SF Student Selected to Media Fellows Program

senior Jennifer Pascale has less than five months until she's off to college and entering into a new chapter of her life. However, Pascale will not be going to your traditional school. In other words, Pascale isn't staying in Pennsylvania for her undergraduate degree, nor is she going to a "well-known" university.

Pascale will be attending High Point University, nine hours away from everything she knows and loves in life. The private liberal arts school is located southwest of Greensboro, N.C. At High Point, Pascale has been selected into an exclusive program for aspiring journalists called the Media Fellows Program.

The program had 300 applicants in its now second year of operation. Of the 300, eight boys and eight girls were selected to participate. The 16 students are mandated to live in the same dorm hall their freshman year and have a guaranteed internship with a media outlet in either New York City or Los Angeles.

"Basically, it’s like a learning environment," Pascale said. "It’s more of an internship experience. I’m really excited for it. I think it’s a good opportunity. It’s something that’s going to help me on my resume, so I think it looks good."

For Pascale, the passion for journalism is not new - she's known she's wanted to be in front of the camera since fourth grade as a student at . Fourth grade students were given the opportunity to read the morning news, and Pascale got her shot one day. She was excited for that experience and strived for a journalism career ever since.

Since then, Pascale has had the opportunity to go through Spring-Ford's broadcasting program. She first entered the minor, which held 80 students at the time. Then she went into the first major cycle, which narrowed down to 36 kids. She's now finishing up Major 2, which only has 14 students in the program. The broadcasting students have opportunities to film and edit sports games, board of education meetings and senior slideshows.

Eventually, Pascale wants to get in front of the camera and possibly be on the nightly news.

Pascale first heard about High Point University from the mother of a friend, saying most people haven't heard of the university.

"They get it confused with West Point a lot," she said. "My friend Kelsey Somers went there. She graduated Spring-Ford two years ago. I danced with her. Her mom was behind the table at the college fair and I was just talking to her. She told me to visit. That was my first college visit and it ended up being one of my only college visits. I loved it."

What drew her in was the warm and friendly atmosphere of a tight-knit community.

"Everyone is so nice," said Pascale. "It could just be southern hospitality, but everyone is so welcoming. The president knows everyone’s name. Everyone feels like family, almost. I feel like the campus is inspired. It’s really holistic learning. It’s not as big as I thought I would go to. There’s 5,000 kids there right now. I visited Penn State and it was such a difference, because Penn State’s huge. I really really liked it there. I couldn’t imagine myself anywhere else."

Pascale also plans on trying to be a cheerleader at the school - an activity she's done since seventh grade. This year, Pascale was named captain of the squad and enjoyed cheering for football games. She has also been seen cheering for basketball games in the past. High Point University does not have a football team, but she is looking forward to cheering for basketball. The school is Division I in athletics.

Her cheerleading years gave her the opportunity to volunteer as well, raising about $5,000 for Hope for Haiti at Spring-Ford (her mother's company matched that figure), and also helping her grandmother collect canned goods around Thanksgiving.

"Giving back is a really good thing for you to have," she said. "It makes you a better person and feel better."

She also has worked for the Spring-Ford Reporter and Valley Item as a photojournalist. At first, Pascale said she didn't think she'd enjoy photography, but she really did end up liking it. She recently just received her first byline at the paper.

Overall, the lifelong Royersford resident will miss the Spring-Ford community.

"I’m going to miss it here," Pascale concluded. "It’s a long way from home. I’m going to be nine hours away from my family and the people I grew up with here. It’s going to be sad to leave, but I’m excited to go away and do me."

Editor's Note: We are happy to report that Jen will be a contributor to Patch while she prepares to go off to college. Look for her stuff in the coming weeks.