Photo Story

This semester we had to come up with a photo story to work on throughout the semester. I was having a hard time coming up with a topic to do and a friend suggested I do a story on someone who was having financial problems and paying for college. Rachel is a sophomore, from Florida, attending Penn State double majoring in Economics and Psychology. She has to pay for her own education and her parents can't help because both are unemployed at the time being. She has been talking to financial advisors and people within her college to try and find scholarships for her.

Penn State sophomore, Rachel Robinson poses in a lounge in Simmons Hall for a portrait.

Rachel listens to her professor in one of her classes in Thomas Building.

Rachel looks at her tuition bill on elion.

Rachel does homework for her classes in Simmons Hall.

Rachel walks our of Shields Building after talking to a financial advsior about finding scholarships to help pay for college.

Rachel checks in for work at the Bennett Family Center where she works in the daycare center.

Rachel takes notes during one of her classes in Thomas Building.

Rachel sets up the table for snack time at the Bennett Family Center Day Care

Rachel does homework for her classes in Simmons Hall.

Rachel Gets her picture taken by her parents at the Lion Shrine after receiving a President Sparks Award. The President Sparks Award is presented annually to those undergraduate degree candidates who have earned a 4.00 cumulative GPA based on at least 36 graded Penn State Credits.

Volunteer Shoot

For this assignment we had to volunteer our time for a non-profit organization to take pictures for them. I volunteered my time at the State College YMCA at an event called Senior Appreciation Day and at the event Wild About Animals hosted by the Centre Wild Life. Here are my top photos from the two events.

Pat Hopkins participates in a free exercise class at the State College YMCA in part of Senior Appreciation Day on Wednesday April 4, 2012 in State College Pa. Senior Appreciation Day is for seniors to try fitness classes the YMCA offers for free in an attempt to keep them active. Photo by Shawn Lelko

Participants of Senior Appreciation Day at the Y participate in a free fitness class the Y offers on Wednesday April 4, 2012 in State College Pa. Senior Appreciation Day is for seniors to try some fitness classes the YMCA offers for free in an attempt to keep them active. Photo by Shawn Lelko

A camel was at the Wild About Animals event for people to pet on Saturday April 7, 2012 at University Park, Pa. Wild About Animals is a fundraising event for the Centre Wildlife Care and educates those in attendance about some of the programs that help animals in the area. Photo by Shawn Lelkl

Those in attendance were able to pet some of the animals at the Wild About Animals event at the Snider Agricultural Arena at University Park, Pa. on Saturday April 7, 2012. Wild About Animals is a fundraising event for the Centre Wildlife Care and educates those in attendance about some of the programs that help animals in the area. Photo by Shawn Lelko

Carmen Volante, an intern at the Raptor Center, part of the Shaver's Creek Environmental Center, Shows off a great horned owl at the Wild About Animals event at the Snider Agricultural Arena at University Park, Pa. on Saturday April 7, 2012. Wild About Animals is a fundraising event for the Centre Wildlife Care and educates those in attendance about some of the programs that help animals in the area. Photo by Shawn Lelko

Sports Photos

For this assignment we had to cover two sporting events, I chose to cover a Penn State baseball game and a Penn State women's lacrosse game.

Penn State pitcher Steven Hill delivers a pitch during a game against Indiana at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park at University Park, Pa. on Sunday March 25, 2012. Penn State lost the game 2-1. Photo by Shawn Lelko

Penn State's Elliot Searer reacts after being hit by the pitch during a game against Indiana at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park at University Park, Pa. on Sunday March 25, 2012. Penn State lost the game 2-1. Photo by Shawn Lelko

Penn State pitcher Steven Hill ices his arm after pitching 6.1 innings of two run ball against Indiana at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park at University Park, Pa. on Sunday March 25, 2012. Penn State lost the game 2-1. Photo by Shawn Lelko

Penn State’s Kelly Lechner (21) reaches for the ball during a game against Loyola at the Penn State Lacrosse Field at University Park, Pa. on Wednesday March 7, 2012. Penn State lost the game 10-12 in overtime. Photo by Shawn Lelko

Loyola goalkeeper Kerry Stoothoff, right, celebrates with teammate Kellye Gallagher after the teams 12-10 overtime victory over Penn State at the Penn State Lacrosse Field at University Park, Pa. on Wednesday March 7, 2012. Photo by Shawn Lelko

News Photos

For this assignment we had to turn in photos of a news event. One of the biggest news events to happen at Penn State was the passing of legendary head football coach Joe Paterno. Paterno died of lung cancer on January 22, 2012. Here are a couple photos from the Joe Paterno statue on the day he died.

