Author: Behrend Blog

Standout Seniors: Meet Josiah Burkett (Early Childhood and Elementary Education)

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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 Josiah Burkett.

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Major: Early Childhood and Elementary Education

Minor: Special Education

Hometown: Edinboro, Pennsylvania

Scholarships: The Provost Award, PNC Leadership Scholarship

On choosing Behrend: I chose Behrend because I wanted to go to Penn State while being closer to home.

On choosing his major: I chose my major because I believe that, through education, anything is possible. Giving back to students and their communities through education is something I strive for.

His proudest accomplishment at Behrend: My proudest accomplishment while being at Behrend is the connections I’ve made with so many people—friendships, mentorships, and meeting people who are now family to me.

Campus involvement: I was a Welcome Week guide, then leader, then director. I was a member of THON and Lion Ambassadors, and I worked as a Lion Scout. I am also a leadership scholar and the treasurer for the student PSEA (Pennsylvania State Education Association). During the summers, I was a mentor for Upward Bound Math and Science through Behrend’s K-12 Youth Education Outreach program.

What makes him unique: I believe my work ethic is unmatched, and my competitiveness helps me to strive toward being the best version of myself. Also, I can play the drums and tell you obscure football statistics that most people don’t know.

Student teaching: I did my student teaching at Klein Elementary in Harborcreek where I taught 4th grade. I loved it.

What you’d be surprised to know about him: A lot of people at Behrend would be surprised to learn that I am a very relaxed person most of the time. On campus, especially during Welcome Week, I tend to be excited and loud. However, I prefer to be more relaxed and in quiet environments.

His other identity: I was often asked to be the Behrend Lion mascot for campus events and photo opportunities. It was always super fun interacting with students and kids who visited, and seeing the looks on their faces when I’d come around. It was kind of fun to know all of the people around me while they had no clue it was me in the costume.

His definition of living a good life: A good life to me is a happy life — one that is filled with doing things that you enjoy. As someone going into education, I chose my field because I genuinely love teaching and learning. So, for me, doing things you love with the people you love is a good life.

His passions: I am passionate about having more classroom educators in decisive positions to truly make a change in education. I am also passionate about learning. I consider myself a life-long learner and enjoy learning about anything and everything. It makes me a more well-rounded person.

Advice for first-year students: Take advantage of every opportunity you are presented with.

After his graduation in May, Josiah plans to work as an elementary education teacher while also pursuing a master’s degree in education.

Standout Seniors: Meet Chris Annear (Industrial Engineering)

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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 Chris Annear.

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Major: Industrial Engineering

Minors: Technical Sales and Operations and Supply Chain Management

Hometown: Fredonia, New York

On why he chose Behrend: I wanted to run cross country and be in the small school environment.

On choosing his major: I want to pursue a career in disaster response logistics, sustainable production systems, and research additive manufacturing.

His proudest accomplishment at Behrend: Winning best student paper for the engineering economy track and winning best poster in the engineering division of the Sigma Xi Undergraduate Research Conference.

Campus involvement: Cross country and track, Engineering Ambassador, Vice President of Materials and Manufacturing Group

Awards and recognitions: 2022 IISE (Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers) Best Student Paper Engineering Economy Award; 2022 Behrend Sigma Xi First Place Poster Presentation, Physics-Mathematics-Engineering Division; 2023 Silver finalists in Race to the Case Interdisciplinary Supply Chain Competition at the University of Pittsburgh; Tau Beta Phi Honor Society (inducted Spring 2022); Schreyer Honors College (inducted Fall 2021); Chi Alpha Sigma, Athletic Honor Society (inducted Spring 2023).

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His talents: All things 3D printing, whether its FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling), resin or binder Jet printing.

What you might be surprised to learn about him: I have been to all 50 states.

His highest priority for the coming years: Pursuing a master’s degree and finding a place in industry where I’ll be able to make an impact.

Advice for first-year students: Get to know your professors and contribute to research in your field. Don’t waste your college experience hiding in your dorm.

After his graduation in May, Chris plans to pursue a master’s degree in industrial engineering.

Standout Seniors: Meet Tyler Akam (Digital Media, Arts and Technology)

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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 Tyler Akam.

