the Radio Practicum course, but Cotton saw limitations with this formula.

“There are people who necessarily cannot take the class or might be in a different major where they can’t have it as an elective,” Cotton said. “I wanted to find a way around the class, so folks in any major can find a way to participate.”

This past fall, Cotton developed a BVZ Fast Track program for students who want to host a radio show but cannot take the course. Cotton meets with interested students separately and runs them through the basics of operating a live station in just a few weeks. So far, four students have participated in the program. Cotton said she eventually hopes to have 10 to 20 students going through it at once.

BVZ continues to build its presence on campus as the station hosts weekly “Hump Day” broadcasts from Bruno’s Café. The station is also always willing to collaborate with student groups if the organization would like BVZ at an event it’s hosting.

The station has already worked with some student groups, which Cotton said has helped BVZ spread its reach.

“People love when we come out to events,” she said. “We have been at more events this year than I can ever remember. It’s stellar to see that people are noticing us more and not just for giveaways or concert tickets, either. They’re actually listening to hear us. I love it.”

To listen to BVZ, visit behrendbvz.org.

Students interested in joining BVZ and taking part in the Fast Track program should contact Cotton at ryc5136@psu.edu.