Michaela Gerhart is named the Agricultural Education April Student of the Month

The Center for Professional Personnel Development is proud to recognize Michaela Gerhart as the Agricultural and Extension Education April Student of the Month for 2022. Michaela is from Honey Brook, Pennsylvania where she attended Twin Valley High School. She is a member of the #psuaged22 cohort and will be graduating this spring with a degree in Agricultural and Extension Education and a minor in Horticulture. She chose Penn State because of the amazing atmosphere that it provides for students and alumni. Michaela shared "a big part of why I chose Penn State was that they offered the major Agricultural and Extension Education which not a lot of colleges around PA offer."

Michaela is no stranger to the agricultural industry. She grew up surrounded by agriculture, but she gained a passion for it through enrolling in her high school agricultural education program and FFA. She stated "both my Ag teachers are PSU alumni and pushed me to always do my best, without them I wouldn't have gone into agriculture. Through one of our FFA events called the 3^rd Grade Tour, I was able to write lesson plans and teach students which inspired me to pursue being an agricultural teacher. From there, both of my Ag teachers started to prepare me for what being an agricultural teacher means."  While being an active member of Twin Valley FFA, Michaela competed in multiple CDE and LDE events where she eventually earned her Keystone FFA Degree and held multiple chapter officer positions. 

Since beginning her Penn State journey, Michaela has been involved in a variety of student clubs and had unique opportunities to grow professionally. She is a member of the Delta Theta Sigma Fraternity, she served as a SAY Clearing House Research Assistant and was the Berks and Chester County 4-H Program Assistant. Some of Michaela's favorite things in State College are hanging out at the Penn State Berkey Creamery, eating at Plaza Mexicana, and cheering on Penn State Football! Additionally, her favorite class at Penn State is Horticulture 202: Plant Propagation. One interesting thing about Michaela is that she breeds Corgis and she is a first-generation college student.

As Michaela is wrapping up her final semester at Penn State, she has been hard at work completing her student teaching experience along with the #psuaged22 cohort. She is student teaching at Dover Area High School with Ms. Brittany Marsh. Michaela said "I've had so many amazing experiences so far and lessons learned while student teaching but the most important one to be is creating good relationships with your students. I've realized that being a teacher is a multi-tasked job and you wear so many different hats. You are a teacher, therapist, planner, designer and so much more all in one day in every single class. Having a great relationship with your students makes all the jobs so much easier and worth it because whether you know it or not, you're creating an impact even if it's a small one. Some of my highlights include helping a student prepare for creed speaking and then winning first place at our regional contest, spending time with my students at SLLC, and showing them that Ms. Marsh and I have amazing dance moves! Overall, just watching my students do amazing things inside the class and outside are the best experiences."

One piece of advice Michaela has for other students in the major is to "enjoy your time while you're in college it really does go by fast. Get all your homework done before the weekend so that you can enjoy your time on campus." WE ARE so proud of Michaela and we can't wait to see where her career as an agricultural educator takes her. If you want to keep up with Michaela on social media be sure to follow her on Twitter or Instagram @Michaela_245.

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

January 2022 Student of the Month for Agricultural and Extension Education: Adalyn Reed

 To start off the New Year and Spring semester the Center for Professional Personnel Development would like to recognize Adalyn Reed of Derry, Pennsylvania as the January Agricultural and Extension Education Student of the Month for 2022! Adalyn is currently a senior student majoring in Agricultural and Extension Education with plans of entering the classroom as an Agricultural Educator. Her passion for agriculture was sparked at a young age, Adalyn shares, "My family has always been rooted in agriculture, and I was ultimately inspired to be actively involved in FFA because of the influence of my father. He served as the PA State Vice President in 1976-1977, and always instilled the values of hard work and responsibility when I raised my market animals. My agriculture education teachers in high school, Mr. Roy Campbell, and Mrs. Carly-Jean Rippole encouraged me to turn my passion for agriculture into a career."

