Category: Far from Home

Behrend student says semester-long experience in France was life-changing

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By Heather Cass, Publications Manager

Office of Strategic Communication, Penn State Behrend

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One thing Sophia DiPlacido knew for sure when she started at Penn State Behrend is that she wanted to leave — for at least a semester.

“I have always wanted to study abroad,” said DiPlacido, a junior dual majoring in Marketing and Psychology. “I was slightly worried about language barriers, though, so I looked at countries with residents who spoke English as a first or second language.”

She ultimately chose France and set off in January to spend the spring 2023 semester in Aix-en-Provence, known as “Little Paris.” She lived with a host family in a home with three other students who were also studying abroad from other U.S. universities.

“My host mother had done a study abroad experience, so she wanted to help others have that opportunity,” DiPlacido said.

She took five classes–International Business, French, History of Christianity, Wine Marketing, and Drawing and Painting–at the Institute for American Universities, where DiPlacido said curriculum is king.

“Extracurricular activities are not a thing in European universities,” she said. “College in France is actually closer to what I had been told in high school that college would be like, which is to say that instructors would not be very accessible, the classes would be mostly lectures, and your grade was made up of a few exams.”

While her college experience was quite different from the experience at Behrend, DiPlacido said she quickly felt at home in France.

“I easily adjusted,” she said. “The geography reminded me of California, and the people were very welcoming, which is not what you sometimes hear about the French. I expected to encounter some resistance because I didn’t speak their language, but everyone was nice about it.”

She didn’t have classes on Fridays, so she was able to explore several nearby countries as travel throughout western Europe is relatively easy and inexpensive. Among her many adventures: visiting the Eiffel Tower in Paris; skydiving in Switzerland; scuba diving in Marseille; making pasta in a cooking class in Venice; and seeing the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland. She also visited Budapest, Brussels, London, Madrid, Nice, and Prague as well as cities in Germany and Luxembourg.

DiPlacido said that all that travel helped her develop important life skills.

“I didn’t have a strong sense of direction,” she said, “but I developed it getting around on my own. It gave me a lot of self-confidence.”

DiPlacido said she would recommend a study abroad experience to students in any major but cautions that it takes work to prepare for it, even with guidance from Behrend’s Learning Resource Center, the campus experts on global programs.

“You have to be proactive and get your visa and passport and stay on top of what needs to be done when,” she said. “But in that responsibility is personal growth. Studying abroad was the most amazing thing I have ever done. You come back a whole different person with an entirely new perspective on the world.”

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STUDY ABROAD BASICS

Does it have to be a full semester?

No, at Behrend, the international study experience can be as short as ten days or as long as a full academic year, depending on the type of program a student selects. International study programs are happening throughout the year—during fall and spring semesters, at semester breaks, and over the summer.

Do you need to speak a second language?

No, but you do have to be a strong student, academically, to be eligible for international study. The minimum grade point average is a 2.5, and many programs require a 3.0. Prerequisites vary by program.

How much does it cost?

Cost varies depending on the program and location a student chooses, but you can expect to pay tuition, travel expenses, and for meals and personal expenses while abroad.

Scholarship funds are available for those who qualify. DiPlacido received funding from Penn State Behrend’s Study Abroad program and the University’s Schreyer Honors College, and she won a competitive Gilman Scholarship, which is administered by the U.S. Department of State.

How can a student learn more?

Attend a Study Abroad Information Session. Meetings are held weekly at Behrend throughout the semester. A list of upcoming sessions is available at behrend.psu.edu/studyabroad, where students can also learn about the different types of programs; explore upcoming opportunities; and find out about the application process and deadlines, as well as financial aid and scholarships.

‘Kosovo precedent’ complicated invasion of Ukraine, visiting scholar says

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 By Robb Frederick, Associate Director of News and Information,

Penn State Behrend

When Russia invaded Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin invoked the “Kosovo precedent,” a 78-day NATO air campaign over the former Yugoslavia. The attacks, launched on March 24, 1999, and led by the United States, forced Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic to withdraw from Kosovo, where more than 10,000 Kosovar Albanians had been killed.

