Category: Alumni Stories

Hello! The following is an interview with one of the greatest friends at made at Grove City College – Savanna Davies. She studied Finance at Grove City College and served as treasurer of the Tri-Zeta Sorority. She was hired after graduation at Traveler’s Insurance and has been working there ever since. If you are interested in studying Finance at Grove City College, I believe hearing about Savanna’s story will greatly benefit you!

Tell me a little bit about you.

I am a second generation Grove City graduate from Washington State. Both my mom, Heather Davies (Scott ’90), and my dad, Rich Davies ’91 graduated from Grove City before me.

Where do you work and what is your specific title?

My degree was Finance, and I was thrilled to be hired by Travelers Insurance upon graduation as an underwriter in their construction surety unit.

What does your current job entail and what do you love about it?

Public (and some private) owners of construction projects require contractors to post a bond as a guarantee that the contractor will complete a project in a satisfactory manner and that it will be free from liens. I analyze contractors’ operational strength and grant surety bond credit, on behalf of Travelers Insurance, to contractors so that they may bid projects that require a bond to be posted. I love getting to tour construction sites, I don’t think many people consider just how much work goes into building!

What club(s) were you involved in during your time at Grove City College?

I was in the Tri-Zeta sorority at Grove City College.

How do you feel GCC prepared you for and benefited your future career?

The challenging academics at Grove City College demand students to engage in critical thought, which is of course an important trait that employers look for.  While it is tough to custom tailor a degree for the uncertain road after graduation, I was particularly pleased at the quality of my finance and economics coursework.

How available are the professors after class time if you need additional help?

My professors were very available for conversation outside of class time! Not only were my professors great about helping out with coursework, they were also happy to give advice on topics such as finding internships and my eventual career.

What does the school offer that you wished you had taken advantage of while at GCC?

I wish that I would have been more involved with homecoming activities. The magic of homecoming didn’t quite hit me until I came back for my first college homecoming.

After graduation, were there any classes you wish you had taken to help with your degree?

Knowing what I know now, I wish that I would have taken more accounting classes.

If you could change something about your college experience what would it be?

Tough question! I really had an amazing college experience and wouldn’t change a thing.

What is your best advice to give an incoming freshmen at GCC?

My best advice is to go out and meet your classmates, I assure you that many will turn into lifelong friends. In all reality, the friends I made at Grove City ended up being my favorite part about the College.

Craig Gyergyo is an associate pastor at Highpoint Church in Memphis, TN. I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Craig for many years now and believe he sets a great example for anyone looking to pursue ministry as their career. He graduated in 1996 with a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. Please enjoy this insight from Craig!

Tell me a little bit about you, your hobbies and your family.

My wife Lisa (Keehlwetter, 2001) and I have been married for nearly 17 years. We have three daughters that range from age 12 to age 7. Our girls are homeschooled and are active in our local community. Family life is a major focus in our household, as well as ministry. Those are two of my passions! Other than that, I enjoy early morning walks, long bike rides, visits to the movie theater with my wife and curating my vinyl record collection.

What is your specific title?

Currently I serve as an associate pastor at Highpoint Church in Memphis, TN. Highpoint is a non-denominational church comprised of three campuses in the Memphis area.

What does being as associate pastor entail and what do you love about it?

I have had the opportunity to oversee college and young adult ministry, local missions, and small groups ministry during my time at Highpoint. Currently, my focus is on building a student ministry (grades 6-12) from scratch at our newest campus.

What I love about all of the roles that I have served in at Highpoint is the focus that we have on the Gospel. Simply put, we preach Christ! With this, we are seeing incredible stories of life-change emerge from our congregation. The combination of that focus and those stories generate a life-giving cycle, as well as a ton of passion, enthusiasm and fun.

What activities were you involved in at Grove City?

During my GCC years I was a member of the Alpha Omega housing group and also a four-year athlete as a part of the varsity football team. I was also active in a group called Warriors for Christ.

Looking back, I wish that I had been more involved on campus. Grove City College certainly provides a wide array of opportunities to both contribute to student life and develop as an emerging leader. At the time, I just wasn’t there. In hindsight, I can clearly see how I would have benefited from taking the initiative to be more active on campus at GCC.

How do you feel Grove City College prepared you for and benefited your future career?

Grove City College’s greatest legacy in my life is the development of a Christian worldview. I grew up nominally affiliated with the church as a result of my parents dragging me to worship and Sunday School throughout my middle school and high school years. But coming into college, I really didn’t have a sense of faith ownership – that is, I wasn’t personally committed to Christ. That all changed early on during my years at GCC and God used the environment at the college to install a new operating system in me, if you will, that was rooted in an understanding of God through the scriptures.

