What is Student Support Services?

Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania
Volume VI
Issue II
Spring 2013
What is Student Support Services?
It Might Not Be What You Think…
INSIDE THI S ISSUE:
What is the
SSS program?
1
SSS Scholarship
Opportunities
1
Community
Service Reflection
2
Peer Mentors
3
SSS Dean’s List
Fall 2012
3
Celebration of
Scholarship
4
Foundation and
Honors Awards
5
Book Review :
5
This I Believe II
Senior Spotlight
6
SSS Graduate
Student Success
6
Meet the SSS Staff
7
Meet the
Co-Editors
8
By: Kayla Austin
Student Support Services
(SSS) is a federal TRiO program
funded to serve first generation
college students who may have a
low income background.*
However, the title of the program
might be misleading. SSS does not
serve all students on campus, nor
does it assist only academically
disadvantaged students. The goal
of SSS is to help a select group of
students to adjust to college life
and provide them with academic,
social, cultural, and financial
resources on campus so they can
From left, Psychology major Sierra Hoy, Pre-PA graduate and succeed in
major Ashley Seeley, and Communications
accomplishing their career goals.
major Kayla Austin are three first-generation
Many services are offered
college students in the SSS program.
through this federally funded
program. Students can seek out
the faculty writing specialist, Julie Story, for any stage of the writing process.
Throughout the semester, their attendance is requested at various workshops, such as a
financial literacy program that educates students about the monetary aspects of college,
Also, they can consult with peer mentors, SSS upperclassmen who assist them in
making the transition from high school to college. Additionally, SSS freshmen have the
opportunity to enroll in ADAC119, a first-year seminar course for student success. The
course is designed to make the transition to college easier by familiarizing the students
with LHU’s resources, campus layout, website, and other information essential to
student success. (continued on page 5)
*Low and limited incomes are according to federal guidelines.
Student Support Services
Department of Academic
Development & Counseling Scholarships Through SSS
105/113/115 Russell Hall By: Kayla Austin
Lock Haven University
Each year, any freshman in the SSS program who is
Lock Haven, PA 17745
receiving a PELL grant has an opportunity to apply for a grant through the SSS Grant
-in-Aid Program. To be awarded one of the grants, students must have a minimum 2.0
Phone: 570-484-2324
GPA in the fall semester, they must attend at least one workshop and social event
or 570-484-2345
hosted by the program, and they must submit a brief essay with a given prompt. The
Student Support Services freshmen who received grants this school year are Kayla
Web: www.lhup.edu/
student-support-services
Austin, Emily Furl, Joseph Mattern, Andrew McMahon, Emma Rife, Sarah Walsh, and
Julia Whistler. Among those seven students, a total of $22,168 was awarded. Awards
Facebook: LHU Student
were based on the minimum Pell grant amount. Each scholarship was applied to the
Support Services
student’s tuition for the 2012-13 academic year.
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Life Lessons Only a Community Can Teach
By: Laila Longer
Emily Furl is a second-semester freshman Geology major, pursuing a
minor in Nanotechnology as one of LHU’s Nano scholars in the Global
Honors Program. Also a student in the SSS program, Emily found that
transitioning into a college learning environment was much easier with
resources such as counseling, tutoring, and writing consultations. The
most difficult obstacle for Emily to overcome was time management. For
her coursework in Honors and her SSS-designated freshman seminar
class, Emily participated in a service project to integrate into the
community and to help clarify her personal values. She didn’t feel that
the “dirty work” involved in cleaning up Highland Cemetery would leave
her with anything valuable. However, she discovered, “it takes an
emotional toll to be in a cemetery. You kind of think about life.” And
Emily did, as she reflects upon in her essay excerpt below:
Emily Furl reflected
on how community
service provides
valuable insight.
This event made me realize how important the respect of the deceased is. Prior
to this I have never really dealt with death and had never really been to a graveyard.
Walking through the cemetery and seeing some of the dates on the graves really made
me realize how short life is. There were several infant graves that I came across as well as one freshly covered
grave. While removing the damaged flags off the graves of veterans it made me think of how much respect we as a
society have for the people that served our country. The largest area of veteran graves overlooks the university and
the river. It is very fitting that people who helped to protect our country are placed in such a picturesque area.
Throughout the event, we as an organization had some feelings that we were not expecting to have. Many of us felt
guilty for removing the plastic flowers from the graves. We almost felt that we were disrespecting the deceased by
doing this. However, we accepted that this was a part of the job and that we removed the worn flowers so that
family and friends could replace them with newer ones. This event
also impacted us because we did not feel right walking over the
graves, but we were left with little choice. In the end, the progress
we made in cleaning up the cemetery outweighed these feelings.