NATO had acted without approval from the U.N. Security Council, where Russia, a longtime Serbian ally, could have vetoed any resolution. The member nations argued that the international community was obligated to intervene and end a humanitarian crisis.

Russia had a different perspective.

“Russia’s view was that NATO had attacked a sovereign country and taken its territory,” said Jiří Nykodým, a postgraduate researcher at Masaryk University in Brno, in the Czech Republic. “Then, when it suited them, they argued the opposite – that Kosovo set a precedent for interventions that do not involve the U.N. Security Council. Russia used that as a justification when they annexed Crimea, and again when they invaded Ukraine.”

Nykodým studied the Kosovo precedent during a five-month visit to Penn State Behrend, where he served as a visiting scholar. He came to the college to work with Lena Surzhko Harned, an associate teaching professor of political science and an expert on Ukraine and the politics of the post-Soviet space.

“Her insight was very unique,” he said. “She recommended several books, including texts that were written in Cyrillic.”

Jiri Nykodym

Jiří Nykodým

A paper written by the pair was published by the European Consortium of Political Research.

As they examined the Kosovo precedent, Nykodým and Surzhko Harned looked closely at how it intersects with a diplomatic principle known as “responsibility to protect.” That policy, adopted at the 2005 United Nations World Summit, gives the international community the right to intervene when a state fails to keep its residents safe. The measure was a direct response to the war in Kosovo and massacres in Rwanda and Srebrenica.

“When you combine the Kosovo precedent and the responsibility to protect, you see there are limits to international law,” Surzhko Harned said. “Russia has used the Kosovo precedent to obstruct and undermine the law. Basically, they say to the west, ‘You broke the rules first.’”

Russia has blocked efforts to enforce the responsibility to protect, vetoing U.N. resolutions meant to address state failures in Syria, Zimbabwe, Myanmar, Venezuela and Yemen. At the same time, Putin used the measure to justify military incursions into Georgia, Kazakhstan and Ukraine, where he perceived a threat to Russian-speaking minority communities, alleging a genocide for which there was no evidence.

“Putin has been careful not to explicitly invoke the responsibility to protect,” Nykodým said. “He uses the same language, however. It allows him to operate in a grey zone, selectively applying aspects of international law that support his goals.”

The war in Ukraine raises the stakes for the international community, which will have to reassess its commitment to the responsibility to protect other nations, Nykodým said.

“The war makes this more relevant,” he said. “We are seeing the effects of the Kosovo precedent in real time, and at the cost of Ukraine’s sovereignty.”

Behrend Competitive Cheer Team Places Second in National Competition

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By Heather Cass, Publications Manager, Penn State Behrend

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Penn State Behrend’s competitive cheer team recently made history, earning the college’s first nationally ranked cheerleading trophy. The team, led by coach Kelli Carpinello, took second place in the 2023 NCA Collegiate Cheer National Championships, the highest-ranking competition for collegiate cheerleading, which was held in Daytona Beach, Florida, earlier this month.

Cheerleading is a club sport at Behrend, but Carpinello and students involved take it as seriously as a competitive sport.

“Sometimes students hear the word ‘club’ and feel their attendance isn’t mandatory, however, I make it clear in the beginning that I treat this much like a varsity sport, where they are expected to attend practices, workouts, and everything that goes along with being a student athlete,” Carpinello said.

Practices are typically three times a week, and team members are required to work out at least twice a week on their own. Tumblers are asked to attend open gym weekly to keep their skills fresh.

Carpinello, who also works as a financial aid coordinator at Behrend, coaches two cheer teams – Game Day Cheer and Competitive Cheer – and the college’s Dance Team, too.  All three clubs have grown considerably under her guidance, with more than thirty-five students participating in the 2022-23 academic year.

