Category: Student News

Behrend’s Own “Ready Player One”

Published on by Behrend BlogLeave a comment

By Heather Cass, Publications Manager, Penn State Behrend

This spring, several staff and faculty members recommended Remington Orange, above, a Digital Media, Arts, and Technology (DIGIT) major, for an annual feature on the Behrend Blog that highlights graduating students.

There was just one problem: Orange was a junior.

Their mistake is understandable. In just three years, Orange, an immersive administrator in the college’s Virtual/Augmented Reality (VAR) Lab, has left his mark on campus—literally. From 3D scanning equipment and building video game consoles in the VAR Lab to creating 360-degree virtual tours for industry partners, Orange’s work can be seen all over Behrend.

“He oversees several of the undergraduate employees in the lab, working with them across a half dozen or more projects, helping them to achieve their own goals,” said Dr. Chris Shelton, associate professor of psychology and director of the VAR Lab. “He goes out of his way to learn and help others who are trying new techniques in the lab, while also improving the atmosphere with his positive attitude and calm demeanor.”

Orange is also collaborating with Jane Ingold, reference and instruction librarian and Behrend’s archivist, to digitally preserve college artifacts as part of his Schreyer Honors College thesis project.

“He is so engaged and is a real champion of Behrend history through the preservation work that he’s doing,” Ingold said. “This spring, he did 3D scans of Ernst Behrend’s old steamer trunk, the bust of Moritz Behrend’s head, and Bruno’s headstone.”

Behrend Blog caught up with Orange before he returned home to New Bethlehem for the summer.

How did you get involved in the VAR Lab?
I met another student, Marcus Jacobs (a ’22 Business Economics and International Business grad), who worked there, and he roped me in. I was interested in what they were doing in the lab. Now I do a lot of the project managing. I joke that I’m Marcus 2.0.

What are some projects you’ve worked on?
Most recently, I helped create a 360-degree virtual tour for Snap-tite, an Erie company, and I’m working on the Echoes of HistERIE project—scanning historical sites and artifacts like the Presque Isle Lighthouse. If something ever happens to these places, at least we’d still have them digitally.

We heard you built a turntable to help scan people in 3D?
Yes! It’s hard to do 360-degree scans of people while lugging around the camera and cables, so it’s easier if the person rotates on a platform while the camera stays put. You can buy turntables like this, but my true gumption is being frugal—so I wanted to build one. My dad and I used the motor from a pig roaster, since it offers a slow, strong spin. It turned out great.

You also created an augmented reality sandbox. Tell us about that.
It’s an interactive display that lets users shape and manipulate 3D topographic maps in real time. A 3D camera senses the shape of the sand, and a projector overlays a topographic map onto it. You can build mountains and valleys right in front of you. Again, you can buy these, but we made ours out of plywood and an old projector.

And the VARcade?
That’s an arcade machine I built from an old kitchen cabinet. It runs classic games and also gives students a platform to test new games they create in computer science or game design classes.

You sound like an engineer. Why did you choose DIGIT?
DIGIT is the best of both worlds. I get to work with emerging technology but in a more creative or artsy way. I like 3D modeling, photography, making movies, and videogames. I’m also minoring in game development.

What are some practical uses for VR and 3D images?
A lot of people think VR is just for video games, but it has serious real-world uses—training simulations, for instance, where it’s safer to make mistakes. It’s also great for exposure therapy for phobias and PTSD. And 3D tours can give people a sense of what a place looks and feels like without needing to physically go there.

What motivates you?
My faith—especially Jeremiah 29:11: “I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

What are you looking forward to when you return in August?
My Schreyer thesis project, which is a continuation of the work I do in the lab. I’ll be using different scanners on various artifacts to find the most efficient methods for digital preservation. And I’m excited to see what else comes my way in the VAR Lab. I’m up for anything. 

