Congratulations Cheyenne Wivell, #psuaged18 member Hired!

Another #psuaged18 member has been hired! We'd like to congratulate our very own Cheyenne Wivell, who was recently hired by Gettysburg Area High School in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

Cheyenne is originally from Wellsville, Pennsylvania, and a former member of the Gifford Pinchot FFA Chapter. She completed her student teaching internship in the spring of 2018 at Kennard-Dale High School in Fawn Grove, Pennsylvania and graduated from Penn State in the spring of 2018.

During her time at Penn State, Cheyenne has had many great experiences in The College of Agricultural Sciences. Here's just a short list of what she's been involved in:

• Collegiate Horseman Association

• Collegiate Penn State Horse Judging Team

• Photography Chair for the Annual Penn State Quarter Horse Sale

• Employee of the Penn State Horse Barns

Cheyenne was officially hired by Gettysburg Area High School on November 5th, and steps into the position from her previous job as a West Nile Field Assistant with Pennsylvania's West Nile Virus Control Program in York County, where she has been traveling around the County sampling and treating for mosquitoes and testing for West Nile Virus. "Did you know that there are over 60 types of mosquitoes in Pennsylvania? York County found 31 varieties this summer." This position provided her with a very unique experience and a much different view of agriculture that intercepts both animal and human health.

In September Cheyenne was offered a full-time position with the County, but said that she was ready to get back into teaching, so she applied at Gettysburg High School. She was hired for the teaching position on November 5th, and began teaching this past Monday on November 19th, just as one of the current teachers, Ms. Laura Kennedy, left for maternity leave. She joins the agricultural program at Gettysburg with a fellow Nittany Lion, Ms. Jenna Timmons, a #psuaged16 member who was just hired by the district in the spring of 2016 and also completed her student teaching at Kennard-Dale High School!  

As she steps into her position at Gettysburg, Cheyenne will get the opportunity to teach a variety of subjects, including Intro to Agriscience, Ag Leadership, Animal Vet Science 1 & 2, and Equine Science. If you know Cheyenne, you'll know her passion for horses, so she's very excited to teach the Equine Science class, but she says, "each one of these classes brings a special interest to me and I'm super excited." She's ready to get into teaching again, and see the profession from the angle of a full-time teacher after getting the experience of a student teacher. Cheyenne was sure to point out that Penn State's Agriculture and Extension Education program has prepared her to teach by providing her with lessons, patience, practice, and understanding. She says that she's anxious to step back into teaching, but it feels like she's coming home. "I am super excited because everyone is super supportive, excited, and glad I am here; that makes the transition even easier! I love this district and the individuals here." 

We asked Cheyenne if she has any advice for anyone who's thinking about Agricultural Education. She says that if you're thinking about it, just to do it. The opportunity to teach someone else and to be a positive agent of change is an important and influential one. She shared that, "You could be the only reason that student smiled today, the only reason that student felt important. Wouldn't you want to do that for someone?"

We wish Cheyenne the best of luck as she steps into her new position at Gettysburg Area High School, and we can't wait to see her success! She leaves us with one last thing to say: 

"I am very thankful for all of the support that I have received and still receive from the crew at PSU! I greatly appreciate you all and hope you have a great Thanksgiving!"

- Cheyenne Wivell, #psuaged18

To learn more about starting on the path to having a career that makes a positive impact on the lives of students across the globe by becoming an agricultural educator, please contact the agricultural teacher education program at teachag@psu.edu. Follow us on Twitter at TeachAgPSU, on Facebook, or on our blog.

 

Hunter Kauffman

Team Leader, @TeachAgPSU Communications

Wildlife and Fisheries Science

College of Agricultural Sciences