World Languages & Cultures

By Melissa Mattwig ’17

This past summer I was given the amazing opportunity to represent Allegheny College and Creek Connections at Osa Conservation in Costa Rica for two months. The primary reason for my trip was to conduct global health research on the water quality on road transects and in the nearby town of Puerto Jimenez.

With this data I was able to get an idea of the effects that certain activities, such as deforestation and agriculture, had on the surrounding ecosystems.

In addition to my research, I also was able to help Jim Palmer, associate professor of biology and environmental science and Creek Connections director, with chemical testing and macroinvertebrates when La Paz International School (La Paz, Bolivia) came down to Osa for a week. It was really great to incorporate all the Creek Connections skills I had developed throughout my first year as a Creeker and put them to use in helping kids develop their own research projects during their stay.

After La Paz left, I was able to use my spare time to participate in the sea turtle program at Osa and often went on turtle patrols to keep track of the sea turtles that frequented the beaches.

Throughout the summer, I was able to meet people from all over the world and seized the educational opportunities given to me when other educational groups came to Osa to utilize the rich environment.

I am so grateful for the experience, and I really hope I can travel back to Costa Rica and continue to develop the relationship that Creek Connections has in Central America!

Melissa Mattwig is a biology and environmental science double major with a French and Spanish double minor. Her project was funded by a grant from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute that supported the development of the Allegheny College Global Health Studies program.

Source: Academics, Publications & Research

From as far back as she can remember, Lee Ann Streshenkoff ’17 has wanted to be a veterinarian.

“I have always loved animals,” says Lee Ann, a chemistry major and psychology and Spanish minor.

Since her freshman year, Lee Ann, a Pittsburgh native, has been serving as a Bonner Scholar at Tamarack Wildlife Rehabilitation & Education Center in Saegertown, Pa. The center rehabilitates wildlife and returns it to the wild, as well as provides community education. Tamarack specializes in treating birds of prey of all ages, adult seed-eating songbirds, turtles, and opossums.

Bonner Scholars like Lee Ann work with a local agency like Tamarack for four years as part of the national AmeriCorps program. Students receive financial compensation for their commitment and participate in a leadership development training series.

“We’ve hosted Bonner students, as well as Allegheny work-study students, for as long as I can remember,” says licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator Carol Holmgren, Tamarack executive director. “Each student brings something unique.”

At Tamarack, Lee Ann assists with food and medication preparation, admissions exams, general care, and physical therapy. She also presents education programs at local schools and senior centers. She spends about 30 hours per week during the summer and 10 hours weekly during the school year at her site.

“Meric Islam ’17, another Bonner Scholar at Tamarack, and I did physical therapy on a red-tailed hawk this summer. It was so exciting to do hands-on work during my freshman year,” Lee Ann says.

“But my favorite part about this job is community education, where I go out and talk about wildlife and the environment,” she adds.

On these visits, staff members from Tamarack, including experienced Bonner students like Lee Ann, bring one of the center’s eight trained birds on a handler’s gloved hand to assist with education. These birds were originally admitted to the center with injuries, Holmgren says. Although they are now healthy, they each have a disability preventing them from being able to survive in the wild.

“The fact that I have gained enough experience to hold a bird is mind-blowing to me,” Lee Ann says. Another highlight of Lee Ann’s first year at Tamarack was caring for an adult female screech owl that was admitted to the center from Allegheny’s campus.

“This patient was diagnosed with a concussion, so we spent several weeks caring for her,” she says. “We gave her anti-inflammatory and pain medication and assisted with feedings. In addition, she helped the center by fostering a set of owlets who were admitted to the center shortly after she arrived. She was a great mom to them.”

Once the owl was fully recovered, Lee Ann helped to release her on campus in August. “The release was very beautiful; she was so majestic,” Lee Ann explains. “Experiences like this make it all worth it, because sometimes there are some very sad times when we lose a patient. But when you can send an animal back into the wild, it’s amazing.”

In addition to her experience at Tamarack, Lee Ann also volunteers at Hog Heaven Rescue Farm in Cochranton, Pa., and is a member of the animal welfare and pre-vet clubs at Allegheny. She hopes to one day pursue her dream to become a veterinarian.

“Being a part of the Bonner program and having this experience at Tamarack has changed my life,” she says. “It has made me want to be more involved in my community and has expanded my veterinary interests. The College has already opened my eyes to so much.”

Source: Academics, Publications & Research

From as far back as she can remember, Lee Ann Streshenkoff ’17 has wanted to be a veterinarian.

“I have always loved animals,” says Lee Ann, a chemistry major and psychology and Spanish minor.

Since her freshman year, Lee Ann, a Pittsburgh native, has been serving as a Bonner Scholar at Tamarack Wildlife Rehabilitation & Education Center in Saegertown, Pa. The center rehabilitates wildlife and returns it to the wild, as well as provides community education. Tamarack specializes in treating birds of prey of all ages, adult seed-eating songbirds, turtles, and opossums.

