FREE money for college!

I knew that would get your attention!

Let's just get something out there right now - college is expensive, and sometimes the Financial Aid process can appear to be extremely overwhelming. But you are lucky because there are a LOT of people out there that want to give high school seniors money to help them pay for college. Local business organizations, non-profits, PTA's, and more. Search for local scholarships here.

Lake Erie College also wants to help you out.

Lake Erie College is hosting its 2nd Annual President's Day Scholarship Competition on Monday, February 15, 2010. Here are just 4 of the scholarships students can apply for on this day:

The Presidential Honors Scholarship
Value: 90% tuition (approximately $21,555)
Renewable: Yes
Lake Erie's most prestigious award. Five of these scholarships are awarded each year to an incoming freshman that graduates in the top 5% of their graduating class, has a cumulative GPA of 3.7 or above and scored a 27 or above on their ACT.

The Mastin Award
Value: $10,000
The Mastin Award is presented to a student that is planning to major in the Life Sciences (biology, chemistry, environmental science, pre-medical, etc...) and achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or above or an ACT score of 27 or above.

The Edna Cope-Quine Scholarship
Value: Varies
The Edna Cope-Quine Scholarship is awarded to a student planning to major in the Fine Arts (dance, music, theater or visual arts). No minimum GPA or test score is necessary, but an audition or portfolio review is required.

The Center for Entrepreneurship Scholarship
Value: $2,000
The Lake Erie College Center for Entrepreneurship awards 2 scholarships each year to incoming freshman that plan to "Put Their Passion to Work" and major or minor in Entrepreneurship.

At the 2009 President's Day Scholarship Competition over $500,000 in scholarship money was awarded. Contact your Admissions Counselor to see how you can attend this invitation-only event! (I'll give you a hint - you MUST be accepted for admission by January 1, 2010. Apply online FREE now!)

Would you run from Cincinnati to Cleveland?

That's 260 miles. And two Lake Erie College students - twins Rachel and Sandi Nypaver of Parma Heights, Ohio - are going to do it.

If you have visited campus recently, you've been introduced to Rachel and Sandi through our viewbook, which highlights the accomplishments of current Lake Erie College students. You'll find Sandi on the Student Activities page, where she discusses starting up the student organization, Students Making a Difference, with her twin sister. Rachel is featured on the Athletics page (both girls play basketball for Lake Erie College) and shares the benefits of participating in athletics - on and off the court.

Rachel and Sandi will be trekking across the state to raise money for the United Way, which strives to create a better life for everyone through education, income and health. Instead of "quick fixes", the United Way strives to make lasting changes in communities by addressing the underlying problems that prevent progress.

The "I Believe Run Across Ohio 2009" begins in Cincinnati on December 17 and ends in Cleveland on December 20. Get more information about this amazing journey and their student organization, Students Making a Difference, here.

Best of luck Rachel & Sandi!! You are an inspiration to us all make Lake Erie College so proud!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

I can already taste the stuffing and mashed potatoes!!

Thanksgiving totally crept up on me! It seems like just yesterday I was blogging about Field Day and the beginning of the semester. This semester has flown by - it's hard to believe that the last week of classes for the Fall 2009 semester is next week!

I'll be enjoying a nice little break ---- campus is closed Wednesday, November 25 - Friday, November 27. But we'll be back in action at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, November 30.

When I get back I decided I'm going to take you on little a campus tour... show you little pieces of campus each day - including updates on the Austin Hall of Science renovations, an inside look at Ritchie Gym and much more!

But until then, stuff your face with turkey and pie, watch some football, and relax with your family and friends. Happy Thanksgiving!!

Congratulations to the Eta Alpha chapter of Gamma Phi Beta!

I am so excited and proud to be a part of the installation of the first sorority at Lake Erie College tomorrow - the Eta Alpha chapter of Gamma Phi Beta.

Gamma Phi Beta was founded in 1874 at Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York. It currently has over 120 chapters internationally, 175+ alumnae groups and over 165,000 members.

Check out the animoto video our amazing CLC, Megan, put together for the banquet tomorrow night:



Congratulations Eta Alpha!! I am so proud of all of the hard work you put in over the last three semesters!

