Dan Ketler, Lion’s Eye Staff Editor, dmk5614@psu.edu

With graduation rapidly approaching on our beloved Penn State Brandywine campus, it is a perfect time to reflect on memories of the graduating class and to also point out notable students who made an impact here for themselves and for others around them. One Brandywine student who proved himself exceptionally worthy of being highlighted, not just for his extremely good grades and ongoing work ethic, but for his interesting story of how he attended Penn State alongside two out of three of his children. This man is none other than Mr. Stephen Braconnier.

Braconnier is a father of three: Stephen Jr., Megan and Allison Braconnier. It was during Stephen Jr.’s senior year at University Park when Braconnier decided to go back to school to obtain his degree in psychology. Interestingly enough, for personal reasons, he kept it to himself that he was attending classes regularly at Brandywine.

“I didn’t tell a single person until I completed my first semester. That was a tough secret to keep!” Braconnier stated.

In May of 2013, Braconnier’s son graduated from main campus while his daughter Megan was in her sophomore year at the University of Notre Dame. The youngest of his three children, Allie, was still in high school at the Country Day School of the Sacred Heart in Bryn Mawr. Allie was trying to make up her mind about which college to attend and she chose to follow in her older brother’s footsteps and enroll at Penn State University Park. Braconnier could not have been any more pleased with his family. “I recall being so proud of Stephen’s accomplishment, Allie’s decision and my personal success in my first semester. After the summer semester, my family officially had a Penn State bloodline!” Braconnier shared.

Currently, Braconnier’s daughter is finishing up her second year at main campus while Braconnier himself is getting closer to graduating. He and his daughter keep in touch quite frequently by texting and calling.
“We are both competitive, so we can’t wait to compare GPAs at the end of each semester. I currently hold a slight edge by only decimal places.” Braconnier proudly admitted.

Since he attends college full-time and works two jobs, it is difficult for Braconnier to make the trip up to University Park to visit Allie and to experience all the fun things that main campus has to offer. He hopes to be able to visit Allie in the fall as things will be winding down for him since he will be an official Penn State University graduate.

Stephen Braconnier, will join his son as the second Penn State graduate in their family. His daughter Megan will graduate this May from Notre Dame and Allie plans to graduate from University Park in 2017. What a remarkable journey it has been for the Braconnier family.

By: James Berridge, Lions Eye Staff Writer jrb1055@psu.edu and Paula Scott, Lions Eye Staff Editor pms5152@psu.edu

Senior year.  The time that we’ve all been looking forward to our entire college career.  I think it is safe to say that college is no easy task, and senior year is the most important of them all.  Deadlines, exams, internships, 400 level classes—worrying about all of these things is enough to make one’s head explode.  However, there are things that you can do throughout your freshman, sophomore, and junior years that might make your senior year a little less stressful.

Here are some dos and don’ts that will make your life much easier

Do- Take summer classes

Don’t- Take a year off

Taking time off from college, then going back, is one of the hardest things to do.  It’s important to stay committed to your education and finish on time.  This is also why taking summer classes may be beneficial.  By taking summer classes, you stay in the “school” mindset.  Once September rolls around, it’s not as hard to get back in the swing of things.

Do- Be organized

Don’t- Be a procrastinator

Organize your schedule early on and set aside time to be in the library. After receiving each course syllabus, highlight all the deadlines and put them into your planner. Saving all your assignments until the last minute will not only hinder your grade, but will increase your stress. The library is the best environment to be in to be the most productive. Use this resource to your advantage; become a regular.

Do- Take advantage of online classes

Don’t- Underestimate them

As a Penn State student, you can register for World Campus classes, so long as you’re taking more credits at Brandywine than you are online. Do take advantage of these courses if you need a class and they aren’t offering it at Brandywine that semester. Do not underestimate the course simply because it is online. Online classes may be more convenient but require you to be very organized and self-motivated. Yes, you don’t have to physically attend class, however, not following the syllabus and required reading can really put you behind. Just because a course is online, doesn’t mean group work is eliminated!

Do- Finish all of your gen eds before your senior year

Don’t- Wait until you senior year to take all 12 required credits of a language

Senior year is when you focus the most on your major.  Most of your classes are of the 300 and 400 level variety.  This means that these classes are the most difficult and take up a lot of your time.  It is much easier to get through senior year when you only have to focus on these classes and not worry about your gen. ed.
requirements.

Do- Manage your schedule wisely

Don’t- Take 22 or 24 credits the last semester of your senior year

It’s the hardest semester of your college career, and you’re taking well above the normal amount of credits in a semester. Not good!  It is important to finish each semester with at least 15 credits.  Although 12 credits may be considered “full-time,” it makes it very hard to graduate on time when only taking that amount.  The last thing you want is to be swamped with school work, your internship, and your personal everyday life during the most important semester of college.

