November 2021 AEE Student of the Month: Gabrielle Kriley

The Center for Professional Personnel Development is proud to name Gabrielle Kriley as the November 2021 Agricultural and Extension Education Student of the Month. Gabby is a senior studying Agricultural and Extension Education with a minor in International Agriculture. She is from Rural Valley, Pennsylvania where she graduated from Lenape Technical School. 

Gabby's passion for agriculture was sparked at a young age from growing up on her family's fruit farm and continued as she began her journey as a member of the Armstrong County 4-H. She was apart of the Young Ruff Riders, Square Dancing Team, and Teen Leadership Council. She shares "Once I became actively engaged in 4-H, I began to learn the way plants grow, the importance of agriculture literacy, and became more familiar with the importance of agriculture on society. I grew such a love for agriculture as I realized that without it, the human race would no longer exist. As I continued my education through high school and college, my passion for agriculture has only grown."

Before starting her journey at Penn State, University Park, Gabby attended the Penn State New Kensington commonwealth campus where she was involved in THON and served as a biology lab assistant as well as the president of the Student Government Association. Once arriving at University Park campus Gabby has not skipped a beat. She is involved in LEAD Society, serves as a Teach Ag! Avenger, and Student Worker for the Professional Personnel Development. 

Some of Gabby's favorite things on campus include hiding on the third floor of the library to study, exploring new places, and eating at URBN Flavourhous in Bellefonte. Her favorite course that she has taken so far has been AEE 350: Teaching Methods for Agricultural and Environmental Laboratories because of the hands-on opportunities that she can take into the classroom. In her spare time she also enjoys horseback riding and listening to new music. 

Gabby is currently gearing up for her student teaching experience at Bermudian Springs High School in York Springs, Pennsylvania where she will be teaching Agriculture Environmental Awareness and Plant Science. She has shared some goals she has set for herself going into student teaching "My goal is to experience classroom teaching while also pushing myself to learn new content knowledge that I am unfamiliar with. Having the hands-on opportunity of teaching can change my whole perspective of teaching and ultimately, I know it is for the better because my Cooperating Teacher is incredibly helpful and has allowed me to run with the ideas that I have experienced so far."

One piece of advice she is offering underclassmen is "Do not allow your grades to define who you are as a person. College is challenging and you have various resources that can help you advance in your education." The Center is excited to see what else Gabby accomplishes in her Teach Ag journey. To keep up with Gabby be sure to follow her on Twitter @KrileyGabrielle and on Instagram @Gabrielle_mae128.

Morgan Bear

CPPD Student Worker

Agricultural & Extension Education

Class of 2023