Masterpieces, Meet the iPhone: Art History Gets a Makeover

Published on by Behrend BlogLeave a comment

By Heather Cass, Publications Manager, Penn State Behrend

This spring, students in Dr. Matthew Levy’s AMST 307N: American Art and Society course at Penn State Behrend engaged in a unique interdisciplinary project that blended historical analysis with creative expression. As part of the course, students worked in groups to create tableaux vivants—or “living pictures”—that reenact and recontextualize iconic works of American art that were discussed in class.

Not only did students have to study the formal and thematic elements of a chosen painting, but they also had to consider its relevance to contemporary social and cultural issues.

“Working in groups, they researched their chosen work, gaining a deeper understanding of the social issues it represented,” said Levy, associate professor of art history, music, theatre, and visual arts.

Each group then reimagined their selected artwork for a 21st-century context, using modern props, settings, and interpretations to bridge the past and the present.

“They had to think carefully about props, poses, setting, framing, and more to bring the work of art into modern times,” Levy explained.

Here are several standout projects from the class, along with insights from Levy on what made each piece compelling.

Distant View of Niagara Falls by Thomas Cole: “Where Cole’s view of Niagara Falls depicts the untouched majesty of the falls (represented both by the landscape and the presence of the Native Americans living at one with nature), the students depicted a domesticated and technologized landscape. Using the Wintergreen Gorge as their setting, they drew attention to the power lines, nature trail, and the use of phones to mediate our experience with nature.”

Domestic Happiness by Lilly Martin Spencer: “In the original painting, Spencer offers what was a progressive view of family life for the time, with both mother and father doting on their children. Our students instead depicted a “girl boss” showering praise on the domestic accomplishments of her stay-at-home husband. Notably, no children are present.”

War News from Mexico by Richard Caton Woodville. “Woodville’s painting depicts the latest in information technology—the penny press—which made journalism far more accessible than ever before. Our students depicted a scene in which everyone is responding to the news, not in the shared experience represented by Woodville, but each on their own through their phones and tablets.”

McSorley’s Bar by John Sloan: “Sloan’s painting depicts a scene of working-class sociability in a male-only bar. Our students represented a scene of co-ed sociability in Bruno’s Café on the campus of Penn State Behrend. Again, the presence of devices mediates human-to-human connection. Note how the student group considered the framing of the shot, mirroring the lights and memorabilia on the walls of the original.

Fun fact: McSorely’s Old Ale House is New York City’s oldest continuously operated saloon. The bar did not admit women until it was forced to do so in 1970.”

ABOUT THE COURSE

AMST 307N: American Art and Society covers the history of art in the English colonies and the United States from the seventeenth century to the present, examined through paintings, sculpture, buildings, prints and photographs, as well as exhibitions and national/world fairs.

The course is designed to meet two principal goals. The first is to increase students’ powers of visual analysis and help them build a critical vocabulary for discussing an art object’s medium, composition, style, and iconography. The second is to foster an understanding of the deep implication of the visual arts in their social and cultural contexts.

Behrend Chess Team Wins Top Honors in Competition

Published on by Behrend BlogLeave a comment

By Heather Cass, Publications Manager, Penn State Behrend

Behrend chess team members: Dennis Chu, Kelvin Li, Advaith Kodipparambil, Jordan DeLauer, Christian Wang, and Seth Mellring. 

Chess is a complex game, with sixteen pieces of six types, each moving in a different way. Players must not only master the rules but also develop strategies and tactics to defeat their opponents while adapting to every move.

Kelvin Li, treasurer of Penn State Behrend’s chess club, said the game is worth the effort, especially when he finds the tactic—whether it’s a beautiful move or the only move—that will win the game.

A tactic in chess is a series of moves that gives a player an immediate advantage. Tactics are usually short-term and involve forcing moves that limit the opponent’s options.

“It is incredibly satisfying to find the tactic because they are very difficult to spot, especially for new players,” Li said. “After so many games, you usually develop an intuition and can more quickly spot good moves. But even that is rarely simple because you must think about all your opponent’s possible responses to your move.”

No two chess matches are the same, but there are patterns. A player who can spot the pattern gains the upper hand.

