Competitive Nature

Some folks mistakenly believe that students in Penn State’s College of Ag Sciences sweat only over their studies, but while Lauren Rusert, Sean Kenney and Erin Luley do worry about their grades, their sweat is often the result of scoring goals, passing pucks and breaking records.

“It’s great putting on the blue and white and going out there to play for Penn State,” says Kenney, a senior from Greensburg, Pa., majoring in Agricultural Systems Management. “As one of the few ag sciences majors to play on the ice hockey team in recent years, I’m representing the university as much as I am my college. Students and professors from my major come out for the games and root for the team, and that really brings the two together for me.”

An Agricultural and Extension Education major, Rusert believes that her experience on the rugby team also has deepened her connection to the college.

“Because there’s not a lot of other agriculture majors on the team, it adds a whole new level of camaraderie with those who are and makes winning that much more personal,” says Rusert, from Windsor, Calif. “You just want to do your best out there not only for your team, family, friends and university, but also for those ag sciences students and professors cheering you on from the sidelines.”

However, this close personal connection with professors and students is not isolated to the experience on the field. Animal Bioscience major and varsity swimmer Erin Luley from Mechanicsburg, Pa., believes it is also a main characteristic of the College of Ag Sciences.

“Like being on the team with only a handful of other agricultural students, the College of Ag Sciences is similar in relation to the university itself,” says Luley. “It’s a close group of students and professors working together and unified by common interests in science, nature and animals. My experience in the College of Ag Sciences has been a lot more personal and productive due to its size, and it has just as many scholarships and internship opportunities as any other college.”

Reflecting on her experience in the College of Ag Sciences and on the swim team, Luley believes being involved in both does require dedication.

“Like my major, the swim team asks for a lot of hard work,” she says. “But I love challenging myself to see what I’m capable of. And like my major, I find I get back as much as I put into it.”