In her youth, Adalyn was actively involved in 4-H where she did a variety of activities throughout her community and state. "I have always been involved in the agricultural community and grew up attending 4-H meetings as a Clover Bug when my siblings were members. Once I was old enough to be a 4-H member, I exhibited many projects including market lambs, pigs, goats, chickens, rabbits, and floral arrangements to the Derry Township Agricultural Fair, Westmoreland Fair, and Pennsylvania Farm Show over 10 years. I held multiple officer positions in the Blue Ribbon Ag. Club, and got the opportunity to participate in cultural exchanges as part of the Travel- All Club. Additionally, I was a member of Westmoreland Squares, and participated in the square dancing competition at Farm Show for a few years." Throughout Adalyn's involvement in 4-H, she continued to gain experiences that were valuable as she pursues her education and career. This involvement continued in high school through her journey in FFA.

"My involvement in Derry FFA began in 9th Grade when I took my first Ag class at my high school and was elected 9th Grade Representative. This role allowed me to begin my leadership experiences within the organization, which led me to become chapter Chaplain, Vice President, and President. My SAE project was an owner/entrepreneurship for market lambs and pigs. I competed in various CDE and LDE events including Creed Speaking, Livestock Judging, and Floriculture." The leadership skills Adalyn gained from her FFA experiences have served her well in her college journey.

Adalyn began her Penn State journey at Penn State Altoona which helped her to transition to college from a small high school. She mentioned the benefit of having smaller class sizes for her first two years while at Altoona. While she was there, she was a member of the Altoona Benefiting THON and Ag Club. When she arrived at University Park, Adalyn was involved with LEAD Society and spent a summer working at the Penn State Beef and Sheep Center. Her favorite Penn State class was Agriculture Mechanics (AEE 349/350) with Dr. Ewing. She shares "I really enjoyed these courses because I was able to expand my knowledge on various applications (welding, electrical, plumbing, woodworking, and concrete/masonry) of agriculture mechanics that I didn’t have much experience with before college. I now feel more confident working in the shop, and look forward to applying what I learned in these courses to my student teaching experience."

This Spring semester Adalyn will be student teaching at West Greene High School in Rogersville, Pennsylvania with her cooperating teacher Mrs. Karlie Wright. Adalyn stated that she is most excited to work with the students and help them grow their interests in agriculture, along with attending various FFA events and assisting as a chapter FFA Advisor. She hopes to continue to grow her time management skills, and connect with industry professionals in the local agricultural community.

One interesting thing about Adalyn is that she is the youngest of ten siblings and the fourth to pursue a career in education. One piece of advice Adalyn wanted to share with underclassmen is to "Get involved with the campus community, and spend time making connections with your cohort members, as well as current agriculture teachers. These are all people that will be more than willing to help you in times of need." To follow Adalyn's Teach Ag journey be sure to keep up with her social media on Twitter and Instagram @AdalynReed1. We are so excited to see where Adalyn goes in the future! Congratulations again on being the January Agricultural and Extension Education Student of the Month.

Morgan Bear

CPPD Student Worker

Agricultural and Extension Education

Class of 2023

December 2021 Agricultural and Extension Education Student of the Month: Taylor Halbleib

Each month, the Center for Professional Personnel Development recognizes a student within the Agricultural and Extension Education major for their hard work and dedication. The Student of the Month for December 2021 has been named Ms. Taylor Halbleib! Taylor is majoring in Agricultural and Extension Education with a minor in Equine Science. Taylor is from Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, where she attended Elizabethtown Area High School. 

While in high school Taylor's Ag Ed journey was sparked. She shares, "My passion for agriculture was sparked during my sophomore year in high school when I took my first agriculture education class with Mr. Mark Anderson. Having not grown up with an agricultural background, these courses opened my eyes to the vast, innovative, ever-changing industry of agriculture. Additionally, I was challenged to step out of my comfort zone and given a place to belong in the Elizabethtown FFA Chapter. These experiences had me falling in love with the agriculture industry and the National FFA Organization and helped me to realize that I wanted to positively impact students the way that the industry had impacted me." After starting her agricultural journey, Taylor did not miss a beat! She was not only an active member of her FFA chapter but she served as chapter president and participated in many Leadership and Career Development Events. Taylor was so inspired during her high school FFA experiences that she went on to serve the Pennsylvania State Association as the 2017-2018 FFA State Secretary. 

