Networking
Mentorship
I have been extremely lucky to have several mentors step into my life over the years. I would like to highlight some here because I strongly believe in the feedback and advice that they have, and continue to, off me constantly.
Jason Rhykerd, CISO, Sheetz: I was given the chance to be introduced to Jay during my senior year of college at Penn State and immediately recognized the great opportunity in front of me. From the first introduction I have been able to glean countless nuggets of wisdom from this relationship, and the mentorship ended up turning into an internship that I will be eternally grateful for. The chance to work in the cybersecurity industry before graduation has given me the chance to learn real-world skills and stand out among my peers.
Donna Bon, Entrepreneurship Director, PSU Altoona: I met Prof. Bon in my junior year in the middle of me having a crisis of career choices. I had recently decided to switch majors and was considering majors when the Sheetz Fellows program was shown to me. Ever since I have been hooked, it is easily one of my favorite classes and one that I rarely dread going to. The opportunities are endless, and the soft skills I have learned and improved are invaluable to me.
David Barnes, IST Program Coordinator, PSU Altoona: "Smooth", as all of us call him has been my college advisor since entering the SRA program my junior year. His help along the way has been a great resource for me. The countless phone calls, emails, and discussions after class, have all allowed me to succeed in the program to the level that I have. Smooth is a legend in the PSU Altoona community, and his students remember him forever due to his unique teaching style.
Paul Cooney, Entrepreneurship Professor, PSU Altoona: Prof. Cooney is lovingly referred to as the Sheetz Fellows dad. He is a silent supporter of each of us, offering advice and wisdom in a paternal manner at every turn. We all know that we can always count on his wisdom and guidance for school and life in general, and we all appreciate him for it very much. He is the epitome of leading through actions rather than words, and I hope to hold a fraction of his character.
Larry Garvin, IST Professor, PSU Altoona: Prof G. is another PSU Altoona legend. His unique character and teaching style allow us to grow and achieve like no other professor allows us to. He is always receptive to student input and would give a student in need the shirt off of his back if they needed it. He has helped me make many large education and professional choices through my time at PSU and has been a steadfast supporter of my accomplishments.
Expert In Residence
Through the Sheetz Fellows Program, we have the opportunity to meet with several local leaders from both the business and community and engage with them during 15-minute sessions These meetings can be about pretty much anything we want them to be and I have used this time to cover many topics concerning personal growth, professional goals, educational guidance, and even community outreach and programs. Oftentimes people say that leaders in their community are hard to reach or hard to approach, and I recognize that these individuals are allowing us to take up their valuable time to ask questions. I have been able to glean lifetimes worth of advice out of brief 15-minute segments of time over the two years I have been in this program, and I will carry the lessons learned from them throughout my life.
Study "Abroad"
As a part of the Sheetz Fellows program, I was allowed to travel to Orlando, Florida, and Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas. While in Orlando we attended the National Conference
on Student Leadership where we had the chance to attend several mini-sessions discussing topics such as leadership, emotional intelligence, and career growth. While in Texas we were given tours of several businesses including Rexel, AT&T Stadium, Farmer Brothers Coffee, Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages, and several others. The trip also allowed us to sit down and have discussions with employees ranging from plant managers to CEOs. I believe that these experiences are important not only for a professional future but also for personal growth through exposure to different cultures and experiences.