She's a proud parent of a thriving Wildcat with mom moments too plentiful to count. Deeply grateful for the opportunities and support her son found at Penn College, Sharon happily returns the favor as a generous donor.
I am the product of a career military father, so we moved every few years most of my childhood. As a result, I lived all over the US and abroad. I came to the Harrisburg area after college to attend graduate school. After earning a Master of Public Administration with a focus on environmental policy, my career opportunities led me to governmental affairs – first for the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and industry and now with FirstEnergy. I am the lobbyist for my company, working with legislators and other government officials to help them understand our business and the impact of potential policy decisions. The job requires strong interpersonal skills, good communication, and the ability to articulate complex issues in a simple manner. It puts my outgoing personality to good use!
When I’m not working, I am passionate about outdoor activities including hiking, kayaking, and exploring National Parks. My yard is recognized by the National Wildlife Federation and the Audubon Society as a wildlife habitat for my bird and pollinator-friendly design. I also volunteer with my certified therapy dog, a corgi named Franklin. We are regular visitors at a local assisted living facility and an elementary school. It is a very rewarding experience.
There were so many reasons we were drawn to Penn College – the truly impressive graduate placement rate, the small classroom sizes, the large variety of majors that are tailored to what employers are looking for in job candidates, and professors with real-world experience who have worked in the fields that they now teach. The way we were treated from the moment we expressed interest in the college to our first Open House visit was so welcoming. The Open House was well organized and well staffed, providing opportunities to explore the different majors and get a true sense of what each curriculum entailed. We were sold within 15 minutes of being on your beautiful campus.
Penn College has provided every possible resource and opportunity for my son to succeed, with attentive advisors, a strong tutoring program and writing center, volunteer and club opportunities, and even a free course on note taking and studying skills when he faltered a bit during his first semester. He overcame the stigma of needing extra support and utilizes Disability Services, where his advisor has exceeded all expectations.
My proud mom moment is really moments, and they are significant. My son has gained confidence and independence while at Penn College. Athletically, he is the team leader for the Cross Country Team and was selected to the United East Men’s Cross Country All-Sportsmanship Team, as well as being appointed the team representative on the PCT Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). Academically, he achieved Dean’s List twice (so far). He was recognized for both his grades and leadership abilities by Disability Services and Access Resources and asked to serve as a student ambassador for the program for incoming students. In extracurricular opportunities, he had an opportunity to forgo his Spring break to be a PCT volunteer with Habitat for Humanity in Florida as he and other students helped build a home for a week. These growth and leadership opportunities are not only proud mom moments (insert tears here) but are critical skills that will help him succeed when he enters the workforce.
Beyond their specific sports training, the student-athletes learn important life skills of balance, time management, teamwork, commitment, and preparation. The coaches emphasize academic success, and in the case of Cross Country the coach even held more than one practice a day to accommodate the different class schedules of his runners.
"Penn College has provided every possible resource and opportunity for my son to succeed, with attentive advisors, a strong tutoring program and writing center, volunteer and club opportunities, and even a free course on note taking and studying skills."
Sharon's son, Dean, was featured in the first-ever Wildcat Spotlight video series. Check out his story and learn what he loves most about the student-athlete experience.
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