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

Student Spotlight: Killiann George receives PA Landscape and Nursery Association Foundation Scholarship

Killiann George of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, was named a Pennsylvania Landscape and Nursery Association Foundation Scholarship recipient. The PLNA Foundation Scholarship Program was established to assist students pursuing degrees in horticulture-oriented fields. To enhance the relationship between students and the landscape and nursery industry, the PLNA Foundation recognizes the effort of outstanding students in each of Pennsylvania's colleges and universities, including the Pennsylvania State University, offering horticulture nursery production, landscape contracting, or a strongly related field. Each recipient receives a certificate and cash award to be applied to tuition, books, or educational supplies. 

Killiann is majoring in Agricultural and Extension Education at Penn State, University Park, and pursuing two minors in International Agriculture and Political Science. Her future career plans include becoming a formal Agricultural Educator or starting a career in writing and advocating for agricultural legislative policy. One day she hopes to write an agricultural-related curriculum impacting future generations of agricultural leaders. While in college, Killiann has also been involved in LEAD Society, and Collegiate Farm Bureau.

One day Killiann was scrolling through social media when she found this scholarship opportunity which sparked her interest in applying for the scholarship. She shared"This scholarship aligned with my educational and professional goals so it felt like a perfect opportunity to pursue." She spent time filling out an application, writing an essay about her future goals and her current classes, in addition to creating a resume, and a Faculty Advisor Form. She expressed her gratitude for receiving this scholarship by saying "Horticulture is a HUGE section of the agricultural industry and having folks who support the next generation is super important. I am super grateful to the association for their support and hope to be able to encourage future students to take part in this thriving sector of agriculture."

WE ARE so proud of you, Killiann! If you or someone you know is interested in more scholarship opportunities, be sure to stay tuned in to the Weekly TeachAg! Email Blasts with news and updates, as well as the College of Agricultural Sciences website, and Office of Student Aid.

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