November 19, 1999
- LION'S EYE -
Page 3
“LJ” Lucidonio represented the State of
Delaware in the 1991 Miss USA Pageant.
FEATURES
Delco’s Basketball Beauty Queen
By Amanda Ponzar
Lion’s Eye Staff Writer
As a first-degree black belt, former
Miss Delaware and model, and
' exceptional athlete, Laurie Jean “LJ”
i Lucidonio is
adding one more
accomplishment to her resume: a college
degree.
As a non-traditional student in her
thirties, Lucidonio returned to Penn
State Delco just two years ago because
of her Aunt’s influence. “My Aunt
Margaret said you should always be able
to take care of yourself,” said Lucidonio,
and she has taken that to heart.
Lucidonio’s current GPA hovers
around a 4.0. “In the last three
semesters, I got one A minus,” she
admits. Just recently Lucidonio switched
her major to communications; she hopes
to work in public relations. Considering
her track record, that goal — and
anything else she undertakes — is as good
as done.
This single superstar lives with four
cats, whom she affectionately calls her
“kids,” and also spends time with her
nieces, “the loves of my life,” who cheer
her on at Delco basketball games. Most
amount of $2,000.
players on the team call her “mom,”
except for “the ones I'm really tight
with. They call me ‘L.”’ Although
Delco’s first three games are away, the
team will be playing on Monday,
November 22, at 6 pm, for their first
home game against Philadelphia
Community College.
Most women’s fantasy is Lucidonio’s
reality: she represented Delaware in the
Miss USA pageant. It began at the state
level when Lucidonio borrowed a
friend’s dress — that was two sizes too
big — and became the first runner up in
the 1991 Miss Delaware Competition.
Lucidonio had her usual good luck and
the opportunity of a lifetime, when three
weeks before the national pageant, the
state winner was disqualified for not
being a legitimate Delaware resident.
Suddenly, Lucidonio was on her way to
the Miss USA pageant. She didn’t have
to look far for a sponsor. Her sister,
Jennifer, provided funding for the full
“Jennifer is
everything,” said Lucidonio.
Held during Desert Storm, the
pageant was “a very patriotic time,” with
representatives from 50 states gathered
together, singing the National anthem. “I
~ Real Life Learning Adventures
\
By Alyece Wolff
Lion’s Eye Staff Writer
You are locked-up all day, or what
- seems to be all day, inside. The only
time you get to experience a cool breeze
or a change in scenery is when you are
walking to a different building for
another class. Wouldn't it be nice to get
out of the classroom and into a real life
experience? At Delco many teachers
encourage and sometimes require
students to participate in learning
adventures outside of the classroom.
These adventures expose students to
possible careers and also help to expand
each student’s learning experience. Co-
Curricular adventures in the current fall
semester have been quite varied.
Students in Mary Gergen’s honors
psychology class went to Glen Mills
School. The students were exposed to a
Internships
By Amanda Ponzar
Lion’s Eye Staff Writer
Unless you're born into wealth with a
secure top-level position at daddy’s
multi-million dollar company, the best
way to land a job is to get practical
experience in the professional world. One
of the easiest ways to do this is to take
advantage of Delco’s growing number of
internship opportunities. While receiving
credits, students gain career and major
related experience and connections.
“Students learn to relate classroom
theory to business situations,” said Carol
Minski, Internship Coordinator.
Internships greatly enhance future
employment prospects as well as help
students acquire professional identities.
Internships also provide a good
opportunity to test the j ob waters before
plunging in on graduation day when a job
is no longer an option but a necessity.
Accountant Jeff Watson completed an
internship with his current employer, the
Society of Financial Service Pro-
fessionals. “The thing I enjoyed most
school of over 1,000 juvenile offenders.
Gergen said, “We tried to discover the
‘psychology’ that allows for [these] ...
boys ... to become model citizens, who
don’t spit, swear or walk on the grass in
a totally open campus setting.”
In Pat Hillen’s honors English 30
class, students went to New York to see
Death of a Salesman. Students got a
chance to experience a Broadway play,
which increased their cultural awareness.
Students in Paul Greene’s Music 9
class and students in Norma Notzold’s
FYS class went to New York City. They
visited the United Nations, Soho
museums and galleries, and Chinatown.
