The Class of 2010 earns Fulbrights, Teach for America and grad school acceptances
By Corey Fawcett
For UP seniors, the excitement of graduation's approach is about more than the relief of completing undergraduate studies.
It is also about the anticipation of what is to come, despite a bleak job market.
For many in this year's graduating class, the next chapter includes graduate school teaching in the south, working in Europe and much more.
Senior Caitlyn McCartney has a lot to anticipate.
She became interested in physical therapy shortly after changing her major from business to life science during her spring semester in Salzburg.
By the end of her junior year, she knew that she wanted to go to graduate school to get her doctorate in physical therapy, which is exactly what she will be doing next year.
Although she is still deciding on a school, McCartney is eager about her future academic endeavors.
"I will be taking classes on the topics I am very passionate about, and I can't wait to move and experience a new city," she said.
During her last two years of graduate school, she will be able to participate in clinicals for onsite experience in a variety of different settings - something that she has been waiting to do for a long time.
"I finally get to work with patients," she said.
McCartney has a number of dreams pertaining to her physical therapy doctorate, including becoming a member of a physical therapy association that will allow her to "help physical therapy as a field continually respond as best it can to the need for better healthcare," she said.
McCartney's ambitions reflect the university's emphasis on social equality, as do many of the goals of this year's batch of seniors.
"I really do believe I can make a difference and help close the achievement gap," said senior Mallory Phelan, who will be teaching high school math next year in Charlotte, N.C. as a member of Teach for America.
She, like the other UP students that have been accepted by the non-profit organization Teach for America, will go through extensive training this summer before teaching for two years in a low-income community.
"I think Teach for America loves UP students so much because there is a huge focus on social justice in the education program here," said senior Emily Sorenson, whose interest in education issues inspired her to apply.
Next year, she will teach either middle school or high school special education classes in rural Louisiana.
"I'm really excited to immerse myself in southern culture and throw myself into something I've never tried," Sorenson said. "It'll be a total culture shock."
Senior Zach Clute-Reinig, also bound for Louisiana with Teach for America, went through the rigorous application process because of his strong desire to teach in a high-need region, which has been affirmed by his work as a student teacher at Roosevelt High School.
"This will be more than a two year commitment for me," he said of his aspiration to stay with the program for longer than the required two years.
Senior Allison Goodfellow was also inspired to apply for the program by its impressive goals.
She liked the thought of being able to work directly with the students and make an impact on their education.
Theoretically, she will be teaching high school literature in Texas in a few years after she teaches English in Germany on a Fulbright scholarship, but she still has some logistics to work out.
"I was in shock," she said about receiving both a Fulbright and getting accepted to Teach for America. "My professors really helped. They pushed me to apply and to think big."
Senior Elizabeth Banicki also received a Fulbright and will teach English in Germany next year, which is something she has wanted to do since her freshman year at UP.
Senior Isaac Otto and 2009 alumna Sarah Warsaw also received Germany Teaching Fulbrights and senior Agatha Brzezinski earned a Fulbright to Poland.
Banicki started learning German in the fifth grade, took four years of it in both high school and college, and studied abroad in Salzburg for a year.
Now she works as a volunteer at a local German immersion school.
"I'm mostly looking forward to becoming fluent in German," she said.
In addition to being excited to live and teach in Germany, Banicki is grateful that she does not have to look for work any time soon in a job market that has hit rock bottom.
"Looking for a job is a daunting enterprise now," she said.
Senior Jessica Alford has already faced that daunting enterprise of finding a job, and secured a position as a nanny to pay for her LSAT class that she will be taking next year.
"I chose to take a year off so that I don't get burned out from school," she said. "I'm looking forward to that the most."
After her year off, she plans on taking the LSAT in October and then applying to law school.
Alford, McCartney, Sorenson, Clute-Reinig, Goodfellow and Banicki all represent a class whose future is teeming with challenging undertakings.
In the meantime, they are ready to celebrate.
"I am excited to enjoy graduation and all of its events with all the wonderful people I have met here at the U of P and celebrate those friendships that have made my college years very special ones," McCartney said.
