October 2017 -

Posted on October 31, 2017October 23, 2017 by Stephanie Millage — Leave a comment

Elsie Becker- Experience at BEST Robotics Competition

The BEST (Boosting Engineering, Science, and Technology) competition presented by Elliott Group was hosted by Grove City College on October 13-14. The BEST competition is a “middle and high school robotics competition whose mission is to engage and excite students about engineering, science, and technology as well as inspire them to pursue careers in these fields” (bestinc.org). The teams worked for the past six weeks to create a functioning robotic machine that can complete certain tasks in three minutes. This year, 22 teams and approximately 400 students competed at the Arena in the Physical Learning Center at Grove City College.

Elsie Becker, a freshman Business Economics major at Grove City, shares her experience participating in the BEST competition:

I was homeschooled in high school so my robotics team was not associated with a specific school. Instead, we operated as a non-profit organization. Our team name was “Metro Homeschool Robotics.” We were based near Kansas City, Missouri. However, we attended both our Hub and Regional competitions at the University of Fort Smith in Arkansas. Honestly, I joined BEST Robotics only because my brother was going to join. I actually had no interest in robotics itself. BUT I STAYED BECAUSE I FELL IN LOVE WITH IT! During my first year on a team (my junior year of high school) I realized how much BEST has to offer. Besides promoting STEM through the building of robots, BEST also simulates a corporate environment where students are challenged to build a tradeshow booth, give a marketing presentation to judges, and document everything they do in an Engineering Notebook. Through my participation in these aspects of the competition, I fell in love with BEST and actually became my team’s student leader the following year.

After only one year in BEST I had learned enough to run the team. Because BEST is an entirely student-driven competition, as team leader, I managed schedules and deadlines, delegated tasks, ensured project completion, oversaw documentation, and handled conflict management. Other members of my leadership team managed other aspects of the BEST robotics challenge like the marketing presentation, team exhibit, building of the robot, driving of the robot at competition, spirit and sportsmanship, and much more.

One of the most challenging aspects of the competition is that you are only given six weeks to brainstorm, design, prototype, test, build, wire, program, drive, and compete with a fully functioning robot. BEST simulates in miniature the entire engineering design process that engineers would go through in a real world scenario. Another challenge that BEST presents is that of conflicting ideas. Many team members have differing ideas about how to build the most successful robot possible. Conflicts arise as a result. Through these conflicts students learn how to argue and resolve issues with their peers so that through compromise the team can benefit as a whole. The competition itself serves as an exciting test of each robot’s abilities as well as an array of networking and human resources opportunities. Students from different teams are able to come together and learn from one another, building relationships that sometimes last long beyond high school.

Participating in BEST Robotics did influence my decision to come to Grove City College. Most of the other schools I was considering were small liberal arts colleges similar to Grove City. However, none of them had STEM-related majors available on their campus. Since most of my friends are people that I met through robotics, I knew that having those sorts of people (engineers, math and science majors, etc.) on campus was very important to me, even though I am an economics major. Also, the fact the Grove City hosts a Hub competition for BEST Robotics was one of the things most exciting to me. Being able to continue in my passion for BEST as a volunteer was a huge motivating factor in my decision to attend Grove City College.

Posted on October 30, 2017October 18, 2017 by Abby Schiela — Leave a comment

Opportunities in Entrepreneurship: Startup Weekend

In February of my freshman year at Grove City College, I had the opportunity to attend Startup Weekend Pittsburgh as part of one of my classes, Lean Launchpad. We were offered the option of attending and participating in Startup Weekend Pittsburgh as our midterm, or taking a formal exam. This is just one of the ways that experiential learning is given importance at the College.

Hesitantly, I signed up to attend the Startup Weekend. Up until that point in the school year most of the friends I had made were from my residence hall, and not my classes, so I was afraid that I would be a loner for much of the weekend. That concern was quelled very quickly, though. My professors had taken care of organizing rides from Grove City College to Pittsburgh (about an hour-long drive), and from the moment I greeted my classmates who I was driving with I felt like a part of the group.

