Tanner Holland is a freshman who has joined our family at Penn State Lehigh Valley. He has caught the eye of many Walking Dead fans on campus and has been held responsible for the overabundance of jaws sweeping across the floor.

You look familiar. Is there a reason for that?

Well you might of seen me on the Walking Dead and I’m very social.

What character did you play?

The character’s name is Jody but the character’s name was never used. They decided to change the plot of the show so I ended up coming back to be part of the governors army and being shot in the face by Carl in the Season 3 finale.

What was your favorite part about being on set?

I loved meeting everyone. I met Rick and hung out with Hershel. I got close with Martinez and T Love. Daryl came up to me and said, “You’re gonna die bro.” Carl was cool too.

How many days were you on set?

I was on set during the midseason finale for one day as an extra, and thirteen days during the finale. Fourteen days total.

Describe a day on set.

I’d get there at six in the morning. They provided breakfast, so I would go in and eat, and then go to my wardrobe. After I was dressed, they would do my makeup and make me look really dirty. They would put stuff in my fingernails. I would hang out at the trailer during the staging hour. When they needed me on set they would call me over and I basically had to just listen to their directions throughout the day. There was food everywhere and fully catered meals. I would leave around 10 or even later at night sometimes. On the way home I’d eat at the same Chick-fil-a.

Where was the show filmed?

Georgia, a little south of Atlanta.

Were you born in Georgia?

No, actually I was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Then I moved to Hawaii, Arizona, Kentucky, Georgia and then Pennsylvania.

Why did you move so often?

My dad’s job. He is the head of operations for a large international company. 

So why’d you choose Penn State Lehigh Valley?

My family was moving to Pennsylvania. I was given short notice and graduated high school in 3 years so I could graduate from my school in Georgia. I took extra classes during the summer and school year. I took 12 classes my junior year of high school. I didn’t have much time to apply to many schools. I applied to Penn State and Georgetown. I liked that this school was smaller, in the country and near the cities. It’s kind of the best of both worlds for me.

What is your major?

I’m majoring in International Affairs and I’m attempting to minor in Arabic.

What do you do in your free-time?

I’m in the Air Force Aux., also known as the Civil Air Patrol. I’m a Second Lieutenant in the program and a Search and Rescue Instructor. I’m taking 20 credits this semester, one of them being Army ROTC. I am an avid outdoorsman, I love going in the woods and just messing around. I run cross country. I enjoy hunting as well.

What is your lifelong dream?

I always wanted to serve the country. I’m a very hard worker. I’m extremely patriotic. I want to serve my country in some capacity until I get to the age that I can join politics. I would like to run for political office. I have my eye on the presidency. I want to serve the country as a whole and not just one specific party.

What political party are you?

I believe in George Washington’s answer to that question when he was asked what party to join. He stated that he would join neither because he wanted to be the American president, not a specific party. I will run on the republican ticket but I want to try to be as middle of the road as I can with a conservative slant and without breaking my own moral bounds. I want to lead the country as a whole and try to reunite it and bring it out of it's current battle between the parties. I wish to be seen as neither republican nor democrat, just the American president, doing what I feel is best for the nation per the constitution. 

What were you involved in through high school?

I was student body president, participated in varsity cross country, Army JROTC Sergeant Major (commanded 2 special teams), beta club community group leader and was a member of the ESA National Honors Society. I graduated with a 4.07 GPA. I tutored AP Physical Science and Spanish.

What was the most life changing event you experienced?

When I turned 12 I joined the Air Force Auxiliary. That's where I got my start in physical fitness, leadership, all things outdoors, and I started working on my pilots license through them. 

What is your biggest pet peeve?

Ignorance. I hate when people preach and argue about things without evidence to back up their statements. If you're going to argue a point at least take the time and effort to know about the point you're trying to make. 

What makes you happiest?

Succeeding, I cannot stand failure.

What is your biggest fear?

I’m terrified of letting people down, I like to keep my word. I'm not a people pleaser or anything, but if I tell someone I'm going to do something I'd better do it. What's a man without his word? 

What are five adjectives you would use to describe yourself?

Loyal. Hardworking. Energetic. Motivated. Overachieving.

What has been your most memorable accomplishment?

Receiving the Georgia Wing Aerospace Education Cadet of the Year award, teaching people about air and space craft.

