nEws Alvernia Alumni Spotlight

Samantha August

Contributing Writer

Have you ever wondered where some of the Alvernia alumni are now and how their careers are going? I had the chance to talk to a few recent graduates about their successes after graduation. Nicole August, 23, graduated in 2021 from Alvernia with her Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education and Special Ed.

Today, Nicole resides in Toms River, New Jersey and teaches preschool special education in Barnegat, New Jersey. As a former student athlete at Alvernia, Nicole told us how through her teaching career she can continue her love for softball and teaching all at once by volunteering to coach her school district’s high school softball team.

What did you love most about Alvernia?

“There were so many different aspects of Alvernia that I truly adored. I would have to say the connections and friendships that I made with so many different people were the thing I loved the most. I still keep in touch with so many of those amazing people today.”

How did the education program at Alvernia help you succeed in your career now?

“The education program paved the way for my success today. I was president of the education association for a year and that allowed me to work with different organizations and educators. The ed program allowed me to explore my passions for special education by volunteering for different public events! Without these opportunities I would have never discovered my passion for special education.”

What person or course did you feel made a major impact on you during your time at Alvernia?

“I had two amazing people who had a major impact on me during my time at Alvernia. One professor who changed my outlook on education was Dr. Luci Schaeffer. From my first special education class with her, to my last, and even through covid, she was always there rooting for me. I built a great relationship with her and even outside of Alvernia spent time with her group called Unending Promise, where I got to meet so many different people in the community. I was also a student athlete which always helped me in the classroom. Coach Landrum had always pushed me to be my very best and always had my best interest at heart, as an athlete and as an educator.”

What advice can you give current Alvernia students?

“I would tell current students to not take your time there for granted. College goes by in a blink of an eye, and you should make the most of it! I wish I could go back and play one last softball game, play mega bingo, and hit up courtside with my friends!”

We also want to spotlight another Alvernia alumni, Dominic Gallo, 24. Dominic also graduated from the class of 2021, and earned his Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice. He went on to serve our country as a Warrant Officer in the United States Army.

Dominic currently resides in Fort Rucker, Alabama and is training to become a helicopter pilot. Dominic will graduate with his pilot wings sometime in 2024.

What did you love most about Alvernia?

“What I loved most about Alvernia is the second family I made while attending the university. Playing soccer gave me the opportunity to form a strong bond with my teammates and gave me lifelong friends.”

How did the criminal Justice program at Alvernia help you succeed in your career now?

“The criminal justice program set me up for success, as someone who is currently a warrant officer in flight school for the US Army. Alvernia molded me into the person I am today and is the reason I am thriving in my career.”

What person or course did you feel made a major impact on you during your time at Alvernia?

“The course that made the biggest impact on my life was my internship class. I was able to do an internship with the violent crime unit with the US marshals in downtown Philadelphia. This was only made possible because of the flexibility of my internship class, because of that I made amazing connections that will help me for the rest of my life.”

“What advice can you give current Alvernia students?

“Enjoy it. College is a once in a lifetime experience where you will meet amazing people and will have to challenge yourself. As my former soccer coach at Alvernia used to say after every game and practice, “these 4 years will fly by and before you know it, it’s over,” and that could not be farther from the truth.”

It was great to hear from Alvernia alumni and where they are now. It is important to make the most of your time in college. Alvernia opens the door to many opportunities and lifelong friendships, Enjoy your time here at Alvernia while you can!