Juniata magazine reprint we're different fw 2013

Much like these students taking in a sunset at the Peace Chapel, all Juniata students see the light on how the College differs from other institutions—like having a Peace Chapel, for instance, or more tellingly, enrolling students who are excited about trekking up a hill at dusk to honor the day.

Photo: Ian Bradshaw

We’re Different We Don’t Care Who Knows It EDITOR’S NOTE: In everyone’s life, there are certain rites of passage experienced in common: graduation from high school, buying a first car, going to college. Those students who chose Juniata as their college arrived expecting a common experience, but as they took a last look at the campus with a freshly minted diploma in hand, most realized that Juniata does college education differently. What makes Juniata different from the myriad colleges and universities offering math, science, history and English? Allow us to go directly to the source.

Reprinted from:

JUNIATA 2013 Fall-Winter

JU NIATA 2013 Fall-Winte

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Looking Ba ck: The Kepple Presi dency

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We’re Different

Juniata is part

of the Huntingdon Community—the faculty and staff are involved in the community and the community cares about the College. In addition, walking across campus, students, staff and faculty greet one another even if they don’t know each other by name—there is a sense of community on the campus. I appreciate the fact that we don’t just work “within” our departments, but we are encouraged to work with people in other departments.

—Kathy Jones, associate professor of education

A culture of student research.

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Photos: Jason Jones

—Vince Buonaccorsi, associate professor of biology

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I love

that while Juniata helps the student to become independent, it always considers the student’s family as part of the equation. From fun family events encouraging visits, to always open doors at the friendly financial aid office, getting to know the professors and staff on a personal basis, to getting letters from the dean to acknowledge your child’s progress. It is a family experience the whole time the student is at Juniata, not just when being recruited or at graduation or when tuition is due.

—Cyndy Engle, parent of Elysabeth Engle ’12

It’s really

about the students. They are a terrific lot—bright, hard-working, engaged. They look out for and support one another—they define the community—and help keep the rest of us young along the way.

—Kris Clarkson, dean of students 2013 Fall-Winter

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I find

the people at Juniata to be open-minded, engaged and encouraging of autonomy, while at the same time emphasizing the harmony of community and working together to achieve more than we could separately. I do not know of any teacher or staff member here who does not really care about his or her students.

That is cool! —Ann Echols, assistant professor of business

The fact

that Juniata is innovative and constantly evolving. Some of the systems and programs that were available at Juniata, when I was a student almost five years ago, are just now being developed at other schools. From academic excellence to education technology to just overall customer service Juniata is by far the best. I have worked at two different universities and attended another for grad school and when I look at the overall student experience, I think that Juniata provides the most well-rounded, enriching experience.

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—Tasia White ’08, Potsdam, N.Y.

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We’re Different

The measure

of the entropy at Juniata (randomness or unpredictability) is zero and a value that you would not find at any other institution of higher learning. There IS NO unpredictability for those of us that went there. We all landed in a little town in Central Pennsylvania and we connected, we learned, we loved, and we succeeded.

People actually

work together in a truly collaborative sense to accomplish goals, especially here in the biology department. This is very refreshing, especially as a new faculty member. I feel completely embraced and supported and I don’t need to “look over my shoulder.” At other institutions I have attended and worked at people seem to be under some sort of extreme pressure, which tends to breed unhealthy competition. Here at Juniata, my students and I are able to carry out novel research because the institution and faculty are truly behind us and rooting for our success.

—Claire Wakefield ’09, Clayton, N.Y.

Juniata

—where you can change your major THREE times, add a minor, study abroad a semester, take random fun classes AND still graduate in four years.

—Ariel Lawver ’13, Baltimore, Md.

—Gina Lamendella, assistant professor of biology

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Photos (left): David Lamberson ’12, (right) Juniata File Photo

—Alice (Bricker) Justice ’82, Selinsgrove, Pa.

