Erica Maar
- Valparaiso
- 2007 B.A. in Behavioral Science, with a concentration
in Sociology
- Past President of Active Voices
- PNC Women's Association International Friendship
Group
- Alpha Lamba Sigma
- Mother of four
A mother of four, Erica chose to attend PNC so that
she could earn her degree close to home while having
time to tend to her family and community activities.
"PNC has a great location and a wonderful childcare
program. PNC fit my needs as a student and as a mother,
which helped me achieve my goals in such way that I
never felt like I was giving up anything either at home
or in the classroom."
Erica found that PNC provided a supportive learning
environment. "The professors were understanding
and Beth Rudnick, my advisor, always had her door
open to me when I needed her. Of course, friends
are essential and I've found some really wonderful new
connections at PNC that I hope continue beyond graduation."
She also took advantage of the many on-campus clubs
and activities and was president of Active Voices, chair
of PNC Women's Association International Friendship
Group and was a member of Alpha Lamba Sigma. She helped
to arrange various campus activities such as forums,
fund-raising campaigns and petition drives. Erica also
attended a conference in San Francisco on PNC scholarship,
and three times earned first place awards in the PNC
Portals Writing Contest.
Off campus Erica volunteers as a Sunday School teacher
and serves on the board of Hilltop Neighborhood House
in Valparaiso, an organization committed to bringing
affordable childcare and support to low income families.
How does she do all of this? While admitted it can
be difficult to maintain a balance between the her family
and school, husband and children have always been very
supportive when she had to hole up in the library for
a paper or stay late at school to attend an event.
She offers this advice to people contemplating PNC,
“Come and look, talk to the advisors and students.
The experience of being a college student as a non-traditional
student has been wonderful. I enjoyed broadening my
horizons, attending the Sinai Forum, the discussions
with friends about politics and theories while sipping
Chai Tea at the Coffee Central cafe, and perhaps most
of all, I have enjoyed the sense of purpose in fulfilling
my promise to myself to earn my college degree.”
Next, Erica plans to enjoy being with her family and
to attend law school in a year or two.
