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

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

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

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 

Anna Sweeten

Anna Sweeten is currently doing her student teaching at Kennard-Dale High School in Fawn Grove, PA, with Ms. Hannah Harris. 

Baylor Shunk

Baylor Shunk is currently student teaching at Central Columbia High School in Bloomsburg PA, with Mr. Douglas Brown. 

Carly Rudy

Carly Rudy is currently student teaching at Tyrone Area High School in Tyrone, PA, with Mrs. Tiffany Hoy.

Grace Shawver

Grace Shawver is now student teaching at Selinsgrove Area High School in Selinsgrove, PA, with Ms. Valerie Fry.

Jacob Turko

Jacob Turko is currently student teaching at Walter B. Saul High School in Philadelphia, PA, with Ms. Tiffany Turrentine.

Killiann George

Killiann George is currently student teaching at Dover Area High School in Dover, PA, with Mrs. Alex Barzdylo.

Krista Mathias

 Krista Mathias is currently student teaching at Pequea Valley High School in Kinzers, PA, with Mrs. Jasmine VanSant.

Lauren Kachel

Lauren Kachel is currently student teaching at Penn Manor High School in Millersville, PA, with Mr. Neil Fellenbaum. 

Elizabeth Holtry

Elizabeth Holtry is currently student teaching at Shippensburg Area Senior High School in Shippensburg, PA, with Ms. Kelly Bier.

Morgan Bear

Morgan Bear is currently student teaching at Northern York High School in York County, PA, with Ms. Meagan Smyers.

Nicolette Cusate

Nicolette Cusate is currently student teaching at Northwestern Senior High School in Albion, PA, with Mr. Anthony Honeycutt.

Amber Lema Ramos Robalino

Amber Robalino is currently student teaching at Brockway Junior-Senior High School in Brockway, PA, with Mr. Kyle Norman.

Sara Lichty

CPPD Student Worker

Agricultural Sciences

Class of 2023

Meet the 2022 September AEE Student of the Month: Grace Shawver

 September 2022 AEE Student Of The Month

Grace Shawver 

Each month the Center for Professional Personnel Development recognizes students that have outstanding achievements both academically and with extra-curricular activities and involvement. This month, we are excited to announce the 2022 Agricultural and Extension Education Student of the Month for September as Grace Shawver. She is a senior majoring in Agricultural and Extension Education and she hails from Coburn, Pennsylvania.

Grace is from Coburn, PA. She graduated from Penns Valley Area School District high school. Her intended graduation year from Penn State is 2023, majoring in Agriculture Extension and Education, with Minors in Agronomy and International Agriculture.

When asked why she chose Penn State, she responded: "I always knew that I wanted to pursue an agricultural degree and my Dad worked at the creamery. Saying this, I was very familiar with the campus, it was close to home, and it is one of the most popular land grant schools."

Her favorite PSU Class is AEE 349. Which is Shop Processes for Agricultural Educators. She was also involved in many Penn State clubs including Penn State FFA Alumni and Supporters, Penn State Beef/Sheep (Summer 2019- Fall 2021), Pasto Agricultural Museum (Summer 2021), and Global Teach Ag Network (Spring 2020- current). Her favorite Hang-out on Campus is Ferguson 214. Her favorite place to eat in State College is Lupita's Authentic Mexican Food. Her hobbies include "spending time outside like hunting, finding wild mushrooms, riding a dirt bike, and camping."

Grace's 4-H/FFA Background is with Penns Valley 4-H club. "I did various projects such as rocket making, tie dye, sewing, baking, vegetable growing, flower arrangements, and showing rabbits." She was also involved in Penns Valley FFA and was a sentinel for 2 years and competed in Vet Science and Agronomy.

"I can truly say that I have a strong interest in all aspects of agriculture locally and globally, and I want to grow and learn more within every content area. My interest started with working with animals and helping my Dad with fieldwork, so I would have to say that my strongest passions are animal science and agronomy, specifically forage crops."

"I grew up on a small beef farm in Penns Valley helping my Dad with everything that I could, which is where my interest and knowledge in agriculture were founded."