Taylor started her Penn State journey at the Harrisburg commonwealth campus for one year. She was a part of the PaSSS program which allowed her to take courses in the summer before and after starting her first year which allowed her to transfer to the University Park campus as a second-year student. While at Penn State Harrisburg, Taylor had the opportunity to be a part of the English Equestrian Team and rode horses competitively in the Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association. 

After arriving at the University Park campus, Taylor quickly became involved in a variety of clubs and took on many different leadership positions at Penn State and beyond. She has served as the National President for Alpha Tau Alpha (ATA), President of Ag Student Council, Vice-President of LEAD Society at Penn State, a member of the Coaly Honors Society, and a member of Gamma Sigma Delta Honors Society. Her favorite class at Penn State is the Horse Handling and Training class (AEE 317) taught by Mr. Brain Egan. Taylor said "This class allowed us to study horse behavior and put that knowledge into practice as we worked to train the two-year-old horses that were sold in the 2021 Penn State Quarter Horse Sale. We were hands-on in every class session and watching the horses learn as well as learning from the horses was such a rewarding experience." While on campus, Taylor also works two jobs including working at the Penn State horse barns and as a student worker and Teach Ag Avenger for the Center for Professional Personnel Development. Additionally, Taylor has held two summer internships, one with the Lancaster County 4-H Extension services, and the second with the Southeast Agricultural Research and Extension Center. 

In her free time, Taylor enjoys riding horses, playing games with her friends, reading books, including her favorite series- Harry Potter, and watching movies. You can always find Taylor in her favorite place on campus to hang out in the Ferguson building or at the Berkey Creamery. One interesting thing about Taylor is that she is a Farm Credit Foundation Scholarship. Taylor is preparing for her student teaching experience at Cumberland Valley High School with Ms. Darla Romberger and Ms. Jeanne Case. She is excited to embark on this experience as she stated "As a Student Teacher I hope to not only develop my content knowledge and learn how to create a rigorous classroom environment, but I also hope to learn how to serve every student I encounter with unique relationships, variable instruction, and a diverse array of opportunities inside and outside of the classroom. Furthermore, I am excited to explore who I am as an educator. Ms. Darla Romberger has an incredibly intelligent and confident presence in the classroom, and I hope to bring those characteristics into my teaching style as I learn from her."

Taylor's token of advice for underclassmen is to "take advantage of opportunities that fuel your passions. This major is challenging and living in those opportunities that remind you why you fell in love with agriculture, FFA, and education fills your cup and motivates you to maintain a growth mindset as you work to become an outstanding educator."  WE ARE so excited to see what lies ahead in Taylor's Ag Ed journey, and we know she will continue to accomplish great things! Keep up with Taylor's experiences by following her Twitter @TaylorHalbleib and on Instagram @halbleib01

Morgan Bear

CPPD Student Worker

Agricultural and Extension Education

Class of 2023

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

October 2021 Agricultural and Extension Education Student of the Month: Dylan Clark

Each month a student is recognized within the Agricultural and Extension Education program as Student of the Month for their hard work and dedication to their education, major, and passions. This October, the Center for Professional Personnel Development would like to recognize senior, Dylan Clark, as the Agricultural and Extension Education Student of the Month. 

Dylan comes to us from Enon Valley, Pennsylvania where he graduated from Mohawk Junior Senior High School in Lawrence County. Dylan is no stranger to agriculture, he grew up on his family's beef farm and was an active member of the Lawrence County 4-H Animal House Club for 11 years, and Teen Council for 3 years. In high school, Dylan was a member the Mohawk FFA Chapter for 4 years where he participated in many events and was even a part of the square dancing team!