Do- Take care of yourself

Don’t- Neglect your health

Nourish your body with wholesome food to fuel you through your day. Eating vending machine junk (that’s if they even work) will quickly give you energy, but will send you crashing. Get plenty of rest and drink plenty of water. We’ve all heard it…listen to it. Don’t let stress get the best of you. Exercising regularly helps reduce stress levels and keeps your body and mind healthy.

Hopefully these tips can help you through your college education.  College will be part of some of your most memorable times in life.  Have fun, meet new people, but take it seriously.  Know when assignments are due, and hand them in on time.  Make your professor’s life easier, and in return, your own.

By: Brooke Byrne, Lion’s Eye Staff Editor, bzb5183@psu.edu

The weeks leading up to the end of the semester are busy ones, especially for Rebecca Slomowitz, who is graduating this spring. Slomowitz is a psychology major here at Penn State Brandywine and, recently at the Academic Awards Convocation, she was the recipient with the most awards.

As the semester winds down, Rebecca is working on finishing up work in her classes. “Before graduation, I have a few presentations left and multiple papers to finish. I have to complete a presentation on a solution to an environmental problem for my honors environmental science course with Dr. Boudreau; a paper and presentation for the developmental appropriateness project for my advanced infant development course with Dr. Zosh; and a paper focused on a cultural group or cultural traditions for my cultural anthropology course taught by Professor Bean,” Slomowitz said. In addition to this, she is also taking six independent study credits. “It has definitely been a balancing act trying to juggle my thesis work and my course work this semester, but I think I have done an OK job.”

As if all of this wasn’t enough, Slomowitz also has plenty keeping her busy outside of her classes as she finishes up work on her Schreyer Honors Thesis investigating infant working memory and whether humans and human-looking objects are special in the minds of infants. This month, her schedule includes presentations for the honors symposium, the 2015 Undergraduate Exhibition at University Park, and two more at the exhibition of Undergraduate Research Enterprise and Creative Accomplishment (EURECA) and Sigma Xi. For some, this may seem daunting, but for Rebecca, this just confirms that she is where she wants to be.

“The process of developing and completing my own study confirms my passion for research and has given me the hands-on experience that I need in order to work toward a career in research,” Slomowitz said. With all this excitement, Rebecca hopes to enjoy a few things on campus before graduation day. “I am currently working on the Honors Organic Garden with other students in Dr. Boudreau’s Honors Environmental Science class, so I’m hoping to spend more time working in the garden now that the weather is getting warmer.”

Since it was Rebecca who wrote the original proposal for the garden after going on a field trip for an honors course that was focused on sustainability, it would be an extra bonus for her to be able to see the garden as a reality. While Slomowitz is focusing all of her graduation attention on finishing up her course work, she says there are lessons she learned here at Brandywine that she will keep in mind during the next couple of weeks.

“My mentor, Dr. Jennifer Zosh, has given me many pieces of advice and has supported me immensely in preparation for leaving school. She has helped me grow as an individual and as a researcher, and words cannot describe how thankful I am for her guidance over the past year. I think my favorite piece of her advice is that I should always be kind and helpful to others, but that I should never belittle my interests or passions because of the opinions of others,” Slomowitz said.

Rebecca says that as she finishes up her time here on campus, her mentality is excitement for the new chapter in her life and aiming to emulate the enthusiasm of her mentor, Dr. Zosh, as she begins her own work as a clinical research assistant at the Center for Autism Research within the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

By: Brooke Byrne, Lion’s Eye Editor, bzb5183@psu.edu

Families came together for pancakes and fun lessons on tapping trees for syrup when Tyler Arboretum’s maple tree celebration was welcomed back to Media on February 28.
This “flipping out” feast encouraged guests to visit learning stations set up around the arboretum to learn more about trees and their sap. Once attendees had a better understanding of this process that only happens in this corner of the world, they even had a chance to tap the trees themselves. After all this talk of syrup, guests were treated to a special all-you-can-eat breakfast of pancakes and sausage.
One of the hard workers behind this fun event is Penn State Brandywine’s own Laura McPhail. McPhail is a communications professor here and also works in public relations for Tyler Arboretum. “We start planning for major events like the Pancake Breakfast at least four months in advance. There are lots of logistics that have to be worked out, volunteers have to be identified and trained, ingredients have to be procured, sponsors have to be solicited, and we have to get the word out, among many other details,” said McPhail.
The planning for this event helped to ensure a great day, which benefited not only those in attendance but also the arboretum itself. “All proceeds from the Pancake Breakfast and Maple Sugaring Celebration support general operations. Admission dollars help provide horticulture collections, summer camps and many other ways to protect, preserve and share our natural and historic resources,” said McPhail. Admission to this event also allowed guests entry into the arboretum for the day where they could explore on their own the land that they were helping to save.
Whether for the nature, the learning experience, or just a fun day out, plenty of people and their families went to Tyler Arboretum and left satisfied. “I always have fun at the events here,” local high school sophomore Rebecca DePiero said. “My friends and I like this one in particular because the food is always delicious.”
To ensure that all guests are this happy and determine the success of events like these, there are surveys available for attendees to fill out. “We also monitor social media comments and gather statistics from admission numbers. And of course, the best assessment of success is the smiles we see as people leave our events happy,” McPhail said.
For information on future Tyler Arboretum events and how you can help make a difference, visit TylerArboretum.org.