“We’ve seen a lot of growth in the past couple of years,” Carpinello said. “I believe that, post-COVID, people wanted to get out and do more. Most of these students missed out on memorable events at the end of their high school years and beginning of their college years. This past fall, we had a record number of people, nearly sixty, try out for cheer.”

Behrend Blog talked with Carpinello and Competitive Cheer club member Lauren Hanke, a junior Nursing major, to learn more about cheering at Behrend and the club’s big win.

What is your background with the sport, Kelli?

Kelli: I was a cheerleader and dancer in my younger years. I danced in my youth, cheered in middle school and high school, was on a dance team at IUP for one year, and then cheered and danced for the Erie Invaders Football team in 2000. I was the assistant cheer coach at Edinboro University (now PennWest Edinboro) between 1997 and 1999, and the dance coach at Edinboro in 1998. I took some time off and began coaching cheer again in 2015 at Behrend. I assumed the dance team coach position in 2021. I am both adviser and coach for Behrend’s Cheer and Dance Teams.

They are all separate clubs?

Kelli: Yes. Game Day cheerleaders perform at men’s and women’s basketball games. The Competitive cheerleaders participate in local, regional, and national competitions (such as the NCA Collegiate Cheer National Championship). The Dance Team is another club.

We’ve seen you perform at games and events, and it’s obvious the team is inclusive and having a lot of fun. Is that something you try to cultivate or is it just organic?

Kelli: It is a little bit of both. At the beginning of each season, we embrace the “team is family” mindset. I grew up as an athlete in various sports with various coaches and different styles, so I knew what kind of a coach I wanted to be.

Often the tone of a team reflects the leaders. Who are the leaders that stand out in cheer?

Kelli: Leadership begins with the coaches and trickles down to executive board members and ultimately the rest of the team. How I conduct myself as a coach has an impact on the team’s mood and attitude. I have been blessed with an amazing assistant coach, Karle Cortes, who is very talented and brings amazing energy to our teams. The executive board members have been instrumental in maintaining club business, organizing team bonding events, and keeping team morale high.

What is the key to being a good cheerleader?

Kelli: Experience and skill is easy to spot, but I look for someone who also has a good attitude, is coachable, will take constructive criticism, and is a good teammate. I’d rather coach a student with a great attitude who is open to improvement in their skills than someone who is very skilled but has a not-so-great attitude. Ideally, a winning attitude and excellent skill is a cheer coach’s dream.

Tell me about the Florida competition. How did you fund the travel?  

Lauren: We held several fundraisers during the year to help cover the cost of travel. The Student Activity Fee and Student Government Association were generous enough to pay for the registration fees to enter the competition. We are grateful that the school invested in us and gave our team the opportunity to represent Penn State Behrend at a national level.

How long were you there and how did the competition work?

Lauren: The competition was three days long with routines starting at 8:00 a.m. and going until 9:00 p.m. We competed in the Spirit Rally Division. After our Day 1 performance, we were in second place, only 1 point behind first place. Our Day 2 performance scores were then combined with Day 1 performance, which ultimately resulted in our team claiming second place. We were very proud!

Did you have time to enjoy the beaches/city?

Lauren: We did have a day off where we were able to spend time on the beach with our friends and family who came to support us. NCA hosted a glow party with a DJ, games, and multiple activities where we were able to make friends from other teams and celebrate our last days in Daytona.

Any special moments or memories, from the competition or from this season, that you want to share?

Kelli: There are many moments that are memorable, but for me as the coach, one of the most memorable was a photo that one of the students’ parents took of our team clapping and cheering for Thiel, which had won first place. Their support was genuine and indicative of good sportsmanship. It made me very proud.

Lauren: The tradition at the NCA competition after winning a title is to run into the ocean with the trophy to celebrate everyone’s hard work over the past eight months. I think the team would agree that this was the most memorable experience for us. There were a lot of tears, hugs and, of course cheers!

Do you have a lot of seniors? Will you lose a lot of your team?

Kelli: We have just two seniors on our Competitive Cheer team this season. We are a young team, so there is plenty of potential for continued growth.

