Student Support Services Program

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IMPRESSIONS
Student Support Services Program The Pennsylvania
State University 312 Grange Building University
Park, PA 16802
CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENT SUCCESS
Office of the Vice Provost for Educational Equity
200506
Student Support Services Program
Student Support Services Program
Student Support Services Program
CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENT SUCCESS
CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENT SUCCESS
CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENT SUCCESS
Impressions
Impressions
Impressions
200405
200405
200405
Office of the Vice Provost for Educational Equity
Office of the Vice Provost for Educational Equity
Office of the Vice Provost for Educational Equity
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The Student Support Services Program Mission

• To increase the retention and graduation rates of
  program participants
• and
• positively foster an institutional climate
  supportive of the students success.

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Meet the SSSP Staff
Dr. Audrey Kharem Director www.personal.psu.edu/ae
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Melissa Alvarez Advising Program Coordinator
www.personal.psu.edu/mja12
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Vernon Carraway Counselor
Robyn Murphy Staff Assistant www.personal.psu.edu/
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• Peer Assistant Leadership Team

First row, (L to R), Allana Stephens and Coleen
Morrissey Second row, (L to R) Tanya LaTortue,
Jennifer Velasquez, Ana De Los Santos, Dipnil
Chowdhury, Eliezer Moreta, and Melissa Alvarez,
(SSSP counselor)
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Office Assistants
(L to R) Cornelius Walker, Robyn Murphy, (staff
assistant), Christina Fink, and Denisse Guzman
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200506 New SSSP Students
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200506 New SSSP Students (continued)
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Students Impressions of SSSP

• The benefit of being in SSSP was the
  encouragement that I received from the staff to
  help me continue in the right direction.
• My biggest benefit while being an SSSP student
  was the encouragement that I received from all of
  the staff. No matter what the situation was, the
  SSSP staff helped me to overcome the worst
  situations I have faced. Another benefit while
  being an SSSP student was having the staff treat
  me like the family that I never had. In the worst
  of situations the staff was there to make sure I
  was ok and to continuously encourage and help me
  to get to where I am today.

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• I cant say there was only one thing that I
  benefited from most! The friendships, trips,
  tutoring, and the many workshops were all great.
  The staff and their willingness to help and stay
  involved with students was also great.
• I benefited most from the support network
  provided by the SSSP staff. They were always
  there for me in good times and bad. I appreciated
  it. Also, I feel that I benefited most from the
  tutoring that was made available, thank you!

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Developing Academic Excellence at the 2005 SSSP
Fall Leadership Conference
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Dr. Nancy Davis, presenter
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SSSP Academic Workshops
Negotiating the Penn State System presented by
SSSP counselors
You Blazed the Trail presented by Ty Willingham
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Preparation for Finals presented by Shubha
Kashyap, CSP counselor
e-Portfolio presented by Glenn Johnson,
Initiative Portfolio Manager
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SSSP Financial Workshops
Financial Aid workshop presented by Amber
Boston, coordinator, Office of Student Aid
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Budget and Debt Management workshop presented
by Sajay Samuel, accounting professor
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SSSP Peer Assistant Leadership Team Retreat
September 10, 2005
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SSSP Riversville Scholars
First Row, (L to R), Khadijah Lupton, Alexis
Hargro, and Sheena Tisinger Second Row, (L to R),
Tanya LaTortue, Joshua Rivers, Ashley Hargro,
Cornelius Walker, and Harry Max
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Riversville Scholars Recognition Dinner
September 19, 2005
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Riversville Scholars Presentations
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SSSP Cultural Trip
October 8, 2005
SSSP students at the National Museum of the
American Indian, Washington, D.C.
American Indians demonstrate their cultural dance.
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Dinner at the Lebanese Taverna Restaurant,
Washington, D.C.
October 8, 2005
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SSSP Career Connections
Mens Luncheon November 16, 2005
Bobby Misher, human resources representative,
(second from left), and Wayne Gersie, counselor,
Multicultural Resource Center, (third from left),
are panelists at the mens luncheon.
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Womens Luncheon March 15, 2006
Students met with Nicole Webster, assistant
professor, College of Agricultural Sciences Ty
Willingham, East Halls coordinator and Jan
Mahar, assistant director, Business and Career
Solutions, and asked questions about their
successes.
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SSSP Cultural Activities
Caribbean Experience March 25, 2006
Club Kreyol February 24, 2006
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SSSP Mentors Appreciation Dinner
April 27, 2006
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Congratulations SSSP Achievers!
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SSSP Students who Achieved a 3.03.49
Cumulative Grade-point Average
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SSSP Students Receive their Awards for Achieving
a 3.03.49 Grade-point Average
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Deans ListStudents who Achieved a 3.50 and
Above Grade-point Average

