The University of
Pitt-Greensburg
Student SPSEA 2016/2017
Education is all a matter of building bridges
To show appreciation and reward students for coming to our events, we have created an “Active Member Incentive Program”. This was implemented during the Spring semester in 2016, and continued throughout this year. Our attendance at events has significantly increased compared to our numbers during the Fall of 2015. Each member receives a raffle ticket when he or she participates in an event. At the end of the year, raffle tickets are pulled and the winner(s) will receive a Gift Card. This incentive program encourages student participation leading to new friendships and involvement.
Active Member Incentive
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To Encourage Attendance
Each year, the Student Government Association hosts an “Activities Fair” where clubs and groups on campus can advertise and share information. Pitt-Greensburg SPSEA knows how to work this activities fair! We not only pass out information about the club, but provide EVERYONE (education major or not) who comes to our table with candy and a pack of small post-it notes, reminding them about the Kick-Off Meeting. This year, we also sold tickets to our PACE raffle (for a free parking pass) and asked for donations for Connellsville (they experienced a horrible flood the weekend before their students returned to school). SPSEA members can also fill out raffle cards for prizes that are drawn and presented at the Kick-Off meeting.
Activities Fair
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Members in Attendance
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Frank Laspin
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Michelle Etling
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PJ Dumnich
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Peyton Clark
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Brea Bolden
Each year, we are sad for the year to end. So for all of us to gather together one last time, share a meal, and send off our seniors in style, we have an end of the year picnic.Our officers usually have a few words to share as do our advisers (sometimes more than a few from them), and gifts are bestowed upon the graduating seniors. It’s a great celebration each year.
End of the Year Picnic & Senior Farewell 2016
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Frank Laspin
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Ashley Muscarella
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Sam Nagel
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Bryan Edwards
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Jessica Williams
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Kelsey Campbell
Members in Attendance
Another resource that our SPSEA Chapter likes to take advantage of is our Facebook Page. It is an open group; however, only current and graduated SPSEA students, education faculty, and other campus staff in support of our SPSEA endeavors at Pitt Greensburg are accepted as members. This is another way to connect with people and keep everyone informed of upcoming events, job openings, and articles relevant to our career paths.
Facebook Page
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In hopes of creating group cohesion early in the year and of introducing new and old members in a non-forced way to mingle, we have a fall social each year. This year, we decided to go to Ohiopyle, PA, which is about 45 minutes from our university. The Saturday was gorgeous! In addition to a picnic, SPSEA members went biking or hiking (including up to Cucumber Falls) and watched people rafting on the river.
Fall Social
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Members in Attendance
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PJ Dumnich
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Michelle Etling
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Daniella Pagano
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Francesca DeCarlo
Our SPSEA Chapter holds monthly meetings to keep all of our members in the loop. During the meetings, each student get a hard copy of the meeting agenda that they can take notes on and refer back to as a reference. We cover old business, new business, and upcoming events! Our SPSEA Chapter Secretary, Peyton Clark, also sends out an email to every SPSEA member following the meeting with the minutes so that everyone can stay informed. Our meetings were typically held on Fridays from 11:45-12:45 monthly in Cassell Hall 117.
General Meetings
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SPSEA members sold hoagies and pepperoni rolls this spring semester to earn money to cover the cost of the Annual SPSEA Conference in 2017. The first 5 items that students sell went towards the SPSEA Chapter’s general fund, and everything else went directly towards individual fees! This way, everyone has the opportunity to attend such an valuable professional development workshop. Many people sold enough items to fund their entire (or nearly their entire) conference cost!
Hoagie & Pepperoni Roll Sale
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To induct new and honor existing members, our SPSEA chapters hosts an annual Induction Ceremony. The ceremony includes speakers, dinner, and recognition of new and present members of Pitt-Greensburg SPSEA. Our new members are encouraged to bring their families to help celebrate their participation in our program. While merely filling in the SPSEA application and paying the dues allows students to become members, this ceremony makes members feel like they are really part of something and allows their families to understand the power of our chapter.
Induction Ceremony
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Allison Popelas
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Kaylee White
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Courtney Shomo
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Lindsey Wittkopp
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Brittani Malik
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Latoshia Maurer
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Francesca DeCarlo
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Kendra Hudachek
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Christina Ricco
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Courtney Gaffey
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Jenna Aleski
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Matthew Grayo
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Luke Falbo
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Jennifer Espinoso
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Haley Stonebaker
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Katelyn Zanotti
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Nadia Louis
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Molly Staszak
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Miranda Anker
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Natalie Sarnese
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Alainah Earley
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Larissa Nemchik
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Taylor Coyner
Members in Attendance
Each year, following the Activities Fair, our SPSEA Chapter hosts a kick-off meeting. At this meeting, we serve pizza and raffle off gift cards. More importantly, we share the purpose of SPSEA with all of the students, provide information about opportunities (including workshops, field experiences), and introduce officers. We also seat members by discipline and do ice-breaker activities so that old and new members seated together get to know each other. This promotes an unbroken chain of membership.
Kick-Off Meeting
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This year’s t-shirts and hoodies, designed by SPSEA’s own Amanda Stein, are blue with the Dr. Seuss style of writing. On the back is a quote from "Oh, the Places You’ll Go!." These t-shirts, which cost members $5, and sweatshirts, which cost members $20, are subsidized by SPSEA funds so that members can walk with pride as SPSEA members. These shirts also show others what great people are members of SPSEA!
Shirt & Hoodie Sale
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In 2016, 28 Pitt-Greensburg SPSEA members attended the SPSEA Conference in Harrisburg and participated in the Outreach to Teach. In addition to the variety of workshops offered, one of Pitt-Greensburg’s members became Regional President, one became State Secretary, three attended NEA-SLC, and one attended the July Teachers’ session in Gettysburg!
SPSEA State Conference 2016
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Members in Attendance
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Samantha Cook
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Brea Bolden
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Ashley Muscarella
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Frank Laspin
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Eric Gosney
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Kelsey Campbell
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Michelle Etling
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Samantha Pritts
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Amanda Sepp
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Alyssa Fry
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Brittani Malik
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Francesca DeCarlo
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Jessica Williams
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Bryan Edwards
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Dan Spanner
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Zach Simms
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Lucinda Wracher
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Alyssa Gavron
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Megan Kirkpatrick
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PJ Dumnich
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Eli Imbrogno
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Sam Nagel
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Peyton Clark
Like most chapters, Pitt-Greensburg runs elections in the spring of the year. This year, in hopes of making elections the most fair, we video-recorded each candidate’s speech, posting it along with the opportunity to vote. A Pitt-Greensburg-sponsored site was used (collegiatelink) to assure that only SPSEA members were voting and that each person only voted once. People who ran but were not elected were given first choice for what committee they would like to chair.
SPSEA Officer Elections
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For Valentine’s Day, our club sold heart-shaped Eat n’ Park cookies to students at our school. We earned roughly $70 for our chapter!
Valentine's Cookie Fundraiser
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After returning from Winter Break, we wanted to help jumpstart students back into the club. So, we had refreshments and cookies while we discussed the upcoming events for the semester. We also conducted an unorthodox ice-breaker using a beach ball. We got to see a lot of familiar faces as well as many new members beginning to get involved!
Welcome Back Meeting
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