Friday night, the first part of the event, was a flurry of excitement. We had the opportunity to network with other entrepreneurial minded people from the area, and those who wanted to were able to pitch their ideas to the entire crowd in the hopes that those would be the businesses we worked on all weekend. After the pitches we networked some more and voted on the best business ideas with post-it notes. Three of the teams chosen were pitched, and in turn led, by Grove City College students.

We spent Saturday working in various teams to do research and prepare a minimum viable product for presentation on Sunday evening. The weather proved to be an additional complication, in that a bad snowstorm hit Pittsburgh in the middle of Friday night and many of us were snowed-in at friends’ and family’s houses and could not get to the school where the program was held. We therefore had to work remotely. This taught me to be flexible and work with various groups remotely in order to complete tasks.

On Sunday we finished our products and prepared our final pitches, and then ate dinner while networking with people from the other teams. At the conclusion of the event, each team presented their businesses and awards were announced. Grove City College had quite a showing in the awards (check out the original press release to find out more about this).

I arrived back on campus on Sunday night refreshed and energized for Entrepreneurship. The weekend had taught me to put myself out there to learn new things, it taught me that Grove City College students look out for one another regardless of how close we are or where we are, it taught me to trust the experiences that my professors suggest. Since that point I have had countless opportunities similar to Startup Weekend, and have never regretted taking one of them. While I have learned so much in the classroom, it has been experiential activities like this one where I’ve learned the most about business, and luckily the Entrepreneurship Department at Grove City College provides experiences like Startup Weekend all of the time.

Posted on October 28, 2017October 23, 2017 by Stephanie Millage — Leave a comment

On-Campus Jobs – Student Ambassador

Grove City College has a wide variety of jobs for students wanting to work while on campus. One job that I really have enjoyed is being a Student Ambassador for the Admissions Office. I have always enjoyed interacting with prospective students and their families, and when I received an email about there being tour guide positions open, I sprang at the opportunity. Being a Student Ambassador means I give tours to visiting families. I also work at various recruitment fairs, such as Senior Crimson Day, which is where high school seniors come and tour the college and get more information about life at Grove City.

The interview and training process to be a Student Ambassador was very thorough. It started with an online application. Then there were group interviews. We were asked questions about Grove City College, as well as doing a team activity where the interviewers could see how we worked together to accomplish a task. After the group interview, I was called back for a personal interview with the Admissions Manager. I was offered the job, and gladly accepted! Training involved shadowing current tour guides, having a few friends follow and evaluate my tour, a written test, and having an evaluated tour. There is a Tour Guide Manual that we were required to memorize key facts and details about the buildings on campus.

The tour lasts about 75 minutes. At the beginning of the tour we are required to say the three pillars that Grove City College was founded on. They are: providing an excellent education in a thoroughly Christian environment, as well as keeping annual tuition and associated costs low for families. Some of the buildings we take the prospective students into are the chapel, a dorm room setup, the gym, science lab, main academic building and student union.

My favorite part about being a tour guide would be all of the new students that I meet. On more than one occasion, I have seen the same students come back to the College, either for an interview or some other event on campus. When the students see me they say, “Oh, she was our tour guide!” I also like to see what majors they are interested in, as well as what clubs or sports they would like to join. The tours are customizable, so I cover topics that interest the prospective students who are touring.

When I first saw the tour manual that I had to memorize, it was overwhelming. There is a lot of information. But, through the training process, I became even more familiar with what to say and where to go. If I do not know the answer to a question, I just tell them that I will ask the Admissions Office when we return from the tour. The training process took a solid three months, so there is plenty of time to study the facts. Also, the main goal is to showcase the spirit of the buildings and the school. While the facts are important to know, most students and parents just want to see the layout of the College and meet a guide who is truly passionate about Grove City College. If you enjoy giving the tours, they will be able to tell.

Being a Student Ambassador is a great job for those students who are interested in meeting new people and making them feel welcomed. Even if you are a new student, you can use your first year at Grove City to become more familiar with the campus, and then decide if you would like to work as a tour guide. I became a guide my senior year, so it is never too late!

Posted on October 27, 2017October 23, 2017 by Rachel Smith — Leave a comment

8 Do’s and Don’ts for Freshman Commuters

Hello again, commuter friends!