When I was

sorting through college marketing materials in high school, I came across a postcard with a picture of the Peace Chapel that said “Think.” I was really intrigued, did some more research, and decided to visit Juniata to see what it was all about. The POE program appealed to my undecided, 18-year-old self. I think Juniata stood out from the other schools by being real, not stuffy.

It is the

staff, not only the professors, but everyone there. It is true what (Loren) Pope said in his book, Juniata truly does change people’s lives. My son, Dominic Bornman ’12, began at Juniata as a shy freshman with a big dream to play college football and major in information technology. He is leaving Juniata as one of the leading wide receivers in the Centennial Conference, with a major in IT/digital media and he is now an accomplished potter. Who knew he was an artist?

No one—until he went to Juniata.

The professors and all of the staff brought out the absolute best in him.

He not only knows his professors by their first names, but he also knows the woman who punches the meal tickets at the cafeteria. She comes to the football games and says hi to all the players and students by name. Last year, he broke his leg in a football game and the coaches and trainers could not have been more dedicated to his recovery. He lives in the basement of his football coach’s house—the Gibboney family is his family away from home. His digital media professor hired him for the summer and has offered to drive Dominic to Pittsburgh and introduce him to employers that he has connections with out there. In the end, Juniata has been the perfect match for Dominic. Dominic, now has the kind of confidence, the swagger, you need to succeed in the world. I have no doubt he will. Juniata changed his life.

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—Michele Bornman, parent of Dominic Bornman ’13

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We’re Different

Now that

I am months away from graduating from medical school, my biggest regret is not doing more, and benefiting from the support that is constantly present at Juniata. I feel like Juniata is such a special place because you were encouraged to do whatever it was that interested you. If you were an athlete that wanted to take a theatre class...go for it! If you were a science major that wanted to do photography...even better!

Study abroad as a pre-med... ENCOURAGED! Literally, the sky was the limit. My professors never laughed at me when I talked about my dreams and goals. It was an environment of pure support and self-discovery. I cherish my college memories and miss Juniata on a daily basis. The friends I have kept and professors I continue to keep in touch with are a constant reminder of the caliber of college I attended and how lucky I was to have experienced this place in my lifetime. Consider yourselves lucky, current and future Juniatians. Dream big!

—Alicia Shields ’09, Danville, Pa.

The people are nice.

Photos (left): Jason Jones; (top) Juniata Photo File; (right) Ian Bradshaw

—Peter Goldstein, Benedict Professor of English

Coming from a big city

in Morocco, I cried on my first night in Huntingdon.

I felt suffocated and so confined in that little campus of Juniata. Soon, that feeling gradually faded with the warm welcoming of the staff at the International Office and the constant support I received from my professors and friends. That’s what makes Juniata unique: it’s the people. Juniata is a family, a big and international one. Sometimes, it can be challenging and very demanding, but it’s all targeted towards intellectual and personal growth. The only complaint I have about Juniata is that it offered me the best of everything and sometimes too much that now I get frustrated and disappointed anywhere else I go to because they simply can never equate to Juniata.

—Zineb Gormat Ouardi (Morocco) ’06, Fez, Morocco

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As a student,

you’re not a number at Juniata. You’re a person, an individual with a voice and a purpose that is recognized and heard by your fellow classmates, professors, coaches, advisers, and members of the college community. You are immediately integrated into the community because your personal success and development matters, not because Juniata as an institution wants to meet a quota, but because each student is a contributor to society and the world. Juniata helps us become the best form of ourselves that we can possibly become, and continue to strive for and work toward improvement within ourselves, the surrounding community, and the world. My experiences at Juniata have instilled in me a constant drive to want to become the best version of me—as a daughter, wife, mother, stepmother, employee, colleague and citizen of the world.

1700 Moore Street Huntingdon, PA 16652 1-877-JUNIATA admissions@juniata.edu www.juniata.edu

Photo: Jim Judkis

—Stephanie (Shaver) Brett ’05, Johnstown, Pa.