Category: Academics

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Student Athletic Training Spotlight: Gretchen Elsey

Student Athletic Trainer, Gretchen Elsey

Grove City College offers a myriad of career-focused internships and job opportunities on-campus. This past semester, junior Gretchen Elsey had the opportunity to work with the athletic training department as a Student Athletic Trainer. Academically, Gretchen is pursuing a major in Exercise Science and a minor in Nutrition. Outside of classes, she keeps herself busy playing varsity basketball and track and field, while also committing time toward the Exercise Science Club. In the following interview, I had the opportunity to sit down with Gretchen and learn more about her experience as a Student Athletic Trainer.

How do you balance working on-campus, playing two varsity sports, and academics?

Being involved in so many things teaches you time management. I think my high school experience has helped me prepare for the things I do now because I was always involved in a lot of things. Truthfully, I love working, playing sports, and focusing on my studies. I could not see my life without doing all of these things and they make me want to stay motivated to do them.

Tell me about your current role as a Student Athletic Trainer.

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What advice would you give a prospective student hoping to get involved in the STEM field?

The STEM majors are an up and coming career path. Being an Exercise Science major has taught me a lot about different sports and my sport as well. I also have learned about how different athletes can respond to different stimuli, and this will help me in my future career.

Who influenced you to work as a Student Athletic Trainer?

The head athletic trainer, Rick Hawk, needed help for the upcoming football season and he knew I was pursuing a degree in Exercise Science. So, he approached me and asked if I would be interested in learning more about athletic training and truthfully, I believe this was another way the Lord has opened a door of opportunity for me. Also, I work with two other Student Athletic Trainers and they have become very close friends.

Do you envision yourself pursuing a career in athletic training?

I could see myself making a career out of this. I look forward to going down and helping the football team every day, while also growing as a professional in this industry. Finally, I would highly recommend this program and other career-focused programs that Grove City College offers because the relationships I am making now will help me tremendously in my future career.

Thank you, Gretchen, for the great insight. I look forward to hearing more about your experience soon.

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The Extra Credit Opportunity That Influenced My Business Career

When a professor announces that there is a guest speaker extra credit opportunity, it usually does not matter who the speaker is or what the speaker is going to talk about. Most students attend simply to get the points in hopes of helping their grade in the class. One of my Marketing Professors, Professor Havrilla, announced in my Market Research class that there was an upcoming extra credit guest speaker opportunity. The next day, I went to the designated room and I did not even take the time to investigate who the speaker was or what he was going to talk about. Like many students, I just figured I would attend for the points. Within a minute after the speaker was introduced, I was highly intrigued. The speaker was Jack Kopnisky, a 1978 Grove City College Alumni. Dr. Kopnisky is from Manhattan and is the President and CEO of Sterling Bancorp. He has a successful history of transforming businesses.

Under his leadership, Sterling Bancorp grew from $3.2 billion in assets in 2011 to $32 billion in assets in 2018 (my.gcc.edu). Needless to say, he is a pretty successful guy. He offered some business advice and centered his presentation around those topics. He listed a few attributes that all successful people are, and it was very fascinating to hear. He said that successful people work harder than everyone else. Successful people read everything and keep up with current world events. Successful people are never satisfied; they always want to find ways to grow and improve. Successful people set goals. Successful people make things happen. The advice and insight that Dr. Kopnisky offered was so inspiring and it changed the way that I go about daily life as a business major. It changed the way that I view challenges and it inspired me to work harder than ever. I will always keep the things he said in the back of my mind as I go into my business career next year. So next time you can get some extra credit, my advice is to appreciate the opportunity and try to learn something from it. You never know when something is going to impact you and your career.

 

 

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For Free?

As a student in college living in such an advanced technological age, one may find it merely impossible to get work done without a laptop. Well I am very happy to inform you that upon enrollment you will receive a laptop for free!

Grove City College has partnered with technology giant, HP, to provide each of their students with HP 2-in-1 laptops. The computers are usually the most up-to-date PCs and are chosen for the students so that they can have them throughout their duration at the College and after graduation.

In addition to the tablet personal computers, the college also provides the students with a printer, book bag, and technology service at the Technological Learning Center. The technology service deals with both minor and major repairs on the hardware or software that is provided to the students. The problem and the repair is usually diagnosed and taken care of within a timely manner depending upon severity.

Aside from personal printers, each student also receives up to 50 dollars of printing that is re-loadable each semester at the Technological Learning Center. This option is very popular among students as it routine to print prior to going to class.