How available were the professors after class time if you needed additional help?

The professors were incredibly supportive and helpful to me personally. There are a few that I think of – for instance, Mrs. Barbara Stephens, Dr. Gary Smith – who had a major influence on the trajectory of my life. I feel like the faculty made a significant effort to generate a family feel on campus. Being available to help students after class time was a big part of that, I’m sure.

What does the school offer that you wished you had taken advantage of while at Grove City College?

GCC provides a faith-rich environment that is unique to pretty much anything else one will encounter in life. The opportunity to couple academic excellence and a faith focus is really, really special. I took advantage of both to a certain degree, but I left something on the table, I believe. The experience of living on a campus where such a high density of passionate Christ-followers exists…the opportunity to get involved in mission work…never ending opportunities to worship and fellowship in the context of Christian community…it really is a once-in-a-lifetime kind of thing. I wish that I had appreciated it more at the time.

After graduation, were there any classes you wish you had taken to help with your degree? 

Not necessarily. I just wish I had taken the classes that I did take more seriously!

If you could change something about your college experience, what would it be?

People historically have a tendency to think of Grove City College as having a restrictive environment. For years, the jokes from both insiders and outsiders were about walking on the grass or curfew rules or about the campus being “a bubble.” I see Grove City College now as being an environment that actually promotes freedom – real freedom. If I were an incoming freshman, I’d want to take greater advantage of that God-given freedom to explore whom it is that Christ has purposed and called me to be.

What is your best advice to give an incoming freshmen at GCC?

Take in the beauty of the experience! The campus, the western Pennsylvania setting, the walks to the cafeteria, the late night conversations with friends in the dorms, the classes, the early morning chapel days (shout out to my father-in-law Dr. F. Stanley Keehlwetter!), the intramural sports – all of it! Grove City College is truly a special place and you only have one opportunity, one season of life to take it all in. Make the most of the time!

Julia Allan is a kind-hearted lady who resides in the North Side of Pittsburgh and works at Children’s Community Pediatrics of Bellevue. In the following interview, you will see how her studies at Grove City College have allowed her to live our her passions every day!

Tell me a little bit about you, your hobbies, your family… etc?

I graduated in 2004 and I went straight to PA (Physician’s Assistant) school for two years following my graduation. I began practicing in February of 2007, so I have been practicing for 10 years. I married a graduate from Grove City College who is now a pastor. I live on the North Side with my husband and 3 children who are the ages 6, 4, and 2 and I am expecting now with twins! The oldest, Keely, is in Pittsburgh Public School and Jay (age 4) will be joining Keely there soon. I love Pittsburgh and I am very devoted to the neighborhood that I live in. I love to be a part of the community in my neighborhood and my children’s school. Dennis (my husband) and I are involved at Pittsburgh Project and are attune to the needs of our neighbors.

Where do you work and what is your specific title?

The practice I work at is located 10 minutes away from my house, which means I care for my neighbors! It is call Children’s Community Pediatrics of Belleview and my specific title is Physician Assistant.

What does your current job entail and what do you love about it?

I basically do what a Pediatrician does. I see children from 2-3 days old to age 21. I do yearly physicals, vaccinations, developmental check-ups, and basic sickness care. I work two nine-hour days in the office and do after-hour emergency phone calls two nights a week. I love that I can be involved in my community through this job and care for my neighbors’ children.

Some view pediatrics as being monotonous, but I feel there is a variety because of the age range of my patients. Something difficult about my job is the social dynamics. There is a fair amount of poverty in the North Side and many of the children I care for are involved in the foster system or have parents with substance abuse. Because of this, my patients have developmental issues, but I love practicing in this environment and doing what I can to help them. This can be as simple as teaching basic nutrition and health care. I love understanding the dynamics of my neighborhood and doing all I can to benefit my neighbors.

What club(s) were you involved in?

I did Orientation Board all four years and I was on OB exec my Junior and Senior year as co-chair of religious committee. I also did Orchesis where I was Junior Head Choreographer and Senior Head Choreographer my last two years. My freshman year I participated in an ICO mission trip to New York City. Lastly, through the pre-health program, I did two overseas medical trips. The first was during spring break of my junior year, and the second was during the summer before my senior year. During these trips, we cared for patients in a Haitian refugee program in the Dominican Republic.

How do you feel GCC prepared you and benefited your future career?

