“No matter where I am or who I’m with on campus, I never feel like I’m out of place or don’t belong.”

Andrea Kling has plenty to keep her busy at Shippensburg University. As a member of Ship’s class of 2021, Kling has gotten to know plenty of different people in plenty of different settings. For starters, she’s an ultimate frisbee team captain and part of the President’s Student Advisory Board. As a Wood Honors College student, she is a co-chair of the mentor/mentee committee and chair of the Wood Honors Student Executive Board. Kling is also a resident assistant on campus, part of the National Residence Hall Honorary and serves as president of the Residence Hall Association.

On the academic side of her Ship experience, Kling is in the English with Secondary Certification, B.A. program.

“The English program at Ship is, in my opinion, one of the best communities to be a part of. The professors are not only incredibly knowledgeable in the field but are kind and always willing to aid in their students’ success,” Kling said. “Additionally, because it is a smaller group of students, you will get to know your peers through classes together and connect through shared experiences.”

Kling’s major led her to even more opportunities to get involved on campus. She is part of the English honors fraternity, Sigma Tau Delta, and the National Council of Teachers of English.

Feeling at home as part of the Ship family is also due in part to Kling’s own family. Her sister is a 2019 Ship graduate. Between her sister’s stories and campus visits, Kling knew she found the right place to become a future educator.

“The secondary education tract within the English major does a really good job at making sure students get real world experience by being in actual high school classrooms and doing work that directly pertains to their future careers,” Kling said.

Kling is a graduate of State College Area High School.

Read more stories from the Class of 2021.