“Advanced players usually study these positional patterns and how to play them, so if they recognize them in a real game, they gain a solid advantage over their opponent,” Li said. “While real games are usually quite messy, knowing what you can work with and how to exploit it is important.”

Spotting patterns is something Li, a dual major in mathematics and physics, is well-versed in. Math can be considered the study of patterns, as it focuses on identifying, analyzing, and describing repeating structures and relationships with numbers, shapes, and other mathematical concepts.

Li began playing chess in high school and was pleased to learn that Behrend had an active chess club. The club, which meets on Thursday nights in the Reed Gaming Lounge, includes a mix of intermediate to advanced players, but they enjoy teaching newbies as well.

“We welcome all players,” Li said. “In our weekly meetings, we play casual games to foster a positive learning environment where newer players can play and learn from some of the more advanced players.”

Each month, the club holds a chess tournament with prizes. To level the playing field, they adopt the Swiss system, a non-elimination tournament format that pairs players with similar scores. The winner is the player with the most points at the end of the tournament.

“Chess is an adversarial game by nature, so we always encourage healthy competition,” Li said.

The practice has paid off. Last semester, the Behrend team won the Carnegie Mellon Chess Open, held at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, besting CMU by a half-point to win the top spot. Competition was stiff, with teams from the University of Pittsburgh, Penn State University Park, Shippensburg University, and others participating.

In November, at the Pennsylvania State Chess Federation’s Pennsylvania Team Championship in Shippensburg, the Behrend club won the top college team prize and tied for first place out of thirteen college teams.

The club will compete in the Ira Lee Riddle Memorial Championship in Harrisburg in March and the Pennsylvania State Game/29 Championships in April at the University of Pittsburgh.

Follow the chess club at instagram.com/psbchessclub.

Behrend Chess team members: Jack Ni, Advaith Kodipparambil, Jordan DeLauer, Kelvin Li and Christian Wang.  

Behrend Barbershop Quartet Wins District Competition

Published on by Behrend BlogLeave a comment

By Heather Cass, Publications Manager, Penn State Behrend

IMG_1549
Four Score, a barbershop quartet that includes three Behrend students and one alumnus, perform the National Anthem at a home track meet at Penn State Behrend in spring 2024.

One of the most amazing aspects of college is that a single class can have a profound effect on your life. It might inspire you to change your career plans. It might be the place you meet your best friend or future spouse. It might ignite a lifelong passion or lead you to a place you never expected. 

Max Rohl, a senior Interdisciplinary Science and Business major, never dreamed he would be on stage accepting first place in a barbershop quartet competition in Rochester, New York. He had never even sung in a group until he signed up for Concert Choir class in his first year at Behrend.

“Some of us in the class started a kind of club where we would meet up in Ohio Hall to work on our songs,” Rohl said.

One night, at the end of a choir meet-up, he asked if anyone in the group had any other styles of songs they wanted to work on. Rohl, who had been a fan of the barbershop quartet classic, 76 Trombones, was about to suggest barbershop songs when Wade Williams, now a junior History major, said, “I’ve always wanted to start a Barbershop Quartet.”

“Me, too,” Rohl said.

Wade is a bass singer, Rohl is a baritone, so they needed a tenor and a lead.

They found both in Joey George, a senior Computer Engineering major, who had grown up singing in choirs and at church and could sing both tenor and lead.

The trio looked all over Behrend for a fourth member before Wade did an internet search and found Lake Erie Sound, an established Erie barbershop chorus. He reached out to its leader, John Donohue, who directs the chorus of about two dozen men.

“He probably thought, ‘Why are these college kids bugging me?’ but we talked him into coming to listen and sing with us,” Rohl said.

After that one practice, Donohue, a 2015 Mechanical Engineering alumnus, was in.

“It just sounded so good when we sang together that I knew we had to put our efforts toward getting better and refining our performance,” Donohue said.

The group began practicing a couple of times a week, meeting when Donohue, who is about ten years older and has a job and family, could join them.   

