Eye on the Storm: The Official Undergraduate Admissions Blog of the National Leader in Experiential, Hands-on Learning

Early in the semester, students always hear stories about the professors on campus. Who lets you use your notes on tests? Who gives the most extra credit?  Where’s Socrates? From there, students either beg their adviser to slip them into a class with their favorite educator or push aside their wishes and go with whomever is available. Keuka College has a remarkably talented group of educators and each individual has their own unique way of teaching a class.

By asking students about their favorite professor, it allows others to get some insight into who may be right for them next semester, next year or years down the road. Below are 11 Keuka College students who took the time to discuss their most-noted professor and what brought them to the campus in the first place.

Shannon Slater ‘12

Favorite Professor: Mrs. Jennings
What’s Your Major: Early Childhood Education
Why Do You Like Keuka? “I like Keuka because it’s far from home.”

MaKenna Moon ‘12

Favorite Professor: Dr. Leahy
What’s Your Major: Political Science and History
Why Do You Like Keuka? “It’s full of awesome people!”

Ashleen Betts ‘11

Favorite Professor: Dr. McKenzie
What’s Your Major: American Sign Language
Why Do You Like Keuka? “[Dr. Mac] makes boring classes interesting!”

Ben Ternosky ‘12

Favorite Professor: Dr. Dickinson
What’s Your Major: Occupational Therapy
Why Do You Like Keuka? “The class size and scenery.”

Kimberly Notebaert ‘11

Favorite Professor: Dr. McKenzie
What’s Your Major: Social Work
Why Do You Like Keuka? “I finally found a place that makes me feel like I belong.”

Emmalee Pearce ‘11

Favorite Professor: Dr. Shepardson
What’s Your Major: Unified Childhood Education
Why Do You Like Keuka? “The small family-like atmosphere.”

Paige Snyder ‘13

Favorite Professor: Dr. Holloway
What’s Your Major: Psychology
Why Do You Like Keuka? “Close to home.”

Kristen Amidon ‘13

Favorite Professor: Dr. Holloway
What’s Your Major: Occupational Therapy
Why Do You Like Keuka? “Friendly, family setting.”

Diamond Booker ‘11

Favorite Professor: Dr. McKenzie
What’s Your Major: Business Management
Why Do You Like Keuka: “It’s beautiful.”

Jing ‘Potato’ Lin ‘10 (left) Carol Yu ‘10

Potato

Favorite Professor: Mr. Perryman
What’s Your Major: Business Management
Why Do You Like Keuka? “The lake and ice cream.”

Carol

Favorite Professor: Mr. Perryman
What’s Your Major: Business Management
Why Do You Like Keuka? “Nice people and the lake.”

Cecilia Chen ‘10

Favorite Professor: Mr. Perryman
What’s Your Major: Business Management
Why Do You Like Keuka? “The beautiful lake.”

Ahh. This is both my favorite and least favorite question to answer. It is my favorite because I could talk about it for days, and therefore also my least favorite. SIFE has often had the reputation of being just a business club. Now comes the part where I squash all the rumors: SIFE is more than just a business club! There. SIFE is an acronym for Students In Free Enterprise.

(On of life’s harshest lessons: just because you know what an acronym stands for, does not necessarily mean that you understand it.)

SIFE is a worldwide organization with teams in over 40 countries. There are about 1000 teams in the United States. At Keuka College, you will find one of the 48 best teams in the country (results per 2009 national competition). The great thing about SIFE is that every team is different. I will tell you a little bit about what the Keuka SIFE team is all about.

Our team has around 62 members this year, and 16 projects. Essentially we have one goal: to make the world a better place, beginning with our own backyard of Yates County, NY. We have a variety of educational projects that we target to youth in our area. Our team spends time in local classrooms promoting the principles of Free Enterprise. Some of these include ethics, financial literacy and environmental sustainability among other things. Most people will agree that these are all issues where education is vital. You don’t have to be a business person to understand how to manage your money or be ethical. We are all consumers in the long run, right?

And of course our other main goal is to help local entrepreneurs succeed. We accomplish this by providing and marketing seminars, developing marketing plans for local businesses, and sharing what we learn in the classrooms with business owners. The relationship we have with local businesses benefits all parties involved. They are able to receive assistance from an outside source, and we as students get to take what we learn in the classroom and apply it in real life scenarios. Experiential Learning at its finest? I think so.

I wish I could tell you all of the advantages of being on a SIFE team, but they won’t let me write forever. But I can tell you that it is the most important part of my resume. I will be sure to update you more about what our team is doing this year.

I’ve decided that I might as well start off this year with the lessons that Keuka has taught me in the past two(ish) years.

1. It’s never too late to change your major

1.5 You can finish a major in two years if you have all your gen eds done.

2. In about three months the new friends you meet will suddenly feel like best friends.

3. Sleeping with a stuffed animal is really actually not that weird.

4.Facebook is the reason for procrastination.

5. The library is a beautiful thing!

5.5 They have syllabi in the library, so if you lose yours, THEY HAVE ONE. How awesome? Now you don’t have to ask the teacher.

5.5 Part Two: And sometimes, they have the books you need for class on reserve. Ergo, You don’t necessarily have to go all the way back up to your room, you can just go ask to borrow it for two hours.

6. Using food in presentations is how you get an A.

7. Happiness is your choice. No matter where you go, you’ll find someone you don’t like. Don’t let it bother you, and just keep swimming.

8. Take time out of every day for yourself. Going down to the lake during downtime is wonderfully relaxing.

9. Time management is the key to eternal happiness.

10. Always make sure you have friends that aren’t just your roommates.

11. I should not be an English major. Communications is so much more fun. For me.

12. Make time to exercise. Even if you don’t really want to.

13. Don’t forget to clean out your fridge. Or put the twisty tie thing back on the bread. Bad bad things will happen.

14. People care about whether you call it pop or soda.

15. DO NOT wait until ten minutes before an exam to study.