TEDxArcadiaUniversity Organizers: Students
TEDxArcadiaUniversity is organized and produced by Arcadia University Honors Program students and faculty.
Nicole Corcoran '14, was raised in Honesdale, PA, a small town in the Poconos. She has danced (all styles) for 13 years and continued this in college, adding African to her repertoire. She graduated as top girl from Honesdale High School and was a National Honors Society member. Currently, she is a sophomore Honors student, studying Biology (Pre-Med) at Arcadia University. She studied abroad last spring in Stirling, Scotland. She is Secretary of the Honors Executive Council, and works as a Calculus tutor in the Math Lab. Her future plans involve medical school and work in pediatrics. Her biggest inspirations are: 1. Audrey Hepburn and her life, career and especially her work with UNICEF. 2. My younger sister, we are extremely close, and we both constantly push each other to the best we can be.
Kate Dufner is from Reading, PA. She has grown up with an appreciation for other languages, and has been studying French on and off for 10 years. She has studied abroad in both France and Shanghai, China. Kate is an International Business and Culture Major with minors in French and Pre-Law. She aspires to be an international lawyer after graduate school. Kate is involved in the Honors program, Cheerleading, Residence Hall Council, and PAW on campus. In her free time she enjoys shopping and spending time with friends. Kate finds inspiration through her drive to succeed. After undergoing brain surgery last year she has made a full recovery and has maintained her status in the honors program.
Kevin Erdman is an English major and a senior in the class of 2012. He transferred to Arcadia University in the fall of 2010 from Bucks County Community College where he earned an Associate’s degree in Liberal Arts Humanities. At Bucks County Community College, Kevin became a member of Phi Beta Kappa, and continues to be an Honors student at Arcadia. He is a poet, and was a runner-up in the 2009 Fraser Open Poetry contest (open to all BCCC students). He is also an aspiring author and screenwriter. He is an active member of the ACLU as well as the organization United for Peace and Justice, and has been involved with PennEnvironment. Kevin has also been involved with several Philadelphia-area independent art collectives. "What inspires me is nature and the lessons we learn from it. I'm inspired by the expression of inward human experience through the outward form of the arts from literature to visual to performance arts, and of course music. I'm inspired by an insatiable thirst for knowledge and living the journey from folly to wisdom through experience."
Nicolette Kulp is an honors student currently pursuing a degree in Psychology. She was home schooled from third through twelfth grade, and she feels that experience has helped instill in her a great sense of self-motivation and drive to succeed. She just transferred this semester from Montgomery County Community College where she earned an Associate degree in Music and performed in the College Choir and Jazz Ensemble. She is an experienced pianist, vocalist, and composer. What inspires her most is simply the need and potential for positive change, in herself and the world around her. (Which is why she is so excited about being involved in a TEDx event!)
Jordana McCourt '12 is grateful for this opportunity to be apart of such an inspiring event, TED holds a special place in her heart. Jordana is a Senior at Arcadia University and persuing a B.A. in Business Administration with an emphasis in Marketing. She is from the beautiful twin island Trinidad and Tobago and is always humbled by the polarizing differences in cultures and traditions she has had the privilege of experiencing. Jordana currently holds two part-time jobs while attending school full time and also enjoys a vibrant career in the Philadelphia fashion industry as a model. Her proudest accomplishment to date was her appearance on the front page of the Philadelphia Inquirer and a four page spread inside. Her tenacity shows in everything she does. Jordana is a natural leader with a driven spirit. When asked, "What inspires me?" Jordana responded, "I am inspired by passion, love, peace, truth, and happiness. I am inspired by everyone who is on a journey and wants to invite the world. I believe people who possess these qualities have an innate positive energy, an energy that uplifts me and inspires me every single day. 'High on life'. What are we without a dream?"
Monica Schottinger '13, is a junior at Arcadia University who transferred to the school this spring 2012 semester. She has a 3.9 GPA on her associate’s in liberal studies degree. Monica was on the Presidential Deans list at the Community College of Vermont. She received the Central New Jersey blood bank’s award for single-handedly organizing her high school’s blood drive four consecutive years. She also volunteers at Community Medical Center, in Toms River, New Jersey, as an art therapist in the “infusion” unit, striving to bring joy and hope to cancer patients via donations of her artwork. Monica is a Psychology major and Studio Art minor, with a concentration in Art Therapy. She is a member of the honors program at Arcadia University, and plans to graduate with the class of 2014. When asked, “What inspires you?” Monica responded: “I am inspired by the many deaths of friends over the years, intelligent and capable young people whom I loved, but who also made poor decisions and overdosed on drugs. It was art that brought me through the grief, and I would love, not only to share art’s ability to heal but also, to work with substance abusers in recovery.”
Joseph Spearot '14. I am a sophomore honors student studying Biology and Chemistry at Arcadia University. I studied in Stirling, Scotland in Fall 2010 and I currently sit on Honors Program Executive Board, work as a student assistant in Enrollment Management, and I am also a member of the Social Media Advisory Board for Enrollment Management. So far working on TEDx ArcadiaUniversity has been a learning experience, and I am really looking forward to the end product. Searching for completion and happines inspires me to keep moving everyday.
Samantha Weate '14, is a sophomore honors student studying biology at Arcadia University. A dependent of a U.S. Army colonel, she has moved around her entire life, but calls Virginia her present home. She plans to attend graduate school for her Doctorate of Physical Therapy upon graduation. Currently, she works as an attendant for children with Down’s syndrome, volunteers weekly with a Special Olympics volleyball program, participates in two choirs, and sits on the Honors Program Executive Board. The ability to help people, especially children, with disabilities inspires her.
Sarah Wolf '14, is a sophomore Chemistry major in the Forensic Science accelerated 3+2 program at Arcadia University. She balance a heavy course load with participation in the Honors program, two tutoring jobs, riding for the school’s Equestrian team, and working on research with a professor. Working on this TEDx conference has been a great experience for Sarah, and she is looking forward to seeing it all come together and being inspired come April.
Madison Wierzel '13, is a junior International Studies major concentrating in Global Public Health and minoring in French in the Honors Program. She is the Co-Coordinator for the First Year Study Abroad Experience (FYSAE) Network, an advanced tutor and Student Advisory Board member at the University's Learning Resource Network, and a student participant in the Social Media Advisory Board for Enrollment Management. She is also part of the New Student Orientation Team and involved in the Biology Club, American Chemical Society Club, and Sigma Iota Rho, the International Studies honors society. An aspiring food justice activist, she is passionate about expanding knowledge of and access to foods that are healthy nutritionally, environmentally, and sustainably.