Now is the reason!

FINAL Fall Campus Visit Day on November 14!

Our final Fall Campus Visit Day program is coming up on November 14. Campus Visit Days are such a great way for prospective students to come to campus on a Saturday and learn about every aspect of Lake Erie College - academics, scholarships and financial aid, student activities, residence life, athletics, study abroad, admissions and more.

Here's the typical schedule:

9:00 a.m.
Check-in at Fine Arts Building

9:30 a.m.
Welcome by President Victor (and my Welcome to Lake Erie College video!)

10:00 a.m.
Faculty/Staff Information Tables and STORM Bingo (you could win an iPod Touch!)

10:50 a.m.
Breakout Session #1
Options: Fearing FAFSA? Financial Aid 101
or Put your Passion to Work: How to make money doing what you love

11:25 a.m.
Breakout Session #2
Options: Fearing FAFSA? Financial Aid 101
or Student Panel

12:00 p.m.
Meet your Admissions Counselor

12:20 p.m.
Campus Tours and Lunch

1:30 p.m.
[optional] Equestrian Studies presentation and tour @ the EQ Center

We would love for you to come!! RSVP HERE!! And if November 14 doesn't work for you, plan on coming on January 30 or schedule an individual visit.

See you on campus soon!

The Legend of Tiberius

Meet Tiberius - my absolute favorite tradition at Lake Erie College.

Tiberius was an actual chocolate lab that belonged to Harriot Young, a Dean of Lake Erie College. Tiberius would hang out on campus with the women of the college - he would even attend class! When Tiberius passed away, she had a statue crafted in his honor that ended up on campus around 1910.

The Tiberius that adorns campus now (shown at top) is actually Tiberius IV. In the 1950's, Tiberius I was kidnapped by a fraternity from Case Western Reserve University (and is probably in the bottom of Lake Erie somewhere). Tiberius II was smashed to pieces right in the middle of campus in the mid-80's. Tiberius III (also known as Baby Tiberius) is still on campus next to the gazebo.

Tiberius is the campus protector and a good luck charm. Here's proof: One night in April 1957, the women woke up in their residence hall rooms in Memorial Hall to the sounds of frantic barking outside. When the women left the Hall to investigate, the building burned to the ground. Nobody was hurt, but they also could not find the source of the barking. The students give credit to the spirit of Tiberius, who lead them from harms way.

100 years later, Tiberius still guards the students of Lake Erie College and brings them luck. Students pat Tiberius on the head for luck before exams, presentations, auditions, athletic events (see the football team patting him on the head for luck before their first home game below) and more. When you visit campus, make sure you pat Tiberius on the head for good luck during your college search!!

Tips for writing a killer college essay

Lake Erie College has already noticed an increase in applications for the Fall 2010 semester. With Admissions Counselors processing more applications than ever before, it's important to make sure your application stands out so you are given the highest consideration for admission and scholarship opportunities.

One of the most important components of your application is your essay. Your essay is your opportunity to introduce yourself as a candidate for admission. We want to know all about you; what you like, what you don't like, what has influenced you and made you the person you are today. We want to know why you make an excellent candidate for admission.

I've read a lot of really fantastic essays in my 3 years as an Admissions Counselor. I've also read some awful, almost offensive ones. Here are four quick tips to writing a killer college essay:

Tip #1: Take it seriously
Two years ago I denied an academically qualified candidate for admission because his essay stated that he wanted to attend LEC because of the hot girl he saw on his tour. He then gave a fairly detailed account of what he would do to that girl. Yes - seriously, this happened, and I was disgusted. Even if he was "joking", I would never put a current student in jeopardy by admitting a student that could potentially stalk her.

Write something insightful. Show us that you are mature enough to handle being independent in college. Also remember that the essay you write for your application will remain in your permanent college file. Your professors and even future employers may be reading it at some point. Don't let it come back to haunt you.

Tip #2: Follow directions
If we ask for a minimum of 500 words, don't write 2 sentences. If a prompt is given, answer the question and don't cut and copy an English essay you just wrote about Beowulf. Attention to detail is key in college and in the "real world" - show us you're ready for the challenge.