Due to the feelings brought up during this event,it has, in
some ways, given me a new perspective on life. Seeing the infant
graves and the recently covered grave hit me and several others
very strongly. It made me think about how life can be very short
sometimes, and that I need to live my life to the fullest. It is very
important to respect others not only in life, but also in death. This
is especially important in the lives of veterans. Many people in my
family, as well as some of my friends, were or are currently in the
military. I know the importance of what they do, and they should
be forever honored. This event made me realize how great it feels
Highland Cemetery, near LHU, was the site knowing that in some way I was helping others, and seeing the
of the community service clean up project. difference that we made, especially while cleaning up the brush,
made us feel like we did a job well done.
Community service learning is a meaningful experience
that everyone should experience. The Highland Cemetery Clean Up has had a lasting impact on me as well as the
others in the group. Community Service learning helped reinforce the importance of helping others. Events like this
can teach a person a lot about society and themselves. This was my first community service assignment that I have
ever done, and I will be sure to participate in more. I love doing things that I know are going to benefit someone
else, so doing community service will be very meaningful to me. Community service has had a lasting impact on me,
and I will continue to find events that interest me. I look forward to being able to participate in many more events,
especially next semester when my school schedule allows me more time to do things between classes. Being in the
Honors Program, I have many opportunities to participate in meaningful events that will greatly benefit the
community.
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Peer Mentors Make an Impact
By: Kayla Austin
The SSS program
offers a beneficial
Sam Done, left, and Devon
resource to students
Hairston, right, are the peer
through peer mentors.
mentors this school year.
The transition from high
These sophomore guys
school to college is not an
enjoyed giving back to the
easy change for some
SSS program because their
freshmen. To assist
mentors impacted them in
students with this
such a positive way!
adjustment that might be
overwhelming, the peer
mentors guide students
during their academic and
social experiences. Sam Done and Devon Hairston are the peer mentors for the 2012-13 school year.
Also in the SSS program, each peer mentor has been exposed to situations similar to their mentees. Devon
strongly advised his mentees, "If you want to have fun and get good grades, do what you have to do. If you slack and
only have fun, it will be evident with the grades you receive." Sam's biggest piece of advice was that help is all around
campus, so students would be foolish not to use it. "We have tutoring centers, writing specialists, career counselors,
individual academic advisors, disability services . . . there are so many opportunities for success here." Sam also
cautioned against procrastination and poor time management. "Academics come first! If you procrastinate and get a
good grade, you got lucky. But if you procrastinate and get a bad grade, you earned it." Sam promoted the program
and encouraged any first-generation college student to be a part of it. He said, “The scholarship money helped me out
a lot, as did my mentors and the program’s directors. They were always there, always concerned, and always willing
to help when I needed it.” The freshmen appreciated their mentors’ assistance. Miranda Miaris claimed that Sam did
a great job of making students feel comfortable to ask questions. “I knew I always had an upperclassman to talk to
when I needed some advice." Emma Rife pointed out that Devon helped her and her classmates by sharing his
personal experiences and giving advice.
Peer mentors have proven to be a valuable aspect of the SSS program because they are a reliable resource,
available, friendly, and able to guide freshmen in the proper direction for success.
Congratulations to SSS Fall 2012 Dean’s List! 3.5 GPA or Higher
Taylor Bechtel
Amber Biddle
Julie Battin
Cherrylann Blackman
Andrea Brackbill
Taylor Cable
Joseph Carpentier
Laura Clouser
Paige Fisher
Jacqueline Flores-Leyva
Shelby Gazzo
Carly Heider
Amber Hryn
Morgan Johnson
Christina Jones
Marina Keiter
Teanna Kobuck
Roseanna Lance
Cierra Lees
Joshua Livelsberger
Cornell Lorson
Amber Lucas
Alexandra Mahaffey
Joseph Mattern
Brandon McIver
Clayton McSherry
Victoria Minor
Linzy Nocchi
Chelsea Ogden
Michelle Otte
Emilie Rogers
Tatiana Sandoval
Justin Schomaker
Todd Schorr
Ashley Seeley
Lindsey Shaffer
Robert Smith
Lucian Snare
Colton Spade
Jessica Stives
Daniel Teleguz
Kodie Vermillion
Jessica Way
Sabrina Werley
Julia Whistler
Francis Witmayer
Nicole Ziesman
Michael Zumar
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By: Laila Longer and Kayla Austin
For her HIST328: Witchcraft in Early
Modern Europe class, junior Ariel Guerra created
a poster presentation about “The Witches’
Sabbath” for Celebration of Scholarship on April
24, 2013. She is majoring in Communications
with a minor in Women and Gender Studies and
is also the secretary of the LHU Radio Club.