Bonner Scholars like Lee Ann work with a local agency like Tamarack for four years as part of the national AmeriCorps program. Students receive financial compensation for their commitment and participate in a leadership development training series.

“We’ve hosted Bonner students, as well as Allegheny work-study students, for as long as I can remember,” says licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator Carol Holmgren, Tamarack executive director. “Each student brings something unique.”

At Tamarack, Lee Ann assists with food and medication preparation, admissions exams, general care, and physical therapy. She also presents education programs at local schools and senior centers. She spends about 30 hours per week during the summer and 10 hours weekly during the school year at her site.

“Meric Islam ’17, another Bonner Scholar at Tamarack, and I did physical therapy on a red-tailed hawk this summer. It was so exciting to do hands-on work during my freshman year,” Lee Ann says.

“But my favorite part about this job is community education, where I go out and talk about wildlife and the environment,” she adds.

On these visits, staff members from Tamarack, including experienced Bonner students like Lee Ann, bring one of the center’s eight trained birds on a handler’s gloved hand to assist with education. These birds were originally admitted to the center with injuries, Holmgren says. Although they are now healthy, they each have a disability preventing them from being able to survive in the wild.

“The fact that I have gained enough experience to hold a bird is mind-blowing to me,” Lee Ann says. Another highlight of Lee Ann’s first year at Tamarack was caring for an adult female screech owl that was admitted to the center from Allegheny’s campus.

“This patient was diagnosed with a concussion, so we spent several weeks caring for her,” she says. “We gave her anti-inflammatory and pain medication and assisted with feedings. In addition, she helped the center by fostering a set of owlets who were admitted to the center shortly after she arrived. She was a great mom to them.”

Once the owl was fully recovered, Lee Ann helped to release her on campus in August. “The release was very beautiful; she was so majestic,” Lee Ann explains. “Experiences like this make it all worth it, because sometimes there are some very sad times when we lose a patient. But when you can send an animal back into the wild, it’s amazing.”

In addition to her experience at Tamarack, Lee Ann also volunteers at Hog Heaven Rescue Farm in Cochranton, Pa., and is a member of the animal welfare and pre-vet clubs at Allegheny. She hopes to one day pursue her dream to become a veterinarian.

“Being a part of the Bonner program and having this experience at Tamarack has changed my life,” she says. “It has made me want to be more involved in my community and has expanded my veterinary interests. The College has already opened my eyes to so much.”

Source: Academics, Publications & Research

BY MARISSA ORBANEK, Erie Times-News

Ashley Lehr’s biggest soccer challenges not too long ago were against opponents like Depauw and Denison universities.

Now, her most challenging opponents are teams such as Madrid Club de Futbol Femenino B, Club deportivo Avance and Camarma Club de Futbol.

The 2013 Allegheny College graduate has been in Europe since October working as assistant director of international students at EduKick Madrid Football & Education Academy and playing women’s soccer, or futbol, competitively with A.D. Colmenar Viejo just outside the Spanish capital.

“It’s extremely difficult, especially with where she was going, for an American woman to play soccer internationally overseas. For her to get this opportunity is a huge accomplishment,” said Allegheny College head coach Michael Webber, who was Lehr’s coach. “She figured out what she needed to do, and she worked for it.”

The EduKick Madrid Female Football Academy is a yearlong course for competitive female soccer players between the ages of 13 and 18 who want to continue their academic studies in Madrid while also attending a professional soccer academy.

During the day, Lehr’s duties as assistant director include helping participants with their academics, including organization, goal setting, and general understanding of the material. She also acts as a full-time adult monitor for the participants, residing among the players in a private dorm room in the same hallway — similar to a college dorm room, Lehr said.

In addition, Lehr said she also translates player reviews and other football materials from Spanish to English and updates EduKick Madrid social media sites.

Lehr came across the opportunity while searching for “soccer boarding schools in Madrid.” Having graduated from Allegheny College with a dual BA in managerial economics and Spanish, Lehr was looking for an opportunity to combine all of her passions — soccer, Spanish culture and working with young people.

When she saw the opportunity to play in the Madrid area, while helping students in their studies and goal setting, Lehr knew this opportunity was for her — and she hasn’t looked back.

“Working with EduKick Madrid this year has been an inspiring challenge, which has already taught me many new skills,” Lehr said. “Since the student-athletes who attend EduKick Madrid come from very different cultural backgrounds, it is an adjustment for all of them to be surrounded by new people and to be in a new environment. Fortunately, the main reason we are all here is for football, and football is powerful in itself; it unites us and reminds us that we are all here for the same reasons — to play, to improve and to enjoy the game.”

