SSS Newsletter - Lock Haven University

Inside this issue:
Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania
LHU’s First-Generation
Learning Community
1
Inaugural SSS Creative
Writing Contest
1
Meet the Peer
Mentors
Volume VII ● Issue I
Lock Haven University’s First-Generation
Learning Community: Student Support Services
2&3
Students Unleash Their
Creativity
4
Students Help the
Community
4
The Million Dollar
Comma
5
Financial Literacy
Workshop
5
Instructors Julie Story and Carroll Rhodes, along with peer mentors Kayla Austin
and Sierra Hoy, pose with students in ADAC119: First Year Student Seminar
By Sarah Eckrich
At Lock Haven University,
7 qualifying first-generation students
Alumni: Robert Von
Langen
have a unique opportunity to participate in a great federally funded TRiO
Alumni: Jenna Ewing
8 program: the Student Support Services
learning community. According to
Meet the Dream Team!
9
George Kuh of the Association of
American Colleges and Universities, a
Student Support Services
learning community unifies students
Department of Academic Develin academic and social contexts to help
opment & Counseling
105/113/115 Russell Hall
them build confidence and gain skills
Lock Haven University
that will benefit them during their edLock Haven, PA 17745
ucation and beyond. Studies show that
students involved in learning commuPhone: (570) 484-2324/2345
nities will make higher grades, exhibit
Online: www.lhup.edu/colleges/ higher levels of academic engagement,
Business_Information/
interact more with peers and profesacademic_development/
sors, show marked improvements in
student_support/
reading and writing abilities, selfInternship Spotlight
Fall 2013
6
Facebook: LHU Student Support
Services
report an increased ability to think
critically, and become more involved in
their communities.
The SSS first-year program
fully embodies the components of a
learning community, which include
first-year courses, common academic
and socio-cultural experiences, writing
enrichment, and community service.
The first-year seminar, ADAC119,
equips students with the tools they
need to do well in school. Most students also take HIST+, which is History 102 taught by Dr. Sandra Barney,
supplemented by outside tutoring sessions with peer mentor Whitney Martin, who also attends the class.
◊ (continued on page 7)
Inaugural SSS Creative Writing Contest
By Sarah Eckrich
This fall, Student Support Services held its first ever creative writing
contest for SSS students. Students could submit creative writing about any topic
in any form, including essays, poems, short stories, etc. Pieces were submitted
via email during a two-week window between the contest’s announcement and
entry deadline. The response was overwhelming as students eagerly produced a
plethora of work on a variety of issues. The decision wasn’t easy, but the newsletter staff selected one winner and three runners-up (see page 7).
All entries can be found online at ssswritingcontest.wordpress.com.
Page 2
Volume VII Issue I
Meet the Peer Mentors
Kayla Austin
By Sarah Eckrich
When peer mentor Kayla Austin
isn’t busy helping students with
their ADAC119 work or buried in
her own coursework, she serves
as the frog mascot for a radio
station.
When Kayla Austin began her career at LHU, she didn’t have anyone in
her family who could help her through the college transition. Instead, her Student Support Services peer mentor filled that role and inspired her to want to
help other students the same way. Now, as a peer mentor, Kayla takes pride in
her ability to truly make a difference in the lives of her student mentees. From
non-traditional students experiencing difficulties on a campus tailored to traditional freshmen, to those traditional freshmen struggling to make friends and
find a niche, Kayla has tackled a wide range of problems as a peer mentor. She’s
even sought the advice of a fellow peer mentor in dealing with student issues.
From the whole experience, she’s developed a long list of advice for incoming students: know what SSS is all about and take advantage of it, don’t be afraid to
ask your professors for help, make good use of your wise advisers, try new
things, and finally, don’t forget to be proud of yourself for continuing your education. Ten years from now, Kayla sees herself, “really diving into that first ‘big
girl’ job” in the field of advertising and/or public relations. One of Kayla’s favorite musicians is Darius Rucker, and if you like him, she said, “I am now accepting applications for you to be my new BFF.”