Additionally, the school loads the computers with the Microsoft Office suite. Each student is given an email through Outlook that can be used for both internal and external matters. Another popular application among the students is OneNote. This application allows for students to type or even write their notes with the smart pen that is also provided for the laptops.

Grove City College really takes the time to meet the needs of each and every one of their students. Purchasing a laptop, printer, and software can be added stress for families already stressed due to cost of education. The College understands this and meets each student half way in order to provide them with the materials to live up to their true potential during their time here.

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Getting Published: Campus Magazines and More

Most writers know that getting their work published and out for the world to read is an intimidating feat. At the Grove, we have several campus publications that thrive on and publish only students’ work! Written by students and for fellow students, faculty, visitors, and community members, Grove City student publications encourage students to write everything from short stories to book reviews and poetry.

Here at the Grove, we have publications that fit every writer and style, from journalists to aspiring poets. Getting work published is an accomplishment students are proud to show their friends and family while they gain valuable writing experience and credibility to bring to future employers. Student editors staff each publication and provide helpful, constructive feedback to student writers.

Campus Newspaper

For aspiring journalists, Grove City publishes the College newspaper fondly called The Collegian. Content for the newspaper comes from students reporters who attend campus events, interview students, and cover any activities or exciting additions to Grove City. The Collegian covers everything from sports to movie reviews. Writing for this publication is a great way for students to be aware of campus current events and meet new students or even professors.

The Quad and The Echo

For those with a story to share, the College also publishes two literary magazines. One is the Quad, a student-written magazine that publishes short stories, poetry, creative nonfiction, essays, and more. The Quad publishes four issues per year, and editors distribute the magazine all over campus and at several small businesses in the Grove City community. A sister (and sometimes rival) publication to the Quad is the Echo, a magazine that publishes student art, photography, and poetry. Both publications offer students the opportunity to share their work with Grove City and its surrounding community.

Getting Involved

Students can also hold editorial positions for campus publications. Each publication has teams of editors that curate work, discuss with writers, and copy edit students’ writing for the final, polished result. Being a part of the editorial staff allows students to read their classmates’ work, learn to provide meaningful and valuable editorial feedback, and be involved in the publication and marketing process. To get involved, students submit their work electronically to the publication of their choice. From there, they will receive editorial feedback and be on the road to getting published.

Grove City’s student publications not only encourage students’ creativity and writing, but also represent the College. Grove City strives to uphold its reputation for academic excellence intertwined with Christian belief, and both of these values are evident in its students’ written work.

 

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Life Changing Electives: The Pottery Program at Grove City College

Grove City offers many worthwhile majors and minors to pursue, but if you are like most students, you will have a few general electives to fulfill as well. “General Electives” are classes of your choosing! This requirement gives students a great opportunity to explore topics and activities beyond their regular area of studies, and you can have a lot of fun doing this.

One of the most fulfilling and satisfying electives that I have ever taken is Pottery. Professor Rhoades has maintained a quality program for students with courses encompassing handbuilding, wheel throwing, sculpture, pueblo, raku, and advanced ceramics. When you are using the medium of clay, the process is always the same, but you get to choose what the final product will be. Here are some examples of the work you can create and keep at the end of the semester:

The following is a very basic description of how you begin to work with the medium of clay. You begin by wedging, the technique of mixing and rolling clay to make it consistent and remove air bubbles (air bubbles can cause problems when you fire the clay, mostly by turning your new piece of artwork into a mini explosive in the kiln). Once you have wedged your clay you can begin to create its form. There are two main techniques for doing so – handbuilding and wheel throwing. Your clay will slowly dry over time, and you can work with it until it reaches the texture of leather, at which point you cannot make any further alterations (aside from starting over again). Once your pottery is bone-dry you are ready for the kiln! First, you will bisque fire your work, then you are ready to glaze with a variety of different colors. Once you have glazed your pottery, you place your work back in the kiln for a glaze fire. If there are any runs that you do not like from your glazing then you can sand them in the studio to polish them up!

For anyone who is hesitant because they don not believe in their artistic ability, I would encourage you to take a look at my first piece of work. It is by no means a masterpiece, in fact it is an embarrassment! But Professor Rhoades is very generous and will reward you for your efforts and improvement! Yes, even this humble piece of pottery was A-worthy.

