Emily Jay is named Agricultural and Extension Education March Student of the Month!

 AEE March Student of the Month

The Center for Professional Personnel Development would like to recognize Emily Jay as the March Agricultural and Extension Education Student of the Month. Emily is from Shermans Dale, Pennsylvania and is a graduate of West Perry High School. Emily received an associates degree in General Studies from Fort Hays State University in 2021 and a graduate certificate from Miracle Mountain Ranch School of Discipleship in 2017. Currently, she is majoring in Agricultural and Extension Education and will graduate in May. Emily shares, "Ever since I began school, I wanted to attend Penn State (the best school in the state!). Also, my dad attended Penn State."

During her time at Penn State, Emily was a member of the PSU FFA Alumni & Supporters Chapter and also a Teach Ag! Avenger. Her favorite class at Penn State was Ag Mechanics with Dr. Ewing. On campus, she enjoys hanging out in Ferguson 213. Her favorite place to eat in State College is Chick-Fil-A. Of course, her favorite team is the Penn State Football team. Emily enjoys riding horses, painting, swimming, and hanging out with friends.

With an extensive background in her own FFA chapter, Emily is no stranger to the duties of an ag teacher. She was a part of the West Perry FFA chapter and held officers positions such as Vice President and Secretary. Emily has received her Greenhand, Chapter, CDP Area, Keystone, and American degree. She has competed in Parliamentary Procedure, FFA Knowledge, Vet Science Skills, and Farm Business Management at PA FFA State Convention.

Emily has had a couple of different internship experiences. First, with Miracle Mountain Ranch as Summer Barn Staff. Also, she was a part of the Global Orientation to Agricultural Learning Program where she not only got to attend the World Food Prize but also have a short teaching immersion. She spent a week in Minnewaska, Minnesota teaching Global Agriculture to middle schoolers.

Some defining experiences during her college career have included working at Sheetz while also completing her degree. She also got to assist state officers and other Ag Ed students with the Fall Leadership Conference for two years, helped to create an exam and judge the 2023 Horse Evaluation CDE at PA FFA State Convention, and is ServSafe Certified. Her passion is teaching animal science as well as just helping her students to reach their full potential and be better consumers in the world.

Emily is completing her student teaching experience at Big Spring Middle School in Newville, Pennsylvania. She is teaching a variety of classes including 7th/8th grade Woodshop, 6th grade Intro to Ag, 7th/8th grade Family and Consumer Science, Plant & Greenhouse, and Living On Your Own. When asked what she is most excited for during her time student teaching, Emily says, "Planning and taking FFA events/trips like the Spring Ag Careers Day and Trout in the Classroom(Earth Day-release day)!"

For her future, she states, "[my future plans are] to teach at either a middle school, high school, or both (wherever this profession takes me) [and] work towards my master's after teaching for a few years." Emily does not have a specific area of agriculture that she hopes to teach. She shares, "What I enjoy most about agriculture is its diversity in subjects, so it’s difficult for me to pick one area I like the most."

Emily's favorite quote:

"To succeed in life, you need three things: a wishbone, a backbone, and a funny

bone." - Reba McEntire

Follow Emily on Social Media: @EmilyJay0108

Erica Teagarden

CPPD Student Worker

Agricultural and Extension Education

Class of 2026

Emily McGowan is named Agricultural and Extension Education February Student of the Month!

The Center for Professional Personnel Development would like to recognize Emily McGowan as the February Agricultural and Extension Education Student of the Month. Emily is from Millerstown, Pennsylvania and is a graduate of Greenwood High School. Currently, she is majoring in Agricultural and Extension Education and will graduate in May. Emily shares, "Upon my first visits to campus, before I applied, I was impressed by the resources that Penn State offered its students within the college of agricultural sciences and the impact the institution has had on agricultural research. But as I engaged with Dr. Ewing and the other staff in the agricultural and extension education program, I knew I was in an environment that would best support me on my journey to becoming an agricultural educator.".