This might seem obvious, but it is important to know that your college experience as a commuter student will be different from that of your peers. You will be driving to and from campus every day, you will not have a dorm room (who needs ‘em?), and you likely will not be eating every meal at the dining hall. Your transition to college will also be a very different experience compared to students who move to campus. Here are a few handy Do’s and Don’ts for your transition to college as a commuter. (Most of these also apply to literally every college student ever, but are especially important for commuter students.)

1. DO go to Connection Group Activities

Connection Groups are put together by Orientation Board right when you get on campus. They are small groups run by two upperclassmen for freshmen to get to know one another the first few weeks of college. They may seem awkward, and take up time that you may not think you have, but they are a great way to meet people and build friendships when you first arrive on campus.

2. DO go to the org fair…and sign up for things!

Do not be afraid to sign up for email lists of clubs that you think you might possibly maybe want to be a part of. Even sign up for clubs that meet later than you think you want to stay on campus. The worst thing that can happen is that you have to unsubscribe from their email list.

3. DO find 1 or 2 clubs or organizations to join

This is good advice for all new college students, but it is ESPECIALLY important for the commuter student. Because you do not have a roommate or live on a hall with RAs and 20 other people, it will be more difficult for you to build community on campus. Joining an organization or club (or two) is a fantastic way to counteract this and build friendships right from the start of your college experience. Take it from someone who has been where you are, it is totally worth it to stay on campus a few extra hours for a club meeting once a week!

4. DO come to campus for more than just your classes

This should not be unexpected, given point #3. But seriously, and I cannot emphasize this enough, COLLEGE IS MORE THAN JUST THE CLASSES YOU TAKE! If you only come to campus to go to class, then you probably will not have much fun – again, I speak from experience. Take the time to go to events at night or on weekends. It will be worth it! Remember, you’ll have to be intentional in becoming a part of the wonderful community we have here at Grove City, so just be here!

5. DON’T treat your classes like a 9 to 5. Have fun!

I know it seems like I am beating a dead horse here, but this is key. If you only come to campus to go to class, then you will end up treating your college experience like a job, which it is not. You are (most likely) a full-time student, but so much learning happens outside of the classroom, and if you clock out after your last class ends at 4, then you’ll really miss out. Do not short-change yourself by acting too much like an adult.

6. DO buy a meal plan

This was some of the best advice I was given at the start of my freshman year. Through Bon Appetit, the College offers partial meal plans for students who live off campus or in the apartments on lower campus. You can buy 25, 50 or 75 meals in advance. This might sound like an extra, unnecessary expense (not paying for room and board was probably a deciding factor in your choice to live off campus), but I assure you, it is 100% worth it. Purchasing a meal plan will allow you to get meals on campus with your friends who live here. It will also give you much more freedom in planning your schedule because you won’t have to worry about bringing your lunch/dinner everyday.

7. DO hang out with people in the dorms and Student Union

You can hang out with people wherever you want, but the point here is just to talk to people – build friendships with people outside of the classroom. There is a commuter lounge with tables, comfy chairs, lockers and a kitchenette located on the second floor of the Student Union, which I would encourage you to use, but do not just stay there! Sit downstairs in the Student Union where you can run into people you know and catch up while you are doing some homework. It could be as simple as that, or just chilling with somebody in their dorm room in between classes.

8. DO learn to manage your time well

This is another one that goes out to every college student, but as a commuter, you will lose some time driving to and from campus every day, so it is especially important for you to know how to plan ahead. For students who live close to the College, this is not as much of a big deal, but the further away from the College that you live, the more time you will lose driving every day, so it becomes all the more important to plan ahead. This may sound difficult and a little ominous, but it is completely doable. You can, in fact, be a full-fledged college student even if you live off-campus. *Pro tip: use a planner!*

Posted on October 26, 2017October 27, 2017 by Stephanie Millage — Leave a comment

Bobby Keicher- Experience at BEST Robotics Competition

Bobby Keicher, a sophomore Entrepreneurship major, shares his experience at the BEST competition:

Coming from Cornerstone Christian Prep, had you heard about Grove City before?