We asked Grace what her favorite experience was of traveling abroad and working for GTAN. She responded: "My favorite experience traveling to Nepal was simply being able to learn and submerge myself in a culture very different from my own. My favorite part about working for GTAN was growing my knowledge of agriculture past my local experience. Through GTAN I connected with educators and agriculturalists worldwide, which have provided me with a network that I will use for the rest of my career. If it wasn't for the Global Teach Ag Network and Dr. Foster and Dr. Miller Foster I would have never experienced such profound professional growth that has transformed me into a globally competent educator."

Grace will be student teaching next semester at Selinsgrove Area High School with Mrs. Val Fry. She shared that she is most excited "to be able to meet the students and get to share my passion for agriculture, which I hope will spark a passion in them." While student teaching she will be instructing the following classes: Agriculture Foundations, Vet Science, Horticulture, and Building Construction.

Grace's favorite quote is "Farmers who wait for perfect weather plant. If they watch every cloud, they never harvest."- Ecclesiastes 11:4

Congratulations again, Grace! We are so proud of you! To keep up with Grace follow her on Twitter or on Instagram @GraceShawver

Sara Lichty

CPPD Student Worker

Agricultural Sciences

Class of 2023

NAAE Region VI Outstanding Agricultural Education Teacher Awarded to Ms. Darla Romberger

The Center for Professional Personnel Development would like to recognize Ms. Darla Romberger, an Agricultural Education Teacher at Cumberland Valley High School in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, for being selected to represent Region VI of the National Association of Agricultural Educators for the Outstanding Agricultural Education Teacher Award. 

 Ms. Romberger shares, "After my student-teaching internship at the Milton Hershey School, I was hired at Cumberland Valley High School in August of 2013 and have been at CV ever since! Over the past 10 years, I’ve taught a variety of coursework across the Animal Science, Plant Science, and Ag Mechanics pathways. If I had to choose a favorite course, it would be CASE Animal & Plant Biotechnology or Agricultural Fabrication. I’ve also served as a CASE Lead Teacher since 2016 and have co-taught in-person and virtual CASE Institutes in Animal Science and AFNR." As you can tell, Ms. Romberger has gained a plethora of teaching experiences under her belt as she is entering her tenth year in the classroom!

Ms. Romberger is not new to agriculture in fact she grew up on a farm where her family custom-raised dairy heifers and grew corn, soybeans, small grains, and hay crops. She also got a glimpse into agribusiness as her parents own and operated a feed mill and nutritional consulting service. These led to involvement with 4-H and FFA where she then found a niche exhibiting livestock at county fairs and the PA Farm Show. She said, "I loved being involved in agriculture-related activities and had always considered being a teacher, so I was excited to learn that a career as an Ag Teacher existed so I could combine my interests!"

From there Ms. Romberger was hooked and grew her passion for teaching and agriculture by continuing her education at Delaware Valley University. "During my undergraduate career at Del Val, I was a Supplemental Instruction Leader for several Chemistry courses for 3 years. In this position, I led group tutoring sessions, retaught lectures and labs, and conducted test prep sessions. What I thought was going to be a short-lived job turned into a phenomenal 3-year experience where I solidified my passion for teaching and helping students find success." Her passion and enthusiasm for teaching started to shine through her students and still does today.

She shared why she is inspired to teach agriculture. "My passion is teaching others about the source of food, fiber, and natural resources and the science behind getting agricultural products to consumers. Each day is a new opportunity to make an impact on the future of agriculture and help students find their passion through school-based Agricultural Education. I firmly believe that each student has a strength they can share with others and that every student can gain valuable life experiences through Agricultural Education and FFA."

As Ms. Romberger continues to pave her path through agricultural education she said that her favorite part of being an Agricultural Educator is the variety of experiences that come with the job. "I enjoy teaching a variety of agricultural subjects throughout the day and designing FFA & SAE opportunities to help students apply classroom knowledge to real-world experiences. I also enjoy continuously learning about new advancements in agricultural science through professional development and collaborating with colleagues across the nation." 

