I was accepted to Pennsylvania State University, Hazleton Campus on December 17, 1994 for Fall 1995 admission. I spent four semesters at Hazleton, transferring, on schedule, to University Park in Fall 1997. I was accepted to the major of my first choice, Media Studies, in the College of Communications, on March 24, 1997. On December 18, 1999, I graduated from Penn State, attending commencement in the Bryce Jordan Center.

Beginning in August 1997, I started my COMM curriculum and crafted a "general option" with my advisor. A general option is designed to focus on the students interests and academic pursuits and must be approved by the associate dean of the college. My general option has a focus on journalism and media systems throughout history. I also made plans to attain a minor in History that fall.

Prior to college, I graduated from James Madison High School in Vienna, VA on June 19, 1995 and attended Fairfax County Public Schools, K-12.