Month: November 2017

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Freshman Profiles: Interview with Thomas Andrews Class of ’21

 

  • So, you’re a freshman here at Grove City College. How’s everything going, is the school living up to your expectations or what other people told you it would be like?

Yes, the school has been really good to me, my hallmates are really great. All my classes are tough but not excessively so.

  • What’s your major and what dorm are you in?

I’m in Hicks dormitory and I’m undeclared. I don’t know what I am doing yet but the school provides lots of counseling and options. I came in not knowing at all what I want to do, but I have narrowed it down to English with maybe a business minor.

  • Could you talk a little about dorm life in Hicks ?

I was pretty skeptical going in because it was a different environment. But everyone on my hall is pretty great. One challenge I  have come across is constantly having people going in and out of my room. It is not as quiet or private as I expected, but I am glad people want to be around me – it is comforting to never be alone!

  • Grove City is known for a lot of things, most notably it’s beautiful campus, awesome cost-value ratio, and its challenging curriculum. What most attracted you to the school?

It is like an Ivy League in regards to quality education, but it is affordable. With that, I really appreciated the fact that the College considers itself “conservative”. I knew I would feel right at home.

  • How many other Colleges did you look at? And did you want a small school, a Christian school or anything specific, like your college decision being based off your specific major?

I applied to five other colleges. They were all different ranges but I primarily wanted a small school like Grove City College. The fact that professors would know me personally and I could engage in class discussion was appealing to me when college shopping.

  • Out of all the colleges you looked at, what made you choose Grove City; did Grove City have something to offer more than other colleges that you wanted or was it simply where you felt the most called?

I liked the location because it was very far from home. I like cold weather and want to see some snow. The size, like I said before, was also a huge deciding factor. I wanted my professors to know me on a personal level.

  • Alright, we’ve talked extensively about the Grove, now let’s jump into some more general questions. What is the biggest difference for you from high school and living at home, do living in a different state in a dorm?

I feel myself being more independent than when I was at home. I have a lot more freedom to make my own schedule and decide when I want to go out for an afternoon or stay on campus. I really like it!

  • What is the most enjoyable thing about college life?

I enjoy the friends I have made,being on the hall, and the people I have met.

 

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Top 10 Perks of Attending a Small College

A view of a football game.

Small or large college? Which one to choose? It is a question I asked myself, and a choice I had to make before I decided on attending Grove City College. I had both options available to me. My sister chose the large state school, and I had visited her many times. I was able to see her experiences and make the best decision for myself. I had planned on studying Business Management, and that is a degree that I could obtain at either a small or large institution. I knew I wanted a small school, mostly because I am from a small town in the country. My graduating class was around 70 students. I knew there would be both positives and negatives from choosing a smaller school, but I never realized many of these perks until I actually started school here. While some may think a small school is boring and there are no perks, I would have to argue otherwise. Here are my top 10 reasons:

#1 It is easier to meet people – Grove City College places freshmen together in dorms, and there are many hall activities. I got to know the girls on my freshmen hall and make some very close relationships. Meeting people through various campus organizations and activities is also a great way to get involved on campus.

#2 A walk around campus means you will see lots of people you know – When classes are released, chances are you are going to see some people you know. Even if it is not on a first-name basis, you will recognize people from your classes, or other campus activities you are involved in.

#3 You are not just a number – When I walked around a large state school’s campus of over 50,000 students, I felt like I was just a drop of water in the bucket of people. Being on a small campus makes me feel as though I am not just a number, but an individual.

#4 You get good seats at sporting events – Granted, we are not a Division I school, we are Division III, but getting front row seats at the volleyball or basketball games sure is fun. Plus, sporting events are free!

#5 You can actually walk to class – No need to have a bike here at Grove City College. It takes me five minutes to walk to class in the morning. Every building is within a reasonable walking distance and its easy to navigate the campus.

#6 Professors know you personally – I have had the same professors for multiple classes and they all know my name. Many professors take the time to personally get to know their students. It makes me feel important and that they actually value having me there as a student.