While some of her favorite parts about being an Agricultural Educator involve the students, there are challenges that also come along with teaching students day in and day out. "The most challenging part of teaching agriculture is balancing your strengths and agricultural interests as a teacher with student interests and the needs of the community. In some cases, this means taking extra time to learn a new content area or find community resources to support a new course. However, approaching this challenge with an open mind can be extremely rewarding and lead to great relationships with community supporters and unique SAE opportunities for students."

The Agricultural Education program at Cumberland Valley High School is a rockstar program that has gained various recognition across the state and nation. Cumberland Valley Agricultural Sciences is a 3-teacher program that supports 275 students in grades 9-12. The department is split between 2 buildings (a 9th grade academy and 10th-12th grade high school). The program offers a CASE Plant Science and a CASE Animal Science pathway with courses that fulfill science graduation requirements and 3 rotating Agricultural Mechanics courses. 

The program is adding a CASE Natural Resources pathway in the 2023-24 school year to align with a renewed community focus on environmental sustainability. Touted as one of the fastest growing school districts in Pennsylvania, the Cumberland Valley School District is primarily suburban with several preserved farms in the western part of the school district. There are numerous animal nutrition, food science, hydroponics, and nursery landscape businesses within the school district. With these demographics, AgriScience is the primary focus of the coursework so students understand the science, processing, and marketing aspects of agriculture and natural resources industries. An FFA Leadership Team of 7 FFA Officers and 6 Committee Chairs develop and lead a progressive Program of Activities that includes nearly 100 events to Grow Leaders, Strengthen Agriculture, and Build Communities.

Some CV program highlights include:

• 2017 PAAE Outstanding Agriculture Program
• Cumberland Valley FFA has been a nationally recognized 3-Star FFA chapter since 2013
• 15 FFA State Champion Teams since 2013
• 9 FFA State Runner-Up Teams since 2013
• 30 State FFA Proficiency Award winners since 2013
• 89 Keystone FFA Degree recipients since 2013

A few words of wisdom that Ms. Romberger shares for any high school students considering a career in agricultural education is to "take advantage of any opportunity to lead a group, present a workshop, or volunteer with an agricultural organization! Don’t be afraid to talk to current Ag Teachers in your school or county to offer help with ag literacy events, officer retreats, or other education-related events."

Congratulations again, Ms. Romberger on earning the Outstanding Agricultural Education Teacher Award. You represent Pennsylvania Agricultural Education with great pride, and we could not be more excited to have you represent our state and region at the National NAAE Convention this November in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Morgan Bear

CPPD Student Worker

Agricultural and Extension Education 

Class of 2023

Agricultural and Extension Education March Student of the Month: Nell Barbour

Each month the Center for Professional Personnel Development recognizes students that have great achievement both academically and with extra-curricular activities and involvement. This month, we are excited to announce the 2022 Agricultural and Extension Education Student of the Month for March as Nell Barbour. She is a senior majoring in Agricultural and Extension Education and she hails from Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

Nell attended Williamsport Area High School and did not come from an Agricultural Education program. She made her way to Penn State after attending the Pennsylvania School for Excellence in the Agricultural Sciences (PSEAS) in 2017, and then she knew that Penn State was the right fit for her so it was the only place she applied to! Throughout her time at Penn State, Nell has spent all four years at the University Park campus. Her favorite course was Biological Science 3 (BISCI 3) at Penn State. She has been actively involved in her community as she served as a West Nile Virus Technician for Lycoming County since the summer of 2019, and she has been a waitress for the Hillside Catering Company since 2017. One of her favorite places to hang out on campus is the HUB Lawn and to grab some food at Otto's Pub and Brewery. You can always catch Nell supporting her favorite team, the Nittany Lions at any given time.

This semester, Nell has been busy completing her student teaching internship at Manheim Central High School. She has been a rock star with this experience and has made a huge impact on the program and students at Manheim. Her greatest passion in teaching agriculture has been getting to educate youth from different backgrounds and make connections with them through agriculture. After graduation, Nell has plans of moving to Dubois, Wyoming to work on a dude ranch.

Nell's hobbies include going to the gym, listening to Zach Bryan on a continuous loop, and horseback riding. Her favorite quote is "The great science of   living happily is to live in the present." 