Lehr, the daughter of Lance and Andrea (Scott) Lehr, graduated from Fairview High School in 2009. During her time at Allegheny College, Lehr was a two-time Alden Scholar and a four-year varsity soccer player. As a senior, she was named team captain and received the 1st Team All-Conference Award. In 2011, Lehr received All-Conference honorable mention as North Coast Athletic Conference co-champions, and in 2010 her squad made the first round of the National Collegiate Athletic Association tournament.

“She has a great passion for life, and that helps with any situation,” Webber said. “She loves to play, she loves the game, and she loves building relationships and connecting with other people. That all contributes to her successes both at Allegheny and overseas.”

While she works during the day, Lehr gets to pursue her passion of soccer during evening trainings with the soccer team. The soccer season runs from September to June with games every weekend.

“Playing soccer on a Spanish team has been nothing short of amazing,” she said. “Every time I have soccer practice, it’s like I also have a Spanish lesson. It has been a fantastic way to immerse myself and learn the language like a native.”

But according to Lehr, the name itself isn’t the only thing that differs from the United States’ game. Lehr said that the mindset in general is completely different.

“With regard to soccer, the game is very different. In the U.S., the style of play is very aggressive and very direct, and here in Spain the style is more geared toward maintaining the ball and having individual ball skills,” Lehr said.

Lehr also gets to learn about other cultures all over the world, as well. She said the students within the program are very diverse. This year, they have had students from Algeria, Russia, India, Canada, France, Australia, Libya, Mexico and Romania.

Lehr said she will stay with the EduKick Madrid program through the 2014-2015 academic year. During her stay, she will also study to earn a master’s degree in sports business management.

Lehr’s advice for young women and female athletes: “Find what your passions are, and then figure out a way to apply them to your career and daily life,” she said. “Playing sports teaches you so much, such as discipline, motivation, time management, dedication and responsibility, and if you can continue on with your sport and or work in that department, take advantage of it.”

Source: Academics, Publications & Research

Grant Richman ’15 has been selected for the Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. The scholarship will allow Grant to study Arabic in the Middle East this summer.

Source: Academics, Publications & Research

Grant Richman ’15 has been selected for the Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. The scholarship will allow Grant to study Arabic in the Middle East this summer.

Source: Academics, Publications & Research

Six seniors who have Spanish as a major or half of a double major participated in the 10th Undergraduate Research Symposium organized by the Department of Hispanic Languages and Literatures of the University of Pittsburgh and held on March 28. Four students presented conference papers drawing from their comps. Bethany Chien read “Imágenes de la familia judía en la producción cultural argentina contempóranea.” Katherine Deutch presented “Who owns the Chilean body: biopolitics and abortion issues in La espera, a film by Francisca Fuenzalida.” Tova Feinberg read “Develando la represión de la homosexualidad durante la dictadura de Stroessner: 108, cuchillo de palo (2010) de Renate Costa.” And Kaitlyn Torres read “Filosofía y literatura: Schopenhauer y los cuentos de Jorge Luis Borges.” In addition, two students presented papers based on research completed in a Fall 2013 senior seminar dealing with the cultures of drugs in Colombia: Kylie Mason read her “Sicarios y prepagos: representación de la juventud colombiana en Sangre ajena de Arturo Alape y Sin tetas no hay paraíso de Gustavo Bolívar,” and Clark Tritto presented “Jóvenes, falta de educación y la subcultura de drogas en la literatura popular de Colombia.”

Source: Academics, Publications & Research

An article by Associate Professor of Modern and Classical Languages Wilfredo Hernandez, “De la ‘loca’ rebelde al gay integrado: representaciones del sujeto homosexual en la dramaturgia de Isaac Chocrón,” came out in December. This book chapter analyzes the depiction of gay characters in two plays by the leading Venezuelan playwright between 1970 and 2010. It was included in “El tránsito vacilante,” a book compilation dealing with contemporary Venezuelan literature and culture published in Holland by Editions Rodopi B.V. and edited by Patricia Valladares-Ruiz from the University of Cincinnati and Leonora Simonovis from the University of San Diego.

Source: Academics, Publications & Research

An article by Associate Professor of Modern and Classical Languages Wilfredo Hernandez, “De la ‘loca’ rebelde al gay integrado: representaciones del sujeto homosexual en la dramaturgia de Isaac Chocrón,” came out in December. This book chapter analyzes the depiction of gay characters in two plays by the leading Venezuelan playwright between 1970 and 2010. It was included in “El tránsito vacilante,” a book compilation dealing with contemporary Venezuelan literature and culture published in Holland by Editions Rodopi B.V. and edited by Patricia Valladares-Ruiz from the University of Cincinnati and Leonora Simonovis from the University of San Diego.

Source: Academics, Publications & Research

Associate Professor of Spanish Wilfredo Hernández attended the Fifth Annual Crossing Over Symposium at Cleveland State University on October 11 and 12, 2013. He presented “Las tribulaciones del sujeto trans en Venezuela,” a paper dealing with transsexuality in the Venezuelan film A House for My Mother (2010) by Eduardo Barberena.

Source: Academics, Publications & Research