Category: Academics

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Freshmen Fitness Class: What is It?

The new Fitwell uniforms.

Entering my freshmen year at Grove City College, I knew that there was a required fitness course, but I had no idea what to expect. I figured it would be some sort of unorganized mess of putting students in a gym and having us play various sports for the required 50 minutes, twice a week. However, my expectations were wrong. The required fitness course is called “Fitwell” and is very organized.

According to the Department of Physical Education, “The required Fitness and Wellness courses for both men and women are designed to give each incoming student an awareness of personal fitness and wellness. The evaluation process for each student is comprised of written examinations, skill tests, special projects, swimming evaluations, and fitness appraisals. The ultimate goal is to provide an opportunity for each student to develop a personal responsibility for his/her own lifestyle.”

Fitwell is a one-credit course which freshmen will take both their fall and spring semester. The first section of the course covers about half of the fall semester. It is lecture based, and men and women are split up. In the lecture section, I learned about nutrition, injuries, living a healthy lifestyle, and health disorders. I also had to complete a weekly meal log and recorded all of my meals for a week. Then I looked at the nutrition breakdown charts and compared them to the suggested calories for my specific height, weight, and activity level. It made me more aware of what I was eating and how it is a choice of whether to eat healthy.

The second half of the first semester, and the rest of the spring semester is lab based. Students will pick their top lab choices and then will go to work-out during the allotted time for Fitwell. There are many choices which include: circuit training, swimming, aerobic conditioning, walk/jog/run, weightlifting, and more.

The first lab I chose was circuit training. This involved high-intensity workouts for about 60 second intervals. Some of the stations included: step ups, jump rope, and planks. Circuit training is used to increase endurance and stamina. For the end of the lab, we had to come up with our own circuit training program. We had to take pictures of the various exercises and decide how many reps to complete. I enjoyed this lab because it was a great workout and changing stations made the workouts interesting.

The second lab I did was called aerobic conditioning. It involved longer workout sessions. One of the workouts we did were kickboxing, we watched a video and followed along. At the end of every workout, we measured our heartrate to see if we were in the target range for our specific age group. I also enjoyed this lab because of the wide variety of workouts and the longer workout sessions.

The last lab I did was walk/jog/run. This was a more individualized course because we went at our own pace and counted how many laps we completed in a certain amount of time. We also ran the mile at the beginning of the course, and then tried to improve on that time by the end of the course. I enjoyed this lab because it was so individualized, and inside the gym there is a track which made it easy to know how far I had run.

Overall, Fitwell is a great way to meet new people in the freshman class and get a break from the lecture atmosphere!

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It Is Okay to Be Undeclared: Part 1

From the time kids are young, they are constantly bombarded with questions regarding a future career. “What do you want to be when you grow up?” This question often evokes responses such as ballerina, President, veterinarian, or basketball player. As kids mature, their responses change due to altering interests and realistic possibilities. Suddenly, it is senior year of high school. Students are urged to select a college and figure out what field of study to pursue. This is a daunting, nerve-wracking decision. High school students face additional pressures to perform academically, athletically, musically, and socially.

With large decisions looming overhead and daily pressures at school, it is common for high school students to feel overwhelmed, and why wouldn’t this be the case?

My senior year of high school, I had no idea what career would be best for me. I was involved in a variety of teams and organizations and I did not have a predisposition in any subject. I felt adrift. I felt as though not being able to define a specific career path interest made me a failure in some way. I wanted so badly to feel like I was able to successfully leverage my strengths and define a major. When I decided to attend Grove City College after I was accepted Early Decision, I was relieved to have ended the college search process. However, I latched onto a new cause of stress: declaring a major.

I did not end up declaring a major until spring finals week of freshman year. I survived a year of dodging extended family questions about future plans at holiday gatherings. I was able to withstand awkward introductions with peers who wish to remember you simply by your name and major. I took classes in a variety of disciplines. If I can do it, you can to. I want to encourage anyone who is facing a similar situation, because I have been there. And I am here to say that it is perfectly okay to be undeclared.

I know you have probably heard that before. At this point, you might even be more frustrated every time someone tries to comfort you with these words. But guess what? You do not have to know exactly what you want to do right away, even if your best friends do. Maybe you will even declare a major and it will change, and then change again. Be patient. Be kind to yourself. I wish I would have spent more time excitedly embracing courses and opportunities instead of being focused on frustrations when a discipline did not quite work for me. The best academic advice I can give is to be strategic in experimenting. Try to evaluate your strengths and define personal goals. Align your major with what you know to be true about yourself.

