By Laura Revelt and Robin Green –
As the end of the year approaches, seniors are finalizing plans for the next year. Some will head for another two or four years of schooling at a college or university, others will go right into the workforce, but not all seniors are sure of their next step.
A common question heard at senior lunch tables and in the classroom is, “where are you going next year?”
Penn Manor seniors are all curious where everyone is headed, so we went around and found out. Here are results that were attained from seniors.
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Scroll down to see the senior interviews.
College
Arcadia University (Glenside, PA)
Veronica Willig
The Art Institute of Pennsylvania (PA)
Sam Adams
Bloomsburg University (Bloomsburg, PA)
Abigail Novak
Cassey Graeff
Julia Rios
Jenna Santaniello
Olivia Hertzler
Auburn University (Auburn, AL)
Robert Henry
Boston University (Boston, MA)
Laura Revelt
Bryn Mawr College (Bryn Mawr, PA)
Mikah Farbo
California Institute of Technology (Pasadena, CA)
Ben Clark
Catholic University of America (Washington, DC)
Dan Elliot
Chestnut Hill College (Philadelphia, PA)
Kayley Gaukler
Clemson University (Clemson, SC)
Alicia Burns
Coastal Carolina University (Conway, SC)
Maeve Snyder
Consolidated School of Business (PA)
Cidney Rupp
Cornell University (Ithica, NY)
Ande Olson
Career & Technology Center (PA)
Caylin Koser
Delaware Valley College (Doylestown, PA)
Kaleb Long
Drexel University (Philadelphia, PA)
Jeremy Vital
Eastern University (St. Davids, PA)
Bryan Hess
East Stroudsburg University (East Stroudsburg, PA)
Holly Mancinelli
Elizabethtown College (Elizabethtown, PA)
Amy Wagner
Brian Ramsey
Connor Rowe Evan Singleton Emily Hutchinson
Franklin and Marshall College (Lancaster, PA)
Alec O’Rourke
Lars Andersen
Frostburg State University (Frostburg, MD)
Spencer Barnett
Geneva College (Beaver Falls, PA)
Elsie Huber
Jenna Spayd
Grove City College (Grove City, PA)
Peter Ashworth
Harrisburg Area Community College (PA)
Alex Blythe
Allana Herr
Amanda Ackerman
Chassidy Sowersby
Dani Adams
Derek Groff
Dillon Walker
Emmy Hess
Genny Leonards
Jeremy Ostsberg
Kendall Seigworth
Kristi Rineer
Mike Bowder
Mitchell Creasy
Tanner Burkhardt
Morgan Mock
Paige Kuster
Rebecca Irwin
Ryan Mays
Shane Burkhardt
Stacy Smith
Storm Kelley
Taylor Stump
Hood College (Frederick, MD)
Brandon McCormick Jaq Presbery
Houghton College (Houghton, NY)
Austin Groff
Indiana University of Pennsylvania (Indiana, PA)
Kyle Hallett
Melissa Martin
Taylor Groff
James Madison University (Harrisonburg, VA)
Zach Rayha
Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore, MD)
Natasha Fletcher
Juniata College (Huntingdon, PA)
Allison Herr
Kutztown University (Kutztown, PA)
Samantha McCrery
Whitney Reno
Lancaster General College (Lancaster, PA)
Riannon Herr
Lafayette College (Easton, PA)
Helen Hutchens
Demetrius Dixon
Lehigh University (Bethlehem, PA)
Morgan Fletcher
Lock Haven University (Lock Haven, PA)
Joe Gordon
Cody Goldberg
Mike Liebl
Mansfield University (Mansfield, PA)
Kendra Keuper
Tyler Beckley
Michigan State University (East Lansing, MI)
Nick Hartley
Millersville University (Millersville, PA)
Nick Weidinger
Sam Brenner
Alix Mullins
Anissa Gerlach
Alyssa Byers
Lauren Richards
Megan Wilson
Cassie Funk
Wyman Unen
Kira Klaassen
Noah Kuhn
Jacklyn Schmalhofer
Paul Slaugh
Olivia Rinier
Montana Stokem
Clark Habecker
Kaylynne Staub
Cassandra Sweikert
Liz Lawrence
Mercyhurst Brown (Erie, PA)
Suzanne Brown
Misericordia University (Dallas, PA)
Morgan Ream
Jenna Reel
Moravian College (Bethlehem, PA)
Stef Friedman
Ocean County College(Toms River, NJ)
Henry Kohler
Norwich University(Northfield, VT)
Trevor Troup
Penn State Harrisburg (Middletown, PA)
Devin Yecker
Cree Bleacher
Penn State University (University Park, PA)
Corey Morales
Brock Kauffman
Katie Maisel
Katie Breneman
Josh Carle
Mike Gebhart
Taylor Breidenbaugh
Greg Gydush
Bethany Dickert
Penn State York (York, PA)
Bryan Buckius
Alex Geli
Pennsylvania Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences(Philadelphia, PA)
Jeff Bitzs
Pennsylvania College of Art and Design (Lancaster, PA)
Andrea Deibert
Amanda Miley
Leah Freeman
Jenna Waite
Pennsylvania College of Technology (Williamsport, PA)
Erika Roop
Pennsylvania Gunsmith School (Pittsburgh, PA)
Chase Miller
Philadelphia University(Philadelphia, PA)
Danielle Warfel
Pulse Paul Mitchell School of Cosmetology (Downington, PA)
