Posted on Leave a comment

Good Eats in Grove City: Elephant and Castle

99668_large_4
Picture from http://www.justpayhalfpittsburgh.com/Elephant–Castle/Grove-City/

Every once in a while it’s nice to get off campus and eat out somewhere. There are several restaurants close to Grove City College that students enjoy dining at. One in particular is Elephant and Castle located by the Grove City Premium Outlets on 1923 Leesburg-Grove City Road.

This authentic English pub serves both British classics and North American favorites. They offer a variety of foods from pub classics like Shepherd’s Pie and Fish and Chips to different types of pastas, pizzas, sandwiches and burgers, as well as soups and salads. Their large menu offers a plethora of options at reasonable prices. Burgers are about $10, 10” pizzas are about $11 and sandwiches range from $9-12.

Elephant and Castle offers a nice combination of food styles from basic to fancy. If you’re in the mood for something simple like chicken fingers, they’ve got that, and if you’re more in the mood for something a bit more luxurious like New York Strip Steak, they’ve got that too. There’s also a large bar area with lots of different drink options if you prefer to stop by for a quick drink.

One of my personal favorite dishe is the “Super Nachos” under the Starters. It’s comprised of tri-colored tortilla chips, cheddar jack cheese, onions, tomatoes, green peppers, olives and jalapenos with sour cream and guacamole on the side. It’s a decently large sized portion and appeals to Mexican food lovers like me.

Senior Amy Noll highly recommends any of the pizzas from the “Traditional” to the “Chicken Bacon Ranch.” She also raves about the versatile atmosphere of the restaurant saying, “It’s great for a meal with family, a date night out or just catching up with friends.” She appreciates the friendly and helpful servers and the casual yet classy environment.

Because the restaurant is conveniently located next to the outlets, it’s great to stop in and chow down on a quality meal after a long day of shopping. Overall, Elephant and Castle provides a nice atmosphere and tasty food, so checking out this gem of a restaurant is definitely recommended.

635889189779330510
Picture from https://www.localflavor.com/elephant-castle

Click here to view a complete Elephant and Castle menu!

Posted on Leave a comment

Fashion at Grove City College

Fashion these days is a very subjective thing. What one person might think is stylish, another person might deem a fashion faux pas. A plethora of styles are seen and accepted in this day and age.

Across Grove City College’s campus, there is some uniformity when it comes to fashion. Several different styles emerge among students. Three styles in particular are evident, and many individuals find themselves dressing to these trends. Amidst other styles, there’s the preppy, athletic and hipster looks that resonate with students, freshmen to seniors.

#1 Preppy

IMAG0763_1_1THIS ONE

For one, there’s the preppy look. This often includes Sperry’s or other boat shoes, patterned shorts, button-up shirts, jean jackets and jewelry such as pearls. This look above, donned by senior Amy Noll, features a simple jean jacket paired with a navy blue top tucked into peach and white patterned shorts, and Sperry boat shoes. Amy enjoys throwing this look together to head to classes or to hang out with friends on the weekend. Preppy brands worn on campus include J. Crew, Vineyard Vines, Ralph Lauren and Sperry Top-Sider.

 

#2 Athletic

IMAG0713

Then there’s the athletic look. Grove City is a fairly active and athletic campus as a whole, so many students throw on their shorts, T-shirts and sneakers to head to class. This look is one of senior Alyssa Brossman’s favorites, and she can often be seen sporting this style around campus. It’s perfect for playing tennis, hitting the gym or simply heading to class in. Popular athletic brands found across campus are Nike, Adidas and Under Armour.

 

#3 Hipster

IMAG0739

Lastly, there’s the hipster look. Grove City has its fair share of hipsters, often adorned in large framed glasses, hats, distressed jeans, sweatshirts and fashionable sneakers like Vans. It’s an eclectic style. The look above features a plain white T-shirt, khaki pants, canvas sneakers, a simple baseball cap and large framed glasses. Alumnus Mark Logie continues to sport this fashion even after leaving the walls of Grove City College whether he’s running errands around Pittsburgh or hanging out with friends on the weekends.

