Cedar Crest College

OutThere is Cedar Crest Colleges Gender, Sexuality, and Diversity club. We aim to be a safe space for members of the LGBTQ+ community as well as their allies. President - Cassandra Reijgers, VP - Brenna Desborough, Secretary - Theo Ritchey, Treasurer - Tatyanna Miller

To host and attend events that bring together math and the cedar crest community. These include problem sessions, math competitions, game nights, and conferences. President - Madison Wellen, VP - Melea Roman, Secretary - Robin Coker, Treasurer - Magdelena Dammer

Leslie Abreu (advisor: Allison Cornell), Brianna Hill (advisor: Andre Walther) and Stephanie Barr (advisor: Andre Walther) were among the 158 students that participated in the Anne Spychala Presentation Awards competition that was held at the 95th Annual Meeting of the Pennsylvania Academy of Science. During this competition, poster and oral presentations are judged and ranked by scientists attending the conference. Of the 106 students that participated in the oral competition, Brianna Hill was awarded a Third Place Anne Spychala Presentation award for her poster presentation, and Leslie Abreu was awarded an Honorable Mention Anne Spychala Presentation award. Of the 52 students that participated in the oral competition, Stephanie Barr was awarded a Second Place Anne Spychala Presentation award for her oral presentation.

Education Fraternity that holds drives, fundraisers, and events to benefit local students and schools. President - Simone Granison, VP - Laura Tominaj, Secretary - Laura Tominaj, Treasurer - Dr. Joan Kern

Learn about investing in stocks on the New York Stock Exchange, manage the club's investment portfolio. President - Kiersten Clay, VP - Ayana Brown, Secretary - Ravneet Sandhu, Treasurer - Lina Koseki

To educate about the importance and relevance of history and political science. President - Erin Ryan Meyer, VP - Christine Widera, Secretary - Christina Steigerwalt, Treasurer - Natalie Bennington

Spread awareness of health topics and health fields. President - Haley Krueger, VP - LenaRose DeLorenzo, Secretary - Polina Krasik, Treasurer - Colleen Rattan

To bring a love of outdoors to campus, promote outdoorsmanship, and bring together various classes to take trips relative to the outdoors and staying active. President - Catherine Olshefski, VP - Jessica Colyer, Secretary - Dakota Schwartz, Treasurer - Susanna House

A club for forensic science majors and all who are interested in the concept of forensic science. We create events on campus for all and our major event is a symposium in the spring semester. President - Shannon Wolak, VP - Jade Sodon, Secretary - Jade Sodon, Treasurer - Nyla Ngegba

To keep the sport of fencing alive, to encourage women to not portray themselves as weak or unable, to embrace trying something new, to help build student leaders. President - Allison Wheelan, VP - Leannan Feldman, Secretary - Andrea Abdale, Treasurer - Lauren Crispina

Jade Sodon '19, Forensic Science major, has won a position as an Advisor in the National Student Leadership Conference - Forensic Science Program in Washington, D.C. This annual event is held each summer; the Forensic Science Program brings hundreds of high school participants from across the nation. During the program they attend lectures and workshops on fingerprint recovery, impression evidence, questioned documents, forensic psychology, ballistics, DNA analysis, etc. Students also visit the FBI and DEA to hear from forensic experts.

Cedar Crest College presents, The Art of Art Therapists at the Gallery of Capital Blue Cross at the Shoppes at the Promenade in Center Valley. This exhibit presents imagery from students in the undergraduate and graduate art therapy program as well as faculty. Student artists featured are Courtney Brensinger, Charlene Natterman, Amber Petchonka, Heather Tittle, and Eden Yandrisovitz. Faculty exhibiting are Michelle Dean, Program Director, and Meredith Fleshman, adjunct faculty. The opening reception is on April 11th, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. The exhibit is on display from April 8th through May 6th.