Devon Hairston
By John Sosnowski
One might say Student Support Services peer mentor Devon Hairston just fell into peer mentoring, but there’s no question he landed on his
feet. Devon never really “decided” to be a peer mentor, but rather someone recommended him to Carroll Rhodes, the director. Devon hosts
“Discussions with Devon” sessions for one hour per week: open discussion
hours in which SSS students can chat about anything from classes to campus events to hobbies and future plans. Devon has also exchanged numbers with a few SSS students. He said, “They can call or text me if they
need anything, so I’m there for them on a more personal level.” Devon believes that peer mentoring also increased his leadership skills. He added,
“I was always told I was a good leader, but this really showed me I can
help people younger or the same age as me. It bettered me as a person.”
Regular “Discussions with Devon” attendee Janelle White offered her
thoughts on the discussions: “Devon definitely does his job. He asks me
about my classes, and he gives me good advice. I appreciate this whole setting here. He points me in the direction with the right people. I’ve even brought Devon Hairston is a peer
mentor and accidental
my friends.” Devon recalled the program’s benefits to him as a freshman and
tells incoming SSS students, “Take advantage of the workshops with Professors hardwood hero. He also hosts
free movie nights for SSS
Rhodes and Story. They have your best interests in mind and work to your adstudents at The Roxy theater
vantage. They made my freshman year easier, especially with writing essays.
Definitely use everything SSS offers to your advantage.” Devon said he also par- in downtown Lock Haven.
ticipated in a community service project with now-alumnus Clayton Snyder. So
what’s next for Devon? He plans on joining the Navy after graduation, then moving forward from there. It appears fate has been kind to Devon, not only in his university career, but also on the basketball court. He said
his first basketball dunk was by accident as he went in for a layup.
Volume VII Issue I
Page 3
Meet the Peer Mentors
Sierra Hoy
By Sarah Eckrich
During her first semester at LHU, Sierra Hoy accidentally
walked into an upper-level class instead of her first-year composition
class. She realized her error fifteen minutes in‒but was too embarrassed to get up and leave. Now she can laugh about the situation. Sierra credits her success to the skills she learned and experiences she had
in her SSS-designated ADAC119 class; the confidence gained prompted
her to want to help share those skills with other students by being a
peer mentor. Her own peer mentor also had a large impact in demonstrating that he wasn’t there “just for the money, but to provide genuine help to others.” As a peer mentor, Sierra serves students by taking
time to answer their questions and emails and by acting as a liaison
between students and professors when necessary. She feels that she
also benefits from answering these questions because she learns new
things in doing so. Sierra plans to attend graduate school to obtain her
master’s degree and become a child psychologist, ideally some place
Sierra Hoy was inspired to become a where she can integrate her abilities in Spanish. Sierra’s advice to inpeer mentor because of how genuine coming students is to abstain from worrying about their majors and careers. She emphasized, “Your first year class will give you the tools for a
her own peer mentor was and becomprehensive college experience, not just one major.”
cause of the positive impact of the
SSS program.
Whitney Martin
By Vanessa Peterson
Whitney Martin is a junior majoring in Secondary Education with a concentration in Social Studies and a dual major
in Special Education. After learning that her uncle was a spy
for the United States during the Cold War, Whitney knew that
pursuing a degree with history is something she wanted to do.
Whitney is the SSS Supplemental Instructor for Dr. Sandy
Barney’s HIST102.01 class and in her second year as a peer
mentor. Along with providing students with study skills, Whitney feels she helps student adjust to the college community and
lifestyle. She says that being a peer mentor has helped her to
become a more organized person. Whitney has to balance a
course load of 18 credits along with tutoring sessions, which forces her to do her work in a timely manner and to stay ahead of it.
Whitney Martin was inspired to become a
In previous years, she has had peer mentors who have helped
history major by the story of her uncle’s time as
her by teaching her skills she did not learn in high school. By
showing her how to go through college, peer mentors gave Whit- a spy for the United States during the Cold War.
Now, she helps tutor SSS students in history.
ney a momentum other students may not have had. In ten
years, Whitney wants to teach at the university level and, if she
is unable to, then teach in a special education classroom. She hopes to be married and living on the West
Coast, specifically in Portland, Oregon. To SSS students, Whitney advised, “Always go to class. That is
something that is huge and don’t be afraid to take risks. Definitely do your research and do what you want
to do. Don’t listen to the whole career outlook. Make sure you chose what you want to do for the rest of your
life.”