Tip #3: Be yourself
Don't be who you think we want you to be. It's a great accomplishment to take every AP course offered by your high school - but your transcripts will tell us that. Tell us something unique about yourself - tell us what you are passionate about. Of course we care about your academic accomplishments, but there is much more to you than a grade point average and standardized test score! Help us see that!

Tip #4: Proofread, then proofread it again...
It goes back to the attention to detail - check for grammar, punctuation and spelling errors. Ask friends and family members to read it over. Mixing up their, there and they're or spelling a lot alot will not fly with your English 101 professor and making lazy mistakes like this will definitely not impress the admissions committee. Get in the habit of proofreading now - this is something you will have to do for the rest of your life!

Academically borderline or below average students have been admitted to Lake Erie based on their awesome essay. On the other hand, we have passed on accepting high achievers because of what they wrote.

Senior year is a busy time, and writing that college essay is one small thing on your long to-do list... but the college you attend will impact the rest of your life. Don't settle for your second or third choice just because you were too lazy to take your time on your essay. I promise, your friends will be hanging out tomorrow night, too. Take tonight to focus on your essay!

My Video - Welcome to Lake Erie College

Is the STORM coming to a city near you?

In two weeks, Lake Erie College staff and faculty are traveling to 4 cities and hosting events to share information about Lake Erie College with guidance counselors and prospective students.

A Guidance Counselor Luncheon will be hosted from 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. in each city. Then that evening, from 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m., we're having an hors d'oeuvres reception for students and their families. If you bring your application materials to that reception, we'll also be able to process your application right there!!!

Not to mention, I made a really awesome presentation for it that pictorially shows a year in the life of a Lake Erie College student.

So here's the schedule:

Monday, October 19 - Pittsburgh, PA
the Crowne Plaza Hotel - Pittsburgh South
164 Fort Couch Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15241


Tuesday, October 20 - Columbus, OH
Quest Conference Center - Polaris
8405 Pulsar Place
Columbus, OH 43240


Wednesday, October 21 - Cincinnati, OH
the Oasis Golf Club and Conference Center
902 Loveland-Miamiville Road
Loveland, OH 45140


Thursday, October 22 - Toledo, OH
the Park Inn
191 North Summit Street
Toledo, OH 43604

I'm so sad that I have to stay in the office and won't be able to go --- BUT YOU AND YOUR FRIENDS CAN!! If the storm is coming to a city near you, register here!! And then let me know what you thought of my presentation :)

MOUNTAIN DAY!!

When I arrived to work this morning I was greeted by Dr. McDowell honking her car horn and yelling out her window "Apryl! It's Mountain Day!" - no joke!

Mountain Day is a surprise day off that Lake Erie College students receive each Fall. This tradition came to our campus shortly after its inception, but originally started in 1838 at Mount Holyoke College, which Lake Erie College was modeled after.

This year students were notified that it was Mountain Day by a bagpiper walking through campus playing at 6:00 a.m. Yes - a bagpiper! Official events kicked off this morning at 9:30 a.m. with a Treasure Box Hunt that leads teams of 8 throughout campus in search of clues to find the treasure chest filled with LEC gear and other prizes.

As I type, T-Pain's "Low" is blasting from the D.J., and students are playing Cornhole and Ladder Golf, and bouncing around in the inflatable bungee run, obstacle course and some bungee jump trampoline thing.

And here I am in my office, preparing for our Campus Visit Day on Saturday.

But it's back to the daily grind for Lake Erie College students tomorrow, filled with studying, writing papers, and visiting the Math lab because honestly, who really knows how to find a derivative? But for now, they're strapping on those boots with the fur (you could use them on a day like today) and enjoying Mountain Day!

Getting the most out of your campus visit

Visiting campuses is the most important part of your college decision process, and you should visit as many campuses as possible with a variety of characteristics: large, small, state, and private. A big part of my new position at Lake Erie College is to assist prospective students and coordinate their on campus visit experience.

Visiting colleges can be overwhelming, and sometimes that is very evident when I meet with students during their campus visit. They are flustered, and don't know enough about the school or what they are looking for in a College to ask thoughtful questions.