• Marina Aguiar
• Jennifer Bechtel
• Rachael Cattell
• Lauren Foster
• Tyrone Hutchins
• Sarah Hummel
• My-Na Giang
• George Kalberer

• Alexandra Martin
• Kamilla Mazan
• Jessica Mendez
• Coleen Morrissey
• Olakunle Orogbemi
• Jennifer Oliver
• Maria Ramirez
• Nathan Weaver

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SSSP Students Receive an Award for Making Deans
List
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SSSP 400 Grant Recipients
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SSSP Students Receive their 400 Grant
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SSSP Graduates
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SSSP Graduates (continued)
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Ana De Los Santos B.S. Labor and Industrial
Relations
Christina Fink B.S. Human Development and Family
Studies
Sonja Ford B.S. Health Policy and Administration
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Quotes from 200506 SSSP Graduates

• Stay focused, work hard, party later!
  Constantly develop new relationships, speak and
  acknowledge one another, and look for mentors.
  Never be afraid to ask for help!
• You can do it. Youre almost there. Keep
  focused and study hard. But, also keep in touch
  with your friends, as they provide good support
  in times of need.

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Denisse Guzman B.A. Crime, Law, and Justice
Tato Gayflorsee B.S. Psychology
Allana Joyner-Stephens B.A. Crime, Law, and
Justice
Harry Max B.S. Political Science
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Graduate Quotes (continued)

• I would have to tell students to never give
  up and continue to strive even if you feel that
  you can't make it any further. Because of having
  so many medical problems throughout my time in
  college, it is easy for me to say that life is
  not fully a journey unless you have some
  obstacles to overcome along the way.
• If there's no struggle, then there's no
  progress.

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Marivi Rodriguez B.S. Spanish
Chan Tran B.S. Biobehavioral Health
Melissa Valentine B.S. Science
John Yak B.S. Agricultural Science
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Graduate Quotes (continued)

• This program was more than just another
  commitment, it was where I knew I could go to not
  only get academic support, but also a place where
  I was able to make a connection with counselor's
  who were willing to go above and beyond their
  normal duties.

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This training is offered through a federal grant
of 237,631 for fiscal year 200506 from the
U.S. Department of Education, with facilities and
administrative support provided by The
Pennsylvania State University.  

• This publication is available in alternative
  media on request.
• The Pennsylvania State University is committed
  to the policy that all persons shall have equal
  access to programs, facilities, admission, and
  employment without regard to personal
  characteristics not related to ability,
  performance, or qualifications as determined by
  University policy or by state or federal
  authorities. It is the policy of the University
  to maintain an academic and work environment free
  of discrimination, including harassment. The
  Pennsylvania State University prohibits
  discrimination and harassment against any person
  because of age, ancestry, color, disability or
  handicap, national origin, race, religious creed,
  sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or
  veteran status. Discrimination or harassment
  against faculty, staff, or students will not be
  tolerated at The Pennsylvania State University.
  Direct all inquiries regarding the
  nondiscrimination policy to the Affirmative
  Action Director, The Pennsylvania State
  University, 328 Boucke Building, University
  Park, PA 16802-5901 Tel [phone]/V,
  814-863-1150/TTY. U.Ed.OVP 06-55
•  

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