Before arriving at University Park campus, Dylan spent 3 semesters at the Penn State Beaver commonwealth campus. Dylan chose Penn State because he wanted to attend a college deeply rooted in agriculture. While attending Penn State he has been involved in a variety of student organizations and experiences. He currently serves as the Public Relations Director for LEAD Society at Penn State, is a member of Delta Theta Sigma, and lives and works at the Meats Laboratory. Dylan's favorite hang-out place on campus is in the Ferguson Building. Some of Dylan's other favorite things include Wings Over and the Pittsburgh Steelers team.

Dylan is excited to share his passion for agriculture with others. He states "I want to be able to share my knowledge of agriculture with the next generation of agriculture leaders as well as continue to learn more about the agricultural industry myself. Being a part of 4-H and FFA was an amazing experience for me and made me who I am today, and I want to be able to continue to excite students about agriculture for years to come." This coming spring semester, Dylan will be starting his student teaching journey at Wilmington Area High School with Ms. Joanna McKelvey. 

One of Dylan's favorite quotes is by Mac Miller, "No matter where life takes me, find me with a smile." We are incredibly proud of Dylan and his accomplishments here at Penn State! To keep up with Dylan on social media be sure to follow him on Instagram @mr_showcow63 and on Twitter @clarkncompany.

Morgan Bear

CPPD Student Worker

Agricultural & Extension Education

Class of 2023

September 2021 Agricultural & Extension Education Student of the Month- Jenna Kibbe!

The Center for Professional Personnel Development is excited to recognize Jenna Kibbe, a senior studying Agricultural and Extension Education as the 2021 September Student of the Month! Jenna is from Findley Lake, New York and a graduate of Clymer Central School. During her senior year of high school, she was elected to serve as the New York FFA State Treasurer in 2017-2018. She attended Penn State Behrend for her first year of undergraduate studies. Jenna is a senior preparing to embark on her student teaching experience this spring where she will be teaching at Gettysburg Area High School under Ms. Jenna Timmons and Mrs. Laura Kennedy. Additionally, Jenna is pursuing two minors along with her degree in both Spanish and International Agriculture. 

While attending Penn State, Jenna has been involved in a variety of student organizations including LEAD Society, Spanish Immersion Club, and SALT. She has taken advantage of student employment opportunities including supervising concessions at Beaver Stadium, welcoming the newest Penn State students as a New Student Orientation Leader in 2020, and serving as an Agriculture Education Avenger over the past few years.

Jenna's passion for agriculture was sparked from her family, where agriculture is a deep tradition. She shares that "My grandfather and dad were both active members of FFA and were involved in showing livestock and competing at all levels in the state. Although I have never shown an animal a day in my life, I grew up with the love of gardening and wildlife management. From helping my dad with his food plots to selling my vegetables at the end of my driveway in the summer, I always enjoyed being outside and enjoying God’s beauty through my involvement in the agriculture industry. My passion only grew as I got older, so I challenged myself by working on a horse farm starting at the bottom by cleaning stalls to eventually being a trail guide."

In her free time, Jenna enjoys playing basketball, hiking, reading books and watching movies! You can find Jenna on campus at her favorite spots which are the Creamery and Arboretum. Her favorite places to eat in State College are Plaza and Rey Azteca, which she said are some of the best comfort foods! 

As Jenna spends the fall semester preparing for her student teaching experience, she is hoping to make a lasting impact on students and the program at Gettysburg Area High School. She states "I am looking forward to teaching classes in Animal Science, Horticulture, Landscape Design and Introduction to Agriculture. One of my main goals for student teaching is to make impactful connections with my students. I hope inspire my students to become lifelong learners and advocates for the agriculture industry. I also hope to help guide them out of their comfort zone to develop leadership skills to become better leaders in the future. Another one of my goals is to be a positive and active member of the community by making a meaningful difference. Whether it’s through service learning, donations or community service projects, I hope to strengthen the relations between community members and my students to make a positive impact. My final goal is to better my skills as a teacher and leader. I want to be proactive in learning from my cooperating teachers, administration and students." Jenna has been a great example of a what being a good leader is like to her colleagues and friends. We know she will accomplish great things throughout her student teaching experience. 