But this is not the advice I want to stress.

A beautiful component of big decisions like college majors is that God allows us to choose. He does not (in many cases) make a future career very clear. Rather, we should seek to find rest in Him. We should rejoice in his sovereignty and goodness, and trust in His plan. At the end of the day, it is important to remember that as Christians, our identity does not come from a college major; it comes from Christ. If your identity rests in Christ, you should be relieved. Your biggest, daunting decision has already been made. You have made the life- altering choice to become a Christian. The smaller pieces, like college majors, will fall into place. Seek the Lord, and wholeheartedly commit to trusting his plan.

Reflect on Jeremiah 29:11, a verse that has become very meaningful to me. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

 

 

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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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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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Naomi Keicher- 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.

Cornerstone Christian Preparatory Academy at the competition.

 

Naomi Keicher, a freshman International Business Major, discusses her experience at the BEST competition.

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

Yes, Grove City was very commonly discussed at Cornerstone. Our founder, principal, and teacher, Brandon McCall, graduated from Grove City and often regaled stories of his time here and always spoke positively of the college and its faculty.

Primarily, the college was spoken of in reference to its being the location of the local hub for BEST Robotics.

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

Cornerstone was a very small school when I joined in eighth grade. A few sports were available and I did play soccer, but the whole school buzzed constantly with talk of the BEST Robotics Competition. The majority of the school was involved to some extent. I was unable to attend kickoff that year, but my brother, Bobby, stayed after school most days to help the team. I simply started staying too. It was one of the best decisions I made in my high school career and one of the most impactful.

What did you enjoy most about the competition?

Where do I begin? I was on the build team for the first two and a half years of my participation and the marketing team for the second two and a half. During these times, I was able to be participate in designing the robot, lead a team of builders, and drive the robot in the competition, locally and regionally. During the second part of my time with BEST, I worked on the engineering notebook, helped in the design and building of the booth, presented for the formal marketing presentation, and acted as Head of Marketing. I enjoyed each challenge as much as possible. I learned how to take direction, lead, cooperate with others, delegate, manage time, prioritize, negotiate, be professional, manage stress, and laugh at myself. I don’t think the BEST Robotics experience can fully be conveyed in simple words. They say BEST is a free competition because they want everyone to be able to participate, but I say it’s free because it would be impossible to assign a monetary value to the priceless education and experience gained from participating.

It’s impossible to pick a favorite moment. So I would say the part I enjoyed most was the opportunity to watch myself and my friends develop into more experienced people and grow closer together.

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

Absolutely! Familiarity with the campus endeared me to it, but the way the college presented itself through hosting the competition made an impression on me. The emphasis placed on opening in prayer is not something that every school would be comfortable with, especially in regard to a secular competition. I appreciated their resolution to continue with it, regardless of status quo. In addition to this, I developed a respect for the college that was interested in hosting a competition that was so well rounded. BEST isn’t just for engineering students – it’s a holistic approach that includes everything from strategic planning to manufacturing to marketing – an entire business model. An institution that sees value in such a program is an institution I wanted to be a part of. BEST Robotics was a contributor to my decision to apply, but by no means was it the only reason. I am so glad to be attending.

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Reel Life at Grove City College: A Chat with Ben

Ben is a junior computer science major who is involved in a ton on campus. He is the head of the robotics club, the director of media for and a dedicated player on Grove City College’s Ultimate Frisbee team, and a member of the Alpha Sigma housing group. He is also a devoted student. Ben is a classic “Grove-er achiever,” as we say here at Grove City College.

I wanted to get this interview of Ben out to you, because I think Ben is a great example of how to strike a balance between extracurricular and academic life. He also has a unique attentiveness to and memory of funny class stories. Besides that though, Ben is a great guy and friend to many. He is fully integrated here at Grove City College, to say the least. Before he got here though, he had to make the choice between The Grove and Penn State. I ask him a bit about that decision in this video, so you can understand the reasoning that ultimately led him to decide on Grove City College.

If you are on the fence in your college search, I hope this video will give you some added insight into what campus life can be like here. I also want it to show you a look into the type of student you could be here if you want to. Ben is taking full advantage of his college years, and it is certainly worth listening to his perspective. Enjoy, and if you are interested, feel free to check out other episodes of Reel Life for videos similar to this.

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Yes, You Can Graduate Early!

Going into my undergrad degree in business management, I knew that I wanted to graduate faster than the typical four-year plan. I knew that financially, it made more sense to graduate sooner, so that I could begin my career. I also did not want to spend four more years in school! I always like a good challenge, and when I set my mind to accomplish something, I go for it.