#7 No Outrageous Lines – We might think a line of 10 people at the panini press in the cafeteria is long, but going to a state school’s cafeteria is much busier and lines are much longer.

#8 Classes are Smaller – The average class size at Grove City College is 25 students. There are no lecture halls filled with hundreds of students.

#9 More Feedback on Assignments – Professors have less students, and are therefore able to provide more comments and suggestions and papers and homework assignments. Therefore, you get more out of college!

#10 You Can Become More Involved on Campus – Some might debate that large schools would have more campus activities, but I would argue that going to a smaller school means you can participate in more events. I am able to work on the chapel staff, do cheerleading, work as a tour guide, and go to various Bible studies while still having the time to do schoolwork.

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Mobile Robots Course

 

The current robot.

As a requirement of the Robotics Minor, a Mobile Robots class (ROBO 302) will be offered for the first time this spring. This three-credit class includes one lab per week. According to the Registrar, the class is “an introduction to the basic principles of mobile robots, including mechanical, sensory, and cognitive systems necessary for successful operation. Topics will include hardware, locomotion, sensors, control schemes, localization, and navigation.”

A robot from a past microprocessors course about 4 years ago.

Dr. Mohr, professor of Electrical Engineering, spoke with me about what the class will look like. “We will look at how mobile robots get around, focusing mostly on wheeled robots…what kind of sensors they use to find out what their environment is like, and lastly, to map their environment and use their sensors to figure out where they are in their environment at all times.”

There will also be hands-on experience with a robot throughout the semester. There are 20 kits to build autonomous robots, and teams of two or three will work together to assemble the robot. The robots are not remote-controlled, students will learn to program the robot to run on its own. Dr. Mohr showed me an example of a robot that he has worked on and off for the past year and a half assembling. The main brain of the robot is a single board computer, called a myRio, which creates a wireless network to either a phone or laptop. The readings from the robot will then be presented on the laptop in a “software called LabVIEW which is like graphic programming, which is pretty easy to pick up. Since we have people from different programming backgrounds, that’s nice.” The entire robot is run off a lithium ion battery, the same type found in cell phones.

Another past-generation robot used about 8 years ago. The lithium battery was overcharged and then caught on fire.

The robots utilize two motor-driven wheels. Each motor has an optical encoder sensor, where pulses can be counted to tell how far the wheels have traveled. The Inertial Measurement Unit, or IMU, contains three sensors. The magnetometer measures the earth’s magnetic field, essentially working as an electronic compass.  The accelerometer tells when something is moving, and the gyroscope identifies rotation. There is a GPS chip which tells the time as well as the latitude and longitude. “So, if you go around campus, you’ll be able to tell within a few meters, based on GPS where you are. So, we are going to be doing some things outside with this robot.” The lidar uses a laser light to measure the time it takes for light to bounce off the nearest object, identifying the range, which is helpful in mapping out a room. Dr. Mohr says there are plans to add cameras to the robots, but not this year. The focus this year is to get up and running with the course.

What should students expect to learn from this class? How robots “sense their environment, map their environment, and figure out the answer to the question “Where am I?” and then plan missions and carry them out.”

The interface of the LabVIEW software connected to the robot.

 

 

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An Insider’s Perspective on the JMK Fashion Show

When I came to Grove City College, I did not expect to find an internship at a fashion boutique.

And yet there I was – a senior looking for experience to make myself employable – writing an application to be an intern for the JMK Fashion Show.

As an intern, I had a number of basic responsibilities: event planning, marketing, public relations, photography, fashion, social media, and administrative work. I did everything from styling an outfit to taking photos for the professional Instagram to setting up a room for the final event.

It was an incredible experience.

The theme of the fashion show this year was LUXE. “Lux” means light and “luxe” means luxurious. These two words captured the essence of the clothing line.

The pieces in this line were strong and feminine and beautiful, exactly like the women wearing the styles. In order to capture this theme, the venue was decorated with a gorgeous chandelier and mirrors – illuminating the unique style of each piece.