During her time at Penn State, Emily was a member of the PSU FFA Alumni & Supporters Chapter. She enjoyed taking the Soils 100 and Ag Business Management 100 courses. On campus, she enjoyed hanging out in the Paterno Library. Her favorite on-campus spot to grab something to eat is the Penn State Berkey Creamery.

Emily enjoys hunting, drawing, skiing, and traveling. Fun fact- she has been to seven countries! She has also done her fair amount of traveling during her time in ag education. Emily has traveled to the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana, National Association of Agricultural Educators Convention in Phoenix, Arizona, and the School Leader Conference on Intercultural and Intersectional Competence.

Emily is completing her student teaching experience at Tri-Valley Jr/Sr High School with Mrs. Gretchen Dingman. She is teaching a variety of classes including 8th Grade Rotation, Ag Science and Mechanics I, Ag Science II, III, IV, Ag Practicum, Woodworking, and Welding. When asked what she is most excited for during her time at Tri-Valley, Emily says, "That’s a hard question, there’s so much to the teaching profession that can’t be taught in a college classroom, some of my most important lessons may come from the experiences I least expect. I’m excited to see how my students grow through these experiences in the classroom and their efforts in the FFA, and learning how to better support them on their journey.".

For her future, she states, "I’m keeping my doors open, but currently I’m looking into teaching in a high school setting after a Master’s degree.". Emily does not have a specific area of agriculture that she hopes to teach. She shares, "What I enjoy most about agriculture is its diversity in subjects, so it’s difficult for me to pick one area I like the most.".

Emily's favorite quote:

"To make a difference in someone's life, you do not have to be brilliant, rich, beautiful, or perfect. You just have to care." - Mandy Hale

Follow Emily on Social Media: @EmilyMcGowan_25

Erica Teagarden

CPPD Student Worker

Agricultural and Extension Education

Class of 2026

Noah Phillips is named Agricultural and Extension Education January Student of the Month!

 

The Center for Professional Personnel Development would like to recognize Noah Phillips as the January Agricultural and Extension Education Student of the Month. Noah is from Dushore, Pennsylvania and attended Sullivan County Jr./Sr. High School. He is a part of the #psuaged24 cohort at Penn State and will graduate in the spring with a degree in Agricultural and Extension Education. Noah shares, "I chose Penn State for the amazing connections it provides, the worthwhile money spent towards my degree, and the Penn State Community. Free entry to Penn State wrestling matches is also an awesome bonus."

Although Noah did not have the opportunity to be a part of FFA, he was a member of Sullivan County 4-H for 10 years. As a member of the Sullivan County Livestock Club he raised market lambs and market swine which he exhibited at the county fair. He was also a member of the Future Leaders of the Dairy World 4-H Club and raised dairy heifers, calves, and cows. Noah also had the opportunity to show around the state and in New York at fairs and competitions. He has also had many internship opportunities within the agricultural industry. He was a Sullivan County 4-H Intern, Dairy Farm Manager at a farm in Slippery Rock, PA, and a Dairy Cattle Hoof Care Intern. Over the past few years he has worked on seven different dairy farms across Pennsylvania. Some with just 40 cows and others with over 1,000.

On campus, Noah is involved in the Delta Theta Sigma Fraternity, Alpha Tau Alpha, the Penn State Dairy Science Club, and College of Agricultural Sciences Student Council Representative. He is also working on getting his minor in International Agriculture. Noah enjoyed taking the Psych 100 course he shares, "[it] enabled me with the tools to understand my students more." He enjoys spending his time watching his favorite sports team, Penn State Wrestling, hanging out in the Ferguson Building, or eating at his favorite downtown restaurant, Uncle Chen's. When he is not busy lesson planning, Noah enjoys reading, watching tv shows and movies, and hanging out with his friends. 

