University Park, Pa. — Six Penn State adult learners are among the 10 students who will be honored by the Pennsylvania Association for Adult Continuing Education (PAACE) with Outstanding Adult Students in Higher Education awards.
"Penn State is well represented by these students," said Charlene Harrison, director of Penn State's Center for Adult Learner Services. "They, like many adult learners, have overcome tremendous obstacles and manage very busy lives in order to complete their education."
The award recognizes adult students who have, among other criteria, shown success in coping with numerous roles, have overcome difficult circumstances in order to pursue higher education goals and have taken innovative approaches to meeting those goals. Penn State honorees are: Kelly Freeman, a College of Arts and Architecture graduate from the University Park campus; Laura Lamar, a communication arts and sciences major attending Penn State York; Alice O'Connell, who is pursuing a bachelor's degree in human development and family studies from Penn State Fayette; Christopher Shedd, a secondary education graduate of the University Park campus who resides in Petersburg; Jacqueline Vaux, a Bellefonte resident pursuing a bachelor's degree in health policy administration at the University Park campus; and Michelle Way, a State College resident pursuing a bachelor's degree in nursing at the University Park campus.
These students have inspiring stories. For example, Kelly Freeman was placed in multiple foster homes during her childhood. Her first marriage ended in divorce. Through most of her college career she worked full time and was involved in Oriana Singers, Dance Marathon and was a mentor for at-risk junior high students. Ultimately, she left her job to study full time for her final year in college. Freeman has managed to maintain a 3.85 grade point average (GPA) , assume multiple life roles and improve the climate for adult learners in one of Penn State's colleges. After graduating in the summer with a bachelor's degree in integrative arts and a minor in religious studies, she relocated to Florida.
A single mother to three boys and full-time student are a couple of the roles that Laura Lamar manages. After her divorce at age 21, Lamar returned to school to pursue her dreams, but she soon realized she needed to care for her young son. During the next 10 years she met her soul mate, married again, delivered two more sons and faced the untimely death of her husband at age 33. Her tenacity helped pull her through her grief and ultimately pursue her college dreams. She maintains a 3.31 GPA and will graduate with a bachelor's degree in communication arts and sciences from Penn State York.
Sister Alice O'Connell of the Vincentian Sisters of Charity was a licensed practical nurse who worked in hospital, elder care and community outreach settings before returning to college. She earned her associate degree in human development and family studies at Penn State Fayette, where she is now working toward her bachelor's degree, maintaining a 3.75 GPA. Through Rendu Services, she continues to provide medical services to underserved clients in rural Fayette County.
Christopher Shedd returned to Penn State following the loss of his management position and a divorce. He sold his car and commuted to school through neighborhood acquaintances. Such networking opportunities led to his involvement with Shaver's Creek Environmental Center and leadership roles in sustainable agriculture groups. During his college career, he maintained a 3.79 GPA, volunteered and was a part-time employee at Shaver's Creek. A December secondary education graduate, Shedd is now a substitute teacher at Juniata Valley High School.
At age 19, single mother Jacqueline Vaux took a factory job to survive. After a series of major life events, including ending an abusive relationship with her son's father, the death of her own father and her 15-year-old sister's cardiac arrest, she realized that life was too short to not go after her goals. The availability of Trade Readjustment Act funds and participation in a women's seminar led Vaux to enroll at Penn State in 2002. After completing an associate degree from Penn State Altoona, she enrolled at University Park to begin a bachelor's degree program, and she now maintains a 3.76 GPA as a Schreyer Scholar. Vaux will graduate in the spring with a bachelor's degree in health policy administration.
Following the birth of her two premature infants, Michelle Way decided to change careers and become a nurse by attending classes at the University Park campus. A Schreyer Scholar and member of Golden Key International Honor Society and Phi Kappa Phi, Way has served as a support team member for a Russian family seeking political asylum and coordinated a Bible school mission where the children "adopted" three Marines serving in Iraq. Way maintains a 3.96 GPA and will graduate in May with a bachelor's degree in nursing.
For more information about Penn State's Center for Adult Learner Services, a unit of Penn State Outreach, visit http://www.outreach.psu.edu/cals online. For more information about PAACE, visit http://www.paacesite.org online.