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You can follow the team on Facebook and Instagram at “PSBCheer.”

 

 

Students Spend Spring Break in Washington, D.C.

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By Heather Cass, Publications Manager

Office of Strategic Communication, Penn State Behrend

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Penn State Behrend students with U.S. Senator Bob Casey Jr. at the Capitol Building in Washinton, D.C.

Political Science class gets a first-hand look at how U.S. government works

It’s one thing to study the U.S. government and how it operates in Washington, D.C. It’s another to experience it, walking the same halls that senators and congresspersons do, sitting in the same courtrooms where federal judges preside, and meeting with foreign ambassadors and lobbyists.

“After being taught in the classroom, actually seeing the historical locations in person gave me a whole new perspective,” said Justin Lopez-Beltran, a second-year student dual majoring in Political Science and Economics.

More than a dozen Penn State Behrend students enrolled in Dr. Robert Speel’s PLSC 177N Politics and Government of Washington, D.C., spent their spring break in our nation’s capital where they squeezed a lot into one week.

The group met with members of Congress and leaders of federal government agencies; received briefings from foreign embassies and international organizations; participated in seminars led by interest groups, political party officials, and consultants; and toured government offices and facilities. They visited monuments, memorials, museums, and Arlington National Cemetery, and met with many Penn State Behrend alumni who live and work in D.C.

Among the alumni in D.C. is U.S. Representative Guy Reschenthaler (R-Pa.), a 2004 Political Science graduate, who serves on the House Rules Committee and invited the students to sit in on a committee meeting.

with Guy Reschenthaler
Penn State Behrend students with U.S. Representative Guy Reschenthaler (R-Pa.), a 2004 Political Science graduate (center in striped tie) in Washinton, D.C.

“This is not something the average person can do,” said Casey Mitolo, a fourth-year Political Science major. “He even gave a shout out to the class and Dr. Speel during the meeting. It was special.”

“My favorite part was visiting Capitol Hill and seeing all the politicians you admire and even some you might disagree with,” Lopez-Beltran said. “After taking multiple political science courses, it was fascinating to see politicians we have discussed and even argued about in the classroom.”

Classmate Nicklas Richar, a second-year Political Science major, agreed. “It was really cool to be inside the Capitol building and to see all the senators and representatives I’ve watched on TV and realize that they are real people doing an actual job.”

Mason Milliard, a third-year Political Science major, said he especially enjoyed meeting with Behrend alumnae Yuri Unno, director for international trade policy for Toyota, and Elizabeth Buck, deputy assistant director of the U.S. Marshals Service. “It was also really interesting to watch votes from the Senate and House galleries and sit in for a lecture at the Supreme Court,” he said.

Mitolo was surprised by the number of Behrend alumni in the capital. “It was extremely eye-opening to see all the doors that a Behrend Political Science degree can open,” he said. “We met alumni who work as political consultants, representatives, union leaders, and much more.”

The students interviewed for this story all agreed that the experience solidified their career choices.

“It was one of the most fascinating experiences of my life,” Richar said. “Every single place that we visited had a rich history and important part in how our government functions. It really inspired me to continue in my career path, and I learned that the potential for jobs in this field is endless.”

“This trip 100 percent solidified my career decision,” Lopez-Beltran said. “I learned that there are countless opportunities in D.C. and a wide variety of options from campaign work to legislative work to lobbying.”

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4 Takeaways

Things are not always what they seem: “I learned that, occasionally, lobbyists are the ones who have to rein in the legislators,” Milliard said. “It was surprising to hear that, from a lobbyist’s perspective, they sometimes must remind politicians that the ideas they are pushing are unrealistic. This contradicted a belief I had that politicians were the ones who had to curtail persistent ‘radical’ lobbyists.”

It’s more complicated than it seems. “I learned how many outside influences affect how lawmakers make legislation,” Richar said. “We learn in class about the types of legislation they create but not always about the work that goes into it or what causes lawmakers to think the way they do. Now, after meeting them, I have a much better understanding.”