Refreshments were provided at the event as well as an opportunity to purchase JMK clothing.

This internship happens almost every fall, and I would highly recommend applying. Below are a few pros and cons to consider:

Pros
This internship will give you relevant experience in event planning, marketing, public relations, community relations, fashion, administrative work, etc. You only have to commit for a short period of time but you get to do a lot. It also gives the opportunity to work with a fantastic team who knows what they are doing.

Cons
It is an unpaid internship. Also, the week of the fashion show is highly stressful which may be a major downside to some.

This internship is perfect for any student who is willing to work hard and has a creative eye. Personally, I learned a lot about the design aspect of event planning.

Essentially, event planning is not just about renting a venue and throwing together about an event; it is about designing each piece to create the desired effect. I also learned to jump in and help wherever I was needed, even if it did not necessarily fit in my job description.

JMK was started by Jon and Mary Kaup (JMK), young entrepreneurs and pharmacists at RX Xpress in Grove City, PA. Their passion for small town services and love for affordable fashion for all ages came to fruition when they decided to pursue the dream of a boutique we all know as JMK.
To learn more about JMK, visit their Facebook page here.

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Parents’ Perspective: Grove City College and an Ivy League University

I am part of a loving, wonderful family of four. Three out of the four of our family members are Grovers. In typical Grove City College fashion, my parents met at the College, graduated in ’86, and were married later that year.

On a daily basis, I navigate the challenges and joys that come along with being a senior in college. However, I am not the only one in my family who is a senior this year. My twin brother, Joe, attends an Ivy League university where he studies as a pre-med student.

Compared to other parents of college-age students, my parents possess a unique prospective. They have seen Joe and I tackle each year in our higher education experience. They have witnessed how we responded to new and exciting changes, amazing opportunities, and difficult struggles at our respective schools. Additionally, they have constantly supported my brother and I throughout our college endeavors and trials. Recently, I had the pleasure of sitting down and questioning my parents about their experience as parents with kids attending two very different schools.

Overall, please describe your opinions of each college.

We think that both colleges have a high level of academic quality in their programs. We believe both colleges have the right fit for certain students. Not everyone can successfully navigate Grove City College or [the Ivy League university]. We like that Grove City College promotes strong Christian values. On the other hand, we like that [the Ivy League university] has a wide diversity in both its student body and academic staff. We have a high opinions of each college, but for different reasons. We would recommend both schools depending on the prospective student. It seems to us that growth is emphasized at Grove City College while multi- cultural inclusion is emphasized at [the Ivy League university].

What stands out to you about each child’s college experience?

Both of our children have matured and gained not only book knowledge but also practical life skills during their college experiences. [The Ivy League university] has provided raw exposure to many new and diverse opportunities, limited only by the choices made. Grove City College always reflects a Christian worldview lens.

How has each college supported your child?

Both of our children have had positive interactions with their advisors. With student volunteer EMS squad and a variety of research opportunities in practically every field, our son was able to pursue his interests and be active in exploring new activities. With so much “noise” out there, Grove City College has supported our daughter by consistently lifting Christian values and making Jesus bigger than anything in the world.

What can be said about the value of each college? (Price)

[The Ivy League university] meets the financial need of a family; we found that the financial aid package offered to us put an Ivy League school within reach (with sacrifice and loans, but there was a way to do it). Grove City College has more limited financial aid and does not participate in federal financial aid programs. For our family situation, it turned out to be relatively costly (again, sacrifice and loans). We found that our love for a special school (we are alumni) and belief that a Christian college is providing more than simply just an opportunity for academics factored in. We feel good about the value of both schools.

What is your favorite thing about each college?

We love the beauty and size of the Grove City College campus as well as the commitment to be Christian to the core. [The Ivy League university] has strong academics, reflecting a place of learning and hard thinking as well as the varied choices of study.

What advice would you give parents who currently have a child selecting a college?