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Major: Digital Media, Arts and Technology (DIGIT)

Minor: Game Development

Hometown: Corry, Pennsylvania

Scholarships: Renaissance Fund Scholarship and the Lake Erie Chapter of the Penn State Alumni Association Scholarship.

On choosing Behrend: I chose Behrend because it has a lot of great resources and a growing community of creative people and evolving digital art opportunities.

On choosing his major: I originally intended to participate in the 2+2 program and planned to start at Behrend and go to University Park for Film. I ended up staying at Behrend and switching to the DIGIT major because it fit my broad interests and ideas, and Behrend has a lot of useful resources, such as the equipment available to borrow from the Behrend Open Lab for Digital Creations (BOLD-C). It was a good choice to stay, as I have been able to explore different fields and areas that I am interested in.

His proudest accomplishment at Behrend: One of my proudest accomplishments is my senior project, which is a stop-motion/Claymation short film. I’m still working on it at the time of writing this, but it has been a journey on which I have learned more about my creative process and how to execute it.

Campus involvement: I was involved in the Chess Club, first as a member, and then as a member of the executive board. I helped plan events early on, and then I settled into the role of making the event posters as I got busier.

Awards and recognition: I’ve made the Dean’s List regularly. I’ve taken part in DIGIT Works, a digital event to showcase what I’ve worked on that takes place at the end of every semester, and that feels like a reward as I get to show my fellow students and members of faculty the kinds of projects I’ve worked hard on.

What makes him unique: I have a lot of creative and ambitious ideas that are seemingly endless. I come up with ideas for projects all the time. I have the skills and know-how to use Photoshop, Illustrator, and video editing programs such as DaVinci Resolve. I tend to have a knack for making interesting YouTube thumbnails and other graphic design products.

The sky’s the limit: There is no limit to what I am interested in. I usually end up exploring new areas of technology and the different forms of art. All at once, I’m interested in creating film, music, physical and digital art, video games, comic books… I could go on.

His passions: I am passionate about stories and music. I love indulging in a story and immersing myself with characters and their worlds. The human condition is to create and imagine things, which I think is amazing. I listen to music every day, and I look for a lot of meaning and like to relate to the lyrics of a song and let the instrumentals paint pictures that I can imagine. Listening to music is really one of my favorite things to do.

Advice for first-year students: If you’re having doubts, make the change you think you should. It’s not too late to change your direction in life, and you might end up making the best decision of your life.

Parting thoughts: If what I do sounds interesting, you can follow me and my projects on my YouTube Channel Takamator. I have and intend to upload videos to introduce my projects to people there. I hope to be consistent with it, and I hope to grow as a creator.

After graduation, Tyler would like to establish his own brand with his creative projects in  filmmaking, music, game design/development and more. He also is pursuing other opportunities that fit his skills.

Standout Seniors: Meet Haley Altadonna (Biology)

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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 Haley Altadonna. 

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Major: Biology with the Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior focus area

Hometown: Wattsburg, Pennsylvania

Scholarships: Graygo Trustee Scholarship, Education Abroad Scholarship, Greg and Heather Yahn Family Scholarship, Aaron Meehl Scholarship, Summer Success Scholarship, McAllister Scholarship

On choosing Behrend: Behrend has a beautiful campus located right next to Wintergreen Gorge, and it is only a short drive to Lake Erie and Presque Isle State Park. I knew that being surrounded by nature and wildlife would provide the best research opportunities and learning experiences for me.

On choosing her major: I chose to major in biology with a focus on ecology, evolution, and behavior because I was interested in working with wildlife. Behrend offers five options for the biology major, so I could easily tailor my degree to my interests and career goals.

Her proudest accomplishment at Behrend: I am proudest of the personal and professional growth I’ve achieved by participating in undergraduate research for three years. My research involved studying the anti-predator defenses of snails and the predator-prey interactions of aquatic invertebrates. I have also worked on population studies of spotted salamanders and mystery snails. Among many other things, my work has even given me the opportunity to present at the national Animal Behavior Society conference in Portland, Oregon.