Prepare for a workout.  “The trip was exhausting!” Mitolo said. “We walked more than ten miles one day, according to my Apple watch. But it was totally worth it.”

D.C. runs on youth. “One of the staff members that I spoke to privately made a joke about how the government is really run by a bunch of 20-year-olds, and it made me laugh because it was clear that there was an element of truth to it,” Lopez-Beltran said. “They were the ones rushing around delivering mail, moving legislation, setting up tours, and more.”

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Penn State Behrend students meet with some Behrend alumni who live and work in Washington, D.C.

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Penn State announces Peace Corps Prep certificate program

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

Did you know that the Peace Corps, the international volunteer service organization, would not have come into being without college students?

“During the 1960 presidential election, John F. Kennedy made a late-night stop at the campus of the University of Michigan,” said Jonathan Hall, associate teaching professor of physics at Penn State Behrend. “He made an off-hand remark inquiring whether the college students there would be willing to serve in a developing country. It would have been a forgotten campaign speech, except that the students organized and sent a petition with hundreds of signatures asking for the opportunity to serve others and their country.”

Hall served after his undergraduate years, and his time in the corps remains a transformative life experience, so much so that forty years later, he regularly encourages Behrend students to consider joining, helps raise awareness of the organization on campus, and staffs a recruiting table at Behrend’s twice-yearly Career and Internship Fair.

“The Peace Corps is a great opportunity to learn about another culture, to develop one’s talents, and to be of service to people in a developing nation,” Hall said. “An example of the impact possible is Alejando Toledo, the former President of Peru, who said ‘I am one of sixteen brothers and sisters. Born in extreme, extreme poverty… I’m the first president of indigenous descent who had been democratically elected in 500 years in South America. To a large extent thanks to the Peace Corps.’”

“While none of my former students in Malaysia became a president,” Hall said, “I did help the children of subsistence farmers and fishermen become teachers and nurses who in turn contributed to education and health care in places where it was scarce.”

Hall is proof that the Peace Corps stays with you. A few years ago, he even returned to Borneo to catch up with some of his former students.

That’s why he’s excited about a new partnership between the Peace Corp and Penn State to offer a preparatory program for students interested in volunteering.

Peace Corps Prep is a certificate program for undergraduate students of any major. Students who participate in the program gain skills and experiences that make them attractive candidates for the corps or any form of international or service work. The inaugural cohort will begin this fall semester.

Accepted students will build their coursework around one of six strategic competencies that the Peace Corps seeks in its volunteers. The program requires students to complete a set number of field hours in their chosen competency area, take globally minded classes, show language competency, and engage in career-related activities.

Interested students are required to complete an online interest form by October 16, 2020 to be considered for the inaugural cohort. Program requirements, application information, and more can be found at https://studentsaffairs.psu.edu/career/peace-corps-prep.

While the certificate program does not guarantee acceptance in the Peace Corps, it will help to provide participants with a competitive advantage.

ABOUT THE PEACE CORPS

Peace Corps mission: to promote world peace and friendship by fulfilling three goals:

  • To help the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women.
  • To help promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served.
  • To help promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans.

Volunteers serve for twenty-seven months in areas such as health, education, environment, agriculture, community economic development, and youth in development.

Jonathan Hall and Wan Musa
Jonathan Hall, associate teaching professor of physics at Penn State Behrend, and a former colleague, Wan Musa, who taught with Hall in North Borneo forty years ago. Wan Musa

PLET student travel to Germany — final report

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Guest Post by Lauren Hampton, Plastics Engineering Technology major

No matter how vivid the photos or descriptive the lecture, there’s nothing quite like seeing and experiencing another country in person. And, in today’s increasingly global business climate, it’s vital that students be versed in the culture and business practices of international partners. There is much to be learned from seeing how others do it. That’s why, every year, students in the Plastics Engineering Technology (PLET) program have the opportunity to travel overseas to visit plastics companies and universities and attend a plastics trade show, too.

