A student-produced monthly newsletter created and distributed by the Honors Student Association. Its purpose is to supplement the West Chester University community’s knowledge of the Honors Student Association’s activities and endeavors.
WANT TO WRITE FOR HSA HAPPENINGS? HERE'S WHAT TO DO....
CONTACT: Jodi Lamborn (JL904749@wcupa.edu)
or
Allison Farrell (AF909669@wcupa.edu)
HSA HAPPENINGS IS PUBLISHED THE FIRST FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH (WITH THE EXCEPTION OF SEPTEMBER). AND SUBMISSIONS ARE DUE AT LEAST ONE WEEK PRIOR TO PUBLICATION!
NOW ACCEPTING ART SUBMISSIONS!
Notes from the Faculty
Welcome Back! I’m so happy to see our amazing Honors students are continuing with their service hours, projects, and capstones throughout the oddities of 2020. You are the epitome of the change I want to see in the world, and I am excited to see how you take the lemons you are given and make them into lemonade. I have been hearing of and seeing your endeavors, from writing cards to senior centers to delivering food to first-responders, and I am in awe of your innovations.
To our current students, thank you for reaching out for service opportunities and continuing to help the West Chester community, as well as your local communities. To our alumni, thank you for your leadership and continued service. If possible, I would suggest connecting with current students through our new Alumni LinkedIn account (Honors College Students, Faculty, and Alumni at West Chester University), the Honors website or the Honors Facebook page to see what our students are doing and how they could use your support. If you have service ideas or would like to share an experience or innovation you have seen in your community, please connect with us!
- If you’re feeling like you’re having a hard time dealing with increased screen time, purposefully schedule 2 hours a day during which you’re not on any screens. Go outside! Create some art. Take some deep breaths. Whenever possible, “hide self-view” on Zoom to help you be more present in your Zoom calls.
- Reach out to the professors/staff. Part of your college experience is expanding your professional network by finding mentors to help guide you. Don’t be afraid to schedule a virtual office hours appointment and ask if there’s a way to plug into any projects they’re working on!
- TIME MANAGEMENT. Find a planner or online calendaring/task-management system that works for you. If you need some ideas, ask around to your peers in the Honors Community. It’s hard to stay on top of everything, but a good planner can help you navigate the next 15 weeks!
- Check in with your friends. Send someone an affirming message or just say hi! We could all use some encouragement, and you never know how much good you can do by simply reaching out to someone.
- Enhance your digital leadership skills by attending or creating opportunities for H.S.A. members to connect, engage, and serve. There are so many needs all around us. Find a way to use your gifts to address just one of those needs. Be part of the solution!
Nobel Leadership Series
Over the last four years, students and faculty have been participating in a symbiotic relationship with the Nobel Peace Committee in Oslo, Norway....
Here at West Chester University, we are the only college in the world who has the opportunity to work with such an elite prize, that touches all corners of the world for the betterment of society.
With the distinguishable opportunity, we have the unbelievable honor of nominating a Laureate for the prize each year. Since the beginning, students have been researching former Nobel Peace Laureates and dissecting their peace efforts and leadership styles. There have been over 50 full workshop presentations with activities compiled over the years. Right now is a very exciting time to be involved with this program as we are branching out in many directions to increase our influence and participation with the Nobel Peace Prize and its history.
With the piloting of Honors 320 in the spring of last year we took another step in our knowledge and exploration of Norwegian culture and Nobel legacy. We are currently working on a pamphlet which includes all the Nobel Laureates who have been studied at West Chester University. And we are currently in the talks with the Vice Chair of the Nobel Committee, Dr. Henrik Syse, to have our leadership addendums and activities displayed in some way with the Nobel Institute or somewhere on their website.
Meet Your Graduate Assistant
Hello, hello students! My name is Becca Shoemaker, and I am a 2019 graduate of the Honors College program. I was a Communication Sciences and Disorders major with minors in Spanish and Communication Studies. During my years with Honors, I served as the Housing Director, Social Coordinator, Involvement Coordinator/Immediate Past President. I also served as a Discussion Leader for HON 110 and HON 310. Currently, I work as the Graduate Assistant for the Honors College!
How has honors at West Chester University prepared you for your career?
The more time passes, the more tools I realize Honors has given me! Undoubtedly, thanks to Honors, I am a better speaker, writer, organizer, and leader. I utilize my Honors-learned skills whenever I deliver a presentation, formulate a clinical report, assemble a treatment team, or function as the head of a project. Because of Honors, I understand myself and how I learn best, and I’ve been able to use that knowledge especially throughout my graduate career.
How did honors at West Chester University shape you as an individual?