The pre-health program at Grove City College is excellent. It really kicked my butt and taught me to work hard after I breezed through high school as valedictorian. I learned that hard work is not something to complain and lament about, but it provides the opportunity to learn something valuable. This hard work also prepared my for an intense master’s program to get my PA degree.

The people I encountered at Grove City College were remarkable. They challenged and encouraged my faith, which is the foundation of everything I do. The ICO trip and mission trips that I took opened my eyes to a greater awareness of the realities people live in. This created a discontent to the injustice and a desire to work against the injustice. My perspective was vastly shifted. The more poverty I saw, the more I wanted to help and not ignore it.

How available are the professors after class time if you need additional help?

My professors were very available to help. I went to office hours and worked through problems with them regularly. The coursework kicked my butt, but the professors seemed to want to help us succeed and learn to do our best. They met me where I was and helped me through.

What does the school offer that you wished you had taken advantage of while at GCC?

If I had had more time, I would have loved to mentor at George Junior or participate in Young Life. I have been very involved in Youth Ministry and I would have loved to have that prior experience.

After graduation, were there any classes you wish you had taken to help with your degree? 

The Molecular Biology major had many required courses and there was not much room for electives. I did a Religion minor. I would have loved to do a Psychology minor, but they did not offer it when I was there. Seeing now how psychology affects my patients, I would have loved to have more experience in psychology.

What is your best advice to give an incoming freshmen at GCC?  What did you enjoy the most and find most beneficial at GCC?

The best advice I can give is to embrace the reality you get to experience a very rich Christian Community and allow your college years to be a time when your faith really deepens. Challenge yourself to invest in activities that continue to expand your perspective and awareness of realities in the world that Christians should be involved in. Use these four years to understand how you can use your education to make things right where they are not right. Always acknowledge the great privilege it is to get an education from a Christian perspective.

Thank you, Julia! We do offer a psychology minor now, so that may be a good thing for any incoming pre-health students to look in to if they have passions like Julia!

Hello! Welcome back to my Alumni Series. I am so excited to introduce to you one of my very best friends – Emily Owen. She is a wonderful woman and made the most of her time at Grove City! She is now abroad in France as an au pair (a live-in nanny). She will be there until the end of the semester. Though I am very excited for her return to the US (I’ve missed her!) I think this has been a wonderful opportunity for her. Enjoy this interview!

Tell me a little bit about you.

Hi, my name is Emily Owen and I am a recent graduate of Grove City College! I graduated with a B.A. in Psychology with minors in Family Studies and Social Work in December of 2016, a semester early. I am an optimistic person who loves to do anything as long as there are other people involved! Some of my hobbies include reading, dancing, hiking, and discovering new places. And of course, I am always down for talking over coffee or tea. I have two older sisters and a younger brother, and we are all very different from one another. That has been a huge help for me, I think in learning how to get along with all kinds of people.

Where do you work and what is your specific title?

Right now, I am working as an au pair (live-in nanny) in Paris, France. I technically live in a town called Choisy-le-Roi, southeast of Paris, but it is essentially Paris. I’ll be starting a graduate program in the fall at Evangelical Seminary to obtain my master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy.

What does being an au pair entail and what do you love about it?

My job entails taking care of two French children, aged 7 and 5. I take them to and from school, I prepare meals for them, we play together, and I teach a little bit of English to the older boy. I love the opportunity to live with another family and see their way of life, especially in their French culture. The kids are sweet and I have loved getting to know them. If I’m being honest, though, my favorite thing has been living in Paris!

What activities were you involved in during your time at Grove City College?

At Grove City College, I was a member of the Tri-Zeta Sorority, the Homecoming Committee President, a Spring Dance Company Senior Head, a Student Ambassador, a dancer/choreographer/house manager for the Orchesis Dance Troupe, a member of Psi Chi, a member of the Sociology, Social Work, and Psychology Association, and I also served with the New Life Ministry.

How do you feel  your time at Grove City College prepared you for your future?

Grove City prepared me extremely well for my professional and academic career during and after school. The internships that I worked at during my years at school were made much easier by the fact that I had so much knowledge on a variety of subjects necessary for the job. As for graduate school, I was well-prepared to apply and be accepted from my education and the other available resources the college provides. In my current job, my education in psychology and development has been helpful in understanding the children I am working with. Overall, I learned how to work with a variety of personalities and working habits and how to look at the world within my Christian perspective.

How available were your professors after class if you needed additional help?

My professors were always wonderful and always available, whether it was via email or even a phone call. For a question about class, a hypothetical question, help with a problem at an internship, writing letters of recommendation, or even just giving time to discuss my career and life, they were always there to aid and guide me. Even now, I am in contact with some of my professors.

