Monday, June 12, 2023

Paige Rohrbach is AEE June Student of the Month

AEE June Student of the Month:
Paige Rohrbach

Each month the Center for Professional Personnel Development recognizes an AEE for their achievements. For the month of June, we would like to recognize Paige Rohrbach as Student of the Month. Throughout her time at Penn State, Paige has had many achievements both in academics and extracurriculars. gggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg Paige is from Oley Valley, Pennsylvania and is a graduate of Oley Valley High School. During her time in high school, Paige was a member of the Oley Valley FFA chapter. She is currently a senior in Agricultural and Extension Education and will graduate in the Spring of 2024. Her future plans are to return to the classroom to teach high school agriculture. She chose Penn State "because of vast opportunities and resources that they provide and connections that we make while in college".

During her time at Penn State, Paige has become very involved in many different clubs, jobs, and other activities. She is currently a student worker for the Center for Professional Personnel Development. She also serves as an Ag Recruitment Intern, Ag Advocate, Teach Ag! Avenger, and is a member of the Coaly Society. She has also completed an internship over the summer for Montgomery county 4-H. A defining moment for Paige during her college career was when she got the opportunity to teach in a high school classroom in Glenwood, Minnesota with Mrs. Tiffany Kobberman during Spring Break of 2023.

Paige's favorite class at Penn State was AEE 349 with Dr. Ewing. Room 213 in the Ferguson building is Paige's favorite place to hangout on campus. Her favorite place to eat in State College is Moe's. She is a fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Her hobbies include hunting and hanging out with family. One interesting thing about Paige is that she has been alligator hunting in Florida.

Her agriculture interest is Environmental and Wildlife. In the Spring she will be student teaching at Cedar Crest High School with Mr. Philip Haussener and Ms. Claudia Brady. She will be teaching a wide array of classes. She is most excited to grow as a teacher and become more confident while teaching lessons. She is really looking forward to growing her knowledge of mechanics.

Her favorite quote is:

"An arrow can only be shot by pulling it backward. So when life is dragging you back with difficulties, it means that it's going to launch you into something great. So just focus, and keep aiming." -Paulo Coelho

Follow Paige on Twitter and Instagram

Twitter: @prohrbach02

Instagram: @paigerohrbach02

Erica Teagarden

CPPD Student Worker

Agricultural and Extension Education

Class of 2026

Monday, May 1, 2023

Baylor Shunk is AEE May Student of the Month

AEE May Student of the Month:
Baylor Shunk

Each month the Center for Professional Personnel Development recognizes an AEE for their achievements. For the month of May, we would like to recognize Baylor Shunk as Student of the Month. Throughout his time at Penn State, Baylor has had many achievements both in academics and extracurriculars.

Baylor is from Centre Hall, Pennsylvania and is a graduate of Penns Valley High School. During his time in high school, Baylor was a member of the Penns Valley FFA chapter and apart of the Penns Valley Rams Wrestling team.

Baylor will graduate in 2024 with a Bachelors Degree in Agricultural and Extension Education and is currently apart of the Penn State wrestling team. His future plans are to teach in a school-based agriculture education program in Pennsylvania, coach high school wrestling, and settle down and raise a family.

When asked why he chose Penn State Baylor said, "I chose Penn State because I knew that the Ag Ed program was superior, and then when the wrestling program reached out, that solidified my decision in continuing my academics and athletics here in State College". His favorite class at Penn State is AEE 311 with Dr. Curry. On campus, he is apart of the Penn State wrestling team and has been since starting college. Baylor says that his favorite hang-out spot on campus is the Lorenzo Wrestling Complex.

His hobbies include wrestling, farming, hunting, and trying to play guitar which he is currently teaching himself to do. Jersey Mike's is Baylor's favorite place to eat in State College. His favorite sports team is the Pittsburgh Steelers. HIs agricultural interests includes ag mechanics and farming practices

Baylor is completing his student teaching internship at Central Columbia High School with Mr. Doug Brown. He is teaching Ag Science 1, 2, 3, and 4. He teaches units with in Small Gas Engines, Food Science, Electrical Wiring, Welding, Animal Welfare, Pollinators, Woodworking, ATV Safety, FFA, Safe Tractor Driving, and Machinery Operation. He also teaching Environmental Science and Forest and Wildlife Science. During his student teaching experience, Baylor says that he is most excited for coaching his students for CDEs and LDEs. "I love coaching, so getting to coach some CDE/LDE teams and individuals during my student teaching is something that I love and enjoy".

