A Senior's Homecoming Surprise

Throughout my years as a student at Penn State I’ve had the opportunity to attend Homecoming multiple times, and each year I’ve had a different role while attending it!

Sophomore year I was able to simply walk around and enjoy the activities that students could participate in. There were games to play, food to eat (and enjoy!) and fun people to be around. I even got to watch the crowning ceremony for the Homecoming King and Queen! Multiple friends of mine were on the court so it was awesome having the opportunity to be there to support them!

Student Co-Chair Brooke Burkey, friend Lindsay Tucker and I
spending time with one of the alumni’s daughter, before the movie started!

Student Co-Chair Frank Lione
and I are taking a quick break from 
overseeing Club Float Building!    

Last year was the beginning of my junior year and I had the honor of being a Student Co-Chair for the Homecoming Committee, representing the Campus Activities Board! It was a lot of fun having this added level of involvement with all of the festivities.  I oversaw the CAB volunteers that signed up to staff the many games and activities that students and their families could participate in! I was also a liaison between the Homecoming Committee and the individuals that were selected to serve as Homecoming Float judges! We had a front row seat to view the floats, which were incredible! The theme was Country Western, and our clubs were extremely creative with their floats. The judges and I had so much fun!

This year, however, was like nothing I could have expected! I was offered the opportunity to serve on the Homecoming Committee once again. Of course, I jumped at the opportunity! I once again helped organize workers (along with my amazing CAB Chair of Workers, Preeti Patel!) and oversaw float building, similar to last year.

Rachel Lynch and I pose for a
picture together. She is now Chair of 
Special Events on the CAB 
Executive board with me!

However, this year was completely different because in the middle of September I found out that I had been nominated to be a member of the 2015-2015 Homecoming Court! I was completely shocked! Not to mention I was honored that people took the time out of their day to nominate me for that.

Being on the Homecoming Court was an absolutely wonderful experience for me. I feel like I was able to grow much closer with some of my friends that were on the court through the head shots. Each person was responsible for supplying Kelly Ann with a headshot that could be hung up in the Homecoming Display Case! Since one of my passions in life is photography, many of the court members came to me to have “mini sessions” with them. It was SO much fun! I haven’t laughed that hard in a long time! My suite mate Ali and I both were on the court together, and one Sunday we made a day of it together! We went shopping for clothes to wear for our shoot, we got lunch, and had a double photo shoot where we took each other’s head shots. I’m going to turn her into a photographer yet, just you wait! She did an amazing job with my pictures and I’m so thankful for that!

The court was also responsible for decorating the truck that we would be riding in during the Homecoming Parade. We all met the day before (during float) to try to decorate this. None of us were really able to come up with a formal idea on how to decorate it, so we all kind of grabbed streamers, tape, and other assorted decorations. I think the final product still looked pretty good! During the parade itself (although I almost fell over a couple times in my wedges) I laughed harder than I did during the Homecoming Court headshot sessions! It was such an amazing bonding experience.

It was such an amazing opportunity to go through this experience together with such amazing people. Honestly, I wish there were enough crowns for every single person on the court, because each of them has a personality worth more than a solid gold crown!  I never expected to win, and it’s something that hasn’t exactly sunken in yet. I still don’t really know what set me apart from everyone else, because they all do just as much (if not more) for our amazing campus.

Overall I can say that my last Homecoming as a Penn State student has been more than I could ever have expected! Next year will be here before we know it and I will be attending my first Berks Homecoming as an alumnus, where I will have the opportunity to crown the 2016-2017 Berks Homecoming Queen! I can’t wait!

Also, a shout out of congratulations to my "King" Cody Fields! Congrats on being selected as the 2015-2016 Homecoming King! :) 

WE ARE! 

~ Katie

What I like the most about my college experience

If someone were to ask me what’s my favorite moment or experience so far, I would not know how to reply. Why? Because I just love every single moment I’ve spent at Penn State Berks. I’ve had the opportunity to meet a lot of wonderful people and make a lot of fun memories with them.

In only two years, I’ve grown so much in both personality and character. I find it amusing how much can someone experience in such a short period of time. College can go by in a blink of an eye and that is why I’m trying to do as much as I can while I’m still here. I’ve found so many things that have made me fond of our campus, and I know I will find many more in the time that I have left.

To make this sweet and short, these are some of the things that have made me love my college experience so far:

• I like the close knit environment on campus and how I can walk from class to class and be able to see someone I know. “A college small enough to get to know a lot of people, but big enough to not know everyone on campus,” a sentence that I like to say when giving tours to prospective students who visit the campus.
• Being able to wobble all the time during orientation and orientation training.
• Going to my first concert ever during the Lion Ambassador & Blue and White Society All-Campus Conference.

Back Stage with My Hero Zero!

• Being to go to the offices of various staff members and just talk to them about random things.
• Knowing that a lot of the staff members on campus know my name.
• The Faces of high school students when we take them on tour around campus.
• TOURS IN GENERAL!
• Helping out with Open Houses.
• Giving back to the community!

I cooked quiche for people at the Opportunity House in Reading.

• Talking to my professors about class, even though I’m going to take their class in the upcoming semester.
• Being part of events like Be a Penn Stater for a Day.
• Talking about my career path with my friends and/or other people in my major.
• Our Penn State Pride!

These are some of the things that make me Penn State Proud and glad that I chose Berks as the host for my college experience. As I said before, I’ve had so many wonderful experiences, and I know that there are more to come.

Until Next Time!

Diana

Keep Doing Your Best

Finally singing at church!

Senioritis has definitely not hit me. Maybe it is because I know after graduation my journey will only be getting started and my years at Penn State Berks have set a great foundation for what is yet to come. 

While looking back at my years at Penn State Berks I have learned it is important to make a plan and set goals for yourself as you go through college. Your undergraduate years will fly by before you know it and it is important to be prepared for the future that lies ahead. That is why, whether you are just starting college or almost graduating, it is essential to keep going and give it your best shot. Looking back and being able to say I did my best is a great feeling. Knowing you had people to back you up along the way makes for many grateful and inspiring moments.  

I am very grateful to have been a Lion Ambassador and break out of my shell. This was all due to working hand in hand with the loving and caring admissions staff at Penn State Berks. They helped me to feel like part of the Penn State Berks family and were there when I needed some courage for my next tour or just wanted to laugh. Just like Ms. Sue likes to quote, I also think it is a great idea to “Do one thing every day that scares you.” –Eleanor Roosevelt

I learned from my Penn State Berks family that giving up is not an option. There are many doors out there waiting to be opened and it is up to you to make positive things happen in your life. Smiles of the Week during the group meetings also showed me there are many things to smile about, especially now that the sun is out. I know I have smiled and even jumped after reaching a goal.

Whatever your plan or goal may be, just remember to give it your best shot. There will be people cheering and helping you on along the way. Just believe in yourself and keep going. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.”

Until Next Time,

Melissa