Do not look exclusively at their programs. Make sure that the colleges being considered are a good fit with the child. Additionally, understand your child. What does he/she need in an environment? What does he/she need in terms of programs and activities? What does he/she need in terms of academics and studies? We think it is a matter of helping your child select a school that matches most naturally with what he/she needs to transition into adulthood.

 

 

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Freshman Profiles: Interview with Josh Padgett, Class of ’21

  • So, you’re a freshman here at Grove City College. How’s everything going, is the school living up to your expectations or what other people told you it would be like?

Yes. Everything is pretty good, classes are tough, but I’m learning a lot and the community is accepting and warm. All the students I have met thus far are really nice.

  • What’s your major and what dorm are you in?

I am a mechanical engineer and I am in Hicks dormitory (the one attached to the dining hall).

  • Could you talk a little about dorm life in Hicks?

Its chaotic, energetic, and very entertaining. People are always in your room to talk or play video games. I love how it is common for people to invite themselves over whenever – as long as no one is napping, the door is open!

  • Grove City is known for a lot of things, most notably it’s beautiful campus, awesome cost-value ratio, and its challenging curriculum. What most attracted you to the school?

The location: the seclusion and the weather are cool. But you’re not to far from the big city Pittsburgh. It is only 45 minutes so freshmen can always get rides from upperclassmen if they need a taste of the outside world for an afternoon. On top of that, it was also awesome for me to have the opportunity to play lacrosse on a brand new team. This past spring Grove City added men’s lacrosse to their varsity roster and I am beyond excited to be able to play with them soon.

  • How many other colleges did you look at? And did you want a small school, a Christian school or anything specific? 

The smaller class size was good and the price was cheaper than some of the other colleges I looked at. Those were the main aspects. I knew I needed to be more than just a face in the crowd to my professors and Grove City certainly offers that. I am not in any large classes so my professors know me by name and they show effort in getting to know my personality to better serve my academic talents. The tuition, like I said before, was a huge fact as well. If you do your research when looking at schools, you will get a feel for the differences in cost and quality. Grove City was both for me.

  • Out of all the colleges you looked at, what made you choose Grove City; did Grove City have something to offer more than other colleges that you wanted or was it simply where you felt the most called?

More personalized education, and a safer community were important to me and I felt Grove City offered that more than the other schools I looked at.

  • Alright, we’ve talked extensively about the Grove, now lets jump into some more general questions. What is the biggest difference for you from high school and living at home, to living in a different state in a dorm?

More responsibility; you are busier but you also have more free time. This free time has to be spent wisely. It is incredibly tempting to hang out with friends or watch Netflix instead of studying; however, with freedom comes consequences for poor decisions. Not studying = lower academic performance. I have come to learn how to balance work with play while away at school. I hope my mom is proud.

  • What is the most enjoyable thing about college life?

Constant interaction and there is so much variety in terms of what people are doing and what you can get involved in. The Student Union is always covered in posters for different clubs, campus events, mission trips, and classes to participate in. There is never a dull day on Grove City’s campus.

  • If you could go back to your freshman year and offer one piece of advice to your senior high school self and to all the other high school seniors out there, what would it be?

Don’t worry so much about college, because it is not as scary as you think it is. There is a huge support system here that I have no idea why I was so worried in the first place! Between my Resident Assistants, professors, and Orientation Board members I have a lot of people to turn to with my small and big problems.

 

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Dr. Christman’s Research on Antennas

A vertical monopole antenna used for mobile ham radio applications. This is what is used on the roof of cars.

Dr. Christman, professor of Electrical Engineering at Grove City College, sat down and spoke with me about his research on antennas. Dr. Christman holds a B.S. and M.S. in Electrical Engineering from West Virginia University, and a Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Ohio University. Dr. Christman said that his interest in antennas began when his grandparents gave him an old shortwave radio that he could listen to broadcasts on. His doctoral dissertation tested a computer program that simulates antenna performance.