Page 4
Volume VII Issue I
Students Unleash Their Creativity
By Vanessa Peterson
SSS students showed that
they have not only academic excellence but also creative talent by entering into the SSS Newsletter’s inaugural Creative Writing Contest.
Students submitted various pieces
with topics that ranged from the supernatural to the everyday.
Alexia Bizik was the first
place winner with her poetry submission, “Built by Harlem.” Alexia loves
to write and as a native of center city
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, she is
well acquainted with city life, which
inspired her to write her winning
piece. She is a freshman majoring in
Psychology, and she plans on attending graduate school in another state
after the completion of her undergraduate degree at Lock Haven University. Alexia is hoping to become a
forensic psychologist after she finishes graduate school. She enjoys spending time with her friends and meet-
ing new people. As a member of Student Support Services, Alexia says
that the activities have helped her
adjust to living in a new location and
with making new friends. If Alexia
could travel anywhere in the word,
past or present, she, “would love to
go into the past and meet my ancestors, especially the ones who came
from other countries! The ancestors I
know of are from France and Ireland!
I'd love to see them because I feel
like I could learn so much from them,
and just get a better understanding
of myself!”
The runner-up winners were
Carly Heider, “Spirit Flu”; Jessica
Fisher, “Home”; and Candice Ramus, “Aliens.” These winners submitted pieces of poetry, also. Their
submissions, along with Alexia’s, can
be found at the new SSS Newsletter
WordPress under the section titled
“Fall 2013 Winners.” Submissions
not featured in this newsletter can
also be found at this site under a different section titled “Fall 2013 Submissions.” The SSS Newsletter coeditors would like to thank all students for their participation.
ssswritingcontest.
wordpress.com
SSS Students Help the Community: Make a Difference Day
By Sarah Eckrich
This year, students in the
SSS-designated ADAC119: First
Year Student Seminar sections participated in the nation’s 23rd annual
Make a Difference Day. Teaming up
with the MountainServe Center for
Community Service and AmeriCorps
Volunteers in Service to America
(VISTA), students selected and participated in one of two community
service learning projects.
The
first service
opportunity
was a trip to a
local pumpkinpatch at Carpenter’s Farm
in Linden, PA.
The trip was
coordinated by
Karen Wolfe of
VISTA and Tia
Bowman of the
John Yost Cen-
ter. As participants at the John Yost
Center, children enjoyed a fun evening on the farm. Volunteers helped
children select a pumpkin to take
home, navigate through a corn maze,
and enjoy a brisk, autumnal hayride.
Despite frigid temperatures, plenty
of volunteers and children showed up
to take advantage of this great service event.
The other option for SSS students was to help host a Halloween
and costume party at the John Yost
Community Center in Lock Haven.
The party featured food, games, activities for kids, and a costume contest. It was held in two parts, one for
children under the age of five, and
one for older children.
After executing their community service, students in SSS Writing
Specialist Julie Story’s ADAC119
were also required to write a paper
reflecting on their experience. Students were asked to define communi-
ty service learning, then analyze
what they had learned about the values of society and their own values
through volunteering. Finally, they
were asked to explain how they
would participate
in service learning in the future.
Not only
were SSS students able to
benefit the community, they also
formed stronger
bonds with one another by working
as a team at these events. Forming
deep and meaningful connections
with fellow students is one of the
most important goals of SSS as a
learning community. Make a Difference Day fulfilled that dream and
helped to reinforce the lesson that in
helping others, we also help ourselves.