“It was great to meet young people who had been bitten by the ‘barbershop bug,’” Donohue said. “They were eager from the start and soaked up any knowledge I shared with them.”

They chose a name—Four Score Quartet—and performed the National Anthem at a Behrend home track meet in the spring. They hadn’t considered doing much more until Donohue mentioned a nearby competition—the Seneca Land District of Barbershop Harmony Society District Competition in Rochester, New York.

“He said, ‘Hey, there’s this competition in twenty days. Do you guys want to do it?’” Rohl said.

They not only did it; they won it and were named district champions.

“John was not surprised, but we were!” Rohl said.

The group sang four songs, two in preliminaries and two in the finals: “Wait ‘Til the Sun Shines, Nellie,” “A Son of the Sea,” “Sweet and Lovely,” and “That Old Black Magic,” which earned them their highest score of the day. Each song is scored separately, and then song scores are added together to get a final score.

scores

If it sounds easy, Rohl will assure you that it is not.

“It’s actually really difficult to sing barbershop harmony, but I love challenging myself and doing hard things,” Rohl said. “When you have to work hard at something, mastering it is much more rewarding.”

Barbershop singing is different from any other type of choral group singing but it still requires plenty of talent and practice.

 “Although the technique is different than in a classical choir, it’s still very demanding from a musical perspective and can really push an individual both vocally and emotionally,” Donohue said.

Donohue is happy to see younger people interested in barbershop quartet and said that while it is sometimes viewed as an old-fashioned type of singing, that perception is changing.

“In the past ten to fifteen years, quartets have began to adopt more musical theater pieces and songs from pop-culture,” he said.

 Winning the competition solidified the students’ commitment to the quartet.

“We’re all very dedicated to it now, even more so than before,” said Rohl.

Hear the Four Score Quartet for yourself at the group’s YouTube page. 

WHY IS IT CALLED BARBERSHOP QUARTET?

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, every barbershop had its own quartet. The term “barbershop” in reference to harmonizing was first documented in 1910, alongside the release of the song Play That Barbershop Chord.

During this time, barbers were more than just hairdressers; they also pulled teeth and performed minor surgeries. Barbershops gradually became social hubs where locals could gather, play instruments, and sing while waiting for their turn in the chair.

DID YOU KNOW?

Barbershop harmony is believed to be rooted in the Bllack community. According to a post on The Barbershop Harmony Society blog: “Lynn Abbott, a jazz archivist at Tulane University, was an expert on early African-American popular music and gospel quartets. He discovered overwhelming evidence that barbershop quartetting was pervasive in African-American culture in the late 1800s and early 1900s, including among many men who went on to become the pioneers of jazz. Abbott published his findings in a 1992 academic paper that forever changed the way Barbershoppers understand their roots.”

461750648_1101244505337426_3581344516470634633_n
The Four Score Barbershop Quartet includes, from left, John Donohue ’15, and Behrend students, Joey George, Wade Williams, and Max Rohl.

Student Photo Project Explores Connection to Natural World

Published on by Behrend BlogLeave a comment

By Heather Cass, Publications Manager, Penn State Behrend

processed-BD4DD590-EDDD-4E86-A1B5-C2901D374CD0
Frontier Park in Erie. CREDIT: Railey Kranz

Students in Photo 202: Fundamentals of Professional Photography recently completed a photo essay project based on “The Land Ethic,” an essay written by Aldo Leopold in 1949 that argues for a deeper connection between humans and the natural world.

Leopold suggests that humans need to expand their concept of ethics beyond just people and animals to include the land—soil, water, plants, and more. The “land” is not something we own, but something we are a part of, and we should treat it with care and respect. Leopold proposes that we should think of ourselves as caretakers, responsible for maintaining balance and harmony with nature.

IMG_0458
Urban park. CREDIT: Chelsea Quijas

Tommy Hartung, assistant professor of digital media, arts, and technology, instructed students in the class to choose an area and create a series of five 360-degree panoramic images that document the landscape and the biome it contains.