Jenna wanted to share a piece of advice for underclassmen. "For any underclassmen reading this, I would recommend that you spend your time in college exploring different passions and take advantage of every opportunity that you can! It is great to find passions that bring you joy and comfort you when you are stressed in college. It is easy to be overwhelmed and overwork yourself like I did. However, when I felt like my stress levels were getting high, I always had my few passions/hobbies that helped me refresh and enjoy my time here at Penn State!" We are proud to see how Jenna has grown over the past few years at Penn State and excited to see where her Ag Ed journey continues to take her. Keep up with Jenna by following her on Instagram or Twitter @JennaKibbe. 

Morgan Bear

CPPD Student Worker

Agricultural & Extension Education

Class of 2023

March 2021 AEE Student of the Month: Lacey Walker

 

For the month of March, the Center for Professional Personnel Development would like to recognize Lacey Walker of Glen Rock, Pennsylvania as the Student of the Month. Growing up on her family's farm and being involved in 4-H sparked her interest in agriculture, and as she continued to grow up and find her role in helping around the farm she realized that she wanted to work in the agricultural industry. She had many inspirations for Teaching Ag, she expressed "Many people inspired my to Teach Ag, especially seeing younger kids discover their love for agriculture in 4-H. One of the most influential people was Linda Spahr, who was my 4-H county extension agent. It was amazing to watch her work with us 4-H kids and help get kids excited about agriculture. "

Lacey is a rising senior, and attended Susquehannock High School and decided to come to Penn State to pursue her major in Agricultural and Extension Education with a minor in International Agriculture. She chose Penn State because the College of Agricultural Sciences is well-known and a big university while also providing many opportunities to succeed with a small college feel in the major. Throughout Lacey's three years at University Park, her favorite class was Animal Science 201 with Dale Olver. The clubs she is involved in are Penn State Block and Bridle and Lead Society. In addition, she devotes time to working as an undergraduate intern for the Global Teach Ag Network while also serving as a Teach Ag Avenger. Before coming to Penn State, Lacey was involved in 4-H a great deal as she was a part of three clubs where she exhibited market goats and dairy beef. 4-H also gave her an opportunity to travel to Wisconsin and Idaho through the 4-H exchange program. 

Aside from doing school work, Lacey enjoys doing anything outdoors, especially going on hikes or runs with her dog, and hanging out with her family and friends. You may find Lacey in her favorite place to hang out on campus, on the second floor of Agriculture and Science Industries building (ASI). This summer she plans to continue working as a Global Teach Ag Network intern and help out around her family's farm. Lacey is also gearing up to begin her student teaching experience next Spring and is preparing for that. If you are interested in keeping up to date with her student teaching experiences, be sure to follow her blog at Ms. Walker's "Wise" Tales (walkerteachag.blogspot.com). Upon graduation she plans to work with youth likely in a high school agriculture classroom, but she has also been exploring international opportunities as well. 

A piece of advice she wanted to leave underclassmen is "Get involved and get to know your advisors, professors, and classmates. It will pay off in the long run when you have questions or are looking for opportunities you will have connections!" Over the past few years we have enjoyed getting to watch Lacey develop into a great leader and role model to her peers. We can't wait to see where the future leads you, Lacey! Congratulation's again on being the March 2021 Student of the Month. To find more about Lacey, follow her social media page on Twitter @lacey_walker13.

Morgan Bear

CPPD Student Worker

Agricultural and Extension Education

Class of 2023

February 2021 AEE Student of the Month: Morgan Bear

The Center for Professional Personnel Development would like to recognize a rock star student as the February Student of the Month for the Agricultural and Extension Education, Morgan Bear. Morgan is a sophomore here at Penn State and a graduate of the Big Spring High School in Newville, Pennsylvania.  She plans to major in Agricultural and Extension Education.