Page 5
Volume VII Issue I
A Closer Look at Fall Activities
The Million Dollar Comma: E-mail Etiquette Program
By Vanessa Peterson
Julie Story, TRiO/SSS Writing Specialist, conducted this workshop for students in the Student Support Services program and other interested freshmen. Students learned
that the ability to write well is one
factor that employers use when hiring. With the rise of the Internet,
students are writing now more than
ever, and a majority of the time that
writing is informal. Instructor Story
SSS students improve an e-mail passaid, “The crude shorthand that writsage through critique and revision.
ers have developed through informal
electronic writing moves into the
Seventeen LHU students are workplace—with disastrous results!
now better informed about writing
Employees spend almost one third of
professional e-mails. They attended
the work day writing e-mails. Thus,
an E-mail Etiquette Program on
students should know and practice eThursday, November 7, 2013, in the mail etiquette to become better
Gummo Room at the Durrwachter
online communicators on the job.”
Alumni Conference Center on camThe presentation informed
pus.
students that poor communication in
Financial Literacy Workshop
By Carroll Rhodes, Director
Twenty-nine LHU freshmen
are more likely to attain a good credit
score. They attended a special Financial Literacy workshop on Tuesday,
October 10, 2013, in Bentley.
payments on time. When possible,
pay more than the minimum payment or, better yet, pay off the entire
amount in one month and avoid impulse purchases.
Lori Connolly, Business Advisor for the campus PSECU office, led
this valuable workshop for participants in the TRiO/Student Support
Services program and other interested freshmen. The presentation focused on how an individual can build
and maintain a positive credit history. Some of building blocks include
analyzing your income (or lack of it);
budgeting; setting goals; and following a spending plan. Also, don’t establish more than 2 or 3 credit accounts with credit cards and department store accounts. Always make
It is an important function of
the SSS program to educate students
about financial issues related to selfsufficiency and money management.
In February, the program will provide another finance-related workshop to focus on FAFSA completion
and Student Loans. Financial problems are often cited among the reasons why students leave school before graduating. A financially literate
student increases his/her chances of
completing a degree.
Instructor
Julie Story
talks to
students
about the
importance
of formally
written emails.
the workplace can cost businesses
millions of dollars a year. Instructor
Story showed the students examples
of informal, sloppily written e-mails
and gave the students guidelines to
help them write formal, proper emails. These guidelines include creating the right tone, having good
communication skills, making the email easily readable, making competent replies, and handling
attachments carefully.
Movie Nights
By John Sosnowski
Student Support Services isn’t all
work and no play. Whereas the faculty, staff, and peer mentors strive
to create a positive learning community on campus, they also seek
to foster a social community among
its students. SSS hosts a series of
Student Movie Nights with peer
mentors at the Roxy Movie Theater
throughout the semester. Students
convene in the Parsons Union
Building and walk to the theater as
a group before seeing the movies of
their choice. Most of the SSS group
saw Bad Grandpa, an over-the-top
comedy romp following a hard partying grandfather as he escorts his
grandson across the country. Popcorn and laughs were shared by all.
Volume VII Issue I
Page 6
Internship Spotlight: Jacqueline Flores
By John Sosnowski
port for the city’s growing MexicanAmerican population.
Jacky’s responsibilities included tutoring children of the program in reading, writing, and health
education. “It was basically a lot like
a summer camp,” she said. Jacky
was initially somewhat scared, as
she had never worked with children
before, but the experience was ultimately fun and educational. “It really helped me understand how to
work at their level,” she added.
Neither scorpions nor new
challenges phase SSS Senior
Jacqueline Flores.
Jacky also benefited from
interning alongside her peers, including nurses and medical students.
She even had the opportunity to
You might think counseling shadow doctors in Puentes Hacia El
is the realm of psychology and social Futuro’s medical clinic. Jacky adviswork majors, but don’t tell that to
es students seeking internships
SSS participant and senior Health
themselves to search for something
Science major Jacqueline Flores. A
in which they’re really interested.
community health student, Flores
She said that, being a minority, she
broadened her horizons last summer really appreciated being able to work
as a tutor-mentor for Puentes Hacia with Latino youth. Jacky suggested
El Futuro, a Philadelphia program
that anyone in college do an interncreated to provide educational supship—even if it’s not required for
Recognizing our Fall 2013
Global Honors Students
their major.
Even though she isn’t sure
what she wants to do with her degree yet, interning helped Jacky to
learn her some of the options out
there. The most memorable activity
of her internship was taking the children on a field trip to a farm. “I’d
never been to a farm before. The kids
did a lot of activities and tried a lot
of organic food. They had a lot of
fun,” she recalled.
