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Grads look forward to graduate school, employment

Many find jobs in health-care fields

Nicolette Simon
Nicolette Simon

With the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford’s online graduation celebration behind them, members of Pitt-Bradford’s Class of 2020 are looking ahead to graduate school and employment.

For Nicolette Simon, an exercise science graduate from Lancaster, there’s little time for celebration, because she’ll be using all of May to prepare for a move to Philadelphia, where she will start in the physical therapy doctoral program at Temple University.

Simon said that her classes will be conducted online for the time being but “because we have to do our own cadaver lab, we have to be there.”

Simon has been interested in becoming a physical therapist since, as a girl, she would visit the physical therapist with her father, who, because of an accident, needed extensive therapy.

“It was years of appointments. I did my internship at the same place where he did all of his therapy,” she said. Physical therapy appealed to her, she said, “because it is really about quality of life.”

Simon is one of several 2020 graduates headed toward graduate school.

Audrey South, an accounting graduate from St. Marys, will attend Binghamton University in the fall to work toward a master’s degree in accounting.

Megan Murphy, an exercise science graduate from Union City, will pursue a doctorate in occupational therapy at Slippery Rock University.

Claire Saylor, a chemistry graduate from Sligo, will attend the University of Missouri – St. Louis School of Optometry.

Jenna Lofaro of Philadelphia will work toward her master’s degree in occupational therapy at the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia.

Kelsey Andersen, a biology graduate from Schnecksville, has been accepted to New York University to study for a Master of Public Health focusing on reproductive health. 

Antonell Robinson, a psychology graduate from Philadelphia, will attend the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine to pursue a Master of Science in mental health counseling.

Hanna Jaroszynski, a psychology graduate from Falconer, N.Y., will begin a Master of Education in school counseling at St. Bonaventure University in Allegany, N.Y. She is also employed with Prevention Works Inc. in Jamestown, N.Y.

Aleah Busbey, a hospitality management major from Palmer, Alaska, is headed to Boston University, where she will study for a Master of Management in hospitality administration.

Other graduates will enter the working world. Not surprisingly for this moment, for many, that is the world of health care. For others, it is security and technology.

Payton Llewellyn, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing graduate from Bradford, will work in the labor and delivery unit at Warren General Hospital and work toward certifications as a lactation counselor and childbirth counselor.

Melanie Shipe, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing graduate from Marienville, will work as a registered nurse at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center’s pediatric emergency department.

Anisha Neupane, a general studies graduate from Colchester, Vt., will work as the client care coordinator for the developmental services team at Howard Center, an agency that serves children, adults, families and communities with mental health and developmental disability needs.

Lindsay Ashcroft, an Associate of Science in Nursing graduate from Kane, will work as a nurse with Beacon Light Behavioral Health Systems.

Kacie Appleby, a criminal justice major from Portville, N.Y., has accepted a job with the Transportation Security Administration, a department of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Dylan Bowers, a computer information systems and technology major from Port Allegany, has accepted a position as a programmer analyst at Zippo Manufacturing Co. in Bradford.

Isaac Payne, a writing graduate from Kane, will work as an inbound marketing specialist at Protocol 80 in Bradford.

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