BEST was actually how I was first exposed to Grove City, as the theme for the game each year is revealed in Pew Fine Arts Center (PEW) auditorium and the competition takes place in the Physical Learning Center (PLC).

What made you decide to participate in the BEST robotics challenge?

The first year was a funny story because I was actually forced into it last minute. At the beginning of the year I thought I wasn’t smart enough to participate in a robotics competition, but one of our presenters bailed at the last minute and my teacher thought I would be a good fit. It pushed me out of my comfort zone, but I learned to love it.

What did you enjoy most about participating in the challenge?

Part of the challenge was developing a sales pitch for our robot, which we presented in front of a panel of judges. The time I got to spend with my friends preparing for game day was my favorite part.

Did participating in the competition help you make a decision on whether or not to attend Grove City College?

Had it not been for BEST, I probably would not have even considered Grove City College. Through the program, I met Dr. Bright, who is awesome by the way, and visited the College many times before graduating high school. The program showed me that, even if I am not an engineer, I can still participate in the STEM field in some way. Grove City College showed itself to be a great fit because it is helping me take what I learned in the BEST competition and apply it to the real world, which, if you think about it, is the point of the competition – to get students interested in STEM careers. That is why I am so thankful that I got involved.

Posted on October 25, 2017October 18, 2017 by Abby Schiela — Leave a comment

Do Not Fear The Humanities Core

Grove City College requires all students to complete a Humanities Core as part of their general education requirements. These have been updated and changed since my start here in 2014, but they still serve the same purposes and cover similar course material. Thanks to these courses I have been exposed to history, music and the arts, literature, study of worldviews, and academic study of the Bible.

One of my biggest fears when it came to these humanities classes was that they would be a waste of time, but that was a fear that proved to be unfounded. As an Entrepreneurship/English dual major I was afraid that Civilization and Literature especially, one of these core classes, would overlap with my English coursework, but it did not. We read classic novels like The Aeneid and Paradise Lost, and my English professors (many of whom teach Civilization and Literature along with their English department courses) have not spent time re-teaching us these books.

The books I read in Civilization and Literature (affectionately known on campus as “Civ Lit”) shaped the way that I view the world, and Paradise Lost and Dante’s Inferno led me to think deeply about my faith and difficult theological questions pertaining to Heaven, Hell, and sin. After reading these books I am convinced that all Christians and questioners alike should be exposed to them.

The Humanities Core class that has shaped me most, though, has been Speculative Mind (Now changed slightly and called “Christianity and Civilization”). For the first half of this class we discussed various world views and how each one views prime reality, external reality, man, death, knowledge, ethics, and history. We then transitioned in the course to talk about various Biblical topics and modern culture topics and how we engage with the world as Christians. It was this latter portion that affected me the most.

My professor led discussions on current hot-button topics in a way that allowed us to engage in conversation, analyze various facets and point of view, but did not devolve into arguing and hard-headedness the way that many conversations of the like do. This led me to see the world through the lenses of my classmates, all of whom have had different experiences in their lives that myself, at least for a class period.

There was one class period that changed me in particular, though – the day that we discussed the Sabbath. My professor laid out the concept of the Sabbath in a way that I had never heard before, and argued that despite many people seeing it as an optional practice in modern times, it is still a very important doctrine to follow. The following semester, I decided to observe a weekly Sabbath after being convicted in Speculative Mind, and it was life-giving. Observing the Sabbath has brought me closer to God and has brought more peace into my life overall.

So did I learn a lot academically in my Humanities Core classes? Absolutely. This learning, though, is not what was the most important to me. I learned so much more about living life as a Christian and engaging with the modern world. Do not fear the Humanities Core, because it will bring you out of the comfort zone of your discipline and into an area of extreme growth.

Posted on October 23, 2017 by Stephanie Millage — Leave a comment

Cheerleading at Grove City College

As you walk down the hallways of the Physical Learning Center on a Tuesday evening you hear the echoing of girls chanting: “F-I-G-H-T, Fight Wolverines Fight!” So, what is it like to be a cheerleader at Grove City? Were there grueling tryouts where few could pass the test? Well, I am here to tell you a bit about my experience and what I have learned through cheering at the college level.

