A high-achieving Penn State Abington student will graduate a semester early this week, crediting the academic and financial support she received through Pathway to Success: Summer Start (PaSSS) and several scholarships for her success.
Viana Zamis maintains that PaSSS, a six-week program for incoming first year students at Abington, gave her a head start on her college career.
“PaSSS helped me connect with other students and with academics. It raised my confidence. My transition from high school to college was smoother,” Zamis, who will receive her degree in rehabilitation and human services, said.
“PaSSS was where it all began on my path to success at Penn State Abington,” she said.
Through PaSSS, Zamis was eligible to obtain employment on campus. She accepted a position in the Office of Development and Alumni Relations, a post she held for three years. She also worked as a PaSSS peer mentor for other first-year students.
“I enjoyed working with the first-year students, supporting them and sharing my experiences. It helped me improve my leadership, communication, and teamwork skills. My message to them was: This is your time, your investment so make use of it,” she said.
She worked on a six-week college immersion experience for Latino high school students from Philadelphia through a program Abington hosts with Congreso de Latinos Unidos.
“Congreso was a great experience, from translating my peer mentoring skills and gaining new skills to helping the students, supporting them and maintaining a fun, positive learning environment,” she said.
Zamis was the recipient of several scholarships at Abington including a Korman Promise Scholarship, endowed by longtime Abington supporter Steve Korman. As part of the Complete Penn State initiative, she received a scholarship endowed by Lorraine C. Basara as well as two Open Doors Scholarships, one endowed by Ira Lubert and the other by Ajay and P. Nair.
“I am thankful to the donors for investing in my education, providing me assurance that people are rooting for me to succeed,” she said.