His favorite quote is:

"Life is far too important of a thing to ever talk serious about"- Raymond Reddington

Follow Baylor on Twitter and Instagram

Twitter: @ShunkBaylor

Instagram: @shunk_psu

Erica Teagarden

CPPD Student Worker

Agricultural and Extension Education

Class of 2026

Monday, April 3, 2023

Ambar Robalino is AEE April Student of the Month

AEE April Student of the Month:

Ambar Robalino

The Center for Professional Personnel Development would like to recognize Ambar Robalino as the April AEE Student of the Month. Ambar demonstrates excellent academic and extracurricular involvement and dedication. Ambar is from Jamaica, Queens, New York and graduated from John Bowe High School where she was involved in the John Bowe FFA chapter for four years. In her high school FFA chapter, she held the officer positions of Student Advisor and Sentinel. She also held the position of District 1 President.

Ambar is currently pursuing a bachelors degree in Agricultural and Extension Education and began her college career at the Beaver Campus. " I was in high school during college visits, and none of the New York colleges wowed me the way Penn State did. Not only did they care about academics but also the well-being of their students." She enjoys the support system of the Penn State community and the feeling of having a home away from home. Also, she loves the school spirit that everyone has at Penn State. "I feel proud driving with my bumper sticker and seeing other Nittany Lions on the road no matter where I am."

Ambar's favorite class was AEE 311 with Dr. Curry. She enjoys hanging out on the lawns on campus and feeding the squirrels when she can. Her favorite place to eat in State College is Tadashi Ramen noodle restaurant. Ambar's hobbies include drawing, listening to music, video editing, fish keeping, herping, birdwatching, hiking, and traveling. Her favorite sports team is the Ecuador National Football team.

She has completed and internship with the Global Orientation to Agriculture program and had the opportunity to travel to Des Moines, Iowa for the World Food Prize Borlaug Dialogues. She also got to experience a teaching immersion to Tennessee and got to visit the Smokey Mountains.

Her agricultural interest has come from the cognitive abilities of animals, specifically regarding language and communication. She also has an interest in Aquaculture, Herpetology, exotic animals, Entomology, and Wildlife.

Currently, Ambar is completing her student teaching experience at Brockway Jr/Sr Area High School. She is teaching Intro to Welding, Horticulture, Animal Science, Small Gas Engines, Wildlife, and Intro to Agriculture. She is excited for her Wildlife students to get the hands on experience with reptiles. The students will get this experience from the help of a local educational reptile outreach business. Her goal is to get her students more comfortable with handling reptiles. Her future plans are to travel the United States before looking into a career.

Ambar's favorite quote is:

"If you tremble with indignation at every injustice, then you are a comrade of mine. “ -Che Guevara

Erica Teagarden

CPPD Student Worker

Agricultural and Extension Education

Class of 2026

Monday, March 20, 2023

Nicolette Cusate's 2023 NAAE IDEAP FAST Experience

Nicolette Cusate, Agricultural and Extension Education senior currently student teaching at Northwestern Senior High School, was granted the opportunity to attend the 2023 NAEE FAST - Creating an Inclusive, Diverse, Equitable, and Accessible Progam. Nicolette, along with 19 other pre-service agricultural educators were chosen to travel to Lexington, Kentucky for this experience from March 1st to the 3rd.

During her time in Kentucky, she had the opportunity to tour the Kentucky School for the Deaf and meet some of the students as well as the advisor. Nicollete says, "It was so inspiring to see the students that go there and hear their stories and how FFA and ag ed has impacted their lives." While at the school the students taught Nicolette and the others how to sign the alphabet. They communicated with students through interpreters. "I wish everyone in our cohort could go there and see their program, it is truly one of a kind and super impactful to experience in person."

She was also able to tour Carter G. Woodson Academy which has an FFA program of 96% African American male scholars who are admitted by a lottery system. This FFA chapter is also integrated with a Jr. MANRRS chapter through the University of Kentucky. Unfortunately due to a tornado warning Nicolette was not able to visit the school but did have a chance to meet their advisor in person and scholars on zoom. "We asked them questions about what it is like to be a minority in FFA and about their motivations to join and stay in the organization. They stayed
positive and were so kind to us, even though the day did not end up going as planned."

These are some highlights from Nicolette's trip so be sure to look at her blog for some more details about her experience.

Erica Teagarden

CPPD Student Worker

Agricultural and Extension Education

Class of 2026

Wednesday, March 15, 2023

Jacob Turko is AEE March Student Of The Month

AEE March Student Of The Month:
Jacob Turko

For the month of March, the Center For Professional Personal Development would like to acknowledge Jacob Turko as a student who demonstrates excellent educational and extracurricular involvement and excellence. Jacob graduated high school from Kempton, PA, Kutztown Senior High School. He will be graduating from Pennsylvania State University in May 2023 with a Bachelor's in Agriculture and Extension Education and Minors in Sustainability Leadership and International Agriculture. His future plans are to attend the University of Kentucky for a Master's in Community and Leadership Development and his research will focus on the recruitment and retention of minorities in agriculture.

