Soaring Higher: Twin sisters achieve success together at The Haven

Amanda and Jessica Fuschetti both graduated summa cum laude from Lock Haven University on May 11.

When many students set off for college, their hopes and ambitions are high, but it takes hard work, focus and even a few sacrifices made in order to achieve and maintain a high level of success in college. And sometimes, being on your own for the first time, can be a major adjustment or hurdle to get over. But in the case of two recent Lock Haven University graduates, Amanda and Jessica Fuschetti, they were fortunate enough to have each other close by for most of their college careers.

The twin sisters from Palmyra, Pennsylvania, who both graduated summa cum laude from LHU on May 11, are two examples of hard working, successful students at The Haven. They both were involved with numerous student and community organizations, received various awards and honors and traveled to the Dominican Republic for a short-term study abroad experience – all while maintaining a 4.0 GPA throughout their entire college careers.

Amanda, a health and physical education major, was the 2017-18 president of the LHU Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AHPERD) and also was a member of the student Pennsylvania State Education Association (SPSEA), Kappa Delta Pi education honor society, Phi Kappa Phi honor society and participated in Relay For Life events.

Amanda received several awards, including the Health and Physical Education (HPED) Gold Whistle Award; HPED Outstanding Future Professional; was named the Pennsylvania State Association for Health, Physical Education Recreation and Dance (PSAHPERD) Outstanding Future Professional; and received the Catherine M. Frantz Memorial Scholarship, the Joe and Heidi Battista Scholarship for Student Leadership and the Elizabeth Zimmerli Memorial Scholarship.

Jessica, a middle level education major with a minor in coaching, served as the vice president for SPSEA, was a member of the Kappa Delta Pi education honor society, the LHU Collegiate Middle Level Association (CMLA), participated in intramurals and Relay For Life events and was a summer camp counselor at West Shore Recreation Commission. 

Jessica’s awards include the Mary A. Coploff Education Scholarship in 2018 and the Catherine M. Franz Memorial Scholarship in 2017.

The Fuschetti’s college experiences did not begin at The Haven — both were transfer students — Amanda from the University of Maryland and Jessica from the University of North Carolina.

Jessica said after visiting a friend at LHU during her freshman year, she immediately fell in love with the campus. “I wanted to come to a smaller university where there was a strong community feeling, so LHU was a great fit for me,” she said, adding that she knew LHU was well-known for offering high quality programs in education, which was just what she was looking for.

“The health and physical education program (at LHU) has an outstanding reputation and I wanted to be a part of that,” Amanda said about why she transferred to LHU. “I also love the area where the school is located and the outdoor recreational opportunities it offers.”

The Fuschetti’s both agreed that becoming the best possible teacher for their future students was their main motivation for their success during college. Jessica said her passion for her chosen field of study was a driving force for her, as well as the support and encouragement from her professors and from her own students. “I have been motivated by many of the students that I have had the opportunity to teach in my time in schools, as I have constantly wanted to become the best teacher that I can be for them and my future students,” she said.

Traveling to and teaching in schools in the Dominican Republic was just one of the opportunities LHU provided the sisters with that they said enhanced their college experience. They also were able to attend several conferences at the state and national level, gained professional development experience through their membership in various organizations and had the opportunity to get classroom experience through student teaching placements.

“LHU also afforded me the opportunity to complete a coaching minor, which provided me with a lot of knowledge about how to be an excellent coach,” Jessica said. “I plan on becoming a coach at the middle school level, as well as a teacher, and LHU has provided me with the ability to be well prepared to succeed at both of these goals.”

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Lock Haven University’s main campus is located on the West Branch of the Susquehanna River in the scenic mountains of Pennsylvania. The university offers 49 undergraduate majors and certifications with 47 minors and five graduate programs.

LHU is a member of Pennsylvania’s State System, the largest provider of higher education in the Commonwealth. Its 14 universities offer more than 2,300 degree and certificate programs in more than 530 academic areas of study. Nearly 520,000 system alumni live and work in Pennsylvania.