UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Samantha Anna Sarsfield is the College of Education’s student marshal for the fall 2015 commencement ceremony. Sarsfield has chosen Timothy Larouere to escort her as the college’s faculty marshal. Larouere has served as her student teaching supervisor. Her parents, Rege and Judy Sarsfield, her sister Theresa, her brother Kevin, and her grandparents, Harvey and Gerry Lober, plan to attend the ceremony.
Sarsfield is majoring in the secondary education social studies teaching option, with minors in history and special education. Her plans include securing a teaching position in a middle or high school setting teaching social studies, preferably history.
“Being named as the student marshal for the College of Education is a tremendous honor for me,” Sarsfield said. “Looking back to freshman year, I could have never imagined that I would have come this far. At Penn State, I have had so many experiences and opportunities that have helped me to grow into the person I am today, not only professionally but also personally as well. Being named a college marshal is a testament to all of the hard work and tenacity I have displayed over the past four years. I am incredibly grateful for this achievement, and to all of those who have supported me along the way, especially my family and professors.”
She chose Larouere as her faculty escort because she said he has been an exceptional supervisor during her student teaching experience. “As any education major knows, student teaching is one of the hardest and most stressful semesters. Having Tim as my supervisor during this time was nothing short of a blessing. He was — and still is — an overwhelmingly positive influence, in terms of not only his knowledge of the field but also, on a more personal level, his concern and support. I cannot thank him enough for all that he has done for me.”
Sarsfield is completing her student teaching experience this fall at Pleasant Hills Middle School in Pittsburgh. She works in five seventh-grade classes teaching a geography course. Her experience includes teaching in inclusion classrooms and collaborating with paraprofessionals and aids to provide instructional adaptations satisfying Individualized Education Program (IEP) requirements. She works with approximately 115 students in small- and large-group settings.
She served as a pre-service student teacher in the Philipsburg-Osceola School District, where she worked with three seventh-grade classes teaching a world civilization course; planned and implemented lesson plans in economy and social stratification units of study; and participated in staff and parent-teacher conferences, including IEP meetings.
Through the Richards Center at Penn State, she had internships at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park where she worked in the education department developing and presenting programs to groups of students who visited the park. For this, she dressed in period clothing and became certified to fire a 19th-century rifle.
In addition, Sarsfield served as a Carnegie Mellon Institute for Talented Elementary and Secondary Students (C-MITES) teacher’s assistant at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, where she helped with classroom presentations by leading portions of lessons and participating in small group activities; worked collaboratively with lead teachers to establish a team teaching model; monitored classes ranging in size from 15-25 students and grade level from K-10; and operated computers and projectors to supplement lessons with video clips and other visual aids.
Sarsfield also serves as the student equipment manager for the University’s women’s ice hockey team. She has been on the dean’s list every semester, and in fall 2015 she received the Evan Pugh Scholar Award, which is awarded to seniors in the upper 0.5 percent of their class. She also received the Thomas D. Fulton Scholarship this semester, and the Clyde and Mildred Sidler Scholarship from 2011-13.