Currently, Noah is way out in western Pennsylvania at Fort Cherry Jr./Sr. High School with Mrs. Jodie Hoover. He will be teaching Introduction to Ag, Animal Science, Horticulture, Ag Leadership, Vet Sciences, Ag Marketing, and Floral Design. Noah says, "I am excited to work ag mechanics into my curriculum to a school that does not have an ag mechanics program." Upon graduation, he is hoping to secure a job as a high school agricultural teacher. When asked about his agricultural interest, Noah shared, "My interest is to provide opportunities for the next generation of ag leaders and to encourage them to pursue their future dreams with an exemplary understanding of the agricultural industry."

Noah's favorite quote:
"Everybody is a genius, but if you judge a fish on its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid." - Albert Einstein 
Follow Noah on Twitter: @NoahAgEd

Erica Teagarden

CPPD Student Worker

Agricultural and Extension Education

Class of 2026

Seanna Geiger is named Agricultural and Extension Education December Student of the Month!

The Center for Professional Personnel Development would like to recognize Seanna Geiger as the December Agricultural and Extension Education Student of the Month. Seanna is from Sheshequin, Pennsylvania and attended Athens Area High School. She transferred from Lackawanna College where she received an associates degree in Professional Studies and is now a part of the #psuaged24 cohort at Penn State and will graduate in the spring with a degree in Agricultural and Extension Education. Seanna shares, "Penn State was always a dream for me after attending FFA summer convention as a student. When I decided I wanted to pursue Ag Ed I knew that Penn State is where I wanted to go."

Seanna is not a stranger to agricultural education as she went through the Athens FFA program in high school. She was a member for all four years of high school and participated in many events such as livestock judging, public speaking, and many conferences. She also held the office positions of Historian from 2018-2019 and Vice President from 2019-2020. Seanna grew up in agriculture living on her mom's dairy farm and raising her own laying hens. Seanna says, "This was just the start of my love for agriculture, once I joined the ag program my high school offered it truly opened my eyes to how much more ag held. My true passion lays in the poultry industry where I hope to learn more as time goes on and start a meat chicken operation of my own."

During her time at Penn State, Seanna had the opportunity to participate in the GOALs program and teach in Henry County Kentucky. She says, "This was an incredible experience not only in Kentucky but also attending the World Food Prize was an awesome experience that I was able to make a lot of connections at.". She was also a camp counselor for Outdoor School, go to teach in a non-traditional setting, and gain confidence in herself professionally. Seanna is a member of the Sigma Alpha Professional Sorority where she is chair of philanthropy and works part time in West dining hall as a crew leader. Her favorite place to hang out on campus is in the ASI building. Seanna says, "Anytime I need a place to focus or to have study times with my friends this is where we have gone and it now has become my favorite building on campus". Her favorite class at Penn State is AEE 311 because she has been able to learn about everything that goes into preparing to be an ag teacher and has her excited to be an FFA advisor. She enjoys eating at her favorite restaurant SNAP Pizza, cheering on Penn State sports teams, and having coffee or going for walks with her friends. When she is home, Seanna loves hiking, hunting, fishing, and scrapbooking. In her future, she would like to move back home to Bradford county and find a job teaching agriculture in either Pennsylvania or New York.

In January, Seanna will begin her student teaching experience at Red Lion High School with Ms. Krista Moser. She will be teaching Intro to Agriculture, Animal Science, Vet Science, and Plant and Soil Science. Also, she will be coaching the poultry judging team. Seanna says, "I am looking forward to coaching the Poultry Judging team in the spring. It is exciting that I will be able to help these students succeed in Poultry Judging and see their excitement about the CDE as well.".

Seanna's favorite quote:

"Be better not bitter."

Follow Seanna on Twitter and Instagram
Twitter: @seannageiger
                                               Instagram: @seanna.rae._

Erica Teagarden

CPPD Student Worker

Agricultural and Extension Education

Class of 2026