Acknowledging Pitt-Greensburg’s Seniors

With finals week rapidly approaching, students in the class of 2024 are coming face-to-face with the reality of graduating college and being sent into the world. Pitt-Greensburg’s students continuously hold themselves to high standards on completing their academic year, helping arrange commencement, and having a clear plan for the future.

Students like Madison Spahr, a senior communication major, helped spearhead graduation festivities as a part of the commencement committee.

“The commencement committee’s role is to assist with ideas and the creation of graduation that is held each year,” Spahr said. “These can have significant changes ranging from the COVID-19 pandemic graduation, to prior years, to now.” 

The class of 2024 entered college during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Though this was a roadblock for students, reflecting back on it four years later provided some newer insight.

“Coming from high school and transitioning to college was an adjustment in itself, but with the pandemic on top of that, it made things a little harder,” Spahr said. “Thankfully, I stepped out of my comfort zone during sophomore year and I have been able to adjust.”

Caileigh Johnston, a senior communication major, transferred to Pitt-Greensburg her sophomore year. Johnston, after completing her senior capstone, reflected on her collegiate career.

“With COVID, it felt like the first year didn’t really happen. I feel like I’ve only been in college for three years,” Johnston said. “The biggest challenge that I’ve had is finding motivation to keep going and continue to live up to my full potential. However, the close relationships that I have with my professors have helped me with this, as they hold me accountable.”

Though Spahr and Johnston are only two examples of this year’s graduating class, they both look toward the future with positivity. Spahr intends on attending a graduate program at the University of Pittsburgh School of Education, and Johnston intends on taking a gap year and getting her masters. Both graduates plan on working in higher education, and continue to act as role-models for underclassmen as their class leaves their legacy behind at Pitt-Greensburg. 

“It’s OK to change your mind, not like what you thought you might, or switch paths,” Johnston said. “College is all about learning who you are and what you enjoy.”