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Unconventional Study Tips

Close your eyes and picture this. A freshman shows up at Grove City College and is having a great time. Weeks go by without him/her even noticing, but then finally it happens. The day of reckoning. The freshman’s first test. Normally this would not be a problem, but this is not high school anymore, and the freshman does not know how to study. Well, maybe he/she knows how but is having a hard time doing what he/she has been told to do. He/she has heard it all a million times, go to the library, put in earplugs, and isolate yourself from humanity, but he/she just can not get himself to do so. Now open your eyes. Did I just describe you? If so, read on for Karl’s unconventional college study tips.

Tip 1 – Drink something

The first tip is to drink something. Anything. If you are like me, you probably think that studying is boring, and you would be right. It is. Sometimes you can not seem to stop your mind from wandering, and it feels like you need something else to think about that will not distract you yet provide your brain with brief moments of opportunity to think about something else other than studying. I have found that drinking something helps me focus on studying for longer periods of time precisely because of that. My personal favorite things to have while studying are non-caffeinated versions of drinks that wake me up, such as tea and coffee. You may find that although decaf coffee does not actually provide any caffeine boost, it reminds you of a time where it did and helped you feel truly alive, rather than feeling how you are right now in the middle of the night studying for a test.

Tip 2 – Just start

Studies have shown that people are more likely to finish a task they have started than if they have not started at all. This may sound silly, but there is something about the human mind that wants to finish something as soon as it is started. Instead of lying in your bed and thinking about studying, try sitting at your desk and opening your textbook. As soon as you do this, you are much more likely to actually study than the person who is thinking about studying in their bed.

Tip 3 – Study for 15 minutes WITHOUT DISTRACTION

When you first start studying, you will notice that it is easy to distract yourself in the beginning. Whether it is your phone, your computer, or your pesky roommate ripping Beyblades onto your head, it all seems more distracting in the beginning. Believe it or not, there is an element of momentum to studying. Once you study for about 15 minutes without letting yourself be distracted by anything, the next hour will fly by. Try it out, it feels amazing. Just make sure you do not let yourself get distracted by a single thing for those first 15 minutes or it will not work.

There you go, three study tips that I bet you have not heard before. Hopefully these help you study in the upcoming years, but hey, there is a possibility they will not help. The most important thing is to keep trying until you figure out what works for you! Never forget that.

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The Collegian: What it is Like to Edit a Newspaper at Grove City College

The Collegian
The Collegian
Copies of the Grove City’s newspaper, The Collegian, are available all over campus.

Grove City College offers students who enjoy writing and editing many opportunities to utilize their skills, such as working for The Collegian, Grove City’s campus newspaper.

Sophomore Britney Lukasiewicz is a copy editor for The Collegian at Grove City College. Britney has had experience in copy editing prior to attending Grove City, thus, when coming to campus she knew that copy editing was something she wanted to continue pursuing.

When asked how The Collegian has affected Britney since arriving on campus, she responded, “Being a part of the newspaper has given me a chance to meet new people and learn more about journalism.” Additionally, Britney describes the responsibilities of a copy editor for the school newspaper along with the time commitment in joining The Collegian in this specific position. She says, “Copy editors get an assignment sent to them each week of what type of articles they will edit (sports, entertainment, etc.) and then they get a day or two to correct them…Joining The Collegian is an easy way to get more involved with the campus, and it does not require a lot of time out of the week to complete.”

From Britney’s perspective, working for The Collegian as a copy editor is not all together a time-consuming task, however, it is incredible experience in the field of work she wants to pursue after graduating from Grove City. Britney explains how working for the Collegian, in any capacity, is a great way to dip your toes into the world of editing and/or publishing. She describes how working for the campus paper is not an overbearing time commitment, but the job does teach you valuable lessons in the world of writing, editing, and publishing.

All in all, working for The Collegian at Grove City College, provides students with the opportunity to gain experience in their field, while not being overwhelmed with an overbearing time commitment alongside of being a full-time student.

 

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Being an Undeclared Major – Katelyn Bartley

 

Sophomore Katelyn Bartley talks about coming to Grove City College without having a declared major. She says she decided to be undeclared because she was not confident in what she wanted to do for a career. Katelyn also felt that as a home-schooled student she had not explored all the options of possible career paths well enough to make an informed decision. She says she knew that she enjoyed some subjects she had learned about in high school, like English and History, but did not think that she wanted to pick a major based on that.