When asked where she sees
herself in ten years, Jacky said that
she’d like to have her master’s degree and live in the city doing something in the health science field, such
as counseling. She stressed the need
for health science professionals in
urban areas and her desire to make
a difference. Interestingly, Jacky
noted that when she was younger,
she was stung in her sleep by scorpions—on two separate occasions! She
insisted, though, that it’s not as
painful as one might expect.
Congratulations
Fall 2013 Graduates!
Cody Anderson
Roman Marijczuk
Hannah Bartron
Amanda Pease
Dillon Benjamin
Matthew Protsko
Shelby J. Gazzo
Erin Dempsey
Kelsey Schmader
Janeria Holloway
Jeremy Everett
Justin Schomaker
Jeanne-Marie Pitre
Emily Furl
Sara Sette
Katrina Good
Eric Smith
Zachary Hough
Lucian Snare
Marina Keiter
Daniel Teleguz
Roseanna Lance
Heidi L. Bittner
Nicholas R. Bodley
Jourdan K. Semmel
Jessica M. Way
Page 7
Volume VII Issue I
Catching Up With SSS Alumni: Robert Von Langen
By Vanessa Peterson
Robert Von Langen graduated from Lock Haven University
in 2011 with a Bachelor of Science
in Health and Physical Education.
While at LHU, Robbie was a peer
mentor for the SSS program. After
graduation, Robbie earned a Master
of Science degree in Clinical Exercise Physiology at East Stroudsburg
University. Currently, he is a Clinical Exercise Specialist and has been
certified by the American College of
Sports Medicine. He works at the
New York Heart Center and runs
the Cardiac Rehabilitation program,
where he helps patients who have
suffered from severe cardiovascular
problems. In 10 years, he hopes to
work in a larger hospital’s cardiac
rehabilitation center and perform
stress tests.
Because he enjoyed his Exercise Physiology class in college and
already shared a passion for exercise
and working out, he changed his major to Health and Physical Education.
Originally, Robbie had wanted to become a teacher, but after some experience in the classroom and with the
lack of jobs available, he decided that
teaching was not for him. He then
elected to spend an extra year in
school to pursue his master’s in Clinical Exercise Physiology so that he
would have more career options and
choices afterwards. Robbie’s master’s
program at East Stroudsburg University was only one year, July to July,
and the program was difficult because of the course load of 45 credits.
Even though the course load was the
is the only person who works in the
Cardiac Rehabilitation department,
at times he is extremely busy and has
various responsibilities. However,
being able to help his patients is Robbie’s favorite, and most rewarding,
part of his job.
The SSS program assisted
Robbie while he was at Lock Haven
University in various ways. He
learned time management and writing skills that benefited him in his
pursuit of his master’s degree, specifically composing good resumes and
cover letters. Robbie was also able to
serve as a peer mentor for the SSS
program, which he said helped him to
be where he is today—by teaching
him that he is able to do whatever he
wants to do, as long as he goes out
and does it.
Robbie presented some advice
Robert is a Clinical Exercise Specialist at
for students who are considering attending graduate school: “I would say
the New York Heart Center.
really look into the graduate school
and the program and make sure
most difficult part of his program,
Robbie didn’t dislike it. He explained, there are enough jobs out there. Try
“I was also glad it was a one-year pro- to get some type of graduate assistant
gram because most master’s pro-ship so school would [sic] not cost too
grams are two years. It was less on
much money. I would recommend
tuition, and I got to enter the work
going for your master’s right away
force [a] year early.”
because if you take a few years off, it
At the New York Heart Cen- will be very difficult to go back to
ter, Robbie works with patients who
school. I do believe with all of the peohave recently had a heart attack, by- ple trying to get jobs, the one with the
most education normally has the uppass surgery, or stents inserted. He
helps them to recover over the course per hand, so, for many jobs, a master’s degree is almost mandatory.”
of a 12-week program in which he
witnesses their strength, education,
and, most importantly selfconfidence, progress. Because Robbie
SSS Learning Community
◊ (continued from page 1)
can assist students with any writing
project for classes, as well as the
That tutor is one of several
peer mentors for SSS students. Each realm of scholarship essays, cover
letters and resumes for jobs and inSSS-designated ADAC119 section
ternships, and personal statements
has an assigned peer mentor who
for graduate school. Additionally,
shares the class with students. As
SSS also offers a book loan program
well as sharing a class, these peer
mentors share the struggles of being for students and its own scholarship
program, both which help to alleviate
first-generation students.
some of the financial stress of college.