Awards and recognitions: Council of Fellows Undergraduate Student Research Award

Advice for first-year students: Don’t feel like you have to overextend yourself to be successful. Involving yourself with things that you are passionate about and making a good reputation for yourself is more valuable than adding lines to your resume. Being great at a few things can be better than being average at a lot of things.

After graduation, Haley plans to attend graduate school at Case Western Reserve University and work toward a Ph.D. in biology with a focus on ecology and evolutionary biology.

Standout Seniors: Meet Owen Valasek (Finance and Accounting)

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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 Owen Valasek.

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Majors: Dual majoring in Finance and Accounting

Certificates: Financial Planning

Hometown:  Kittanning, Pennsylvania

On choosing Behrend: The Black School of Business is what attracted me to Behrend. The Bloomberg Terminal lab is unlike anything offered at other campuses. The terminals have allowed me to accelerate my learning about financial markets and other topics that will help me in my future career. The opportunity to dual major is also a great perk, allowing me to have more than one specialty within the business realm.

Campus involvement: President of the Business Analytics Team, Vice President of Communication for the Financial Management Association, Vice President of the Society of Undergraduate Economists, member of the Financial Planning Association, Lead Analyst and Vice President of Marketing for the Intrieri Family Student Managed Fund, and a member of the Behrend swim team during my first and sophomore years. These experiences equipped me with a diverse set of skills essential for personal and professional growth. I am thankful to have had the opportunity to be so involved.

His highest priority for the coming years: My highest priority for the coming years is to keep learning – both academically and personally — and to never become comfortable. College has been a wonderful experience. I’m committed to staying curious, seeking out new challenges, and embracing opportunities for growth. I haven’t been in my comfort zone throughout college, and I’m not going there now!

Advice for first-year students: Networking is the key to success. It is just as important as your studies. This doesn’t mean you have to be on a call with a hedge fund manager every day. Instead, join clubs, find extracurriculars to become a part of — that’s how you build a strong network. Also, learn from industry leaders within your field. Learning in and out of the classroom is vital to standing out.

After graduation, Owen plans to work in the Foundations program of Baird in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to become a financial advisor.

Standout Seniors: Meet Hannah Olanrewaju (Mechanical Engineering)

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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 Hannah Olanrewaju:

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Major: Mechanical Engineering

Hometown: Erie

Scholarships: D. Schreyer Renaissance Scholarship, Gerald Bayles Memorial Scholarship, Bunton Waller Scholarship, Mead Family Scholarship, Presidential Scholarship, Chancellor Award Scholarship, and Society of Distinguished Alumni Trustee Scholarship.

On choosing Behrend: Penn State has always been a large part of my family: All my immediate family as well as two uncles have chosen Penn State. I always wanted to follow in their footsteps and felt that Behrend was the campus that best fit my needs because of the size, location, and great engineering programs.

On choosing her major: I chose to pursue mechanical engineering because it allows me to combine my academic strengths with my creativity through a broad study of topics and applications. The variety of skills I have learned allow for career flexibility, which gives me the opportunity to better explore my interests.

Her proudest accomplishment at Behrend: During the fall semester of my junior year, my term GPA fell to a 3.02, which is below the Schreyer Honors College requirement of a 3.40. The following semester, I worked diligently and earned a 3.54 for the spring of 2023. During this time, I had to prove to myself that I could overcome my academic obstacles and doing so has been my proudest accomplishment during my time here.

Campus involvement: I was a Lion Scout campus tour guide and a peer mentor for a group of five students in the STEM Leaders Program. I was also a member of the Schreyer Honors College and the Behrend Honors Program.

Awards and recognitions: In my first year, I received the Division of Undergraduate Studies Award.

What makes her unique: I love exploring different styles of music and playing instruments. From elementary to high school, I played the upright bass in the school orchestra. Currently, I enjoy playing the piano and the ukulele.

What you might be surprised to know about her: I can conversationally speak and understand Mandarin. My mom is Taiwanese, and she taught my sister and me the language when we were young.

Advice for first-year students: Get involved! The more you engage with campus life, the more likely you are to make friends, define and then refine your career goals, experience leadership opportunities, and have fun. Also, it really helps to do your homework early enough that you have time to ask the professor questions if you need to. Lastly, it is important to find a balance of school, work, and fun.