Greene’s music class learned how the
United Nations promotes world peace.
Notzold’s FYS class focused on career
opportunities in the international scene.
Notzold said, “This trip enhanced and
expanded the students’ information.”
Some of her FYS students are also
participating in job shadowing, which
requires students to follow around for a
day a career person of their interest and
to report on their experiences.
Students in Cynthia Lightfoot’s
HDEFS 311 classes spent a total of 25
hours in daycare centers, schools, and
service agencies. They explored possible
careers with children and their families.
In Patricia Van Leuvan’s Urban
Education 403 class, students have
visited the J. Hienz Wildlife Refuge in
Tinicum. After an orientation, the
students completed “Project Wet.”
Where they worked in teams to create a
lesson involving water. The goal is to be
able to use the knowledge and skills they
learned to teach their future students.
(Continued on page 7)
Enhance Employment
was working with my internship
supervisor, Bob Titus. Bob was very
instructive in helping me accomplish my
academic goals and the Society’s goals,”
said Watson. For Watson, who worked
full time while completing his internship,
“The biggest challenge was trying to get
my internship work, both for the Society
and Penn State, done while still
completing my accounting tasks.”
Watson is glad he did the internship, but
admits “I was very relieved after I
completed it.”
Another intern, advertising and public
relations major Stephanie Ent, worked in
the Media Theater’s public relations
department last summer. “I wrote press
releases for the upcoming shows and
events which taught me a lot about
communicating with the press and how
vital it is to have strong communications
with them,” said Ent. An invaluable
experience, her internship helped clarify
her career goals. “I learned a lot about
public relations from this internship. It
made me realize that this is the major that
I want to be in. I learned strong
communication skills, people skills, and
also editing skills through this internship
. that will help me in the future.”
When compared to internship
programs at other Penn State campuses,
“We're really out there in the forefront at
Delco,” said Carol Minski, Internship
Coordinator.
Recognizing students’ financial
obligations, many employers also offer
stipends or wages. Although enjoyable
and a good way to build connections and
sometimes make a little money,
internships are not just fun and games.
They require hard work in the “real”
world. Employers are less likely than
professors to overlook tardy students
whose dog/cat/hamster ate their work.
Internships are available to
sophomores, juniors and seniors in 295,
395 and 495 level courses. To qualify,
students must have at least a 2.3 CGPA
and be able to work 10-12 hours per
week. Each student must have a faculty
liaison who approves the internship
beforehand and agrees to monitor
progress. Each intern must also keep a
’
was proud to be an American,” said
Lucidonio. Although she did not place in
the national pageant, the best part for
Lucidonia was participating in the Miss
USA/USO tour which took a team to
entertain military troops permanently
stationed in far off places like Iceland.
Lucidonio is also an assistant karate
instructor and first-degree black belt.
Karate helps “to take control of your life
if it’s out of control,” said Lucidonio.
When she’s in an uncomfortable
situation, she is not afraid to use her
skills. “People test me, and then they’re
sorry. I take it very seriously,” said
Lucidonio. “You have to know what you
want. People aren’t mind readers.” And
if anyone knows what she wants and
how to get it, it’s Lucidonio.
Lucidonio recently celebrated her
35th birthday. Instead of feeling
dissatisfied, she is pleased with her past
and anticipates even better things in the
future. Everyone she meets tells
Lucidonio that she’s done more things in
her 35 years than most people have in a
lifetime. She is surprised. “I’m not even
started yet! I have miles to go before I
sleep. I want to have a purpose. I want to
make a difference...I’m a global person.”
“LJ” as assistant karate instructor and
first degree blackbelt.
Prospects
journal summarizing professional
activities, experiences, and insights. The
faculty liaison will review this journal
and meet with the student to discuss
progress. Interested students can pick up
an internship informational packet,
available in the Career Development
Center, second floor Commons Building.
Student Internships are available in:
Art & Art History
Business Administration
Business Liberal Arts & Sciences
Communications & Media Studies
Computer Applications
Education
English
Government
Graphic Arts
Health Administration
Human Development & Family Studies
Information & Science Technology
Management
Marketing
Social Services
Speech Communication
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