Posted on Leave a comment

Reflecting on my Decision to Attend Grove City College

IMAG0751_1When considering attending Grove City College, there are a variety of favorable aspects to take into account. Grove City has many intriguing qualities, particularly its Christian environment and quality academics. For me personally, Grove City seemed like the obvious choice as a high school senior deciding on schools.

Coming from a family of Grovers, I always had an interest in Grove City. Hearing about my parents, aunts and uncles, as well as my two older brothers’ experiences here, it sounded like a place I would thrive in. After visiting a few times for Homecomings and various events, I could see myself attending this place I’ve called home for the past four years.

After attending a private Christian school growing up, I knew I wanted to continue to grow my faith in a Christian atmosphere. I thought Grove City would help foster my faith, and I can definitely see how it has. From the Biblical perspectives presented in classes, and participating in Bible studies, to forming friendships with like-minded Christians, it’s been a great environment that’s helped prepare me for going out and defending my faith in the real world.

Another enticing aspect of Grove City was the curriculum. Looking through the course bulletin prior to attending, I was intrigued by many of the classes. Since being here, I genuinely feel that I’ve gained a quality and complete education. I’ve been able to take such a variety of classes in departments such as Humanities, Biology, Math, Political Science, Spanish, Exercise Science, Physical Education and Art. This academic variety has broadened my horizons and helped shape me into a well-rounded individual.

As a Communications major, the Communications courses have been particularly enjoyable for me. Core classes like COMM 135, Writing for the Media and COMM 303, Professional Communication, as well as Communication electives like COMM 235, Journalism and COMM 359, Screenwriting have all been insightful and interesting. I’ve also been able to take advantage of Art classes like ART 104, Beginning Wheel Throwing and ART 210, Visual Communication Design, which have appealed to my interest in Visual Communications and being creative.

The knowledge I’ve acquired and the experiences I’ve had while being here, especially internships and professional opportunities, have been very beneficial in helping guide me in my career path. As I look to graduate in just a few short weeks, I’m excited to apply all that I’ve learned to the world beyond these campus walls.

Reflecting back on my choice to apply early decision to Grove City and my experience here, I can say that I’ve been blessed to attend a school dedicated to Christian principles and excellent academics, and I’m a more knowledgeable and equipped individual because of my time here.

 

 

Posted on Leave a comment

An Incoming Freshman’s Thoughts on Choosing Grove City College

Spring is in full swing and the school year is coming to an end, which means college decision deadlines are coming up. High school seniors are faced with the choice of where they will spend the next four years of their lives, dedicating their time and energy.

IMAG0241
Michael with his GCC acceptance letter

High school senior, Michael Logie, also known as my younger brother, recently decided to commit to Grove City College. Michael will be the sixth Logie to attend Grove City in the fall. Both of my parents, as well as my two older brothers all attended the school.

Due to all of my family members’ positive experiences at Grove City, the school’s attractive qualities and Michael’s personal appreciation for the school and its atmosphere, he decided this was the place for him. Similar to me, Michael grew up hearing about and visiting Grove City from time to time, so the idea of going here was always appealing to him. The affordability, quality education, atmosphere of the campus and the extracurricular activities offered sold him on the idea of coming here.

Michael’s looking forward to following in the footsteps of many family members and experiencing the campus for himself during the four years to come. He’s especially anticipating getting involved in sports like Indoor and Outdoor Track and Cross Country, as well as different intramural sports. He’s also interested in potentially participating in Greek Life as a way to build community and establish friendships.

He isn’t completely sure what he would like to major in yet, but he’s strongly considering something in the business or economics realm because that’s where his interests lie and he’d like to pursue a career in that area. Michael feels that the education offered by Grove City is unparalleled and adequately prepares students for the professional world.

He summarizes his decision to attend Grove City saying, “I decided to go to GCC in part because of the affordable tuition, but mainly because of the fact that GCC graduates are able to get jobs right out of college fairly easily compared to graduates at most other schools.”

While Michael also considered West Chester University and University of Pittsburgh, he settled on Grove City largely because of its outstanding ability to guide graduating students on their career paths. He reflects on Grove City saying, “Grove City offers a better education and a more favorable reputation than other schools.”

As senior year comes to an end for Michael, he’s excited to embark on the adventure that is Grove City College. He feels confident about his decision to attend a school that will both challenge and reward him, and he looks forward to being a part of the familiar and welcoming environment of Grove City.