Parting thoughts: I would like to thank my mom, sister, stepdad, and friends for supporting me during college. I truly could not have done it without them!

After her graduation in May, Hannah plans to work in her field, and possibly pursue a Master of Business Administration degree.

Standout Seniors: Meet Jenna Alberti (Political Science)

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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 Jenna Alberti:

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Jenna as Elle Woods in the college’s production of “Legally Blonde, The Musical” 

Major: Political Science

Minors: Theatre and Spanish

Hometown: Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Scholarships: Myron and Marlene Jones Open Doors Scholarship; Bunton Waller Scholarship; Michael Jude Woods and Tracy Kimes Woods Family Trustee Scholarship; Council of Fellows Leadership Scholarship; Edward P. and Barbara F. Junker Scholarship; Wagner Family Open Doors Scholarship; Lake Erie Trustee Scholarship at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College; and Pam and Greg Slusher Open Doors Scholarship.

On choosing Behrend: I wanted a Penn State education, and I chose Behrend for its affordability and size.

On choosing her major: I have always had a passion for politics and helping people. My parents always told me that I was going to change the world for the better, and that is what I want to do.

Her proudest accomplishment at Behrend: Becoming the Welcome Week Director with one of my best friends, Josiah Burkett, a senior Elementary and Early Childhood Education major.  I was a leader for two consecutive years before becoming a director, so I really got to grow with the program.

Campus involvement: I have been involved in Sailing Club, Theatre and Theatre Club, Alpha Sigma Tau, Welcome Week, Panhellenic Council, Lion Ambassadors, THON, Pi Sigma Alpha, and the Concert Committee.

Awards and recognitions: I was awarded the Thomas H. Turnbull Award in 2023.

What makes her unique: I am well-versed and love to be active in my community. I am driven by my desire to succeed and make a difference, so giving up is not a word in my vocabulary.

People might be surprised to know: I work part-time at Erie Brewing Company in Knowledge Park, and despite my busy schedule with school, work, and extracurriculars, I do find time to sleep!

Career goals: I plan to continue my education and work my dream career, a job in the FBI.

Advice for first-year students: Take your time. As cliché as it sounds, college goes by quickly, and it is over before you know it. Get involved, make a name for yourself, and build your connections.

Parting thoughts: I love Penn State Behrend, and although I am ready to graduate, I am not ready to say goodbye.

After her graduation in May, Jenna plans to apply to graduate school and earn a degree in Homeland Security.

 

Standout Seniors: Meet Jordyn Hetz (Mathematics and Secondary Education in Mathematics)

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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 Jordyn Hetz: 

Jordyn Hetz

Major: Dual major in Mathematics and Secondary Education in Mathematics

Hometown: Erie

Scholarships: Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship, STEM Leaders Scholarship, Chancellor’s Scholarship

On choosing her major: I have always been passionate about helping others and always loved math, so choosing the dual major seemed like a natural fit.

Her proudest accomplishment at Behrend: My proudest accomplishment has been my involvement in the Noyce scholarship program. It has given me the opportunity to be in front of a classroom more than the typical education student, and I have also had the opportunity to build a great network with local teachers.

Awards and recognitions: Most Promising Freshman in Mathematics award, the President’s Freshman Award

Her passions: All Penn State sports! Behrend provides the unique opportunity to still be involved with the athletics at University Park while also being able to attend a school that isn’t as big.

Advice for first-year students: Make use of faculty members’ office hours. There is going to be a time where you struggle, and it is important to learn that it is okay to ask for help. Establishing a rapport with professors early on will make attending office hours less daunting. Professors want you to succeed, but they cannot help if they don’t know you are struggling!

After her graduation in December, Jordyn plans to become a high school math teacher.

Standout Seniors: Meet Reagan James (Interdisciplinary Business with Engineering Studies and Project and Supply Chain Management)

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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 Reagan James:

Reagan James

Majors: Dual majoring in Interdisciplinary Business with Engineering Studies (IBE) and Project and Supply Chain Management (PSCM)

Hometown: Spartansburg, Pennsylvania

Scholarships: Penn State Behrend Chancellor’s Scholarship

On choosing Behrend: I chose Behrend because I was interested in the IBE major, and it was a great campus that had small class sizes with the bonus of being close to home.