Morgan is no stranger to the agricultural industry.  She is a former 4-H member and FFA Alumni.  She was very active as a high school student in the Big Spring FFA chapter later serving as the 2018-2019 Pennsylvania FFA State Secretary.  After exploring her passion through several 4-H and FFA projects her passion led her to choosing to purse Agricultural and Extension Education.

When asked why she chose to attend Penn State Morgan stated, she is a first generation college student and was unsure of where she wanted to attend. After visiting a few schools, Morgan knew there was just something special about Penn State, BUT never visited the campus until she had served as a state officer! Through the connections made as a state officer with the Agricultural and Extension Education staff she made the decision to trade in the blue and gold for the blue and white! Morgan states: “Now, I could not imagine myself anywhere else!” We are surely glad she decided to join the #TeachAgPSU family!

One of the greatest qualities Morgan possesses is she is extremely active. While studying at Penn State she is active in the LEAD Society and Penn State Block and Brindle clubs, serves as a Teach Ag Avenger and works in the Center for Professional Personnel Development as a student worker. Morgan continues to be active outside of Penn State as she has accepted an internship with the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau this summer!

Some fun facts about Morgan is she loves to eat at Little Szechuan downtown and The Waffle Shop! She was a competitive gymnast for 15 years and her favorite class at Penn State is AEE 204N, Agricultural Science Literacy and Policy. Upon graduation Morgan plans to pursue a career as a high school agricultural teacher! Morgan’s favorite quote is: “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” Theodore Roosevelt.

Morgan we know no matter where you go, you will always do the best you can with what you have! We cannot wait to see you to continue to grow and impact future agriculturalist in your classroom! To keep up with Morgan on her Ag Ed Journey follow her on Twitter and Instagram @morganbear_.

Killiann George
CPPD Student Worker

Agricultural and Extension Education

Class of 2023

January 2021 AEE Student of the Month: Brandon Bixler

 The Center for Professional Personnel Development would like to start off the year by recognizing the January Student of the Month for Agricultural and Extension Education who is a freshman from East Earl, Pennsylvania and the 2021 Pennsylvania FFA National Officer Candidate, Brandon Bixler! Brandon is planning to major in Agricultural and Extension Education with minors in International Agriculture, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, and possibly Wildlife and Fisheries.

Brandon attended Garden Spot High School in New Holland, Pennsylvania where he was involved in the agricultural education program as a Grassland FFA member. Brandon shares

"I didn't come from an agricultural background, so I have a passion for teaching others who may not have agricultural experience. My own experience proves just how valuable and transformative an agricultural education can be, and I want to pass on the positive impact my own agriculture teachers have made on my life! I also value teaching with a global perspective and helping to improve food security around the world. Agriculture is essential for a sustainable future for our world, and I find it exciting to be a part of that!" He has shown great growth and determination as he served the Pennsylvania FFA Association in 2019-2020 as the State Vice-President. As Brandon's journey through agricultural education continues he has chosen Penn State to further his studies.

While in high school, Brandon had numerous agricultural educators that attended Penn State and encouraged him to check out the program."I was privileged to learn from and work with numerous ag teachers who went to Penn State for Agricultural and Extension Education, and in those teachers I saw leaders and role models of the kind of person I wanted to be! After I made the decision to teach ag, coming to Penn State was a no brainer!" These were not the only reasons Brandon chose Penn State, he also chose Penn State because of the incredible agriculture teacher training program Penn State offers and the professional networks that Penn State holds within agricultural education across the state and country.

While attending Penn State for the first year, Brandon has gotten a great start at developing his leadership roles in student organizations and clubs. He currently serves as the LEAD Society Treasurer, and Ag Student Council Financial Chair, while he is also involved in Collegiate Farm Bureau. Brandon also works as an Undergraduate Intern for the Global Teach Ag Network and as a Teach Ag Avenger. In addition to the time Brandon spends across these areas he also is involved in an Undergraduate Research Project with a group called Agriculture for Africa. "I review best practices in using agricultural education to support high-risk youth populations. An end goal of this project is to use agricultural/career and technical education to support high-risk youth in jails/correctional facilities in the country of Cameroon."