He spoke to her in English and she replied back in Dutch.  It was amazing to observe fluent bilingual conversations and it was life changing to discover how common they were in this foreign country.  For spring break 2015, I did a short-term study abroad trip with International Business and Psychology students to the Netherlands.  We visited various cities such as Utrecht, Amsterdam and The Hague.  To sum up my entire trip all I can say is “Wow!”  I am so grateful to have been able to take the opportunity to visit a foreign world.  Throughout my entire trip, I fell more in love with the city and all of its characteristics.  I met so many people with beautiful souls, ate some delicious foods, and observed beautiful landscaping and so on.  Coming from a student of Dutch descent, my perspective on the Netherlands was very stereotypical before the trip.  My thoughts of the country were simply: Gouda cheese, french fries with mayonnaise, tulips, windmills, wooden shoes, Stroopwafel cookies, speed skating, soccer, and last but not least, the color, Orange.  Although these are many of the characteristics that define the country, I learned so much more.  For one, the country is the most bike friendly country in the world.  Biking is one of the main sources of transportation in addition to walking, buses/trolleys and trains.  The majority of bike accidents are caused by tourists and newcomers.  I lost count of how many times I almost got trampled by a bike or even surprisingly… a bobsled.  Transportation is also very rapid.  For example, busses drive so fast they trample curves while bikers and pedestrians cut each other off as well as busses/trolleys and cars that are coming straight towards them.  One of the most absurd things that I witnessed was a pedestrian crossing the road about 3 feet in front of a bus stop with a bus traveling about 15 mph coming straight towards him and then immediately stopping exactly at the bus stop.  In the States, that instance would have looked like a suicide mission.  Biking and walking isn’t a struggle because the country is overall very flat.  About half of the country is 1 meter above sea level.  In fact, the term “Netherlands” means “Low Country” in Dutch.  For a low country, I met some incredibly tall people.  The Netherlands is home to the tallest people in the world.  Instead of kisses on the cheek, a friendly gesture in many European countries, I received kisses on the forehead due to my short height.  Although they were tall, they were not intimating to talk to.  People always seemed busy trying to reach their destination as in New York City, but stopping them to ask a question was never a crude interruption.  In return for a simple question such as “What direction is the Centrum in?” I received a complex conversation and a strong friendship.  I made many lifelong friendships this way with not only the Dutch, but surprisingly people from other European countries just passing through or living there short term.  The Netherlands is now a home away from home for me.  Seeing pictures, reading books about, or even watching movies filmed in a location is one thing, but experiencing it is another.  I advise anyone considering doing a study-abroad, either short term or long term, to do it.  It’s an experience that can only benefit you.  In the words of Henry Miller, “One’s destination is never a place but, a new way of seeing things.”  Stepping out of one’s comfort zone exposes one to new perspectives and new ways of thinking.

Zech Barton is a freshman who has joined our family here at Penn State Lehigh Valley.  Along with him, he carries an amazing gift for music.

What was the first instrument you learned how to play?

Drum kit.

How many instruments can you play now?

Exactly 23.

Can you name all of them?

Drum kit, timpani, bell percussion, piano, violin, viola, cello, guitar, bass, tuba, trombone, clarinet (kind of bass clarinet but certain notes are sketchy), flute, piccolo, baritone, alto sax, Bari sax, tenor sax, soprano sax, pit percussion, marching percussion, accordion, Irish flute.

What was your first college of choice?

RICE University.

Why did you choose Penn State Lehigh Valley?

I couldn't afford to go to RICE and wanted to take my general education credits at a school that is both quality and affordable.

What is your intended major?

Mechanical engineering with a minor in music performance.

What’s your life goal?

To aspire to have my own home studio and be a published artist.

What’s your favorite Christmas song?

“Baby It's Cold Outside” because it's hilarious.

Bryan Simon is a sophomore from the island of Curacao who is a part of our family here at Penn State Lehigh Valley. He has an excellent memory which has benefited him with learning to speak four languages fluently.

What nationality are you?

I am half Dominican from my mother and half Dutch from my father.

How did your parents meet?

They met at a college in Puerto Rico. My father only spoke English, Dutch and very little Spanish at the time so he had to learn more Spanish in order to communicate with my mother, who only spoke Spanish.

What languages can you speak?

I can speak English, Dutch, Spanish and Papiamentu (the native language of Curacao).

How will you use this advantage to benefit you in the future?

I want to hopefully find a career that allows me to use my skills and talents (languages) and would also allow me to take it as a learning experience.

What is your intended major?

For now, I am a planning to double major in Accounting and Economics.

Why did you choose Penn State Lehigh Valley?

Well for one, it is close, to many airports such as JFK, PHL and Newark which was important for me and my family. Geographically speaking, it is in the center of many major cities. I did some research and found out that Beaver Stadium could hold more people than the island I’m from so I decided to go for a smaller campus.

What’s your life goal?

My life goal is simply to be happy. I want to finish my academic goals, get a well paying job and be able to provide for my family like my father was able to provide for me.

Rumor has it: a life-changing, mind-blowing, heart-stopping program has invaded Penn State Lehigh Valley.  The gym has a new program that goes by the forbidden name: TABATA.  Except it is not actually prohibited but insipidly allowed.  Providentially for all the rule breakers out there, the work out is, in fact, extraordinary.  Prepare to see ACLs hanging above the entrance to the gym, for things are about to get laborious.  Tabata is an endurance work out that involves 20 seconds of pure pain followed by 10 seconds of rest to listen to the throbbing of one’s heart.  The agenda engages 8 sets of each exercise for a full 45 minutes.  Each exercise is the most haunting 4 minutes known to mankind.  The instructor begins with a core work out and then switches after the first 8 sets to a different workout such as a cardiovascular exercise or anything else hardcore of the individual’s choice.  The rotation between exercises fortunately includes 1 minute breaks but continues until the 45 minutes is up.  If one chose to do a cardiovascular workout the entire time, he or she would most likely die. An excellent way to understand the method is to imagine a car with a full tank of gas hitching the road.  The car begins to drive but soon encounters a stop sign and ceases.  The pattern continues until there is no gas left in that tank and the car can no longer function.  The car lies on the side of the road thirsty for gas.  The disparity between a human and that car is that, unlike a car, time can only benefit an individual, rather than decrease their value due to high mileage.  The program takes place in the gym on Thursdays from 1:30 p.m. until 2:30 p.m.