Ariel became interested in the subject because it
relates to her religion, Wicca. Witches, Ariel
discovered, often observed the Sabbath by water
or at a crossroads, so participants could disperse
quickly. An abundance of cats was thought to be
a sign that a witch’s Sabbath was coming soon.
Junior Ariel Guerra at She said, “J.K. Rowling got the idea of the Dark
Celebration of
Mark from the Sabbath. Witches were said to
Scholarship.
have tattoos that would activate when it was time
to meet for a Sabbath.”
Amber Biddle
Taylor Cable
Joseph Carpentier
Leonard Casterline
Laura Clouser
Erin Dempsey
Eric Fenton
Eric Garcia
James Goins
Junior Dillon Benjamin
presented his poster on
managing a business at
the Celebration of
Scholarship.
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Derrick Heller
Katie Joyce
Jessica Lloyd
Karena Mitchell
Linzy Nocchi
Jeanne-Marie Pitre
Dan Teleguz
FrankWitmayer
Ryan Worden
Ariel’s poster with many
interesting facts about the
Witches’ Sabbath.
Listed at left are other SSS
students who presented at
Celebration of Scholarship on
April 24, 2013.
Dillon Benjamin also
completed a project for Celebration
of Scholarship. A junior
Accounting major from Towanda,
PA, Dillon is a leader on campus within the Global Honors Program. Currently,
he is an intern at Jackson Hewitt, the second largest tax preparation service in the
United States. Benjamin participated in the Celebration of Scholarship for Dr.
Marcia Kurzynski’s MANG315: Concepts and Strategies. Kyle White and Erin
Campomizzi were his project partners. They were assigned a poster presentation
on Hope Enterprises Incorporated, a health care industry located in Williamsport,
PA. “The basis of the project was to learn how Hope Enterprises operates and
what management techniques they use to be successful. We truly learned a lot
about their practices and stylistic procedures,” Dillon said. As part of the project,
Dillon and his group members contacted the Human Resources Vice President
every other week to get first hand feedback on managing a company. The poster
presentation titled “HOPE” discussed factors of leadership, management
responsibilities, communication in the workplace, and conflict resolution. From
this presentation, the LHU junior learned management tips to take with him for
his own future. “When managing it is necessary to be passionate about what you
do. Make sure you set clear expectations for what you expect out of your
employees.” Dillon plans to add a second major in Business Administration with a
concentration in Finance/Economics before this semester ends.
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(What is SSS? continued from front page)
On top of the seminar class, a supplemental instruction course, History +, is offered for World History 2, a
course on most schedules for freshmen. In this course, students have the opportunity to work with the SSS peer tutor
outside of class in groups to review for tests, or just to gain a better understanding of the material. SSS understands
the costs of text books are high, so a Book Loan program is available. In addition to those benefits, SSS also makes
scholarships available to first-year students receiving a PELL grant along with other qualifications. This Grant-inAid program saves students each year from paying a portion of their tuition! This past year, a total of $22,168 was
awarded in scholarships to SSS students.
Students already enrolled in the SSS program have taken advantage of the resources across campus, and have
proven the program is undoubtedly beneficial. In the 2011-12 academic year, the goal of the Department of
Education for the first to second year persistence rate of students was 70%. At LHU, SSS students rose above by 4%
for a total of 74%. The Department of Education’s goal for students in good academic standing at the end of their
first year was 80%. At LHU, 84% of SSS students were in good academic standing. Fifty-three percent of the 200607 freshman class in SSS earned a Bachelor’s Degree within 6 years, exceeding the Department of Education’s goal of
50%. For the most recent academic year, the overall GPA for LHU freshmen in SSS was 2.72, higher than for
students outside of the program. These statistics confirm that SSS is a constructive program with long term benefits.
Gerald R. Robinson Academic Honors & Foundation Awards SSS Recipients
Lindsey Shaffer
Taylor Bechtel
Dillon Benjamin
Jessica Fisher
Jacqueline Flores-Leyva
Dillon Gavlock
Sierra Hoy
Cierra Lees
Kailyn Mayshock
Sherry Pierce
Tatiana Sandoval
Kayla Schnars
Tied for Arts/Sciences 2nd Highest GPA
Leslie & Adrienne Noelk Scholarship
Maude Brungard Memorial Scholarship
L.R. & M.E. Gocella Family Scholarship
Health Science Faculty Scholarship
June Rich Whittaker Memorial Scholarship
Mary Josephine Torsell Scholarship
Dr. Mary Alice Smith Scholarship
Sweitzer Millbrook Playouse Intern
Freida & Leah Fromm Memorial Scholarship
Fred O. Zimmerman Memorial Scholarship
Lorraine Spikings Dullen Scholarship
The Power of Belief
This I Believe II is an
inspiring compilation of
essays that encourages
readers to adopt positive
values in their daily lives.