Jacob chose to attend Penn State for his undergrad because he thought it was the best fit for him to grow in agriculture education while gaining the most current agricultural-based knowledge. His favorite class here at Penn State was ASM 327 which is Agricultural System Management: Soil and Water Resource Management. The clubs that he was involved in were: MANRRS, and PSU FFA Alumni and Supporters Chapter. The jobs he had here were with the Poultry Education and Research Center and Millbrook Marsh Nature Center. For internships, Jacob did Tick Research at the International Livestock Research Institute in Kenya, and another internship at Wildlife Conservation in Belize.

When we asked what Jacobs most valued experience was he responded: "I am proud to be a role model for other minority students in agriculture within my school and to encourage and uplift them into the career field the best I can".

Jacobs' favorite sports team is the Philadelphia Eagles. He enjoys hanging out on the third floor of the library here at Penn State. His favorite place to eat at State College is Yallah Taco. Jacob's hobbies include painting, gaming, and reading.

When it comes to FFA background, Jacob comes from Kutztown FFA. His agricultural interest/passion is education, horticulture, and natural resource management. When asked one interesting thing about himself he responded "I am going to be the first person in my family to graduate from college!"

Jacob is currently student teaching at WB Saul Agricultural High School. The two classes that he is leading instruction in are Natural Resource Management and Veterinary Technology II.

Jacob's favorite quote is:

"Start where you are, with what you have. Make something of it and never be satisfied."

- George Washington Carver

Make sure to follow Jacob on Twitter:
@TurkoJacob

Sara Lichty

CPPD Student Worker

Agricultural Sciences

Class of 2023

Thursday, February 16, 2023

February 2023 AEE Student of the Month: Nicolette Cusate

Nicolette Cusate is February's Agricultural and Extension Education Student of the Month!

The Center for Professional Personnel Development recognizes students with outstanding academic and extra-curricular activities and involvement. We are excited to announce that Nicolette Cusate is February's 2023 Agricultural and Extension Education Student of the Month!

Nicolette's hometown is Bloomsburg, PA and she attended Columbia-Montour Area Vocational Technical School. Before she came to University Park, Nicolette studied at Penn State Behrend. She states "I had the best time there. I was involved in many clubs and was a member of Alpha Sigma Tau, a social sorority. I got to tell a bunch of people that didn’t know what agriculture education was about how awesome our major is! I also met a lot of my best friends there that I am still close with today. My time at a commonwealth campus was invaluable to me, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world." Nicolette will graduate in the Spring of 2023 with a Bachelor's in Agricultural and Extension Education. When asked about her future plans she responds that she wants to "make a positive impact on students in whatever capacity I’m called to".

Nicolette chose Penn State because "they have the best Ag Ed program!" Her favorite classes during her time at Penn State were AEE 311 (Developing Youth Leadership through Organization and Program), AEE 412 (Methods of Teaching Agriculture and Environmental Science), and AEE 350 (Teaching Methods for Agricultural and Environmental Laboratories). She was also involved in multiple clubs including PSU FFA Alumni and Supporters, Alpha Tau Alpha, Alpha Sigma Tau, and Pennsylvania State Education Association Student Member. She also held a job position at the Center for Professional Personnel Development as a Student Worker. Nicolette also had an internship at Keystone Smiles AmeriCorps. Her favorite hang-out space on campus was Ferguson 213. Her hobbies include "spending time with my boyfriend Kade, putting together puzzles, hiking, and exploring new places".

2023 Cohort Final Presentations Showcase

Senior Presentations Showcase

2023 Cohort

The members of the 2023 Cohort have completed their final presentations and officially started their student teaching experience. In their final presentations, they demonstrated what they have learned during their educational journey that prepared them for becoming future educators.

For each presentation, they are expected to answer the following three questions:

What do I aspire to be as a teacher?
What experiential education opportunities have I engaged in to become a better Agricultural Educator?
How am I prepared to maximize my student teaching internship opportunity?

We are so proud of each of our seniors and hope you enjoy watching them present all they have accomplished during their college careers and all they hope to accomplish in their future careers. The entire playlist is linked below, or scroll down to view each individual and their video.

Use this link to access the entire playlist:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vlAoiMaNwQ&list=PLysuEbjHRsoExMjtlfRQDwMxH6cDlJdey