Through Honors, I developed a greater confidence in myself. I cannot count the number of times in Honors-related work and projects where I was given a responsibility that I had no clue how to tackle. My initial reaction was one of fear and anxiety, but as I continued to receive these challenges paired with encouragement from the community around me, I rose to occasion. Now, when I am faced with unfamiliar territory in my job as a GA, in my schoolwork, or in my clinical work, I have greater faith in myself and my ability to work with those around me to complete the task.
What was the greatest transitional issue that you faced when entering college; do you have any advice/tips for new students?
The first few weeks of college were incredibly difficult. I remember feeling lonely even amidst a room of people because I didn’t feel known. It’s a strange feeling starting college and realizing that no one here knows your high school legacy. I had to figure out how to rebuild my identity and how to become comfortable with putting myself out there. That’s easier said than done, because you must parse out who you are apart from your past! My advice: journal and self-reflect – become comfortable being with your own thoughts and emotions. As you meet new people, remember that they are going through the same emotional processing you are, though it may not look the same from the outside. Also, find groups on campus (even virtually!) that align with your values and interests. I very much benefitted from having communities in Honors, a faith-based organization, and a field-related organization. The more meaningful connections you make, the more you will develop a sense of belonging.
What steps are you/your institution taking to adapt to COVID-19? Do you have any tips for how to navigate the online world that have helped you personally succeed?
Over the spring, summer, and now fall semesters, I have been conducting speech therapy and evaluations entirely over Zoom. My department is allowing some face-to-face evaluations for a select number of clients with extraordinary measures of sanitation and personal protective gear. One must-have for virtual life is blue light glasses – they’re on Amazon, they reduce strain on your eyes, and they’re cute! I’ve also attended a free Webinar or two from speech therapists who have been doing telepractice for years pre-COVID, and I got some amazing activities and tips from those speakers. Search the web and see if your field offers webinars on how professionals are adapting to an online space! Also, Zoom’s website has a bunch of helpful videos and tricks to make your Zoom meetings flow smoother.
What is One of Your Favorite Memories of the Honors College?
This is incredibly tough; I have a million stories I could share. One moment I loved was the night of the superbowl party I planned as Housing Director (an old position that doesn’t exist anymore!). My roommates were kind enough to help me wrangle together some dips, chips, and desserts that we warmed up in my small dorm microwave. I made a giant glittery Eagles banner and hung up a bunch of green dollar store décor. Our whole floor came to the 7th floor lounge, and we watched the Eagles beat the Patriots in an incredible game. The night was made even better when I auctioned off an autographed picture and football signed by Dr. Dean in an intense bidding war. Ask Dr. Dean about it today, and he’ll flash a huge smile.
INTERVIEW WITH KATHLEEN SCHULTZ (not pictured)
Hi, H.S.A! My name is Kathleen Shultz, and I was a part of the Class of 2019. I was a Biology Education major with a Civic and Professional Leadership minor while at WCU. I am currently a biology teacher at New Hope-Solebury High School. Within H.S.A., I was a part of the choir for three years and dance team for all four years. I began choreographing and captained the dance team during my last two years.
Within the Honors curriculum and to satisfy one of my education program requirements, I took HON 322: Developing Leadership with ELLs. While taking the course, I developed a strong interest in how teachers teach content to learners who do not have English as their first language or use a language other than English at home. Taking this course led me to undertake a research project through the Summer Undergraduate Research Institute with Professor Meg Niiler as my faculty advisor. We explored how teacher beliefs about ELLs differ between teacher candidates still in college and recent teacher graduates. For my capstone project, I chose to create a booklet of strategies that classroom teachers of any discipline could use in their classrooms to help their ELL students.
How has honors at West Chester University prepared you for your career?
A key factor in being a good teacher is communication. Almost every single day, I communicate with students, parents, teachers in my department, special education teachers, teachers of other content areas, and many other staff members. Having clear communication with these people ensures I reach my goal of instructing my students in the best way possible. The Honors College helped me in improving my communication skills. I worked with my fellow peers in every class to put together projects and presentations, help others in the community, share ideas and opinions, and learn new information. Through consistent opportunities to collaborate, I learned how to speak up about my own thoughts, give others a space to talk, define commonalities, and make mutual decisions. These factors now come into play in my job. As a regular classroom teacher, I must talk to special education teachers about the progress of students in special education, and I make sure I am supplying accommodations in the best way possible.
With my students, I think about how I can explain ideas to them to fit the way they learn and think. When I talk to a parent about a student’s misbehavior, I ensure I have data to back up what I am saying and work with the parent to create a plan to improve the student’s behavior.