On Thursday, Oct. 17th, a group of PLET majors embarked on an 11-day trip to Germany. We asked student Lauren Hampton to keep a travel log and tell us about the trip. Here is her final report on the experience: 

Day 9 — Friday

Today, we visited Rosenheim University of Applied Sciences. They have a plastics engineering program similar to the one we have at Penn State. Additionally, students from both Penn State Plastics Engineering Technology and Rosenheim Plastics Engineering can participate in a semester study abroad program at the respective school. During our visit, we had a wonderful tour of their labs and got lots of information about the different research projects they are currently working on.

After our tour at Rosenheim, students had a free afternoon in Munich. Some toured the Allianz Arena where FC Bayern Munich plays. Others explored the city.

Group Photo at RosenheimStudents at Allianz ArenaStudents at Allianz Arena

Day 10 — Saturday

Today, we had a free day in Munich and it was our last (non-travel) day of the trip. Students did a variety of activities during the day. A couple of students visited Eagle’s Nest. Others went to some museums and went shopping in Marienplatz. In the evening, we had a group dinner at Schneider Bräuhaus.

Students at Eagle’s Nest

Students at Eagle’s Nest.

Glockenspiel at Marienplatz

Glockenspiel at Marienplatz.

Parting thoughts

I would like to give a special thanks to all of the faculty members—Jon Meckley, Dr. Gary F. Smith, Lucy Lenhardt, and Dr. Israd Jaafar—who took us on this once-in-a-lifetime trip. I can say on behalf of all of the students, we had a wonderful time and this is an experience that we will remember and cherish for many years to come.

Auf Wiedersehen, Deutschland!

 

PLET Students travel to Germany — Travel Log #2

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Guest Post by Lauren Hampton, Plastics Engineering Technology major

No matter how vivid the photos or descriptive the lecture, there’s nothing quite like seeing and experiencing another country in person. And, in today’s increasingly global business climate, it’s vital that students be versed in the culture and business practices of international partners. There is much to be learned from seeing how others do it. That’s why, every year, students in the Plastics Engineering Technology (PLET) program have the opportunity to travel overseas to visit plastics companies and universities and attend a plastics trade show, too.

On Thursday, Oct. 17th, a group of PLET majors embarked on an 11-day trip to Germany. We asked student Lauren Hampton to keep a travel log and tell us about the trip. Here is her report latest report from Germany:

Day 6 — Tuesday

Today, we toured the Mercedes Benz engine plant in Stuttgart. We learned about the company’s history in the Neckar Valley. The afternoon was spent doing various activities. Students toured museums, visited landmarks, and explored the town.

at Mercedes

Students at the Mercedes engine plant in Stuttgart.

Birkenkopf

Students at Birkenkopf.

Dr. Smith and Cake

Dr. Smith likes cake. 

Day 7 — Wednesday

Today we toured Arburg, a prominent injection molding machine manufacturer. Following the tour, we traveled to Füssen. In Füssen, students went out for dinner and explored the town afterwards. Throughout the day, we rode on a total of seven trains – which is a lot of trains, if you ask me.

Group Photo at Arburg

Group photo at Arburg.

Happy Train Travelers featuring Dr. Smith, Dr. Jaafar, and Ryan Malatesta (Rye Bread)

Happy train travelers — Dr. Smith, Dr. Jaafar, and Ryan Malatesta.

Mr. Meckley

The lonely traveler: Mr. Meckley.

students at dinner

Students at dinner.

Day 8 — Thursday

Today we hiked up to Neuschwanstein Castle. We had a private tour inside the castle and then explored the surrounding area. Some went shopping while others hiked up Säuling Mountain.  Then, we travelled to Munich – our final destination.

neuschwanstein castle

Group photo at Neuschwanstein Castle.

Dr. Jaafar at the top of Säuling Mountain

Dr. Jaafar at the top of Säuling Mountain.