“The site they chose could be anywhere from urban to complete wilderness,” Hartung said. “Students were also required to take notes documenting the ecosystem and use their notes to draft a 500-word essay to go with the images.”

A second part of the assignment involved time-lapse photography.

“The element of time and motion related to photography has allowed humans to see systems develop by compacting time into short motion clips,” Hartung said. “It allows a focus that the human experience may overlook about the location.”

Dobbin’s Landing in Erie. CREDIT: Evan Gerdes

The students’ essays are impressive and thought-provoking.  See for yourself at the links below:

IMG_1160-768x512
An acorn in Wintergreen Gorge. CREDIT: Lyndon Herschell

Dinner and a movie for free, every Friday

Published on by Behrend BlogLeave a comment

By Heather Cass, Publications Manager, Penn State Behrend

a group of people watching a lecturer present on screen

You could spend Friday night watching Netflix and binging episodes of your favorite comfort show or, you could expand your viewing horizons at Behrend’s weekly International Film Screening Series.

The series, sponsored by Behrend’s Digital Creations Club and BOLD-C (Behrend Open Lab for Digital Creations), will run on Fridays from 7 to 9 p.m. in Reed 117 through November 11.  Students, faculty, and staff can enjoy a different film every week and free pizza, too. (Student couples, take note: that’s a free date night!)

International film festivals are more than just celebrations of cinema—they are crucial spaces for artistic expression, cultural exchange, industry growth, and social advocacy. They help cultivate an appreciation for diverse forms of cinema, encouraging audiences to explore films beyond mainstream Hollywood productions.

Sean Martin, a junior Digital Media Arts and Technology major, student manager of BOLD-C, and president of the Digital Creations Club, spearheaded the effort to bring the semester-long series to Behrend. He chose the films from three different streaming services available to the Penn State community, taking care to find a wide variety.

“Students, faculty and staff should come and watch these films because they offer a completely unique and compelling look into a different culture, time, and story from an artistic perspective,” Martin said.

Screenshot 2024-10-09 at 13-47-45 Battleship Potemkin (1925)

Showing this Friday, October 11, is Battleship Potemkin, a film set “in the midst of the Russian Revolution of 1905 when the crew of the battleship Potemkin mutiny against the brutal, tyrannical regime of the vessel’s officers. The resulting street demonstration in Odessa brings on a police massacre.”

Several more films are planned this semester. Martin said that he is especially looking forward to L’Age D’or on October 25 and All About My Mother on November 1.

See the full lineup here.

Political Science student published in Wall Street Journal

Published on by Behrend BlogLeave a comment

By Heather Cass, Publications Manager, Penn State Behrend

Eric O - WSJ contributor
Eric Oelhaf, Penn State Behrend Political Science major.

While at Penn State Behrend, Eric Oelhaf, a senior Political Science major, added something to his resume that few college students can claim: His work has been published in The Wall Street Journal.

In fact, he has had three pieces published in the WSJ’s “Future View” column, in which they invite undergraduate and graduate students to offer their opinion on current topics from Twitter’s rebranding to the future of the NFL to foreign policy to ChatGPT.

Oelhaf’s published essays address the topics of American support for aid to Ukraine; the U.S. border crisis, and why people don’t trust scientists anymore. He is in good company with students from such institutions as Brown University, Harvard University, and West Point Academy.

We talked with Oelhaf, a State College native, to learn more about why he wanted to contribute, how he got published, and what he has gained from the experience.

How did you learn about “Future Views”?  

Dr. Maggie Shum, assistant professor of Political Science, mentioned it in a class that I took with her in the fall semester. Though it’s known to be a conservative publication, The Wall Street Journal said it was trying to provide a diversity of viewpoints in this feature.

Did you immediately contribute?

No. I looked at it as a national writing competition and decided that I was only going to contribute if I had something unique to say. I felt that would improve my odds of being selected. I was surprised that they printed the first one I submitted, which was the piece on the border crisis. The second one was the piece on why people don’t trust scientists.