Outside of Penn State and agriculture, Brandon enjoys cheering on his favorite team, the Philadelphia Eagles and Penn State any chance he gets! He also enjoys spending time outside such as hunting, fishing, and hiking. He loves spending time with family and friends, playing card/board games, and reading good books! Upon graduation, he plans to become a high school agricultural education teacher in Pennsylvania and is interested in exploring research, international teaching, and business opportunities. Brandon's favorite quote he shared that helped him to gain a different perspective on leadership was "Leadership is lonely" from Secretary of Agriculture, Russell Redding. 

Brandon, we are so excited to watch you grow over your years at Penn State and know you will continue to accomplish great things as a student and future agricultural educator! WE ARE so proud to have you represent Pennsylvania FFA and Penn State Ag Ed at the national level. To keep up with Brandon on his Ag Ed journey be sure to follow him on Twitter @BrandonBixler and on Instagram @brandon.bixler.

   

Morgan Bear

CPPD Student Worker

Agricultural and Extension Education

Class of 2023

Dylan Clark Selected as the 2020 AEE December Student of the Month!

    Each month the Center for Professional Personnel Development recognizes a student who shows outstanding involvement at Penn State, dedication to the Agricultural & Extension Education major, and leadership in organizations. For the month of December, we are proud to announce Dylan Clark as the Agricultural & Extension Education Student of the Month. Dylan is from Enon Valley, Pennsylvania where he grew up working on his families beef farm and attended Mohawk Jr.-Sr. High School. Dylan shares that he has been working in a butcher shop since he was 16. He explored his passions in agriculture through being involved in the Lawerance County 4-H Animal House Club for 11 years where Dylan showed his animals and was a member of Teen Council. In addition to his 4-H experiences, Dylan was actively a member of the Mohawk FFA where he attended National FFA Convention, exhibited at the Pennsylvania Farm Show, and assisted with the county event "Ag Encounter". Dylan said "this event was for all the 3rd graders in Lawrence county to get up close with agricultural practices that happens in our county.

    Dylan also attended Penn State Beaver for 3 semesters before arriving at University Park campus. When asking Dylan why he chose Penn State he responded, "I wanted to be at a college that was deeply rooted in Agriculture." Penn State was a great fit for Dylan as he can pursue his interest in agriculture and teaching as he plans to graduate with a bachelors degree in Agricultural & Extension Education in Spring 2022. His favorite Penn State course so far was International Agriculture (INTAG) 100 with Dr. Noel Habashy. You can find Dylan is his favorite place on campus to hang-out in the ASI Lobby, or at his favorite place to eat in State College, Uncle Chen's Chinese. If you did not know this about Dylan, his favorite sports team is the Pittsburgh Steelers. While Dylan stays busy at Penn State working in the Meats Laboratory, he is also the Vice-President of LEAD Society, and is a member of Delta Theta Sigma.

Dylan has a unique passion for agriculture that has brought him success throughout his Penn State journey and as he continues to live out his goals he shares, "I want to be able to share my knowledge of agriculture with the next generation of agriculture leaders as well as continue to learn more about the agriculture industry myself. Being a part of 4-H and FFA was an amazing experience for me and made me who I am today, and I want to be able to continue to excite students about Agriculture for years to come." As you can tell, Dylan is determined to be a great Agriculture Educator and with this mindset and his experiences at Penn State he is preparing himself well.

    One of Dylan's favorite quotes is by Kenny Chesney "I live to love and laugh a lot and that's all I need". Congratulations again Dylan on being recognized as the December Student of the Month, keep up the great work! To keep up with Dylan follow him on his social media (Instagram: @mr_showcow63 or Twitter: @mrshowcow). 