Dr. Christman is a ham radio operator, and has been licensed since 1974. Amateur radio operators, also called “hams,” are private citizens who have obtained a license from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to operate on certain bands of radio frequencies. Being a ham operator is a popular hobby, and Dr. Christman says that his main interest is “talking to people in foreign countries.” The one country Dr. Christman hasn’t been able to communicate with is North Korea, because of various regulations.

He showed me a recent article in the Greenville Record Argus newspaper, which highlighted the Mercer County Amateur Radio Club. According to the article, amateur radio is the hobby of the future. There are currently 66 members in the club, and it has been growing steadily. Grove City College also has an Amateur Radio Club which, according to the registrar, “exists to encourage and facilitate amateur (“ham”) radio at The College. Special instruction is offered every Fall semester so that those members who are unlicensed may study and prepare to take the Technician-Class Examination.”

Dr. Christman also works with AM broadcast antennas. He enjoys “simulating and evaluating the performance of antennas without building anything at all.” His nephew is a career officer in the Army, and on one occasion Dr. Christman was able to advise one of his nephew’s men on how to fix the antenna of the Iraqi Federal Police, so they could communicate with their vehicles in the field. Engineering students taking Electromagnetic Energy Transmission (ELEE 404) will have the opportunity to learn more about antennas.

Dr. Christman has written a number of articles related to antennas which have been published in various ham-radio magazines and in IEEE technical journals. Recently, he and a friend won 1st place in the 2017 QST Antenna Design Competition (80 – 10 meter division).

It is amazing to have such a knowledgeable and passionate professor on campus!

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Living on Campus: What is an RA?

Living on Campus, MAP Residence Hall

You may have heard people talking about RAs or heard about them from people who have gone to college before you, but you still do not know exactly who, or what, that is. RA stands for Resident Assistant, and your RA at Grove City College will be an upperclass (sophomore through senior) student of the same gender as you. There is either one or two RAs per hall, but there may be multiple halls on a single floor depending on the size of the particular residence hall. RAs are present in freshmen and upperclassmen buildings alike. But what does an RA do and how will they affect your time at Grove City College?

Your RA will live on the hall with you, and will likely be one of the first upperclassmen that you meet upon arriving at Grove City College. If you are a freshman female, you will more than likely have two RAs, and if you are a freshman male you could have either one or two. I am an RA on a unique hall this year – my residents are 1/3 freshmen and 2/3 transfers, so my freshmen are in the minority of females who have one RA their freshman year. You will meet your RA on orientation move-in day (if not earlier, via email or because you have arrived early for a sport or club), and they will help to make your transition to Grove City College as easy as possible.

Relationship Building Roles

When you first arrive you will probably have many questions about campus and living away from home, and your RA is a great resource for when those questions arrive. Your RA will also likely hold casual events on the hall like movie nights and game nights in order to get to know you better as well as to help you meet the other people living on your hall. Many RAs on campus will keep their doors open regularly, and oftentimes these casual events occur spontaneously as people stop by – keep your eyes open for these opportunities to build relationships with the people living around you!

Your RAs will also host several more formal events throughout the semester, called RA Programs (though they will likely be advertised with different names). These are events funded by Residence Life, which means that RAs are able to use those funds to do some really cool things (oftentimes with really good food). Some programs are for fellowship and fun (i.e. a building bubble soccer tournament), some are opportunities to learn a new skill (i.e. sewing rice bag heat packs), some help to teach you more about what our campus has to offer or basic lessons on campus tools (i.e. a session with the entertainment offerings at the library or a practical lesson on how to schedule your classes for next semester). Overall, RAs do their best to plan programs that are fun and beneficial.

Administrative Roles

Perhaps what you may hear most about RAs from other schools is that they enforce school policy. This is true of Grove City College RAs as well. RAs are trained to uphold community standards and confront policy violations in a loving way, and will work with students to help them to understand the purpose or reason behind a particular policy.