Many of the core Honors classes you take early on focus on examining different models of leadership and applying these different models to yourself and others you admire. As a teacher, I feel I am better prepared to see different leadership qualities within my students and give them opportunities to build those qualities. I want all of my students to see that they have the potential to be strong leaders for others. While I have not had the opportunity to truly delve into the active building of leadership with my students yet, I hope to build leadership development into my lessons as I become a stronger educator.
How did honors at West Chester University shape you as an individual?
I entered college as a very shy person. I remember that I did not speak up very often as a high school student. The Honors College gave me the opportunity to grow and truly discover myself. My peers were incredibly inclusive and supportive of each other’s achievements. Through the different group projects and activities, I became more outspoken about my ideas. I relied on others and wanted to show that they can rely on me. I also learned more about myself through the Honors courses and decided how I wanted to grow. Throughout my whole life, I want to continue growing to become my ideal self. In order to make personal growth, I needed to take risks. I needed to push past the boundaries I had set and make myself comfortable with feeling uncomfortable. I may not have pursued many of the activities I pursued at West Chester without the support I felt I had from my Honors College peers and the encouragement to take risks that were built into the Honors curriculum. The risks I took helped me to pursue my interests on a deeper level, interact with and meet more people, and share what I feel passionate about. Thanks to the risks I took, I had irreplaceable experiences and discovered a lot about myself.
What was the greatest transitional issue that you faced when entering college; do you have any advice/tips for new students?
My greatest weakness when entering college was meeting and interacting with a brand-new group of people. This weakness stems from the shyness I mentioned earlier that I carried all throughout my K-12 experience. I overcame this weakness by getting involved and always making new connections where the opportunity arose. If you also struggle with meeting new people, I would recommend getting involved with clubs and organizations that interest you and treasure the connections you make and have. Join clubs that interest you, so you can meet people who share those interests. It is never too late to join a club or activity. When you do meet new people, listen to them and show that you care about their presence.
What steps are you/your institution taking to adapt to COVID-19? Do you have any tips for how to navigate the online world that have helped you personally succeed?
I work in a school district that is educating students virtually for at least the first few months of the school year. To prepare for this enormous change, I have spent time researching and trying out different online tools that I can use with my students to make sure they succeed in an environment where I cannot be there for them physically. I have planned to make time to get to know them as learners and find out what interests them, so we have a stronger relationship. Teaching from home in the spring presented several difficulties for myself and my previous students, so I am always staying aware of changes I can make and new tools I can use to make obstacles easier to overcome for my students. Online learning is challenging for many. If you are finding something challenging, such as staying focused during class, turning in assignments on time, or learning the content of the course, most likely, someone else is facing that same challenge. From my point of view as a teacher, some of the best steps you can take are to ask for help and advocate for yourself. If you are not sure about a topic that was taught during class or how to complete an assignment, reach out to your professor or your classmates. Do not struggle on your own. Also, make sure you take breaks! Take your eyes off your screen, stretch, and get some fresh air outside.
What is One of Your Favorite Memories of the Honors College
One of my favorite Honors memories is when the H.S.A. Dance Team won second place in the Homecoming Parade my senior year. This school year is certainly a unique one. My heart goes out to you all, especially those of you who are just entering college. Good luck! Do your best!
Are you interested in learning more about various religious traditions and how they apply to leadership? Are you curious about how these traditions make up “the good life”? If so, then you should attend the online speaker series hosted by HON 382: Leadership and the Good Life. Throughout the semester this class studies various religious traditions and synthetic topics that combine to help students discover their vision of the good life. HON 382 also hosts a guest speaker for every religious tradition that the class discusses. These speakers include experts in Judaism, Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity, some who simply practice and some who are professionals within the tradition. These sessions are also open to anyone, even if you are not in the class. All you have to do is fill out the Google Form below and you will receive an email with the link! These speakers provide an incredible opportunity to gain perspective and learn more about the world around you. Hope to see some of you there! The dates of the series are as follows:
Rabbi Elyse Seidner-Joseph (Judaism) – Thursday, September 24th at 12:30pm
Mr. Abdul Mughees (Islam) – Thursday, October 8th at 12:30pm
Reverend Yedea Walker and Mr. Daniel Pin (Christianity) – Thursday, October 22nd at 12:30pm
Miss Shreya Sukur (Hinduism) - Thursday, November 12th at 12:30pm
Credits:
Edited by Jodi Lamborn, Director | Leela Rose & Allison Farrell, Assistant Directors | Dr. Martin & Professor Wooten, Faculty Advisors | Created with an image by shagun malhotra - "Flat Layout"