Then you submitted one about aid for Ukraine?

Yes. That one was a strategic choice. I wanted to dispel myths that are prominent in conservative information spaces about the costs of sending aid to Ukraine. Of course, the reason to support Ukraine is that it’s the right thing to do. Russia has historically tried to eradicate the Ukrainian language and identity from existence since the times of the Russian Empire. And languages are a particularly important part of European political philosophy.

Does the newspaper edit the pieces?

The one on the border crisis is nearly identical to what I submitted, and those are really my thoughts on the matter. There was light editing on the Ukraine piece. But the trustworthiness of scientists’ piece was heavily edited. Looking back on that, I realize that was my fault.

How so?

I had tried to have a more in-depth discussion than what the 250-word-limit would allow, and I didn’t end up making a clear argument in what I originally submitted. The editor then rewrote some of it operating under the assumption that I was trying to critique the behavior of just the authority figures, which I wasn’t. It was a misunderstanding that I know now I could’ve prevented.

What has been the response to your work?

It’s interesting to read through the comments. I’ve learned that people will complain about anything unless your reasoning is airtight or in line with what they believe. I was called an elitist for providing context on the border crisis. Sometimes, readers will even complain that they are listening to college students, despite clicking on a column clearly labeled “Future View.”

What have you learned by reading the feedback?

It seems the current American news consumer is addicted to anger, and the media is more than happy to feed that addiction.

What other topics interest you?

I care most about what is happening in Ukraine and, as a result, I’m concerned about the current state of Congress. I’m also interested in artificial intelligence and the ways in which it’s being handled by our government.

What would people be surprised to know about your generation regarding politics?

My generation seems to care about efficacy to a greater degree than older ones. We want our politicians to be good at what they do. We don’t want them to continually take half measures on humanitarian crises cause by our allies, nor do we want them to spend six months trying to pass a budget.

What do you want to do after college?

I like foreign relations, so I may pursue a career in government in that field. I would certainly take a job in journalism, too, if I had the opportunity.

Oelhaf’s published pieces

Did you know?

Penn State faculty, staff, and students have access to The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal at no cost through the Student News Readership Program. To take advantage of this program, you must register using your Penn State email. Learn more at Penn State’s Student Affairs website.

Major Decisions

Published on by Behrend BlogLeave a comment

By JoLayne Green, Contributing writer, Penn State Behrend

Graduate found confidence, voice when she landed in the right program for her

When Gabi Watson switched her major to English at Penn State Behrend, she finally found her path—and her voice. It just took a little courage for her to follow a passion that was there all along.

“I did every other possible major,” Watson said, with a chuckle.

An Erie native who graduated last semester, Watson started in Forensic Biology at University Park. She learned that a STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) field wasn’t truly what she wanted. Her college journey led her to Behrend and included stops in the Division of Undergraduate Studies and the Political Science program.

“I finally realized I belonged in liberal arts,” she said. “I fell in love with the English program and the teachers in it.”

She also felt at home at Behrend.

“I love how close-knit the campus is and how beautiful Behrend is,” she said. “I got all four seasons here in my hometown where I got a great education and had a close relationship with teachers.”

Before landing in the English department, Watson did a little soul searching.

“I grew up reading. I knew I loved English, but I didn’t know if I loved literature,” she said. “I thought choosing English would mean I would just be reading a lot of poetry.”

Then Watson discovered how diverse a degree in English is.

“I didn’t know how many options there were in writing. I felt I was floating around in the English department until I took Writing for the Web,” she said. “I found out you can have a great career in something you are passionate about.”

While she concentrated on professional writing, it was creative writing classes that helped her find her own voice.

“I learned a lot about expressing emotion and how to transcribe my thoughts into words,” she said.

Watson’s budding confidence carried into extracurricular activities. Describing herself as an introvert, she was a junior before becoming involved in activities at Behrend such as the Lion Entertainment Board and an Alternative Spring Break service trip.