Similarly, there is an RA “on duty” in each residence hall from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. every night and all day on Saturdays and Sundays.  This means that there is always an RA present in your residence hall during these times as a resource to residents in many ways – mentally, spiritually, emotionally, and physically (in cases of illness and/or injury or in cases of facility concerns). Contact information for the RA “on duty” is located on every hall within the building, and within most of the residence hall lobbies.

Simply put, your RA is a resource.

RAs are students just like you, and they are in a great position to support you through the school year and beyond. Your RA will likely be a helpful resource for you, and will quite possibly become a good friend to you.

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Reel Life at Grove City College: Sportsmanship

Grove City College excels in sportsmanship. Even though I do not play sports myself, when I was a high-schooler looking at different colleges, the sportsmanship I saw and heard about at Grove City amazed me. I knew I wanted to spend my college years at a place with respect, faith-mindedness, determination, and talent. To my delight, when I went to my first Grove City College sports game, I saw all of those qualities shine out in the players on the field. It was wonderful to know that the College’s values came out even in a sports game. Looking back on it now though, it makes a lot of sense. How people behave on the field is a huge indicator of how they behave off of it.

I wanted to show you the wonder of a Grove City College sports match in a real, tangible way. So, when I was at an Ultimate Frisbee game the other night, I started filming. My friend on the team was nice enough to let me stand right next to the front lines the entire game so I could get some good shots. Like always, it was a wonderful experience. As I was watching, I considered, “What is it that I really love about being at a GCC sporting event?” I narrowed the phenomenon down to my top five favorite things I see at matches.

  1. Talent
  2. Excitement
  3. (Awesome) People
  4. Sportsmanship (or, Respect)
  5. Faith-mindedness

So, in this video, I have focused on showing you those five things.

I hope you enjoy this episode of Reel Life. Most of all though, I hope from watching it, you get a better idea of how uniquely special sports at Grove City College are.

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To Commute or Not to Commute?

So you have made the big decision. Grove City College is for you. Time to celebrate!

But now you have another decision that you may not have anticipated. You live close enough to campus to live at home, so you have to decide whether you will move to the college and live on campus in a dorm, or if you will stay at home and make the commute to campus every day.

As someone who made that very decision, I am here to offer you some friendly (and hopefully helpful) advice. This might seem obvious (or maybe not), but it is important to know that your college experience as a commuter student would be vastly different than you experience would be if you were to live on campus. But do not let this scare you away! You are still just as much of a college student as everybody else and just as valued as a part of the Grove City College community. Your daily routine, however, will be slightly different from that of your peers.

As you know, commuter students do not have an assigned dorm room. You will live at home and drive to campus every day. There are certainly good things about this arrangement, and there are also some drawbacks, which I will get to in a second. First, you will not have to pack up ALL YOUR STUFF and cram it into a car, just to unpack it a few miles away. You might be surprised at how much less stressful this makes the beginning and ending of the academic year.

Second, the transition to college life is a little slower, and you can take it at more of your own pace – you are not just dropped of and expected to survive. 🙂 Because you do not live on campus, you can gradually spend more time there outside of your classes. A small warning though: do not spend all your free time chilling at home. Become a part of the vibrant college community!

Finally, the best things about living at home, in no particular order:

  1. No communal bathroom – this is always a plus
  2. More options for food – you can eat at one of the dining halls OR bring your own
  3. Pets! You will be the envy of all your peers because you did not have to say goodbye to your beloved dog (or cat) for 3-4 months.
  4. Did I mention the money you will save by not paying for room and board??? Yeah, that is a big one.

At this point, commuting to the Grove probably sounds like the best idea ever. But let me caution you. Do not make this decision hastily. For nearly every one of these positive reasons to live at home, there is a downside. The biggest challenge of a commuter student is building lasting friendships and community on campus. This is exponentially more difficult to do when you do not live in the same buildings and eat in the same dining halls as your peers. You might think this is not a big deal, but, I assure you, it is. This decision should not be made lightly. Take some time to consider pros and cons of each option, and most importantly, pray about it. What is right for someone else might not be right for you, and vice versa. No matter what you decide, know that we are excited to have you at Grove City College!