UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State Learning has announced the recipients of the Outstanding Guided Study Group Leader Award for the spring 2023 semester. The recipients are Marc Lussier and Pietro Elliott. Each received a certificate of recognition and a stipend of $500.
The award recognizes study group leaders’ commitment to creating and sustaining a welcoming and academically supportive learning community for their assigned course. Working closely with course instructors and routinely attending class sessions, study group leaders’ efforts include hosting drop-in study sessions in which they review course materials, help students hone their problem-solving skills, and stimulate a challenging and collaborative learning environment. Both of this semester’s recipients exemplify the award criteria and their dedication is noted in the following comments from their nominators.
Lori Stepan, instructor for CHEM 112, nominated Lussier for his willingness to go above and beyond expectations. Lussier, a graduating senior in molecular biology, has shown exemplary skills in leading CHEM 112 Guided Study Groups (GSG) for the past three semesters. Stepan noted Lussier’s ability to facilitate meaningful student learning and go out of his way to make every student feel welcome and heard. Lussier chose to work with students from all three sections of CHEM 112 despite variations in progress level and necessary review.
Stepan said Lussier does this all with grace and humor while being kind and patient with students that don’t understand, utilizing a calm, encouraging manner and quiet competence. His supervisors at Penn State Learning noted how Lussier created a welcoming and collaborative environment that fosters critical thinking, discipline knowledge and deeper understanding of course material.
CHEM 112 students have shared praise for Lussier’s patience in explaining material and ability to create a collaborative and comfortable environment. They are confident that Lussier is preparing them for success.
Lussier shared how his experience as a GSG leader has advanced his personal development by teaching him the importance of time management and improving his interpersonal skills. Though he plans to pursue medical school at Penn State College of Medicine after graduation, Lussier thanked the GSG program for his newfound appreciation of academia and the opportunities it has provided him.
Pietro Elliott was nominated by Joseph Houck, instructor for CHEM 112B 110B, and has set a high bar for GSG student participation. Elliott, a graduating senior in biomedical engineering, has fostered student success in both CHEM 112B and 110B.
Houck noted Elliott’s ability to effectively communicate course materials and provide students with valuable feedback. He said Elliott developed questioning strategies to help lead students in the right direction and make connections without giving away the answer. In addition to these teaching skills, Houck said Elliott is highly reliable, responsible and punctual, and takes his commitment to students seriously.
Numerous GSG observers stated that it seems as if students don’t want to leave Elliot’s sessions. Francesco Pecere, a graduate student in the Department of Chemistry, said Elliott has been able to implement creative critical-thinking problems in a comfortable and collaborative learning environment. Pecere said Elliott showed up 20 to 30 minutes before sessions and stayed late after sessions to answer questions and work through problems.
Elliott shared that his role as a GSG leader has taught him the importance of teaching and convinced him that an educational leadership position will be in his future, even as he currently applies to medical school.
Penn State Learning extends its congratulations to these outstanding GSG leaders!
Additional information about the award, which is funded by philanthropy, is available at pennstatelearning.psu.edu. In addition to providing no-charge Guided Study Groups supporting a wide range of courses, Penn State Learning also provides tutoring in mathematics, world languages, public speaking and writing.
Penn State Learning is part of Penn State Undergraduate Education.