Heidi Lewis, Penn State class of 97, holds onto her daughter Sophia, 8, while looking at the Joe Paterno statue. Paterno died of lung cancer on January 22, 2012 at the age of 85. Photo by Shawn Lelko

Tim Guenot, Penn State class of 84, kneels in front of the Joe Paterno statue on the day Paterno died. Photo by Shawn Lelko

Tony Lomupo and Amanda Hood, both seniors at Penn State, look onto the Joe Paterno statue the day he died. Photo by Shawn Lelko

THON 2012

Today  kicked off the 46 hour long dance marathon that Penn State students call THON. It is the largest student run philanthropy in the World and has raised millions of dollars to battle pediatric cancer. This is the 40th year of THON. THON go kicked off at 6pm Friday evening and will go until 4pm Sunday and thousands of students, volunteers, THON kids and families will dance at the Bryce Jordan Center.
These first couple of images were taken Friday evening between 6-8pm:

Penn State mens basketball head coach Patrick Chambers speaks to the crowd at THON Friday evening. Photo by Shawn Lelko

Penn State basketball guard Tim Frazier stands with THON kids on stage Friday evening. Photo by Shawn Lelko

Jerry Crompton of Theta Chi fraternity dances at THON Friday evening. Photo by Shawn Lelko

The crowd cheers as THON gets kicked off Friday evening. Photo by Shawn Lelko

Joe Bernard holds his daughter Katelyn, 5, during the line dance at THON Friday evening. Photo by Shawn Lelko

THON child Mick Golden, 8, sits on THON dancer Chris Yaracs Friday evening. Photo by Shawn Lelko

Jack Messina, 6, spends time with Penn State basketball player Pat Ackerman Friday evening. Jack's sister Isabella is a THON child. Photo by Shawn Lelko

THON participants dance in the line dance Friday evening. Photo by Shawn Lelko

A THON child holds onto a member of the Penn State basketball team on stage Friday evening. Photo by Shawn Lelko

Penn State mens basketball head coach Patrick Chambers speaks to the crowd at THON Friday evening. Photo by Shawn Lelko

Natalie Furister, 3, dances in the line dance Friday evening. Natalie's mom Christina is a Four Diamond survivor. Photo by Shawn Lelko

 
Saturday Noon-2pm:

Carly Millan, a moraler, poses with storm trooper characters from Star Wars Saturday afternoon. Photo by Shawn Lelko

THON dancers and a THON child finish up a dance routine on stage Saturday afternoon. Photo by Shawn Lelko

Ethan Barnett, 4, of Sinking Springs Pa. a THON child, sits on the shoulders of Kevin Bonocci of the morale committee Saturday afternoon. Photo by Shawn Lelko

THON participants run and slide down the Slides of Strength Saturday afternoon. Photo by Shawn Lelko

Morale captains perform the line dance on stage Saturday Afternoon. Photo by Shawn Lelko

THON dancers and THON child dance on stage Saturday afternoon. Photo by Shawn Lelko

The crowd at THON do the line dance Saturday afternoon. Photo by Shawn Lelko

THON participant creates her own design on an Eat'n Park cookie Saturday afternoon. Photo by Shawn Lelko

Star Wars characters show up at THON Saturday afternoon. Photo by Shawn Lelko

THON dancers and THON child dance on stage Saturday afternoon. Photo by Shawn Lelko

THON participants get their picture taken with a Storm Trooper character from Star Wars Saturday afternoon. Photo by Shawn Lelko

THON participants get their picture taken with Chewbacca from Star Wars Saturday afternoon. Photo by Shawn Lelko

Beauty in Laughter

For this assignment we had to define beauty. I was having a tough time trying to figure out how to do that through pictures. Then a friend suggested that I do it with people laughing because there is no such thing as an ugly laugh. While working on the assignment the best pictures were the one of a child's laughter.

Maddie O'Hara, 7, laughs watching her neighbor's two dogs play on Sunday Feb. 12, 2012. Laughter is a great way to define beauty. Photo by Shawn Lelko

Cullen O'Hara, 4, laugh as he chases his neighbor's two dogs on Sunday Feb. 12, 2012. Laughter is a great way to define beauty. Photo by Shawn Lelko

Emily Felice, 10, laughs while watching a DVD of comedian Christopher Titus on Sunday Feb. 12, 2012. Laughter is a great way to define beauty. Photo by Shawn Lelko

People Helping People

Our assignment for this week was to go somewhere where people were helping people. One place I thought would be a good place for this would be an athletic trainer's room. There the trainers help the athletes from getting taped up, or iced after practice. I went to State College Area High School's training room to get my photos.

Thomas Newman, an athletic trainer for State College Area High School, tapes the ankle of a member of the girls track and field team on Friday Feb. 3, 2012. Photo by Shawn Lelko

Itsuko Yamaguchi, a Penn State student athletic trainer working at State College Area High School, wraps a bag of ice around the ankle of a member of the firls track and field team on Friday Feb. 3, 2012. Photo by Shawn Lelko