 

 

PLET students travel to Germany – Travel Log #1

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Guest Post by Lauren Hampton, Plastics Engineering Technology major

No matter how vivid the photos or descriptive the lecture, there’s nothing quite like seeing and experiencing another country in person. And, in today’s increasingly global business climate, it’s vital that students be versed in the culture and business practices of international partners. There is much to be learned from seeing how others do it. That’s why, every year, students in the Plastics Engineering Technology (PLET) program have the opportunity to travel overseas to visit plastics companies and universities and attend a plastics trade show, too.

On Thursday, Oct. 17th, a group of PLET majors embarked on an 11-day trip to Germany. We asked student Lauren Hampton to keep a travel log and tell us about the trip. Here is her report from the first five days:

DAY 1 — Thursday, Oct. 17

Day One… Here we go! All the professors showed up to the airport bright-eyed and bushy-tailed (specifically Mr. Meckley rocking his flip-flops and plaid cargo shorts). However, the students were slightly less bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. Some would say they looked like zombies. Nevertheless, everyone was excited and raring to go!

first flight

First Flight

The first flight went very well. Most slept, some listened to music. Then… DUN DUN DUNNNNNNNNN…. THE. EIGHT. HOUR. LAYOVER. Below are some of the activities students chose to participate in to pass the time, including: homework, card games, chit-chat, and of-course some sleep.

layover homework

Homework! Of course!

 card games

Card games

Days 2 & 3 — Friday & Saturday

We arrived in Cologne (Köln), Germany early Friday morning. We had two free days in the city. During that time, we explored the city, ate lots of good German food, and took in all the beautiful views.

cologne

Cologne Cathedral and the Rhein River (Awesome Photo Taken by Dr. Jaafar!)

gelato

Jon Meckley, associate professor of engineering, with gelato. 

cathedra

Cologne Cathedral

jaafar and pretzel

Dr. Israd Jaafar, assistant teaching professor of engineering, and a giant pretzel. 

Day 4 – Sunday

We attended the K Show in Düsseldorf – the world’s number one tradeshow for plastics and rubber. We visited a number of companies and learned many new things!

smith and meckley with race car

Dr. Gary F. Smith, assistant professor of engineer, and Mr. Meckley with a Race Car at the K Show

interacting with lifting machine

Interacting with Lifting Machine

 

stduents at K show

Students at the K Show

Day 5 — Monday

We attended our second day at the K Show.  We met with companies and got to see the new generation of molding machines!  Then, we hopped on a two-and-one-half-hour train ride to Stuttgart.  We arrived in Stuttgart around dinner time and spent the evening relaxing and getting ready for our next tour.

virtual reality of the K show

Virtual Reality at the K Show  (Inside of a Blow Molding Machine)

group pix at the train station

Group Photo at the train station. 

NEXT: The PLET students will tour the Mercedes Benz engine assembly plant followed by tours of the Mercedes Benz and Porche Museums. Then, they’ll visit several other cities in Germany before ending in Munich where they will tour the University of Applied Sciences Rosenheim.  We’ll post updates from Lauren as they arrive.

 

 

Students witness history in the making in Europe

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By Heather Cass, Publications Manager, Penn State Behrend

The United States is not the only nation going through a politically tumultuous time. Great Britain’s vote to leave the European Union (Brexit) has implications politically and globally.

On the other hand, Brexit has not diminished the EU’s attractiveness and importance for other countries that want membership or a closer relationship with the organization. Among these countries are Ukraine, which has been adopting constitutional changes, reforming trade, energy, and fiscal policy; and obtaining visa-free travel rights to Europe at large.

It is an interesting juxtaposition that eleven Penn State Behrend students enrolled in PLSC 499 Foreign Study Government are experiencing firsthand on a fifteen-day study abroad experience in London and in Kyiv, Ukraine. The students, led by Dr. Chris Harben, assistant teaching professor of management, and Dr. Lena Surzhko-Harned, assistant teaching professor of political science, left for London on May 12 and will travel until May 27.

While there, the group will have the opportunity to meet with representatives of transnational companies, lawmakers, members of the press, and more.

