The members of the 2015 graduating class have been turned loose on the world, ready to take on the challenges and joys that await. Every one of Plymouth State’s nearly 1,400 newest alumni is well prepared, thanks to their years of rigorous training, faculty and staff support, and real-world academic focus.

What follows are snapshots of 20 of PSU’s recent graduates who, during their time at Plymouth State, provided health care in Costa Rica, performed at Carnegie Hall, raised money for deserving organizations, and much more—all while excelling in academics.

There’s no place like home: Norwich, CT

Major: exercise sport physiology

Never a dull moment … men’s lacrosse team, Health and Human Performance Club, research assistant for an elder balance study through IdeA Network of Research Excellence

Next up: graduate school for doctorate of physical therapy

Reflections: “Through my participation with the men’s lacrosse team, I gained friendships and memories that will last a lifetime. I was also able to develop strong interpersonal and time management skills that can be applied to any professional workplace.”

There’s no place like home: Medford, MA

Major/minor: health education with an option in health promotion; minor in professional communications

Never a dull moment … TRiO [federal student support services] mentor for underclassmen, study skills tutor in the PASS office, sustainability coordinator for the Office of Environmental Sustainability, health education intern at Mid-State Health Center

Next up: “I am hoping to find a position at a healthcare organization in the greater Boston area where I can provide support to a community through strengthening the health and wellness of others.”

Reflections: “I have had so much fun laughing with my roommates and friends, and learned so much from all my fabulous professors, mentors, and fellow students. If I had to choose one favorite memory it would be floating the Pemi River with my closest friends on an air mattress, laughing when we all fell off the air mattress.”

There’s no place like home: Hopkinton, NH

Major/Minor: history; minors in anthropology/sociology and art history

Never a dull moment … student worker at Museum of the White Mountains, Spinelli Archives, and Annual Fund Calling Program; PACE member; anthropology/ sociology club

Next up: “I have accepted a position in education with Museums of Old York (Maine). Getting a job like this straight out of college has been a dream of mine and it feels great knowing that I have accomplished that.”

Reflections: I love PSU’s campus. It’s so beautiful in any season. I am most proud of the work I have put into my job as student fundraiser for the Annual Fund Calling Program because the work I was doing was not for me; it was to give back to Plymouth State and all the students here.”

There’s no place like home: Rindge, NH

Major/minor: criminal justice; minors in psychology and anthropology/sociology

Never a dull moment … vice president of Criminal Justice Honor Society, vice president of Criminal Justice Organization, criminal justice ambassador, junior shift supervisor at the ITS Help Desk, training member of White Mountain Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and MMA Club, and an active intramural sports player

Next up: “I plan on pursing a law enforcement career in New Hampshire.”

Reflections: “My second home, the HUB’s Fitness Room, is the place I will miss the most on campus. Not only do I enjoy working out there, but unlike any ordinary gym, the welcoming atmosphere allowed me to build countless relationships with other students and staff.”

There’s no place like home: Bowie, MD

Major/minor: biotechnology; minors in technical mathematics and chemistry

Never a dull moment … men’s ice hockey assistant captain, Team IMPACT (a non-profit that improves the quality of life for a child facing life-threatening and chronic illnesses), Northeast Passage Wildcats sled hockey team fundraising exhibition event for individuals with disabilities, Good Deed Challenge, annual Plymouth Elementary School science fair judge

Next up: “I will pursue a master of science in biology at Plymouth State University.”

Reflections: “During my last season, I suffered an injury and could not skate for four weeks. It was tough for me to maintain an upbeat, optimistic attitude when our team was losing games, but I managed to put the team first and hide my personal disappointment. I believe our team has been successful because we understand what it means to be a part of something larger than ourselves. I had to keep reminding myself of this philosophy during this difficult time.”

There’s no place like home: Weare, NH

Major: elementary education (K–8 teacher certification)

Never a dull moment … Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, Catholic Campus Ministry, PACE, Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, admissions representative

Next up: “I have accepted a job offer from Teach for America as an elementary school teacher in South Carolina.”

Reflections: “I am most proud of the adult I have grown to be because of the experiences and opportunities I have had at Plymouth State.”

 There’s no place like home: Methuen, MA

Major/minor: business administration; minor in professional communications; professional sales certificate

Never a dull moment … vice president of human resources for Marketing Association of Plymouth State (MAPS), secretary of Delta Mu Delta International Business Honor Society, Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, recreation program assistant

Next up: “I hope to have a fulfilling career and be happy with my decisions.”

Reflections: “Being involved with MAPS I had the opportunity to travel, experience different cultures, and meet well-established, successful business leaders, and I am forever grateful.”

There’s no place like home: Bedford, NH

Major: biology

Never a dull moment … photographer/videographer for university advancement, statistics tutor and grading assistant, vice president of Habitat for Humanity

Next up: “I am going to Texas A&M University for the PhD program in ecology and evolutionary biology.”

Reflections: “The highlight of my PSU experience was receiving a summer undergraduate research fellowship to study stream insect communities at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest.”

There’s no place like home: Swanzey, NH

Major: biology

Never a dull moment … Chess Club president, Sailing Club, Outing Club, intramural sports

Next up: “In August 2015 I will begin attending Franklin Pierce University’s doctor of physical therapy program.”

Reflections: “The highlight of my PSU time was studying leaf-cutter ants in Ecuador for my Tropical Biology class.”

There’s no place like home: North Brunswick, NJ

Major/minor: meteorology; minors in political science and technical mathematics

Never a dull moment … class officer, student body officer, member of student senate, admissions representative, Alternative Spring Break, American Meteorological Society, and Student Support Foundation

Next up: “My current plans are to pursue a job in an area I feel very passionately about: higher education administration.”

