College Notes for May 16
Pitt-Bradford
Christine Troll, a senior interdisciplinary arts student from Somerset, was one of 45 students honored by the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford at its annual Honors Convocation on April 14. Troll received the Graduating Senior Academic Excellence Award and the Communication and the Arts Outstanding Student Achievement Award.
Frostburg State University 162nd Commencement
Frostburg State University will celebrate the achievements of its spring 2023 graduating class at the 162nd Commencement scheduled for May 20, during two ceremonies in the Cordts Physical Education Center Main Arena.
FSU President Dr. Ronald H. Nowaczyk will confer degrees and present diplomas to the graduates of the Colleges of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Business and Education. The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences ceremony will start at 9:30 a.m. and will feature student speaker Savannah Kent. The Colleges of Business and Education ceremony will begin at 2 p.m., featuring student speakers Elias Baroudi, College of Business, and Jalon Sommers, College of Education.
Sommers, of Salisbury, graduates with a bachelor’s in elementary/middle school education. Throughout his time at FSU, Sommers has maintained excellent grades, making the dean’s list every semester. He gained invaluable teaching experience serving as a teacher apprentice, teacher assistant and most recently a teacher intern. During Sommers’ internships, he had the opportunity to create and teach lessons in English language arts and figurative language. He was a Teacher of Promise nominee in 2023, as well as the recipient of the Hattie M. Strong Scholarship and the McKaig Scholarship.
Sommers was also a member of the National Honor Society of Leadership and Success at FSU.
“Jalon consistently demonstrates strong knowledge, skills and disposition,” said Dr. Jodi Welsch, an FSU professor in the Educational Professions Department. “As a student who was homeschooled and comes from a very large family, his perspectives on education and school culture are very unique, and I believe that he embodies the qualities of an effective beginning teacher.”
UA's Cooperative Education Program
University of Alabama student Benjamin Geary, of Somerset, is participating in UA's Cooperative Education Program during the summer 2023 semester. Geary is working for Mercedes Benz, U.S. International.
In the Cooperative Education Program, students alternate periods of full-time study with periods of full-time employment. This program offers work related to the academic major or career interests of each student. While in school, students carry regular course schedules. While on co-op, they work with professionals in their fields who supervise their training and work.
At work, co-op students earn competitive salaries and may receive benefit packages in addition to valuable job experience. Participants maintain their full-time student status while at work and have priority registration status each semester through graduation.
2023 All-PA Academic Team
The Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges honored the 29th annual All-Pennsylvania Academic Team, consisting of 64 students representing 14 community colleges from across the Commonwealth. The honor recognizes high achieving college students who demonstrate academic excellence and intellectual rigor combined with leadership and service that extends their education beyond the classroom to benefit society.
The students are selected for the All-Pennsylvania Academic Team based on a nomination and application process. The 2023 scholars include 48 Transfer Pathway students and 16 Workforce Pathway students. Seven of those honored were from Pennsylvania Highlands Community College. The Somerset County students were honored and are members of the All-Pennsylvania Academic Transfer and Workforce Pathway Teams:
Emma Martz, Berlin — Transfer Scholar; Brianna Pavkovich, Rockwood — Transfer Scholar; Jessica Shockey, Friedens — Transfer Scholar
Transfer Pathway honorees plan to transfer to a four-year college after graduation. They must have completed at least 36 credits at a community college with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher. Pennsylvania’s community colleges partner with the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education to provide scholarships to Transfer Pathway students, providing two years of tuition at any PASSHE school.
Workforce Pathway student honorees plan to enter the workforce after completing a certificate or associate degree at a community college. Workforce Pathway students must have a minimum of 12 college-level credit hours at a community college and a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher.
“We are so pleased to honor these scholars,” said Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges President and CEO Elizabeth Bolden. “They are outstanding and accomplished students from a variety of backgrounds and disciplines. They are applying their intellectual skills to make lasting contributions to their colleges and communities. And they showcase that Pennsylvania’s community colleges are educating and training tomorrow’s leaders.”
This article originally appeared on The Daily American: College Notes news for May 16