 

 

 

Posted on Leave a comment

A Look at PHYE 209, Tennis

Tennis Racquet Picturejpg
Picture from fitnessandtennis.com

Grove City College offers many different Physical Education electives for students to take, such as Volleyball, Bowling, Racquetball and Body Conditioning. My personal favorite gym class, and one of the most enjoyable classes I’ve taken during my four years at Grove City, is Tennis or PHYE 209. I’ve always had a love for tennis, so I knew taking this class would be a worthwhile experience.

This one-credit course, offered during both semesters, provides an introduction to the sport of tennis as a whole. The class is taught by Jeff Buxton, head coach of both the men’s and women’s varsity tennis teams. Different techniques like proper form, racket grips, volleying and serving are taught during the course of the semester. Each class time consists of various drills, games and eventually a doubles tournament spanning several class periods.

There are about 16 students in the class, and it’s held twice a week on the outdoor tennis courts on lower campus. In bad weather, the class is moved into the Intramural Rooms where nets are set up and indoor balls are used. Students are required to have their own rackets to participate in the class, but balls are provided.

No tennis experience is needed since the class caters to those of all skill levels. Tennis is a great class if you’ve never played the sport before because it introduces basic techniques and allows you to develop the necessary skills. It’s also a great class if you do have tennis experience because it gives you a chance to hone those skills. No matter what, it’s an opportunity to get out of the traditional classroom and have fun.

Senior tennis enthusiast, Alyssa Brossman, who took the course this past fall, reflected on the experience saying, “It was a great break from academic courses, and I loved the energy that Coach brought to class.”

All in all, the class is an opportunity to burn off some energy and have fun. It combines quality tennis instruction, friendly competition and good exercise.

Posted on Leave a comment

4 Quick and Easy Dorm Room Recipes

While the cafeterias at Grove City College are great, they have limited hours, just like any cafeteria. When you’re hungry in your dorm room and need a little pick me up, it’s great to be able to whip up something quick right in your room. There are many delicious and easy recipes that only require a few ingredients and a microwave or refrigerator. Here are four awesome recipes!

microwave-coffee-cup-scramble-930x5501. Eggs in a Mug:

Ingredients: 2 eggs, 2 tbsp. milk, 2 tbsp. cheese (optional)

Directions:

  1. Crack eggs into mug
  2. Add milk and stir until blended
  3. Microwave on high for 1/2 -2 minutes
  4. Top with cheese if desired

2277388

2. No-Bake Energy Bites:

Ingredients: 1 cup rolled oats, 1/2 cup mini semisweet chocolate chips, 1/2 flax seed, 1/2 cup peanut butter, 1/2 cup honey

Directions:

  1. Combine all ingredients in a bowl
  2. Form balls using hands
  3. Arrange them on a tray and refrigerate until firm

*Makes 24 servings

1MinuteMicrowaveRiceKrispiesTreatsinaMug-1

3. Rice Krispy Treat:

Ingredients: 1/2 tbsp. butter, 4 large marshmallows or 1/2 cup mini marshmallows, 1 cup Rice Krispies cereal

Directions:

  1. Microwave butter on high until melted
  2. Add marshmallows and microwave for 20 seconds
  3. Stir in cereal until blended

ChocolatePeanutButterGranolaAppleBites-11

4. Chocolate-Peanut Butter Granola Apple Bites:

Ingredients: 2 sliced apples, 1/4 cup peanut butter, 1/4 cup granola, 1/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Directions:

  1. Coat tops of apples with peanut butter and sprinkle with granola
  2. Microwave chocolate chips, stirring every 30 seconds until melted
  3. Drizzle slices with chocolate

Hungry for more? Check out these quick and easy dorm room friendly recipes.

 

Posted on Leave a comment

A Look at COMM 359, Screenwriting

Paper and Pencil resized

This semester I’ve had the chance to take a Communications elective course, COMM 359, Screenwriting. I’ve always had a love for writing, so I thought Screenwriting would be an enjoyable class. A friend of mine had taken it senior year and recommended it to me, so I was persuaded to sign up for it.