Senior Criminal Justice majors Madison Wellen and Chelsea Wilson and sophomore Criminal Justice majors Morgan Godshall, Victoria Kohn and Adrian Mast are panelists in Lehigh County's Community Justice Panels, a diversion program held on campus for juveniles charged for the first time with summary offenses and/or misdemeanors. The cases are sent by police departments, Magisterial District Judges and the Juvenile Probation Department. The students meet with the juvenile and his or her parents/guardians and discuss the incident, school achievement, future plans and other aspects of the juvenile's life and develop a contract for the youth with assignments which hold the juvenile accountable for his or her illegal actions as well as developing their competencies. If assignments are completed successfully, the charges are withdrawn. The program is supported by the Court of Common Pleas, The District Attorney's office and funded by the Juvenile Probation Department.

On March 23, 2019, Brianna Hill and Julianna Marotta (both senior Genetic Engineering majors) presented their independent research at the Northeast District 2 TriBeta Convention at Bloomsburg University. Dr. Jenny Hayden, Assistant Professor of Biology, was also in attendance. TriBeta is a national honor society for biology students, and Julianna is currently the President of Cedar Crest's Theta Psi chapter. Impressively, Brianna was awarded first place for the John C. Johnson Award for her poster presentation and Julianna was awarded first place for the Frank G. Brooks Award for her oral presentation. Last fall, Brianna was awarded a TriBeta Research grant to support her independent research.

On March 25, 2019, 16 social work students attended the annual NASW Advocacy Day. This annual event is attended by all the social work schools in PA. The advocacy project for 2019 was to advocate for HB 390 which focuses on the importance of certification for school social workers. The Cedar Crest social work majors attended with social work students attending NCC and with the MSW students from Marywood.

To give people the opportunity to engage in physical activities. President - Dominique Player, VP - Christiana Vandegrift, Secretary - Alyssa Feher, Treasurer - Tiahna Pagan

To find common groups as educators and support the surrounding school districts. President - Heather Lesko, VP - Darian Kholi, Secretary - Elyse Podgurski, Treasurer - Sherlee Velazquez Ortiz

We are a club that studies the Bible and investigates the scriptures, to get to know Jesus and spend time in fellowship with each other. President - Taryn Thomason, VP - Margaret Walburn, Secretary - Hope Harrison, Treasurer - Ashley Grinnell

The Cedar Crest chapter of the international honor society of forensic science. We perform outreach and educate the community about our field. President - Sarah Lighthart, VP - Gabriella Smith, Secretary - Haley Melbourn, Treasurer - Jade Sodon

During the national celebration of Brain Awareness Week on Saturday, March 16, Dr. Audrey Ettinger and undergraduate students Alexis Calhoun, Lindsey Davis, Michaela Jones, Aseel Khaleel, Haley Krueger, Kassandra Miller, Tatianna Perez, Ashley Ross, and Adriana Sorrentino, participated in the annual Brain Party at the DaVinci Science Center. Students and faculty (and guest scientist Dr. Michael Finley from Janssen) presented hands-on neuroscience activities to members of the public of all ages together with colleagues from the Lehigh Valley Chapter of the Society for Neuroscience (LVSfN). Dr. Ettinger also conducted demonstrations for students visiting DaVinci on field trips as part of their "Healthcare Career Days" program on March 14 and 15.

Cultural Connections aims to provide a space for domestic and international students to share their cultural heritage and cross-cultural experience to foster global understanding and awareness. President - Ravneet Sandhu, VP - Francisca Sepulveda, Secretary - Haley Smith, Treasurer - Nikolina Nikolic

Leannan Feldman '20, Forensic Science and Biology major, has won a position as an Advisor in the National Student Leadership Conference - Forensic Science Program in Washington, D.C. This annual event is held each summer; the Forensic Science Program brings hundreds of high school participants from across the nation. During the program they attend lectures and workshops on fingerprint recovery, impression evidence, questioned documents, forensic psychology, ballistics, DNA analysis, etc. Students also visit the FBI and DEA to hear from forensic experts.