Also available to SSS stuThe proof is in the pudding,
dents the first year and beyond is
and
the
success of SSS students is a
Writing Specialist Julie Story, who is
reflection of the value and effectiveness of the SSS program as a learning community at Lock Haven University.
SSS alumni and current students all echo each other in their
shared feelings of gratitude for the
program. They all credit their success
to the skills and tools they gained
from their SSS experience, the same
list of beneficial abilities a learning
community sets out to instill.
Page 8
Volume VII Issue I
Catching Up With SSS Alumni: Jenna Ewing
By Vanessa Peterson
Jenna Ewing graduated
from Lock Haven University in 2012
with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. She spent three years as a
peer mentor for the SSS program.
Jenna is currently attending Towson
University in Towson, Maryland
where she is pursuing a master’s degree in Clinical Psychology while
interning at Johns Hopkins Hospital
in Baltimore. In ten years, she sees
herself having experience in the
mental health field after receiving
her master’s degree and being in the
first years of a Ph.D program. She
hopes to pursue a Ph.D in Clinical
Psychology, Counseling Psychology,
or Health Psychology.
Jenna entered Lock Haven
University majoring in Psychology,
automatically knowing that she
wanted to pursue a career in the
mental health field. Later in her undergraduate program, Jenna realized
how beneficial graduate school would
be, so she immediately began to apply for programs. Studying in a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology
program allows Jenna to be involved
in psychology research with an emphasis on clinical psychopathology,
which is why she chose the program.
With fellow students and a
professor, Jenna is currently participating in a research opportunity
called Family As Motivators (FAM)
Training. FAM is a 14-session, 7week “training” that aims to assist
family members of people who hoard
uncontrollably. Through various
techniques--psychoeducation and
modules on motivation interviewing,
harm reduction, and family accommodation—the program helps family
members in managing their loved
one’s habits. So far, families involved
have given positive feedback and
ter themselves!”
Jenna’s internship at Johns
Hopkins allows her to work with
younger patients with various disorders such as Obsessive Compulsive
Disorder (OCD), Tourette’s syndrome, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), depression,
phobias, etc. Her favorite aspect is
being able to see clients every Tuesday.
During her time at LHU,
Jenna said, SSS helped her by
providing interactions with supportive faculty members who gave her
the drive to finish her current
program. Her experience of being a
peer mentor showed Jenna how
much she liked working with people
and gave her the idea of someday
becoming a professor so that she can
continue to help students like she
did. Jenna also gained confidence in
her leadership abilities to work in a
group setting, which has helped in
her counseling skills in working with
people in groups.
To students who are considering graduate school, Jenna recomJenna is a graduate student of Clinical
mended, “Really get to know [your]
Psychology at Towson University. She also advisor. Your advisor is so important
has an internship at Johns Hopkins.
to your work in graduate school, and
you really need to make sure that
you feel comfortable with this person
researchers have data showing the
and that you can work with them
program is a success. Jenna explained, “By the end of the training, long term. An advisor can either
family members feel more comforta- make or break your experience, so
know the importance of that person
ble knowing what hoarding is, they
in your decision, not just the school
have better coping skills, they feel
or program itself!"