Here are 5 tips I put together to help you get the most out of your campus visit.

Tip #1: Come Prepared
Before your first campus visit, put together a list of questions to take with you. This will force to you think about what you really want out of your college experience. Make sure to cover everything that is important to you, and be sure that all questions are answered before you leave. When asking questions during your visit, be sure to take notes on the answers.

Tip #2: Spend All Day on Campus
Just meeting with an Admissions Counselor and taking a tour of campus doesn't really give you the full picture of what it is like to be a student at that College. Ask to meet with a professor, or sit in on a class. Eat at least one meal in the dining hall. When you're done on campus, drive around the surrounding area and check out the coffee shop or pizza parlor your tour guide talked about. If you can't devote the whole day to your campus visit, then you should reschedule for a day that you can and never try and visit more than one college in a day.

Tip #3: Visit When Class is in Session
I know it's difficult to miss school, and it may be more convenient to visit colleges during your summer vacation, but you really miss out on seeing the big picture: faculty/student interaction, full classrooms, students hanging out after class, a bustling dining hall. Would you purchase a car without taking it for a test drive first? Visiting a college while class is in session is your college test drive.

Tip #4: Look at Unofficial Publications
Yes, you should read all those fancy publications and letters the Office of Admissions send you - it tells you important information like how to apply for admission, important deadlines, and financial aid opportunities. But when you're on campus, pick up a school newspaper, take a look at the previous year's yearbook, and pay attention to every bulletin board and flier that you see around campus. This will give you an idea of what students at the school are interested in and do outside of the classroom.

Tip #5: Take Time to Gather Your Thoughts
As soon as you get in the car to leave, write down the five things you liked the best about the college and the five things you didn't like in your notes. If you visited with a family member or friend whose opinion matters to you, have them do the same.

Once you've compared your notes from all off the colleges you visited, it doesn't hurt to go back and check out your top 2 or 3 choices again. This is the biggest decision you will have made up to this point in your life. Take it seriously, but have fun!

3 States in 3 Days

Although I'm no longer an Admissions Counselor for a specific geographic territory, I still help out the other counselors by covering college fairs in their area that they're unable to make. I have a busy next few days - as I'll be in in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Michigan in the next 3 days!

Today I covered for Allison and traveled to Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Now, I am a die-hard Browns fan and wouldn't root for the Steelers if they were playing Iraq, but I do enjoy the city of Pittsburgh. People don't realize that Pittsburgh is less than 2.5 hours from Painesville --- that is closer to Painesville than Columbus, Ohio is!

Being at Duquesne University was great, too. President Victor received his Juris Doctorate degree from Duquesne, so when he started at Lake Erie College an agreement formed where students can spend three years at Lake Erie College then three years at Duquesne University School of Law and receive both a bachelor's degree from LEC and J.D. degree from Duquesne. Students do have to achieve a minimum grade pint average of 3.5 from Lake Erie College and score in the 60th percentile on the LSATs, among other criteria, but overall it is an extremely unique opportunity that isn't available through many other institutions.

Although I have a lot of preparation for the upcoming Campus Visit Day Program and Storm Hits Road Show, I'm excited to be on the road the next couple of days!

Here Comes the Storm!

After a heartbreaking 35-34 loss to Gannon University in the first game of the 2009 season, I was so stoked to be a part of the Tailgate Crew for the football home opener against Fairmont State this afternoon. Last year we lost to Fairmont State 21 - 34, and they were very vocal about their preparations for this year... but the Storm was brewing!

You can't have a football game without a proper tailgate! Lake Erie College hosts a free tailgate to students, faculty, staff, parents and fans before the first home game of every season (and before the Homecoming game). There's food, games, beer (if you are of age, of course) and a ton of LEC spirit! Annex, one of the LEC student organizations, had face painting, Gamma Phi Beta was covering everyone with Stormy tatoos, Kappa Sigma had wristbands and cornhole, and Tau Kappa Epsilon took care of the music. It was a blast!