By: Kayla Austin
Being a new body in a busy place can be quite intimidating. One approach to
combatting anxiety that may occur is through listening to people tell their personal
stories of how they made it through challenges. In the collection of essays, This I
Believe II, many diverse individuals tell their motivational stories.
In one of the essays entitled “Do What You Love,” Tony Hawk wrote about
how people should take pride in what they do, no matter how others view it. This
message is applicable to all students in a college setting, but more so to
Exploratory Studies majors because they are still trying to decide what they want
to do in life. Tony Hawk acquired his very first skateboard at age 9, went pro at age
14, and has never stopped doing what he loves. Hawk tells admirers, “You might
not make it to the top, but if you are doing what you love, there is much more
happiness there than being rich or famous.” He encourages readers to find what
they love to do and prioritize that above income, social status, or anything else,
which is a great message to send to university-level students.
Other essays in the book discuss overcoming stubbornness, adopting
optimism as a lifestyle, developing perseverance, exercising personal integrity, and
earning a better life through education. This I Believe II presents many messages
suitable for any college-aged student.
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Senior Spotlight: Tatiana Sandoval
By: Laila Longer
Tatiana Sandoval is an SSS senior majoring in Spanish and International
Studies with an area concentration in Latin America. When Tatiana first came to
campus, the SSS program helped her to buy and borrow textbooks that she needed.
Also, the program-sponsored workshops helped her to meet many new people and
develop a sense of self, along with other first-generation college students. Tatiana
studied abroad in Costa Rica during fall 2011. She said “The SSS program gave me the
confidence I needed to go abroad and learn about a new culture. I have a Hispanic
background, but I never really had any classes. . . I was really encouraged and
motivated in the program. It helped me get into the Yucatan program with Dr.
Guthrie.”
After graduation, Tatiana wants to work at an American embassy outside of
the country, because she was inspired by a woman who worked at an embassy in Costa
Rica. The woman taught everyone how to stay safe, not to carry their passports
everywhere, among other lessons. Tatiana wants to continue to travel and will do so
very soon. This summer, after graduation, she will go to Bolivia and conduct a
research study on how certain types of tea affect the diets of the locals.
Tatiana did not start college until 2-3 years after graduating high school. She
advised that it is never too late to do what you want and to “take advantage of what
the program offers you. Don’t get lazy. Go ask for help!”
Tatiana Sandoval
graduates this
Spring with a dual
major in Spanish
and International
Studies.
Alumna Jenna Ewing: After Graduation
By: Laila Longer
Successful former student and
SSS peer mentor Jenna Ewing
can’t help but be excited
about her new internship at
Johns Hopkins Hospital in
Baltimore, Maryland!
Jenna Ewing was a three-year peer mentor for the SSS program. She is
currently attending graduate school at Towson University in Towson, MD.
She received a Bachelor of Science in Psychology at LHU. Jenna is currently
pursuing a master’s degree in Clinical Psychology. She will intern at Johns
Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore and have the opportunity to work with children
who have Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Tourette's Syndrome, and/or
ADHD. Jenna will also be able to do clinical work one-on-one with children
who are suffering from OCD and study the effects of certain medications on
them and their disorder. The SSS program helped Jenna gain the knowledge
she needed for first-year success in college and beyond. Writing tips, time with
her professors, and internship advice are among the many resources SSS
offered Jenna to help her succeed. She learned it is always important to ask for
help when needed, an aspect crucial to succeed. Jenna commented, “I can
honestly say that I've never had an experience where somebody in the SSS
didn't make me feel like a top priority when I needed it.”
Congrats to the SSS Spring and Summer 2013 Grads!
Amelia Baptiste
Amber Biddle
Nicholas Bodley
Taylor Cable
Laura Clouser
Andrew Drumheller
Amanda Edwards
Eric Garcia
Jeannelle Gervais
Ryan-Allen Heidecker
Teanna KobuckS T U D E N T
Kendra Kreitzer
Tania Shiffer
Joshua Livelsberger
Clayton Snyder
Cornell Lorson
Sabrina Werley
Brandon McIver
Francis Witmayer
Rebecca Muthler
Ryan Worden
Linzy Nocchi
Kenneth Purcell
Former SSS Elizabeth Romano
Graduate Students
Dana Ross
Lydia Dively
Tatiana Sandoval
Joshua Nagy
Kristin
Shade
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Judy Robb . . .