Katelyn says that as an undeclared major she was able to take different classes and learn more about her options for majors. She was able to avoid falling behind by taking a lot of required classes. One of these core classes was sociology and, from there, she developed an interest in social work. After taking more social work classes her second semester, she declared her major as Social Work.

Katelyn says she does not regret coming to college as an undeclared major. She says the decision was very helpful because she did not take classes she did not need by coming in as another major and then having to switch later on. She had the opportunity to take general classes that would apply to any major while exploring a few classes that sparked her interest. She credits this decision to not putting her behind in her major requirements now.

When asked if she has any advice for rising freshmen that are facing the same decisions, she says they should come in undeclared if they have a couple options and are unsure of one specific major. Katelyn points out that the professors are really helpful with students that want to explore options or have questions. She also says that student advisors are helpful in transferring from being undeclared to finding a major. She says that career services also personally aided her in her decision.

“There are always people here to give you advice and help you figure it out,” says Katelyn.

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Being an Undeclared Major: Lilly Klein

Sophomore student Lilly Klein knows what it is like to come into college without being set on a major. Although being undeclared can be stressful, Lilly says she does not regret the decision.

Lilly says she always knew she always enjoyed writing, but was not sure what career options would be available to her in the field. Due to this, she made the choice to hold off on choosing her major. She also says that she did not want to decide on a major and then have to change.
During her freshman year, Lilly took mainly general education classes that would apply to most (if not all) majors. During her sophomore year she branched out and took an accounting class. Lilly says that it was this class that helped her decide on a major. During that semester she declared an Accounting major with an English minor.
“I liked it a lot and I would nerd out about it with my mom and my friends. That’s what convinced me,” reflects Lilly.
She says she is grateful for her year and a half without a declared major because she says otherwise she might have never found her passion for accounting. Although her mom studied accounting, she had not considered it as an option for herself.
Lilly believes that the main benefit of being undeclared is that it gives the student a lot of flexibility and they can explore different classes without feeling like they are putting off classes in their major.
When asked if she has any advice for younger students faced with a similar situation to hers, she says, “Don’t be afraid of not having a major. I’d also say make sure you take a lot of diverse classes. One thing that I kind of regret is that I took a lot of required classes in my spring of freshman year. It wasn’t a bad decision necessarily because I got them out of the way, but it put off my decision-making process a bit more. Try to balance required classes with exploratory classes.”
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Campus Organization Spotlight: The Management Association

When prospective students think about college, many times their minds are drawn to big things like classes, professors, sports, fraternities or sororities, and dining. However, many times the most memorable and fulfilling moments of college happen within the many small organizations and clubs offered on campus.

The Grove City Management Association (or just Management Association for short) is a medium-sized organization, which is attempting a major comeback. This organization had faded into extinction in recent years, but a group of officers and faculty have brought it back to life. With around 40 current members, the Management Association is looking to continue to maintain a standard of excellence for years to come.

The purpose of the Management Association is to “provide the students of Grove City College of any major with opportunities to develop their practical management and business skills” explained current Management Association VP Liam Von Berg. “We do this by hosting guest speakers and putting together events for professional development, such as last year’s Ethics Panel where five alumni from Grove City came and spoke about ethics in the workplace and their various stories of ethical dilemmas,” he added.

Von Berg recalled one story told at the Ethics Panel that particularly stuck with him. “One guy spoke about his time as a car rental sales rep and how he wouldn’t rent a car to a woman because she didn’t meet [the] criteria. His boss told the lady she could have the car anyway, despite not meeting company standards, and she ended up stealing the car and burning down an ex boyfriends house!” Not all of the stories were so dramatic, Von Berg added, “But there was a good amount of talk regarding the gray areas that we face in everyday work.”

Other events put on by the Management Association include a fall party, booths at organization fairs, and smaller club meetings. At these meetings, they sometimes have business owners (for example, Kory Kay, a Chick-fil-A operator) come in to tell their story and give advice to the members. In addition, one of the most exciting events that they have planned is a tour of a FedEx plant.

The Management Association also has big plans to put on a “Women in the Workplace” event, hosting some of Grove City’s own female faculty to discuss various scenarios that they faced in the workplace and how they handled them.

One unique aspect about this organization is that membership is not exclusively reserved for “Business” or “Management” majors. Any student who is looking to develop their business or management knowledge is welcome to join.

Membership is pretty simple, as they are always looking for new members to grow the organization. All prospective students interested in any field of business or management are encouraged to check out the Management Association upon arrival at Grove City.