On choosing his majors: I chose IBE due to its versatility. When I started school, I didn’t really know what career path I wanted to pursue. I was on the fence between mechanical engineering or business. When I learned about the IBE major, it was a perfect blend for me. As I progressed through my college career, I was exposed to Project and Supply Chain management. After discussing it with my advisor, I learned that a dual major in PSCM would only require me to take a few extra classes to graduate with that major. I have been extremely satisfied with my decision to dual major.

Penn State pride: I am very proud of the relationships I have formed with the faculty. These close relationships have allowed me to make the most of my time at Behrend. As a Business Ambassador, I have been able to give advice to incoming students and tell them about the college.

Campus involvement: President, National Society of Business and Engineering club; Secretary, Project and Supply Chain Management club; Treasurer, Entrepreneurship club; Business Ambassador.

What makes him unique: I’m a good communicator. I would say one of my strengths is my ability to connect with everyone I meet. This has opened a lot of doors for me, allowed me to meet a lot of interesting people, and helped me when giving presentations. I also enjoy helping others, specifically in areas that I excel in. If I did well in a class, I often would help students taking the class after me.

What you might be surprised to now about him: I am not a big “sports guy.” Despite playing tons of sports and being a three-sport athlete in high school, I don’t follow any professional sports on TV. It’s not something that I am passionate about watching.

His definition of living a good life: Living a good life to me means a few things to me: First, and ultimately, life isn’t about money; it’s about relationships, so creating deep bonds and friendships is extremely important. Second, I think everyone has the potential to do great things, but only some people achieve what they are capable of. I want to be able to say that I lived up to my potential. Third, it means being able to have the freedom to do the things that I want to do, when I want, where I want.

Advice for first-year students: Your first year is meant to experience everything that college has to offer. Don’t feel pressured to join any clubs right away or feel like you are lost or behind. Relax, and just take it all in. By the end of the second semester, you will have a new perspective on things, which will enable you to choose the path right for you. Also, always think about how you can improve your resume. Don’t wait until your last semester!

Parting thoughts: Don’t think that everyone has it all figured out. Even the people who look like they have it all together still have things that they are worrying about. No one is perfect. People often say that college is the place to find yourself, but I think college is the place to build yourself. It’s great to find out what you like and dislike, but don’t forget that the skills and habits that you develop in college will be the ones you’ll be equipped with when you take your first step into the real world.

Reagan, who will graduate in May, is currently applying to many companies, looking to find the best fit for his skills, interests, and ambitions. 

Standout Seniors: Hannah Phillips (Biology)

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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 Hannah Phillips.

Hannah Phillips (bio)

Major: Biology with the Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior option

Hometown: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

On choosing Behrend: I loved the small campus atmosphere while still getting a Penn State degree. I enjoyed the Erie area when I visited, as well as everyone who I met while looking at the school. I had an opportunity to play volleyball as well, which allowed me to create close bonds with some great people.

On choosing her major: In high school, I developed a love for conservation. I have always enjoyed the environment, and being able to protect it is something that I want to spend my life doing. I love being outside, and my major allows me to conduct field work in nature.

Her proudest accomplishment at Behrend: Playing volleyball has allowed me to have many proud moments. I received Co-Player of the Year honors in 2022, as well as First Team All-Conference in 2022 and 2023. Our team won the AMCC championship during our 2021 season, after not having an official playing year in 2020.

Campus involvement: I served as captain of the women’s volleyball team during the 2022 and 2023 seasons. I am also the Student Athlete Advisor Committee representative for the team. I did on-campus research with five science faculty members: Dr. Matthew Gruwell and Dr. Ivor Knight during my junior year and Dr. Lynne Beaty, Dr. Sam Nutile, and Dr. Adam Simpson in my senior year.

Awards and recognitions: I was on the Dean’s List all four years of college. I received All-Academic AMCC honors from 2020 through 2024 and Chi Alpha Sigma National Student-Athlete Honor Society in 2023 and 2024.

Advice for first-year students: The college experience is what you make of it. Don’t be afraid to have fun, take some chances, and even fail; it’s how you learn.

After her graduation in May, Hannah plans to find work in the field of conservation or ecology.