Judy came to LHU in March 1991 as the
SSS secretary following 15 years at the Lock Haven YMCA.
She graduated from Lock Haven High School before attending
Indiana State College and Lock Haven State College. Judy has
three children, two grandchildren, and her husband is a retired
elementary school teacher and wrestling coach. She loves sewing
and quilting, reading books by mystery writer Mary Higgins
Clark, and taking walks along the Lock Haven dike. She is
someone who can keep students “in the know” with her take on
Lock Haven’s beautiful surroundings, outdoor activities, and
many restaurants. Judy has made many close connections with
students, many of whom keep in touch, and she is the first point
of contact for SSS with a “Hello! How can I help?”
LHU’s SSS/TRiO staff members
are, from left, secretary Judy
Robb, director Carroll Rhodes,
and writing specialist Julie Story.
Carroll Rhodes . . .
As a graduate of LHU, Carroll feels a great sense of
satisfaction working with the TRiO students in SSS. Even though many years
have passed since her freshman year in Russell Hall, it has been possible for her
to maintain a perspective of what it is like to experience the major transition to
higher education. Carroll has been a faculty member here since 2001. Her first assignment was as Director of the Upward
Bound program. She moved to the SSS program in January 2010. Both programs originated in the Kennedy/Johnson
administration years. Carroll considers herself to be a product of that era as well. She feels very fortunate to hold
positions that are steeped in decades of devotion to what President Lyndon Johnson called the “fulfillment of the
individual.” In President Johnson’s Message to Congress on February 28, 1967, on Education and Health in America, he
conveyed his deeper description about fulfillment. “If that is what we seek, mere wealth and power cannot help us. We
must also act – in definable and practical ways–to liberate each individual from conditions which stunt his growth, assault
his dignity, diminish his spirit. Those enemies we know: ignorance, want, squalor, tyranny, injustice.” Carroll has been
active in the Lock Haven community for over 30 years. She was a founder and the first Executive Director of the Clinton
County Women’s Center. She has served on various economic development boards for the City of Lock Haven, currently
as Chair of the City’s Revolving Loan Fund. Carroll has also been performing music professionally with The Sirens since
1984. With her band, Carroll participates in many fund raising events, including scholarship events that benefit LHU.
Julie Story . . .
For 27 years, Julie Story has been teaching writing, directing writing
centers, and mentoring students in higher education. She believes, “Communication,
collaboration, and leadership skills are essential for students’ success at LHU, on the job,
and in life.” An alumna of LHU, Julie returned to campus in 2003 after 17 years of
teaching at Penn State to serve as SSS Writing Specialist, providing students with individual
writing consultations and writing workshops. She also teaches the SSS Writing Emphasisdesignated First Year Student Seminar, facilitates an External Experience for students to
produce the SSS Newsletter, and advises Exploratory Studies students. Julie participates in
professional writing center organizations and is completing her doctorate in Educational
Leadership with a specialization in Curriculum and Instruction. If she can help to improve
students’ educational experiences, her degree will be well worth it. Julie also supports several
scholarships to benefit underrepresented students at LHU.
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Student Support Services is funded by a grant from the United States Department of Education in the amount of $284,753.
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.
Kayla Austin is a freshman majoring in Communications. She is from Mercer,
Pennsylvania, a rural town nearly on the border of Ohio. On campus, she is a
freshman video blogger whose videos can be found on the LHU YouTube
account. Additionally, Kayla is part of the University Marching Band’s Color
Guard, Christian Student Fellowship, Student Support Services (SSS), and is the
Vice President of her residence hall through the Residence Hall Association
(RHA). Along with writing and jamming to her favorite musical artist Taylor
Swift, some of her hobbies and interests include spending time with her family,
playing baseball and supporting her favorite professional MLB team, the
Pittsburgh Pirates. She is employed as a mascot at Forever Broadcasting for the
country radio station Froggy.
Laila Longer is a sophomore majoring in International Studies and minoring
in English. She comes from Middleburg, a small town located in Snyder
County at the heart of Pennsylvania. Most often, Laila can be found lingering
around the international office in Akeley Hall, or waiting to be left into
Woolridge for the weekly ISA meetings. She is, in fact, the treasurer of the
ISA and the secretary of the LHU poetry performance group, Lyrically
Speaking. Laila is also a student worker in the LHU mailroom. She hopes to
work in the publishing business one day and become fluent in Japanese. Laila’s
favorite hobbies include reading and writing novels, poetry and short stories,
hunting and fishing, and nerdy pastimes like watching Japanese animation and
reading Japanese comics.
**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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