Morgan Bear

CPPD Student Worker

Agricultural & Extension Education

Class of 2023

2020 November AEE Student of the Month: Gabrielle Kriley

The Center for Professional Personnel Development would like to congratulate the 2020 November Agricultural & Extension Education Student of the Month: Gabrielle Kriley! We recognize students each month who show outstanding involvement and growth as a student of the major. This month Gabrielle Kriley of Rural Valley, Pennsylvania, who is a junior majoring in Agricultural & Extension Education, and was chosen as she has excelled throughout her journey at Penn State.

Gabrielle graduated from Lenape Technical School with a focus in  Natural Resources Technology before coming to Penn State, where she attended the New Kensington Campus for 2 years. During high school, she was involved in the Lenape Technical School FFA where she served leadership positions and attended leadership conferences. She was also greatly involved in the Ruff Riders 4-H Club which established her love for 4-H, and she was a part of the Armstrong Teen Leadership Council. This year she has arrived at Penn State, University Park and she has enjoyed gaining new experiences in Happy Valley. Some of those would include her favorite place to hang out on campus which is The HUB, and her favorite place to eat at, Quaker Steak and Lube. In addition to these favorites, her hobbies include fishing, swimming, hiking, horseback riding, spending time with friends & family, and snuggling her dog Peanut. The best PSU class she has taken so far was Biology 220W which focused on the environment through several hands-on labs and even encouraged her to conduct her own research on creating a pollinator garden. 

Penn State was made for Gabrielle as she shares it was the best school to get a degree combining education and agriculture. "I was raised to be active in 4-H, which was strongly supported by Penn State. Through 4-H, I had many opportunities to see the campus and meet various staff and faculty members. I also had the amazing opportunity to attend the Pennsylvania School for Excellence in the Agricultural Sciences which is the program that provided the opportunity to experience college classes in person while also providing the opportunity to meet faculty, staff, the campus, all while making new friends who also have the goal of one day attending college. This made my love for Penn State grow to the point this was my dream school and I would do whatever it would take to get accepted into the university!" She has found her home at Penn State and is thankful for the opportunities she has been provided with.

The experiences she gained while at the New Kensington Campus should not go unnoticed as she has shared the positive impact it has made on her life. "I absolutely loved the beautiful campus! At that campus, I met my best friend, and my life has been flipped around for the better. If I were to tell you about my experiences at that campus, we could be here for days. I truly had an amazing experience at my commonwealth campus." While at New Kensington she was involved in THON, the Student Government Association, a work-study job in the Biology Department, and a research study. These opportunities have helped shaped her future of becoming an Agricultural Educator.

One day wanting to Teach Ag in the classroom Gabrielle shares her passion for agriculture. "My goal is to be a teacher that impacts my students in a positive manner, just like mine had done. I had so many amazing teachers and what better way to honor their impact than by becoming one? Not only will I become a normal teacher, teaching something that I like, but rather by teaching our future generation of agriculture, I will be teaching on a topic that I love! If we need food, clothes, or shelter, we will need agriculture! Once I reach retirement, I intend to move to another country to serve as a missionary, teaching about agriculture in foreign countries to help them where their agriculture may be struggling. If I have the knowledge, I will share it with the world!"

Gabrielle also shared some unique parts about herself that help to keep her motivated as a student and person. "I am a student who has been diagnosed with ADD and Dyslexia. Life can be very challenging when you have things that are a roadblock, but I have learned that anything can be a roadblock, but it takes a special amount of determination to make that roadblock into a pebble. My disabilities have not defined me within my personal or academic life and they never will!" As you can tell, this young lady does not let many things set her back from working to achieve her goals and aspirations.

Gabrielle has accomplished so much and we are proud of how far she has come and excited to see where life continues to take her after Penn State. As she plans to Teach Ag in the classroom, her experiences in 4-H, at Penn State and many others will serve her well. Best of luck on the rest of your journey year. To check out more about Gabrielle, follow her Instagram handle @gabrielle_mae128!

Morgan Bear

CPPD Student Worker

Agricultural & Extension Education

Class of 2023