Meet Pia!

PiaHometown: State College, PA

Major: BA in Music (Classical Guitar)

Minor: Arts Entrepreneurship

Academic Year: Senior

Past Involvement: Orientation Leader, Peer Adviser, Change of Campus Mentor

Future Aspirations: After graduation, I will be pursuing a master’s degree in Higher Education/Student Affairs!

Meet Nate!

Hometown: Muncy, Pennsylvania

Major: Supply Chain and Information Systems

Minors: Management Information Systems, Statistics

Academic year: Junior

Student Organizations: Lion Ambassadors, THON, Homecoming, Nittanyville, and Lady Lions Basketball Practice Squad

Past Internship: Supply Chain Intern for Penn State Health in Hershey, PA

Why I am involved in the APMP: The Academic Mentoring Program gives me the opportunity to give back to students who are in the same position I once was.

Favorite on-campus location: The HUB; I love spending time in the HUB, eating Chick-Fil-A, and bumping into friends!

Best piece of advice to a student: Enjoy your time while you are here. Get involved! It is important to balance your course load and extracurriculars, but when you find what works for you, these will be the best years of your life!

Favorite Creamery ice cream flavor: Grilled Stickies!

What makes happy Valley so happy? The people!! I have met some of the most passionate, caring people in my years at Penn State. Any person you will meet on campus is willing to help a fellow student.

Meet Garren!

GarrenHometown: Mifflin County, PA

Major: Marketing

Minor: Sports Studies

Student Orgs: THON OPPerations Committee Volunteer; Treasurer, Legion of Blue; Penn State Sports Business club member

Academic Year: Junior

Internships: Penn State ICA Athletics Marketing Intern with the Penn State University Athletic Department; Marketing Internship with the State College Spikes

Favorite part of APMP: My favorite part of being a peer mentor has been helping my mentee to navigate the problems they have faced at Penn State. I learn so much from my mentee and I really value the opportunity to not only hear the issues that he is facing, but to work together with him to create and execute impactful change in his life. There is not much else one could do that is more rewarding than to give their time to help enact positive change in another’s life.

Favorite Quote: “Believe deep down in your heart that you’re destined to do great things” – Joe Paterno

Favorite Place On Campus: The Bryce Jordan Center, because it is the home of Penn State basketball and Legion of Blue.

Future Aspirations: A career in sports!

What is your best piece of advice to a student: Try your hardest to live in the present. If you are stressing over what has happened, you are living in the past. If you are anxious over what is to come, you are living in the future.

Favorite Creamery ice cream flavor: Peachy Paterno

What makes Happy Valley so Happy? We Are! That’s why everyone here is so happy. We Are is a declaration of togetherness as Penn Staters. Happy Valley is the physical home to the Penn State community, and as a community Penn Staters know that ‘we are’ all in this together. Happy Valley is so happy because the people here know that they have the support, encouragement, and the resources of the greatest university in the world behind them.

 

 

Meet Kass!

KassHometown: Chicago, IL

Major: Human Development and Family Studies

Minor: Child Maltreatment and Advocacy Studies and Psychology

Academic year: Senior, class of 2021

Student organizations: Delta Phi Epsilon social sorority; College of Health and Human Development Ambassador; Greeks Care Facilitator; Female Growth and Development Study Volunteer

Internship: Safe and Healthy Communities Initiative Intern

Favorite part of APMP: It has always been a passion of mine to help others in any way I can. I love to share my knowledge of resources and give tips on how I have handled obstacles in my four years at Penn State.

Favorite quote: “Listen to the mustn’ts child. Listen to the don’ts. Listen to the shouldn’ts, the impossibles, the won’ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me… anything can happen, child. Anything can be.” -Shel Silverstein

Favorite place on campus: The little grassy area next to the Nittany Lion Inn because there are so many beautiful flowers and trees around and it is peaceful.

Future aspirations: Become a licensed therapist and work with adolescents in the criminal system.

What’s your best piece of advice to a student? Grades don’t define you as a student and grades don’t define you as an individual. You are more than a number on a paper.

Favorite Creamery ice cream: Keeney Beany Chocolate

ZiyenMeet Ziyen!

Hometown: Scranton, PA

Majors: History and Global and International Studies

Academic Year: Sophomore

Organizations: Days for Girls PSU, Council of Sustainability and Leadership, Lion Pride.

Favorite part of APMP: Learning and working alongside my peers to create a more inclusive and more efficient learning environment for Penn State students.

Favorite quote: “I kind of have this mentality that says, everything works out in the end. And if it’s not working out, it’s not the end.” – Christopher Caldwell

What’s your best piece of advice to a student? You are not alone. Your peers, your Professors, and your Advisors want nothing more than to help you. Reaching out is the first step, all you need to do is take it.

Favorite ice cream or treat at the Creamery? Chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream is definitely my go-to.