Mary Treier
Robert Morris University (Moon Township, PA)
Stetson Hershey
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania (Shippensburg, PA)
Brian Dunne
Robin Green
Matt Aston
Abby Newport
Slippery Rock University (Slippery Rock, PA)
Morgan Talbert
Temple University (Philadelphia, PA)
Alex Manm
Ariela Contreias
Jessen Smith
Katie Coons
Ella Perry
Willie Chalfant
Emily Land
Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology (Lancaster, PA)
Evan Shertzer
Daniel Boehler
University of Massachusetts Amherst (Amherst, MA)
Renee Suter
University Of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA)
Eric Clark Sophia Wushanley
University Of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh, PA)
Jesse Graham
Erin Loy
Jessica Cheng
Garrett Young
Mark Curtin
University of Rochester(Rochester, NY)
Mark Christman
University Of Tampa (Tampa, Fl)
Lizzie Pflumm
University Of the Arts (Philadelphia, PA)
Rachel Sherts
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Blacksburg, VA)
Maddy Hess
Virginia Wesleyan College (Norfolk, VA)
Zach Campbell
Washington College (Chestertown, MD)
Caroline Lovett
Washington University (St. Louis, MO)
Ben Crisman
West Chester University of Pennsylvania (West Chester, PA)
Dan Short
Moriah Freeman
Widener University (Chester, PA)
Eric Gerlach
York College of Pennsylvania (York, PA)
Kendal Phillips
Sarah Garner
Work/Career
Jessie Lindeman
Cory Lentz
Kyle Angelo
Rob Fisher
Gabby Myers
Eric Byers
Nesha Stoltzfus
Other
Eric Bear-Year off in Paris, France
Michael Keen- Air Force
Jeremiah Mazzur- Military/Army
Will Tomlinson- Military
Felix Yaliel- Move in with best friend and work
Jordan Lyons- Military/ Air Force
Lauren Ressler- Taking time off
Faith Walauskas- Year off
Ryan -Air Force
Jeff Ford- Army
Mike Stokes- Military
Taylor Smith- Air Force or School
*This is not the entire senior class. If you would like your name to be added to the list with your plan for next year, contact the Penn Points Staff (room 358 in Library) or Robin Green or Laura Revelt.
After reviewing the list we found some surprising statistics, trends and difficult decisions that were made. The most popular school seniors are attending next year is Harrisburg Area Community College or HACC. According to hacc.edu, HACC has six campuses in Pennsylvania including Lancaster, Lebanon, York, Harrisburg, Gettysburg, and Virtual. Of the senior class, at least 23 are going to HACC. The second most popular school is Millersville University, with 19 seniors planning to attend there. According to the poll only 22 seniors are going to attend college in another state.
Of course many of the schools that seniors are attending next year are very good schools, but we found some impressive statistics. Three seniors are going to Ivy League universities next year. Eric Clark, majoring in biological basis of behavior, and Sophia Wushanley are both attending the University of Pennsylvania and Ande Olson is going to Cornell University in the fall.
Olson will be majoring in engineering. He explained how he came to the decision to attend Cornell University.
“My grandfather went to Cornell and it’s a very prestigious school,” said Olson.
Olson and Clark talked of what they thought was required to be accepted at an Ivy League school.
“I definitely needed strong academics, community service and leadership,” said Olson.
“I had a diverse application,” said Clark.
Clark explained he is involved in academics of all subjects, sports, music, church, community service and that he had good SAT scores.
Clark also emphasized the fact that he only applied to the University of Pennsylvania, with early decision, and this allowed him to focus on it.
“I didn’t have to worry myself with back-up schools,” said Clark.
“I put a lot of time and hard work into the application process.”
According to Olson, after he narrowed down his college options to two universities, he chose Cornell through long discussions with his parents.
“It’s probably a better choice for me.”
Clark on the other hand knew he wanted to go to the University of Pennsylvania from the start.
“They’re a good school,” said Clark.
Clark also said that he loves Philadelphia and that it’s a good city location and listed Penn’s multiple clubs, facilities, tennis courts and, not to mention, his girlfriend goes there, as positive aspects of the University of Pennsylvania.