Haley Smith, a senior community-engaged art and Global Studies major with minors in Spanish, English, and Psychology, co-presented with Tatiana Diaz, Dir. Of Diversity and Inclusion at Cedar Crest College, at the Consortium on High Achievement and Success (CHAS) Women of Color Conference. During the community building project, they created a visual space where women can represent themselves and their personal identities through the use of symbols. The patterns that create the quilt have served as representations of symbolic thought and political and social agendas for women advocating for themselves and the betterment of society. From the AIDS Memorial Quilt to the Women's Temperance Movement quilts, the symbols incorporated into the quilts reflect upon both personal and collective narratives and identities and work to promote societal change.

Bringing criminal justice professionals to campus and sponsoring activities for the well-being and entertainment of the campus community. President - Chelsea Wilson, VP - Victoria Kohn, Secretary - Adrian Mast, Treasurer - Hadley Wellen

Educate the people about how to conserve the planet, volunteer locally at animal shelters and highway cleanups, and go on trips with the purpose of education. President - Taylor Robbins, VP - Keana Makari, Secretary - Lois Ann Polashenski, Treasurer - Susanna House

The 7th Annual Springup Dance Festival boasts a faculty lineup of exciting, highly talented professional choreographers, teachers, and dancers, with impressive national and international resumes.

Two students in the Department of Business, Management, and Economics were recently recognized for academic achievement by local professional groups. Based on the recommendations of the department faculty, Melissa Freitas was awarded a certificate of excellence from The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), Lehigh Valley Chapter. The award was given "for outstanding student department contributions, leadership qualities, and academic achievement in the fields of accounting, criminal justice, and business." Anna Holva was awarded a certificate of excellence from the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), Lehigh Valley Chapter. The award was given "for outstanding student departmental contributions, leadership qualities, and academic achievement in the fields of accounting, finance, criminal justice, and business."

Daritza Rosario, Amanda Connell, Nyla Ngegba, Amy Beltz, Brenda Moreno, and Haley Krueger all participated in a different kind of spring break March 3rd - March 9th, 2019. During the week of service, the students had the opportunity to work with the Robeson County Church and Community Center in Lumberton, NC. RCCCC is a multifaceted social service agency with a mission to push back against poverty and fight inequality in Robeson County, NC. Students worked with the Center's Home Store to create a more open and functional space through painting, floor merchandise display updates, updated merchandise floor plan, and processing donations. In 2016, Lumberton, NC was hit by Hurricane Florence that displaced many residents and caused significant damage to homes, business, and community lands. As many described the hurricane "it was a once in a lifetime damaging experience". In Fall of 2018, Lumberton, NC was hit by Hurricane Matthew, which caused the town to be split in half due to the flooding and damage. Another "once in a life time experience" that happened only two years after the first one.

NYFLC is a three-day summit that brings together hundreds of students and young feminist activists from across the country. Rubi Garcia, Kathleen Mallari, and Parisa Bradshaw all attended the conference in D.C. At the conference, discussions take place on critical feminist issues such as anti-violence work, abortion access, racial justice, immigrant rights, queer liberation, health justice and so much more. NYFLC is more than an issue-based conference - it's an activist training that strives to teach students skills and organizing strategies as well such as how to communicate with the media, how to plan an action, etc.). The panels vary from detailed discussions on specific policies to conversations on the organizing tactics behind specific wins to strategies of resistance, such as storytelling. At the conference, students could participate in an Action Room, where they could engage in direct actions and gather to meet one another and build community as well. And, on the last day, the conference hosted a Congressional Advocacy Day, where students are first trained on how to effectively hold their elected officials accountable and then engage in lobbying on the Hill.

Cedar Crest College's Alpha Phi Omega Chapter was awarded the 2019 Alpha Phi Omega Youth Service Grant for programming that the organization will be doing with local children and youth during the month of April. Projects will include working with the Campus Earth Day Celebration and the local Cherry Blossom Festival in Cedar Beach park. According to the International Alpha Phi Omega website, "the goal of the Youth Service Grant is to provide funding for Alpha Phi Omega chapters for programming that will encourage, inspire, and make an impact on children and young people in a socially positive manner."