more confident that their loved one
will get treatment, and they feel bet-
Spring 2013 Dean’s List
Julie M. Battin
Amber L. Biddle
Joseph A. Carpentier
Jessica E. Dugan
Amadna J. Edwards
Eric M. Fenton
Michael P. Field
Paige E. Fisher
Katrina M. Good
Samantha L. Graeff
Valerie R. Handy
Carly R. Heider
Allison P. Hilling
Amber N. Hryn
Christina E. Jones
Katie K. Joyce
Lindsey D. Kauffman
Marina F. Keiter
Teanna J. Kobuack
Tyler J. Leathers
Cierra M. Lees
Joshua D. Livelsberger
Cornell J. Lorson
Rebecca M. Mann
Madelyn E. Marshall
Joseph A. Mattern
Brandon P. McIver
Andrew J. McMahon
Victoria L. Minor
Rebecca A. Muthler
Chelsea L. Ogden
Michelle G. Otte
Caleb R. Richard
Ryan L. Ritchey
Emilie Rogers
Tessa M. Runyan
Tatiana Sandoval
Brock E. Schmidt
Justin Schomaker
Todd M. Schorr
Ashley M. Seeley
Jourdan K. Semmel
Robert M. Smith
Lucian D. Snare
Jessica L. Stives
Jaden E. Taylor
Daniel Teleguz
Rachel S. Tholan
Leo L. Valmonte
Kodie A. Vermllion
Jessica M. Way
Michael J. Zumar
Page 9
Volume VII Issue I
Meet the dream team!
Sarah
Vanessa
John
Your Fall 2013 SSS Newsletter Co-Editors
Sarah Eckrich is a junior majoring in English. She escaped to Lock Haven from Carlisle, Pennsylvania, nestled about 20 miles southeast of Harrisburg.
On campus, Sarah tutors at the LHU Writing Center and is the Opinion Editor of
The Eagle Eye, LHU’s student-run newspaper. She is also the treasurer of Sigma
Tau Delta, the English International Honors Society. In the past, Sarah was a
writer for The Eagle Eye and served as one of three chief editors for The Crucible,
LHU’s annual student literary and arts magazine. In her free time, Sarah enjoys
writing, cooking, gardening, and dressing her cats in dog sweaters. She plans to
attend graduate school either for English or Communication, work in editing or
publishing, and become a professor somewhere in the mountains.
Vanessa Peterson is a first-semester junior majoring in English with
a Writing concentration. She is from Larksville, Pennsylvania, which is located
in an area that the natives commonly call “the Valley,” because it is entirely
surrounded by mountains. She has previously attended Luzerne County Community College, where she graduated magna cum laude (with great honors)
and received an associate’s degree in Humanities. In her free time, Vanessa
enjoys watching movies with her roommates, reading, and exploring Lock Haven. Being a huge fan of the British television show Doctor Who and J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter, she is looking forward to traveling to England in the future,
finding an English boy, and never coming home.
John Sosnowski is a senior, majoring in English with a Writing concentration. He is from Steelton, Pennsylvania, a small industrial town bordering
Harrisburg. Despite years of aimless meandering in search of an identity, professional or otherwise, John feels he is finally beginning to find himself as a
writer and editor. He cites Chuck Klosterman, David Foster Wallace, and Professor Richard Van Dyke as inspirational figures. John works for the LHU Writing Center and has another part-time job at Travel Centers of America. He also
serves the LHU Eagle Eye newspaper as Online Editor and sometimes writer.
John is an obsessive music geek and enjoys films, caffeine, craft beer, animals,
amateur feng shui, Vans shoes, and meeting new people.
● Student Support Services TRiO program is funded by a grant from the United States Department of Education in the amount of
$269,860. It is supported by additional funding and services from Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania. Lock Haven University of
Pennsylvania is firm in its resolve that equal employment and educational opportunity shall be accorded to all qualified individuals
without creed, disability, lifestyle, affectional or sexual preference, national origin, ancestry, union membership, age, sex, or status as a Vietnam-era veteran. The ultimate objective of this policy is the abolition of practices which tend, inadvertently or otherwise, to discriminate against women and minorities.
● The SSS Newsletter is produced through an External Experience designed and facilitated by Julie Story, Writing Specialist, Student Support Services, Department of Academic Development & Counseling. Students studying English, writing, editing, communications, document design, and/or public relations gain EE units and practical learning experiences outside of the classroom serving as editors and writers.
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Facebook search- LHU Student Support Services
or http://www.lhup.edu/colleges/Business_Information/academic_development/student_support