On Thursday, April 9, 2015, the Penn State Research and Scholarship Committee has coordinated the 2015 Penn State Lehigh Valley Undergraduate Research Symposium to take place.  Students will participate in a poster session in which they display all their research completed in all disciplines.  Academic research projects completed since the end of the spring 2014 semester are eligible including the independent research or research-based course projects, honors research projects and traditional course-related projects that require significant research.  There are two judging categories: Arts and Humanities (including Behavioral Science such as Business Studies and Economics) and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).  Dr. Todd Retzlaff will be portraying the point person for judge solicitation and responsibilities.  This event’s speaker is sponsored by the Penn State Faculty Invitational Lecture Series.  The featured speaker is Cecelia J. Cavanaugh, SSJ, Ph.D. Dean of School of Undergraduate Studies at Chestnut Hill College.  The interdisciplinary atmosphere created and fostered in the Residencia de Estudiantes in Madrid, Spain in the early twentieth century produced important research and scholarship across the disciplines and formed some of Spain´s most important intelligentsia. Her talk will consider the principles inherent in its founding and the philosophy at work in its day-to-day operations by celebrating the genius of a Residencia faculty member, the scientist Pío del Río-Hortega and one of its most famous residentes, the poet Federico García Lorca.  She hopes to show how each, in his approach to his craft and in his attitude to the disciplines of others, exemplified the “bridge building” expressed as one of the goals of the Residencia by its founders.  Students who win at the local level will be invited to compete at the regional level.  If students progress forward in the competition, their projects will be entered in the Fifth Annual Penn State Regional Undergraduate Research Symposium which will take place on Thursday, April 16, 2015 at Penn State Worthington-Sranton to showcase undergraduate research from the eastern region of Penn State.  Dr. McLaughlin has been selected to serve on the 2015 Penn State Regional Undergraduate Research Symposium Steering Committee.  If you are not mentoring an undergraduate research project, please take the time to engage your students in the research work of their peers by attending this event and celebrating the scholarly work of our students.

On Tuesday, March 31 Penn State Capital Day will be held in the Forum Auditorium and Capitol rotunda for the sixth year in a row.  The event is hosted by the Penn State Grassroots, a group of 33,000 volunteers who dedicate their time to learn about legislative conflicts that are relevant to the Penn State community and to reach out to their elected officials.  Most individuals that make up the group are Penn State alumni as well as live in Pennsylvania.  Many student members make up the group too.  Some student members have been the Network’s most active volunteers and best partners in Capital Day.  The network keeps volunteers informed about government action that could affect Penn State, provides volunteers with ways to reach out effectively to their elected officials, and sponsors events that help volunteers stay connected, such as Capital Day.  The Penn State Grassroots Network will be teaming up with Penn State’s Alumni Association, and three student government groups: Council of Commonwealth Student Governments (CCSG), the University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA), and the Graduate and Professional Student Association (GPSA).  In addition to the development of the program, Penn State’s Shreyer Honors College will be joining the team.  The event will include a legislative briefing and advocacy training session, appointments between teams of volunteers and legislators and a rally featuring the Nittany Lion mascot, cheerleaders, Blue Band members and free Berkey Creamery ice cream.  Appointments with legislators are given as opportunities for volunteer teams to convince legislators to gain state support.  The state appropriation and tuition revenues are the two major sources of funding for a Penn State education.  A healthy appropriation benefits Penn State by allowing the university to maintain a low tuition, to ensure the strength of its educational programs, to stabilize commonwealth campuses, and to stimulate economic development and innovation in Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, state support has been flat/dropping for years.  State support is valuable because it puts less pressure on the University to raise tuition.  This year’s budget request is an increase from $289.7 million from this previous year to $307.1 million for this year.  The increase will be distributed to an Entrepreneur-in-Residence program, investments in engineering, business, and nursing programs, and existing institutes for natural gas research and cyberscience.  This year’s investment proposal is to invest $30 million in economic development and student career success.  Penn State Lehigh Valley has been a great support of Penn State Capital Day over past years.  A large portion of this support is due to Dr. Nichola Gutgold shifting from being a communication arts and sciences professor of Penn State Lehigh Valley to a dean for academic affairs of Schreyer Honors College.  Support from Glenn Kranzley and student government leaders at Penn State Lehigh Valley has been valuable to the impact as well.  Capital Day is the perfect way for Penn State students to cultivate their commitment to civic engagement and hone their communication skills as well.  Being inside the majestic state capitol, meeting fellow Penn Staters and elected officials reinforces what it means to advocate for affordable tuition, one of the ways they can exercise their citizenship.  Penn State Capital Day is engaged scholarship at its finest, and it is always a thrill to be a part of it.