That’s a Wrap!

Austin (AJ) Fink reflects on his shiny Penn State Altoona experience

By Marissa Carney

While some may view college as simply a pathway to a future career, for others it is a time rich in adventures and opportunities meant to be experienced as fully as possible.

Newly graduated with a degree in history, Altoona native Austin (AJ) Fink most definitely falls into the latter category.

Penn State was always a part of Fink’s life, from watching football games to going to Penn State Altoona’s Kids’ College many summers as a child. It was no surprise that he applied to Penn State, and although he was accepted to University Park, Fink made the decision to enroll at Altoona, feeling that the smaller campus would be a better fit for him. But he knew it would be his responsibility to make the experience his own. “My freshman year, I’d hang out in the library all day or at my friends’ apartments. I didn’t want to be one of those people who’d go to class and then go immediately home, because I felt like I wasn’t going to get much out of my time there that way.”

Fink expresses his Penn State Altoona spirit as an orientation leader

Fink got involved on campus by becoming an Orientation Leader and a Lion Ambassador. He also sat on a few financial committees, but it was through the Student Government Association and ROTC that he really blossomed into a strong campus leader. “At first I thought I was drawn to student government because I like politics, but I quickly realized that there is much more to it. We didn’t debate on political lines, we debated on how to make this place better, and that made SGA all the more enjoyable for me. We all had a common goal of making the Penn State Altoona experience the best it could be for students.” Fink’s efforts were clearly recognized, as he was elected as SGA president the next three years in a row, serving through his senior year.

During his time as SGA president, Fink helped bring the Nittany Lion statue to campus, now a popular landmark and photo spot. He led sit-ins at Eiche Library, which resulted in the Learning Resources Center being open twenty-two hours a day beginning fall 2017.  He did research on the base operating budget inequalities between Altoona and other Commonwealth campuses, and opened a discussion on the issue. He was instrumental in setting up a new fee system for the campuses, and fought to get representatives from them on the Greek Life Task Force at University Park. Although Fink lost that battle, it was still one of many important learning lessons. “A lot of my time with SGA taught me to stay true to my convictions and what my morals are. It helped me define who I am and what I stand for. I never stayed stationary and never let the will of University Park or any other campus dictate policy at Altoona or my vote at any level.”

Fink worked hard to be a known, accessible figure on campus to all students, recognizing the importance of being open for dialogue and willing to address issues. “Standing up for Penn State Altoona students always came first for me. It was my job. I knew what I was supposed to do, and I did it as best I could.” Fink adds that sometimes that job was a challenge and parts of it were aggravating, but just the same he was passionate about SGA, his role within it, and about the college.

In the weeks before his graduation, Fink was already nostalgic about his college career, remembering fondly all he was able to do, such as studying abroad in Australia, competing in the ROTC Ranger Challenge, participating in leadership conferences and Capitol Days, playing on the frozen pond in the winters, and cheering on the Nittany Lions at football games. He revels in the community Penn State Altoona fosters and holds dear all of the people he has met and the relationships he has formed with classmates, faculty, visitors and speakers, and students from other campuses. He knows each adventure and feat were all part of an incredible journey. “For a lot of students, there is this underlying idea that you have to go to University Park. They think there is just one big shiny box that is the ‘Penn State experience,’ and you can only get that at University Park, you’re only a real Penn-Stater if you go there. But there are thousands of little shiny boxes that are individual Penn State experiences. They are equally as great, and they can be at any commonwealth campus. Mine were all right here at Penn State Altoona.”

Fink with his fellow students at a University-wide leadership conference

Fink knows that Altoona offers a wealth of opportunities for students; they need only to take advantage of them. From becoming the leader of an organization as an underclassman, to undergraduate research, academic scholarship, and travel, “It’s all about what you put into it. If you have a lot invested in this campus, if you want to make the best friends here, and make the most impact possible, you’re going to enjoy it.”

Fink poses with his numerous college awards

For all of his work toward bettering the campus and making an impact, Fink has been the recipient of many student awards, including three this year for his outstanding qualities of character, leadership, and service to the campus. He says while the recognition is nice, getting awards was never why he put all of himself into Penn State Altoona. “It’s about integrity. I really subscribe to the Penn State moral code and I subscribe to my own moral code. I think when other people see that about me, and want that for themselves, it can domino into good things for the college.” Fink is proud to be looked at as a role model and good influence for others, but insists he would have done everything the same even if it meant going unknown. Even so, he likes to think he had a little something to do with his younger sister’s decision to attend Penn State Altoona.

Fink will spend the next few years as a commissioned officer in the United States Army, then he hopes to attend law school.

“I’m very happy with my experience here. So many people have those ‘what if’s’ but I really don’t have that. I’m very satisfied with what I’ve done and what I’ve had the opportunity to say yes to.  My time here was very precious to me.  I’m going to box that up and put it on the shelf wherever I go, so I can look at it and remember ‘that’s when I was at Penn State Altoona, that’s what I was when I was a student there.’”

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