I was told by my advisor that I could graduate early. I contacted the Registrar’s office as well to make sure my classes lined up. I was able to plan my schedule to graduate in 2.5 years and take off three semesters. I did not have any credits from post-secondary or AP courses, so I was starting with 0 credits and needed 128 credits to graduate.

Every summer, Grove City College offers over 60 courses either online or on-campus. The on-campus courses take place for two weeks before classes begin in January and two weeks after the spring semester ends in May. It is called “intercession” and I was able to take a four-credit Chemistry course in just two weeks! Grove City College also allows students to take a maximum of 21 credit hours every semester, so taking overage classes is another option to get more classes out of the way.

My plan was to take full-time summer courses, while working part-time. I would focus on taking major related courses while on campus, and do most electives during the summer. I would take intersession courses if needed.  There are also some online courses during winter break, so I signed up for a Business Law course and then came back early to campus to complete the chemistry course during intersession. The great thing about the summer courses is that you can take multiple courses at one time and they are usually four weeks in length for three credits. There are both early and late summer courses, so it is staggered. Usually the same courses are offered every year, so I was able to plan out my schedule accordingly.

There are many options of classes to take over the summer and during intersession. Some examples of the variety of online classes I was able to take included: Intro to Graphic Design, Accounting, Business Ethics, and Medical Terminology. The wide variety and flexibility the online courses offered was the selling point for me. I was able to go on vacation and work ahead in most classes so that I was not behind. Some classes opened up all the coursework on the first day, and I was able to go at my own pace and knew that I could finish the course sooner than the four weeks offered if I wanted to.

Graduating early offers many benefits. For those ready to join the workforce and get out of an academic setting, Grove City College offers an opportunity to do so. The money saved on room and board is also another benefit.  Some might criticize that graduating early means that you cannot enjoy college life because you are so focused on school. I would argue that is not true. If a person is good at time management, then they should be able to have a great college experience and graduate early.

I would tell new students who are looking to graduate early, that “Yes, you can!” The thing you have to do is plan ahead. Look at what classes are required and when those classes are offered. Go talk to your academic advisor if you need help. It might seem overwhelming at first, but dedication and hard work will pay off in the long run!

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Reel Life at Grove City College: Best Campus Study Spots (Part 2)

For this episode of Reel Life, I wanted to finish off the conversation I started about my favorite Grove City College study spots. As I said in Part 1 of this series, beautiful study spaces have always been important to me. When I was a high school junior and senior looking for colleges I could potentially call home, I wondered about their capacities to have pleasant, quiet spaces to study in. It was hard to get a firm read on this aspect of a campus, though. Most college tours or overnights happened too quickly to allow for detailed conversations on ‘hidden gem study spots’ or ‘best places to study’—at least not in as much depth as I would have liked.

If you are interested in Grove City College, you probably care a lot about academics. You are probably dedicated to your classes and to the studying they require. You might, like me, feel strongly that having a good place to study matters. All of that is part of the reason I wanted to get this topic—”Best Campus Study Spots”—on video for you. But more than that, I wanted to make it a two-part series for a few reasons. Firstly, we all study differently. Some people like to have friends and people around them while they study, whereas some like any quiet, accessible room, whereas others need complete silence and isolation. I covered six study spots in the last video, and I cover six more in this one, because I wanted to give as full a look as possible at the variety of spaces Grove City has to offer. I hope watching gives you a better idea of whether Grove City College can meet your specific needs when it comes to study spots.

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Reel Life at Grove City College: Best Campus Study Spots (Part 1)

To me, as a high school student searching for the college I would end up at, knowing that the place I chose would have top-notch study spaces was incredibly important. I love having serene, beautiful places to study. Finding out that Grove City College excelled in that area made a big difference to me when I visited for the first time. I live far away though—all the way over in the greater New York City area. I did not get a chance to visit Grove City until April before my first semester freshman year. Even though this trip was awesome enough to make me sure I wanted to attend, it was unfortunately not long enough to answer some more detailed questions I had about the campus—”What kind of study spots are available?” for example.

That is the question I want to address for you here in this video. I have gathered over a dozen study spots from around campus that I love. In this video, I talk about the first eight. I have a second part on the way where I will talk about the remaining spots. From HAL to Pew to the SAC, Grove City College’s campus proves beautiful and functional, for all my viewing and studying needs. Let’s go through them one by one together. I hope these videos will give you a better idea of the awesome resources Grove City College has for studying.