Campus Life

Sophomore Send Off completes students' stay at New Kensington campus

Upperclassmen heading to University Park, other Penn State campuses to finish bachelor’s degrees

Penn State New Kensington Chancellor Kevin Snider talks with students at the annual Sophomore Send Off. Credit: Bill Woodard / Penn StateCreative Commons

UPPER BURRELL, Pa. -- Penn State New Kensington students planning to complete their undergraduate studies at another campus received a farewell reception April 28 in the campus Art Gallery. The annual Sophomore Send Off brings together students, faculty and staff for a light lunch in an informal setting.

“This event gives faculty and staff the opportunity to wish continued success to Penn State New Kensington students who are planning to transition to another Penn State campus in the fall of 2015,” said Theresa Bonk, director of student affairs. “It also gives students a chance to say ‘thank you’ to faculty and staff who supported them along the way.”

Alex Stack, a civil engineering major, and Alex Pedder, a mechanical engineering major, are headed to Penn State University Park in the fall. Both are excited to move on to the “big apple” of Penn State campuses, but they embrace the time spent at a campus.

“One thing I'll miss is how personable everyone is,” Stack said. “Almost everyone knows you by name, and I know I wouldn't have been able to get that experience elsewhere."

“I think I will miss all the people on campus, faculty and staff included, and all the opportunities that come with a small campus setting,” Pedder said. “Coming into college I never expected to become as involved as I have. All of these opportunities were enhanced by the interaction with the people involved with them. Penn State New Kensington has become a second home.”

The two engineering students feel they made the right decision to start at the New Kensington campus before settling in at University Park. The academic opportunities and access to faculty at the campus provided them with certain advantages.

“By starting at the New Kensington campus, I was able to get the skills for a great internship and lay a good foundation for the rest of my education,” Stack said.

“I was able to get to know my professors very well,” Pedder said. “In turn, this made them very approachable with any questions that I had on a subject. This approachability helped me learn because I wasn't just learning from somebody who gave me a grade at the end of the semester; I was learning from someone who actually cared about my well-being and made sure that I understood the presented information.”After the reception, Stack and Pedder had one last chance to meet with fellow students and professors May 1 at the Academic and Student Achievement ceremony. The annual event recognizes accomplishments of the campus community. Both were honored at the event.

Stack, a Franklin Regional High School graduate, earned the College of Engineering award for the highest grade-point average among sophomores. He also was recognized for two-year participation in the honors program, which is designed for stronger students in all majors. Honor students work closely with advisers and fellow honors students to design individually their first two years of study. The Murrysville resident was the recipient of the Hazel. L. Hug Scholarship, a $3,500 honors award.

Both Stack and Pedder was honored for his selection to Who’s Who Among Students in American Junior Colleges and American Universities. The award is presented to outstanding campus leaders for their scholastic and community accomplishments. The criteria for selection include both academic and co-curricular performance. Pedder was president of the Outdoor Adventure Club, worked as a peer tutor in the Academic and Student Success Center, and served as an orientation leader. In addition, he represented the campus in February at Penn State’s annual THON, a 46-hour, no-sitting, no-sleeping dance marathon that raises money to defeat pediatric cancer. Pedder raised $2,500 to help New Kensington reach $28,000, fourth-best in campus history.

The sophomore sendoff complements Link UP, a program that provides an opportunity for first-year students to visit University Park to learn about Penn State resources. The itinerary includes academic college meetings and discussions about planning for a successful transition. The one-day event also provides an opportunity to meet other potential change-of-campus students.

For more about Link UP, visit https://orientation.psu.edu/linkup.

Frances Blanco-Yu, adjunct instructor in chemistry, shares a laugh with her former students at the Sophomore Send Off. Credit: Bill Woodard / Penn StateCreative Commons

Last Updated May 6, 2015

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