She grew from observer to participant to executive director of the Lion Entertainment Board, helping to advance the club from four members to more than thirty while developing event planning skills.

Watson credits her advisor, Dr. Massimo Verzella, associate professor of English, as well staff members in the Office of Student Leadership and Involvement (SLI) with putting her on a path to success.

“Dr. Verzella changed the trajectory of what I wanted to do in my life,” she said. “He educated me on possibilities I didn’t know existed. I don’t think I’d be as social or as well-rounded as I am now without his support and that of SLI staff members.”

In turn, she began mentoring other students.

“I learned I like leading a team and helping people find their passion, and wanted to help other students figure out what they were good at,” she said.

Watson’s success in leadership was recognized beyond campus when she was chosen to receive the 2023 ATHENA Young Professional Award, celebrating emerging women leaders in Erie.

Watson, who graduated in December 2023, envisions a career that involves writing, generating social media content, travel, event planning, and possibly work in diversity, equity, and inclusion. First, she is going to Walt Disney World for a six-month stint in the Disney College Program in Florida.

After that? Who knows, but she knows she won’t be a silent observer.

“You can be an introvert and still be a leader,” she said. “I never thought I could, but with the right support, I’ve been able to find my voice in writing and in leadership. Wherever I end up next, I know Behrend has given me a solid foundation to build on.”

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

Published on by Behrend BlogLeave a comment

By Heather Cass, Publications Manager

Office of Strategic Communication, Penn State Behrend

SD2

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.”

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

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.

Back to (Spring) Business Trip: Students Visit Pittsburgh Businesses and Firms

Published on by Behrend BlogLeave a comment

By Heather Cass, Publications Manager

Office of Strategic Communication, Penn State Behrend

d9b7d7ef-bdf6-415b-b709-df22b573d523

After a three-year hiatus, Penn State Behrend’s Black School of Business reintroduced its annual spring trip for students in March. More than forty Behrend business students, including Finance majors studying through World Campus, traveled to Pittsburgh for two days of company visits and networking opportunities.

The group toured Schneider Downs, an accounting, tax, and business advisory firm, and the investment banking firm of BNY Mellon together, and major-specific breakout sessions were also offered. For example, Marketing majors toured the marketing agency, Brunner;  Finance and Business Economics majors visited Waldron Private Wealth, and Accounting and Management Information Systems majors went to the accounting, tax, and advisory firm of BDO.  Company visits included tours, presentations on the business and industry, and time for questions.

One notable session was held at the Pittsburgh Penguins office where Marketing and Project and Supply Chain majors got a firsthand look at how a top sports franchise operates, from ticket and retail sales to social media and game-day operations.

The students also had the opportunity to interact and network with Black School of Business alumni at a gathering at the Rivers Club in downtown Pittsburgh.

Students who participated in the spring trip described it as a valuable and enlightening experience.

  • “It’s a great chance to meet alumni and both establish and strengthen relationships so that when it comes time to search for a job, you have a robust network to contact,” Tristan Leopold, a junior Finance major, said.
  • “The trip provides an opportunity to see businesses through an insider’s eyes and gives you the chance to form connections and hone networking skills. It is well worth the cost and time to attend,” Anita Laughner, a junior World Campus Finance major, said.
  • “I liked hearing advice from employees about entering the business workforce. I also enjoyed networking with Behrend alumni. It was a fun experience,” Ella Cuccaro, a junior Project and Supply Chain Management major, said.
  • “I would definitely recommend this trip to any student who wants to broaden their contact list, meet young professionals, and learn what will be expected of them in their first years on the job. It provided a lot of insight into what it will be like day-to-day,” Keara Mollenauer, a senior dual majoring in Accounting and Management Information Systems, said.
  • “It was a great networking experience that provides students with the opportunity to get their foot in the door for prospective job opportunities. It was very well organized and thought out. If you’re a business student, this trip is a must,” Zane Lewis, a first-year student dual majoring in Accounting and Finance, said.

Plans are already underway for the spring 2024 trip with the destination city to be announced in the fall.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.