I have cheered since middle school and through most of high school. While I do have a lot of experience under my belt, I have never cheered competitively. So, going into college and deciding to cheer was a bit intimidating for me, even though it was a non-competitive team. I had never seen the cheerleaders perform before going to cheer camp the summer of 2016.

Cheer camp was intense, but doable. There were about a dozen girls who decided to try out. Mornings consisted of conditioning, jumps, cheers, chants, and learning a dance for basketball season. Evenings involved stunting. It was nice to be able to stunt, since our coach was certified in stunt training from the NCAA. Everyone made the team, and the tryouts themselves were low stress. There were some girls there who had never cheered before, but they caught on fast. So anyone can try out!

I also worried about how much of a time commitment cheer would be. We meet twice a week and practice a total of 4-5 hours. We also only cheer at home games. That year we had five home football games and about a dozen basketball games. Cheer ended up being a fun after-school outlet for me and was not a huge time commitment. Coach encouraged us to use the time as a way to not think about all of the things we needed to accomplish for school, and just to have fun.

This year, we also got new uniforms! It is exciting because the style is much more comfortable and the turtlenecks are gone! The uniforms are made of spandex now, and are very stretchy and breathable. The school colors changed from crimson to red, so the uniforms really stand out.

My favorite part of being on the cheer squad would be the sense of community. Being on a team and working together really brought all us closer. There is also a sense of trust that is built between those on my stunt team. We rely on each other for the safety of the flyer. Trust has to be there for us to accomplish some really cool stunts.

As senior year continues and will soon come to a close, I can say that I feel blessed to be able to cheer on my team. It has been a great experience that I will look back at with nothing but positive thoughts. I would encourage students who are thinking about being on the cheer team to try out! It is a great way to bond with other girls and encourage the sports teams. Go Wolverines!

Posted on October 23, 2017October 18, 2017 by Jordan Hudock — Leave a comment

Will a Small, Christian School Be a Problem When I am Career-Searching?

One of the most common concerns I’ve heard from high schoolers in their college search is this: Will employers hire me if I have a degree from a small, Christian school?

I’m shocked by this worry.

I just started my junior year at Grove City College, and right now I have an on-campus, paid graphic design job. Today, I was called in to interview for another part-time position at a national business and technology solutions company. A few weeks ago, a company in Washington D.C. reached out to me to talk about being the ‘young voice’ of a six-person marketing team they were building. I also have a paid internship with a multi-billion dollar biotechnical company lined up for the summer.

I do not specify the size or scope of these places to brag, but simply to express that small schools do not have to lead to small jobs.

The company I am going to be working for this summer, I worked for last summer, too. To emphasize to you how employable a Grove City College degree is, my employer for this job told me I was selected out of more than 300 applicants, many of them Ivy Leaguers. Of the final pick of interns at this company, more than 85% were from Ivy League schools. I personally did not even encounter another intern without an Ivy League or next-to-Ivy League degree – except for one. Another current Grove City student ended up being accepted to this company to intern as well.

Now, this is an organization in New York, with no ties at all to Grove City. My application went through a lot of employees before I even got an interview. I doubt more than one of them, if any at all, had even heard of Grove City. It didn’t matter. Both the other girl from Grove City and I had secured internships there. This was a perfect testament to me of how employable Grovers are – in both Christian circles and in the business world at large.

When I ultimately did talk to my employer about why they chose me for my internship position, the answer had nothing to do with school. It came down to three main qualities they cared about:

I did my research before the interviews. I knew what the company was, their values, and why I wanted to work for the company. I was able to express specifically why they stood out to me in my search process.
I was enthusiastic. During my emails, phone interviews, and video interviews, my employer said it struck her how passionate I sounded about the topics we discussed. That was important to her.
I had organized knowledge on the topics I needed to know. When I was asked questions about business, marketing, or management, I stayed calm whether I felt confident or not about the answers. I had thought-through opinions and understanding of the information she referenced.
I was grateful. After every conversation, every question, every interview, I made sure to show my appreciation for the time recruiters and my manager were spending on me.