Reflections: “I will miss all of campus, but in particular the HUB. The HUB has always acted as the nucleus of all the great ideas that have come about for students to improve campus.”

There’s no place like home: Mercerville, NJ

Major/minor: interdisciplinary studies; minor in technical mathematics

Never a dull moment … meteorology/study skills tutor in the PASS office, student worker at the Reflection and Spiritual Care Center and in Marketing Communications and Creative Services, Catholic Campus Ministry (CCM) member and president, Lambda Pi Eta Honor Society treasurer, American Meteorological Society member, orientation leader, student representative for general education committee

Next up: Writing weather-related stories for AccuWeather.com in State College, PA, as part of online journalist internship

Reflections: “One of my favorite memories was when CCM went hiking up Rattlesnake Mountain. It was only my second time hiking and I was joking around how proud I was of myself for not falling as we were going up. I might have gotten a little too confident because on the way back, I slipped on some mud and fell. Everyone (including me) was laughing at how gracefully I fell. I quickly recovered and successfully made it back without falling again. To this day, this story makes me laugh.”

There’s no place like home: Hudson, NH

Major/minor: psychology, concentration in development; minors in child welfare and family services and in health and mental health

Never a dull moment … student coordinator of international service trip to Jamaica in 2013 and

2015, Psychology Club secretary and president

Next up: “Ultimately, I wish to obtain a PhD and work as a child psychologist.”

Reflections: “I will miss the Fireplace Lounge in the HUB the most, especially during the winter months when the fire is going.”

There’s no place like home: Rindge, NH

Major/minor: tourism management and policy; minors in business administration and Spanish

Never a dull moment … intramural sports, PASS office, Center for Rural Partnerships

Next up: “I’d like to find or create a job that is fulfilling and enjoyable.”

Reflections: “I am most proud of studying in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in the spring semester of my junior year. It was not easy to head out to a major metropolis in South America, not knowing anyone there and only having intermediate Spanish skills.”

There’s no place like home: Billerica, MA

Major/minor: accounting; minor in professional communication

Never a dull moment … Marketing Association of Plymouth State (MAPS) vice president of finance, Student Accounting Society vice president, Delta Mu Delta treasurer, women’s ice hockey club team

Next up: “I will be working at a public accounting firm in Dover, NH.”

Reflections: “One thing that I will never forget is placing 18th out of 350+ colleges and universities at the American Marketing Association International Collegiate Conference in New Orleans with MAPS. I’m going to miss the beautiful campus and being here in the mountains. I’m also going to miss my MAPS family and living with my best friends.”

There’s no place like home: Plainfield, CT

Major: interdisciplinary studies: performing arts for special needs

Never a dull moment … PSU Writing Center, PASS office, heavily involved in the music, theatre, and dance department, student coordinator, and orientation leader

Next up: Attend graduate school at PSU to earn a master’s degree in elementary education

Reflections: “The highlight of my PSU experience was being cast as Kate Monster in the production of Avenue Q. I was overjoyed. It was an amazing experience, and the most fun I’ve ever had doing a musical!”

There’s no place like home: Penacook, NH

Major: elementary education (K–8 teacher certification)

Never a dull moment … assistant news editor and managing editor at The Clock, University Chorale (sang with the chorale at Carnegie Hall), Writing Center consultant, ASCD member, Mixed Emotions (all-female a cappella group)

Next up: “I am applying for teaching positions in NH and am most interested in teaching early elementary.”

Reflections: “The Silver Center is the place where I explored my creativity and allowed my love of music to grow in the company of amazing people. I loved performing in the Silver Center just as much as I loved watching the shows my friends were part of, and was moved in some way by every performance I saw over the past four years.”

There’s no place like home: Wilmington, DE

Major/minor: elementary education (K–8 teacher certification); minor in mathematics education

Never a dull moment … member of the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) student chapter, secretary for the Class of 2015, admissions representative and telecounselor, and student classroom aid for the Center for Young Children and Families.

Next up: “I’d like to work in a classroom of my own and be close to family and friends.”

Reflections: “My favorite memory while at PSU was being able to babysit for an amazing family and being a part of two kids’ lives. They have forever changed mine.”

There’s no place like home: Windham, ME

Major/minor: English; minor in Spanish; TESOL Certificate

Never a dull moment … admissions representative, student worker in languages and linguistics department, Mentoring Enhances Student

Achievement member, orientation leader

Next up: “I am more than excited to be starting as a support engineer with HubSpot, an inbound marketing software company.”

Reflections: “I am most proud of all the people I have met. From friends and acquaintances to professors and peers, the Plymouth State community has made my time here unforgettable.”

There’s no place like home: Southampton, MA

Major/minor: nursing, minor in health

Never a dull moment … Class of 2015 treasurer, Student Nurses Association treasurer, admission representative, community advisor for sophomore and junior year, volunteer for local agency administering flu vaccinations at local elementary schools

Next up: “This summer I started as a medical-surgical nurse at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, NH.”

Reflections: “The highlight of my PSU experience was traveling to Costa Rica to provide nursing care for people in need. This experience taught me to trust my nursing practice and abilities as I learned to live in another culture.”

There’s no place like home: Londonderry, NH

Major: elementary education (K–8 teacher certification)

Never a dull moment … Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD), Elementary Education Club, PSU Volunteers, Spring Fling Committee, admissions representative

Next up: classroom teacher in New Hampshire

Reflections: “One of my favorite memories at Plymouth State was being involved in two productions through the ETC program. I was able to help out with Oliver! and was in the cast of The Sound of Music. It was an amazing experience to work with campus and community members to put on these two shows.”

 

Tags:  2015 ASCD Carnegie Commencement MAPS PACE PASS service