By: Paula Scott, Lion’s Eye Editor, pms5152@psu.edu

On February 12 students gathered in the Lion’s Den to get a sweet tooth fix while talking about a hot topic. Sociology and psychology Professor, Erin Kelly, discussed with students the importance of courageous conversations while students snacked on cupcakes and other treats from the
candy bar. Erin spoke about the uneasyness people feel when discussing sex related topics because “someone made it taboo.”
“There are more positive consequences if you talk about sex openly,” she said.
Having conversations with those you are intimate with, friends, peers, and people you trust, is so important. One of the main reasons she mentioned that it is essential to engage in courageous conversations, especially with your partner, is so that you are both on the same page and that you develop a feeling of safety.
Erin opened the floor to students to ask questions and encouraged students to actively participate in courageous communication. Although hesitant, she persuaded some to speak out and passed around index cards for everyone to write an anonymous question.
Students didn’t leave empty handed; a candy and condom bar was open to students to fill a goodie bag to take home.

By: Lion’s Eye Editor, Victoria Marotta; vim5121@psu.edu

She started in August of 2011, and is quite extraordinary; she teaches CNED 100, Career Exploration and CNED 280 and Job/Internships Search and Professional Skills. Bringing a level of achievement to Brandywine, Wysocki earned her Masters of Arts in Student Affairs in Higher Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP). She also has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Lycoming College in Williamsport, PA. Wysocki has worked in higher education for 10 years in a variety of areas including Residence Life, Student Activities, University Conduct and Athletics/Intramurals.

“I love it all, but of course Career Services is my favorite,” Wysocki said. “My passion has always been engaging students in their own development and providing many educational and practical experiences to encourage their confidence and future.”

Career services provides students, from their first year to the day they graduate (and beyond), the resources necessary to find success. Wysocki said she loves watching a student grow and find a passion and create future goals around it. Students at Penn State Branydwine have so much to

offer, and Wysocki and the career services are just one of the several resources at Brandywine that helps guide them to endless opportunities.

“I went to the Career Development Center at Lycoming College and received the guidance I was searching for and from that it led to a career in higher education and helping others to find the same clarity,” Wysocki said.

Current and potential students should take full advantage of Penn State’s career services so that they can branch further into their overall career, and Wysocki is a counselor who could help these students reach their career goals. It’s so important for current and prospective students to be able to have access to career counseling.

“Unfortunately many students are unaware of what it is we do,” Wysocki said.  “As said above we can help students from day one and even past graduation. It is important to note that even alumni are welcome to visit our office, or any Penn State office of Career Services throughout the Commonwealth.

Although many students are unsure of what they want to do with their future, they are not alone.  It is a very difficult decision to make, especially coming directly from high school.

“It is important for students to realize this is a common feeling and that they are not alone,” Wysocki said.  “Our office offers several ways for students to self-assess and explore career and major options through theory and practice. Students are welcome to make an appointment with a Career Coach, myself or Christine Allen. We also offer CNED 100, Career Exploration, a two-credit course, to help first year and second year students to explore themselves, different majors, and careers but more importantly to learn valuable resources to have with them their entire career journey.”

Some of the valuable resources Career Services provides includes help with internship/job search, resume/cover letter writing interview prep and mock interviews, self-assessment, professional skills and even graduate school prep. As well as offering valuable resources, the office provides events such as Human Services Career Day, Business, Communications and STEM Career Day, Alumni Networking, Mock Interviews for HDFS 490, BA 420, and CNED 280 and lastly, a Fashion Show and Etiquette Luncheon (co-sponsored with Student Affairs).

“Gaining experience before you graduate is very important,” Wysocki said.  “Internships are a great way to do this! Many students find when they graduate that even entry-level positions require some experience. Internships allow for students to build their resume, be competitive in the job search, create new connections, and potentially gain full-time employment from the internship. Our office offers many resources to help students to find internships and jobs.”

To find out more information on Penn State Brandywine’s Career Services, go to:  brandywine.psu.edu/StudentServices/CareerServices/careers.htm or visit Advising and Career Services in 104 Main Building.