What does the school offer that you wished you had taken advantage of while at GCC?

I did take advantage of the Career Services Office, but I wish I had taken MORE advantage of the office and the services that they provide. You sometimes don’t realize until you’re in the real world what kind of skills you needed, and the CSO did a good job of offering information on those things.

Do you feel that GCC has continued to provided majors and programs that are current with the needs of today’s job market?  Do they have programs that provide a “fast track” for certain careers? 

I think GCC has done a good job of continuing to provide majors and programs that keep up with the times. As computer science has evolved, the school has added different minors or classes to keep up with what prospective students are interested in. While there are some degrees that we don’t have or that are not as “specific” as some people may want, the degrees we have do very well. I think with our network of alumni and how hard the school works to connect you to the real world, almost any degree can “fast track” you to a certain career.

Did you feel prepared for graduate school after your time at GCC?

Absolutely. Even though I have not started graduate school yet, I have heard from numerous people who came before me in the Psychology department that grad school was, while I hesitate to say it, easy because of their educational background. We have seminar style classes and requirements that some undergraduate students don’t even see or experience until grad school, so we are a step ahead.

What is your best advice to give an incoming freshmen at GCC?

You only have four years here, or even three and a half, so enjoy every moment! Go to a dance even if you’re not sure you want to go, because you soon won’t have the chance to. Try out a new activity, or take a random class you’re interested in. College is such a unique time to do these things and it flies by. Also, Grove City College is a special place. The people you meet there want to build you and help you grow, from fellow students, to staff, to professors. Don’t miss out on opportunities to meet people and get to know them, because those relationships will be what you take from these four years. Personally, I loved the environment of Grove City. Everyone is friendly and since most of the students are firm believers in the Christian faith, it makes for a closer, safer feeling campus. The people I met during my time at GCC were the most beneficial things, and the time I spent with them is priceless.

Choosing a college can be tough, but choosing a subject to study can be just as difficult. My hope with my blog series on Alumni is to give insight about what they chose to study and how this affected the rest of their lives. Today’s post is about my dad, David Lyon. He studied Mechanical Engineering in college, and has translated his studies and time at Grove City College into a successful and fulfilling life. Please enjoy the following insight and advice from David Lyon!

Tell me a little bit about you, your hobbies, your family… ect?

I am married and have two children.  My daughter is a senior in college and my son is a senior in High School.  My wife is a stay at home mom.  I like to watch sports, play golf, spend time with my family.

Where do you work and what is your specific title?

I work at a company called McKamish. My Title is VP of Commercial Construction.

What does your current job entail and what do you love about it?

I am responsible for a department within McKamish called the Commercial Construction Group. I have       approximately 25 people who report to me. I am responsible for the operations and financials of the department.  I love the people I work with and also the satisfaction of seeing a project completed with a satisfied customer.

What club(s) were you involved in?

ADEL Fraternity

How do you feel GCC prepared you for and benefited your future career?

I received a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. It was a very difficult major and much was expected. Also, my peers were extremely intelligent and competitive. By working and studying with my peers I feel that I was well prepared for the challenges of real world experiences and ability to persevere.

How available are the professors after class time if you need additional help?

The Engineering professors were always available to help.

What does the school offer that you wished you had taken advantage of while at GCC?

Engineering did not allow much free time. There were various clubs and associations that I wish I could have had the time to join.

After graduation, were there any classes you wish you had taken to help with your degree? 

I think public speaking should be taught to all students. I don’t remember if it was offered but in hindsight I would have loved to take a course in public speaking.

If you could change something about your college experience, what would it be?

Learn to study and be more disciplined the first couple years. Also, as stated above I wish I had more time to participate in other clubs/associations. There are many great ministry, charity, and associations related to any major that I would have loved to have taken advantage of.

Did you feel Grove City College made sure you were academically prepared for graduate school?

I did not go to graduate school, but feel that I was easily prepared if I wanted to attend.

What is your best advice to give an incoming freshmen at GCC? What did you enjoy the most and find most beneficial at GCC?

Keep up with all course work as you go. Find a study group in your major. Take advantage of clubs, associations, guest speakers to enhance your college experience. Meet people and go to career fairs to get leads on internships and eventually a full time career position.

Thanks so much, David! First, great news, we now offer a public speaking class! Second, check out this list of all of Grove City College’s ministry groups. David said he would have loved to be involved in some of these! Take a quick look and plan to check a couple out when you arrive at Grove City College!