These qualities were far more important to my company than the fact that I was from a small school. And the fact that Grove City had a wonderful academic reputation served me when people at my company looked it up during the recruitment process.

So I encourage you, regardless of what college you end up at, not to be overly concerned about the notoriety of it. Be much more focused on how you present yourself to companies, how many jobs you apply for, and how many connections (and friendships) you build along the way. Those are the qualities that Grove City College nurtures in students, and in my experience, it has always been more effective to be kind, enthusiastic, and productive than it would be to go to a big-name school.

Posted on October 23, 2017October 18, 2017 by Jordan Hudock — Leave a comment

Reel Life Grove City College: A Dinner at Hicks (Vlog)

I look forward to my dinners at Hicks every day here at Grove City College. Regardless of how crazy my schedule is, how overwhelming the week has been, or how cold the short walk to the dining hall might feel to me, I am always comforted by the warm, friendly faces I meet when I go. It is a fun, lively, and calming experience with great real-talk and hilarious moments. Plus, with all the negatives you might hear about “classic college cafeteria food,” I always find something I enjoy eating at Hicks Cafeteria. And that is saying something, because I am often a picky eater. (If you ever get a chance to visit, or if you end up attending, make sure you try the chocolate milkshakes Hicks makes. They are incredible.)

With all that being said, in this vlog, I wanted to bring some of that Grove City College dining hall fun to you.

I picked a random day like any other to take out my camera, thought of some questions to ask students at dinner, and started filming. The result had me smiling ear-to-ear. This is a vlog I am going to look back on and treasure when graduate. I love the sincerity of answers, and I love the humor people brought to the table. But overall, I love most that this vlog represented a classic dinner at Hicks. By watching it, I hope you get a sense of how lovely the people here are, how much we care for Grove City College, and how strong the community that exists here is.

Posted on October 9, 2017October 5, 2017 by Jordan Hudock — Leave a comment

The Subtle Difference in Messaging that Helped Me Decide on Grove City

I am a Junior now. At this point, I know Grove City College was the right choice for me; however, I was not always so sure. As any student knows, we all question what college is the best for us. What do we want to major in? What do we want the student-professor ratio to be? Does the food quality matter? And on top of all that confusion, how do we wade through the promises to make life awesome that countless schools are offering us?

When I was in my senior year of high school, I struggled in my college decision process. I have high standards for myself and big dreams for my future, so I felt a lot of pressure to choose the ‘perfect’ place. I was vulnerable, confused, and bombarded with messaging from all sorts of colleges. Every one of them tried to tell me they would meet my college needs in the ‘best’ way. Promises like these can be overwhelming and even tempting, but I wanted more. I wanted a school that proved itself worthy of my time, and a place that would allow me to grow both academically and spiritually.

Something major that set Grove City College apart was the fact that rather they refused to consider themselves the bearer of all my dreams. In fact, the stance of the people I talked to was glaringly different. The stance here was—and is—only God can fulfill you. Only God can truly get you where you are meant to be. The job of the college is simply to facilitate and provide a platform for the influence of Christ on student’s life.

This was a level of authenticity and integrity that I had not seen among the other promotional messaging of schools I was looking at. It spoke to the heart of a question I feared as a high-schooler: Is my college experience going to be enough for me? Instead of claiming that they would be the ‘have all, be all’ of schools, Grove City College reminded me that only God could be my key to an amazing future.

Looking back, I almost feel surprised that I was able to distinguish this subtle difference in messaging at that point in my life. Amidst all the stress, all the pressure, and all of the uncertainty of being a rising college student, I was often tempted to forget how important the permanent things in life are—God, family, curiosity, being good to people, and so on. Rather than take advantage of my lack of perspective, Grove City College helped bring it back to me and continues to do so. For that, I am forever grateful.

As you continue your search, I hope to leave you with these reminders that Grove City put in my heart. Wherever you end up, remember that a college is not going to fulfill you. A great sorority is not going to fulfill you. An awesome cafeteria is not going to fulfill you. And they are not going to take you places, either.

Only God can do that.

So work hard, do right, and remember to leave the fulfillment you get from your college years up to Him.

Wishing you the very best as you continue your search.