The course is taught by Communications professor, Dr. Kim Miller, and it serves as an introduction to the art of screenwriting. It covers topics such as character development, plot structure and storytelling techniques. It’s a great 3 credit course offered only during the spring semester that teaches students to recognize the basic elements of screenplays and gives students a chance to draft their very own screenplay.

The class is a nice mixture of lectures and group work, as well as independent in class and out of class work. Over the course of the semester we’ve worked on smaller assignments like writing short scenes using prompts given in class. We’ve also been working on our own screenplays which will be due at the end of the semester. There have been workshop days where we read each other’s stories in assigned groups, critiquing them and offering advice to each other. We’ve also watched movie clips in class and movies out of class as homework assignments, discussing various elements in these films.

Going into the course I had very little experience with screenwriting, so it has been both challenging and fun to experiment with this unique style of writing. It’s tempting to write a screenplay like a novel, telling about character’s thoughts and feelings, rather than relying on dialogue and actions to show those thoughts and feelings. The class has definitely stretched me since it requires a type of writing that I’ve never really done before.

Nonetheless, I’m learning the ins and outs of screenwriting, and it’s fascinating. I’ve gained a deeper understanding of all that goes into writing a movie and what elements work well and don’t work so well. I find myself watching movies with a more critical eye now, paying close attention to dialogue and character development.

Overall, Screenwriting has been a great outlet for creativity, especially amidst traditional classes. There aren’t too many classes where you’re assigned to watch a movie for homework. Screenwriting is a fun, relaxed class with lots of freedom for creativity, and it’s perfect for anyone interested in writing, movies or someone simply wanting to fill their schedule with a unique elective.

Posted on Leave a comment

Eating Healthy at Grove City College

download
Photo from whatshappening.com

Eating healthy is an extremely important part of living well. Being in college can often bring about negative eating habits, causing students to gain weight such as the “freshman fifteen.” Factors such as stress and lack of time or money to make or buy healthy foods can all add to these bad eating habits.

At Grove City College, however, eating healthy is definitely possible, particularly in the cafeterias. While unhealthy options like pizza and ice cream do exist, plenty of healthy foods exist, as well. It’s just a matter of making healthy eating a priority and intentionally seeking out foods that your body will thank you for consuming.

For one, salads are always a good choice. The salad bars in both Hicks and MAP cafeterias offer many options including different types of greens like mixed greens and spinach, as well as many vegetables, cheeses, beans and several dressing options including fat free ones. Simply adding balsamic and vinegar to a salad makes for a very healthy topper.

Whole wheat breads are another great option. Swapping them out for white bread is beneficial since whole grains generally contain more nutrients in them like fiber. Both cafeterias carry whole wheat as well as whole grain breads.

Peanut-Butter-Rice-Cake
Photo from Fodmaplife.com

One of my favorite healthy combinations is rice cakes with peanut butter. This is a low calorie, nutritious option that offers protein and tastiness. Rice cakes can be found in the gluten-free sections of both cafeterias, and there are often different flavors such as Honey or Apply Cinnamon. Throw some banana slices on top and it’s even better.

Rothwell-Recipes-Hummus-and-Veggies
Photo from Rothwellmma.com

Another healthy combination is hummus with vegetables. The different hummus options like garlic or red pepper add a nice flavor to raw veggies, making them more enjoyable to eat, while also remaining healthy. There are a plethora of veggie options like carrots, peppers, broccoli, celery and others.

Lastly, there are different milk options that make healthy eating easier. 1%, skim and even Almond and Soy Milk are all available. They have a lower fat content while still remaining tasty.

Healthy eating is not always easy, but making wise food decisions definitely pays off in the long run. Grove City provides the nutritious and delicious options to make that healthy eating possible, which is something I’m personally thankful for as I strive to live healthfully.

Posted on Leave a comment

Picture Perfect Campus

Grove City College is a beautiful campus. From the tall, stained glass windows of Harbison Chapel and the sleek brick and crawling ivy on Mary Anderson Pew to the ornate ironwork on Rainbow Bridge, the campus is filled with many aesthetically pleasing sites.

As someone with both an appreciation for beauty and a love of photography, I have enjoyed photographing the Grove City campus over my four years here. Taking pictures has always been fun for me, but it is especially fulfilling when the subject being captured is beautiful. The scenery at Grove City is unlike any other campus with its lush greenery and tall brick buildings with intricate detailing.