Students will meet with three members of Parliament: Lord David Hunt of the House of Lords, and the Honorable Luke Graham and Honorable Nick Boles who are both members of the House of Commons.

“Boles will be very interesting to meet with because he’s been outspoken on the matter of Brexit and, in fact, recently resigned from the Conservative Party,” Harben said. “He is a widely recognizable personality in Parliament and will provide unique insight to our students.”

Harben said that it is a particularly opportune time to visit London.

“On Thursday, May 16, students will attend the Debates in the House of Commons,” he said. “The timing is wonderful as Brexit is likely to be a topic of debate on that day given the elections for the European Parliament coming up less than two weeks later.”

Surzhko-Harned, a Ukraine native, described the course as an incredible chance for students to understand the interworking of the EU and the trading block’s economic and political power in Europe and globally.

“They will be witnessing history in the making and hearing about it directly from politicians and other leaders in Great Britain and Ukraine,” she said. “They will also be able to experience the atmosphere and culture in which these events are taking place. That’s not something they could gain by observing events from across the pond.”

For updates on the trip, you can follow Harben’s YouTube channel or follow Suzhko-Harned on Instagram or Twitter.

London and Ukraine trip.

Students met with Lord David Hunt, center, of the House of Lords on Monday, May 13. Dr. Chris Harben, far right, said the meeting far exceeded their expectations. “Lord Hunt met with us for a private question-and-answer session in the robing room at Westminster Place where the Queen will prepare when she opens the session of the House of Lords,” Harben reported. “Hunt then invited us to watch the House of Lords in action as they discussed regulations regarding agriculture in anticipation of Brexit, and then gave us access to watch the House of Commons from a special viewing area that is not open to the public.”

 

Guest Post: Alternative Spring Break in Puerto Rico

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Last week, two dozen students and four advisers from Penn State Behrend participated in an Alternative Spring Break service trip to Puerto Rico. The group helped residents recover from the catastrophic flooding that occurred as a result of Hurricane Maria, a category 5 hurricane which devastated the area in 2017, causing billions of dollars in damages and claiming nearly 3,000 lives in Puerto Rico. Here is a reflection on the week’s activities from one of the participants.

By Alex Siernerth

Junior Marketing major, ASB board member and ASB trip participant

On our first day in Puerto Rico, we stopped at a local BBQ for lunch and had our first taste of Puerto Rican cuisine, which was wonderful! We stopped at a local Walmart for some supplies, then headed to the camp to get settled. We stayed at Campamento Yuquibo which was in the El Yunque National Forest.

On the second day of the trip, we began our service. We headed to a part of the El Yunque where Hurricane Maria had stripped the natural canopy from parts of the forest. Strong grasses and vines took over the hiking trails. We worked to remove the excess brush to expand the trails.

On the third day, we split into teams to paint houses that had suffered external damage from the hurricane. One team rolled a fresh coat of orange onto a home, while another worked to paint a new house, which was built after the hurricane destroyed the original home.

The fourth day was spent finishing up the painting of the orange house and cleaning up. Another team painted the kitchen of a nearby home where the walls had been re-plastered due to water damage. The final group spent the day working on landscaping.

Our last day of service was spent at the Natural Reserve Cabezas de San Juan. We learned lot about the post-hurricane reforestation efforts that are being undertaken to revitalize the plant and wildlife in the area. We helped to tag young trees and tend to the newly planted ones by spreading mulch and watering them.

On our cultural day, we were able to explore coral reefs and learn about the ecosystem that they exist in. Snorkeling in the beautiful Puerto Rican waters allowed us to get an up-close-and-personal feel for the sea creatures and other wildlife. A friendly dolphin even paid us a visit.

We had a few hours before leaving for the airport, so we explored Old San Juan.

It was such an amazing experience being able to meet and interact with the kind, resilient people of Puerto Rico. The Behrend students took every opportunity with smiles on their faces and love in their hearts.

We are grateful to all the donors and others who made this service trip possible.