Besides the struggle to balance difficult high school classes, work, sports and staying active in clubs, prospective college students have to face decisions that can take them far away from their family, friends and significant other. College can make or break relationships.
Penn Manor seniors who are now separating next year are the Fletcher sisters. Morgan and Natasha, twins, have been together for over 18 years, since before birth, but come August, Morgan will be attending Lehigh University, enrolled in the business college, and Natasha will be majoring in International Relations at Johns Hopkins University. Morgan will be in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and Natasha in Baltimore, Maryland.
“Every day I get asked- you guys are separating?” Morgan said.
The Fletchers expressed the pros and cons of being apart next year.
“I think it’s time that we separate and get our own identities,” said Morgan. “We need some independence (from each other) because we never had it before.”
Natasha listed a few positive aspects as, “Freedom, individualism and we’ll be able to find our own friends.”
“We’re not going to have to help people tell us apart. We won’t have that awkwardness in the beginning of meeting people.”
Morgan applied to nine schools and Natasha applied to six, but they both only applied to one school that was the same. Morgan explained their parents hoped they would go to the same college but that she had doubts from the start of the application process that they would go to that one school they both applied to.
“They understand we have different interests,” said Natasha.
“It’s bad because we will miss each other, because we’ve never been apart,” said Morgan.
Natasha said, “We are getting separated, so that’ll be an adjustment.”
Natasha mentioned other cons of attending different colleges such as not talking or seeing each other everyday, which is what they are so used to.
“We know other twins that said it was extremely hard,”said Morgan
Morgan talked of family friends that are twins who cried their first month apart.
“Then I think they were happy in the long run,” said Morgan. “It was a bittersweet situation for them.”
“I think it will be the same experience for us but not as extreme.”
On the flip side some friendships will be continued as seniors attend the same university next year. Lars Andersen and Alec O’Rourke are both going to Franklin & Marshall College, informally known as F&M, here in Lancaster.
“This was not planned out,” said Andersen.
O’Rourke applied to 6-8 schools and Andersen applied to seven.
Andersen said, “Somehow we both ended up at F&M.
Andersen will be majoring in finance or premed and O’Rourke is undecided.
One word Andersen used for describing his feelings of the two of them going to the same college in the fall was, “apprehensive.”
A con they both expressed of going to F&M is how close it is to home.
“It sucks that its five minutes away from my house,” said O’Rourke.
“We can’t escape the greater Lancaster area, bu that’s also a pro because we already know our way around town,” said Andersen.
Other pros they mentioned were the dorms and that they both have already studied at the school. O’Rourke took two classes and Andersen took one.
“I’m glad our dorm is not a broom closet,” said O’Rourke.
“We’re not going to be in every class together,” said Andersen.
For the most part the two seemed happy to be attending the same school next year and mentioned the conicidence that they will be graduating from high school on the F&M campus.
A senior with unique plans next year is Eric Bear. Bear will be spending the fall semester of 2011 in Paris, France.
“I will be staying with a host family in the seventh district of Paris. I will be studying French Language and Literature at La Sorbonne-Paris, France,” said Bear.
Bear explained that he will be learning French and the culture while there, but he will also be teaching English to French-speaking children in the schools of Paris because of his five years of experience with the French language.
“While I am there I will also be traveling all over France and throughout Europe receiving private tours and sightseeing through the program along with various trips with my home stay family,” added Bear.
The trip is through the CIEE Study Abroad Program: Gap Year. Bear found out about it from Maureen Klingaman, a French teacher here at Penn Manor.
“It seemed like this came my way at the perfect time, and it was just what I needed. The criteria they requested was that the student was a senior taking off a semester in the fall, speaks french, and is a global citizen,” said Bear.
Bear met the criteria because of his years of French and his involvement in Serteen, Boy Scouts, experience with a photography company and his internship at LG Electronics Mobile Communications.
Bear expressed his excitement to go on the trip and what a opportunity it is.
“Usually most students do not study abroad until their junior or senior year (of college), and for me to be able to do this before my freshman year is pretty amazing,” said Bear.
Besides passport and student visa fees, Bear does not have to pay for the trip. He leaves in September 2011 and will return December 2011. He then will attend New York University in the Spring of 2012, double- majoring in International Marketing and Fashion Merchandising with a minor in French.
To all seniors, good luck next year as you carry out your plans and accomplish your goals!
I’m glad this finally happened Laura. You and Robin did good work. I laughed at your “not to mention, his girlfriend goes there” and that you added Lars’ bitter, sarcastic comment about “knowing his way around town.” Best penn points article since chess.
Lars and Alec are just afraid to leave home..and each other. I also agree with Eric that this is the best article since chess.