Congratulations again, Nell! We are so proud of you! To keep up with Nell follow her on Twitter @barbour_nell or on Instagram @nellbarbour.  

Morgan Bear

CPPD Student Worker

Agricultural and Extension Education 

Class of 2023

Meet the 2022 February AEE Student of the Month: Lauren Mchenry

Each month the Center for Professional Personnel Development recognizes a student that has excelled in the program in a variety of ways both academically and professionally. This month, we are proud to recognize Lauren Mchenry as the February 2022 Student of the Month for Agricultural and Extension Education. Lauren is from Plymouth, Pennsylvania where she attended Nanticoke Area High School.

Lauren is currently a senior at the University Park campus. Lauren has shared why she chose to continue her journey at Penn State. "I chose to attend Penn State because of the amazing opportunities they have related to educational development and personal experiences. I was highly influenced by the many family members who are Penn State alumni and I grew up visiting the campus and attending football games. In high school, I participated in the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science where I was able to compete at the state level at Penn State. I got to experience a taste of college life while still in high school, and I really liked it!" 

Lauren did not take a traditional route to agriculture, but we are so happy that she found her path to it while studying at Penn State! She shared "My agricultural journey didn’t start until I came to Penn State majoring in Animal Science. I’ve always had a passion for animals/wildlife and learning about the environment, so I decided to major in Animal Science. Not coming from a traditional Ag background made it a little challenging at first, but I grew to appreciate the world of Ag and all that it encompasses. I gained a passion to learn more about where our food is made and how natural resources play a role in our everyday lives. I then switched my major to Agricultural Education because I’d love to continue learning all about the Ag industry while also instilling the same passion in my students. My goal is to reach those students who may not have a traditional Ag background similar to me and open their eyes to the agricultural industry so they can pursue their interests and passions within it." 

Since Lauren's journey to Penn State, she has been active inside and outside of the classroom. One of her favorite places to hang-out on campus is the Creamery because she can enjoy sitting outside while having some ice cream. She also enjoys going to Penn State football games and watching the women's volleyball team. Additionally, Lauren participated in THON for 3 years at Penn State in various committees. She was a part of the THON Communication committee for 2 years and then the Rules and Regulations Committee for a year, where she joined individuals who want to better the lives of children impacted by childhood cancer. Lauren was also a part of the Small and Exotic Animals Club and the Collegiate Cattlewomen’s club. Aside from college, in her free time, Lauren enjoys reading and going for hikes with her golden retriever, Buddy. She also really likes fishing with her dad in the spring and summertime. Her favorite hobby is nature photography and being able to capture wildlife or flora in different environments. 

This Spring semester, Lauren is completing her student teaching internship at Olley Valley High School with Mrs. Kacey Rice and Mr. Jeremy Deysher. She is excited to engage with students directly in the classroom through exploring ways to connect biological concepts with agricultural content. She stated "One of my goals is to learn lab techniques related to Agricultural Biotechnology so that I can take that knowledge with me to my future classroom. I love being able to incorporate biology with Agricultural concepts, so I am very excited to be student teaching the Animal and Plant Biotechnology course at Oley Valley. My main goal is to gain the confidence I need to be a great teacher for my students, not only when it comes to content knowledge but classroom management as well." While working to accomplish her goals, Lauren has been looking forward to teaching her Food Science students about Microbiology. She said "The labs and activities that I planned for this class are designed to be fun and engaging, so I hope my students will enjoy them just as much as me. Overall, I’m looking forward to forming relationships with my students, Mrs. Rice and Mr. Deysher that I will remember when times might get tough during my first year of teaching and will motivate me to continue." 

One piece of advice she wanted to share with underclassmen is "Don’t get too caught up in the day-to-day life of college classes and assignments. Always keep your end goal in mind as motivation to keep moving forward and hopefully you will achieve it with confidence. Surround yourself with individuals who have similar passions and work ethics and don’t forget to have fun as well!" We are so excited to see where Lauren's journey takes her after student teaching! Be sure to keep up with Lauren by following her on Twitter @LaurenMchenry9 and on Instagram @laurenmchenry_7.

Morgan Bear

CPPD Student Worker

Agricultural and Extension Education

Class of 2023