This game had me on the edge of my seat the entire time (who am I kidding, I was standing and screaming for most of the game, but you know what I mean!) The score was 0 - 0 at the end of the first quarter, and when the Storm scored first, everyone went crazy. There was a lot of back and forth throughout the rest of the game, (including a Fairmont State player getting kicked out of the game for unsportman-like conduct) but the Storm tied up the game with less than 1 minute to go in the 4th quarter.

The Storm was able to hold Fairmont State to a field goal in overtime. After a scary injury to star running back Tony Howard (he didn't come back into the game, however was able to walk off the field... I hope he's back next week!) Quarterback Sean Bedevelsky connected with running back Dave Romeo for the touchdown! Storm wins 27 - 24!!

My favorite moment of the game had to be after the victory, when the entire team came over to the home stands and sang the Lake Erie College fight song. This is a tradition that started in 2007 - the first year for Storm football. They sing it after every game - win or lose - but there's always more spirit after a victory!

The Storm advances to 1 - 1. I can't wait to see how the rest of the season plays out!!

Welcome Back - Part 2!

After a long week of waking up early to make it to class on time, meeting new professors, receiving 10+ page syllabi (and trying to figure out if it's humanly possible to complete all those assignments!), buying books, and generally organizing yourself to get back in the swing of things, it's time for a break! That's why student organizations Kappa Sigma, Students in Free Enterprise (S.I.F.E.) and the City of Painesville put on the Welcome Back Concert in Downtown Painesville.

The Welcome Back Concert features bands, LEC student organizations, vendors and Painesville-area businesses. It's completely free to attend and a great way for students, especially freshman, to get familiar with the City and everything it has to offer. Last year was the first year for the Welcome Back Concert, and all proceeds were donated to Habitat for Humanity by S.I.F.E. This year, Kappa Sigma took the reigns and donated the proceeds to their national philanthropy, the Military Heroes Campaign. The Kappa Sig's (who officially received their charter last Saturday -- congratulations!!) donated over $1,800 to their philanthropy!

The rainy weather did not stop us from having a great time - or from (crazy) volunteers facing the dunk tank to raise money for the Military Heros Campaign. I was cold just looking at them!! Retro 87 was the band playing when I was at the concert, which features 2 LEC Kappa Sigs. The Nick Zuber Band and others also played during the 6 hour event. And who could forget the appearance by Max, the *official* Gamma Phi dog (the Gamma Phi Tiberius, if you will) that is proud to wear pink and brown!

Well, the first week is officially over!! Only 15 more to go...

Welcome Back!

It’s official: school’s in session! What gave it away? The hundreds of boxes I helped new students carry into their dorm rooms last Wednesday? Or the Freshman Convocation welcome ceremony that took place Wednesday evening? Or maybe the fact that I could not find a place to park yesterday because every spot in front of College Hall was filled… all of those things may have had a little bit to do with it, but nothing signifies the official start of the new school year like Field Day.

Field Day always takes place the Sunday before classes begin, and is one of my favorite Lake Erie College events. President Victor has all of the LEC students, faculty and staff to his house located on the grounds of the Lake Erie College Equestrian Center for a huge picnic, complete with a DJ, inflatables (jousting and bungee run), a dunk tank, rock climbing, Cornhole, volleyball, even tug-of-war. Transportation is provided from main campus (since the Equestrian Center is about 6 miles away) and seriously, everybody is there!

This year did not disappoint! Competition was heated between Team Green and Team Orange (your team is decided by what color t-shirt you pick up when you walk in). The weather was GORGEOUS – not too hot and not too cold, and the view of Lake Erie was crystal clear from the top of President Victor’s driveway. The highlight for me this year? Watching 3 students being pulled into the pool of mysterious green liquid (okay, so it’s just water with green food coloring) after loosing an intense game of tug-of-war.

Even though Field Day is over and classes are starting, the fun is really just beginning. This is going to be such an exciting year for Lake Erie College; Austin Hall of Math & Science renovations are well underway, and should be open by this time next year. Lake Erie Colleges’ men’s and women’s lacrosse and tennis teams will compete for the first time. Kappa Sigma Fraternity and Gamma Phi Beta Sorority will be installed on campus as the first inter/national Greek organizations in the Colleges’ 150+ year history. Not to mention a slew of speakers, campus activities, horse shows, and more! I can’t wait!