There are many places around campus that make for great shots. I’m particularly fond of taking outdoors, nature, and landscape scenes, so many of the photos I’ve taken around campus have fallen into these categories.

IMAG0543
Rainbow Bridge
IMAG0599
Wolf Creek

One of my favorite spots to snap photos is Rainbow Bridge and Wolf Creek. The flowing river and overarching bridge are beautiful in any season, but I especially love it in winter when it’s covered in snow and the creek partly freezes. The contrast of the dark water and the light snow is stunning and causes me to gaze in admiration every time I pass by.

IMAG0372
Rockwell Hall of Science

I also love photographing Rockwell Hall of Science. The tall clock tower is a well known attribute of campus and is visible all the way down on lower campus. It is especially picturesque in the fall with the changing colors of the surrounding trees. The way the sun hits the glass windows at certain times of the day and the unique archway add to the pleasing view.

Harbison Chapel is another obvious beautiful building on campus. I love photographing its stained glass windows that brightly reflect the sunlight and its intricate structures. The sand colored brick and prominent steeple make it a stunning spectacle on campus. It is especially picture worthy as the sun sets in the backdrop. Lots of people enjoy stopping here for pictures because of its beauty.

There are plenty of other pretty places on campus that make for noteworthy photographs as well. Grove City has a great aesthetic appeal that makes walking around each day more enjoyable. It allows you to go out and appreciate the beauty of it and maybe even snap a few pictures along the way.

P1020033
Harbison Chapel
Posted on Leave a comment

Seville, Spain Study Abroad Experience | Alyssa Brossman

DSCF1585-min[1]
In front of telephone booth in London
Last spring semester, current senior Alyssa Brossman had the chance to study abroad in Seville, Spain. The experience proved to be one of the most memorable and fulfilling opportunities she’s had.

Alyssa’s love of travel and her desire to explore outside the country mixed with her major requirement to study abroad pushed her to make the experience happen. As an International Business major with a focus in Accounting and Spanish, she knew Spain was the perfect place to go.

The dates of her study abroad excursion spanned from January 25th to May 2nd with an extra week of traveling to various places extending her trip to May 9th. She stayed with a host family in a city in southwest Spain called Seville, and lived with her host mom, two host sisters and an American roommate. She took classes at a local university, Universidad Internacional Mendez-Pelayo, within a 20 minute walk of her apartment with other students from her program, International Studies Abroad (ISA).

Looking back, Alyssa notes that some of the best parts of the experience were making friends from around the U.S. that were similarly studying abroad, getting to know the locals, experiencing new cultures and being able to easily travel to different places.

Sevilla-_alcazar_jardin_me2-min[1]
In the Garden of the Alcazar in Seville
From traveling around cities within Spain such as Madrid, Toledo, Malaga, Granada, Cordoba and Cadiz with her program to visiting other countries on her own like Portugal, Germany, France, Morocco, the Netherlands, England, Ireland and Italy, Alyssa’s few months abroad were filled with unique and exciting adventures.

Of all the places she traveled, London, England and Dublin, Ireland, proved to be her favorites. She traveled to these cities by herself during her seven-day spring break. She was able to walk a giant loop around the city of London, ride the London Eye and watch “The Changing of The Guards” at Buckingham Palace and to tour the Wicklow Mountains and see the bridge from the movie P.S. I Love You while in Dublin. The trip was a little scary for her since she traveled alone, but it was nonetheless exciting and unforgettable.

Sevilla-_flag_Las_Setas_back-min[1]
On top of “Las Setas” overlooking Seville
The study abroad experience as a whole really helped Alyssa become more independent as a person and stretched her out of her comfort zone. Although it was nerve-wracking to travel to new and different places and deal with language barriers and unknown customs, the experience really helped her grow.

She sums up her time abroad by saying, “It was an incredible experience. I learned so much about myself and grew as an independent individual. It also gave me a glance into other cultures and a chance to see how other people live.” She describes the city of Seville as historic, welcoming and homey, and she could not have imagined a better place to live during her study abroad experience or a more fulfilling time exploring the world.

 

 

To learn more about study abroad opportunities at Grove City College, visit this link.