UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- “I felt welcomed by all of the enthusiastic students and faculty. Hearing students talk about their love for Penn State and the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences (EMS) made me realize this was the place for me,” said Ryan Breton, a sophomore in meteorology, about his visit to EMEX as a high school senior.
EMEX, or the Earth and Mineral Sciences Exposition, is an annual open house for prospective incoming students. On Saturday, March 29, this year’s event, with the theme “Explore Your World,” brought together interested high school students and their parents, as well as current Penn State students, faculty, staff and alumni. The open house allows potential students to learn about the various EMS majors and their curriculum requirements. Current students and faculty also speak about career opportunities, student life and special activities within the college.
Many prospective students arrived early Friday morning, to be greeted by undergraduate students who served as their hosts for the weekend. Students accompanied their hosts to various undergraduate classes throughout the day, including calculus, physics and chemistry. That evening, students and their hosts met with the representatives from GEMS (Graduates of Earth and Mineral Sciences) for a discussion on topics such as life after college and what students can do while in college to work towards their dream job. The discussion was followed by dinner at Irvin Hall, the college’s Special Living Option (Interest House). The entire crew then took a trip to the creamery to share one of University Park’s biggest attractions: homemade ice cream.
Saturday morning came bright and early as some hosts arrived at 4:30 a.m. to begin the event’s setup. This year’s welcome speech was given by Dean William Easterling, who shared information about the college’s highly ranked departments and research capabilities.